A2 Hosting vs Liquid Web: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Comparing A2 Hosting and Liquid Web, both provide strong hosting solutions with distinct advantages that cater to different needs.

• 
  Liquid Web (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  offers high-performing hosting options suitable for enterprises and data-intensive tasks. It excels in providing robust uptime guarantees, high-speed processing with advanced processors, and a 24/7/365 support service that ensures rapid issue resolution. Liquid Web does not offer shared hosting but includes managed WooCommerce and VPS services. The service is best for businesses prioritizing scalability, advanced security compliance like HIPAA, and high-traffic websites. While the higher cost is a downside, the significant enterprise-level features and capabilities make Liquid Web a solid choice for businesses with complex requirements.
  
• 
  A2 Hosting (Overall grade: 8.1)
  
  
  stands out with its broad range of hosting plans, including shared hosting, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated servers. It offers impressive uptime performance with 99.99% reliability, and its Turbo Speed feature significantly enhances website load times. A2 Hosting provides user-friendly features like free site migration, a comprehensive control panel with one-click installations, and excellent customer support. It’s a great option for small to medium-sized businesses and individuals needing affordable and efficient web hosting without sacrificing performance. The lack of support for cloud hosting and some advanced security features are minor drawbacks, but the overall value and versatility make A2 Hosting a strong contender.
  

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.

A2 Hosting has shown stellar uptime performance over the past three years, achieving 99.99% in both 2020 and 2022, and 99.98% in 2021. They promise a 99.9% uptime but have exceeded this with a perfect 100% during controlled tests. Clients are assured dependable reliability from their services.

Liquid Web offers high availability hosting with managed file replication, proactive monitoring, and a 100% SLA. Their quick hardware replacements and fast response guarantees enhance user trust. Despite these advantages, A2 Hosting’s consistent uptime reliability and excellent performance make it the top choice.

🏆 Winner: Liquid Web Liquid Web offers top-tier hosting solutions with a superior network uptime guarantee and versatile performance features, making it a strong choice for many users.

When it comes to general performance, both A2 Hosting and Liquid Web present compelling features. A2 Hosting boasts a Turbo Speed feature, NVMe drives, and up to 20x faster site loading times with caching solutions such as Turbo Cache & APC/opcache. Meanwhile, Liquid Web uses AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon processors, 10 Gbps network speeds, and SSD or NVMe storage options to deliver robust speeds. Liquid Web’s free SSL and dedicated IP add an extra layer of performance and security. A2 Hosting offers data center choices, but Liquid Web distinguishes itself with a 100% uptime guarantee and advanced network infrastructure.

Website Speed

A2 Hosting provides several speed enhancements, including LiteSpeed Web Server, Turbo Cache, and high-speed NVMe drives, resulting in faster load times and better SEO rankings. Liquid Web’s use of AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon processors, along with a 10 Gbps network and NVMe storage, ensures rapid data access and efficient processing. Both providers excel in delivering quick website performance, but Liquid Web’s combination of processors and network capabilities gives it a slight edge.

Scalability

A2 Hosting offers completely scalable plans across various hosting types, allowing for easy transitions as your site grows. You can upgrade plans manually based on your needs. Liquid Web also supports scalability with features like autoscaling, free monthly adjustments to server resources, and flexible managed VPS services. Liquid Web provides dedicated servers, and both providers offer options but Liquid Web’s autoscaling and easy upgrading processes provide seamless growth potential. Costs for scaling with Liquid Web depend on specific requirements but the ease of adjusting without significant downtime makes it highly efficient.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Liquid Web offers robust security features and comprehensive compliance measures for businesses.

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

Technical security measures:

A2 Hosting and Liquid Web both provide SSL certificates for data encryption, although A2 Hosting offers a free RapidSSL. Liquid Web emphasizes PCI compliance by offering scanning services and comprehensive reports, which A2 Hosting does not directly support. Both services support various PHP versions but differ in additional protections: A2 Hosting integrates tools like Imunify360 and ModSecurity, while Liquid Web provides firewalls, VPNs, and DDoS attack protection. Liquid Web’s F5 AIP Intrusion Detection System provides real-time monitoring and quick remediation, enhancing its security stance. A2 Hosting employs virus scanning and Patchman to safeguard websites from security threats.

