If you’re looking for web hosting that combines good performance, helpful tools, and beginner-friendly features, Hosting.com might be on your list. Formerly known under another name, Hosting.com has rebranded and improved many parts of its service. In this review, we’ll explore what Hosting.com offers, its strengths and weaknesses, pricing, support, and whether it’s the right choice if you’re building a website today.
What is Hosting.com?
Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) is a web hosting company that has rebranded itself, updating its infrastructure, control panels, and branding. The goal seems to be offering fast, secure, and flexible hosting services that can work for beginners as well as more experienced users.
They provide many kinds of hosting: shared hosting, WordPress hosting (managed & unmanaged), VPS, dedicated servers, reseller plans, and domain services. They also offer AI site-builder tools and website migration support.
The company advertises high performance hardware (NVMe SSDs, AMD EPYC CPUs), multiple global data center locations, and security features built in.
Key Features of Hosting.com
Here are the main features of Hosting.com explained simply:
Feature | What it gives you / why it matters |
---|---|
Low entry price | Cheap starting plans, so beginners don’t need a big budget to get started. |
High performance tech | NVMe SSD storage, LiteSpeed caching, good CPUs – helps your site load fast. |
Multiple server locations | Servers in different countries help your site load faster for visitors in those regions. |
SSL, security, and malware protection | Free SSL, DDoS protection, brute force defense, malware scanning, etc., so your site is safer. |
Free site migration | If you’re switching hosts, Hosting.com will help move your files, databases, emails. Low risk of downtime. |
Flexible control panels | cPanel and a custom dashboard for site, domain, and server management. Gives options. |
Backup options | Automated backups to restore site if something goes wrong. |
Good support | 24/7 support via live chat, phone, or tickets; helpful knowledge base. |
Ease of Use – Ideal for Beginners
One of the biggest fears for someone new to building a site is complexity. Hosting.com does many things to reduce that:
- One-click installer: Installing WordPress or other common apps is mostly just clicking and filling basic info.
- Dashboard design: After rebranding, the account dashboard is modern, clean, and easier to navigate.
- Free migration: If you have an existing site, they help you move it. Minimal hassle.
- Money-back guarantee: Gives you peace of mind; if options aren’t right, you can cancel or get refund.
- Good documentation & tutorials: If you’re stuck, there are guides to help you.
So even if this is your first website, you shouldn’t feel completely lost with Hosting.com.
Performance & Reliability
Having a fast site and stable uptime are two of the most important things. Visitors expect sites to load quickly, and search engines prefer sites that are reliably available.
Here’s how Hosting.com performs in those areas:
- Uptime Guarantee: Hosting.com promises 99.9% uptime. In tests, performance was strong; in one review over a couple of weeks, uptime was reported as 100%.
- Response Time: Tests show response times around ~168 milliseconds for shared hosting in many cases. That’s quite good—fast enough for most websites.
- Page Load Speed: Under a second (~0.9s) in many tests. That helps reduce bounce rate and makes users happier.
- Handling Traffic: Under lighter load, Hosting.com performs well. Under heavier load (many simultaneous users), there are some slowdowns, especially on lower-tier shared plans. So for high-traffic or big resource needs, you’ll likely want higher plans.
Hosting.com Pricing & Plans
One of the big draws is the low starting price. But like many hosts, you get the lowest cost with longer-term commitments. Renewal prices tend to be higher.
Here’s a summary of their pricing and plan types:
Plan Type | Starting Price (1-year or promotional) | What you get / Best For |
---|---|---|
Shared Hosting | ~$1.99/month for 1-year billing cycle for basic shared hosting. | Great for small blogs, portfolios, landing pages, basic business sites. |
WordPress Hosting | ~$2.99/month (1-year billing). | For WordPress users who want easy setup, good performance, and WordPress-specific tools. |
VPS Hosting | From ~$4.99/month for certain VPS plans (with 1-year term). | For medium sites, growing business, or those needing more server resources. |
Dedicated / Managed Hosting | Higher prices depending on resources. | For large sites, eCommerce, high traffic, or custom server needs. |
Renewal Pricing: After a promotional period or the first year, renewal rates are significantly higher. It’s important to check what the cost will be after your initial term.
Extras Included:
- Free domain in first year for select plans.
