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A2 Hosting Review, Money Saving Secrets, Top Server & More
25
Dec
Dec
Let me introduce you to A2 Hosting before we jump to A2 Hosting Review. It was founded in 2001 by Bryan Muthig and theyβre most known for their page loading speeds.
In fact, they have delivered one of the fastest server speeds weβve seen over the past 12 months. Also, A2 HostingΒ has a strong uptime, which makes their hosting service reliable.
The hosting plans are developer-friendly, and their βanytimeβ money-back guarantee is a unique feature.
A significant downside is the renewal rate, which jumps up aggressively after your initial period. However, if you need a fast web hosting service at relatively cheap upfront pricing ($1.99/month) with the ability to scale with your website growth. Then A2 Hosting might be an excellent option for you.
Hereβs an in-depth look at A2 Hosting’s pros and cons after signing up, paying for their hosting service, and putting it to the test.
GENERAL INFO & HOSTING OVERVIEW
| Our Rating: | Our Verdict:Β 5.0 |
| SPEED: | 284 ms (August 2023 to July 2024) |
| UPTIME: | 99.98% (August 2023 to July 2024) |
| SUPPORT: | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Phone, Ticketing |
| APPS: | WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, OpenCart, and Magento |
| FEATURES: | Unlimited Bandwidth, Free SSL, Cloudflare CDN, Anycast DNS, Anytime Money-Back, Website Staging, DDoS Protection, and more. |
| HOSTING PLANS: | Shared, WordPress, VPS, Reseller, and Dedicated Servers |
| SITE TRANSFER: | Single Free Site Transfer with Shared Hosting ($10/site afterward) |
| PRICING: | Starting at $1.95/mo (renews at $12.99/mo) |
PROS OF USING A2 HOSTING
A2 Hosting is one of the best under-the-radar hosting companies you might not know about, but should.
Why?
Their speed is excellent, uptime is reliable, customer service is friendly, security features are plentiful, and refund policy is liberal. On top of it all, theyβre even environmentally conscious.
Letβs take a detailed look at A2 Hostingβs many perks.
SUPER-FAST PAGE LOADING SPEED (284 MS)
You see a recurring theme when you go to A2 Hosting β speed.
And A2 Hosting is, in fact, fast. In the past 12 months, they have deliveredΒ an amazing average speed of 284 ms.
RELIABLE UPTIME OF 99.98%
On top of being lightning-fast, A2 Hosting is also reliable.
They had some trouble a few years ago when their uptime struggled to reach the industry standard of 99.93%. However, theyβve turned the problems around over the past year and achieved an average of 99.98% uptime. The total downtime of their servers was less than two hours.
A2 Hosting average uptime .
Last 12-month average uptime of A2 hosting:
- August 2024: 99.99%
- July 2024: 100%
- June 2024: 99.99%
- May 2024: 99.99%
- April 2024: 100%
- March 2024: 99.99%
- February 2024: 100%
- January 2024: 99.86%
- December 2023: 100%
- November 2023: 100%
- October 2023: 99.99%
- September 2023: 100%
24/7 SERVER MONITORING AND MALWARE SCANNING
The best way to keep your site safe is by preventing issues before they break out. But, extra scanning, firewalls, or layers of encryption can often slow users down. This isnβt the case with A2 Hosting. They can still perform at the highest level while giving you loads of additional security features.
A2 HostingΒ servers are protected by βHackScan,β a 24/7-monitoring service that scans for malware and other attacks.
Their data centers are also scalable, meaning youβre protected if a denial of service attack (DDoS) breaks out. These attacks attempt to flood your servers with traffic and knock your site offline. So A2 Hosting has got your back to handle sudden, unexpected surges.
FREE SITE MIGRATIONS (1-25 DEPENDING ON THE PLAN)
A2 Hosting offers to move a single existing website over to their servers without extra charge on all plans.
With the shared hosting plan, if you have multiple websites that you want to migrate, it costs $10/site extra. However, if youβre going with the Reseller, Dedicated, or Managed VPS hosting, you get 25 free site migrations. Their terms of service spell everything out in detail.
To take advantage of this, you need to reach out to their customer support department and give them your cPanel account credentials.
If your websites have any other control panel than cPanel, they might take a small fee for the extra work.
CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (CMS) AND DEVELOPER-FRIENDLY TOOLS
A2 Hosting works seamlessly with all major content management systems.
You can install a WordPress, OpenCart, Drupal, Joomla, or Magento site with just a few clicks and donβt need a developer to do that.
