Overall
We like Hostens for its its affordability and comprehensive service offering. With a HostScore of above 70%, the company performs above the industry average (based on our 30+ hosting reviews). A2 Hosting, on the other hand, comes with a lower HostScore and performs below market average in our rating system.
Read on to learn more about the key differentials and our recommendation on the two web hosts.
Service Offering
| Feature | A2 Hosting | Hostens |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Services | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting | Shared, VPS, and Dedicated Hosting |
| Specialized Services | Managed WordPress, Email, and Minecraft Hosting | Email, and Minecraft Hosting |
| Server Locations | USA, Netherlands, Singapore | Lithuania |
| Control Panel | cPanel | cPanel |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.95% |
| Money Back (Days) | 30 | 30 |
| Free Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Support Channels | Live chat and email | Live chat and email |
Plans & Pricing
| Hosting Type | A2 Hosting | Hostens |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $2.99 - 14.99/mo | $2.00 - 8.00/mo |
| VPS Hosting | $2.99 - 99.99/mo | $5.25 - 21.00/mo |
| Dedicated Hosting | $109.99 - 529.99/mo | $49.99 - 89.99/mo |
| Cloud Hosting | $ - /mo | $ - /mo |
| WordPress Hosting | $11.99 - 41.99/mo | $ - /mo |
| Windows Hosting | $ - /mo | $13.13 - 52.50/mo |
| Coupon | - | - |
| Coupon Details | - | - |
Development Features & Others
| Feature | A2 Hosting | Hostens |
|---|---|---|
| Language Support | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Django, Perl, and Ruby on Rails | PHP, Python, Node.js, Perl, and Ruby on Rails |
| Dev Features | GIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access | GIT access, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access |
| Staging Tool | Softaculous | No |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Cache | Higher plans | No |
| Global CDN | Yes | No |
| Free Malware Scan | Yes | Yes |
| DDoS Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Yes | Yes |
Our Recommendation
Key Factors to Consider
- Service Offering: Both providers offer a range of hosting services, but Hostens distinguishes itself with highly competitive pricing and straightforward hosting packages. A2 Hosting offers a wider variety of specialized services, including managed WordPress, email, and Minecraft hosting.
- Global Server Presence: A2 Hosting provides a broad selection of server locations, potentially offering better site speed and performance for a global audience. Hostens, primarily located in Lithuania, offers a focused yet robust service for users targeting or based in Europe.
- Pricing and Value: Hostens stands out for its affordability, offering shared hosting plans that are highly competitive.
A2 Hosting or Hostens for Your Website?
Hostens offers a solid choice for users seeking value and simplicity above the industry standard. Hostens is recommended for users seeking affordable and reliable hosting solutions. Its above-average uptime performance and competitive pricing make it particularly attractive for small bloggers and new business startups.
A2 Hosting’s offerings, despite falling below the average, might still meet the needs of users with specific hosting requirements. It can be suitable for users with technical expertise or those who require hosting solutions that cater to a global audience.
About A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting's origins trace back to 2003 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it was founded by Bryan Muthig. Starting as a hobby project offering web hosting for friends and family, A2 Hosting swiftly transitioned into a professional business focusing on high-performance hosting solutions, particularly for WordPress sites. Responding to customer demands for speed and reliability, A2 Hosting pioneered SSD hosting to boost website loading times and developed the A2 Optimized solution, enhancing WordPress site performance through optimized settings for speed and security.
A2 Hosting Pros
- Server locations in North America, Europe, and Asia
- Free website migration assistance
- Developer-oriented features even on shared hosting
- Custom performance optimizations tools available in higher shared plans
A2 Hosting Cons
- Steep price increase during the renewal
- Free site transfers mainly for cPanel installations
- HTTP/2 only on TURBO plans
- Lowest shared plan does not support automatic backup
About Hostens
Established in 2003 as a division of Lithuanian company 'Interneto Vizija,' Hostens swiftly evolved into a prominent player in the web hosting sphere, amassing over 100,000 clients across Europe. Under the leadership of CEO Arvydas Strausas, the company offers an array of services including web hosting, VPS hosting, VPN, and domain registration. Notably, Hostens introduced a free website building tool in 2019, featuring design templates, web fonts, ecommerce support, and diverse payment gateways, further enhancing its appeal to customers.
Hostens Pros
- Highly competitive pricing
- Support Ruby and Python in all shared hosting plans
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- Choice of 10 distributed data centers in seven countries
Hostens Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Limited storage in shared hosting plans
- Hosting upgrade to VPS only (lack higher hosting capacity)
