ExaHost.com review

First impression

ExaHost, also referred to by their official name of Exa Information Technology, is a Saudi company specializing in the business of server management, hosting, and cloud services. They are based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was started in the year 2002. Shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, email hosting, WordPress management, SSL certificates, server management, and website development were some of the services provided by them. They also offer cloud security solutions and has achieved the position of an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner in Saudi Arabia. ExaHost has data centers in the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Trial Period

They're not the kind of provider who lets you get your feet wet before jumping in as they don't offer any kind of free trials, and there isn't a money-back guarantee, either. The minimum term they offer for their shared hosting plans is three months, so if it doesn't work out, at least your potential overall exposure isn't one year. It's not such a great idea if you want to have some sort of safety net, but at least your investment upfront isn't too high.

Billing Cycle

On their shared hosting packages, the billing cycles available to choose from include quarters, half-yearly, yearly, every two years, and every three, the longer you commit, the more discount they include. Dedicated servers and VPS server plans have a little less leeway in billing cycles, with quarters, half-yearly, and yearly being the available choices. Unfortunately, there is no month-to-month options.

They currently accept payments via all major Credit Cards, Bank Transfers, as well as PayPal.

Control Panel

ExaHost includes cPanel, a firm industry favorite, with its Linux-based shared hosting, VPS, and dedicated server plans, while Windows-based plans come with Plesk. cPanel makes website management super straightforward, letting you handle files, emails, and databases without needing technical expertise. Plesk, on the other hand, is a flexible option that works on both Linux and Windows, making it a great choice for managing multiple sites efficiently. It’s often preferred for its clean interface and automation tools, which help streamline server administration.

Limits

Their Shared Hosting plans are built on Intel Xeon processors with DDR4 ECC RAM and high-performance 15K SSD MLC SAS disks - these solid-state drives use multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory, capable of handling approximately 15,000 write cycles per cell. The plans come in three straightforward tiers: First, Fast, and Fly. The First plan includes 5GB of SSD storage, a 512MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 100GB of monthly bandwidth, 30 POP/IMAP email accounts, and support for a single domain. Stepping up, the Fast plan offers a 1GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, unlimited SSD storage, bandwidth, POP/IMAP email accounts, and MySQL databases, with support for up to 10 domains. The top-tier Fly plan packs a 2GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, unlimited SSD storage, bandwidth, and email accounts, with no restrictions on the number of domains or subdomains. All plans come with a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt.

On the dedicated server side, ExaHost offers multiple configurations, starting with the Server D-1 plan, featuring a single Intel C2750 2.4GHz CPU, 16GB DDR3 RAM, 256GB SSD storage, and 10TB of monthly traffic. Notably, this is the only dedicated plan available exclusively on Linux, while all other plans support both Linux and Windows. At the higher end, the Server D-12 plan boasts a Xeon E5-2650 2GHz CPU, 64GB DDR3 RAM, eight 2TB SATA HDDs in RAID 1 (not SSD), and 30TB of monthly traffic.

Website Builder

ExaHost does not include a website builder in their hosting plans, but it is nonetheless possible to get a professional website without knowing any code through the installation of WordPress. WordPress is a user-friendly content management system that allows you to choose from a number of themes and further tailor your website through the use of a user-friendly interface. To get started, WordPress may be installed via their control panel via a one-click install. By installing WordPress, you can choose a template that suits your taste and include items like a contact form, image gallery, and so forth by installing plug-ins. This way, despite not having a special website builder, it becomes possible to get your website fully operational in no time. I personally prefer WordPress compared to most website builders.

They also offer website design as a service if you want the experts to handle that.

Security

ExaHost prioritizes cybersecurity across all of their hosting packages and throughout their infrastructure. They include numerous security features to protect client data and ensure the integrity of their systems. Some of the security features include network security shields for data in transit, identification access management software to manage the identification of users, security standards for applications to identify and repair vulnerabilities, and protection and reaction tools for rapidly responding to possible intrusions. Cloud security and compliance services are also available to integrate with existing infrastructures easily. This provider has a partnership with Bitdefender, and packages thus come with complete antivirus and malware protection.

Despite all of the above, some details of some of the security features cannot be found on the website. For instance, although they also stress protection from DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks, they fail to define the depth of protection offered. For clients who want more sophisticated security features, there are also Comodo SSL certificates and server management available from ExaHost at an additional charge that customers purchase individually to enhance security.

OS

With ExaHost’s shared hosting plans, the operating system you get depends on where your subscription lands—Linux users will either be running Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux, both solid choices for stability and performance. If you’re opting for Windows-based shared hosting, you’ll be working with Windows Server 2016. Now, if you need a dedicated server, you get way more flexibility. Linux users can pick from CentOS 7 or 8, AlmaLinux 8.4, Debian 10 or 11, or Ubuntu 18.04 or 20.04, depending on what suits your setup best. Windows users aren’t left out either, with options ranging from Windows Server 2012 all the way up to 2019. It’s nice to have a mix of newer and well-established OS options, so you’re not stuck with something that doesn’t fit your needs.

Support

Personally, the best thing about ExaHost’s service, in my opinion, is their support, and it’s available through different channels such as a Ticketing System, Live Chat, Email, and over the phone, and the support is available in both English and Arabic. The support team consists of specialized individuals in the domain of cloud service, so not general responses but real expertise. And they also promise to reply to tech issues in 30 minutes at the most, and that’s very fast compared to the majority of them.

Conclusion

If you ask me, ExaHost is a solid choice, but whether it’s the right fit for you depends entirely on what you need. If you're a business or individual looking for hosting in the MENA region, their locally based data centers in Egypt and Saudi Arabia make them a great option, ensuring lower latency for regional visitors. Their shared hosting plans are well-equipped for small to medium-sized websites, especially with their unlimited resource options on higher-tier plans. Plus, with bilingual support (Arabic and English) and relatively fast response times, they cater well to businesses that need reliable assistance. However, if you're looking for global reach, ExaHost might not be the best fit due to its limited international presence. Also, the lack of a website builder or any sort of trial period might be a dealbreaker for beginners who want a risk-free way to test things out. If you’re tech-savvy or don’t mind using WordPress or coding your own site, though, it could still be a great option.