A2 HostingΒ also has performance-enhancing plugins to make these CMSs faster, starting from the βTurbo Boostβ plan. You get a free Cloudflare CDN with all hosting packages that further contribute to speeding things up.
Suppose youβre a webmaster or agency looking to host dozens of sites under one roof. In that case, A2 Hosting comes with developer-friendly tools. You can get admin-level access on servers, free server rewind backups, and multiple versions of everything from PHP to MySQL, Apache, Python, Ruby, etc.
A2 Hosting also has a website builder, appropriately named A2 SiteBuilder. However, it isnβt included in the standard hosting plans and is priced separately.
ANYTIME MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Most hosts that weβve reviewed offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, A2 Hosting has gone further than that and provides an βanytimeβ money-back guarantee.
This means that you still get a full refund within the first 30 days. But, if you find the service not suitable, you can cancel anytime and receive a prorated amount back for the remaining time youβve prepaid.
However, there are a few snags.
The first is that any refund request past the initial 120 days is issued through PayPal. Another is that βadditionalβ services like domain registrations, setup, or migration fees are nonrefundable. You get to keep anything thatβs not refunded, though, for example, your domain name.
GREEN WEB HOSTING
A2 Hosting’sΒ hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is known as βTree Town.β They reportedly have 50,000+ trees and 150+ parks. So A2 feels a moral obligation to help protect the planet from global warming.
They have partnered with Carbonfund.org to help support renewable energies and reforestation. They also have a βFutureServeβ green hosting initiative in place to help offset emissions from their servers.
This probably isnβt a deciding factor to sign up for a web host. But, knowing the company youβre working with cares about the environment is a nice extra perk.
FAST CUSTOMER SUPPORT
A2 HostingΒ provides 24/7 support through live chat, email, ticketing, and phone. They also have a vast knowledge base if you prefer to find an answer yourself or learn something new.
However, our favorite is a live chat that we always like to test out. connecting with agent takes more time than it’s fierce competitor. But, the support agents’ behavior bridge that gap.
We asked a simple question about their shared hosting plans and got connected to the customer support rep almost immediately.
A2 HOSTING PRICING, HOSTING PLANS & QUICK FACTS
SHARED HOSTING
Β
Blazing Fast, Low Cost Shared Web Hosting
Set up a professional website with our flexible and reliable shared hosting plans. Uncover your potential with A2 Hosting β your trusted partner!
- High Performance at a Low Cost
- Free SSL Certificate and Site Migration
- 99% Uptime Commitment
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its shared hosting:
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is a form of web hosting service where multiple websites reside on a single server. With shared hosting, you get the advantage of using a fast and reliable server at a much lower cost, as all of the expenses, such as software, hardware, server maintenance, and security updates, are shared between users.
This type of hosting is the perfect solution for people looking for affordability and user-friendliness, such as:
- First-time website owners
- Blog and forum owners
- Small businesses
- Anyone else who doesnβt require a server that can handle high traffic volumes
Main Benefits of Shared Hosting
No Technical Knowledge
The user-friendly nature of shared hosting eliminates the need for extensive technical knowledge. Hosting providers are responsible for the management, maintenance, and updating of servers, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users.
Cheap & Cost-Effective
Shared web hosting is the most affordable option for web hosting, as all the hardware and software resources are split between the websites, significantly reducing the overall costs for each user.
Easy to Upgrade
Shared hosting plans let you scale according to your business needs or in the case of increased traffic. With various tiers available, users can start with a basic plan and upgrade when necessary, allowing your website to grow without the need to migrate to a different hosting service. Donβt see the exact resources you need? We offer custom plans to fit your needsβtalk to Sales to get started!
Why A2 Hosting Stands Out for Your Shared Hosting Needs
EveryΒ Shared Web HostingΒ plan is powered byΒ top-of-the-lineΒ servers that are distributed evenly according to the number of users, giving your website speed and efficiency. This powerful combination of resources, performance enhancements, and limited occupancy means anΒ industry-leading web hosting experience at a low cost.
Want to upgrade your performance? Consider ourΒ Turbo Plan, which comes withΒ 40% fasterΒ CPU performance,Β 3X faster NVMe storage, and advancedΒ LiteSpeed Turbo Caching.
Already have a website hosted somewhere else? Our Guru Support willΒ migrate it to A2 for FREE!
