A2 Hosting vs Directnic: Final verdict
Looking over A2 Hosting vs. Directnic, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.
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A2 Hosting (Overall grade: 8.1)
offers various hosting solutions, such as shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, catering to both small and large-scale projects. The provider impresses with a near-perfect uptime record, advanced speed enhancements like Turbo Servers, and comprehensive security features including free SSL certificates and Imunify360. Additionally, A2 Hosting’s robust customer support, with 24/7 availability and the specialized Guru Crew, further strengthens its position as a leading hosting provider, ensuring assistance is always within reach. Despite the slightly higher pricing post-discount period and potential wait times for live chat, A2 Hosting is a valuable investment for users demanding high performance and scalability.
Directnic (Overall grade: 6.8)
excels in simplicity and affordability, offering straightforward shared and ecommerce hosting plans with free domain registration, making it an attractive option for individuals and small businesses. Its user-friendly cPanel with drag-and-drop builder functionalities and reliable email hosting meet basic website needs efficiently. However, limitations in advanced security features, a lower 99% uptime guarantee, and an absence of specialized WordPress hosting affect its overall appeal. Additionally, while Directnic’s customer support is available around the clock, its performance does not always meet user expectations, particularly in resolving technical issues swiftly. Directnic remains a cost-effective choice for smaller, less demanding projects but lacks the comprehensive features required for larger, high-traffic websites.
 Overall grade:8.1 |
 Overall grade:6.8 |
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|---|---|---|
| Uptime and Availability | 9.7 | 6.3 |
| Hosting Performance | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| Hosting Security | 8.0 | 7.8 |
| Price | 8.3 | 7.8 |
| Hosting Features | 6.6 | 3.6 |
| Ease Of Setup | 8.7 | 7.8 |
| User Management | 8.3 | 6.5 |
| Customer Support | 8.5 | 7.7 |
| User feedback | 4.4/5 | 2.5/5 |
Hosting Types Offered
Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.
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| Shared hosting | ||
| Cloud hosting | ||
| WordPress hosting | ||
| Ecommerce hosting | ||
| VPS hosting | ||
| Dedicated hosting |
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
Uptime and availability
Evaluates the average uptime statistics, uptime guarantee and overall availability of the hosting
provider
Score Components:
- Uptime percentage (30%): evaluates the uptime statistics in given period of time
- Uptime guarantee (20%): Assesses if the platform offers an uptime guarantee and
whether the actual uptime matches the promised guarantee. - General performance (25%): Evaluates how fast is the average response time and overall
it’s stability. - Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Availability (25%): Reflects the total downtime and number of outages.
9.7
6.3
🏆 Winner A2 Hosting: Superior uptime performance and availability make A2 Hosting a reliable choice.
A2 Hosting boasts an impressive uptime record, achieving near-perfect percentages over the last three years. With a guarantee of 99.9% uptime and test results showing 100% uptime during specific periods, A2 Hosting clearly surpasses industry expectations. This high level of reliability is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted online presence and preventing potential revenue loss due to downtime.
Directnic offers affordable shared hosting plans with a range of features suitable for individuals and small businesses. Despite positive user feedback on stability and support, Directnic’s 99% uptime guarantee falls short of the industry standard. This lower uptime promise indicates a higher risk of website unavailability, which could impact user experience and business operations.
Which one has better hosting performance?
Score Components:
- Hosting speed (30%): This includes SSD quality, Load times, PageSpeed score ranges,
additional information on website speed, built-in plugins for performance enhancement, available caching
methods, and CPU/RAM options - CDN (20%): Considers whether CDN is available or not, whether it’s free or paid, and
the quality of the CDN service - Available data centers (30%): Evaluates the number of data centers and their locations
globally. - Scalibility (20%): Looks at whether elastic scaling is available, the process required
to scale (manual upgrade vs. automatic scaling), the presence of dedicated servers, and the costs
associated with scaling.
7.0
7.2
🏆 Winner
Directnic Hosting: Offers great value with comprehensive hosting plans and strong security.
