Updated September 29, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Krystal vs ScalaHosting
Krystal
ScalaHosting
Higher score in this comparison
Krystal vs ScalaHosting: the differences
| Compare | KrystalReviewVisitVisit | ScalaHostingReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | £7 | $2.95 |
| Renewal price | £7 | $11.95 |
| Hosting types | Web Hosting, Business Hosting, Reseller Hosting, WordPress Hosting, VPS Hosting, Cloud Hosting | Shared web hosting, Managed cloud hosting, Unmanaged cloud VPS hosting, Cluster hosting, Reseller hosting, Business email hosting, WordPress hosting |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Websites allowed | 1 to unlimited depending on plan | 1 on Mini, unlimited on Start, Advanced and Entry Cloud |
| Features | Free SSL, Backups, Email | Free SSL, Backups, Staging, CDN, EmailCovers more |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.99%Higher | 99.9% |
| Data centres | United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands | Dallas, USA, New York, USA, Seattle, USA, Ohio, USA, Virginia, USA, Oregon, USA, Montreal, Canada, Sofia, Bulgaria, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Helsinki, Finland, Madrid, Spain, Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen, Denmark, Stavanger, Norway, Warsaw, Poland, Dublin, Ireland, Paris, France, London, UK, Frankfurt, Germany, Tokyo, Japan, Seoul, South Korea, Mumbai, India, Singapore, Sydney, Australia |
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Key differences
- ScalaHosting scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Hosting types: only Krystal offers Web Hosting, Business Hosting, VPS Hosting.
- Hosting types: only ScalaHosting offers Shared web hosting, Managed cloud hosting, Unmanaged cloud VPS hosting.
- Features: only ScalaHosting offers Staging, CDN.
- Data centres: only Krystal offers United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands.
- Data centres: only ScalaHosting offers Dallas, USA, New York, USA, Seattle, USA.
- Money-back period is higher at Krystal: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Uptime guarantee is higher at Krystal: 99.99% vs 99.9%.
- Founded is lower at Krystal: 2002 vs 2007.
- Audience: only ScalaHosting offers Enterprise.
Our verdict on each
Krystal
Krystal suits beginners and small business teams looking for managed hosting for everyday business use across the current lineup. Plans carry an uptime guarantee of 99.99% with site allowances at 1 to unlimited depending on plan and builder coverage for site and store.
ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting suits small businesses and beginners who want one provider for sites and stores, and the range runs from shared web hosting to managed and unmanaged cloud VPS. Entry pricing is $2.95 and renewal is $11.95, so the second bill is the one to plan for.
Score breakdown
| Area | Krystal | ScalaHosting |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Intro pricing at £7 renews at £7 with steady terms. | 8.8HigherEntry pricing of $2.95 is low next to €2.99, though e-commerce hosting costs $14.95 and renewals rise. |
| Offer | 9.1Plan includes free SSL, backups and email for everyday hosting needs. | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 9.7HigherHosting runs from United Kingdom, United States and Netherlands for regional coverage. | 8.9An uptime guarantee of 99.9%, support over email, chat and phone, and a provider founded in 2007. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Krystal | ScalaHosting |
|---|---|---|
| Web hosting | 5 of 530 | 2 of 530 |
| Domain registrars | 5 of 501 | 2 of 501 |
| Website builders | 8 of 370 | 3 of 370 |
| Ecommerce platforms | 7 of 190 | 3 of 190 |
| Business email hosting | 4 of 425 | 1 of 425 |
Pick Krystal if, pick ScalaHosting if
Pick Krystal if trust, money-back period, and uptime guarantee matter most.
Pick ScalaHosting if offer and features matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
Krystal
- krystal.io: 14 facts, checked September 29, 2026
ScalaHosting
- scalahosting.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Krystal | ScalaHosting |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners, Small business | Beginners, Small business, EnterpriseCovers more |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Krystal Hosting Ltd | Scala Hosting LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2002Lower | 2007 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Website builders
| Fact | Krystal | ScalaHosting |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £5 | $2.95 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| E-commerce plan price | £17 | $14.95 |
| Free trial length | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Templates | 190 | Not confirmed |
| Builder type | Site, Store | Site, Store |
| Compliance certifications | ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus | Not confirmed |
Domain registrars
| Fact | Krystal | ScalaHosting |
|---|---|---|
| .com first year | £11.99 | Not confirmed |
| .com renewal | £11.99 | Not confirmed |
| .com transfer | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Free WHOIS privacy | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Domain endings | 20Higher | 17 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Krystal | ScalaHosting | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.99%above the median | 99.9%at the median | 99.9% |
Median across 380 listed software products.
