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Network Solutions Review
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📋 Table of Contents
What Is Network Solutions?
Before committing to any hosting provider, a thorough review (like this network solutions review) is essential, and Network Solutions is one of the more historically significant names in this space.
Founded in 1979 by Emmit J. McHenry, it was one of the very first companies to provide DNS (Domain Name System) technology; the infrastructure that translates domain names into the IP addresses servers use to find and serve websites. That founding role in internet infrastructure gives Network Solutions a genuine claim to being one of the oldest web service providers in existence.
Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with a data center in North America, Network Solutions is now owned by Web.com. Today it provides domain registration, shared hosting, WordPress hosting, website design, eCommerce setup, and SEO services — a broader set of services than most competing hosting providers.
The web presence portfolio approach is both its distinctive strength (useful for businesses that want a single provider for all digital services) and a potential limitation (it is not as specialised in any single area as dedicated hosting-first companies).
This review covers everything you need to know: features, both pricing categories, real performance test results, honest pros and cons, and who Network Solutions is and is not suited for. For a broader comparison, see our guide to the 21+ best WordPress hosting plans.
⚠️ Important Context
Network Solutions has a notable volume of negative reviews from former customers on independent platforms — covering support quality, billing practices, and price escalations at renewal. We have accounted for this in our assessment and it is addressed honestly in the pros/cons and verdict sections below. Go in with clear expectations.
Network Solutions at a Glance
🌐 Network Solutions — 2026 Quick Summary
Founded1979 — Emmit J. McHenry
Parent CompanyWeb.com
HeadquartersHerndon, Virginia, USA
Core OfferingHosting + domain + SEO + design bundle
Web Hosting From$5.96/month
WP Hosting From$7.99/month
Uptime Guarantee99.99%
Money-Back Guarantee30 days
Who Network Solutions Is Best For
🏢 Businesses Wanting One Provider
Domain registration, hosting, website design, SEO, and eCommerce setup all in one account. For businesses that want a single vendor relationship for their entire web presence, Network Solutions covers more ground than most competitors.
👶 First-Time Website Owners
The beginner-friendly website builder, CMS installation on request, and hands-off full-service options (where Network Solutions builds and hosts your site) lower the technical barrier for complete beginners.
🌐 Small Businesses Needing DNS Legacy
As one of the original DNS providers, Network Solutions has deep domain management infrastructure and Premium DNS services — useful for businesses with complex multi-domain requirements or DNS management needs.
🔒 Sites Needing CodeGuard + SiteLock
Some Network Solutions plans include CodeGuard (automated backups with restoration) and SiteLock (security scanning and malware removal) as bundled inclusions — tools that are paid add-ons on most competing plans.
⚠️ Not the Right Fit If You Need
Network Solutions does not offer dedicated server hosting or VPS hosting — only shared and cloud-based WordPress hosting. If your site has outgrown shared hosting, you will need to look at providers like Scala Hosting for VPS or Cloudways for cloud VPS. Windows server hosting is also not available — Linux only.
Key Features
🌐 99.99% Uptime Guarantee + Free .com Domain
Network Solutions guarantees 99.99% uptime — a commitment that, in our one-month monitoring test, it came reasonably close to delivering (99.92% recorded).
Every hosting plan includes a free .com domain name, so new site owners can register their domain and set up hosting from a single checkout rather than managing two separate accounts at two different providers.
🔒 Free Xpress SSL Certificates
All Network Solutions plans include Xpress SSL certificates — encrypting the connection between your visitors' browsers and your server. SSL is a baseline requirement for modern websites: Google ranks HTTPS sites preferentially, browsers flag non-SSL sites as "Not Secure," and payment processors require SSL for any transaction pages. Having it free and automatically included removes one configuration step for new site owners.
💾 CodeGuard Backup Solutions
Network Solutions partners with CodeGuard (a specialist backup service) to provide automated daily backups with one-click restoration. CodeGuard stores backup copies in a separate cloud environment from your hosting server, meaning a server failure does not affect your backup data.
Restoration is available directly from the CodeGuard dashboard for any previously backed-up version of your site. CodeGuard inclusion varies by plan tier — check the current plan details at signup.
