DreamHost vs hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)
DreamHost leads hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) by 0.4 points overall (7.5 vs 7.1).
7.5/10, 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
DreamHost7.6
Fair pricing with monthly billing available and a free domain on annual shared plans.
Value & renewal pricing
25% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)6.8
Mid-range pricing; the intro discount does not carry into renewal.
DreamHost6.6
Data centres are US-based, so there is little regional choice.
Infrastructure & performance features
20% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)7.4
Retains A2's speed-focused plans with LiteSpeed-based tiers.
DreamHost6.8
Chat and tickets are available; phone support is not part of standard plans.
Support
20% weight
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)7.2
Advertises round-the-clock support across its plans.
DreamHost7.4
Custom control panel, free SSL and WordPress tools; backup options vary by plan.
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.
DreamHost9.4
A 97-day money-back guarantee on shared hosting is the longest in this list.
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 | DreamHost | hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Free domain (first year) | Yes | Not published |
| Money-back window | 97 days | Not published |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Main hosting type | Shared, VPS, WordPress | Shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated |
| Support channels | 24/7 live chat and tickets | 24/7 support |
| Data-centre regions | United States | Not published |
| Renewal pricing | Higher than intro price | Higher than intro price |
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Choose DreamHost if…
You want something best for buyers who want time to decide.
- + 97-day money-back window on shared hosting
- + Monthly billing option
- + Free domain on annual shared plans
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
DreamHost vs hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting): quick answers
Is DreamHost better than hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)?
DreamHost leads hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) by 0.4 points overall (7.5 vs 7.1). DreamHost scores higher on value & renewal pricing, trial & refund terms. hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) scores higher on infrastructure & performance features, support.
Who should choose hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) over DreamHost?
hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) is best for users who want cPanel hosting with speed-tuned plans. DreamHost is best for buyers who want time to decide.
How were DreamHost 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.