Cloudways vs hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)
Cloudways leads hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) by 0.6 points overall (7.7 vs 7.1).
7.7/10, Very good
#8 in Web hosting providers
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)
Users who want cPanel hosting with speed-tuned plans.
7.1/10, Good
Criterion by criterion
Where each one wins
Cloudways7.4
No renewal jump because billing is usage-based, though entry cost is above shared hosting.
Value & renewal pricing
25% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)6.8
Mid-range pricing; the intro discount does not carry into renewal.
Cloudways9.0
Choose between several cloud providers and many regions, with isolated servers.
Infrastructure & performance features
20% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)7.4
Retains A2's speed-focused plans with LiteSpeed-based tiers.
Cloudways7.4
24/7 chat and tickets; advanced support is a paid add-on.
Support
20% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)7.2
Advertises round-the-clock support across its plans.
Cloudways7.6
Staging, backups and server controls, though email hosting and domains are extra.
Features & ease of use
20% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)7.4
cPanel, free SSL and a broad range from shared to dedicated servers.
Cloudways6.8
Offers a short free trial instead of a money-back window.
Trial & refund terms
15% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)6.4
A2 published a money-back policy; we could not confirm current terms after the rebrand.
Published facts
Side by side
| Fact | Cloudways | hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Free domain (first year) | No | Not published |
| Money-back window | Not published | Not published |
| Free trial | 3 days | No |
| Main hosting type | Managed cloud | Shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated |
| Support channels | 24/7 live chat and tickets | 24/7 support |
| Data-centre regions | Choice of providers and regions worldwide | Not published |
| Renewal pricing | No intro discount; billed for usage | Higher than intro price |
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Choose Cloudways if…
You want something best for developers and agencies managing several sites.
- + Pick your own cloud provider and region
- + Usage-based billing with no long lock-in
- + Isolated servers suit busy sites
Choose hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) if…
You want something best for users who want cPanel hosting with speed-tuned plans.
- + Wide range from shared to dedicated servers
- + Familiar cPanel control panel
- + Speed-tuned plan tiers
Checked 1 Nov 2026.
Questions
Cloudways vs hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting): quick answers
Is Cloudways better than hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)?
Cloudways leads hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) by 0.6 points overall (7.7 vs 7.1). Cloudways scores higher on value & renewal pricing, infrastructure & performance features, support, features & ease of use, trial & refund terms.
Who should choose hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) over Cloudways?
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) is best for users who want cPanel hosting with speed-tuned plans. Cloudways is best for developers and agencies managing several sites.
How were Cloudways and hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) scored?
Both were scored on the same 5 weighted criteria for web hosting providers, using public information such as published plans and terms. We do not lab-test products.