🛡️ SiteLock Security
Network Solutions has partnered with SiteLock (a specialist web security firm) to provide malware scanning and removal tools on selected plans.
SiteLock scans your site for malware, suspicious code injections, and known vulnerability patterns, and can automatically clean detected issues. As with CodeGuard, SiteLock availability varies by plan tier.
📧 Email Hosting Included
All hosting packages include email hosting — providing professional @yourdomain.com email addresses managed alongside your hosting account. This eliminates the need for a separate email hosting subscription for standard business email needs.
🏗️ Full-Service Website Design and eCommerce Setup
Beyond hosting, Network Solutions offers complete website design services and eCommerce setup services, where their team builds and configures your website or online store and then hosts it on their servers.
This full-service approach suits business owners who want a completely hands-off setup and are willing to pay for the convenience of having everything managed by a single provider. Network Solutions can also install the CMS of your choice (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc.) on your hosting account on request.
🔍 SEO Services
Network Solutions offers SEO services as an optional add-on — helping businesses improve their search engine visibility beyond the initial website setup.
Having SEO services available from the same provider as hosting and design can simplify vendor management for small businesses that do not have in-house marketing expertise.
📊 Unlimited Bandwidth on All Plans
Every Network Solutions hosting plan includes unlimited data transfer — meaning visitor traffic to your site does not incur additional charges regardless of volume.
Storage varies by plan (from 10 GB on Starter through to unlimited on Professional tiers), but bandwidth is uncapped across the entire range, which removes one common source of surprise charges for growing sites.
Uptime and Performance Test Results
We tested Network Solutions using GTmetrix for speed performance and UptimeRobot for uptime monitoring over a one-month period.
B (85%)
GTmetrix speed grade — above average
99.92%
Recorded uptime over 1-month monitoring
43 min
Total downtime recorded over 1 month
20 min
Longest single outage during testing
Speed Performance
GTmetrix scored Network Solutions' performance at B (85%) — placing it above average compared to many competing web hosting providers tested under the same methodology.
An 85% GTmetrix score reflects solid server response times and reasonable page optimisation, though it falls short of the premium managed hosts that consistently score in the A range.
GTmetrix speed performance test — Network Solutions scored B (85%), above the market average
Uptime Monitoring
UptimeRobot monitored Network Solutions continuously for one month. The monitoring recorded several downtime events, with the longest single outage lasting 20 minutes. Total downtime across the monitoring period was approximately 43 minutes, producing a recorded uptime of 99.92%.
This result comes close to the 99.99% uptime guarantee but does not quite meet it — 99.99% would allow a maximum of approximately 4.4 minutes of downtime per month, versus the 43 minutes recorded. The gap is meaningful for business-critical sites but within a range that most budget and mid-tier shared hosting users would find acceptable in practice.
📌 Uptime Context
A single month of monitoring may not be fully representative of long-term performance — a single extended outage can distort the monthly average. For the most current uptime performance, check independent monitoring tools or community reviews for more recent data on Network Solutions' reliability track record.
Network Solutions Pricing Plans
📌 Pricing Note
A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans. Promotional pricing is for the initial term — renewal rates are typically higher. Always verify current pricing at networksolutions.com before purchasing.
Web Hosting Plans
All web hosting plans include unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, free .com domain, and email hosting.
Starter
$5.96/mo
1 website · Entry level
- 10 GB storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free SSL certificate
- 1 website only
- Free .com domain
Essential
$9.96/mo
3 websites · More storage
- 300 GB storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free SSL certificate
- 3 websites
- Free .com domain
Best Value
Professional
$15.78/mo
Unlimited websites
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free SSL certificate
- Unlimited websites
- Free .com domain
Professional Plus
$21.62/mo
Unlimited websites · Premium
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free SSL certificate
- Unlimited websites
- Priority support tier
WordPress Hosting Plans
All WordPress hosting plans are cloud-hosted and include automatic backups, free SSL, unlimited bandwidth, and email hosting.
