Tino Talks Tech

Category: Web hosting

  • Webdev: A Review of one of Zimbabwe’s Leading Web Hosting Providers

    Webdev: A Review of one of Zimbabwe’s Leading Web Hosting Providers

    Webdev is a web hosting and digital marketing company that has been in business for over 20 years in Zimbabwe. It offers a range of services, including email hosting, web hosting, website design, digital marketing, Google Workspace, and online payment solutions. Webdev has developed over 1,000 websites and has over 3,000 hosting clients, over 1,000 online payment merchants, and over 30,000 online classifieds adverts. Webdev also hosts and has developed sites for some of Zimbabwe’s most visited sites, such as Classifieds.co.zw, Newsday, The Herald, The Financial Gazette, The Independent, The Standard, Seeff, Kennan, Robert Root, and thousands more.

    Webdev offers different hosting plans to suit the needs and budgets of different customers. For small to medium enterprises, Webdev has five options of SME web hosting, starting from $3.33 USD per month. These plans include a free .zw domain for the first year, SSL/HTTPS for the domain, a website DIY builder with hundreds of templates, a WordPress installer, MySQL databases, PHP, Python, and JavaScript compatibility, and email @yourdomain. For corporates, software developers, and SaaS, Webdev has VPS server hosting, starting from $20.00 USD per month. These plans allow customers to up and downgrade hardware as needed quickly and easily. Optional extras include more CPU, RAM, and SSD, backups, cPanel server management software, CDN, SSL, and WAF, and Windows Server. OS included are Alma, Debian, and Ubuntu. For high traffic and highly secure websites, Webdev has managed web hosting, starting from $70.00 USD per month. These plans let Webdev manage the VPS for peace of mind, including software optimization, updates, firewall, uptime and resource monitoring, backups/replication/restoration, and support. Options include a SLA, 99.9% uptime guarantee, 24x7x365 emergency phone support, and a dedicated support manager.

    Webdev also offers website design services, starting from $900.00 USD. Customers can choose from three options: DIY website builder, SME website design, and bespoke websites. The DIY website builder allows customers to create their own websites using WordPress and 300 templates. The SME website design offers five options to suit different budgets and needs. The bespoke websites are custom-made for enterprise sites with complex requirements. Webdev also offers digital marketing services, starting from $10.00 USD per month. These services include Google marketing, meta marketing, newsletters, and SEO. Webdev helps customers to generate leads and branding through Google ads, social media marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization. Webdev also offers Google Workspace, starting from $8.00 USD per month. This service allows customers to use Gmail and Google Drive @their domain, as well as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Meet, and Chat.

    Webdev is a reliable and reputable web hosting and digital marketing company in Zimbabwe. It has a long history of providing quality services and products to its customers. It has a large and diverse portfolio of clients and websites. It has a team of experienced and professional staff who are ready to assist and support customers. Webdev is a one-stop shop for all web-related needs in Zimbabwe. Webdev has been one of the leading hosting providers in Zimbabwe for 20+ years.

  • ZimHosts Review: A Reliable and Affordable Web Hosting Service in Zimbabwe

    ZimHosts Review: A Reliable and Affordable Web Hosting Service in Zimbabwe

    If you are looking for a web hosting service in Zimbabwe, you might have come across ZimHosts, one of the leading web design and web hosting companies in the country. ZimHosts offers a range of services, including shared hosting, reseller hosting, business hosting, virtual private servers, dedicated servers, domain registration, bulk SMS, and web design. But how does ZimHosts compare to other web hosting providers in terms of performance, features, security, and customer service? In this article, I will review ZimHosts and help you decide if it is the right web hosting service for you.

    Performance

    One of the most important aspects of any web hosting service is its performance, which affects the speed, availability, and user experience of your website. ZimHosts claims to offer fast and reliable web hosting with 99.9% uptime guarantee, which means that your website will be online and accessible most of the time. ZimHosts also uses SSD storage, which is faster and more durable than traditional hard disk drives, and provides unlimited bandwidth, which means that you can handle any amount of traffic without worrying about extra fees or slowdowns.

