Migrating from Hostnet to Theory7: save up to 60%
Are you considering migrating from Hostnet to Theory7? In this extensive guide we compare both providers fairly, so that you can make a well-considered choice. Hostnet is an established Dutch hosting party with a broad portfolio of services, but for many website managers there is a more interesting alternative. We dive into the practical differences in terms of price, performance and what you really get for your money.
Why do customers consider migrating from Hostnet?
Hostnet certainly has qualities: it is a well-known Dutch company with years of experience, extensive product documentation and good malware protection on the higher plans. Many customers appreciate the broadly deployable services from websites to e-commerce solutions. Still, there are reasons why people research alternatives:
- Introductory price versus regular price - all plans have a low entry price (€4.99), but after the first year the price rises considerably (up to €16.99 for Boost, €22.99 for Power)
- Limited resources on entry-level plans - the Lite plan offers only 25 GB of storage and 5 databases, which can be tight
- Conventional web server technology - Hostnet uses standard SSD servers, but no LiteSpeed for optimal WordPress performance
- Price-performance after renewal - after the first year you sometimes pay more for comparable resources than with alternatives
Before you decide to migrate from Hostnet, let's first look at what this provider has to offer.
Hostnet in brief: strengths and limitations
Hostnet offers four web hosting plans: Lite, Core, Boost and Power. All plans currently run with an aggressive introductory offer of €4.99 for the first year, after which the regular price takes effect. The company is known for its WordPress one-click installers and automatic backups.
Hostnet's strengths are clearly present: Dutch support on working days, automatic and manual backup options, and free Let's Encrypt Wildcard SSL on all plans. For customers who value an established Dutch company with a broad service package (also domain names, VPS, e-commerce), Hostnet is a logical choice.
Still, there are limitations that customers encounter. The introductory price of €4.99 looks attractive, but after the first year you pay between €9.99 and €22.99 per month depending on your plan. The popular Boost plan, for example, goes from €4.99 to €16.99, an increase of almost 240%. With the Lite plan the storage space (25 GB) and the number of databases (5) are limited, which soon makes upgrading necessary.
To make a well-considered choice about migrating from Hostnet, we compare the plans on price and specifications.
Theory7 vs Hostnet: an honest comparison
Let's put the plans objectively side by side. We compare the regular prices (after the introductory period) for a fair picture:
| Feature | Hostnet Lite (€9.99/mo) | Theory7 Basic (€4.99/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| SSD storage | 25 GB | 250 GB |
| Databases | 5 | Unlimited |
| Email accounts | 5 | Unlimited |
| Websites | Multiple possible | 25 websites |
| SSL certificates | Free Wildcard SSL | Free SSL |
| Web server | SSD servers | LiteSpeed Enterprise |
| Caching | Standard | Redis + LiteSpeed Cache |
| Backups | Automatic (7 days) | Available |
And a comparison between the most popular Hostnet plan and Theory7 Plus:
| Feature | Hostnet Boost (€16.99/mo) | Theory7 Plus (€7.99/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| SSD storage | 100 GB | 500 GB |
| Databases | 75 | Unlimited |
| Email accounts | 100 | Unlimited |
| Websites | Multiple possible | 50 websites |
| SSL certificates | Free Wildcard SSL | Free SSL |
| Web server | SSD servers | LiteSpeed Enterprise |
| Caching | Standard | Redis + LiteSpeed Cache |
| Price after renewal | €16.99/mo | €7.99/mo (fixed) |
Based on this honest comparison, it becomes clear why migrating from Hostnet to Theory7 is a popular choice.
Where Theory7 makes the difference
Transparent pricing without price jumps
The biggest difference lies in the pricing strategy. Theory7 uses fixed rates: what you see is what you pay, also after the first year. With Hostnet you pay considerably more after the introductory period: Lite goes from €4.99 to €9.99, Core to €13.99, Boost to €16.99, and Power to €22.99. These price increases make budgeting harder and can cause surprises with automatic renewal.
Much more storage space for your money
In comparable price ranges you get considerably more storage space at Theory7. The Basic plan (€4.99 fixed rate) offers 250 GB versus 25 GB at Hostnet Lite (€9.99 after renewal). Theory7 Plus (€7.99) offers a full 500 GB versus 100 GB at Hostnet Boost (€16.99). For websites with a lot of media, regular backups or multiple projects, this makes the difference between constantly cleaning up or being able to grow comfortably.
LiteSpeed Enterprise for optimal WordPress performance
Theory7 runs on LiteSpeed Enterprise web servers, whereas Hostnet uses conventional SSD servers. For WordPress websites this is an important difference: LiteSpeed is on average 5x faster at processing PHP requests and has built-in LSCache that works seamlessly with WordPress. This means faster loading times without installing and configuring complex caching plugins.
