ComplaintCensus

HostGator vs DreamHost: most-reported complaints compared

Most-reported issues at HostGator and DreamHost, according to reviewers on Trustpilot — classified by our automated reader and backed by verbatim quotes from distinct reviews. This is a side-by-side of what reviewers report, not a score, rating or recommendation for either company.

HostGator

TrustScore 4.6 · 17,835 reviews on Trustpilot.

418 reviews analysed, 2026-05-09 to 2026-09-23.

Complaint rate (recent window): 11%

100% of negative reviews get a company reply.

Support unhelpful62%
Poor core service26%
Overcharging21%
Subscription trap12%
Support unreachable10%
“Hostgator's Sitelock and malware were useless.”
1★ Trustpilot review, 2026-07-20

DreamHost

TrustScore 4.6 · 8,217 reviews on Trustpilot.

346 reviews analysed, 2025-05-08 to 2026-09-23.

Complaint rate (recent window): 11%

74% of negative reviews get a company reply.

Support unhelpful44%
Support unreachable22%
Poor core service21%
Account/app problems15%
Billing errors15%
“They make it incredibly difficult almost impossible to cancel the service”
1★ Trustpilot review, 2026-04-12

Reported on both

Issues with an evidenced category (at least two verbatim quotes) on both sides.

IssueHostGatorDreamHost
Support unhelpful62%44%
Poor core service26%21%
Support unreachable10%22%
Account/app problems10%15%

Method: reviews are classified into a fixed complaint taxonomy by an automated reader; every category shown is backed by at least two verbatim quotes from distinct reviews. Figures are census classifications, not official statistics, and reflect what reviewers reported — not findings of wrongdoing by either company. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Trustpilot A/S, HostGator or DreamHost.