Should You Host with Rocket.net? Review of Features, Pricing & Performance

Rocket.net is all about performance, with advanced caching technology and a global network of edge servers for fast loading times and minimal downtime. It integrates with Cloudflare Enterprise for enhanced security and performance and offers a free unlimited migration service for WordPress users looking to switch to their platform. In this 2024 Rocket.net review, we’ll examine its features, pricing, pros and cons in more detail.

WordPress hosting companies are ten a penny these days, so it’s hard to stand out. Especially if you’re a newcomer in the field. However, Rocket.net claims it has 20+ years of experience to back it up.

Did you know that 🚀 Rocket.net was the clear winner in our WordPress hosting speed test?

The platform does as its name suggests and promises to provide rocket-fast managed WordPress hosting to its clients. 

But does it live up to its hype? Being the adventurous type, I strapped myself in and took Rocket.net for a ride to see how it performed. Here’s what I found…

TL;DR: Rocket.net is managed WordPress hosting provider that is a perfect option for users of WordPress that want the speediest loading times possible coupled with great security features. Budget shoppers, on the other hand, will be disappointed – this platform isn’t cheap.

Don’t have time to sit and read this Rocket hosting review? Well, you can get started with Rocket.net right away for the princely sum of just $1. This payment gives you full access to the platform and all its features for 30 days.

Plans & Pricing

Rocket.net has price plans available for managed hosting and agency and enterprise hosting:

Managed hosting:

Managed hosting and agency hosting comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and while there is no free trial, you can try out the service for almost nothing, as the first month costs only $1.

Plan	Monthly price	Monthly price paid annually	Try for free?
Starter plan	$30/month	$25/month	$1 for the first month plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
Pro plan	$60/month	$50/month
Business plan	$100/month	$83/month
Agency Hosting Tier 1 plan	$100/month	$83/month
Agency Hosting Tier 2 plan	$200/month	$166/month
Agency Hosting Tier 3 plan	$300/month	$249/month
Enterprise 1 plan	$649/month	N/A	N/A
Enterprise 2 plan	$1,299/month	N/A	N/A
Enterprise 3 plan	$1,949/month	N/A	N/A

Who is Rocket.net For?

Rocket.net has thought of all levels of requirements and provides solutions for the individual, right up to the enterprise level. 

The platform also allows you to resell it, making it a perfect option for marketing and digital marketing agencies that want to create an additional revenue stream from hosting clients’ websites.

Additionally, it’s a great solution for e-commerce sites powered by WooCommerce.

Who Rocket.net is for:

• Bloggers, small business owners, agencies, and larger enterprises
• Those who prioritize website performance and fast loading times
• Those who want a simple and transparent pricing structure
• Those who need reliable VIP support and want to manage their websites easily
• Check out these case studies and learn what Rocket net can do

But who isn’t it for?

Rocket.net has been designed with businesses in mind. That much is reflected in its prices. So, if you have a WordPress website for fun that you have no plans to monetize, then Rocket.net is probably too much for your needs.

Who Rocket.net may not be the best fit for:

• Those who require a lot of customization and control over their hosting environment
• Those who require a hosting provider with a lot of advanced security features and compliance certifications

Key Features

So what does Rocket.net bring to the table that makes it worth considering over more established hosting providers?

Here’s the lowdown on its key features regarding speed, performance, security and support.

User-Friendly Interface

I appreciate a nice clean interface where I can easily find what I’m looking for and, better still – actually understand what I’m doing.

I’m pleased to report that Rocket.net’s user interface is really nice.

I got started in seconds and had my WordPress site ready to go in my hosting account control panel. The platform automatically chooses and installs appropriate plugins, such as Akismet and CDN-cache management, and provides access to all the usual free WordPress themes.

Then in the other tabs, you can view all the files, backups, logs, reports, and customize security and advanced settings.

At any point, I could switch to the WordPress admin screen and work on my site.

All-in-all, it was super easy to navigate, and I didn’t experience any bugs or glitches when moving around the interface.

What else did I like?

