A2 Hosting vs OVH Cloud: guide for 2024

A2 Hosting vs OVH Cloud: Final verdict

Looking over A2 Hosting vs. OVHcloud, both provide strong hosting solutions but with distinct advantages and areas for improvement.

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  OVHcloud (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  shines in several key areas. It offers a variety of hosting types, including Cloud Hosting, which A2 Hosting lacks, making it a versatile option for different needs. OVHcloud is especially notable for high-traffic and resource-intensive websites, with performance web hosting that includes high disk space and CDN options. The platform excels in security, with numerous compliance certifications like HIPAA and PCI DSS, making it preferable for businesses with stringent security requirements. However, some users have criticized OVHcloud’s customer support for its slow response times and occasional lack of assistance in critical situations.
  
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  A2 Hosting (Overall grade: 8.1)
  
  
  stands out for its exceptional uptime performance, committed to 99.9% uptime with some periods achieving a perfect 100%. Known for its Turbo Servers, A2 Hosting offers enhanced speed and performance, making it an excellent option for those prioritizing web performance and managed WordPress solutions. Their reseller hosting is also ideal for agencies managing multiple client websites. Additionally, A2 Hosting’s comprehensive security suite, 24/7 Guru Crew Support, and user-friendly cPanel with Softaculous add significant value. Despite these strengths, some users have noted higher pricing, especially post-discount periods, as a concern.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

🏆 Winner: A2 Hosting: Exceptional uptime performance and reliability.

Over the past three years, A2 Hosting has consistently demonstrated excellent uptime performance, achieving 99.99% in 2020 and 2022, and 99.98% in 2021. Their commitment to uptime is evident with a 99.9% guarantee in their Terms of Service. Recent tests with UptimeRobot have showcased their capability to reach a perfect 100% uptime, underscoring their reliability.

OVHcloud’s uptime has seen improvements, with recent periods reflecting an uptime of 99.962%, but it previously dipped to 99.37%. Despite these fluctuations, OVHcloud operates a global infrastructure with 43 data centers and robust elements like automatic backups and Anti-DDoS protection. The performance metrics highlight good page loading speeds and high availability, particularly in Western Europe and eastern North America.

A2 Hosting’s consistent high uptime performance and strong testing results place them ahead of OVHcloud in terms of reliability and availability. OVHcloud offers valuable features with its extensive infrastructure, but A2 Hosting’s better uptime record tips the balance in its favor.

🏆 Winner OVHcloud: Great for e-commerce and resource-intensive websites.

Both A2 Hosting and OVHcloud provide competitive performance, each with its own strengths. A2 Hosting boasts up to 20x faster Turbo speeds, LiteSpeed enhanced web servers, and NVMe drives, making them ideal for those prioritizing web performance. They offer multiple data centers worldwide and free CDN services. OVHcloud, while slightly pricier, provides strong CPU and RAM options, up to 16 GB RAM, and an included CDN service. It has fewer global data center locations but focuses on high-performance resources, making it more suited for resource-heavy websites.

Website Speed

A2 Hosting excels with Turbo speeds and NVMe drives, delivering up to 3x faster read/write speeds and AMD EPYC CPU for up to 40% faster performance. OVHcloud offers substantial resources, with up to 8 vCores and 16 GB RAM, supporting rapid page loading. Both hosts provide caching features, but A2 Hosting’s Turbo Cache and APC/opcache offer a notable advantage for performance-oriented users.

Scalability

A2 Hosting offers scalable plans across various hosting types like VPS and dedicated server hosting. Their price for dedicated servers starts at $79.99/mo. OVHcloud doesn’t specify details on elastic scaling or automatic upgrades but provides multiple cores and RAM options. Costs associated with scaling on OVHcloud are also unclear. Both offer dedicated server hosting, but for exact pricing details, referring to their respective websites is necessary.

🏆 Winner OVHcloud: OVHcloud offers a more extensive range of compliance certifications and advanced security measures, making it a more robust choice for businesses with stringent security requirements.

Both A2 Hosting and OVHcloud, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

A2 Hosting includes a comprehensive security suite like Imunify360, ModSecurity, Virus Scanner, and Patchman for real-time protection and vulnerability management. OVHcloud provides anti-DDoS protection and a standard firewall with all hosting plans. Both providers support different PHP versions, but specific details for OVHcloud’s PHP support are not provided. A2 Hosting offers various PHP extensions such as JSON and cURL, enhancing its flexibility. Both support modern TLS versions (1.2 and 1.3) ensuring secure communication channels.