Entrepreneurs
$7.99/mo
1 WordPress site
- 50 GB storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 1 WordPress website
- Automatic backups
- Free SSL certificate
Popular
Growing Business
$13.98/mo
3 WordPress sites
- 100 GB storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 3 WordPress websites
- Automatic backups
- Free SSL certificate
Professionals
$18.96/mo
5 WordPress sites
- 200 GB storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 5 WordPress websites
- Automatic backups
- Free SSL certificate
⚠️ Watch the Renewal Pricing
Network Solutions' promotional pricing applies to the first billing term only. Renewal rates can be significantly higher — this is one of the most common complaints in customer reviews. Before signing up, check the renewal price (typically displayed on the checkout page) and factor it into your total cost calculation before committing to an annual plan.
Network Solutions Pros and Cons
✓ What Network Solutions Does Well
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
- Free .com domain and free SSL certificates on every plan
- Beginner-friendly approach — website builder, CMS install on request, full design service option
- Cloud hosting is accessible and reasonably priced at entry level
- CodeGuard and SiteLock bundled with selected plans
- Unlimited bandwidth on all plans
- Email hosting included with every plan
- SEO, eCommerce setup, and website design services available from the same provider
- One of the longest-established DNS providers — deep domain management infrastructure
✗ Limitations Worth Knowing
- No dedicated server or VPS hosting — shared and cloud-based only
- Significant volume of negative customer reviews on independent platforms — support quality and billing practices are recurring themes
- Renewal pricing escalation is a documented issue — promotional rates are substantially lower than renewal rates
- No Windows server hosting — Linux only
- Recorded uptime of 99.92% during testing — below the stated 99.99% guarantee
Network Solutions Alternatives
Best Managed WP
Pressable
Owned by Automattic (the company behind WordPress), Pressable provides enterprise managed WordPress hosting with Jetpack Security, global CDN, staging, and WordPress-specialist support. For users choosing Network Solutions primarily for WordPress hosting, Pressable is a significantly stronger managed alternative. See our Pressable hosting review.
Try Pressable →Best for Developers
Cloudways
Cloudways lets you deploy on major cloud providers (DigitalOcean, AWS, GCP) with a managed server layer. For technically confident users who want cloud-level performance without the full burden of server administration — and without the support issues that Network Solutions customers regularly report — Cloudways is a compelling alternative.
Try Cloudways →Best Scalable VPS
Scala Hosting
Scala Hosting fills the gap that Network Solutions leaves entirely unaddressed: managed VPS hosting. With SPanel, SShield, NVMe SSD, and plans from $29.95/month, Scala is the natural upgrade path for any site that outgrows shared hosting. Network Solutions has no VPS offering to migrate to. See our Scala Hosting review.
Try Scala Hosting →Best Budget Option
Hostinger
At $1.99/month with LiteSpeed servers, free SSL, free domain, and 29 million users — Hostinger is the strongest budget alternative to Network Solutions. Better performance reviews, a modern control panel, and consistently lower pricing make it the more compelling entry-level choice.
Try Hostinger →Best Beginner Host
Bluehost
One of three hosts officially recommended by WordPress.org — Bluehost provides the most beginner-friendly onboarding of any major host, with one-click WordPress install, free domain, and 24/7 support that customers rate more consistently than Network Solutions' support.
Try Bluehost →Also Available
Ultra Web Hosting · WebHostingPad · GotWebHost
Three additional budget hosting alternatives available through Nwaeze David's affiliate program. These are positioned as entry-level shared hosting options for cost-sensitive users. Verify current features and pricing directly before signing up.
Ultra Web Hosting → WebHostingPad → GotWebHost →Final Verdict — Is Network Solutions Right for You?
Network Solutions occupies a specific position in the market: a full-service web presence provider with genuine historical depth in DNS and domain management, offering hosting alongside design, SEO, and eCommerce services in one relationship.
For a first-time website owner who wants maximum simplicity (a single vendor who will build their site, host it, register their domain, and help with SEO) Network Solutions' breadth of services is its clearest differentiator.
The limitations are real and should factor into your decision. The absence of dedicated server and VPS hosting means there is no upgrade path if your site outgrows shared hosting — you will need to migrate to a different provider.
The customer review record on independent platforms raises legitimate concerns about support quality and billing practices that go beyond the typical mixed reviews any large provider receives.