- Free SSL certificates always included.
- Free migration.
- Security features (malware scanning, brute force protection, etc.) included.
Pros and Cons of Hosting.com
Every hosting provider has good and bad points. Here are Hosting.com’s.
Pros
- Very competitive entry pricing for shared and basic WordPress hosting.
- High performance hardware (NVMe SSDs, LiteSpeed), good global data centers.
- Strong uptime and response times in tests. Reliable availability.
- Good security features included: SSL, malware protection, DDoS and brute force protection.
- Free site migration – reduces friction when switching hosts.
- Flexible plan options – shared, WordPress, VPS, etc., so you can upgrade as needed.
- User-friendly tools & dashboards for beginners.
Cons
- Renewal prices are high compared to the initial discount. Be prepared for a price jump.
- Performance under heavy traffic may suffer in lower-tier plans. If many visitors or resource usage, you may need a higher plan.
- Brand transition: Because Hosting.com rebranded from A2 Hosting, some parts still show old branding (in control panels etc.), which may confuse users.
- Support speed sometimes slower, especially just after rebranding or for less critical issues. Some users report delays.
- “Unlimited” wording: As with many hosts, features like bandwidth or resources often are not truly unlimited (terms of service apply). Be careful.
Who Should Choose Hosting.com?
Hosting.com is suited for many kinds of website owners. Here is who it works well for, and who might want to consider other options.
Best For
- Beginners who want low cost hosting with decent speed.
- WordPress users who need easy setup and built-in security.
- Small business websites, portfolios, blogs, landing pages.
- Site owners who may want to grow over time (move from shared to VPS).
- Anyone who values free migration and strong uptime.
Not Ideal For
- Very large websites or heavy eCommerce stores that need high resource capacity from the start.
- Users who expect massive traffic or spikes without investing in higher plans.
- Those who dislike renewal price increases or complicated terms.
- People who need absolutely “unlimited” resources (in practice there are always limits) or guaranteed very high performance under all conditions.
People Also Ask (PAA)
Here are some questions people often ask when considering Hosting.com, with short helpful answers:
PAA: Is Hosting.com good for beginners?
Yes. It offers cheap plans, easy tools (WordPress installers, free migration, simple dashboards) that help beginners get started without needing deep technical knowledge.
PAA: Does Hosting.com include free backups?
Yes. Hosting.com includes automated backups (usually weekly or daily depending on plan), which help you recover if something goes wrong.
PAA: How fast is Hosting.com hosting?
In tests, Hosting.com achieves good page load times (under 1 second in many cases), fast server response (~168 ms), especially for shared/WordPress plans under moderate traffic.
PAA: What is the renewal price like for Hosting.com?
The renewal price is notably higher than the promotional or first-term price. It’s common to pay more once the initial term ends.
PAA: Can I use WordPress on Hosting.com?
Yes. Hosting.com offers WordPress hosting and managed WordPress hosting. WordPress installation is simple, and many WordPress-specific tools are available.
Detailed Breakdown: Features & Functionality
Let’s go deeper into what Hosting.com offers in the features department, especially things you may care about after basic setup.
Security
- Free SSL certificates across all plans.
- Protection from brute force attacks, malware scanning.
- DDoS protection built in.
- Some plans may include web application firewalls (WAF).
This helps protect your site and gives better trust from visitors and search engines.
Storage & Technology
- SSD/NVMe storage is standard, which is much faster than older hard drives.
- Use of LiteSpeed caching helps serve pages faster.
- Multiple data center locations globally means you can set your server nearest your audience (or choose one that gives best performance).
Uptime & Reliability
- 99.9% uptime guarantee.
- Monitoring tools ensure the site is up most of the time. Tests show nearly perfect uptime in many cases.
Dashboard & Control Panel
- You’ll use cPanel for many tasks: managing files, email, adding sites, DBs, etc.
- There’s also a custom “native” dashboard for overall account management (billing, domain settings, etc.). After rebranding, this piece is cleaner and more organized.
- One-click installers help with installing WordPress, other apps without manual steps.
Support
- Available 24/7 via live chat, ticket, phone.
- Knowledge base and tutorials help you solve common problems.
- Mixed reports: many users are happy with support, others report slower responses for less urgent issues.
