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This Hosting.com review is for anyone choosing a first host for a WordPress site, a blog or a small business site. Hosting.com is the new name of A2 Hosting, a long-running shared and managed hosting company. Below we cover what the plans include, who they suit, and where to be careful, using the official plan comparison as our source.
Hosting.com review: quick verdict
In short, our Hosting.com review finds a solid pick for beginners who want managed migration, daily backups and 24/7 human support on NVMe storage. It is less obviously the cheapest option, so compare current prices and renewal terms before you buy.
- Good for: beginners, people moving an existing site, and small sites that want backups and support included.
- Be careful about: renewal pricing, which the plan page does not show, and the feature limits on the entry plan.
- Skip it if: you need full server control (look at a VPS instead) or only want the lowest possible first-year price.
Hosting.com shared plans at a glance
The shared hosting line has three tiers: Starter, Pro and Max. According to the official comparison page, they differ mainly in how many sites and how much storage you get.
| Feature | Starter | Pro | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Websites | 5 | 10 | 50 |
| NVMe storage | 15 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB |
| Backups | Daily, 30-day retention | Daily, 30-day retention | Daily, 30-day retention |
| Free managed migration | Included | Included | Included |
| Support | 24/7 human support (chat, ticket, phone) | 24/7 human support (chat, ticket, phone) | 24/7 plus priority support |
| SSL | Free SSL | Free SSL | Listed as Premium SSL |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
The comparison page lists these as “starting from” plans without showing amounts, so we do not quote prices here. The page says renewal prices are displayed before purchase, so check the checkout screen. Features and limits can change, and we may be out of date, so confirm on the provider’s site.
What you get with Hosting.com
NVMe storage
All three shared plans list NVMe storage. NVMe is a faster kind of solid-state storage. It can help uncached and database-heavy pages, but it is not a cure-all. We explain this in what is NVMe hosting.
Daily backups with 30-day retention
Backups are one of the most useful features for a beginner. A daily backup with a 30-day history lets you roll back after a bad plugin update or a hack. Still keep your own off-server copy of important sites.
Free managed migration
Every shared plan lists free managed migration. If you already have a site, that can save you from doing the move yourself. Our guide on how to migrate a WordPress site explains what a migration involves, so you know what to check afterwards.
24/7 human support
Support is listed by chat, ticket and phone on all shared plans, with priority support on Max. We have not tested the support ourselves, so judge response quality with a pre-sales question before you commit.
Free SSL and a free domain
The plan page lists a free SSL certificate and a free domain for the first year. A free first-year domain usually renews at the regular registrar price later, so read how to register a domain name and consider where you want to keep it.
30-day money-back guarantee
A 30-day refund window lets you test the host with less risk. Read the refund terms for exclusions, such as domain fees.
Who should choose which plan
- Starter suits one to a few small sites, such as a blog, a portfolio or a small business site.
- Pro suits people with several sites or more media, because it doubles the site limit and storage.
- Max suits agencies or people running many sites who want priority support.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Managed migration is included on the shared plans
- Daily backups with 30-day retention on all tiers
- NVMe storage on all tiers
- 24/7 human support through several channels
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- A long-running company brand (formerly A2 Hosting)
Cons
- Prices are not shown on the comparison page, so you must check at checkout
- Renewal prices may be higher than introductory prices. See web hosting renewal prices explained
- Site limits on the entry plan are modest for agencies
- The comparison page contains a conflicting mention of a service level agreement, so we cannot confirm one for shared plans
- We reviewed published details, not a paid test account
How it compares with other hosting types
Shared hosting is the cheapest and easiest option, but it has resource limits. If you outgrow it, a VPS gives more control and responsibility. Read shared vs VPS vs cloud hosting and VPS hosting for beginners to see when to move. New to the topic? Start with what is shared hosting.
How to decide if Hosting.com is right for you
- List your must-haves: number of sites, storage, backups, migration help, support hours.
- Compare those against the plan table above.
- Check the real price and the renewal price at checkout.
- Ask support a pre-sales question to test response speed.
- Use the 30-day guarantee as your safety net if you decide to try it.
Our guide on how to choose a web hosting provider gives a longer checklist you can use with any company.
Where to see current plans
You can view the current Hosting.com shared plans and checkout prices through this Hosting.com link. It is an affiliate link, so we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Always compare with at least one other host before paying.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hosting.com the same as A2 Hosting?
Hosting.com is the new name of A2 Hosting, according to the company’s rebrand. Existing A2 Hosting customers may see the new name in their accounts.
Does Hosting.com offer free migration?
The official plan comparison lists free managed migration as included on the Starter, Pro and Max shared plans.
How much storage do the plans include?
The comparison page lists 15 GB, 50 GB and 100 GB of NVMe storage for Starter, Pro and Max.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
The comparison page lists a 30-day money-back guarantee on the shared plans. Read the terms for details.
Is Hosting.com good for beginners?
Included migration, backups and 24/7 support make it a reasonable choice for beginners, subject to the pricing caveats above.
Final verdict
Hosting.com looks like a beginner-friendly host with strong included features. Its main unknown in our review is the real renewal price, which you should check before you pay. If the numbers work for you, it is worth trying with the 30-day guarantee.