Migrating from Neostrada to Theory7: better quality hosting
More and more website administrators are considering migrating from Neostrada to another hosting provider. The reason? Neostrada attracts customers with extremely low starting prices, but after the first year the costs rise dramatically. Anyone who does not expect this gets a real shock with the first renewal invoice. In this article we honestly explain what Neostrada offers, where the bottlenecks are and how you switch step by step to Theory7 web hosting without downtime or data loss.
We are transparent: we are Theory7, so we are not neutral. But we support every point with facts and verifiable data. Compare for yourself and draw your own conclusion.
Why customers leave Neostrada
Neostrada is a Dutch hosting provider that focuses on the entry-level market. Their Standard web hosting plan costs only €2.50 for the first year. That sounds attractive, but there is a big catch: after that first year you suddenly pay €24.99 per month. That is a price increase of almost 1000%. For a standard shared hosting plan with 25 GB SSD storage and cPanel that is on the high side.
This pricing model is not unique in the hosting industry, many providers work with introductory discounts. But the jump from €2.50 per year to €24.99 per month is exceptionally large. Many customers only realise too late that their monthly costs rise sharply after renewal. On an annual basis you pay almost €300 after the first year for hosting that you can get elsewhere for a fraction of the price.
In addition, some customers notice that Neostrada's performance does not always match their expectations. The servers run on standard SSD storage with cPanel as the control panel. Although that is functional, features such as LiteSpeed web server technology, NVMe storage and CloudLinux isolation, which are standard at more modern providers, are missing.
Neostrada versus Theory7: an honest comparison
Let's put the two providers side by side on the points that really matter for your website.
| Feature | Neostrada Standard | Theory7 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price first year | €2.50 (total) | €0.49/mo (€5.88 total) |
| Price after renewal | €24.99/mo | €0.49/mo |
| Annual cost (year 2+) | ~€300/year | €5.88/year |
| Storage | 25 GB SSD | 10 GB NVMe SSD |
| Web server | Apache/Nginx | LiteSpeed |
| Free SSL | Yes (basic) | Yes (Let's Encrypt) |
| Control panel | cPanel | DirectAdmin |
| SSH access | Limited | Yes, full |
| CloudLinux isolation | No | Yes |
| NVMe storage | No (SATA SSD) | Yes |
| Daily backups | Yes | Yes |
The difference in ongoing costs is enormous. Where at Neostrada you pay almost €300 per year after the first year, at Theory7 you pay less than €6 per year for the Mini plan. Even if you need more storage and choose a larger plan, at Theory7 you stay well below Neostrada's renewal price.
Technical advantages at Theory7
The decision to migrate from Neostrada is understandable given the extreme price increase after the first year. More and more customers choose to migrate from Neostrada to a provider with fair prices.
Besides the price difference, there are concrete technical reasons why switching to Theory7 improves your website.
LiteSpeed web server
Theory7 runs on LiteSpeed Enterprise, the fastest web server for PHP websites. In benchmarks LiteSpeed is up to 6x faster than Apache at processing PHP requests. For WordPress sites, online stores and other dynamic websites you notice this immediately in the load times. LiteSpeed also has a built-in cache (LSCache) that stores static versions of your pages, so that repeat visits load lightning fast.
NVMe SSD storage
After migrating from Neostrada you immediately benefit from better technology and lower costs. Migrating from Neostrada does not have to be complicated: Theory7 handles the migration for free.
Where Neostrada uses standard SATA SSDs, Theory7 runs on NVMe SSDs. The difference? NVMe storage reaches read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s, while SATA SSDs top out at around 550 MB/s. That is more than 12x faster. Especially with database operations, think of WordPress queries, WooCommerce product pages or contact forms, you notice this difference immediately.
CloudLinux isolation
On a shared hosting server you share resources with other websites. At Neostrada a heavy neighbour can slow down your site. Theory7 uses CloudLinux with CageFS isolation, so that each account runs in its own secure environment with guaranteed resources. A busy neighbour has no influence on your site.
Step-by-step migration plan
Migrating from Neostrada to Theory7 is simpler than you think. Follow this plan for a seamless switch without downtime.
Step 1: create a Theory7 account
Customers who migrate from Neostrada notice the difference right away. By migrating from Neostrada you avoid the steep price increase and at the same time get faster hosting.
Go to the web hosting page of Theory7 and choose the plan that suits your needs. For most websites the Mini plan (€0.49/mo) is more than enough. Your account is activated immediately after ordering.
Step 2: make a backup at Neostrada
Log in at Neostrada and make a full backup of your website. Download all files through FTP or the file manager in cPanel. Export your database through phpMyAdmin. Save both to your computer.
Step 3: upload files to Theory7
Log in to DirectAdmin on your new Theory7 account. Upload your website files through the file manager or through FTP to the public_html folder. Create a new database in DirectAdmin and import your database export through phpMyAdmin.
Step 4: adjust the configuration
Update your configuration file (for example wp-config.php for WordPress) with the new database details: hostname, database name, username and password. You find these in DirectAdmin under MySQL Management.
Step 5: test your website
Before you change the DNS, you can test your website through the temporary URL that Theory7 offers or by adjusting your hosts file locally. Check whether all pages load correctly, forms work and any plugins function.