Operational security measures:

A2 Hosting focuses on proactive security measures like two-factor authentication, reCAPTCHA, and hotlink protection. OVHcloud emphasizes managed security services including automatic backups and restore features, firewall management, and detailed traffic statistics. OVHcloud also provides a task automation feature via the OVHcloud API, which enhances operational security automation. While A2 Hosting provides notifications for unused themes and plugins, this level of operational control and transparency is elevated with OVHcloud’s facilities for multi-site management.

Compliance and certifications:

Both A2 Hosting and OVHcloud comply with GDPR regulations. OVHcloud holds numerous additional certifications such as PCI DSS, ISO standards, SOC reports, and specific regional certifications like ANSSI SecNumCloud and G-Cloud UK. A2 Hosting is not HIPAA or SSAE 16 compliant, limiting its use cases in healthcare and stringent financial sectors. OVHcloud, however, complies with HIPAA and offers various other industry-specific certifications making it suitable for a broader range of professional environments.

🏆 Winner:
A2 Hosting: Comprehensive hosting solutions with impressive speed and performance enhancements.

Both A2 Hosting and OVHcloud provide robust hosting solutions catering to a range of user needs. A2 Hosting offers shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting, VPS, dedicated server hosting, reseller hosting, and email hosting. Their Turbo Servers claim to deliver up to 20 times faster page loads, making it a strong choice for businesses seeking excellent performance. They also offer a user-friendly cPanel control panel with integrated Softaculous for easy one-click installation of popular applications. A2’s free website migration service and 24/7/365 Guru Crew Support stand out as significant benefits for new users or those transferring from other hosts. Alternatively, OVHcloud provides managed hosting with unlimited monthly traffic, multi-site management, and anti-DDoS protection. It also includes features like a Crontab task scheduler and an API for product management, which can be especially advantageous for developers. OVHcloud’s hosting plans also have a built-in backup and restore function, ensuring data safety and integrity.

Concerning website builders, both providers include options to install CMS tools like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with one click, making customization straightforward for users of all experience levels. However, A2 Hosting’s offerings, including automatic core updates for WordPress and the A2 Optimized Plugin, make it remarkably user-friendly for WordPress users. A2 Hosting’s managed WordPress plan also comes with a dedicated TurboHub dashboard for easier management. On the other hand, OVHcloud emphasizes unlimited monthly traffic and detailed statistics dashboards, catering to users with multiple or high-traffic websites. Both providers grant access to FTP/SFTP and SSH, though OVHcloud restricts SSH to higher-tier plans. Customers should also consider the domain registration policies; for A2 Hosting, you can start immediately since FTP/SFTP access details are provided post-registration without any additional fees.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both A2 Hosting and OVHcloud offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

Email services at A2 Hosting are provided through a partnership with Titan, including multi-account access, shareable contacts, and a configurable webmail and mobile app. This can be ideal for small businesses looking to manage their email campaigns. Conversely, OVHcloud provides email services with each hosting plan, scaling up the number of email addresses based on the plan tier. While A2 focuses on user-friendly email management, OVHcloud’s solutions might be more suited to larger setups needing substantial email account support. Both providers do not appear to resell third-party services like Google Workspace or Microsoft Outlook, instead providing their proprietary solutions.

🏆 Winner OVHcloud: OVHcloud scores slightly higher overall, mainly due to the robust features included in their plans and the transparency of what’s included.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

A2 Hosting offers a range of plans catering to different needs, starting from $2.99/month for shared hosting and going up to $79.99/month for dedicated hosting. Their plans come with a wide array of features such as unlimited email accounts, free site migration, and excellent support. OVHcloud, on the other hand, provides more budget-friendly options starting at $1.04/month. They include a free domain for the first year and offer straightforward features suitable for small to medium-sized websites. Both providers offer unique advantages, but OVHcloud’s pricing and features make it a more budget-friendly option for those looking to start a new website or maintain a small-scale online presence.

Enterprise plans

A2 Hosting’s “Warp 1” plan is geared towards high-performance needs, featuring 16GB RAM, 2X1 TB SSD storage, and 6TB transfer for $79.99/month. OVHcloud does not offer a direct comparison for this tier, but the highest priced “Performance Web Hosting” plan at $13.19/month might cater to medium scale enterprise requirements due to its high storage capacity and performance features.

🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: Efficient and user-friendly setup with comprehensive support.

A2 Hosting provides a standard cPanel, which is very accessible and familiar to most users. Its interface allows for the easy management of various site elements, such as files, email, and databases. The inclusion of Softaculous further streamlines the setup process, providing 1-click installations for popular applications. The TurboHub and WordPress Toolkit available with managed plans also simplify site management. These tools are particularly user-friendly, catering to both beginners and experts.