What is Included in Our Shared Hosting Plans
Free SSL Certificate
SSL certificates encrypt data transferred between a userβs browser and a website, ensuring secure and confidential communication. We will issue free SSL certificates for every website that joins our Shared Hosting plans
Complete SSD Solutions
Lighting-fast loading times with SSD-powered servers. Say goodbye to clunky, slow websites that drive visitors away! Get even faster speeds with our turbo plans featuring NVMe storage!
Free Site Migration
If you join any Shared Hosting plan and want to migrate your website, the A2 hosting team of professionals will do it for free, ensuring minimal downtime and intact data transfer!
Top-Notch Security
Experience another level of security for your website and business with top-of-the-line tools like Free Hacksan, 2FA, DDoS protection, KennelCare updates, an in-built virus scanner, firewall, and brute force defense.
cPanel Access
Enjoy a centralized dashboard to effectively manage all websites in your plan, customize your hosting environment, and check your siteβs health at a glance.
24/7/365 Guru Customer Support
An expert support team is available at all plan levels, no matter the time zone. Whether youβre experiencing some issues or you need help with setting up, a friendly professional is always ready to help you out.
Suggestion: We recommend buying Turbo Shared Hosting Plan
VPS HOSTING
With A2βs VPS Hosting plans, your site has the power to fulfill its potential, handling high traffic when needed and reaching new heights. Built for Performance
- Β Virtual Server With Dedicated Resources
- Β 100% Money Back Guarantee
- Β Scalable Plans That Grow With Your Site
What is VPS Hosting?
VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting is a web hosting solution where a physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers, each acting as an independent unit. This separation allows each virtual server to have dedicated resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage, leading to increased reliability and performance efficiency.
Unlike shared hosting, where resources are shared among all users, VPS hosting provides a more isolated environment, enhancing security and resource availability.
What is VPS Hosting Used For?
VPS hosting is a versatile option, mostly used by:
- Startups or small businessesβ VPS provides you with a high-performing, reliable, and scalable server environment that can grow with your business.
- eCommerce platformsβ VPS is the perfect partner in managing high-traffic volumes and secure transactions. It also ensures that customer data is protected and the shopping experience is smooth.
- Developersβ VPS hosting is great for developers because of the high degree of control it offers in configuring their hosting environment, allowing for custom setups, installations, and testing.
When Should You Switch to VPS Hosting
We recommend switching to VPS hosting when your website requirements outgrow the resources available in shared hosting plans, for example:
- You have higher traffic levels and need a more stable performance.
- You require greater control over your hosting environment, such as installing specific software or configurations.
- You have enhanced security needs and need the isolated environment of a VPS server, which minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or resource contention among users.
Is VPS Hosting The Same As Cloud Hosting?
Is VPS Hosting The Same As Cloud Hosting? While VPS hosting and cloud hosting both provide virtualized environments with dedicated resources, they are not the same.VPS hosting divides a single physical server into multiple virtual servers, each with allocated resources. In contrast, cloud VPS hosting utilizes resources spread across multiple physical servers.
This means that cloud hosting can more dynamically allocate resources to manage spikes in traffic and enhance reliability, whereas VPS hosting offers a fixed amount of resources with the stability of a defined physical server.
However, you should keep in mind that VPS is a lot more predictable in terms of costs than cloud hosting, and if you get VPS hosting on a Turbo plan by A2, you can enjoy increased resources and pre-configured server software that is up to much faster than traditional cloud VPS server hosting.
VPS Features You Get with A2 Hosting
Faster Performance with Turbo
Turbo plans come with NMVe storage and LiteSpeed, leading to high rankings, low bounce rates, and high conversion rates!
SSD VPS Hosting Solutions
All hosting plans include solid-state drives, giving your site the best possible performance!
Developer Friendly
The best versions of the most popular development software
99.9% Uptime Commitment
Our ultra-reliable servers and dedicated teams make sure that your website is always up and running!
Free Account Migration
Our team can move your site to A2 Hosting for free in most cases!
Free SSL Certificate
Secure your website with a free SSL certificate and give your users the power to browse confidently!
24/7/365 Customer Support
If you have any queries or issues, donβt hesitate to contact our support team β theyβre available 24/7!
Power of BMD Server at Lower Cost
At A2 Hosting, we donβt pack our servers tightly so that every user gets the performance they require.
Choose Between Managed or Unmanaged VPS Hosting
Easy cPanel Control Panel vs Command Line Management
Managed VPS hosting includes an easy-to-use cPanel Control Panel, offering an intuitive interface for those without specialized technical skills to manage their server effectively. A2 Hosting distinguishes itself by providing the full-featured cPanel interface, a benefit not universally offered by all cPanel hosts. Command-line management, which is available in unmanaged VPS plans, is better suited for experienced developers or those with technical proficiency who seek granular control over their hosting environment.