Operational security measures:

Operationally, A2 Hosting includes features like two-factor authentication, hotlink protection, reCAPTCHA, and SSH for secure file transfers. Liquid Web ensures resilience by offering firewalls and VPNs alongside DDoS attack protection. Liquid Web’s data encryption at rest and web application firewall amplify its operational security. In addition, Liquid Web provides 24/7/365 on-site support and hardened server configurations, making it well-suited for business-critical operations. A2 Hosting focuses on commenting and login security with reCAPTCHA and changes to default login URLs to reduce brute force attacks.

Compliance and certifications:

Regarding compliance, A2 Hosting adheres to GDPR, but does not support HIPAA or SSAE 16 compliance. Liquid Web complies with GDPR, HIPAA, and holds certifications like SSAE-22. Liquid Web also supports PCI compliance with dedicated services for vulnerability scanning and remediation assistance. A2 Hosting recommends third-party PCI-compliant payment methods but does not offer direct PCI compliance measures.

🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: Offers a wide range of hosting options with impressive performance and user-friendly features.

Both A2 Hosting and Liquid Web provide robust hosting solutions catering to different needs, yet each has unique offerings. A2 Hosting excels with its broad variety of plans—shared hosting, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated servers. The free website migration and Turbo Servers with up to 20X faster page loads make it highly attractive for users looking for speed and convenience. While A2 doesn’t explicitly mention a website builder, it provides a cPanel control panel with Softaculous for one-click software installation, including popular CMS options, making site management accessible even for beginners.

Liquid Web stands out for fully managed hosting, designed to offer hands-on support and sophisticated solutions, including compliant hosting environments and a VMware Private Cloud. Its 24/7/365 human support with a rapid response guarantee is a compelling feature. Liquid Web’s hosting plans cater to more advanced and enterprise-level needs, making it a strong choice for data-intensive tasks. Though there’s no mention of a website builder, the extensive support and management services cover complex customizations and enterprise-focused needs. Liquid Web also offers features like high-availability hosting and managed WooCommerce hosting, essential for business-critical applications.

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 Liquid Web 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, allowing users to manage multiple accounts with webmail and mobile app access, as well as shareable contacts. Liquid Web, on the other hand, does not offer direct email hosting but provides support for third-party integrations such as Google Workspace, Outlook, and Zoho, useful for users who prefer using established email services for their transactional and campaign needs.

🏆 Winner A2 Hosting: A2 Hosting offers a range of plans with competitive prices and comprehensive features suitable for various hosting 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.

When comparing A2 Hosting and Liquid Web, A2 Hosting provides more affordable shared hosting and WordPress plans with a diverse set of features, like unlimited websites and SSD storage. Liquid Web, while pricier, offers specialized plans for WooCommerce and WordPress with higher resource allocations, making it suitable for those needing robust performance. A2 Hosting also includes additional freebies like SSL certificates and site migration at no extra cost in all plans, further enhancing its value proposition. Liquid Web excels in managed VPS and cloud dedicated server options with dedicated resources and top-tier performance metrics.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, A2 Hosting offers dedicated server plans like Warp 1, featuring robust hardware specifications with Intel Xeon CPUs and significant storage capacities at competitive prices. These plans come with value features including managed security and site migration services. On the other hand, Liquid Web’s enterprise plans also deliver high-performing cloud dedicated servers and extensive managed services, but at a steeper price point. Liquid Web’s enterprise solutions offer higher bandwidth, advanced security, DDoS protection, and superior customer support, making them an excellent choice for businesses needing extensive resource allocation and scalability.

🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting: A2 Hosting simplifies both setup and migration processes, featuring pre-installed WordPress and complimentary site migration.