Directnic Hosting and A2 Hosting both provide robust services, but each has different strengths. Directnic Hosting claims 99% uptime and includes free domain registration on all plans. They also offer cPanel access, a variety of email accounts, and easy script installations. In terms of speed, A2 Hosting stands out with their LiteSpeed Speed Enhanced Web Server and NVMe Drives, promising up to 20x faster performance. A2 Hosting also provides more advanced caching methods, including Turbo Cache and APC/opcache. Both offer CDN services, but Directnic includes it with higher-tier plans, while A2 offers free Cloudflare CDN integration. A2 Hosting offers a choice of multiple data center locations, which can enhance site speed and SEO.
Website Speed
A2 Hosting is designed for speed, with LiteSpeed web servers and NVMe drives that are up to 3x faster in read/write speeds. The use of AMD EPYC CPUs further enhances performance with up to 40% faster processing power. By contrast, Directnic focuses on a more traditional setup, without the advanced speed features found in A2 Hosting. While Directnic ensures 99% uptime, A2 Hosting ups the ante with a 99.9% uptime commitment and Turbo speed options.
Scalability
Both Directnic and A2 Hosting offer scalable solutions. A2 Hosting provides various options like shared, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated server hosting. Scaling with A2 Hosting is more flexible, thanks to completely scalable plans that grow with your needs. Directnic’s plans require upgrading to higher tiers, each offering increased resources like storage and data transfer. A2 Hosting offers dedicated servers starting at $79.99/mo, while the scaling costs for Directnic are not specified. For those needing rapid and flexible scaling, A2 Hosting’s options are more varied and accommodating.
Overall, while A2 Hosting excels in speed and advanced features, Directnic Hosting wins the comparison for its value-packed plans and robust security features.
Which one has better security features?
and regulatory requirements
Score Components:
- Technical security measures (40%): This includes encryption, firewalls, DDoS
protection, secure configurations, server monitoring, access control and availability of security addons
(e.g Sitelock security). - Operational security measures (30%): Encompasses data privacy, backups and data
redundancy. - Compliance and certifications (20%): Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
(e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and possession of certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2). - Business and reliability (10%): Factors in the provider’s reputation, uptime
guarantees, and customer support.
8.0
7.8
🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: A robust set of security features and free SSL certificates
Both A2 Hosting and Directnic, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.
Technical security measures:
A2 Hosting offers a comprehensive set of technical security measures, including TLS 1.2 and 1.3 support, ModSecurity, Virus Scanner, Patchman, and Two-Factor Authentication. Directnic provides different SSL certificates for a fee, ranging from $42 to $249 per year, and features like a Web Application Firewall and 5-layer DDoS Protection. Both offer support for multiple PHP versions, but A2 Hosting has extensive PHP extensions and tools.
Operational security measures:
Directnic shines with its 24/7/365 Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) and real-time Security Information & Event Management (SIEM). A2 Hosting offers Imunify360 and a 24/7 virus scanner, but its focus is more on automated and configurable security, like Patchman and ModSecurity. Directnic also includes malware removal and content delivery network features for enhanced website performance.
Compliance and certifications:
A2 Hosting is GDPR-compliant and provides advice for PCI compliance through third-party providers but lacks HIPAA and SSAE 16 compliance. Directnic does not specify compliance with GDPR or PCI. A2 Hosting’s GDPR support makes it a better choice for users needing data protection adherence.
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|---|---|---|
SSL certificate |
Free |
Paid ($42 – $249/year) |
Additional security features |
Imunify360, ModSecurity, Virus Scanner, Patchman, 2FA |
CSOC, SIEM, CDN, WAF, Malware Protection, DDoS Protection |
PHP versions |
Various versions and extensions |
Configurable via Hosting Console |
GDPR compliance |
Yes |
Not specified |
HIPAA compliance |
No |
Not specified |
PCI compliance |
Indirect |
Not specified |
Hosting features
Score Components:
- Domains (20%): Assesses the availability of a free domain, domain purchase options, and
pricing - Email (15%): Considers if the provider offers full email hosting, or is reselling
third-party service, and if the email is only transactional or not - Website builder (15%): Checks if website builder is available, and it’s user
friendliness and overall the level of customization allowed. - Staging environment (20%): Determines if a staging environment is available, allowing
for testing changes before going live. - FTP & SFTP accounts (10%): Evaluates if and how easily users can access FTP and
SFTP accounts - Git and SSH access (20%): Assess whether Git is integrated into the hosting service and
if SSH access is provided
6.6
3.6
🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: A2 Hosting provides extensive features and high performance suited for various user needs.