Available Root Access Vs Full Root Access
Managed VPS hosting offers standard root access, catering to basic server management needs, whereas unmanaged VPS hosting extends full root access. This grants users the liberty to extensively modify their serverβs configuration and optimize it according to their specific requirements.
Pre-installed CloudLinux OS vs Various Linux Distribution Choices
Managed VPS hosting includes an easy-to-use cPanel Control Panel, offering an intuitive interface for those without specialized technical skills to manage their server effectively. A2 Hosting distinguishes itself by providing the full-featured cPanel interface, a benefit not universally offered by all cPanel hosts. Command-line management, which is available in unmanaged VPS plans, is better suited for experienced developers or those with technical proficiency who seek granular control over their hosting environment.
Manual vs Automatic Backups and Updates
Managed VPS hosting offers standard root access, catering to basic server management needs, whereas unmanaged VPS hosting extends full root access. This grants users the liberty to extensively modify their serverβs configuration and optimize it according to their specific requirements.
UNMANAGED VPS HOSTING
- Choose from several Linux distrubutions to install.
- Β Full root-level access and command-line interface for server management.
- Β Set up and manage security and backup settings on your server.
- Β Complete control over operating system updates and patches.
What are the Advantages of Unmanaged VPS Hosting?
If youβd rather set up your hosting environment to your exact specifications and you want to take full control of the bandwidth, storage space and resource allocation available to you, an unmanaged VPS is ideal. Not only can the server be customized to your exact need, but itβs also a cheap way to do VPS hosting since you donβt have to pay for the management layer on top.
With unmanaged VPS hosting, youβll get the ability to install whatever software packages you want and to manage your server as you see fit. Thatβs much better than dealing with limitations and ending up more frustrated because of it.
But if youβre worried about downtime and other issues, we wonβt leave you high and dry if thereβs a problem. As the host, weβll still be responsible for our network and the hardware you depend on, ensuring that whatever you demand from your VPS is always available and ready for you to tap into.
A2 Hosting has six pricing tiers for its UNMANAGED VPS HOSTING:
Β
Managed VPS Hosting
Virtual private servers let you scale your business with the performance of a dedicated server and the convenience and cost-effectiveness of shared hosting.
- Full Root Access
- Free Performance Optimization
- Scalable Plans That Grow With Your Site
Advantages Of Managed VPS Hosting
Virtual Private Servers, or VPS, give you the cost benefits ofΒ Shared Web HostingΒ with the performance and control ofΒ Dedicated Server Hosting.
VPS provides dedicated resources, increased security, root access, and complete control of your environment. Turbo plans provide even more speed and performance with 20X faster servers!
With a Managed VPS Hosting plan, you get 24/7/365 Guru Crew support and reliable server maintenance. A leader in VPS providers, A2 Hosting offers a Faster or Itβs Free Guarantee!
Plus, you get a free performance optimization to get the best speed from your hosting plan. If our experts donβt make your site faster, you get your next month of hosting free.
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its Managed VPS hosting:
Dedicated Server Hosting
Boost your websiteβs performance with A2 Hostingβs Dedicated Server Hosting complete with 24/7/365 Guru Crew support, free migration, and exceptional uptime reliability.
- Free Performance Optimization
- Complete Control Over Your Exclusive Server
- Highest Level of Security and Protection
Dedicated server hosting is a web hosting service where a single user or organization gets an entire server and all its resources. This setup gives you full control over the server, including the ability to choose the operating system, hardware, and other configurations.
With dedicated server hosting, you donβt share your serverβs resources with other users. This means your website has all the power and support it needs to thrive and handle as many visitors as it needs!
If you require the highest levels of performance, security, and customization, then dedicated server hosting may be the ideal choice for your business.
Benefits of Dedicated Server Hosting
- ReliabilityΒ β A dedicated web server guarantees 100% of the server resources for peak reliability and uptime.
- Improved PerformanceΒ β Since all the server resources (CPU, RAM, Disk Space) are dedicated to your website, you get maximum performance to handle high traffic volumes and process complex operations without issues.
- Heightened SecurityΒ β Dedicated server hosting improves your site security, protecting your website data and lowering the risk of vulnerabilities.
- Complete Control and FlexibilityΒ β You can easily customize the hardware and software to meet specific needs, for a tailored hosting environment.
