Site speed is a hot topic—especially when you’re shopping for affordable web hosting. The truth is, most budget hosting providers can only do so much when it comes to performance. That changes when you move into premium options like managed WordPress hosting, VPS, or dedicated servers.
With shared hosting, thousands of users share the same server. That limits how much a host can optimize performance for any individual site. It’s about balancing resources across everyone fairly.
But A2 Hosting (rebranded as hosting.com in 2025) is a rare exception. From their entry-level plans to top-tier options, they’ve prioritized performance—especially site speed—without blowing up your budget. Expect fast NVMe storage across plans, with LiteSpeed “Turbo” servers available on designated Turbo tiers for even more speed and server-level caching.
How A2 Hosting (Hosting.com) Stacks Up to Other Web Hosts
If you’re chasing faster load times, higher-tier hosting plans are where you’ll see the biggest leaps. But even at the shared hosting level, A2 Hosting (now hosting.com) squeezes out impressive performance—especially for tech-savvy users. Just know that its platform is better suited for people who already have a bit of hosting experience.
If you’re just getting started and want something beginner-friendly, consider one of my other top web hosting recommendations instead.
Where A2 Hosting Stands Out
Speed is where A2 Hosting truly shines. Unlike most budget hosts that sacrifice performance at the lower tiers, hosting.com includes speed-focused hardware like NVMe SSDs on modern AMD EPYC platforms across plans, and offers Turbo (LiteSpeed) configurations for even more headroom.
Ease of Use (the good)
Getting started with A2 Hosting is painless. The signup process is fast, and the plan comparison makes it simple to pick the right package for your needs. If you choose an annual plan, you can get a free first-year domain on eligible TLDs (terms apply), which streamlines setup.
Payment options are flexible, including major credit cards and digital payments like PayPal. Once you complete your order, you’ll get immediate access to the Client Area to manage hosting, domains, billing, and support in one place.
You’ll also get a helpful Quick Start Guide and the option to upgrade your SSL certificate. Every plan includes a free DV SSL, but if you want enhanced validation or warranty coverage, you can purchase DV, OV, EV, wildcard, or multi-domain certificates from well-known CAs.
- Domain Validation (DV) — fast setup, ideal for most sites
- Organization Validation (OV) — adds business verification
- Extended Validation (EV) — maximum visual trust signals
- Wildcard & multi-domain options for complex setups
Pricing for paid SSLs varies by type and term; expect higher costs for EV and wildcard certificates. For many small sites, the included DV SSL is more than sufficient.
Your Client Area dashboard is clean and easy to navigate, with quick access to cPanel, active services, billing, and support tickets.
- Direct cPanel login
- Manage services, domains, and DNS
- Billing and payment methods
- Create and track support tickets
The top menu puts account actions front and center, so you’re not digging through submenus to find what you need.
Updating billing details is straightforward, and there are referral and affiliate options if you want to share the service with others.
While the interface is intuitive for everyday tasks, advanced actions—like building your site, managing email, or setting up databases—happen in cPanel, which I’ll cover below.
A2 Hosting also includes access to its own AI Sitebuilder. It’s not as powerful as a full CMS, but it’s a quick way to launch a professional site without learning WordPress.
When signing up, you’ll choose from four builder tiers designed for simple sites or full ecommerce:
The builder is a paid add-on separate from hosting, so monthly costs can add up. If you plan to use WordPress or another CMS, you can skip it—but if you need a no-code site live in hours, it’s convenient and includes clean templates with a drag-and-drop editor.
One caveat: proprietary builders can be hard to migrate elsewhere later. If portability matters, sticking with WordPress is the safer bet.
You can add content elements like text, buttons, images, and more—just drag them where you want and drop them in place.
Already have a site and want to switch to A2 Hosting? The support team will migrate it for free in most cases. Submit a ticket from your Client Area to start the process.
Migrations are typically quick, and the team can handle popular setups like WordPress and standard HTML sites with minimal downtime.
Scalability
One of the things A2 Hosting gets right is scalability. Whether you’re launching a blog or running an online store, you can grow through shared hosting into managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated servers inside the same ecosystem.