Hosting.com Performance under Stress & Scalability
If your site grows, how well will Hosting.com handle more traffic or more complex needs?
- Shared hosting plans usually work great for modest traffic. When traffic spikes (many visitors at once), low-tier plans may show slowdowns. Upgrading helps.
- VPS or higher-tier plans are better suited for scaling. They give more resources (RAM, CPU, bandwidth).
- Infrastructure supports upgrades, letting you move from shared → VPS for example.
- Backups and security tools become more important as your site grows; Hosting.com has them built in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Does Hosting.com include a free domain?
Yes, in many of their plans, you get a free domain for the first year (with selected domain extensions). After that, domain renewal fees will apply.
Q2. Does Hosting.com support both Linux and Windows hosting?
Yes. Hosting.com offers both Linux and Windows options depending on what your site requires.
Q3. Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. Hosting.com offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on many plans. Sometimes there is also prorated refunds beyond that depending on policy.
Q4. How many data centers does Hosting.com have / where are they?
They have multiple server locations worldwide (US, Europe, Asia etc.), so you can choose a server close to your expected audience for better speed and lower latency.
Q5. Will my hosting plan allow me to upgrade as site grows?
Yes. One of Hosting.com’s strengths is flexibility. You can start with a simple shared plan and later upgrade to better/higher resource options (VPS, etc.) without too much pain.
Q6. How good is the customer support?
Generally good. Many users report helpful and competent support. But because of rebranding and business changes, some report slower support or longer response times in certain situations.
Q7. Are the “unlimited” features truly unlimited?
Not always. “Unlimited” often means “no specific quota” up to a point, but resources are still shared, and there are usage policies. If your site uses too many resources, you may be asked to upgrade or restrict usage.
Final Thoughts – Is Hosting.com Right for You?
After this detailed Hosting.com review, here is a summary of why you might choose it, and when it might not be ideal.
Why you might choose Hosting.com
- You’re a beginner, budget is a concern, but you want decent speed and reliability.
- You want free features like SSL, migrations, backups, without extra cost.
- You plan to grow your site later; Hosting.com gives pathways to upgrade.
- You like flexible location of servers (choose data center closer to audience).
- Clean dashboards, one-click tools, helpful support when needed.
When you might look elsewhere
- You expect very high traffic from day one, or need enterprise-level performance. You might find VPS or dedicated hosts better.
- You dislike renewal price hikes. If you want predictable cost long term, check renewal costs carefully.
- If you expect heavy support needs or fast-service guarantee, check reviews carefully, as some users report occasional delays.
- If your site has very specific server or software needs that are not covered, check those before buying (e.g. custom server modules, rare OS, etc.).
People Also Ask (PAA)
PAA: Is Hosting.com hosting reliable for small business sites?
Yes. With 99.9% uptime, strong hardware, and free security tools, Hosting.com is reliable for small business websites and service-based sites.
PAA: Can I host multiple websites with Hosting.com shared plans?
Some shared plans allow hosting more than one website; others are limited. Be sure to check the plan details (number of websites, addon domains, etc.).
PAA: How much does Hosting.com cost after the first year?
After the promotional period, renewal prices are significantly higher. It depends on plan type and billing term. Always check renewal cost before signing up.
PAA: How secure is Hosting.com hosting?
Security is good for most users. Free SSL, malware scanning, DDoS and brute force protections help. But no host is perfect—best practice (strong passwords, updates, choosing proper plan) still matters.
PAA: Does Hosting.com offer managed WordPress hosting?
Yes. There are WordPress-specific hosting plans including managed WordPress options, which include extra tools to make WordPress easier (automatic updates, backups, staging, etc.).
Summary Table: Hosting.com At a Glance
Here’s a quick summary you can refer to when comparing Hosting.com to others:
Factor | Rating / Summary |
---|---|
Entry-level Cost | Very affordable (promotional) |
Renewal Cost | Higher; check terms carefully |
Performance | Fast under normal load, very good uptime |
Ease of Use | Good; especially for beginners |
Features Included | SSL, migration, security tools, solid backup options |
Scalability | Plan upgrades available; VPS/dedicated options |
Support | Mostly good, but some variability in response times |
Ideal For | Blogs, small business, WordPress, those starting out |
Less Ideal For | High traffic enterprise, very custom server needs |