- Free Performance OptimizationΒ β Let our server experts provide a free performance optimization to improve your load speeds and streamline your website. If our experts canβt increase your server performance, your next month of hosting is free.
Managed Dedicated Servers
- Choice of CPU
- Β Pre-configured Turbo Options
- Ultra Fast NVMe Storage Options
Managed Dedicated Hosting
Letβs you have the customization options and dedicated resources of having your ownΒ DedicatedΒ server while A2βs Guru Team handles the configuration and optimization of the hardware, core server software, network, and security; including deploying patches and updates. Our new servers give you choices of CPU, offer NVMe storage options, and have pre-configuredΒ TurboΒ options to get the highest levels ofΒ speed and performanceΒ possible.
Advantages
Turbo Plans = More Speed
Choose a Turbo plan with increased speed and performance options
Choose Your CPU
Select the dedicated plan with the processor of your choosing
Ultra Fast NVMe Storage Options
NVMe storage offers up to 3X faster read/write speeds with Turbo
High Performance
Built for speed and performance our new dedicated servers really purr
Ultra-Reliable Servers
Depend on A2 Hosting! Your account is backed by our 99.9% Uptime Commitment.
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its Managed Dedicated hosting:
Unmanaged Dedicated Hosting
- Β No control panel and must know command line management
- No support when troubleshooting issues
- Set up, security and backups must be self managed.
- Self-managed operating system updates and patches.
- Responsible for configuring everything from scratch
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its Unmanaged Dedicated hosting:
Reseller Hosting Plans
Increase your earnings with A2βs Reseller Hosting. We take care of hardware and maintenance, making it easy for you to offer web hosting that delights your clients.
- 100% Money Back Guarantee
- 24/7 Guru Crew Support
- 9% Uptime Commitment
- Cost-effective reseller packages
What is Reseller Hosting?
With Reseller Hosting, entrepreneurs can dive into hosting their clients or kickstart their own hosting hassle-free, without the burden of owning servers or managing data centers. Our worldwide server network ensures speedy and efficient hosting, located near your audience. Forget about hardware and network worries with our all-in-one Reseller Hosting solution β your clients are hosted directly on our servers! Your Reseller account includes a set amount of disk space and bandwidth, allowing you to customize resource allocation for your customers according to your preferences.
Why A2 Offers the Best Reseller Hosting
Crafted to boost your business expansion and enhance your clientsβ online interactions, A2 Hostingβs reseller hosting stands out when it comes to performance, reliable support, and cost-effectiveness. Hereβs what sets A2 apart from the rest.
Turbo Plans For Premium Performance
Get lightning-fast page loads with A2 Hosting’s Turbo plans, offering significantly faster speeds with up to 250 GB of NVMe SSD storage. Elevate your customersβ website performance for improved SEO rankings, lower bounce rates, and higher conversion rates.
Litespeed Web Server
Boost the performance of your clientsβ websites by hosting them on LiteSpeed web servers, available with our Turbo plans. Take your performance to the next level with our cutting-edge LiteSpeed caching plugins!
24/7/365 Guru Crew Support
Rest assured, our dedicated Guru Crew Support is here for you 24/7/365. Whether you run into technical hiccups or just need some friendly advice, our experienced team is always ready to provide prompt and reliable customer assistance, no matter the time of day!
Free Account Migration
Dissatisfied with your current reseller hosting provider? Make a smooth transition to A2 hosting! Say goodbye to the challenges of changing providers and embrace the advantages of top-notch hosting without any inconvenience. Our team of experts will take care of everything, allowing you to get back to business quickly!
Money-Back Guarantee
Try our hosting with peace of mind thanks to our easy money-back guarantee. Weβre committed to your satisfaction, and weβre confident we can exceed your expectations!
Hardware Owned by A2
We own our servers, which gives us the ability to manage and fine-tune configurations for optimal performance and dependability. With our low-density servers, you can enjoy greater availability of resources and faster speeds.
Easy Hosting Management With WHM and cPanel
Each A2 Hosting Reseller account is managed with the user-friendly and award-winning WebHost Manager (WHM) and cPanel control panels.
Full cPanel Access for Your Customers
Ensure your services stand out by offering cPanel access to your clients. With cPanel reseller hosting, clients gain complete control over their hosting environment, simplifying website management and customization.
Automated Billing Software: WHMCS or Blesta
Invoicing, provisioning, suspension, payment processing, reminders, and more are all automated with your choice of billing software.
Managed Hosting Services
Our reseller plans come with complete server management. This includes features like 24/7 server maintenance, security, resource upgrades, malware scanning, and more.