    To test the performance of ZimHosts, I used a tool called Pingdom, which measures the loading time and performance grade of a website hosted on ZimHosts. I tested a sample website with a simple design and some images, and I ran the test from different locations around the world. Here are the results:

    LocationLoading TimePerformance Grade
    New York2.18s84
    London1.8384
    Sydney3.0184
    Tokyo2.5784

    As you can see, the loading time of the website was below 3 seconds in all locations, which is considered good by industry standards. The performance grade was also consistent at 84, which means that the website was well optimized and followed best practices. These results show that ZimHosts delivers good performance and speed for websites hosted on its servers.

    Features

    Another important aspect of any web hosting service is its features, which affect the functionality, usability, and customization of your website. ZimHosts offers a variety of features for different types of websites and customers, such as:

    • Free domain name and SSL certificate for a year, which are essential for establishing your online identity and securing your website.
    • Daily backups, which ensure that your website data is safe and can be restored in case of any issues or accidents.
    • One email account, which allows you to communicate with your visitors and customers using your own domain name.
    • One-click install for popular scripts and applications, such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and more, which make it easy to create and manage your website without any coding skills.
    • Customizable templates and easy drag-and-drop technology, which enable you to design your website according to your preferences and needs.
    • Unlimited subdomains, databases, and FTP accounts, which give you more flexibility and control over your website.
    • 24/7 customer support, which provides you with assistance and guidance whenever you need it.

    These features show that ZimHosts offers a comprehensive and user-friendly web hosting service that can cater to different types of websites and customers.

    Security

    Another crucial aspect of any web hosting service is its security, which affects the protection and privacy of your website and your visitors. ZimHosts claims to offer secure and reliable web hosting with various security features, such as:

    • SSL certificate, which encrypts the data exchanged between your website and your visitors, preventing hackers and eavesdroppers from accessing it.
    • Firewall, which blocks unauthorized and malicious traffic from reaching your website, preventing attacks and intrusions.
    • Malware scanning and removal, which detects and eliminates any harmful software or code that might infect your website, compromising its functionality and integrity.
    • DDoS protection, which mitigates the impact of distributed denial-of-service attacks, which aim to overwhelm your website with fake requests, making it unavailable or slow.
    • Spam filtering, which filters out unwanted and unsolicited emails, which might contain viruses, phishing links, or scams.

    These security features show that ZimHosts takes the security and privacy of your website and your visitors seriously and provides you with adequate protection and peace of mind.

    Customer Service

    The last aspect of any web hosting service that I will review is its customer service, which affects the satisfaction and loyalty of your customers. ZimHosts claims to offer excellent customer service with 24/7 support, which is available via phone, email, live chat, and ticket system. ZimHosts also has a knowledge base, a blog, and a FAQ section, which provide you with useful information and answers to common questions.

    To test the customer service of ZimHosts, I contacted them via live chat and asked them a few questions about their web hosting plans and features. Here is a summary of my conversation:

    • The agent was friendly, polite, and professional, and greeted me with a smiley face.
    • The agent answered my questions promptly and accurately, and provided me with relevant links and details.
    • The agent asked me if I had any other questions or concerns, and thanked me for contacting them.

    I was impressed by the customer service of ZimHosts, and I felt that they cared about me and my website. They were helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable, and they made me feel valued and supported.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, ZimHosts is a reliable and affordable web hosting service in Zimbabwe that offers good performance, features, security, and customer service. ZimHosts is suitable for different types of websites and customers, and it provides you with everything you need to create and maintain your online presence. ZimHosts is one of the best web hosting services in Zimbabwe, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a web hosting service in the country.

  • Ngaatec Private Limited: Elevating Your Tech Experience

    Ngaatec Private Limited: Elevating Your Tech Experience

    In an era dominated by technology, finding a trusted partner to address your diverse tech needs is invaluable. Ngaatec Private Limited stands as a beacon of reliability, offering a comprehensive array of services that encompass computer repair and maintenance, website development and design, website and email hosting, computer sales, graphic design, satellite dish services, TV solutions, surveillance systems, and biometric access control. This is your guide to the one-stop tech haven – Ngaatec.