When comparing A2 Hosting and Directnic, it’s clear that each provider offers several appealing features, though they target different types of users. A2 Hosting shines with its broad range of hosting options, such as shared, VPS, and dedicated server hosting. This versatility and the inclusion of Turbo Servers, promising up to 20X faster page loads, make it a strong contender for users who need scalable solutions. The managed WordPress hosting with A2 Hosting is optimized for performance and security, offering features like a dedicated TurboHub dashboard and automatic updates. Free website migration and the A2 Optimized plugin for WordPress add to its appeal.
Directnic, in contrast, keeps things straightforward with three clear plans: Lite, Pro, and Deluxe, which cater to different levels of website needs. The free domain registration that accompanies all plans is a significant benefit for anyone looking to start a new website without additional costs. While there is no indication of a dedicated website builder, the ease of script installs makes setting up platforms like WordPress relatively simple. Directnic scores lower in performance compared to A2 Hosting but offers affordable entry-level pricing for smaller websites or personal projects.
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| Free domain | No | Yes |
| Free SSL | Yes | Not mentioned |
| Email hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Website builder | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
| Staging environment | Yes (WordPress) | Not mentioned |
| FTP & SFTP accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Git and SSH access | Yes | Not mentioned |
| Free backup | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
| Money back guarantee | Yes | Yes |
a location.
As a result in rare cases the features mentioned here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
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 Directnic 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:
A2 Hosting provides robust email hosting powered by Titan, which includes features like multi-account access, configurable webmail, a mobile app, and shareable contacts. Directnic also offers email accounts across all its plans, supporting up to 250 POP3 emails in its Deluxe plan. For users who require a more integrated email hosting solution, A2 Hosting’s offerings are more comprehensive, though Directnic’s email services are sufficient for smaller-scale needs. Neither provider mentions third-party email services like Google Workspace or Zoho.
Price
Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
8.3
7.8
🏆 Winner A2 Hosting: Offers a diverse range of feature-rich hosting plans suitable for different needs.
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 and Directnic both provide a variety of hosting plans, each with its own strengths. A2 Hosting’s shared plans start at $2.99/month and offer features like unlimited email accounts, free SSL certificates, and site migration. In contrast, Directnic’s Lite plan begins at $2.48/month but includes more limitations such as 10GB storage and 100GB data transfer. For WordPress hosting, A2 Hosting’s Run plan at $11.99/month offers notable features like Turbo speed, daily backups, and 24/7 WordPress support, whereas Directnic does not offer specialized WordPress plans. Enterprise users might find A2 Hosting’s “Warp 1” dedicated server plan more advantageous with its Intel Xeon CPU and extensive security suite. Here’s an organized comparative view:
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Run $25.99
1 Website, 50GB NVMe Storage, Unlimited Transfer, Daily Backup, 24/7 Support, Turbo Speed, Free SSL. Value for price:8.0
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N/A |
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Startup $12.99
1 Website, 100GB SSD Storage, Unlimited Transfer, 24/7 Support, Free SSL. Value for price:8.3
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Lite Plan $2.48
3 Websites, 10GB Disk Space, 100GB Data Transfer, 50 POP3 Emails, 10 MYSQL Databases. Value for price:7.5
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Drive $15.99
Unlimited Websites, Unlimited SSD Storage, Unlimited Transfer, 24/7 Support, Free SSL. Value for price:8.5
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Pro Plan $4.48
15 Websites, 100GB Disk Space, 1000GB Data Transfer, 100 POP3 Emails, 50 MYSQL Databases. Value for price:7.8
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Turbo Boost $24.99
Unlimited Websites, Unlimited NVMe SSD Storage, Unlimited Transfer, 24/7 Support, Turbo Speed, Free SSL. Value for price:9.0
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Deluxe Plan $7.98
30 Websites, 200GB Disk Space, 2000GB Data Transfer, 250 POP3 Emails, 100 MYSQL Databases. Value for price:7.9
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Takeoff 4 $76.99
4GB RAM, 150GB SSD Storage, 2 TB Transfer, 24/7 Support, Free SSL. Value for price:7.8
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N/A |
Enterprise plans
A2 Hosting’s “Warp 1” dedicated server plan costs $79.99/month and features an Intel Xeon CPU, 16GB RAM, and extensive security measures, making it highly suitable for enterprise-level requirements. Directnic does not offer a direct equivalent in terms of dedicated server hosting, which may limit its attractiveness for larger enterprises.
