A2 Hosting is a Linux-based web hosting provider that offers multiple web hosting services such as shared web hosting, WordPress hosting, Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, reseller hosting, email hosting, and dedicated hosting. Currently, the company hosts websites for more than 110,000 businesses and its most popular hosting solution is shared hosting, which is what we will focus on in this review.
Through its high-end data centers, A2 offers optimal speed and robust security features on a platform that users say is easy to navigate. It also offers 24/7 support and its various plan options make it suitable for all types of businesses. Find out more in this A2 review that highlights the features, pricing, pros, and cons of A2 Hosting’s shared web hosting service.
A2 Hosting
| Introductory price: | Starting at $1.95 per month (for 36 months) |
| Renewal price for the same plan: | $12.99 per month |
| Reduced prices for longer terms? | Yes, up to 84% |
A2 Hosting – Price and tariff overview
A2 offers four plans: Startup, Drive, Turbo Boost, and Turbo Max. The Turbo plans offer 20x faster speed thanks to upgraded servers, LiteSpeed cache plugins, pre-configured Magento, and more built-in features. Each plan has robust security features and offers free Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, free email addresses, unlimited subdomains, and unlimited parked domains. You also get access to Domain Name System (DNS) management for optimal speed. A2 Hosting also offers automatic backups, and everyone gets 24/7 support.
A2 Hosting’s prices start at $1.95 per month and go up to $29.99, depending on the plan and payment option. You can pay monthly, annually, or every two to three years. Longer terms offer discounts, with a three-year term taking 84% off the total price, but renewal prices increase. For example, A2’s basic plan, Startup, costs $1.95 per month the first time around and $70.20 for every three years, a whopping $395.64 (almost 6x more) upon renewal. Learn more about how plans, pricing, and fees work in our guide to web hosting costs.
| Construction plans | Introductory tariff (three-year billing) | Renewal tariff (three-year billing) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up | $70.20 | $395.64 | A website 100 GB solid state drive storage (SSD) Five databases 1 GB physical memory |
| Drive | $142.20 | $503.64 | Unlimited number of websites Unlimited SSD storage Unlimited databases 1 GB physical memory Free automatic backups |
| Turbo Boost | $178.20 | $791.64 | Unlimited number of websites Unlimited NVMe (Nonvolatile Memory Express) SSD storage Unlimited databases 2 GB physical memory Free automatic backups Turbo (up to 20x faster) Edge Side Includes (ESI) and Quick UDP Internet Connection (QUIC) And more |
| TurboMax | $502.20 | $971.64 | Unlimited number of websites Unlimited NVMe SSD storage Unlimited databases 4 GB physical memory Free automatic backups Turbo (up to 20x faster) 5x more resources And more |
| Start-up | |
|---|---|
| $70.20 | |
| $395.64 | |
| A website 100 GB solid state drive storage (SSD) Five databases 1 GB physical memory |
|
| Drive | |
| $142.20 | |
| $503.64 | |
| Unlimited number of websites Unlimited SSD storage Unlimited databases 1 GB physical memory Free automatic backups |
|
| Turbo Boost | |
| $178.20 | |
| $791.64 | |
| Unlimited number of websites Unlimited NVMe (Nonvolatile Memory Express) SSD storage Unlimited databases 2 GB physical memory Free automatic backups Turbo (up to 20x faster) Edge Side Includes (ESI) and Quick UDP Internet Connection (QUIC) And more |
|
| TurboMax | |
| $502.20 | |
| $971.64 | |
| Unlimited number of websites Unlimited NVMe SSD storage Unlimited databases 4 GB physical memory Free automatic backups Turbo (up to 20x faster) 5x more resources And more |
Best A2 Hosting Plan for Small Business: Turbo Boost
We recommend Turbo Boost for small businesses looking for the cheapest plan. Over the three-year billing cycle, you get A2’s Turbo features for just $4.95 per month. Central processing unit (CPU) performance is 40% faster, and you get unlimited NVMe storage, the LiteSpeed web server, an optimized A2 site accelerator, and other features that help the hosted website handle nine times more traffic. Turbo Max, A2’s most expensive plan, offers an additional 2GB of physical memory and two more processing cores, but costs $13.95 per month for the same cycle.
Per
- Unlimited NVMe storage
- Including surge protection
- 20 times faster than tariffs without turbo
Disadvantages
- The renewal rates are significantly higher
- No free trial
Other services offered by A2 Hosting
A2 offers these additional services.
- Automatic backups: While web hosting providers like InMotion offer automatic backups as an additional service, A2 websites are protected against data corruption and accidental deletion for free. This feature is available on all plans except A2’s basic plan, Startup. A2 uses JetBackup to store your files and make them accessible when needed.
