A2 Hosting vs WPX Hosting: guide for 2024

A2 Hosting vs WPX Hosting: Final verdict


Looking over A2 Hosting vs. WPX Hosting, 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.


  • WPX Hosting (Overall grade: 8.3)

    provides strong support for WordPress and WooCommerce hosting with prompt response times (~30 seconds), daily backups, and free malware removal, catering especially well to businesses and agencies needing seamless performance and security. Its Custom XDN and high-speed CDN contribute to fast site delivery, making it ideal for businesses prioritizing speed and reliability. However, the higher initial cost and lack of certain advanced features like SSH access can be a drawback for some users.

  • A2 Hosting (Overall grade: 8.1)

    offers a broad range of hosting solutions, from shared to dedicated, with exceptional uptime performance (close to 100% in tests) and versatile user roles and permissions via Plesk, making it a fit for high-traffic and multimedia websites. With various security technologies and easy-to-use cPanel for website management, it serves both beginners and experienced users effectively. The downside includes higher renewal costs and occasional support delays, but its affordability and extensive features often balance the scales for individuals and smaller organizations.

Overall grade:8.1

Overall grade:8.3

Uptime and Availability 9.7 9.5
Hosting Performance 7.0 8.8
Hosting Security 8.0 8.8
Price 8.3 8.7
Hosting Features 6.6 7.4
Ease Of Setup 8.7 8.6
User Management 8.3 6.1
Customer Support 8.5 8.8
User feedback 4.4/5 4.7/5

Hosting types offered

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

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.

WordPress
Tie: Both offer excellent WordPress hosting with performance and security features.

Ecommerce
WPX Hosting: offers superior support, reliability, and advanced features, making it a better choice for businesses prioritizing long-term growth and stability in their ecommerce endeavors.

Agencies
WPX Hosting: provides scalable plans with flexibility to manage multiple websites efficiently.

High-traffic websites
A2 Hosting: offers robust VPS and dedicated hosting options for handling high traffic.

Multimedia websites
Tie: Both offer adequate support and performance enhancements for multimedia-rich websites.

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
9.5

Winner A2 Hosting: A2 Hosting stands out for its exceptional uptime performance consistently over the years.

A2 Hosting exhibits remarkable uptime statistics, with near-perfect numbers of 99.99% in 2020 and 2022, and 99.98% in 2021. They guarantee a 99.9% uptime, showcasing their reliability. Testing periods revealed a perfect 100% uptime, affirming their commitment to keeping clients’ websites online consistently.

WPX Hosting also demonstrates strong uptime, promising a 99.95% uptime with 24/7 support and quick resolution times. Their high traffic performance is notable, handling up to 1000 visitors simultaneously. Additional features like daily backups, free malware removal, and a 30-day money-back guarantee add to their robust offerings, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Which one has better hosting performance?

Evaluates the platforms hosting speed and performance tools
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
8.8

🏆 Winner
WPX Hosting:
For users who prioritize speed and advanced technological infrastructure, Sitrground is more suitable for high-demand websites that require reliable and fast global access.

WPX Hosting and A2 Hosting offer robust performance features but differ in specific advantages. WPX leverages its Custom XDN technology alongside a high-speed CDN for rapid site delivery, while A2 Hosting employs Turbo Cache and NVMe drives to enhance load times. A2 promises a 99.9% uptime with multiple data centers worldwide, and WPX offers a 99.95% uptime backed by a global CDN with 37 endpoints. Both provide caching methods and built-in plugins for speed optimization, but WPX stands out with its faster CDN.

Website Speed

Both WPX and A2 Hosting aim for high website speed. WPX uses Custom XDN and a proprietary CDN to speed up web delivery, while A2 Hosting employs Turbo Cache and LiteSpeed Web Server technology. A2’s NVMe drives and AMD EPYC CPUs offer notably fast read/write speeds. WPX’s speedy average support response and resolution times ensure quick assistance, contributing indirectly to low downtime and fast site performance.

Scalability

Scaling with A2 Hosting is flexible due to scalable plans and diverse hosting options from shared to dedicated servers. You can manually upgrade your plan as needed, but elastic scaling isn’t specified. WPX’s offering includes scaling through predefined plans, but it’s unclear if upgrades are automated. Both provide dedicated server options, with WPX’s higher starting costs reflecting its specialized services.

Which one has better security features?

Reflects the platforms security measures, data privacy, backups and adherence to legal
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
8.8

🏆 Winner WPX Hosting: Offers superior brute-force and DDoS defenses, proactive monitoring, and fast recovery with daily backups.