Step 6: change the DNS
Once everything works, point your domain name to Theory7's nameservers. You do this at your domain registrar (this may be Neostrada itself, or a separate registrar). DNS propagation usually takes 1 to 24 hours. During this period your site works on both servers, so there is no downtime.
Step 7: check and optimise
After DNS propagation you check whether everything runs correctly on Theory7. Install a caching plugin that supports LiteSpeed Cache (for WordPress: the free LiteSpeed Cache plugin) and test your load times. Most customers see an immediate improvement.
Free migration service
Do you not feel like doing it yourself? Theory7 offers a free migration service. Our technical team migrates your entire website, including files, databases and email accounts. We also arrange the DNS settings and check after the migration whether everything functions correctly. You do not have to do anything yourself.
When is the best time to migrate?
The ideal moment to migrate from Neostrada is just before your renewal date. This way you avoid paying another period at the high renewal rate. Check in your Neostrada account when your hosting expires and start the migration at least two weeks before that date. This gives you plenty of time to test everything.
Note: only cancel your Neostrada hosting after you have verified that everything works correctly at Theory7. This way you always have a fallback if something unexpectedly goes wrong during the migration.
Bringing your email with you
Do you use email through Neostrada? Then you can bring it with you to Theory7. Create the same email addresses at Theory7 through DirectAdmin, configure your email client with the new server details and optionally move your existing emails through IMAP. Theory7 supports IMAP, POP3 and webmail as standard.
Transfer your domain name or just hosting?
You can choose whether you migrate only your hosting or also transfer your domain name. If your domain name is registered with Neostrada, you can transfer it to Theory7 or to another registrar. That is a separate process from the hosting migration. It is also fine to keep your domain name with Neostrada and only change the nameservers, then you only pay the annual domain registration at Neostrada.
What customers say after the switch
Customers who have switched from Neostrada to Theory7 mention three things most often. First the predictable, low price: no surprises at renewal. Second the speed: the combination of LiteSpeed and NVMe storage makes a noticeable difference in load times. Third the personal support: at Theory7 you get a fast answer from technical staff who understand your problem, instead of standard scripts.
Summary: why migrate from Neostrada to Theory7?
The most important reasons to switch at a glance:
- No price shock: Theory7 does not use extreme increases after the first year. What you see is what you pay, month after month.
- Faster technology: LiteSpeed web server and NVMe SSD storage ensure significantly faster load times.
- Better isolation: CloudLinux protects your site against the influence of other accounts on the same server.
- Free migration: Theory7 migrates your website free of charge and without downtime.
- SSH access: handy for developers and advanced users, included as standard.
What to look out for when choosing a new provider
If you switch from Neostrada, you do not want to make the same mistake with another provider. So pay attention to the following points when comparing hosting plans:
- Renewal price: what does the plan cost after the first year? Is the introductory discount realistic or do you have to pay ten times as much after a year?
- Web server technology: does the provider run on Apache, Nginx or LiteSpeed? LiteSpeed is demonstrably faster for PHP-based websites.
- Storage type: is it SSD, NVMe SSD or even still HDD? NVMe is up to 12 times faster than traditional SSD.
- SSL certificate: is an SSL certificate included or do you pay extra for it?
- Isolation: does the provider use CloudLinux or a comparable solution to isolate accounts from each other?
- SSH access: can you connect through SSH for advanced management? Not every provider offers this on shared hosting.
Theory7 scores on all these points: transparent prices without extreme increases, LiteSpeed Enterprise, NVMe SSD on all plans, free SSL, CloudLinux isolation and SSH access included as standard. The Mini plan of €0.49 per month stays €0.49 per month, even after the first year.
Neostrada versus the Dutch hosting market
It is fair to say that Neostrada is not the only provider with aggressive price increases. Many providers in the Dutch market work with the model of low starting prices followed by steep renewal costs. The difference lies in the degree: an increase of 10-20% after the first year is common and acceptable. An increase of almost 1000% as with Neostrada is exceptional.
Fortunately there are also providers that use transparent prices. At Theory7 the price you see is the price you pay, now and in the future. No hidden costs, no extreme renewal prices. We think that is fairer and it prevents you having to look for a new provider again in a year's time.
Common mistakes when migrating hosting
A hosting migration does not have to be complicated, but there are pitfalls you can avoid. The most common mistake is changing the DNS settings too early, before all files and databases have been fully transferred. Always check first whether your website works correctly on the new server before you point the domain to it. At Theory7 we help you with this process so that you experience no downtime.
Also always make a complete backup before you start the migration. Copy your files, databases and email configuration. Keep the backup in a safe location that is separate from both hosting providers. Should something go wrong during the migration, you can always go back to the previous situation.
Do not forget to cancel your old hosting account at Neostrada after the migration. Some customers only realise months later that they are still paying for hosting they no longer use. Also check whether your domain name has been transferred correctly or points to the new server. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to apply worldwide, so be patient after the switch.
Another common mistake is forgetting email accounts. If your email runs through Neostrada, you have to move those accounts to the new provider too. Do not forget to update your email settings on all devices after the migration. At Theory7 you can easily create professional email addresses that work with your domain right away.
Ready to migrate from Neostrada to better hosting? See the web hosting plans from Theory7 or get in touch for a no-obligation advice session. And if you would rather not migrate yourself, use our free migration service.