• You have a choice of data centers. Two in the US and one each in the UK, Singapore, Australia, The Netherlands, and Germany.
• You can customize your WordPress installation by adding multisite support, WooCommerce, and Atarim (a collaboration tool).
• You get a free temporary URL so you can get to work on your site before you’ve purchased a domain name.
• You can migrate any existing WordPress sites over for free.
• Rocket.net lets you clone your WordPress site in one click which gives you the opportunity to test out new themes and plugins on a staging site without accidentally wrecking your original site.
• Install WordPress plugins and themes from inside your Rocket dashboard.

One glaring omission, however, is email hosting. The platform simply does not offer it. So, this means you have to get a different provider for your email, which a) costs more, and b) makes things more complicated. 

This is disappointing as most decent hosting providers offer this service. But if you already use Google Workspace (like I do) then this isn’t a major drawback, in my opinion.

Superior Speed & Performance

All web hosting companies make the same claims about having the fastest servers, the best service, and greatest experience.

A hosting provider with the word “rocket” in its title would not be doing itself any favors if it were slow. Thankfully, Rocket.net lives up to its name and provides lightening fast loading speeds for your WordPress website.

Did you know that: Cloudflare Enterprise pricing is $6,000 a month per domain, but at Rocket, they have bundled it in for every site on our platform at no additional cost to you.

Another feature that the non-techies will appreciate is that Rocket.net pre-configures and automatically optimizes your websites to obtain the fastest speeds. This means you don’t have to spend valuable time tearing your hair out trying to work out how to do it yourself.

In this section, you will find out…

• Why site speed matters… a lot!
• How fast a site hosted on Rocket.net loads. We will test their speed and server response time against Google’s Core Web Vitals metrics.
• How a site hosted on Rocket.net performs with traffic spikes. We will test how it performs when faced with increased site traffic.

The most important performance metric that you should look for in a web host is speed. Visitors to your site expect it to load fast instant. Site speed not only affects user experience on your site, but it also affects your SEO, Google rankings, and conversion rates.

But, testing site speed against Google’s Core Web Vitals metrics isn’t enough on its own, as our testing site does not have substantial traffic volume. To evaluate the efficiency (or inefficiency) of the web host’s servers when faced with increased site traffic, we use a testing tool called K6 (formerly called LoadImpact) to send virtual users (VU) to our test site.

Why Site Speed Matters

Did you know that:

• Pages that loaded in 2.4 seconds had a 1.9% conversion rate.
• At 3.3 seconds, the conversion rate was 1.5%.
• At 4.2 seconds, the conversion rate was less than 1%.
• At 5.7+ seconds, the conversion rate was 0.6%.

When people leave your website, you lose not only potential revenue but also all the money and time you spent generating traffic to your website.

And if you want to get to the first page of Google and stay there, you need a website that loads up fast.

Google’s algorithms prefer displaying websites that offer a great user experience (and site speed is a huge factor). In Google’s eyes, a website that offers a good user experience generally has a lower bounce rate and loads up fast.

If your website is slow, most visitors will bounce back, resulting in a loss in search engine rankings. Also, your website needs to load up fast if you want to convert more visitors into paying customers.

If you want your website to load up fast and secure the first spot in search engine results, you will need a fast web hosting provider with server infrastructure, CDN and caching technologies that are fully configured and optimized for speed.

The web host you choose to go with will significantly impact how fast your website loads.

How We Perform the Testing

We follow a systematic and identical process for all the web hosts we test.

• Buy hosting: First, we sign up and pay for the web host’s entry-level plan.
• Install WordPress: Then, we set up a new, blank WordPress site using the Astra WordPress theme. This is a lightweight multipurpose theme and serves as a good starting point for the speed test.
• Install plugins: Next, we install the following plugins: Akismet (for spam protection), Jetpack (security and backup plugin), Hello Dolly (for a sample widget), Contact Form 7 (a contact form), Yoast SEO (for SEO), and FakerPress (for generating test content).
• Generate content: Using the FakerPress plugin, we create ten random WordPress posts and ten random pages, each containing 1,000 words of lorem ipsum “dummy” content. This simulates a typical website with various content types.
• Add images: With the FakerPress plugin, we upload one unoptimized image from Pexels, a stock photo website, to each post and page. This helps evaluate the website’s performance with image-heavy content.
• Run the speed test: we run the last published post in Google’s PageSpeed Insights Testing tool.
• Run the load impact test: we run the last published post in K6’s Cloud Testing tool.

