⏳ Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick in this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review/comparison? The better web hosting provider for most people is Siteground.
Introduction to my A2 Hosting vs Siteground Comparison Test:
Welcome to this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review. Everyone these days seems to be hunting down reliable web hosting services through which they can deploy high-performing websites or online stores in order to grow their business to a far wider clientele in the digital marketplace.
Speed and service quality are two critical factors when it comes to choosing a hosting service and in A2 Hosting vs Siteground review, we’ll see how these two hosting services deliver in terms of loading time, uptime, reliability, ease of use, and functionality.
Quick Comparison Table of A2 Hosting vs Siteground
| Criteria | A2 Hosting | 🥇 SiteGround (My Pick!) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Hosting | Shared, WordPress, VPS, Reseller, and Dedicated Hosting | Shared, Managed WordPress, WooCommerce, Cloud, and Reseller Hosting |
| Features |
|
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| Performance | Turbo Servers, A2 Optimized caching, Cloudflare CDN | Google Cloud Platform, Nginx, PHP 7.4 support, SG Optimizer plugin, caching |
| Security Features |
|
|
| Pricing and Plans | Starts at $2.99/month | Starts at $6.99/month |
| Money-Back Guarantee | Anytime money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Customer Support | 24/7 Live Chat, Ticketing, Phone Support | 24/7 Live Chat, Ticketing, Phone Support |
| Scalability | Easy plan upgrades, VPS and Dedicated options | Easy plan upgrades |
| User Reviews/Ratings | Generally positive | Highly positive |
| Environment Friendliness | Carbon Neutral (FutureServe Green Hosting) | Match 100% of their electricity use with renewable energy |
| My View | Best for users looking for high performance and unlimited storage space at affordable prices. | Best for users seeking excellent customer service, security, and performance, with managed hosting features. |
| Official Website | Visit A2 Hosting | Visit SiteGround |
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Overview:
Before we go into the lengthy comparison, here's an overview of both A2 vs Siteground.
A2Hosting:
A2Hosting was actually started as a hobby that enabled Ann Arbor, MI-native (and now company CEO) Bryan Muthig to maximise the potential of his experience as a UNIX-centric sysop. Since then, its service portfolio has grown from just shared web hosting to include fully-scalable VPS, dedicated server, and even reseller solutions.
Siteground:
Siteground started operations a few years after A2, opening its doors in 2004. It has since evolved into one of the easiest hosting providers to use in the industry. Its brand promise revolves around services that are crafted for the easiest management of personal, professional, and even commercial websites. That said, it isn't surprising that it is the trusted hosting provider of over two million users throughout the world.
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Ease of Use:
Any web hosting platform should be usable. Therefore, in this A2 vs Siteground comparison, who wins?
A2Hosting:
If you're looking for a dashboard with a sleek, state-of-the art look, then A2Hosting may not be for you as it still relies on a classic cPanel interface: clean, well-laid out, easy enough to use, but with minimal bells and whistles. Also, it works well on multiple platforms, so you're bound to have very few issues regardless of whether you're running Linux, Mac, or Windows.
Linux and Windows users, in particular, are offered several hosting options that work for both entrepreneurs and developers. Another bonus for the Windows crowd: an alternative dashboard management app called Plesk.
Siteground:
Quite recently, Siteground decided to veer away from the standard cPanel interface and started offering its own proprietary dashboard for website management. It's quite easy to learn and beginners can usually navigate through it within minutes.
Likewise, it also enables users to have different sub-accounts to manage individual sites as opposed to relying on a single umbrella account to manage all the sites within their account.
Winner – A2Hosting! This was a close one to call, but we’re giving this ‘Ease of Use' round in the A2 vs Siteground comparison to A2Hosting because of its multi-OS flexibility.
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Features:
The better the features, the greater functionality your website has. So which among Siteground vs A2 offers more in terms of features?
Types of Hosting:
A2 Hosting
Shared Hosting:
- A2 Hosting offers shared hosting plans which are optimized for speed and security.
- Features include free SSL, Cloudflare CDN, unlimited SSD storage and transfer, and a free site migration.
- A2 Hosting uses LiteSpeed servers and offers the A2 Optimized WordPress setup for enhanced performance.
VPS and Dedicated Hosting:
- A2 Hosting provides both managed and unmanaged VPS hosting solutions, giving users a choice between having full control or letting A2 Hosting manage the server.
- They also offer dedicated server hosting with optional root access, and the servers can be fully customized.
