Both A2 Hosting and SiteGround offer a range of traditional hosting and cloud-based solutions. SiteGround, based on our experience and market studies, generally provides better hosting performance and customer support. A2 Hosting standouts with its budget-friendly option for developers needing specific environments like Node.js or Tomcat, but their support quality can be a significant turnoff.
Both providers have notable price hikes at renewal – you should consider the impact of this to your long term hosting cost when choosing.
Note: We have evaluated over 30 hosting providers, and the average HostScore across these services is 67%. This places both SiteGround and A2 Hosting below the average performance mark according to our rating system. It’s important to carefully weigh your options and consider this context before deciding on either hosting provider.
A2 Hosting & SiteGround HostScore
Service Offering
| Feature | A2 Hosting | SiteGround |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Services | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting | Shared, Cloud, and Reseller Hosting |
| Specialized Services | Managed WordPress, Email, and Game Server Hosting | Managed WordPress, and Email Hosting |
| Server Locations | USA, Netherlands, Singapore | USA, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, Singapore |
| Control Panel | cPanel | In-House |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| 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 | SiteGround |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $2.99 - 14.99/mo | $3.99 - 10.69/mo |
| VPS Hosting | $2.99 - 99.99/mo | $ - /mo |
| Dedicated Hosting | $109.99 - 529.99/mo | $ - /mo |
| Cloud Hosting | $ - /mo | $100.00 - 400.00/mo |
| Managed WP Hosting | $11.99 - 41.99/mo | $3.99 - 10.69/mo |
| Windows Hosting | $ - /mo | $ - /mo |
| Coupon | - | - |
| Coupon Details | - | - |
Development Features & Others
| Feature | A2 Hosting | SiteGround |
|---|---|---|
| Language Support | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Django, Perl, and Ruby on Rails | PHP, Python, Perl, and Ruby on Rails |
| Dev Features | GIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access | GIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access |
| Staging Tool | Softaculous | Built-in |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Cache | Higher plans | Yes |
| Global CDN | Yes | Yes |
| Free Malware Scan | Yes | Need purchase |
| DDoS Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Yes | Yes |
Our Recommendations
Key Differences Between the Two
- Service Offerings: A2 Hosting offers a broader range of hosting options, including VPS and Dedicated Hosting, which SiteGround lacks. However, SiteGround’s cloud hosting (powered by Google Cloud) is a strong alternative for those needing more power than shared hosting.
- Server Locations: SiteGround provides more global options, which can be crucial for users targeting international audiences. A2 Hosting’s server locations are more limited but still cover key regions.
- Control Panel: The choice of control panel is a key distinction between the two. A2 Hosting uses cPanel, familiar to many users, while SiteGround uses its custom Site Tools, known for its user-friendly design and security features.
- Development Environment: A2 Hosting’s support for special development environments like Node.js and Tomcat in the cheaper shared hosting is a significant advantage for developers.
- Renewal Price Hikes: Both providers experience significant price hikes at renewal, but SiteGround’s increase is steeper. Despite this, SiteGround’s superior performance and support often justify the higher cost for many users.
Our Final Verdict
SiteGround generally offers better performance and support, making it the preferred choice for those willing to invest more for a premium service. A2 Hosting remains a strong contender, especially for developers and those looking for a more budget-friendly option initially.
Buyers Beware
It’s important to note that both SiteGround and A2 Hosting are often rated below market average. SiteGround users frequently complain on its ridiculous high renewal prices, and A2 Hosting has been criticized for inconsistent customer support.
Given these concerns, it may be worth exploring other hosting providers that offer more consistent performance, better customer support, and more transparent pricing structures. Taking the time to research and compare other options could lead to finding a hosting service that better meets your needs and provides a more reliable and cost-effective solution.
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
Visit A2 Hosting to learn more about the features
About SiteGround
Established in 2004 by a group of university friends led by Ivo Tzenov, SiteGround has flourished into a prominent web hosting entity based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Boasting a workforce exceeding 600 employees, SiteGround proudly hosts almost three millions domains worldwide. With a powerful infrastructure spanning 11 data centers across 8 countries, the company offers an array of hosting solutions including shared, cloud, and enterprise hosting, alongside domain registration services.
SiteGround Pros
- Outstanding hosting uptime and speed performance
- Excellent customer support
- Choice of server locations in 11 countries
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- Specialized WordPress support staff
SiteGround Cons
- Very expensive renewal pricing
- Limited storage in shared hosting plans
- Limited developer options on some plans
- NVMe storage not included
Visit SiteGround to learn more about the features