Secured Hosting Environment
Your hosting account includes high-performance security features such as SSL certification, DDoS protection, brute force defense, and many others to help keep your site secure.
Scalability
We build our plans to grow with you. As you increase your traffic, your serverβs resources can easily be ramped up to meet increased demand.
Free Email With Plans
Improve your reselling skills by offering free email accounts with custom domains to your customers. This will enhance their online presence and provide a convenient way to communicate. Through branded email addresses, clients can establish credibility and strengthen their brand.
Unlimited Domains
Whether you have multiple projects, need to launch various websites, or cater to diverse client needs, our reseller hosting allows you to effortlessly manage a multitude of domains.
Automated Onsite Backups
Backups are critical for protecting your data and minimizing downtime; our shared hosting plans include free Server Rewind data backup protection, allowing you to restore your site quickly in the event of a disaster, as well as A2 Cloud Backups powered by JetBackup.
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its Reseller hosting:
WordPress Hosting
WordPress is the worldβs leading content management system (CMS). A free and open-source software, it allows you to quickly and easily design and publish an engaging website. Plus, it is highly customizable with a variety of themes and plugins.
Our WordPress hosting plans are specifically configured and optimized so you get the most out of the platform on day one. This includes pre-installed WordPress, automatic WordPress updates, and a proprietary A2 Optimized plugin that improves website load speeds with page caching, image compression, and more.
Plus, you get our state-of-the-art WordPress control panel TurboHub. TurboHub makes it easy to optimize performance and improve security for every A2 Hosting WordPress site you manage.
WordPress is also available on any web hosting plan from A2 Hosting, including our Shared Web Hosting, VPS Hosting, and Dedicated Server Hosting. Whichever plan you choose, youβll always get unmatched reliability, lightning-fast speed, consistent uptime, exceptional security, and round-the-clock customer support.
Features OfΒ A2 WordPress Hosting
With A2 Hosting, managing a WordPress website has never been easier or more efficient.
Pre-Installed WordPress
Begin working on your website right away with A2 Hostingβs pre-installed WordPress, offering great convenience and time efficiency. This feature is perfect for beginners or those seeking a straightforward setup process, eliminating complicated installations and technical hurdles. Itβs the ideal starting point for anyone looking to get their website up and running with minimal fuss.
Free Site Migration
Switching to A2 Hosting is easy with our complimentary site migration service! Our team of experts will help you transfer from your previous host quickly and with minimum downtime. Itβs the best way to upgrade to a better hosting service without any hassle or extra costs.
TurboHub: A Dedicated Control Panel for managed WordPress plans
TurboHub sets A2 Hosting apart, offering a comprehensive WordPress control panel that streamlines site management. Our exclusive hub consolidates all your management tools, making it easier to improve site performance, health, and security. Plus, you can manage all your A2 Hosting WordPress sites from one convenient dashboard.
WordPress ToolKit
The WordPress Toolkit in cPanel is a game-changer, streamlining site administration with its set of tools. Itβs available with our managed WordPress plans, allowing you to Π΅asily manage installations, updates, and more, all from a user-friendly interface. Ideal for users with multiple WordPress sites, this toolkit simplifies the management of each site, allowing for centralized control and efficiency.
Automatic Core Updates
Stay ahead with automatic core updates ensuring your WordPress site remains secure, feature-rich, and ahead of potential threats. This hands-off approach means your site is always running the latest version of WordPress, freeing you to focus on content and growth rather than maintenance.
Full Plugin, Theme, and Builder Compatibility
Unleash your creativity with A2 Hosting and customize your site to your heartβs content without fearing compatibility issues! Our supportive team stands ready to assist with any concerns, ensuring you have the freedom to create a site that truly stands out.
Unmanaged WordPress Server
- Command Line Management
- Managed Hardware & Network
- Choice Of Operating System
- Full Root Access
- Webuzo 1-Click Software Installer
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its Unmanaged WordPress hosting:
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is a service where your hosting provider takes care of ββall technical aspects of your WordPress website, such as installation, security, updates, speed, and backups. This allows you to experience the benefits of using the worldβs most popular CMS without having to worry about technical maintenance and updates.
Managed hosting is a great choice for bloggers, digital agencies, eCommerce sites, and other small to medium businesses that rely on WordPress for their operations or are just starting with it.
A2βs Managed WordPress hosting plans come pre-configured for speed optimization, include important security measures such as malware scanning and firewalls, and automatically handle updates to the WordPress core.
Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting
Performance Optimization
Managed WordPress hosting is fully optimized for the platform, allowing your website to operate at full capacity and peak efficiency. At A2, we use server-level caching and techniques such as compression and script-minification, thanks to tools such as the A2 Optimized plugin, which is included in every managed WordPress plan.
Automatic Updates
Keeping your site up to date is crucial for security and functionality, and with A2, youβll enjoy regular updates for the WordPress core system. On Managed WordPress and shared plans, you also get a dedicated TurboHub dashboard that allows you to mass-update plugins and themes with one click, even if they are installed across multiple websites.
Security Measures
Most hosting providers include a set of security measures for your website with different features depending on the plan that you choose. A2 Hosting, for instance, integrates firewalls, malware scanning, and regular security checks. These proactive measures keep your site safe from threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced TurboHub Site Optimization
A2 Hosting Managed WordPress hosting plans include our exclusive TurboHub control panel. Streamline performance and maintain all of your A2 Hosting WordPress sites from one consolidated hub. Easily optimize site performance, health, and security in as little as one click.
Speed Up Your Site With A2 Optimized
Turbocharge your WordPress site with the A2 Optimized plugin. It is packed with features designed specifically to improve load speeds for your WordPress website, including minifying CSS, HTML, and Javascript code, compressing images, caching pages, and more.
Expert Support
Most managed WordPress plans include a dedicated support team that users can contact 24/7 to help with issues and queries about the platform or specific features. With A2, you get our Guru Crew Support team. These are WordPress experts who can offer you guidance on everything from troubleshooting to optimizing your siteβs performance, saving you valuable time and headaches.
Scalability
Managed WordPress hosting solutions are designed to scale, allowing you to easily upgrade your plan to accommodate increased traffic and data. For example, you might need more RAM and storage as your site expands or more advanced security measures to protect users and organization members. This is why, at A2 Hosting, you can scale up or down with no issues, making sure youβre always getting the best deal for your site.
WordPress-Specific Tools
WordPress hosting plans come with a set of pre-installed plugins and software, so you donβt have to waste time looking for the best tools or money by buying them separately.
What Makes A2 Hosting the Best Managed WordPress Host?
Dedicated Control Panel for WordPress
Easily manage all of your A2 Hosting WordPress sites with the TurboHub control panel. Optimize your site performance and improve security in as little as one click.
Better Performance With Turbo
Our blazing fast Turbo servers lead to quicker page loads, lower bounce rates, and improved SEO rankings. Fast loading times are essential for keeping visitors engaged and encouraging them to explore more of your site.
Automatic Updates And Backups
Your content stays safe with automatic core updates and daily backups for your peace of mind.. You can also manage plugins and themes effortlessly from your TurboHub Dashboard, enabling auto-updates when necessary.
A2 Optimized Plugin
Use our innovative plugin to enhance the performance of WordPress sites. This plugin incorporates several features like image compression and page caching.
Top Notch Security
At A2, we give you exceptional security features as part of your Managed WordPress Hosting plan, ensuring that your website is protected against various online threats, significant downtime or data loss.
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its Managed WordPress hosting:
WooCommerce Hosting
WooCommerce hosting is what allows your online store to be accessible on the internet! It involves renting server space from a hosting provider like A2, which is necessary to house your website and its data. Since WooCommerce operates on WordPress, hosting for WooCommerce is similar to WordPress hosting but often includes specific features tailored to eCommerce needs.
At A2 Hosting, we offer a specialized WooCommerce hosting service that includes everything needed to get your store up and running smoothly. This includes pre-installed WooCommerce, so you can skip the technical setup and dive straight into customizing your store. We provide you with a premium Rapid SSL certificate to secure your site and customer data, which is the best way for online stores to build trust with their visitors and future clients.
To support your storeβs growth, weβve equipped our Sell plan with 16GB of server memory and Performance Plus Traffic Surge Protection. This ensures your site remains fast and responsive, even during unpredictable traffic spikes. Without these measures in place, these spikes can break your website and cause you to lose money. Lastly, managed hosting plans also offer the convenience of automatic WordPress updates, meaning thereβs one less technical task on your plate.
Features Of WooCommerce Hosting
Set Up Your Store With Ease And Focus On Your Business
Weβll take the hassle out of starting an online store with WordPress pre-installed on all Managed WordPress plans and WooCommerce pre-installed on the Sell plan. This means you can skip the technical setup and focus on customizing your store to match your business vision, allowing you to launch faster and begin selling sooner.