    A Holistic Tech Service Provider

    Ngaatec Private Limited is more than just a tech service provider; it’s a holistic solution for individuals and businesses alike. Here’s a closer look at their extensive range of services:

    1. Computer Repair and Maintenance

    Is your computer acting up or in dire need of a tune-up? Ngaatec‘s expert technicians are equipped to diagnose and resolve a wide spectrum of computer issues, ensuring your devices run at their best.

    2. Website Development and Design

    In an era where your online presence defines your identity, Ngaatec‘s proficient web developers and designers craft bespoke websites that marry aesthetics with functionality, tailored to your unique vision and objectives.

    3. Website and Email Hosting

    Ngaatec doesn’t just design websites; they provide secure hosting solutions that guarantee the uptime and reliability of your online platforms, complemented by exceptional customer support.

    4. Computer Sales and Accessories

    Stay up-to-date with the latest in computing technology by exploring Ngaatec’s extensive inventory of laptops, desktops, all-in-one computers, and a plethora of accessories, all designed to elevate your tech experience.

    5. Graphic Designing

    Creativity knows no bounds at Ngaatec. Their adept graphic design team can breathe life into your branding and marketing materials, ensuring that your visual identity captivates your audience.

    6. Satellite Dish Services

    Are you looking for satellite dish installation or realignment services? Ngaatec excels in both, catering to popular options like DStv and OpenView.

    7. TV Solutions

    Transform your entertainment setup with Ngaatec’s professional TV wall mounting services, transforming your living space into a modern haven of leisure.

    8. Surveillance Systems

    Safety and security are paramount. Ngaatec offers state-of-the-art CCTV surveillance installation, safeguarding your home or business with cutting-edge technology.

    9. Biometric Access Control

    For enhanced security and access management, Ngaatec provides advanced biometric access control systems, granting entry only to authorized individuals.

    Connect with Ngaatec

    To explore the world of tech solutions that Ngaatec Private Limited has to offer, visit their website at (www.ngaatec.co.zw). Should you wish to reach out, you can do so via these phone numbers:

    +263717129651

    +263778963038

    +263783827570

    Unmissable 20% Discount

    As a testament to their commitment to enhancing your tech experience, Ngaatec is currently extending a generous 20% discount across all their services. This limited-time promotion is your chance to embrace top-tier technology solutions at prices that defy competition.

    In conclusion, Ngaatec Private Limited isn’t merely a tech service provider; it’s your partner in navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape. Whether you require tech support, a captivating online presence, or robust security solutions, Ngaatec delivers with expertise and dedication. Don’t miss the opportunity to avail of their 20% discount – get in touch with Ngaatec today and elevate your tech journey. Your future in technology starts with Ngaatec!

  • Web Hosting Companies in Zimbabwe: A Review Series

    Web Hosting Companies in Zimbabwe: A Review Series

    Web hosting is a service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web. It is one of the most important factors that affect the performance, security, and reliability of a website. Choosing the right web hosting provider can make a big difference in the success of your online presence.

    However, finding the best web hosting service in Zimbabwe can be challenging. There are many factors to consider, such as the cost, features, customer support, and reputation of the web hosting company. How do you know which one is the most suitable for your needs?

    That’s why I have decided to conduct a series of articles on web hosting companies in Zimbabwe. In each article, I will review a different web hosting provider and evaluate their services based on various criteria. I will also compare them with other web hosting options available in the market. My goal is to help you make an informed decision when choosing a web hosting service for your website.

