How do you compare dozens of different website hosting plans, especially when you're a beginner? Finding the right option for you can seem overwhelming. If you don't have enough features to meet your data and traffic demands, you might end up with a closed-down website. But purchasing too many features can leave you paying hundreds out of pocket.
Two popular hosting services on the internet are Interserver and A2 Hosting. They have different approaches to their hosting options, though. Interserver functions as an affordable option that gives you low prices even with multi-year renewals. A2 Hosting focuses on having functional WordPress website features and multi-continent servers.
I've taken a look at the key differences in what these services offer to help you determine which works best for you. Even if you're not sure one of these is your perfect plan, this will give you a good idea of how to shop for different hosting options.
Overview of Interserver and A2 Hosting
Shared Features
Unique Interserver Features
Unique A2 Hosting Features
Types of Hosting
Interserver
Interserver has a few different hosting packages, along with cloud VPS options. These include:
The service also has a number of different server types that can be used for your data. Each comes with different advantages. The options are:
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting has a slightly easier list of services to understand. The company offers four basic hosting packages, all of which are optimized for WordPress integration.
You can take your pick of:
The pricing for each of these varies depending on the type of package and features you purchase.
Winner: Interserver
Interserver has more available options for hosting. It also lets you pick exactly what you need from the get-go, rather than needing to navigate through larger categories first. That said, both of these options have versatile hosting plans that can suit a variety of purposes.
Pricing Packages
Interserver
For standard web hosting, there are three basic plans with monthly rates:
The Standard package comes equipped with a large amount of features, including a LiteSpeed web server, speed optimization, 24/7 customer support, and a guarantee of at least 99 percent uptime. Standard allows you to host unlimited domains, websites, parked domains, and subdomains.
When you purchase this option to register a new website, you also get a discounted domain registration of $1.99 per year. SSL certificates are free. The Standard plan can integrate with more than 450 WordPress, e-commerce, marketing, analytics, and other apps.
You get cPanel access including a file manager, backup and restoration, control panel, administrator access, and visitor statistics. The system is also capable of using nearly every coding and programming language available. There are automated updates and weekly backups.
The Windows plan is similar in many ways, but it does have a few differences:
The WordPress plan is devoted to WordPress hosting for individuals who don't have any development background or experience. As such, it does away with the programming-heavy features. You can also only have one website, one parked domain, and don't have unlimited subdomains.
For people who want WordPress capabilities, this plan is the best bet.
A2 Hosting
A2 hosting has significantly discounted starting rates for different hosting plans. When you renew at the end of your subscription, though, you'll need to pay the full price. The base monthly prices for each type are:
The main selling points of the shared hosting plans are:
For resellers, the features add:
VPS hosting gives you increased privacy with your connections, and includes:
With a dedicated server, you can:
Winner: A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting makes it easy to find the starting prices and benefits of a variety of different web hosting options. From there, you can break them down by packages and features.
It's difficult to find a comparison of the different hosting services that Interserver offers. If you're not sure what kind of hosting is right for you, A2 Hosting's pricing and guidelines will give you a good idea of where to start.
See Full Review of - Interserver | A2Hosting
Pros and Cons of Interserver
Pros
Cons
Pros and Cons of A2 Hosting
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts: Which is Better?
Both of these are good hosting services that have affordable options to suit a variety of different websites. The best one for you depends largely on which features you'll use most.
Interserver is best if you're looking for an option that has the best deals and flat pricing structure. You don't have to worry about upsells or having your rates inflated when the time comes to renew your contract. The servers perform fairly well since they have a 50 percent capacity rule.
A2Hosting is the best choice for those who want more versatility in their server hosting. You can choose from which of four data centers you have your data hosted at. In addition, there are European and American servers, which means that you may have faster worldwide traffic connections.