When comparing Bluehost vs A2 Hosting, we find A2 Hosting to be the better web host overall. A2 Hosting outshines Bluehost with its faster performance through Turbo servers, broader developer support, and more comprehensive security features like proactive monitoring. Bluehost’s strengths are their affordability and beginner-friendly tools, but they lack A2’s speed and developer flexibility.
In this article, we compare Bluehost vs A2 Hosting on the grounds of plans, pricing, features included, and performance. We also compare the software supported, developer tools, data center coverage, customer support, and security features. Finally, we answer the question of “Bluehost vs A2 Hosting: Which is better for you?”
Plans
| Hosting Plan Type | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $2.95/mo – $13.95/mo | $1.95/mo – $13.95/mo |
| VPS Hosting | $46.99/mo – $94.99/mo | $2.99/mo – $45.95/mo |
| WordPress Hosting | $2.95/mo – $13.95/mo | $9.95/mo – $39.95/mo |
| Cloud Hosting | $29.99/mo – $109.99/mo | $15.95/mo – $37.95/mo |
| Dedicated Hosting | $141.19/mo – $312.19/mo | $199.99/mo – $535.99/mo |
| Reseller Hosting | Not Available | $15.95/mo – $37.95/mo |
| Managed Hosting | Shared, Cloud, WordPress Hosting | All Plans |
Bluehost offers 5 types of hosting: Shared, VPS, WordPress, Cloud, and Dedicated Hosting. Managed hosting is available on Shared, Cloud, and WordPress plans. A2 Hosting offers 6 types: Shared, VPS, WordPress, Cloud, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting, with managed services available across all hosting types. The addition of Reseller hosting and more comprehensive managed options give A2 Hosting a slight edge.
Pricing
| Pricing Type | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Price | $2.95/mo | $1.95/mo |
| Renewal Price | $11.99/mo | $12.99/mo |
| Monthly Payment Option? | Yes | Yes |
Bluehost’s introductory pricing starts at $2.95 per month, while A2 Hosting’s starts at a lower $1.95 per month. Bluehost prices then increase to $11.99 per month, while A2 Hosting increases to $12.99 per month upon renewal. Both hosts have a significant price increase from the initial offer, with Bluehost increasing by 306% and A2 Hosting by 566%. Bluehost remains slightly more affordable.
Features Included
| Feature | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Space | 10 GB SSD Storage | 100 GB SSD Storage |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unlimited |
| Number of Websites | 10 | 1 |
| Email Hosting | Separate service ($14.99/yr – $24.99/yr) | Unlimited email accounts |
| Free Domain | Yes | No |
| AI Website Builder | Yes, Bluehost WordPress Website Builder | No, only regular A2 SiteBuilder |
| Unlimited Storage? | No | Available on higher plans |
| Unlimited Bandwidth? | Higher plans | Yes |
| Additional Features | WonderSuite AI tools, Free Yoast SEO | Nothing notable |
A2 Hosting offers 100 GB of SSD storage on its cheapest plan compared to Bluehost’s 10 GB. Both provide unmetered or unlimited bandwidth, but A2 Hosting allows it across all plans while Bluehost restricts this feature to higher-tier plans. A2 Hosting also includes unlimited email hosting by default, whereas Bluehost charges for email as a separate service.
Bluehost compensates by including its WonderSuite AI tools for site creation, and offers more built-in features such as a WordPress Website Builder and Yoast SEO for free. A2 Hosting lacks comparable AI tools.
Performance
| Performance Feature | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Yes, Cloudflare with Argo Routing | No |
| Type of SSD Server | SSD | SSD |
| Caching | Available on higher plans | Available on higher plans |
| Uptime Guarantee | 100% | 99.9% |
| Additional Performance Features | HTTP/2, NGINX+ Cache | Turbo plan (40% faster CPU, 3x faster NVMe) |
Bluehost offers a stronger uptime guarantee with 100% compared to A2 Hosting’s 99.9%. Bluehost also integrates Cloudflare’s CDN with Argo Routing for global performance improvements, which A2 Hosting lacks. However, A2’s Turbo plan does offer advanced LiteSpeed Turbo caching along with other proprietary optimizations. It’s a prime option for performance-focused users looking for faster server response times and better overall performance features.
