YesUpHost Review 2024 – Don’t Pay Until You Read This

Simplicity from Complexity?

To compare the best web hosts, we hosted the same WordPress website on each one and tested performance, customer service, and value for money. Check out the results here.

Founded in 1989, YesUpHost is a web host based in Toronto, Canada, with a 40,000-square-foot, environmentally friendly data center. It claims to “create simplicity from complexity,” but I’ll be the judge of that later on in this article.

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YesUpHost is mostly focused on dedicated server hosting, promising to offer stable dedicated servers with 99.9% uptime and an “uninterruptible power supply” that automatically switches sources if power fails at one. But does it live up to its promises?

Of course, dedicated servers don’t come cheap, and YesUpHost isn’t for everyone, so you’ll want to read on a little more before you make a decision. Like any host, it has its pros and cons. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer and see if it’s right for you.

Specialist in Dedicated Servers

If you’re looking for cheap shared hosting or even a VPS, YesUpHost is probably not the right choice for you. While it does offer cloud hosting, it’s a custom experience and you’ll have to contact customer service to set it up.

YesUpHost’s dedicated servers mean you alone have access to the processing power and storage space on the server that powers your website. It can lead to better performance than traditional hosting, since you’re not sharing space, while also eliminating the chance that someone else will compromise the server by uploading an infected file.

YesUpHost also provides operating system updates, firewalls, backups, restoration, and more. While YesUpHost has many features, they aren’t easy to install or use, and the lack of customer support or even instructions can make them nearly impossible to access for some users. The company is clearly aimed at more advanced users and isn’t interested in rookie webmasters.

Fully Customizable

One of the main advantages of going with YesUpHost is that each of its servers are fully customizable, allowing you to install whichever software you need and selecting from a menu of hardware options. This means you can streamline your server setup so that you’re only paying for the resources you need.

State-of-the-Art Equipment

YesUpHost uses state-of-the-art equipment in its data centers, including a full ventilation and temperature control system that ensures a constant temperature and humidity throughout the facility. This also includes advanced fire suppression and smoke detection systems, as well as an under-floor leak detection system and raised flooring for cooling efficiency.

Advanced Server Security

YesUpHost secures its servers with CCTV cameras, access card readers, and 24/7 security management. They make sure that no unauthorized personnel have access to the physical hardware and the data that’s stored on it, making them a good choice if you’re in an industry like healthcare or finance that has compliance requirements.

Colocation

If you want to own your servers while taking advantage of third-party infrastructure (basically, you get all the features of a large IT department without the capital investment), YesUpHost offers a colocation service in its data center near Markham, Ontario. The company has 22,000 square feet of colocation space that includes private hosting cages, suites, and cabinets. Just keep in mind that it’s not the only dedicated server specialist to offer colocation services.

Limited Stock Special Servers

If the thought of configuring your own dedicated server leaves you shaken, it might be worth considering one of YesUpHost’s pre-built special servers. They’re all pre-configured and feature a range of performance levels, so you’ll probably be able to find a server to suit you if you don’t want to build your own.

Optional DDoS Protection

If you’re worried about distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and want to take extra steps to protect your website, YesUpHost has an optional DDoS protection solution. These services don’t come cheap, though, and even the basic plan starts at several times the cost of the company’s entry-level servers.

Automatic Bandwidth Pooling

Bandwidth pooling allows you to “pool” unused bandwidth across each of your servers, keeping you from paying more than you need to while also improving website performance. Note that this will only apply if you have multiple dedicated servers with the company.

YesUpHost isn’t the easiest provider to work with, but that is partly because it specializes in more advanced dedicated server hosting. It targets seasoned developers and system administrators who need little to no help, so if you’re looking for a host that will make things easy for you, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Creating an Account

Signing up to YesUpHost isn’t as easy as it is with some other providers. When I was signing up for my account, I experienced a glitch, and when I was finally able to submit it, I had to wait a day for the account to be created. The support team wasn’t helpful, either.

Connecting a Domain and Installing WordPress

Connecting a domain and installing WordPress isn’t easy with YesUpHost, and you’re going to need a basic understanding of CentOS and command line programming. You’re also going to have to do it alone because the company’s support is virtually nonexistent. It’s likely to take you an hour or so from start to finish, so make sure that you set some time aside.

Pre-Built and Ready-to-Go Dedicated Servers

I’ve talked about how you can customize a server with YesUpHost, but if you’re at the other end of the spectrum and just require a quick setup, with pre-set server configurations, that’s possible too. YesUpHost offers servers that come with pre-built configurations, which can be deployed within about three hours.

Not the Best, Not the Worst

Because the company focuses on hosting dedicated servers for a small number of customers, there aren’t too many reviews. Still, I didn’t spot any major complaints about the server speeds, which is what’s important in a dedicated server provider.

As always, I tested the company’s servers using the Sucuri page load speed test to determine the expected speeds. While the speeds are not the worst, they’re also not the best.

Still, you’ll get decent loading times across Europe and North America, though the global average is a little slower than some shared hosting providers, which isn’t encouraging. I also found that YesUpHost’s own corporate website loaded sluggishly. Sucuri gives them an A+ but I’d give them a B or a B-.

Leaves Much to Be Desired

YesUpHost claims to offer 24/7/365 support, but that’s not what I experienced. There’s a telephone support line for sales only that’s open from 9 AM to 6 PM EST, a live chat module that was always offline (in my experience), and a ticketing system. As far as I could tell, there also isn’t a knowledge base or a discussion forum.

If lack of support is a deal-breaker for you, then you might want to look elsewhere. YesUpHost’s live chat was constantly offline, and when I tried sending an offline message asking for a convenient time to talk, I received no reply.

I also submitted a ticket and had to wait 16 hours for a reply. It’s no exaggeration to say that the company offers some of the worst customer service I’ve seen.

Not the Cheapest, Even for Dedicated Servers

Even YesUpHost’s cheapest plans will cost a lot more than if you were going for shared, VPS, or cloud hosting, but that’s the norm when it comes to dedicated servers. Regarding price, it’s around the middle of the market, and if you shop around, you’ll find dedicated servers that are cheaper.

Cancellations & Refunds

YesUpHost is another one of those strange companies where it’s easier to leave than it is to sign up. Be quick, though, because the money-back guarantee only lasts for seven days.

The good news is that it’s easy to cancel from within your administration panel, and there’s no need to contact customer service (which is a relief, because the customer service team is hard to reach).

The company wasn’t great at communicating, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the refund in my account within three days. You can click here to find out more about my cancellation experience.