Get Started with Pre-Designed Page Templates
During your site setup, weβll provide you with a selection of pre-designed page templates specifically crafted for eCommerce businesses. These templates not only reduce the time and effort needed for web design but also allow users to easily find what they need and have a smooth checkout experience. Itβs a straightforward way to ensure your site looks professional and inviting to potential customers!
Managed Updates and Backups
With A2, worrying about updates and backups becomes a thing of the past! The service includes managed updates to keep your WooCommerce site running smoothly on the latest software, powered by the security and performance enhancements that come with updates.
A2 offers daily onsite automated backups as well as offsite backups via Jetpack that add an extra layer of security, ensuring that your data is safe and can be quickly restored. This comprehensive support allows store owners to concentrate on growing their business without technical distractions.
Migrate Your Existing Store For Free
If youβre looking to switch to A2 Hosting, we offer free site migration for your existing WooCommerce store. As a team, we handle the entire migration process, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal downtime.
This service is a significant advantage for store owners looking to upgrade their hosting experience without the worry of losing data or facing long periods of site unavailability, making the switch to A2 Hosting absolutely hassle-free.
A2 Hosting has four pricing tiers for its WooCommerce hosting:
CONS OF USING A2 HOSTING
A2 Hosting has many perks going for them, but we also found a few issues.
Hereβs a look at each of these downsides in detail.
DOMAIN NAME IS NOT FREE
A2 Hosting doesnβt include a free domain name in any of their shared hosting plans. This is not a very common sight in the hosting industry because most of the hosts weβve reviewed offer a free domain name (at least for the 1st year).
In order to register or transfer a domain name at A2 Hosting, youβd have to pay, for example, $14.95/year for .com extension (renews at the same price).
HIGH RENEWAL RATES (AND A 15-DAY DEADLINE)
A2 Hosting offers lower prices with long-term plans. They also have introductory prices with their plans when signing your first term with them, which lowers the regular price by more than half.
This sweet deal ends after the initial period when the automatic renewal kicks in at the βregularβ pricing. The renewal pricing is roughly four times higher than the monthly average price you first paid.
It gets worse.
According to theirΒ terms, you have to submit a written cancellation request β15 days before the beginning of the Renewal Termβ through their customer portal or by emailing them at billing@a2hosting.com.
What happens if you miss this 15-day window? You will be on the hook for paying the next renewal plan, which will renew automatically, and youβre not eligible to receive any refund.
RESTRICTIONS ON THE CHEAPEST PLAN
The introductory price for A2 Hosting’sΒ cheapest shared hosting option (βStartupβ) is currently $2.99/month. Thatβs not the lowest pricing weβve seen, but itβs pretty good.
But, there are multiple restrictions to that lowest costing plan. You only get a single website, 100 GB of SSD storage, and there are missing features like automatic backups and server rewind. The next tier plan already gives you unlimited websites and SSD storage, free automatic backups, and 2x more resources, starting at $4.99/month.
It makes you wonder if the cheapest plan is just there to promote a low price when the actual useful features for creating a site start at a bit more expensive plan.
QUICK FACTS
- Domain name:Β Not free with any of their shared hosting plans.
- Free Features:Β SSL, CDN, and DNS.
- Ease of Signup: Three-step signup. Not too difficult.
- Payment Methods: Credit Card, PayPal, Check or Money Order, Bank Transfer, Skrill, UnionPay, and PayU Latam.
- Hidden Fees and Clauses: Renewal rates are higher than the introductory period. You have to cancel 15 days before the renewal period; otherwise, youβll get automatically charged. Domain name purchases are not refundable.
- Upsells: Some subtle upsells along the signup process.
- Account Activation: Instant Activation.
- Control Panel and Dashboard Experience: cPanel.
- Installation of Apps and CMSs (WordPress, Joomla, etc.): The option to install WordPress and other popular CMS options are available at checkout.
DO WE RECOMMEND A2 HOSTING?
Yes, we do.
A2 Hosting has consistently delivered best-in-class speed for the last several years. Theyβve also improved on server uptime, which is now very reliable. Moreover, all their shared plans come with a free SSL certificate and free site migration.
And if you run into issues at any time while being a customer, you can ask for a refund on the prorated balance of unused time.
We donβt like that renewal rates are high, and the strict terms after the initial period arenβt generous. Plus, if youβre paying for the most expensive shared plan to host unlimited websites (βTurbo Maxβ), they still only give you one free site migration. Not to mention that a free domain name is not included in any of their shared hosting plans.