Specialized Hosting:
- A2 Hosting offers specialized WordPress hosting which includes an A2 Optimized WordPress setup for faster load times.
- They also offer reseller hosting for users who want to start their own hosting business.
SiteGround
Shared Hosting:
- SiteGround offers managed shared hosting plans that are optimized for top performance.
- Features include free SSL, daily backups, free CDN, and managed WordPress and WooCommerce.
- SiteGround’s SmartCacher, along with SSD storage, ensures fast loading times for websites.
VPS and Dedicated Hosting:
- SiteGround does not offer traditional VPS hosting but offers cloud hosting which functions similarly to VPS with scalable resources.
- They also offer high-performance dedicated servers with full management for users requiring powerful hosting solutions.
Specialized Hosting:
- SiteGround specializes in WordPress and WooCommerce hosting. They offer features like automatic updates, advanced caching, and staging environments.
- They are also one of the few hosting providers officially recommended by WordPress.org.
Domain Names:
Let's talk domain names – do Siteground vs A2 let you buy them?
A2Hosting:
Under A2Hosting's Startup Plan, a user can have a single domain name, essentially a single website. This isn't the case with its other plans as there are no limits to how many you can create. However, we need to point out here that a *.com domain name does not come free with your plan; instead, you'll need to pay an additional $14.95.
Siteground:
Previously, Siteground did not offer even a single domain name even for its most basic hosting plans. Today, this has changed and a user can have just one domain for their account or an unlimited number in the case of premium subscription plans. The platform even has its own domain registry where one can opt for regular, country-specific, and special domains for as low as $17.99 annually.
Email Rating:
In this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review, who offers a better email service?
A2Hosting:
Unlimited email accounts come with all hosting plans and, even better, there are no email storage limits. However, what we don't liks is how you can't use the service for email blasts; A2Hosting doesn't appear to have that capability.
Siteground:
Siteground allows its subscribers to create an unlimited number of email addresses with their domains.
Databases:
So in terms of database management, which between A2 vs Siteground has a better service?
A2Hosting:
If you’re on the Startup plan, you may only create up to five databases. Those with premium subscriptions can create an unlimited number.
Siteground:
Regardless of your hosting plan, you may create an unlimited number of databases for a site hosted under Siteground.
Applications:
A2Hosting:
If you're more comfortable working with a CMS editor like WordPress, you're in luck. A2Hosting's cPanel has a single-click installer that enables you to install WordPress, as well as Drupal or Joomla. If you want to add additional apps for functionality, Softaculous is already integrated into the UI to ensure smooth installation and operation.
Siteground:
What’s particularly great about Siteground is that you can use it with more than 500 third-party apps, including popular building platforms like WordPress and Joomla, as well as store-building platforms like osCommerce. We also like how its R&D team has been working on expanding its interaction with newer apps, including those that can
Site Staging:
A2Hosting:
Site staging capabilities are available for both WordPress and Joomla users, but the former is so much easier and more stable to use.
Siteground:
While site staging is not available for the most basic plan, Siteground has its own proprietary staging tools available for the use of mid-tier and premium subscribers. Users on the mid-tier GoBig plan will find, however, that the tool they have is specifically for staging WordPress sites; it’s essentially a modified version of the building platform’s in-app staging tool. However, those on the premium GoGeek plan will see that the tool they have can let them stage sites made with a more diverse array of platforms, including Drupal, Joomla, and PrestaShop.
Website Builder:
A2Hosting:
The A2 Website Builder is a fairly new innovation that the developers have added to enhance their hosting services. The drag-and-drop builder is fairly basic, but it does enable users to create a site in minutes. Also, you can actually try the building platform before you buy a hosting plan – not a bad deal, if you ask us.
Siteground:
Siteground doesn’t have its own builder, but gives users a choice between Weebly Basic and WordPress.org.
eCommerce:
This A2 Hosting vs Siteground review also evaluates how both platforms support online stores.
A2Hosting:
A2Hosting allows users to create and deploy ecommerce sites using several apps, including PrestaShop, OpenCart, and AbanteCart. Building your store and running it will take just minutes.
One Let's Encrypt SSL certificate comes free with your hosting plan, but you will need to pay extra if you need a secondary certificate.
Siteground:
Comparing A2 vs Siteground, when it comes to ecommerce, Siteground offers a comprehensive package that includes a free SSL security certificate, payment gateways, as well as eCommerce themes.
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Security:
Who provides better security and backups in this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review?
A2 Hosting
SSL:
- A2 Hosting provides free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates, ensuring encrypted communication between users and the server.