    In this series, I will cover all the web hosting companies I find, here are some of them:

    • Zimhosts: A leading web hosting company in Zimbabwe that offers affordable and reliable web hosting solutions for personal and business websites. They have servers located in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the UK, and they provide 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat.
    • Webdev: A web development and hosting company that has been operating in Zimbabwe since 2001. They offer a range of web hosting plans, from shared hosting to dedicated servers, as well as domain registration, web design, and e-commerce solutions. They have a local data center in Harare and a backup data center in Johannesburg.
    • Freshspot Hosting: A web hosting company that specializes in WordPress hosting. They offer fast, secure, and optimized web hosting for WordPress websites, with features such as free SSL certificates, automatic backups, malware scanning, and caching. They have servers in Zimbabwe and the USA, and they provide 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and ticket system.
    • Tremhost: A web hosting company that aims to provide the best web hosting experience in Zimbabwe. They offer a variety of web hosting plans, from shared hosting to cloud hosting, as well as domain registration, web design, and digital marketing services. They have servers in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the USA, and they provide 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and WhatsApp.
    • Name.co.zw: A domain name registrar and web hosting company that focuses on providing low-cost and high-quality web hosting solutions for Zimbabwean websites. They offer shared hosting, reseller hosting, and VPS hosting, as well as domain registration, web design, and SSL certificates. They have servers in Zimbabwe and the USA, and they provide 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat.

    In the next article, I will review Zimhosts and see how they compare with other web hosting providers in Zimbabwe. Stay tuned for more updates on this series. I hope you will find it useful and informative.

  • Zimbabwean Marketplace Series: Tengesai.com

     

    Web hosting giant ZimHero brings us Tengesai.com which is going to be our talk for day 2. 

    What is Tengesai?

    Tengesai is a classifieds platform developed by ZimHero, a popular web hosting platform. Tengesai was launched not long ago but has rapidly grown because of the influence of it’s parent company, ZimHero. We now see Tengesai being a part of the major classifieds and marketplace platforms in Zimbabwe and this is all thanks to ZimHero.

    Design

    The first thing I’m commenting on is the design. The Tengesai.com design is quite impressive and stands out amongst other marketplace websites here in Zimbabwe. They have a theme colour, a pale shade of green which is very beautiful and unique. Their combination of colours is the most impressive feature of their design, and this site’s design completely overwhelmed me as I was comparing it to others. In terms of mobile usability the site’s great and it’s also responsive, which is also great. We have screenshots taken on both mobile and desktop below.

    Desktop version

    Notable features

    It’s really easy to create an account on Tengesai and it’s also easy to login. No hassle at all. The site also has a limit for listings which I failed to comprehend though. Their banner read:

    An account limit has been introduced where you can have up to 5 ads live at any moment. If you need more, you can become premium member to unlock further benefits. To read more about it please visit our FAQ page or contact us. You have currently active 1 listings out of your limit 50 listings (published in 0 days).

     I couldn’t get what they were trying to say here. As the pop-up reads, users can have up to 5 ads live at any moment and then there’s me who currently has 1 active listing out of 50. 

    Sellers can also promote their listings, which brings us back to the Pindula concept. One has to pay to be on the front page and also to be featured in WhatsApp groups. 

    Tengesai WhatsApp groups

    In Tengesai’s case though, you get a badge on your listing and this badge shows that the listing is being promoted. You also get a front page feature on their sponsored section and throughout the website. 

    These are the four categories for listing promotion on Tengesai. 

    Another notable feature on the Tengesai website is the messaging option as buyers have a chance to chat with sellers in a built-in chat option on the site. Below is a screenshot of my seller profile.

    In this screenshot, the chat option is unavailable because it’s my profile and I’m logged into the site so I cannot chat with myself.

    Google Pagespeed Insights

    It’s now a part of my tradition to feature the Google Pagespeed Insights in every website I review so that I can compare my point of view to that of Google’s. (not literally though)

    Here they are. The legendary, extremely long screenshots of the Google Pagespeed page. To clearly see the stats click on the images to view them in full screen mode. 

    Content

    In this section I don’t have much to say, I might even end up contradicting myself if I talk much. I already mentioned that Tengesai is now one of the biggest classifieds platforms in the country, so I don’t see the need for me to add anything else to that statement.

    Conclusion

    This is a wonderful ZimHero venture, bravo to the developers. I really liked my experience on the site and loved it’s great UI and colour combinations. It is also reliable in terms of product and service promotion so I positively recommend it.