Technical security measures:

A2 Hosting provides various security technologies like Imunify360, ModSecurity, and a Virus Scanner, alongside TLS 1.2 and 1.3 support for SSL certificates. WPX Hosting features a Web Application Firewall (WAF), daily malware scans, and a unique DDoS mitigation service. Both hosts offer free SSL certificates, though WPX utilizes Let’s Encrypt with auto-renewal, while A2 provides Free RapidSSL On Sell. A2 supports a broader range of PHP versions and extensions, whereas WPX focuses on automated WordPress & PHP updates for security.

Operational security measures:

A2 Hosting employs Imunify360 for real-time protection, Patchman for vulnerability scans, and various controls like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Hotlink Protection. WPX Hosting emphasizes proactive monitoring, and offers free malware removal and a “Fixed for You” guarantee. WPX includes advanced brute-force defense with hybrid DDoS protection across its custom CDN. Both services recommend using strong passwords and two-factor authentication for enhanced security, but WPX’s operational measures are more comprehensive.

Compliance and certifications:

Both A2 Hosting and WPX Hosting comply with GDPR standards. A2 supports GDPR with enhanced data control and customer requests for Data Protection Agreements, while WPX offers data transfer outside the EEA compliant with GDPR. Neither supports HIPAA or direct PCI compliance, though both suggest using PCI-compliant third-party services for payment processing.


SSL certificate

Free SSL Certificate (Free RapidSSL On Sell)

Free Let’s Encrypt with auto-renewal

Additional security features

Imunify360, Virus Scanner, ModSecurity, Patchman, Hotlink Protection

Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS Protection, Brute-force Defense, Free malware removal

PHP versions

Various versions and extensions

Automated WordPress & PHP updates

GDPR compliance

Yes

Yes

HIPAA compliance

No

No

PCI compliance

Indirect (third-party APIs)

Indirect (external credit card systems)

Hosting features

Looks at the features offered by hosting platforms
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
7.4

🏆 Winner: WPX Hosting: Excels in website speed, security, and support, providing an ideal option for high-performance WordPress hosting needs.

A2 Hosting and WPX Hosting both offer a variety of features aimed at satisfying different needs and preferences. A2 Hosting brings a range of hosting solutions starting from affordable Shared Hosting at $2.99/mo, tailored for beginners and small websites, to robust Dedicated Server Hosting at $79.99/mo, suitable for heavy-resource websites. WPX Hosting, on the other hand, emphasizes website speed and performance with its custom CDN (XDN) and speedy SSD storage. The hosting plans, starting from $24.99/mo, may seem pricier but come loaded with features like a high-speed LiteSpeed server and Redis cache that contribute to quicker load times.

A website builder is not inherently offered by either provider; however, A2 Hosting includes cPanel with Softaculous for one-click installations of CMS like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, making it user-friendly even for those with limited technical knowledge. WPX Hosting provides zero-downtime website migrations and quick one-click WordPress installations, catering specifically to WordPress users who need seamless and rapid setup. Both services include free website migrations and SSL certificates, but unique perks like A2’s Turbo Servers and WPX’s free malware removal can sway decisions based on specific needs. Importantly, WPX does offer unlimited email boxes, suitable for businesses with extensive communication needs.

Free domain No No
Free SSL Yes Yes
Email hosting Yes, powered by Titan Yes
Website builder Softaculous (via cPanel) No
Staging environment No Yes
FTP & SFTP accounts Yes Yes
Git and SSH access Yes No
Free backup No Yes
Money back guarantee Yes, 30-day Yes, 30-day
In some cases hosting providers offer different features based on various components like 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 WPX Hosting 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 offers email hosting powered by Titan, allowing for multi-account access, configurable webmail, and a mobile app, supporting efficient email management. WPX Hosting provides unlimited email boxes with spam filtering, making it suitable for businesses needing extensive email communications. Neither mentions transactional email capabilities or reselling third-party email services, placing them both on a similar footing regarding basic email service offerings.

Price

Looks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.
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
8.7

🏆 Winner WPX Hosting: WPX Hosting offers efficient WordPress and WooCommerce hosting plans with quick support and additional services tailored to small and large businesses.

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 WPX Hosting both offer a variety of plans, but WPX Hosting typically provides higher-value packages for businesses with multiple websites, substantial storage requirements, and comprehensive support features. WPX’s WordPress and WooCommerce plans are tailored to ensure optimal website performance and security, including features like malware removal and site speed optimization. A2 Hosting, meanwhile, competitive with plans that generally include unlimited storage and enhanced speed technologies in their Turbo plans, but is especially noted for the greater affordability of their shared hosting options.

WordPress hosting plans

Run$25.99

1 website, 50GB NVMe Storage, unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 expert support, free SSL, up to 20X faster speed, daily backup.

Value for price:
7.5

Business Plan$24.99

Up to 5 websites, 15GB storage, 200GB bandwidth, 1GB RAM/site, free malware removal, 30-sec support response.

Value for price:
8.7

Shared hosting plans

Startup$12.99

1 website, 100GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 support, free SSL, easy cPanel, 99.9% uptime.