How We Measure Speed & Performance

The first four metrics are Google’s Core Web Vitals, and these are a set of web performance signals that are critical to a user’s web experience on both desktop and mobile devices. The last fifth metric is a load impact stress test.

🚀 Rocket.net Speed & Performance Test Results

The table below compares web hosting companies’ performance based on four key performance indicators: average Time to First Byte, First Input Delay, Largest Contentful Paint, and Cumulative Layout Shift. Lower values are better.

Rocket.net showcases impressive speed and performance based on the data from the key performance indicators: Time to First Byte (TTFB), First Input Delay (FID), Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

1. Time to First Byte (TTFB): TTFB indicates how quickly a server starts responding to a request. In the given data, Rocket.net consistently posts low TTFB values across multiple global locations, ranging from 27.46 ms in Tokyo to 318.68 ms in Sydney, with an average TTFB of 110.35 ms. These numbers reflect highly responsive servers capable of promptly beginning data delivery.
2. First Input Delay (FID): FID measures the time from when a user first interacts with your site to the time when the browser can start processing responses to that interaction. A lower value is better, and Rocket.net scores well here with a very low FID of 3 ms, indicating swift interactivity.
3. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): LCP measures the time it takes for the largest content element on a page to become visible from the time the page starts loading. A lower value means faster load times. Rocket.net achieves a commendable score here with an LCP of 1 s, which suggests a quick rendering of the most significant elements on a webpage.
4. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): CLS quantifies how much a page’s content visually shifts around during loading. Lower values are better as they ensure that the page is stable while loading. Rocket.net scores 0.2 here, which falls under the “good” range according to Google’s web vital guidelines, signaling a stable loading experience.

Rocket.net’s performance across these indicators reflects high-speed, efficient service, and a user-friendly experience. Its low TTFB, FID, and LCP metrics indicate fast, responsive servers and quick page loading times. Its CLS score suggests users won’t be significantly disturbed by elements moving around as pages load. This combination of factors contributes to a high-performing, user-friendly web hosting service.

🚀 Rocket.net Load Impact Test Results

The table below compares web hosting companies’ performance based on three key performance indicators: Average Response Time, Highest Load Time, and Average Request Time. Lower values are better for Average Response Time and Highest Load Time, while higher values are better for Average Request Time.

1. Average Response Time: This indicates how quickly a server responds to a request on average. Lower values are better as they denote swift server responses. Rocket.net has an impressive Average Response Time of 17 ms, which suggests their servers are highly responsive and can quickly address requests.
2. Highest Load Time: This measures the longest duration a server takes to respond to a request. Lower values are better, implying that even under significant loads, the server response remains quick. Rocket.net performs well here too, with a Highest Load Time of 236 ms. This shows that even under peak loads, Rocket.net maintains an efficient response time.
3. Average Request Time: This is the average number of requests per second that the server can handle. Higher values are preferable as they mean the server can manage more simultaneous requests. Rocket.net showcases a strong Average Request Time, handling 50 requests per second, which demonstrates its ability to handle a high volume of traffic efficiently.

Rocket.net’s performance metrics suggest a high-performing, efficient web hosting service. Its low Average Response Time and Highest Load Time underscore the speed and efficiency of its servers, even under high traffic conditions.

Meanwhile, its high Average Request Time indicates robust handling capacity for multiple simultaneous requests. These factors collectively contribute to Rocket.net’s strong performance in providing quick, reliable web hosting services.

Fort-Knox like Security

The platform also promises enterprise-grade security. So, if you were worried about your site being hacked, you don’t have to be concerned if you’re with Rocket.net.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Rocket.net uses Cloudflare’s Website Application Firewall and scans every request coming to your site to ensure it’s safe.
• You get free daily backups that are kept saved for two weeks, so you never lose any of your precious data.
• It utilizes Imunify360 which performs real-time malware scanning and patching without suffering any impact on your website’s speed.
• You get as many free SSL certificates as you like.
• Automatic updates on all your WordPress software and plugins keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

Free WordPress / WooCommerce migrations

Whether you have 1 or 1,000 websites, Rocket.net provides unlimited free WordPress site migrations with every plan!