Unlimited databases and email from the entry level
Theory7 offers unlimited databases and email accounts on all plans, including the Basic plan of €4.99. With Hostnet databases and email are limited: Lite has 5 databases and 5 email accounts, Core 50 and 50, Boost 75 and 100. For developers who run many development/staging environments or companies with multiple employees and email addresses, these limits are frustrating.
When is Hostnet the better option after all?
In fairness, there are situations where Hostnet fits well:
- An all-in-one need - if you want domain name, hosting, e-commerce and website builder with one party
- Extensive malware scanning - the higher Hostnet plans offer proactive malware protection
- A lot of manual backup flexibility - Hostnet offers both automatic and manual backups with longer retention periods
- Trying first with a low entry price - the €4.99 introductory price gives you a year to test (do watch out for the renewal)
For customers who are mainly looking for solid hosting at a predictable price with modern performance technology, however, Theory7 offers better value.
How to migrate from Hostnet to Theory7?
The switch does not have to be complex. Theory7 offers free website migration through the SiteSwitch service with all plans:
- Select your Theory7 plan - Basic (€4.99), Plus (€7.99), Premium (€12.99) or Business (€19.99)
- Request free SiteSwitch migration - through the Theory7 customer panel, at no extra cost
- Provide access details securely - you share your Hostnet FTP/SFTP and database credentials with the migration team
- The migration is carried out professionally - experienced technicians move your websites, databases and email without downtime
- Test everything on a temporary URL - check that your website works correctly before you change DNS
- Adjust DNS when you are ready - change nameservers or A records to go live on Theory7
- Cancel Hostnet after a successful switch - after DNS propagation and verification you can end your old account
Standard migrations are done within 24-48 hours. For complex setups with many databases or large amounts of email it can take a few days longer, but you are kept informed of the progress during the process.
WordPress-specific migration tips
Do you have WordPress websites? The SiteSwitch team has a lot of experience with this. They migrate not only the files and database, but also check whether permalinks keep working correctly, plugins are compatible, and whether the .htaccess configuration comes across well. After migration you can benefit from LiteSpeed's built-in cache, which often performs better than popular caching plugins such as WP Super Cache. Read more about migrating WordPress websites.
The Hostnet migration process is risk-free: Theory7 arranges the full migration through SiteSwitch.
For whom is Theory7 the smartest choice?
Theory7 is especially interesting for:
- Budget-conscious professionals who do not want to experience price jumps after the first year
- WordPress users who want optimal performance without paying managed hosting prices
- Growing websites that need room for media, content and future expansion
- Developers and agencies who run many staging environments and value unlimited databases
- Companies with multiple employees who need unlimited email accounts
The Hostnet migration process is fully guided by the Theory7 support team.
The entire migration process is handled by the Theory7 support team through the free SiteSwitch service, so that you need no technical knowledge for the switch.
Frequently asked questions about migrating from Hostnet
Are you considering going ahead with your migration from Hostnet? These are the most frequently asked questions.
How long does the migration from Hostnet to Theory7 take?
A standard migration through SiteSwitch takes 24 to 48 hours from the moment you have provided the necessary access details. For websites with very large databases, many files or complex configurations it can take 3-4 days. Your website stays online and reachable on your Hostnet server during the entire migration, so there is no downtime.
Are my emails and contacts also migrated?
Yes, the SiteSwitch team also migrates your email accounts including existing messages, folders and where possible filters. For IMAP mailboxes all emails are copied. Note: during DNS propagation (24-48 hours) new emails can come in on both servers, so it is wise to check both inboxes for the first few days. More information in our guide about email migration without data loss.
Can I keep my domain name?
Absolutely. You have two options: leave the domain name with Hostnet (or your current registrar) and only adjust the DNS settings, or transfer the domain name entirely to Theory7. The fastest route is adjusting DNS, which is active within a few hours. A full transfer can take 5-7 days because of verification and authorization codes.
What happens if the migration does not go well?
The SiteSwitch team always first makes a full backup before starting the migration. Your original website at Hostnet stays intact until you change the DNS yourself. Should something not be right, you can return to the old situation within minutes by reverting the DNS. So there is no risk of data loss or prolonged downtime.
Do I get the same backup options as at Hostnet?
Theory7 also offers backup options. Hostnet has extensive automatic backups (7 days for lower plans), which is certainly a strong point. Theory7 offers regular backups, and you can also easily make backups yourself through cPanel or plugins such as UpdraftPlus for WordPress. For critical websites you can consider running your own off-site backups in addition to the server backups for maximum certainty.
Migrating from Hostnet: an extensive migration plan
A successful migration when migrating from Hostnet requires a detailed plan. Below you will find all the steps you have to go through for a trouble-free switch.