Value for price:
8.3

Business Plan$24.99

Up to 5 websites, 15GB storage, 200GB bandwidth, 1GB RAM/site, free malware removal, 30-sec support response.

Value for price:
8.7

Drive$15.99

Unlimited websites, unlimited SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 support, free SSL, free automatic backups.

Value for price:
8.5

N/A

Turbo Boost$24.99

Unlimited websites, unlimited NVMe SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 support, free SSL, Turbo (up to 20X faster).

Value for price:
8.8

N/A

Turbo Max$29.99

Unlimited websites, unlimited NVMe SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 support, free SSL, up to 5X more resources.

Value for price:
8.9

N/A

VPS hosting plans

Takeoff 4$76.99

4GB RAM, 150GB SSD storage, 2TB transfer, 2 cores, free SSL, free security suite, cPanel, 24/7 support.

Value for price:
8.2

Powerstore Plan$34.99

1 website, 20GB storage, 300GB bandwidth, 4GB RAM/site, free malware removal, 30-sec support response.

Value for price:
8.4

N/A

Superstore Plan$74.99

3 websites, 50GB storage, ∞∞ bandwidth, 6GB RAM/site, free malware removal, free speed optimization, 30-sec support response.

Value for price:
8.6

N/A

Hyperstore Plan$149.99

5 websites, 100GB storage, ∞∞ bandwidth, 8GB RAM/site, free malware removal, free speed optimization, 30-sec support response.

Value for price:
8.9

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.

Enterprise plans

For businesses with larger needs, WPX Hosting’s “Hyperstore Plan” at $149.99/month offers support for up to 5 websites with 8GB RAM per site, unlimited bandwidth, and significant storage capabilities. On the other hand, A2 Hosting’s “Warp 1” dedicated server plan at $249.99/month is highly customizable but lacks the same level of integrated business-focused features that WPX plans provide. WPX Hosting’s fast response support, free malware removal, and site optimization features make it a more comprehensive choice for enterprises.

A2 Hosting vs WPX Hosting: Ease of setup

Evaluates the ease of setting up and migrating websites on the hosting
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
8.6

🏆 Winner: A2 Hosting: Offers a seamless and streamlined experience with pre-installed WordPress, auto-updates, and a detailed knowledge base.

A2 Hosting uses the popular cPanel for website management, which is widely recognized for its accessibility and user-friendliness. cPanel allows users, even those with limited technical expertise, to manage websites efficiently. The interface is intuitive, with features like Softaculous for one-click software installations that make the administrative tasks less daunting. Additionally, features like TurboHub provide a dedicated WordPress control panel, further simplifying site management for WordPress users.

WPX Hosting, on the other hand, offers a custom-designed control panel built for speed and ease of use. While it might not have the familiarity of cPanel, its interface is clean and straightforward, aiming to provide a user-friendly experience for both novices and experienced users alike. The panel includes options for managing services, account details, support tickets, and migrations, streamlining website management without overwhelming the user with too many options at once.

Both A2 Hosting and WPX Hosting offer free site migration services, making it easy to switch hosting providers without incurring additional costs. A2 Hosting provides complimentary site migration with minimal downtime, with a significant focus on efficiency. WPX Hosting also simplifies the migration process through a streamlined request system in their control panel, guaranteeing a migration completion within 24 hours. This ensures a hassle-free transition for users on both platforms.


Each hosting service boasts a comprehensive knowledge base for support, though with some differences. A2 Hosting’s knowledge base is extensive, covering various topics and offering popular guides and articles. They also provide 24/7/365 support via live chat, email, or phone, ensuring users are well-supported. While the knowledge base is only available in English, efforts are underway to include other languages. WPX Hosting’s knowledge base is similarly detailed, accessible from their control panel, and offers articles on various topics and prompt 24/7 support through chat or ticket. Both providers are committed to ease of use and accessibility in their support offerings.

User management

Assesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and
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
6.1

🏆 Winner
A2 Hosting:
A2 Hosting excels in user management functionalities.

When comparing A2 Hosting and WPX Hosting in terms of managing user roles and permissions, A2 Hosting, through its utilization of Plesk, provides a more detailed and comprehensive approach. A2 Hosting allows users to create, manage, and remove user roles with specific permissions tailored to various services within the hosting environment. This flexibility ensures that users can be given precise access, enhancing security and customizability. In contrast, WPX Hosting offers basic user management capabilities, focusing more on database users and FTP users, providing less flexibility for tailored permissions across different services.

A2 Hosting’s Plesk interface provides a dedicated sidebar and user roles tab, creating an intuitive environment for managing user roles. The process of creating, editing, or removing user roles is straightforward and well-documented, ensuring even less experienced users can navigate the platform efficiently. WPX Hosting, while functional, confines its user management tools mainly to its database and FTP user pages, which may limit ease of use and user experience compared to Plesk’s more streamlined approach.