The current shared Web Hosting plans (post-rebrand) are Starter, Plus, Pro, and Max. As you move up, you unlock more resources (sites, storage, RAM/CPU allowances) and higher performance ceilings.
WordPress-specific plans mirror this ladder with staging options, performance tuning, and Turbo (LiteSpeed) speed features available. For dynamic or ecommerce sites, NVMe storage and server-level caching on Turbo plans make a tangible difference in real-world load times.
Outgrowing shared hosting? You can step into managed WordPress, VPS, or dedicated servers when you need more CPU, RAM, or isolation. Upgrades are straightforward from your account, and support can assist with migrations between plans.
Customer Support
A2 Hosting earns high marks for its 24/7 customer support. Every plan includes live chat and phone support, plus a ticket system for technical requests, billing, and migrations.
From what I’ve seen, chat response times are quick—even on weekends—and agents are capable of handling both basic and advanced issues. Phone support is available if you prefer to talk through complex questions.
You’ll also find a robust Knowledge Base and blog for self-help, with practical step-by-step guides if you like to troubleshoot on your own.
Where A2 Hosting Could Improve
While A2 Hosting offers impressive speed and strong support, it’s not without drawbacks. Some users—especially beginners—might find the learning curve steeper than with “guided” hosts.
Ease of Use (the not so good)
Unlike entry-level hosts that provide checklists and pop-up tours, A2 leans on standard cPanel. It’s powerful and widely supported, but not as beginner-friendly as custom dashboards from hosts like Bluehost or DreamHost.
Expect a learning curve if you’ve never used cPanel. Even basic tasks—creating email accounts, installing WordPress, or editing DNS—take a little familiarity. That’s why I recommend A2 more for intermediate and advanced users who want speed and control.
If you prefer more hand-holding, Bluehost, SiteGround, or DreamHost offer simplified onboarding and custom control panels that are easier for first-timers.
Plans & Pricing
A2 Hosting’s current (post-rebrand) shared plans balance performance and affordability. All include a free DV SSL, cPanel, modern PHP, and integrated email. Mailbox and resource limits increase as you move up tiers.
- Starter: 1 website, ~15 GB storage, entry-level resources
- Plus: 2 websites, ~30 GB storage, higher resource limits
- Pro: up to 10 websites, ~50 GB storage, more CPU/RAM
- Max: up to 100 websites, ~100 GB storage, highest shared tier limits
Introductory pricing changes frequently based on promotions and term length. Shared hosting promos often start around $1.99/month (annual) and WordPress-specific plans around similar entry promos, with higher tiers costing more. Renewal rates are higher, so always compare the first-term total vs. renewal.
Term lengths typically include 1-, 2-, or 3-year options. Longer terms secure the lowest intro rate, but lock you into higher renewals later. Calculate total cost of ownership (intro + renewal) before you commit.
Common add-ons and their considerations:
- Domain registration: often free for the first year on annual plans (eligible TLDs; terms apply)
- Domain privacy: optional; pricing varies
- Premium SSLs: DV/OV/EV, wildcard, and multi-domain options available; choose based on validation needs
Refunds are straightforward: there’s a 30-day full money-back window on hosting and a prorated refund up to 90 days on eligible plans. Domains and third-party add-ons aren’t refundable. You can cancel from the Client Area at any time; refunds follow the policy above.
Final Verdict: Is A2 Hosting (Hosting.com) Worth It?
If speed, scalability, and flexibility are at the top of your hosting wishlist—and you’re comfortable navigating cPanel—A2 Hosting (now hosting.com) is an excellent choice. You get performance-focused shared hosting with Turbo/LiteSpeed options you’d usually expect on pricier plans, plus perks like free site migration and a first-year domain on many annual terms.
It’s not the most beginner-friendly host, but A2 shines for technically inclined users and anyone who wants room to grow without an early, forced upgrade. If ease of use is your top priority, Bluehost or Hostinger are better starting points. But if performance is what matters most—and you don’t mind a short learning curve—A2 Hosting is well worth it.