This service is available to all Rocket.net users, whether they have one website or multiple sites that need to be migrated.

With Rocket.net, you can rest assured that your migration will be handled by experienced professionals who have a deep understanding of WordPress and WooCommerce. The migration process is seamless and hassle-free, and the team at Rocket.net will work with you to ensure that your site is transferred quickly and efficiently.

Whether you’re looking to move your site to Rocket.net for better performance, security, or support, their free migration service makes the process easy and stress-free. And with unlimited free WordPress site migrations with every plan, you can migrate as many sites as you need without any additional cost.

Expert Customer Service

Rocket.net’s customer service is the subject of many of its five-star reviews. And that’s because it’s awesome.

The platform offers 24/7 live chat support as well as phone support and email support. 

The customer service agents are knowledgeable and actually know their stuff, so you don’t have to wait to be passed up the food chain until you get the technical support you need.

Rocket.net reviewers report an ultra-fast response, in some cases within 30 seconds. I think this is stellar and exactly what you need from a hosting platform.

Rocket.net Negatives

Rocket.net offers loads benefits and features for users looking for a managed WordPress host, but there are also some negatives to consider.

One of the biggest drawbacks is the expensive price, with the lowest-priced plan starting at $25/month when paid annually. This may be prohibitive for budget-conscious users who are looking for a more affordable option.

Another potential negative is that Rocket.net does not offer a free domain, which is a common feature offered by many other web hosts. This means that users will need to purchase their domain separately, which can add an additional cost.

Additionally, the starter plan comes with limited storage and bandwidth, with only 10GB disk space and 50GB transfer included. This may not be enough for users with larger websites or high traffic volumes. Also, the storage space is also used for backups, so if you have a lot of backups then that will take up disk space.

Finally, Rocket.net does not offer email hosting, meaning users will need to get it from a third-party provider. This can add an extra layer of complexity and potentially increase costs.

Compare Rocket.net Competitors

Here, we’re putting some of Rocket.net’s biggest competitors under the microscope: Cloudways, Kinsta, SiteGround, Hostinger, and WP Engine.

	Rocket.net	Cloudways	Kinsta	SiteGround	WP Engine	Hostinger
Speed	(Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, server optimizations)	(Customizable cloud providers)	(Google Cloud Platform)	️ (Good shared hosting speeds)	️ (Similar to Kinsta)	(Budget-friendly speeds, can lag)
Security	(Built-in malware scanning, DDoS protection, auto WP updates)	️ (Tools available, server configuration required)	(Automatic malware removal, GCP security)	(Decent measures, shared hosting vulnerabilities)	(Similar to Kinsta, shared hosting limitations)	️ (Basic features, shared hosting risks)
WordPress Focus	(Easy interface, one-click staging, built-in WP optimization)	️ (Full server control, requires technical expertise)	(Built for WP, one-click staging, auto-updates)	(Good support, shared hosting limitations)	(Strong WP focus, shared hosting limitations)	(Basic features, shared hosting limitations)
Support	(24/7 live chat with WP experts)	‍ (Helpful, not always WP-specific)	‍ (24/7 WP experts, exceptional service)	‍ (Good team, response times vary, limited WP expertise)	‍ (Good WP support, can get busy)	(Live chat, basic WP knowledge)
More info		Cloudways review	Kinsta review	SiteGround review	WP Engine review	Hostinger review

Speed Features:

• Rocket.net: Blazing fast with Litespeed cache, in-house CDN, and server-level optimizations. Think Usain Bolt with a jetpack.
• Cloudways: Choose your own cloud provider for a custom speed cocktail. Think Gordon Ramsay whipping up a Michelin-starred server dish.
• Kinsta: Google Cloud Platform turbocharges your site, but might not quite match Rocket.net’s raw speed. Imagine a Ferrari, but not a LaFerrari.
• SiteGround: Good speeds for shared hosting, but can’t outrun the dedicated server crowd. Think of a trusty Toyota Camry, reliable but not a race car.
• WP Engine: Similar to Kinsta’s speed, though resource limitations might slow down high-traffic sites. Think a souped-up VW Beetle, fun but with limitations.
• Hostinger: Budget-friendly speeds, but prepare for potential lag times during traffic spikes. Think of a moped on the highway, best for less demanding journeys.