A2 Hosting vs Directnic: Ease of setup
platform.
Score Components:
- Site migration (25%): Assesses whether the provider offers tools for site migration,
either automated or manual, and whether these services are free or require a fee. - Admin panel usability (35%): Evaluates the type of admin panel provided, such as the
standard cPanel or a custom solution, focusing on its accessibility and user-friendliness for both
technical and non-technical users. - Setup features (20%): Examines the availability and ease of use of various setup
features, including FTP accounts, file managers, email account setup, PHPMyAdmin, and easy CDN
configuration. - Help center quality (20%): Measures the quality and accessibility of the provider’s
help center resources, including articles and tutorials.
8.7
7.8
🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: A2 Hosting offers a streamlined setup process and extensive migration support for website transfers.
A2 Hosting provides cPanel as its primary admin panel, which is known for its user-friendliness and versatility. The inclusion of Softaculous in cPanel simplifies the installation of various applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with a single click. Their TurboHub for managing WordPress websites further consolidates management tools, offering a dedicated control panel that is particularly useful for users looking to streamline their site administration. Non-technical users will find the layout intuitive, while more experienced admins will appreciate the depth of control offered.
Directnic Hosting also uses cPanel, making it straightforward for users familiar with this industry-standard control panel. Additionally, Directnic features a drag-and-drop builder via SiteBuilder by Weebly, enhancing accessibility for those who prefer a more visual and straightforward website creation process. This builder comes with templates and shopping cart functionality, providing added convenience for eCommerce sites. Both technical and non-technical users will find the interface easy to navigate, though it may lack some of the advanced functionalities offered by A2 Hosting’s TurboHub.
A2 Hosting offers free site migration services, aiming to minimize downtime and streamline the website transfer process. This can be a significant advantage, particularly for users who are not comfortable with manual migrations. Directnic Hosting also supports migration but does not specify whether the service is free, suggesting that it may involve some additional steps or costs. Both providers facilitate migrations, but A2 Hosting clearly eases the burden by offering a complimentary service.
A2 Hosting’s knowledge base is extensive, covering a wide range of topics from basic setups to advanced troubleshooting. Their 24/7/365 Guru Crew Support ensures that assistance is available around the clock. Directnic Hosting also provides a comprehensive knowledge base with articles addressing common questions and issues. Both services maintain around-the-clock support, making expert help accessible at any time.
User management
accessibility.
Score Components:
- Role customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
8.3
6.5
🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: A2 Hosting offers more advanced user management features and flexibility.
In terms of managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, A2 Hosting, through its Plesk control panel, provides a more structured and detailed approach compared to DirectNIC. Plesk enables users to create custom user roles with specific permissions, allowing for greater control over what services each user can access. This flexibility is absent in DirectNIC, limiting its capability to tailor user roles to specific needs. With A2 Hosting’s Plesk, you can also easily modify or remove user roles as necessary, which adds to the overall management efficiency.
When comparing user interfaces, A2 Hosting’s Plesk stands out for its intuitive design and user-friendly layout. Navigating through the User Roles tab to create, manage, or delete roles is straightforward. Each step is clearly defined, reducing the learning curve for new users. DirectNIC, on the other hand, offers a more basic interface that lacks the same level of detailed control, making it less efficient for comprehensive user management tasks.