In terms of access control and handling a growing number of users, A2 Hosting’s Plesk offers granular control over user permissions, making it easier to scale operations securely as user needs expand. The ability to allow or deny specific services ensures that access is finely tuned to the requirements of each role. WPX Hosting, while providing essential tools for managing database and FTP access, may not provide the same level of detail or scalability in user roles, potentially posing challenges for larger teams or more complex projects.

A2 Hosting user roles table:

Role Description Access highlights
Administrator Full access to all Plesk services and settings Access to all administrative functions
User Limited access to specific services as granted Restricted to services as defined

WPX Hosting user roles table:

Role Description Access highlights

Customer support

Evaluates the quality, availability, and scope of the customer support offered by the
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
8.8

🏆 Winner
WPX Hosting:
Offers prompt support responses and several additional services.


Phone support







Live chat support







Chatbot







Email/ticket support







Enterprise support
(dedicated agent, priority support)






A2 Hosting provides strong customer service with various channels including 24/7 phone support, live chat, email, and support tickets. Their “Guru Crew Support” team is available at any time to assist, and they maintain a thorough knowledgebase for self-help. A2 Hosting has garnered positive reviews from customers, emphasizing their responsive and helpful support. They also promise a 99.9% uptime commitment and offer an anytime money-back guarantee.

WPX Hosting excels with a 30-second average response time on live chat and a swift 15-minute case resolution. They offer free site migrations within a day and have comprehensive services such as free malware removal and site speed optimization. WPX Hosting’s customer reviews highlight their efficiency and high-quality service. They also have additional security features and a high-speed CDN to boost website performance.

A2 Hosting vs WPX Hosting: User feedback

A2 Hosting
189 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
WPX Hosting
63 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars

User feedback on A2 Hosting is largely positive, highlighting its impressive website speed, reliable uptime, and exceptional customer support. Many users appreciate the ease of use, feature-rich plans, and the effectiveness of technical support, though a few reported prolonged resolution times and inadequate initial support knowledge. A common criticism is the higher-than-average pricing, especially upon renewal, yet users often acknowledge that the quality of service justifies the cost. Some isolated issues like service disruptions and inefficient overseas support were mentioned, but overall, A2 Hosting earns strong recommendations from its user base.

WPX Hosting consistently receives praise for its extremely fast and helpful customer support, often resolving issues within seconds via live chat. Users also appreciate the hosting speed, ease of use, and included features like their custom-built CDN. However, some users experienced limitations and performance issues with larger, high-traffic websites and have cited a lack of advanced features such as SSH access and more robust email security. On the whole, while the support and speed are lauded, a few users found the service lacking for more critical or large-scale requirements.

A2 Hosting vs WPX Hosting: FAQ

Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?


Both A2 Hosting and WPX Hosting offer excellent WordPress hosting with strong performance and security features. WPX Hosting excels with its custom XDN and high-speed CDN, making it especially suitable for businesses prioritizing speed and reliability. A2 Hosting provides robust features at a more affordable price, making it well-suited for individuals and smaller organizations. Both platforms are tied in this category, each catering to different needs.

Which hosting service offers better security features?


WPX Hosting offers superior security features including Web Application Firewall (WAF), daily malware scans, unique DDoS mitigation, and free malware removal. A2 Hosting also provides strong security with Imunify360, ModSecurity, Virus Scanner, and Patchman, along with TLS support for SSL certificates. While both platforms offer comprehensive security measures, WPX Hosting’s proactive monitoring and advanced defenses give it an edge.

Which platform offers better customer support?


WPX Hosting excels in customer support with a 30-second average live chat response time and swift issue resolution, alongside free site migrations and additional services like site speed optimization. A2 Hosting offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, email, and support tickets with positive reviews on their responsiveness. However, WPX Hosting’s faster and more efficient customer support makes it the better choice in this category.

Which service is more suitable for hosting a high-traffic website?


A2 Hosting is more suitable for hosting high-traffic websites due to its robust VPS and dedicated hosting options that are designed to handle large amounts of traffic. The platform’s exceptional uptime, Turbo Cache, and NVMe drives enhance its ability to manage high-traffic scenarios effectively. While WPX Hosting performs well with high traffic, A2 Hosting’s specialized plans and infrastructure offer more scalability for such needs.

Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?


A2 Hosting provides more scalability options with a range of hosting solutions from shared to dedicated servers, along with flexible user roles and permissions via Plesk. WPX Hosting offers predefined scalable plans with a focus on WordPress and WooCommerce sites, but lacks the same level of diverse, flexible scaling. As a result, A2 Hosting’s broad range of scalable solutions makes it a better choice for growing websites.

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