Preparation and data collection
Log in to your Hostnet account and document all active services. Note your domain names, hosting plans, email accounts with associated storage space, databases and any extra services such as DNS management or domain locking. Make screenshots of your DNS settings at Hostnet, because you need this information to reproduce the configuration exactly with your new provider. Also check whether there are active SSL certificates and note their type and expiry date.
An email migration strategy
Email is the most critical part of a move. Start by creating all email accounts on the new server with the same addresses and ample storage space. Use an IMAP migration tool to transfer all messages, folders and flags. This can run in the background while you migrate the rest of your data. Test the new email accounts by sending and receiving test messages. Only change the MX records when you are sure that everything works correctly on the new server and all emails have been transferred.
Website migration per type
The migration method depends on the type of website you have. For WordPress sites you use a migration plugin such as All-in-One WP Migration or Duplicator. For static HTML websites you simply copy all files through FTP. Custom PHP applications require extra attention: check the PHP version compatibility, database settings and any server-specific configurations. Test each website thoroughly on the new server before you switch the DNS.
Migrating from Hostnet: after the migration
After completing the technical migration, there are still various important steps to fully finish and verify the Hostnet migration process.
Verification and monitoring
In the first 48 hours after the DNS switch, systematically check all functionalities of your website. Test contact forms, shopping cart functions, search functions and all internal and external links. Monitor your website uptime with a free tool such as UptimeRobot. Check your Google Search Console for any crawl errors. Keep an eye on the traffic in Google Analytics to verify that no unexplained drops occur that point to migration errors.
Cancelling your Hostnet account
Only cancel your Hostnet account when you are sure that the full migration has succeeded and DNS propagation is complete. Wait at least a week after the domain transfer to be sure that all services function correctly on the new server. Keep your Hostnet login details for a few more months in case unexpected problems occur. Request a confirmation of the cancellation and check whether any automatic direct debits are stopped.
Also see our migration guides for migrating from Strato and migrating from TransIP for other providers.
Migrating from Hostnet: frequently asked questions
When planning a Hostnet migration path, many of the same questions come up. Below we answer the most important questions about the migration process.
Can I take my email history with me?
Yes, with a migration from Hostnet you can take your complete email history with you. Use an IMAP migration tool to transfer all messages, folders and read statuses to the new server. Most email programs such as Outlook and Thunderbird keep messages locally, so that you also have a local copy as a backup. Make sure you test the migration process with a small account before you transfer all mailboxes.
What happens to my search positions in Google?
If you carry out the move correctly, you keep your search positions in Google. The keys are keeping the same URL structure, setting up 301 redirects for any changed URLs and ensuring a fast loading time on the new server. A temporary dip in rankings is possible during the DNS propagation period, but this usually recovers within a week. Monitor your positions through Google Search Console to detect any problems quickly.
How long do I have to keep my Hostnet account active?
Keep your Hostnet account active for at least two weeks after the full DNS switch. This ensures that any delayed DNS propagation does not cause problems. During this transition period, visitors who still use the old DNS cache are served by the Hostnet server. After two weeks you can safely cancel the account, but keep your login details for a few more months as a backup in case unexpected questions arise.
Migrating from Hostnet: costs and timeline
A realistic plan is essential for a successful Hostnet migration. Below you will find an overview of the expected costs and time investment.
Costs of switching from Hostnet
The direct costs of a switch from Hostnet are limited. You pay for the new hosting from activation. Domain transfers are free with most receiving registrars or cost only the amount of a one-year renewal. Take into account overlapping costs during two to four weeks while you keep both hosting accounts active as a safety net. Some new providers offer free migration support, which saves you hours of your own work.
A timeline for the full migration
Plan at least two weeks for the complete migration from Hostnet to your new provider. You spend the first week on inventory, making backups, setting up the new hosting environment and migrating your data. You use the second week for testing all functionalities, initiating the domain transfer and monitoring DNS propagation. Keep the third week available as a buffer for unexpected problems or delays in the domain transfer. After three weeks the full migration should be complete.
Migrating from Hostnet: frequently asked questions
When migrating from Hostnet to another provider, many users have similar questions. A frequently asked question is whether you can take your email addresses with you. The answer is yes: your email addresses are linked to your domain name, not to your hosting provider. During the move you configure the same email addresses with your new provider and set up the MX records again. Another frequently asked question concerns the downtime during the move. With the right preparation and by carrying out DNS changes outside office hours, you limit the downtime to a minimum.
A checklist for a successful move
Use this concise checklist to make your move from Hostnet go smoothly. Check whether all website files have been transferred and all pages load correctly. Verify that your database has been fully migrated and all dynamic content functions. Test all email accounts on the new platform and check delivery with various providers. Check your SSL certificate and all security settings on the new server.