- Free SSL Certificates: A2 Hosting includes free automated SSL certificates and allows you to configure SSL to improve website security.
- Website Builder: A2 Hosting’s drag-and-drop website builder is available as an add-on to a shared web hosting plan and as a bundled web hosting and site builder offering. A2 SiteBuilder is also free for one-page websites.
- WordPress installation with just one click: A2 allows one-click installation of WordPress. WordPress installation also includes Kernelcare and Hacksan protection.
- Free email: A2 Hosting users receive an unlimited number of free email addresses, regardless of the plan or billing option chosen.
The A2 hosting platform and customer support
A2 Hosting provides users with a Linux-based cPanel that is easy to navigate even for beginners. While some may find the website management interface old-fashioned, it simplifies web hosting processes such as domain management and web file organization. A2 Hosting also includes the Softaculous app that offers one-click setup for WordPress and eCommerce apps. Also, A2 Hosting offers free site migrations for those migrating from another hosting service provider.
If you need technical help or assistance using any of the features, A2’s Guru Crew support team is available 24/7 via phone, live chat, or email – and that applies to all plans. When we contacted support via live chat over the weekend, an agent responded immediately, helped resolve the issues, and emailed us a transcript. You can also visit A2 Hosting’s searchable knowledge base or read the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and articles about website hosting and navigating the A2 Hosting platform.
Is A2 Hosting safe?
A2 Hosting offers robust security with SSLs, enhanced Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection, and two-factor authentication (2FA) in all plans. A2 also offers constant hosting protection, such as KernelCare, 24/7 security monitoring, virus scanning, comprehensive network firewall, additional server firewall, and spam protection. The automatic backups, available to all users except those on the Startup plan, allow you to recover lost or corrupted data. For a fee, you can also add other web hosting security solutions to your account, such as ConfigServer and Firewall (CSF), OpenVPN, Brute Force Detection, and Linux Malware Detect.
A2 Hosting User Reviews
Customers praised A2 Hosting for its user-friendly interface, and those who migrated data from A2 Hosting competitors were pleased with the smooth and quick process. In terms of support, some users found A2 Hosting “highly recommended” due to the quick and helpful responses, even for beginners. However, others complained about long wait times and staff who were hard-pressed to understand customer needs or help resolve issues. Customers also loved the heavily discounted introductory pricing, but found the renewal pricing too expensive and unnecessary.
Compare A2 Hosting Alternatives
A2 Hosting vs SiteGround
You get free SSLs, enhanced security, daily backups, and free site migration from both web hosting providers. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and hosts a single website in its basic plans, which have the same name: Startup. However, A2 Hosting is compatible with Cloudflare content delivery network (CDN) plans, while every SiteGround account includes a free CDN and email migrator. SiteGround’s higher plans also include Git, advanced priority support, and a simple staging tool, which is missing from A2 Hosting.
A2 Hosting vs Namecheap
Both providers offer similar shared hosting features, including free SSLs, unlimited park domains, and a 30-day money-back guarantee with full refund. Like A2 Hosting, Namecheap extends its basic Stellar plan at the same monthly price. Its price is three times lower than A2 Hosting’s startup price, but offers two additional websites and a 100% guarantee, while A2 offers 99.90%.
However, Namecheap Stellar lacks features like phone support and automatic backups that A2 Hosting offers. Additionally, free emails are limited to 30 and A2 charges a monthly fee of $1 to use its UK data center.
Is A2 Hosting right for you?
Overall, A2 Hosting is a suitable option for businesses looking for a web hosting solution with robust features. Its enhanced security, speed, and performance also make it a great choice for high-traffic or high-content websites. However, if your budget for web hosting is low, A2 is not a good choice due to the high prices for shorter terms and renewals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A2 Hosting fast?
A2 Hosting offers optimal speed through speed-boosting features like Anycast DNS, LiteSpeed, and overload protection. It’s even better if you have the Turbo Boost or Max plan, which is 20 times faster and keeps your website stable. A2 offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee. This web hosting service also has data centers in multiple locations, which increases speed.
Does A2 offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes, A2 offers a money-back guarantee. You can cancel your account within the first 30 days and receive a full refund. However, if you are dissatisfied and decide to cancel after 30 days of using the web hosting service, you are entitled to a prorated refund within 90 days.
Where are A2 Hosting’s servers located?
A2 Hosting operates its servers in the US, Europe and Asia. The high-end data centers are located in highly regulated environments with video surveillance and multiple access control points. They are also guarded 24/7 to ensure data security.
