If you're choosing between the two, dig into user reviews (Reddit, Trustpilot) and see if people are actually happy long-term. Check how responsive their support is, what data centers they use, and whether they oversell resources.
From what I’ve seen, smaller providers can be hit or miss — great pricing up front, but sometimes shaky infrastructure or spotty uptime. If your blog matters to you, go with whoever gives clearer transparency and better real-world reliability, even if it’s slightly more expensive.