TimeWeb vs Reg.ru: Uncompromising Comparison
TimeWeb and Reg.ru represent two different approaches to hosting. TimeWeb grew from a 2006 St. Petersburg startup into a niche leader in usability. Reg.ru took the ecosystem path. Let’s compare them head-to-head.
Sites: timeweb.com | reg.ru
Core Difference
TimeWeb does one thing well: hosting. The panel, speed, support — everything is optimized for website hosting. Reg.ru is a marketplace: domains, hosting, email, SSL, builder, CRM, advertising, SMS. This defines everything else.
Pricing
Shared hosting entry level:
| Provider | Plan | Storage | Websites | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TimeWeb | Opti | 10 GB | 10 | 249 ₽ |
| Reg.ru | Economy | 15 GB | ∞ | 199 ₽ |
Reg.ru is cheaper and more generous at entry level. But TimeWeb uses SSD on all plans while Reg.ru’s “Economy” uses HDD.
VPS mid-range (2 cores, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB):
| Provider | Price/mo | Disk | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| TimeWeb | 690 ₽ | NVMe | Custom |
| Reg.ru | 579 ₽ | SSD | ispmanager |
Speed Benchmarks
Identical WordPress sites:
| Metric | TimeWeb | Reg.ru |
|---|---|---|
| TTFB (Moscow) | 145 ms | 160 ms |
| Full page load | 1.2 s | 1.5 s |
| Uptime 2025 | 99.96% | 99.95% |
TimeWeb is slightly faster. The 300 ms difference in full page load is barely noticeable for visitors, but search engines (Core Web Vitals) factor it in.
Control Panel: The Deciding Factor
This is where TimeWeb pulls ahead. Their panel is the best on the Russian hosting market for usability. Intuitive, fast, modern design. SSL setup in two clicks. Visual backup management. Highlighted error logs.
Reg.ru’s panel feels cluttered with upsells. File editing, Cron management, PHP configuration — all faster and less error-prone on TimeWeb.
Support
| Aspect | TimeWeb | Reg.ru |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | Chat, tickets, Telegram | Chat, tickets, phone |
| Avg response (day) | 5 min | 8 min |
| Competence | High | Med/High |
| Upsell during support | No | Often |
TimeWeb wins on support quality: faster, no upsell attempts. Reg.ru sometimes uses support inquiries to pitch additional services.
Affiliate Programs
Reg.ru: up to 40% RevShare, reseller, white-label. Suits agencies. TimeWeb: up to 30% RevShare, user-friendly partner panel, promo codes. Payouts from 2,000 ₽.
TimeWeb is easier to start with: intuitive partner dashboard, transparent analytics. Reg.ru offers more scaling options but has a higher entry barrier.
Verdict
TimeWeb wins on usability, speed, and “human” support. Reg.ru wins on ecosystem, flexibility, and pricing on higher plans. For freelancers or small studios — TimeWeb makes life easier. For agencies with client flow — Reg.ru provides more scaling tools.