FatCow Review

Company Overview

FatCow is a budget hosting brand known for its cartoon cow, its plain-English tone and its green-energy commitment: the company has long said that it offsets its energy use with wind power. Like iPage, it belongs to the Newfold Digital group.

It is aimed at people who want an uncomplicated home for a personal site, a blog or a small shop, with no-nonsense setup and support.

Plans

FatCow keeps things simple with one main shared plan, plus WordPress-focused options. You get the essentials in a single package instead of a long comparison table.

FatCow Original

Main features

  • One straightforward shared plan
  • Site builder
  • One-click WordPress
  • Email accounts
  • Free SSL certificate

Worth checking

  • Renewal rate
  • Domain renewal after year one
  • Backup tools included or paid
  • Money-back period

Plan price

Check current rate

We no longer print prices. Introductory rates usually apply to the first term and to longer prepaid periods, and renewals cost more. Check the current price and renewal rate on the provider’s order page.

Customer Support

FatCow’s support team, nicknamed “the Moo Crew”, is available around the clock by phone and chat, backed by a help desk with tutorials and FAQs. In our tests the answers were friendly and accurate on everyday questions.

Technology – Performance and Reliability

FatCow uses a pooled server environment in which any server can serve a site’s files, which helps keep small sites online. For typical personal and small business sites, performance is fine; for growing or busy sites, a VPS elsewhere is the better step.

Technology – Further Technological Features

These are the technical features we checked on FatCow’s shared plan. Check the provider’s plan page for the current list.

Control Panel

  • FatCow custom control panel

Uptime

  • 99.9% target advertised
  • Check the current service terms

Platform

  • Linux

Databases

  • MySQL

One Click Installations

  • WordPress
  • Joomla
  • Drupal
  • phpBB

Email

  • POP3 and IMAP
  • Webmail
  • Forwarders

E-Commerce

  • Shopping cart apps
  • Free SSL certificate

Server Side Scripts

  • PHP
  • Perl / CGI

Is It a Fit for a Gambling Site?

For a hobby site about poker nights, a lottery-results blog or a small casino guide, FatCow’s simple plan is enough. Read the acceptable use policy before you publish gambling advertising, and remember that a real-money operation needs licensed, dedicated infrastructure rather than budget shared hosting.

Our Verdict

FatCow is a pleasant, uncomplicated host for simple sites, with a personality the big brands lack. As with every budget host, compare the renewal price and keep your own backups.

Advertising Disclosure

Web Hosting Free Reviews is an independent guide to web hosting and website builders. Rankings are our editorial opinion; hosting plans, prices and features change often, so always confirm the current details with the provider before you sign up.

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