GitHub|Since 2007
Wptr Lab

USM5 HostingvsSonicUS

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

Test Date: 2/23/2026

M5 Hosting
WPTR ScoreWinner7851 ms
Rank#846
TTFB1475ms
Time to 1MB2666ms
Score7851
LCP1875ms
FCP1675ms
Sonic
WPTR Score20411 ms
Rank#893
TTFB1505ms
Time to 1MB7768ms
Score20411
LCP1905ms
FCP1705ms

Our Verdict

M5 Hosting wins with 1475ms TTFB (vs Sonic's 1505ms)

TTFB Breakdown (Connection Phases)

PhaseM5 HostingSonicWinner
DNS Lookup737ms669msSonic
TCP Connection183ms696msM5 Hosting
TLS Handshake181ms201msM5 Hosting
Server Processing352ms202msSonic
Total TTFB1453ms1768msM5 Hosting

Technology & Security Features

M5 Hosting

Server/CDNnginx
HSTS Enabled
Brotli Compression Disabled
HTTP/3 (QUIC) Disabled
Page Size242.9 KB

Sonic

Server/CDNnginx
HSTS Enabled
Brotli Compression Disabled
HTTP/3 (QUIC) Disabled
Page Size53.0 KB
1/3
M5 Hosting Security Features
1/3
Sonic 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.