A2 Hosting employs cPanel, a widely-used control panel known for its intuitive interface. This makes it accessible for both technical and non-technical users, featuring the Softaculous tool for easy software installation. A2 Hosting also offers a TurboHub, a dedicated WordPress control panel that streamlines management tasks. On the other hand, Liquid Web provides multiple management options, ranging from default admin panels to custom-tailored solutions specific to complex hosting environments. Although complex, these configurations are adeptly managed by their 24/7 support team, making them more suitable for enterprise-level users.

Both providers offer free site migration services; however, A2 Hosting provides a more transparent and expedited process, including WordPress pre-installation and automatic core updates. Liquid Web offers personalized migration assistance, which can be particularly useful for complex setups. Both companies ensure minimal downtime, yet A2 Hosting’s automated solutions tend to speed up the transition.

The help center resources of both providers are comprehensive. A2 Hosting offers an extensive knowledge base that is rich in content, ranging from beginner guides to advanced configurations. Liquid Web, too, has an in-depth knowledge base, frequently updated with articles and tutorials on various technical topics. Both provide 24/7 support, yet A2 Hosting also emphasizes accessibility with a wider array of step-by-step guides.

A2 Hosting help center
Liquid Web help center

🏆 Winner A2 Hosting: Offers versatile user role management with Plesk.

Both A2 Hosting and Liquid Web use Plesk for user management which allows for detailed roles and permissions settings. A2 Hosting provides a streamlined process for creating, managing, and removing user roles, focusing on flexibility and making it simple to define and grant permissions. Liquid Web, while also offering comprehensive user roles with four default roles, extends additional administrative functionalities. Both platforms enable selecting specific services for roles, yet Liquid Web’s pre-defined roles like Administrator, Webmaster, Application User, and Accountant offer varied levels of access, which can be beneficial for larger teams.

The user interfaces for managing roles in both A2 Hosting and Liquid Web are intuitive, but with minor differences. A2 Hosting’s Plesk interface involves navigating through a few straightforward steps to manage users, whereas Liquid Web provides distinct views (Service Provider and Power User), catering to both novice and advanced users. The layout and labels in Plesk under Liquid Web’s configuration may be more organized for those managing extensive hosting services.

When evaluating access control and efficiency, both A2 Hosting and Liquid Web perform competently. A2 Hosting ensures efficient management by allowing detailed customization at service levels. Liquid Web, meanwhile, with its additional administrative accounts and default user roles, handles scalability more effectively. For organizations that anticipate growth and a need for elaborate user access control, Liquid Web’s pre-configured roles and settings could be more efficient.

A2 Hosting user roles table:

Liquid Web user roles table:

🏆 Winner: Liquid Web: Liquid Web provides comprehensive and fast customer support, ensuring a high level of satisfaction among its users.

A2 Hosting and Liquid Web offer strong support options, but Liquid Web stands out with its response time guarantees and specialized support features. A2 Hosting provides a variety of support channels such as phone, live chat, and email, along with 24/7 availability, which is commendable. Their “Guru Crew Support” is highly praised by customers for being knowledgeable and helpful.

Liquid Web goes further with its “Heroic Support®” and an initial response time guarantee of 59 seconds for phone and chat, and 59 minutes for helpdesk tickets. They also offer enterprise-level support, including dedicated customer success managers and strategic account executives. Their high Net Promoter Score reflects strong customer satisfaction and loyalty. Overall, Liquid Web’s broader range of dedicated support options and quicker response guarantees give it an edge.

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.

Customer feedback for this hosting provider is mixed, with significant polarization in user experiences. While some have praised the company for its reliable uptime, exceptional support, and proactive monitoring, others have experienced severe dissatisfaction due to frequent downtimes, unresponsive customer service, and unethical billing practices. Long-term customers, in particular, have noted a sharp decline in service quality and support efficiency, attributing it to recent management changes. Despite positive reviews highlighting excellent technical support and overall reliability, a growing number of users advise against using this provider due to these negative aspects.

FAQ