The uptime monitoring result of 99.92% falls short of the stated 99.99% guarantee. And renewal pricing escalation is a documented pattern that catches customers off-guard.
The honest recommendation: if you are launching a first website and value the convenience of a full-service provider, Network Solutions is a usable option, particularly for its domain management heritage and the free domain and SSL inclusions.
If you are specifically looking for the best WordPress hosting, the best performance, or the best value, the alternatives listed above will serve you better.
Try Network Solutions or Explore Alternatives
All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, free domain, and free SSL. For managed WordPress, Pressable and Bluehost are stronger alternatives.
FAQs About This Network Solutions
Who is the CEO of Network Solutions?
Tim Kelly serves as the CEO and President of Network Solutions. Under Web.com's ownership, Network Solutions operates as a distinct brand within the broader Web.com group of companies. Network Solutions was founded in 1979 by Emmit J. McHenry as one of the first DNS service providers. It has passed through several ownership structures over its history and is now part of the Web.com portfolio, which also includes other web services brands. For the most current leadership information, verify directly with Network Solutions as executive leadership can change.
Does Network Solutions provide DNS services?
Yes — DNS is one of Network Solutions' foundational services, dating back to its founding in 1979 as one of the first companies providing DNS technology. All customers who register a domain with Network Solutions receive standard DNS management included with their domain registration. Network Solutions also offers a Premium DNS service as an upgrade for customers who need advanced DNS capabilities — including faster DNS propagation, geographic load balancing, secondary DNS failover, and enhanced DNS security features. Premium DNS is particularly relevant for businesses with high-traffic sites where DNS speed and redundancy directly affect performance and availability.
Who maintains DNS globally?
The Domain Name System is coordinated globally by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) — a non-profit organisation responsible for the internet's core systems of unique identifiers, most importantly the DNS. ICANN oversees the root DNS system, coordinates the assignment of domain name extensions (TLDs like .com, .net, .org), and accredits the registrars (including Network Solutions) that are authorised to sell domain registrations to the public. Individual domain registrars like Network Solutions, GoDaddy, and NameCheap operate DNS servers under ICANN's accreditation framework but do not control the global DNS system — they maintain the DNS records for domains registered through their platform within the broader ICANN-governed structure.
Does Network Solutions offer VPS or dedicated server hosting?
No — Network Solutions does not offer VPS (Virtual Private Server) or dedicated server hosting. Its hosting portfolio is limited to shared hosting (Web Hosting plans) and cloud-hosted WordPress hosting (WordPress Hosting plans). This is one of the most significant limitations for growing sites: if your website outgrows Network Solutions' shared hosting tier — experiencing performance issues under high traffic, needing more dedicated server resources, or requiring root access — there is no Network Solutions upgrade path available. You would need to migrate to a different provider entirely. For businesses that anticipate needing VPS or dedicated hosting in the future, starting with a provider that offers a full upgrade path (such as Scala Hosting or Cloudways) avoids this migration cost down the line.
What is Network Solutions' money-back guarantee?
Network Solutions offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its hosting plans — the standard industry window. If you cancel within the first 30 days of your initial hosting purchase, you are eligible for a full refund. To claim the refund, contact Network Solutions' support team within the 30-day window. Note that domain registration fees are typically non-refundable even when the hosting refund is processed, since domains are registered with ICANN-governed registries and the registration cannot be reversed. The 30-day window begins from the date of purchase, not from when you first use the hosting — so the clock runs from signup regardless of whether you have set up your site yet.
Why do so many Network Solutions customers leave negative reviews?
The most common themes in negative Network Solutions reviews on independent platforms (Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and web hosting forums) are: support response quality and resolution times, promotional-to-renewal pricing increases that customers find significant and unexpected, and difficulties with account cancellation processes. These patterns appear consistently enough across a long review history to warrant acknowledgement rather than dismissal. It is worth noting that all large hosting providers attract some volume of negative reviews — customer frustration tends to be more loudly expressed than satisfaction. However, the specific and recurring nature of the billing and support complaints in Network Solutions' case distinguishes it from the generic mixed-review profile that most large providers share. Before signing up, read current reviews on independent platforms and verify the renewal pricing before committing to an annual plan.