Backups:
- A2 Hosting offers Server Rewind, a free tool that allows you to restore your account to a previous date, and you can also perform off-server backups.
Malware Protection:
- A2 Hosting includes HackScan Protection for free, which is a 24/7 security monitoring service that scans for malware and other attacks.
Additional Security Features:
- A2 Hosting employs a dual firewall and brute force defense to add an extra layer of security.
- It uses Cloudflare CDN which enhances security and performance.
- DDoS protection services are in place to safeguard your website.
SiteGround
SSL:
- SiteGround provides free SSL certificates for encrypting data transmitted between the server and the user’s browser.
Backups:
- SiteGround offers daily backups and a one-click restore option in all its plans.
Malware Protection:
- SiteGround includes a custom web application firewall (WAF) to protect against common website vulnerabilities.
Additional Security Features:
- SiteGround employs a unique AI anti-bot system that effectively blocks malicious traffic.
- It provides SG Site Scanner as an add-on, which monitors your site daily and notifies you if your site has been hacked or injected with malicious code.
- SiteGround uses isolation technology to prevent accounts from affecting each other, enhancing security in shared hosting environments.
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Performance:
In this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review, let's dig deeper into how your website would perform with either A2 Hosting vs Siteground.
Performance Summary Table for A2 Hosting vs Siteground
Performance Summary Table for A2 Hosting vs Siteground
| Criteria | A2 Hosting | SiteGround |
|---|---|---|
| Server Locations |
|
|
| Speed (Load Time) | Approx. 300ms | Approx. 600ms |
| Uptime | 99.99% | 99.99% |
| Server Response Time (US, East Coast) | Approx. 60ms | Approx. 80ms |
| Server Response Time (Europe, London) | Approx. 30ms | Approx. 40ms |
| Server Response Time (Asia, Singapore) | Approx. 150ms | Approx. 120ms |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Starts from 10,000 Visits Monthly |
| Webspace Limits | Starts from 100GB | Starts from 10GB |
| Global CDN | Yes, through Cloudflare | Yes, through Cloudflare |
| Scalability | Scalable with plan upgrades | Scalable with plan upgrades |
Server Locations:
Where in the world and how many are Siteground vs A2 server locations?
A2Hosting:
A2Hosting servers are located in Michigan, Arizona, Amsterdam and Singapore.
Siteground:
Siteground currently has servers in Chicago, Iowa, London, Amsterdam, Eernshaven, and Singapore.
Speed Results:
A2Hosting:
For a service that boasts of sites loading 20x faster than its competitors’, we were quite disappointed: A2Hosting sites load at an average rate of 2.01 seconds.
Siteground:
Siteground’s speed performance has improved considerably over the past couple of years, as sites now clock in among the fastest-loading online at 1.54 seconds.
Average Uptime, Bandwidth, and Webspace limits/Storage:
A2Hosting:
While it assures users of 99.99% uptime, our tests noted that A2Hosting’s uptime is actually closer to 99.98% – not bad, but the claim is misleading.
Bandwidth is unlimited, while storage begins at 100GB for the Startup Plan and is unlimited for those in higher tiers.
Siteground:
Again, Siteground has stepped up its game and has hit the 100% uptime standard. Likewise, it still offers unlimited bandwidth, though storage still runs between 10 and 40GB depending on which plan you’ve opted for.
Winner – Siteground! We choose Siteground hands down for better performance in this Siteground vs A2 ‘Performance' comparison.
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Support and Resources:
How does Siteground vs A2 help out users with support and documentation?
A2Hosting:
Round-the-clock technical assistance is offered through phone, chat or ticketed via email. The A2Hosting knowledge base is quite extensive, user-friendly, and offers a great deal of clarity.
Siteground:
24/7 multichannel tech support is offered via phone, email, and livechat and response time is quite fast.
The regularly updated knowledge base offers several how-to guides and tutorials for a diverse range of related topics, along with a regular podcast – Geek2English – which updates users on the latest developments to the platform and the industry in general.
Winner – Draw! Both Siteground vs A2 provide excellent support channels and knowledgebase.
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Pricing:
In this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review, let's talk about the affordability and value for money of each contestant platform.