Pros and cons
Krystal
Pros
- Money back cover for 60, ahead of typical level of 30
- Hosting choice spans Web Hosting, Business Hosting and Reseller Hosting to match growth from simple sites to VPS and cloud
- Help available through email, chat and phone for day to day queries
Cons
- No plan at no cost, with builder access by trial model of free trial
- Domain choice covers 20 extensions, which may feel narrow for varied portfolios
- Builder pricing starts at £5 with store plans at £17
ScalaHosting
Pros
- The shared web hosting, managed cloud hosting and unmanaged cloud VPS hosting range covers shared web hosting, managed and unmanaged cloud, cluster, reseller, WordPress and business email hosting.
- Included features list free SSL, backups, staging, a CDN and email under free ssl, backups and staging, and the builder covers sites and stores.
- A 30 day money-back period leaves room to change direction.
Cons
- Renewal of $11.95 is several times the $2.95 entry price and above the site median of €5.99.
- There is no free plan, so a first test runs on a paid plan starting at $2.95.
- Website counts differ by plan: 1 on Mini, unlimited on Start, Advanced and Entry Cloud, so a single site on Mini can be a tight fit.
Who each suits
Krystal
Who it suits
- Choose Krystal over DonWeb if longer money back cover matters, with Krystal at 60
- Choose Krystal over Cafe24 if broader hosting choice matters, with Krystal spanning Web Hosting, Business Hosting and Reseller Hosting
Who should look elsewhere
- Choose DonWeb over Krystal if lowest intro spend matters, since DonWeb lists $2 to $7.90 against Krystal at £7
- Choose Cafe24 over Krystal if regional pricing in KRW fits better, since Cafe24 lists KRW 450
ScalaHosting
Who it suits
- Small business owners and first site builders, since beginners, small business and enterprise names beginners, small business and enterprise buyers.
- Teams that want hosting and a business mailbox on one account, since shared web hosting, managed cloud hosting and unmanaged cloud VPS hosting includes business email hosting.
- Buyers who want a broad server network, with data centres across Dallas, USA, New York, USA and Seattle, USA.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a free first site: Render lists a free entry tier at $0.
- Visitors comparing prices in Chilean pesos: Hosting.cl quotes CLP 159,900.
- Buyers shopping in rand: Afrihost lists ZAR 84.
Current offers
ScalaHosting
Current offer
First period offer
Mini shared hosting intro offer: $2.95/mo for the first term instead of $11.95/mo (save 75%)
Introductory rate; renewal billed at $11.95/mo
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Start and Advanced plan intro offers: Start $5.95/mo (save 60%), Advanced $9.95/mo (save 50%)
Introductory rate; renews at $14.95/mo and $19.95/mo respectively
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free domain name for the first year: Free .com, .net, .org or .eu domain for one year
Included with Start, Advanced, Entry Cloud and Managed Cloud packages; minimum initial service period of 1 year; using the 30-day money-back guarantee makes the domain chargeable at its normal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
$100 Speed Guarantee on Managed VPS: Full refund of the VPS purchase plus $100 compensation
Managed VPS bought after September 1st 2025 with a minimum 12-month term, deployed in Dallas, Seattle, New York or Sofia, for clients migrating an existing website; claim within 7 days of migration
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Krystal
What does Krystal hosting cost at intro and renewal?+
Krystal lists hosting intro pricing at £7 with renewal pricing at £7. The match between intro and renewal helps planning since renewal does not move above the opening rate. Plan choice affects sites allowed, so review limits before checkout.
How long is Krystal money back cover?+
Krystal offers hosting cover for 60, which sits above the typical category level of 30. The extended window gives room to assess speed, support replies and fit for business sites. Terms may vary by plan, so review conditions before purchase.
ScalaHosting
What does ScalaHosting cost for the first term and at renewal?+
Entry pricing is $2.95 and the same range renews at $11.95, so the second bill is the one to plan for. Renewal sits against a site median of €5.99, which is worth checking against cheaper entry offers.
Is there a free plan to try ScalaHosting on?+
The answer is no, so every account begins on a paid plan and the cheapest way in is $2.95. Support is reachable over email, chat and phone, so a trial means paying first and leaning on chat, phone, email or the help centre.