Security Features:

• Rocket.net: Built-in malware scanning, DDoS protection, and automatic WordPress updates fortify your site. Think of a medieval castle with laser turrets.
• Cloudways: Offers security tools, but server configuration is your responsibility. Think of building your own moat and drawbridge.
• Kinsta: Automatic malware removal, GCP’s security infrastructure, and WordPress-specific security features lock things down tight. Think of a high-tech bank vault with laser grids.
• SiteGround: Decent security measures, but no automatic malware removal and shared hosting vulnerabilities linger. Think of a fortified wooden gate.
• WP Engine: Similar to Kinsta’s security focus, but shared hosting limitations apply to lower tiers. Think of a guarded apartment building with varying levels of security.
• Hostinger: Basic security features, but shared hosting means your neighbors’ vulnerabilities could be your own. Think of a neighborhood watch with varying degrees of vigilance.

WordPress Features:

• Rocket.net: Easy-to-use interface, one-click staging, and built-in WP optimization tools make managing your site a breeze. Think of a WordPress whisperer with a magic wand.
• Cloudways: Full server control gives you ultimate flexibility, but requires more technical know-how. Think of a DIY WordPress toolbox for the tech-savvy.
• Kinsta: Built for WordPress from the ground up, with one-click staging, auto-updates, and WP-specific features galore. Think of a WordPress fairy godmother granting your every wish.
• SiteGround: Good WP support and features, but shared hosting limitations can impact performance. Think of a helpful WordPress librarian, but with limited resources.
• WP Engine: Strong WP focus, but some features are missing compared to Kinsta, and shared hosting limitations apply to lower tiers. Think a friendly WordPress barista, but not a Michelin-starred chef.
• Hostinger: Basic WP features and shared hosting mean you might need to do some extra coding to get things just right. Think a WordPress apprentice learning the ropes.

Technical Support:

• Rocket.net: Friendly and knowledgeable live chat support available 24/7. Think a helpful bard singing you WordPress serenades.
• Cloudways: Helpful support team, but not always WordPress-specific. Think a tech support genie who might need some WordPress training.
• Kinsta: 24/7 WP expert support who go the extra mile to solve your problems. Think Gandalf himself answering your WordPress riddles.
• SiteGround: Good support team, but response times can vary and WordPress expertise might be limited. Think a friendly village elder offering WordPress advice.
• WP Engine: Good WP support, but can get busy during peak times. Think a popular WordPress guru with a long line of disciples.

Value for Money:

• Rocket.net: Slightly pricier than some competitors, but justifies it with top-notch speed, security, and ease of use. Think a premium WordPress suite for serious creators.
• Cloudways: Flexible pricing based on cloud provider and resources used. Think a pay-as-you-go WordPress buffet with varying costs.
• Kinsta: Premium price tag reflects its high-performance GCP infrastructure and dedicated WordPress focus. Think a Michelin-starred WordPress restaurant, worth the splurge for discerning palates.
• SiteGround: Affordable shared hosting plans, but performance and features might be limited. Think a cozy WordPress cafe with decent value for casual users.
• WP Engine: Similar to Kinsta’s pricing, but shared hosting limitations on lower tiers. Think a high-end WordPress bistro with delicious options, but smaller portions on the budget menu.
• Hostinger: Budget-friendly champion, but be prepared for potential performance slowdowns and limited features. Think a WordPress food truck offering quick bites at a steal.

✨ So, who should choose Rocket.net?

• Speed demons seeking blazing-fast performance and built-in WordPress optimization.
• WordPress beginners who want an easy-to-use platform with excellent support.
• Businesses and high-traffic sites requiring top-notch security and peace of mind.

✨ TL;DR

• Rocket.net shines with blazing speed, top-notch security, and ease of use, but at a premium price.
• Cloudways offers customizable cloud options for tech-savvy users, but requires more technical skills.
• Kinsta pampers WordPress fans with dedicated features and expert support, but shared hosting limitations apply to lower tiers.
• SiteGround provides affordable shared hosting with good WP support, but performance and features are capped.
• WP Engine delivers strong WP focus and similar speeds to Kinsta, but shared hosting limitations remain.
• Hostinger offers budget-friendly options, but prepare for potential slowdowns and limited features.