In terms of access control measures and scalability, A2 Hosting’s Plesk excels by providing granular control over permissions, making it well-suited for both small and large-scale operations. The ability to grant or deny access to specific services ensures that users only have access to what is necessary, which enhances security. DirectNIC’s simpler structure does not offer the same level of control, raising potential challenges in managing a growing number of users efficiently.
A2 Hosting user roles table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full access to all Plesk services and administrative functions | All permissions granted, including server management |
| Limited User | Restricted access primarily for specific tasks | Permissions tailored to specific services like email or FTP |
| Developer | Access to development-related services and tools | Granted access to databases, file management, and debugging |
| Viewer | Read-only access for monitoring and reporting | Can view stats and reports but cannot make changes |
Customer support
hosting provider.
Score Components:
- Support communication channels (30%): Measures the variety of customer support types
provided (live chat, chatbot, email, phone, etc.) - Availability (20%): Assesses the availability hours for each channel, including 24/7
support options. - Technical support quality (30%): Assesses whether the provider offers comprehensive
technical support, including hardware upgrades (e.g., HDD to SSD), software installations, and web
server configuration changes. - Enterprise support (20%): Checks if there are dedicated or priority support services
for enterprise-level customers.
8.5
7.7
🏆 Winner A2 Hosting: Offers superior customer service with 24/7 availability and a wider range of support channels.
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Phone support |
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Live chat support |
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Chatbot |
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Email/ticket support |
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Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
A2 Hosting and Directnic Hosting both provide 24/7 email and ticket support, but A2 Hosting offers round-the-clock phone support, whereas Directnic only offers it during business hours. Both providers have live chat support; however, A2 Hosting’s can have long queues, while Directnic ensures constant availability. A2 Hosting also has an expert team known as the Guru Crew, which is accessible anytime, adding another layer of specialized assistance that Directnic does not match.
Additionally, both hosting providers include comprehensive knowledge bases, but A2 Hosting’s is noted for its ease of use and broad coverage. Directnic extends support by offering planning, installation, training, and additional maintenance and upgrade services. Despite both offering reliable support, A2 Hosting stands out for its 99.9% uptime commitment and a more versatile support structure, securing its position as the better option.
A2 Hosting vs Directnic: 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.
The hosting provider has a long-standing presence in the industry, which has contributed to a stable domain registration experience for some users. However, there have been significant issues with domain security breaches and slow response times for resolving these problems. Additionally, the server performance is reported to be slow, and customer support is not highly rated. Overall, the service has received average feedback, and some users would not recommend it.
A2 Hosting vs Directnic: FAQ
Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?
A2 Hosting is better suited for hosting WordPress websites due to its optimized speed and security features, including Turbo Servers and the A2 Optimized Plugin. Directnic does not offer specialized WordPress hosting plans, making A2 Hosting the superior choice in this category.
Are both platforms suitable for beginners?
Both A2 Hosting and Directnic are suitable for beginners, with user-friendly interfaces and cPanel access. Directnic offers a drag-and-drop builder which can be especially helpful for beginners. A2 Hosting, however, provides more comprehensive tools and support, making it a slightly better option.
Which hosting service offers better security features?
A2 Hosting offers better security features, including free SSL certificates, Imunify360, ModSecurity, Virus Scanner, and Two-Factor Authentication. Directnic has decent security features like a Web Application Firewall and DDoS Protection, but A2 Hosting’s extensive array of security measures makes it the superior choice.
What are the major differences in pricing and value between a2hosting and directnic?
A2 Hosting generally comes with higher pricing post-discount but offers more advanced performance and security features, providing greater value for high-demand projects. Directnic, on the other hand, offers more affordable plans that suit smaller, less demanding websites with basic hosting needs.
Which platform offers better customer support?
A2 Hosting offers better customer support with its 24/7 Guru Crew and multiple support channels like live chat, phone, and tickets. Directnic also has around-the-clock support but has received mixed feedback regarding responsiveness and efficiency, making A2 Hosting the preferred option.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
A2 Hosting offers more scalability options with diverse plans including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, allowing users to scale seamlessly. Directnic’s plans also cater to different levels, but A2 Hosting’s variety and flexible upgrade paths make it better suited for growing websites.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
