DigitalOcean vs Network Solutions — Which is Better in 2026?
In our testing, DigitalOcean consistently outperformed on speed. We compared pricing, support, uptime, and features so you can choose with confidence.
Last verified: June 2026
Network Solutions
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Ratings Comparison
| Category | DigitalOcean | Winner | Network Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | Winner | — |
| Speed | 4.5/5 | Winner | — |
| Support | 4.2/5 | Winner | — |
| Uptime | 4.7/5 | Winner | — |
| Value | 4.5/5 | Winner | — |
| Features | 4.6/5 | Winner | — |
| Security | 4.4/5 | Winner | — |
| Ease of Use | 4.4/5 | Winner | — |
Features Comparison
| Feature | DigitalOcean | Network Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | ✕ | ✕ |
| Free Domain | ✕ | ✕ |
| Free Migration | ✕ | ✕ |
| Money-Back | None | None |
| Storage Type | SSD | SSD |
| Bandwidth | 1TB | Unmetered |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.99% | 99.9% |
| Founded | 2011 | — |
Pros & Cons
DigitalOcean
Pros
- ✓Best developer documentation and tutorials in industry
- ✓Managed Kubernetes and databases
- ✓App Platform (PaaS) for container deployments
- ✓Simple, clean control panel
- ✓Spaces object storage (S3-compatible)
- ✓Active community and predictable pricing
Cons
- ✕Unmanaged — requires Linux knowledge
- ✕Ticket-only support
- ✕Not beginner-friendly without DevOps experience
- ✕No email hosting
Network Solutions
Performance Comparison
In our testing, DigitalOcean consistently outperformed Network Solutions on page load speed. DigitalOcean uses SSD storage with data centres in USA, UK, while Network Solutions relies on SSD storage. DigitalOcean guarantees 99.99% uptime, and Network Solutions offers 99.9% uptime.
Pricing Breakdown
Network Solutions pricing requires a direct quote. DigitalOcean starts at $6.00/month.
Support Comparison
DigitalOcean offers support via ticket with a support rating of 4.2/5. Network Solutions provides ticket support, rated N/A/5. DigitalOcean has the edge on support responsiveness and quality in our evaluation.
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose DigitalOcean if you need:
- Developers
- Cloud Apps
- High Traffic
Not ideal for:
Beginners, Non-technical WordPress users
Choose Network Solutions if you need:
Our Verdict
Both providers are solid choices. The difference in overall rating is meaningful enough to have a clear recommendation.
Our Testing Methodology
ArdentSupport evaluates hosting providers across eight weighted criteria: overall value, page load speed, customer support quality, uptime reliability, feature depth, security posture, and ease of use. Ratings reflect real-world performance data, industry reputation, public SLAs, and first-hand support interactions. Prices are verified at time of publication. We update this comparison when provider data changes.