  • The cheapest web hosting service in the country

    Image Credit: Kinsta blog

    Web hosting is an online service that makes your website’s content accessible on the internet. When you purchase a hosting plan, you are renting space on a physical server to store all the website’s files and data.

    Web hosts provide the hosting technology and resources required for the effective and secure operation of your website. They are responsible for keeping the server up and running, implementing security measures, and ensuring that data such as texts, photos, and other files are transferred successfully to the visitors’ browsers.

    In this article, you will learn what web hosting is, how it works, and what are the different types of web hosting available.

    Hostinger

    Types of web hosting services

    We hosting is grouped into 5 categories namely:

    • Shared Hosting
    • Dedicated Hosting
    • WordPress Hosting
    • VPS Hosting
    • Cloud Hosting

    Explaining these types of web hosting services is a story for another day. Now after ths background on what web hosting is, let’s go onto the cheapest web hosting service in Zimbabwe.

    NivaCity

    NivaCity is a popular web hosting company which offers Cloud Hosting and VPS Hosting services. They are a South Africa based company who extended their outreach to Zimbabwe and made it possible for Zimbabweans to purchase their services using Paynow. Here in Zimbabwe the average price for the cheapest hosting plan for most web hosting providers is $3 which is quite cheap and affordable. However NivaCity managed to surpass that with their Direct Admin hosting plan going for $1.50. Now if you wanted to run a personal website or a project website which one would you choose? If my guess was right you would choose NivaCity. But let’s take a look at all of the plans they offer.

    NivaCity’s shared hosting is divided into two groups. The first is cPanel web hosting and the second is Direct Admin web hosting.

    cPanel web hosting

    All of NivaCity’s sites are hosted on LiteSpeed servers hence speed is not a speciality for this hosting plan only. The cPanel hosting has 3 plans which are pretty much ideal for businesses and small websites. The plans are listed below.

    Starter Plan

    • 1 Domain
    • 5GB disk space
    • Unmetered bandwidth
    • 10 mySQL databases
    • 10 secure emails
    • MailChannels guaranteed email delivery
    • Free SSL certificate

    The starter plan is going for $2.50/mo

    Intermediate Plan

    • 5 Domains
    • 20GB Disk Space
    • Unmetered Bandwidth
    • Unlimited MySQL Databases
    • Unlimited Secure Email Accounts
    • MailChannels Guaranteed Email Delivery
    • Free SSL Certificate

    The intermediate plan is going for $4.50/mo

    Deluxe Plan

    • Unlimited Domains
    •  Unlimited Disk Space
    •  Unmetered Bandwidth
    •  Unlimited MySQL Databases
    •  Unlimited Secure Email Accounts
    •  MailChannels Guaranteed Email Delivery
    •  Free SSL Certificate

    The Deluxe Plan is going for $6.50/mo

    Direct Admin web hosting

    Now let’s get into their cheapest plans, the direct admin plans.

    Starter Plan

    • 1 Domain
    • 5GB Disk Space
    • Unmetered Bandwidth
    • 10 MySQL Databases
    • 10 Secure Email Accounts
    • MailChannels Guaranteed Email Delivery
    • Free SSL Certificate

    The starter plan is going for $1.50/mo

    Intermediate Plan

    • 5 Domains
    • 20GB Disk Space
    • Unmetered Bandwidth
    • Unlimited MySQL Databases
    • Unlimited Secure Email Accounts
    • MailChannels Guaranteed Email Delivery
    • Free SSL Certificate

    The intermediate plan is going for $3.50/mo

    Deluxe Plan

    • Unlimited Domains
    • Unlimited Disk Space
    • Unmetered Bandwidth
    • Unlimited MySQL Databases
    • Unlimited Secure Email Accounts
    • MailChannels Guaranteed Email Delivery
    • Free SSL Certificate

    The deluxe plan is going for $5.50/mo

    Conclusion

    If you’re someone who knows about the hosting services here in Zimbabwe, you would have noticed that their Direct Admin Deluxe Plan is almost the same price as other hosting providers’ Starter plans. So according to what I’ve come across lately, NivaCity has the cheapest hosting in Zimbabwe.