When placed under the microscope of our rating system, UltaHost outshines A2 Hosting with a HostScore close to 80%, performing above the industry average of 67% (derived from 30+ hosting providers we reviewed). A2 Hosting, with a HostScore below 60%, falls short of this benchmark.
A2 Hosting & UltaHost HostScore
A2 Hosting vs UltaHost: Key Differences
Ultahost stands out for its affordable pricing and wide service range, including specialized hosting options. A2 Hosting, on the other hand, differentiates itself with a strong emphasis on performance optimization and a rich set of development features.
Here are the key difference between A2 Hosting and UltaHost:
Plans and Pricing
Both A2 Hosting and UltaHost have affordable shared hosting starting below $5/month. But, A2 Hosting’s renewal rates can jump up to three times higher. This can affect long-term budgeting. UltaHost has more stable pricing, which makes it a better choice for long-term plans.
Hosting Flexibility
Both providers offer a full range of hosting options from shared to dedicated hosting, including specialized WordPress hosting. If you need to host adult websites or require Windows hosting, UltaHost is the better option.
Ease of Use
Both hosts offer cPanel for control panel management. UltaHost also gives you free alternatives like Hestia and CyberPanel for VPS, which can save you money.
Performance, Reliability and Scalability
A2 Hosting’s Turbo Servers promise up to 20x faster page loads, but you only get that with higher-tier plans. On the flip side, UltaHost includes NVMe SSDs even in their entry-level plans, making them more cost-effective. Plus, UltaHost’s VPS plans come with DDR5 RAM for better performance compared to A2’s.
UltaHost also has a strong global server presence, perfect for users who need geographically optimized hosting.
Customer Support
A2 Hosting’s customer support gets mixed reviews. UltaHost, on the other hand, is praised for its helpful support team and even offers phone support, something A2 Hosting doesn’t have.
Development Features
A2 Hosting is great for developers. It offers tools and support for PHP, Python, Ruby, and Node.js. They also support databases like MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL. These features are included in their standard shared hosting plans at no additional cost.
Compare Service Offering
| Feature | A2 Hosting | Ultahost |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Services | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting |
| Specialized Services | Managed WordPress, Email, and Game Server Hosting | Managed WordPress, Adult Websites, Email, and Game Server Hosting |
| Server Locations | USA, Netherlands, Singapore | USA, UK, Finland, Canada, Germany, India, Singapore, Istanbul, South Korea |
| Control Panel | cPanel | cPanel |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Money Back (Days) | 30 | 45 |
| Free Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Support Channels | Live chat and email | Phone, live chat, and email |
Plans & Pricing
| Hosting Type | A2 Hosting | Ultahost |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $2.99 - 14.99/mo | $3.08 - 12.99/mo |
| VPS Hosting | $2.99 - 99.99/mo | $4.67 - 40.50/mo |
| Dedicated Hosting | $109.99 - 529.99/mo | $116.91 - 370.50/mo |
| Cloud Hosting | $ - /mo | $ - /mo |
| Managed WP Hosting | $11.99 - 41.99/mo | $2.90 - 27.50/mo |
| Windows Hosting | $ - /mo | $15.90 - 240.90/mo |
| Coupon | - | HOSTSCORE |
| Coupon Details | - | 10% Discount |
Development Features & Others
| Feature | A2 Hosting | Ultahost |
|---|---|---|
| Language Support | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Django, Perl, and Ruby on Rails | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Perl, and ASP.NET |
| Dev Features | GIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access | WP-CLI, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access |
| Staging Tool | Softaculous | WordPress Toolkit |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Cache | Higher plans | Yes |
| Global CDN | Yes | Higher plans |
| Free Malware Scan | Yes | Yes |
| DDoS Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Yes | Yes |
UltaHost or A2 Hosting: Our Recommendation
If I were a beginner looking to host my first website or just starting out on my online journey, I would definitely go for UltaHost. The features it offers are excellent, and the pricing is more affordable in the long run.
On the other hand, A2 Hosting is more suitable for web developers with specific needs. It offers a range of developer-friendly tools with good server performance. However, be aware that the renewal prices can be up to three times higher.
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 Ultahost
UltaHost, founded by Elin and Deen Doughouz in 2018, delivers high-performance hosting with NVMe-powered shared plans for enhanced speed. Incorporated in the USA in 2021, the company operates 20 data centers across 15 countries, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the US. Their facilities are SAS 70 Type 1 certified, featuring dual-city grid power feeds, battery backup, and advanced fire suppression systems. UltaHost offers reliable, secure, and affordable solutions, with a customer-centric approach, serving businesses of all sizes with tailored hosting services worldwide.
Ultahost Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Highly competitive pricing
- Easy-to-use user dashboard
- NVMe SSD storage in all shared hosting plans
- Free malware scan & web applications firewall (WAF) in all shared hosting plans
- Choice of 5 server locations in four continents
Ultahost Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Limited disk space.
Visit Ultahost to learn more about the features