Data Center Coverage
| Geographical Coverage | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Data Centers | 1 | 4 |
| Headquarter Location | Jacksonville, Florida, USA | Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA |
| Data Center Locations | USA (Utah) | USA (Michigan, Arizona), Netherlands, Singapore |
A2 Hosting has 4 data centers spread across the USA, Europe, and Asia, while Bluehost only has 1 in Utah, USA. A2 Hosting’s additional locations in Europe and Asia give them a clear advantage for international customers. Bluehost’s single data center limits its appeal to users targeting audiences in one region.
Software Supported
| Software Feature | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control Panel | cPanel | cPanel, Plesk |
| 1-Click WordPress | Yes | Yes |
| OS Supported | Linux | Linux, Windows (Shared, Reseller, VPS) |
Both Bluehost and A2 Hosting support cPanel control panel, but A2 Hosting also offers Plesk for more control panel options. A2 Hosting supports both Linux and Windows, while Bluehost only supports Linux. A2 Hosting is therefore a great option for users needing Windows hosting, particularly for Shared, Reseller, and VPS plans.
Developer Tools
| Developer Tool | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Staging Tools | Yes | Yes |
| Root Access | Yes (VPS and Dedicated Hosting) | Yes (VPS and Dedicated Hosting) |
| GIT Access | Yes | Yes |
| WP-CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Cron Jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple PHP Versions | Yes | Yes |
| SSH | Yes | Yes |
| Node.js Support | Yes | Yes |
| Python Support | Yes | Yes |
| Java Support | Yes | Yes |
| Django Support | Yes | Yes |
| Perl Support | Yes | Yes |
| Ruby on Rails Support | Yes | Yes |
| ASP.NET | No | Yes |
Both Bluehost and A2 Hosting provide essential tools like staging, root access, and support for languages such as Python and Node.js. But, A2 Hosting also includes ASP.NET support, which Bluehost lacks. This makes A2 Hosting the better option for developers working in a Windows environment, or those who need ASP.NET for their applications.
Customer Support
| Customer Support Feature | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Support Methods | Live chat, phone support, email | Phone, live chat |
| Support Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Website Migration | For WordPress plans only | Yes |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Both Bluehost and A2 Hosting provide 24/7 customer support through live chat and phone, but Bluehost offers additional support via email. Bluehost limits website migration to WordPress plans, while A2 Hosting offers migration services across all plans. This makes A2 Hosting more flexible for users looking to transfer non-WordPress websites.
Security Features
| Security Feature | Bluehost | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Daily for Choice Plus and above plans | Automatic daily backups for Drive plan |
| DDoS Protection | Yes, in-house | Yes,via Cloudflare CDN |
| Firewalls | Yes | Yes |
| Proactive Monitoring | No | Yes, with Imunify360 |
| Unique Security Features | SiteLock partnership, defense against DDoS, SQL injections | Hacksan, 2FA, KernelCare, virus scanner, brute force defense |
A2 Hosting excels in security by offering automatic daily backups starting with the Drive plan and proactive monitoring through Imunify360. Bluehost only provides daily backups for higher-tier plans like Choice Plus, but does offer SiteLock protection as a paid add-on. A2’s partnership with Cloudflare for DDoS protection and its extensive unique features like KernelCare updates, brute force defense, and free HackScan security tool make it the stronger option for security-conscious users.
Bluehost vs A2 Hosting: Which Is Better For You?
A2 Hosting is the better host. Use A2 Hosting if you’re running a high-traffic website or need top-tier performance with advanced features like Turbo servers and LiteSpeed caching. Also use A2 Hosting if you’re a more complex site or web app that requires more developer flexibility. Also use A2 Hosting if your site requires Windows hosting. Lastly, use A2 Hosting if you’re targeting global audiences, particularly in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Use Bluehost if you’re a beginner or small business website that’s targeting the US and looking for affordable hosting with AI-powered tools and a free domain. Also use Bluehost if you prefer a simple setup process with WordPress integration or need email support.
Explore more web hosting comparisons here.
Who is Bluehost?
Bluehost is a web host founded in 2003 and headquartered in Florida, USA. It specializes in affordable WordPress hosting and is one of 3 providers officially endorsed by WordPress. It lacks certain developer features and international data center coverage. Read our review on Bluehost to learn more.
Who is A2 Hosting?
A2 Hosting is a web host founded in 2001 and headquartered in Michigan, USA. It is known for fast performance through its Turbo plans and supports a wide range of developer tools. Live chat support is reportedly inconsistent. See our A2 Hosting review for more details.