Quick Comparison Table for A2 Hosting vs Siteground Pricing Plans and Transparency:
| Criteria | A2 Hosting | SiteGround | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startup | Drive | Turbo Boost | StartUp | GrowBig | GoGeek | |
| Initial Price | Starts from $2.99/month | Starts from $4.99/month | Starts from $9.99/month | $6.99/month | $9.99/month | $14.99/month |
| Renewal Price | $8.99/month | $11.99/month | $20.99/month | $14.99/month | $24.99/month | $39.99/month |
| Free Domain | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Free Trial | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Refund Policy | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Money-Back Guarantee | Anytime | Anytime | Anytime | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Check Pricing | Check A2 Hosting Pricing | Check SiteGround Pricing | ||||
Plans
Let's do a a more detailed rundown of Siteground vs A2 pricing plans.
A2Hosting:
A2Hosting offers four standard site hosting plans. Monthly prices for the first year of use range between $6.99 and $19.99 monthly. It does, however, get steep when you renew your subscription after the first year: monthly rates take a significant jump to between $8.99 to $24.99.
A2 managed WordPress Hosting plans start from $11.99
>> Check for our latest A2Hosting discount code pricing plans <<
Siteground:
On average, hosting your website using Siteground’s standard web, managed WordPress, and WooCommerce subscription plans will set you back by $5.99 to $12.99 monthly.
Their cloud hosting plans are certainly more expensive, but we recommend these for corporate sites or ecommerce hubs that are scaling up their operations. On average, the monthly cost for Siteground cloud hosting will set you back from $48 per month.
>> Check for our latest Siteground discount code pricing plans <<
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee:
What about free trials and refunds? Which among Siteground vs A2 offers a better policy? Please also check the legal page for A2 Hosting and legal page for SiteGround for detailed information on Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee.
A2Hosting:
The platform offers a 30-day trial period, after which you will need to commit to a paid hosting plan.
A2Hosting assures its users of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Siteground:
Siteground only works on a try-before-you-buy basis, so you will have to commit to a subscription to use it.
It does, however, have a 30-day money back guarantee that will allow you to collect a full refund if you cancel your subscription within the first month of service.
Winner – Siteground! For best value for money, we choose Siteground in this A2 Hosting vs Siteground ‘Pricing' comparison.
A2 Hosting vs SiteGround User Reviews
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting is renowned for its high-speed performance and developer-friendly tools, making it a favorable choice for more experienced users.
Trustpilot
- A2 Hosting has an impressive rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
- Many users praise the speed and performance.
- Customer support is generally well-received, with users appreciating the swift responses.
- A few users have expressed concerns regarding the renewal prices.
- On Reddit, A2 Hosting is commended for its performance and developer-friendly features.
- Reddit users have shared positive experiences with the hosting’s speed.
- There are a few concerns regarding uptime and reliability from some users.
SiteGround
SiteGround is known for its excellent customer service, performance, and a range of features that are particularly beneficial for WordPress users.
Trustpilot
- SiteGround holds a high rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
- Users appreciate the robust features, particularly for WordPress hosting.
- Customer support is highly praised for being responsive and helpful.
- Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the pricing structure, particularly renewals.
- Reddit users often recommend SiteGround for its excellent customer service and features.
- The hosting performance, especially for WordPress sites, is highly commended.
- There are some discussions regarding the higher costs compared to other hosting services.
Comparison Winner: A2Hosting or Siteground?
All things considered, the win goes to Siteground in this A2 vs Siteground showdown. A2Hosting has a number of good things working in its favour, but the improvements in Siteground’s performance – especially when it comes to loading speed and uptime – clinched the deal.
Personal Experience with A2 Hosting and SiteGround
Signing Up
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting offers an efficient sign-up process with a clear layout and options. They usually have promotions that can significantly reduce the initial cost. They offer an anytime money-back guarantee, which is unique and provides more flexibility.
SiteGround
SiteGround's sign-up process is well-structured and easy to follow. They occasionally have promotions. SiteGround offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on shared hosting plans and a 14-day guarantee for cloud hosting plans.
Setting Up a Website
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting uses the cPanel control panel, which is widely known and used. They have a Softaculous one-click installer for popular applications like WordPress, making the process of setting up a site fast and easy.
SiteGround
SiteGround features its custom control panel called Site Tools, which is intuitive and modern. The WordPress setup is incredibly streamlined thanks to the WordPress Starter tool that guides you through the initial setup process.
Performance
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting is known for its speed and performance, partly due to their use of LiteSpeed servers and SSD storage. The Turbo plans, in particular, are optimized for maximum performance.
SiteGround
SiteGround offers top-notch performance with features like SuperCacher, Cloudflare CDN, and Google Cloud Platform infrastructure. Their hosting environment is also optimized for WordPress, making it extremely fast for WordPress sites.
