Hostinger vs. Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting): The Best VPS Hosting Providers for Beginners

[TH - Reporter]

If you've outgrown shared hosting, you've probably realized it's not just about more traffic — it's about control, consistency, and capability. That’s where VPS hosting comes in. But stepping into the VPS world can feel like upgrading from a bicycle to a manual sports car: faster, stronger, but not quite as simple to drive.

To help you find the right fit without the overwhelm, we’re comparing two of the most accessible yet powerful VPS hosting providers out there — Hostinger and Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting). Whether you're building something small with big potential or scaling a serious project, this guide will break down what makes each provider stand out — and which one might be right for you.

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Why Consider VPS Hosting?​

VPS hosting gives you more control, better speed, and scalable resources compared to shared hosting. It’s a perfect middle ground for users who need more than shared hosting can offer but don’t yet require a dedicated server.

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Hostinger VPS Hosting: Affordable Power with User-Friendly Tools​

Key Features​

Hostinger offers excellent value, especially for users stepping into the VPS world for the first time. Entry-level plans start at around $6/month and include:

• 1 vCPU Core
• 4 GB RAM
• 50 GB NVMe SSD storage

This setup works well for small to mid-sized websites. As your traffic or needs grow, you can scale up to configurations with up to 8 CPU cores and 32 GB RAM.

Performance and Hardware​

Hostinger's VPS plans run on Intel Xeon E5-2620 processors and NVMe SSDs, delivering high-speed data access and solid performance. In speed tests, upgrading from Hostinger's shared hosting to its VPS resulted in a 30% faster load time, dropping from 1.2 seconds to 0.8 seconds on a basic WordPress setup.

Self-Managed VPS​

Hostinger’s VPS plans are unmanaged, meaning you’ll handle everything — from software installation to server security. This requires some technical confidence or a willingness to learn.
You can choose from Linux distributions like Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian, and manage your server using hPanel, Hostinger’s proprietary control panel. hPanel includes:

• Full root access
• Third-party integrations (e.g., Plesk, ServerAvatar)
• AI-powered support to answer server-related questions
• Resource usage monitoring tools

Despite being self-managed, hPanel makes VPS hosting approachable for non-experts.

Pricing & Renewals​

Hostinger maintains a consumer-friendly pricing structure. Renewal rates typically double, but overall costs remain competitive within the VPS hosting market.

Backups and Monitoring​

Weekly automatic snapshots are included in all VPS plans, helping ensure data protection without extra setup.

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Hosting.com VPS: Managed Flexibility with Performance Enhancements​

Formerly A2 Hosting​

Hosting.com is the new face of A2 Hosting — continuing its legacy of high-performance hosting with added emphasis on managed solutions and advanced technology. The company offers both unmanaged and managed VPS plans, giving you flexibility based on your technical needs and budget.

VPS Plan Options​

• Unmanaged VPS: Starts at just $3/month, offering 1 core, 1 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD storage — great for small-scale projects.
• Managed VPS: Starts at around $40/month, with 2 cores, 4 GB RAM, and 150 GB SSD. It’s designed for users who want VPS power without having to manage server operations.

Managed VPS plans function like shared hosting, using cPanel for administration. Hosting.com's support team handles all the backend tasks like security patches, server updates, and software configuration.

Performance and Turbo Servers​

Hosting.com continues to offer the performance-oriented “Turbo” infrastructure that A2 Hosting was known for. This includes:

• NVMe SSD storage
• Custom optimization plugins
• Advanced protocols like HTTP/2, SPDY, and ESI

Speed testing showed consistent results:

• Shared hosting: 1.3 seconds
• Unmanaged VPS: 0.9 seconds
• Turbo VPS (Mach 8 Plan): 0.7 seconds

These results reflect a 50% performance improvement by upgrading from shared to Turbo VPS — without any additional optimization work.

Security and Backups​

One area where Hosting.com differs from Hostinger is backup policy. Unmanaged VPS plans do not include automatic backups — users must configure them manually. However, managed plans come with Imunify360, a powerful security suite that:

• Detects malware
• Blocks bots and spam
• Helps harden server defenses automatically

Control Panel and Usability​

Hosting.com VPS servers support Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and AlmaLinux. Control panel options include:

• cPanel (premium)
• Webuzo (free)
• No panel (manual setup)

While functionality is robust, the Hosting.com dashboard interface remains a bit cluttered compared to Hostinger’s hPanel. Multiple menus, persistent promotional elements, and an outdated layout can make navigation less smooth, particularly for new users.

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Head-to-Head Comparison​

Feature	Hostinger	Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)
Management Style	Unmanaged only	Managed & Unmanaged
Ease of Use	Very beginner-friendly	Slightly more complex interface
Performance	Strong NVMe & Xeon-based VPS	Excellent, especially with Turbo plans
Backups	Automatic weekly snapshots included	Manual (unless using managed plan)
Pricing	From $6/month	From $3 (unmanaged), $40 (managed)
Support & Tools	AI assistant, hPanel, usage monitoring	Imunify360 (managed plans), cPanel

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Final Thoughts​

Both Hostinger and Hosting.com offer reliable and cost-effective VPS solutions — but cater to different needs:

• Choose Hostinger if you’re comfortable managing your own server or want to learn. It’s extremely affordable, easy to scale, and provides great performance for the price.
• Choose Hosting.com if you prefer a more hands-off experience. The managed VPS plans are ideal for businesses or professionals who want power without complexity, and the Turbo servers deliver excellent speed improvements.

Whether you're upgrading an existing website or launching something new, VPS hosting gives you the tools to grow with confidence.
Happy hosting!

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