GitHub|Since 2007
Wptr Lab

USSoftLayer (IBM)vsWinhostUS

Head-to-head hosting performance comparison based on real test data

Test Date: 2/23/2026

SoftLayer (IBM)

SoftLayer (IBM)

View Details →
WPTR ScoreWinner756 ms
Rank#322
TTFB584ms
Time to 1MB210ms
Score756
LCP984ms
FCP784ms
Winhost
WPTR Score2609 ms
Rank#679
TTFB61ms
Time to 1MB1036ms
Score2609
LCP461ms
FCP261ms

Our Verdict

Winhost wins with 61ms TTFB (vs SoftLayer (IBM)'s 584ms)

TTFB Breakdown (Connection Phases)

PhaseSoftLayer (IBM)WinhostWinner
DNS Lookup1ms63msSoftLayer (IBM)
TCP Connection29ms14msWinhost
TLS Handshake31ms18msWinhost
Server Processing191ms28msWinhost
Total TTFB252ms123msWinhost

Technology & Security Features

SoftLayer (IBM)

Server/CDNUnknown
HSTS Enabled
Brotli Compression Disabled
HTTP/3 (QUIC) Disabled
Page Size379.0 KB

Winhost

Server/CDNcloudflare
HSTS Disabled
Brotli Compression Enabled
HTTP/3 (QUIC) Disabled
Page Size8.9 KB
1/3
SoftLayer (IBM) Security Features
1/3
Winhost Security Features

TTFB Comparison Over Time

Understanding the Metrics

WPTR Score: Wptr Lab Real-Load Score: (Time to 1MB x 2.4) + TTFB. Raw server & network performance (Lower is better).
TTFB: Time to First Byte - How fast the server responds
Time to 1MB: Time to 1MB - Time taken to download 1MB of data (lower is better)
LCP: Largest Contentful Paint - When main content loads
FCP: First Contentful Paint - When first content appears
Score: Overall performance score (0-100)

A Note on Hosting Selection

While TTFB and performance metrics are important indicators, choosing the right hosting provider involves many other factors: security measures, customer support quality, uptime guarantees, scalability options, and pricing structure. Academic research emphasizes that a balanced approach considering all these aspects leads to better long-term outcomes.

Chizhov, A., & Fesenko, A. (2025). Web hosting companies' client solutions: A study of a strategic standpoint. Corporate & Business Strategy Review. doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv6i1art14

Data in this comparison is obtained through independent tests using our TTFB Checker tool.