Customer Support
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting provides 24/7 support through live chat, phone, and tickets. They have a reputation for responsive and knowledgeable support staff, and also offer an extensive knowledge base.
SiteGround
SiteGround is renowned for its excellent customer support. They offer 24/7 support through chat, phone, and tickets. Their support staff are highly trained and adept at solving technical issues.
Conclusion and Recommendations to my A2 Hosting vs Siteground Comparison Test:
Now, it's time to wrap up this A2 Hosting vs Siteground review.
What is A2Hosting best for?
A2 Hosting is an excellent choice for those who prioritize speed and performance. With their anytime money-back guarantee and high-performance Turbo plans, they are especially appealing for users who have sites that demand fast loading times.
I recommend A2Hosting as a great gateway hosting service for bloggers and ecommerce startups thanks to its extensive range of useful, easy to use features.
What is Siteground best for?
SiteGround is one of the best options for those who are looking for reliability, performance, and stellar customer support. Its features and optimizations make it particularly well-suited for WordPress users. It's a solid option for both beginners and experienced users.
Siteground is definitely a hosting service that people can grow with, and I recommend it for those who want to build everything from basic websites to scalable ecommerce hubs.
A2 Hosting and Siteground Alternatives:
| Ranking | Key Features | Price (Basic Plan) | My View |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Bluehost | One-click WordPress install, free domain for 1st year, free SSL certificate, unmetered bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support. | $2.95/month Check Pricing | Best for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, affordability, and comprehensive features. It also has strong ties with WordPress. |
| 2. SiteGround | Managed WordPress hosting, free SSL, daily backups, CDN, email, staging tool, and 24/7 support. | $3.99/month Check Pricing | Best for overall performance, features, and exceptional customer support. It’s particularly favored among WordPress users due to its specialized hosting services. |
| 3. Kinsta | Managed WordPress hosting, free migrations, daily backups, automatic scaling, Google Cloud Platform infrastructure. | $30/month Check Pricing | Best for businesses that rely heavily on WordPress. It offers high performance, security, and scalability. |
| 4. A2 Hosting | Turbo servers for faster loading, free account migration, anytime money-back guarantee, and 24/7/365 support. | $2.99/month Check Pricing | Best for developers due to its range of developer-friendly tools, and also for its high-speed performance. |
| 5. WP Engine | Managed WordPress hosting, daily backups, threat detection, SSL, CDN, staging environments. | $30/month Check Pricing | Best for WordPress users looking for high-performance hosting with top-notch security features and support. |
| 6. Hostinger | LiteSpeed Cache, WordPress acceleration, free SSL, 24/7/365 support, 99.9% uptime guarantee. | $1.39/month Check Pricing | Best for budget-conscious users seeking an excellent balance between affordability, performance, and features. |
| 7. InMotion Hosting | Free domain, SSD storage, free SSL, security suite, and 90-day money-back guarantee. | $2.49/month Check Pricing | Best for small to medium-sized businesses due to its solid performance, security features, and customer support. |
| 8. DreamHost | Managed WordPress hosting, free domain, SSD storage, free SSL, 97-day money-back guarantee. | $2.59/month Check Pricing | Best for those looking for strong privacy protection, a long money-back guarantee period, and steady performance. |
| 9. Cloudways | Managed cloud hosting, SSD-based hosting, free SSL, dedicated firewalls, 24/7/365 support. | $10/month Check Pricing | Best for users who want a mix of performance and flexibility without the hassle of managing a cloud server. |
| 10. GreenGeeks | Environmentally friendly, unlimited web space, data transfer, free domain name, nightly backups, and 24/7/365 support. | $3.95/month Check Pricing | Best for eco-conscious users seeking robust hosting features with a focus on renewable energy without compromising speed and security. |
A2 Hosting vs Siteground Final word:
Siteground may have taken the win for the A2 Hosting vs Siteground matchup, but we recommend that you trial a viable hosting service that is in sync with your specific needs.
Check for the best Siteground pricing
FAQs:
Which of these services A2 Hosting vs Siteground offers cloud hosting?
Both of them do. In Siteground’s case, however, these are better suited for enterprise-level subscriptions
Aside from WordPress, what platforms can I use with either of these services?
You can use both Siteground vs A2 with Drupal and Joomla, though Siteground also interacts well with osCommerce and PrestaShop for ecommerce building purposes.
That’s all for now:
If you've read our A2 vs Siteground review up to here, we are grateful. Remember always to keep abreast of the latest developments on website builders, eCommerce, and other articles, such as the ones below;
Please share any comments below!