OVHcloud offers a custom control panel that centralizes product configuration but may have a steeper learning curve for those who are accustomed to the standard cPanel. While it provides useful options like FTP and SSH for managing website files, newcomers might find it less intuitive. That said, it remains functional and practical for experienced users. Automatic backups and a straightforward interface are strong points, although they lack the extended user-friendliness found in A2 Hosting’s cPanel.

A2 Hosting includes free site migration services that help users transfer from their previous host with minimal downtime. This service is user-friendly and part of their standard offerings. OVHcloud, on the other hand, does not specifically mention complimentary site migration services, potentially requiring manual transfer methods such as FTP or SSH. This makes A2 Hosting a more convenient option for users looking to migrate their sites quickly and efficiently.

A2 Hosting’s help center is comprehensive, featuring a wide range of articles on different topics accessible through their knowledge base. Available 24/7/365 support via live chat, email, or phone adds another layer of assistance. OVHcloud also offers extensive documentation and support options, including a multilingual help center and a community forum. However, users might find A2 Hosting’s support more accessible due to its continuous availability and breadth of topics.

🏆 Winner: OVHcloud: A provider with versatile user roles and scalable user management capabilities.

A2 Hosting and OVHcloud both offer substantial features for managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, but there are key differences. A2 Hosting uses the Plesk control panel to facilitate user role management. Users can create, manage, and remove roles with specific permissions related to various Plesk services. This platform supports a clear, step-by-step approach to defining what each user role can access, aiming at a straightforward user experience. On the other hand, OVHcloud leverages OpenStack for its user management. This allows users to define roles and actions with a high degree of customization. Each user is linked to one or more roles, including Administrator, Network Operator, and more, providing a flexible framework for varied accessibility needs.

A2 Hosting employs Plesk, a UI that is easy for users to navigate when managing their roles. The Plesk interface organizes user roles and permissions into easily accessible sections, making it efficient to create or edit user roles without deep technical knowledge. OVHcloud’s control panel is designed to interact with the OpenStack API, providing a more complex but powerful environment for advanced users. It includes the ability to generate configuration files for various tools directly from the control panel, a feature beneficial for developers familiar with OpenStack.

When it comes to access control and managing a growing user base, OVHcloud shines with its capability to handle an unlimited number of users. This makes it a suitable option for larger organizations or those anticipating rapid growth. It provides highly specific access control, allowing each role to be fine-tuned to different user requirements and security protocols. A2 Hosting’s Plesk also offers robust access control measures but is typically more constrained by the structure and flexibility of the Plesk environment. Both services enable changes and adjustments to roles, but OVHcloud offers this with greater scalability.

A2 Hosting User Roles Table:

OVHcloud User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner A2 Hosting: They combine 24/7 support availability with multiple contact methods, catering to users’ needs at any time.

A2 Hosting and OVHcloud both offer 24/7 customer support, but their services differ in several ways. A2 Hosting stands out by providing uninterrupted 24/7 customer support through multiple channels including phone, live chat, email, and tickets, making it highly accessible for any form of technical assistance. The added benefits of a robust knowledgebase and the specially designated “Guru Crew” ensure prompt and expert help. Their customer service is consistently praised for being quick and effective, with a notable anytime money-back guarantee and a 99.9% uptime commitment.

On the other hand, OVHcloud offers a tiered support system, with varying levels like Standard, Premium, Business, and Enterprise. Their Standard support is quite limited, available only during business hours, while higher support levels come at significant additional costs. Although the Business and Enterprise levels offer faster response times and more extensive assistance, the overall customer support experience may not be as accessible or comprehensive as A2 Hosting’s.

A2 Hosting vs OVH Cloud: User feedback

User feedback for the hosting provider shows a strong appreciation for their reliable performance, swift customer support, and user-friendly interface, making it a popular choice among many users. Several users praised the speed, uptime, and technical efficacy of their services, as well as the knowledgeable and responsive customer support. However, some users expressed concerns about the higher pricing, especially after the initial discounted period, and highlighted occasional issues with the responsiveness or expertise of support staff. Overall, the hosting provider has received positive reviews, but improvements in support consistency and pricing transparency could enhance user satisfaction further.

User feedback for this hosting provider reveals a stark contrast in experiences. On one hand, users appreciate the competitive pricing, diverse range of services, multiple datacenter locations, and solid server performance when issues do not arise, reflecting a favorable cost-benefit ratio. On the other hand, many users criticize the provider’s customer service, highlighting slow response times, inadequate technical support, and unresolved billing discrepancies, with some experiencing significant delays and lack of assistance in critical situations. Overall, while the hosting services can be robust and reliable, the customer support and service delivery times need considerable improvement.

A2 Hosting vs OVH Cloud: FAQ