Side-by-side comparison using HostScore™ data, Google reviews, and Trustpilot scores. No paid placements — ranked by signal only.
Hostwinds scores 83/100 on HostScore versus VIV's 53. Hostwinds leads by a clear margin across trust and completeness signals. On Google reviews, VIV rates 4.9 from 88 reviews — stronger customer sentiment than Hostwinds's 4.1.
| HostScore™ | 53 | — | 83 |
| Trust Score | 11 | — | 20 |
| Completeness | 12 | — | 20 |
| Performance | 5 | — | 18 |
| Freshness | 25 | — | 25 |
| Google Rating | 4.9★ | — | 4.1★ |
| Google Reviews | 88 | — | 135 |
| Trustpilot | — | — | 4.5★ |
| Location | HQ: Evansville, USA | — | HQ: Seattle, USA |
| Founded | — | — | 2010 |
| Segment | AGENCY HOSTING | — | PURE HOST |
| Claimed | No | — | No |
VIV is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Evansville, USA, specialising in agency hosting.
VIV has a HostScore of 53/100 and a Google rating of 4.9★ from 88 verified reviews. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
Hostwinds is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Seattle, USA, founded in 2010, specialising in pure host. Hostwinds is a web hosting company offering shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, WordPress, and reseller hosting. It is known for its reasonably priced plans and excellent customer service. Hostwinds aims t…
Hostwinds has a HostScore of 83/100 and a Google rating of 4.1★ from 135 verified reviews. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
Hostwinds scores higher on HostScore (83/100 vs 53/100), reflecting stronger trust signals, profile completeness, and review data. VIV may still suit users who need its specific location (USA) or specialization (agency hosting). HostScore is an objective algorithmic rating — it does not account for pricing, which can vary significantly between providers.
VIV has 4.9★ on Google (88 reviews), and Hostwinds has 4.1★ on Google (135 reviews). Review volume matters as much as the star rating — a 4.5★ score from 50 reviews is less reliable than a 4.2★ score from 5,000. HostScore weights Google reviews by volume, so providers with more verified customer feedback score higher on the trust component. Check each provider's Trustpilot profile for a second independent signal before deciding.
The best alternative depends on what you value. If you want unbiased rankings across all hosting types, the HostList directory ranks 28,000+ providers by HostScore. For AI-powered matching based on your specific project requirements — tech stack, traffic, location, budget — use HostMatch at hostlist.io/match. For category-specific alternatives, the agency hosting rankings at hostlist.io show the highest-scoring providers in the same hosting type as VIV and Hostwinds.
Not sure which host is right for your project? Describe your requirements and get a personalised recommendation from 28,000+ providers — no paid placements.