Common Questions Answered

Our Verdict ⭐

If you’re looking for a place to stash your WordPress websites with speeds faster than a Tesla shooting through space, then Rocket.net might just be the right managed WordPress hosting company for you.

Along with its winning performance, you can also enjoy stellar customer service and security features.

However, at $25+ per month, it’s not the cheapest option, so if you’re budget conscious, you may want to consider a lower-priced alternative.

If you do fancy taking this managed WordPress hosting company for a ride, you can get started right away for $1. Sign up here and try Rocket.net today.

Recent Improvements & Updates

Rocket.net is constantly updating and expanding its hosting features. The below updates (last checked October 2024) showcase Rocket.net’s commitment to providing innovative and user-friendly solutions for WordPress hosting, emphasizing performance, security, and efficiency.

• Cloudflare Edge Analytics for WordPress: This new feature leverages Cloudflare’s robust analytics at the edge, providing WordPress users with deeper insights into their website traffic and performance. This integration allows for real-time data collection, offering a more comprehensive understanding of user interactions.
• Site User Roles for Selective Control Panel Access: Rocket.net has introduced customizable user roles, enhancing security and collaboration. This feature allows site owners to assign specific access levels to different users, ensuring that team members can only access the necessary parts of the control panel, thus improving both security and workflow efficiency.
• Enhanced Automated WordPress Backup Restores: The backup restore functionality has been upgraded for greater reliability and ease of use. Users can now effortlessly restore their WordPress sites from backups with improved speed and accuracy, minimizing downtime and data loss risks.
• Streamlined ‘All-In-One’ Agency Management and Collaboration Powered by Atarim: This integration is a game-changer for agencies managing multiple WordPress sites. It streamlines workflows and collaboration, offering a centralized platform for efficient management and communication, all powered by Atarim’s robust technology.
• WordPress Access Logs from the Edge: This update provides users with detailed access logs directly from Cloudflare’s edge network. This enhancement offers valuable insights into traffic patterns and potential security threats, allowing for proactive site management and security measures.
• The Best WordPress Activity Logging Without Plugin Bloat: Rocket.net introduces a lightweight solution for WordPress activity logging. This innovation eliminates the need for additional plugins, reducing the bloat on your WordPress site while still providing comprehensive logs of all site activities.
• Rocket.net Smart Caching – Taking CloudFlare Enterprise EDGE Caching To The Next Level: Rocket.net’s Smart Caching utilizes Cloudflare’s advanced caching capabilities to deliver even faster website loading times and improved overall performance, enhancing user experience and SEO.
• Automated Image Resizing for WordPress: This feature automatically resizes images for optimal performance and faster load times. It’s a significant improvement for site speed, particularly beneficial for image-heavy WordPress sites.
• Web-Based WP-CLI Terminal for Managed WordPress Hosting: Offering a web-based WP-CLI terminal, Rocket.net makes it easier for users to manage their WordPress sites through a command-line interface, directly from the browser. This tool is particularly useful for advanced users and developers.
• PHP 8.1 WordPress Hosting Now Available: With the availability of PHP 8.1 hosting, Rocket.net users can enjoy the latest PHP version’s performance improvements and new features, ensuring their WordPress sites are fast, secure, and up-to-date.
• Site Labels for WordPress: This new feature allows users to organize and label their WordPress sites for better management. It’s especially useful for agencies and users with multiple sites, simplifying navigation and organization.

Reviewing Rocket.net: Our Methodology

When we review web hosts, our evaluation is based on these criteria:

1. Value for Money: What types of web hosting plans are on offer, and are they good value for money?
2. User Friendliness: How user-friendly is the signup process, the onboarding, the dashboard? and so on.
3. Customer Support: When we need help, how quickly can we get it, and is the support effective and helpful?
4. Hosting Features: What unique features does the web host provide, and how do they stack up against competitors?
5. Security: Are essential security measures like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, backup services, and malware/virus scans included?
6. Speed and Uptime: Is the hosting service fast and reliable? What types of servers do they use, and how do they perform in tests?

For more details on our review process, click here.

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Review Updates

• 09/06/2023 – Updated with page speed and load impact analysis
• 28/04/2023 – New pricing and new features added