Slava Ukraini
A2 Hosting Alternative
The Best A2 Hosting Alternative for Web Hosting
A2 Hosting (now Hosting.com) lures you in with low introductory prices, then raises them up to 7x at renewal. ExtraVM is the A2 Hosting alternative that offers better performance, more features, and honest pricing that never changes.
Why Switch from A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting's Introductory Pricing is Misleading
A2 Hosting advertises web hosting plans starting at $1.99/mo, but that price doesn't last. Here's what you'll actually pay after renewal.
A2 Hosting (Hosting.com)
$1.99/mo
$13.99/mo
Their Starter plan jumps from $1.99 to $13.99/mo at renewal - a 603% increase.
ExtraVM
$3.99/mo
$3.99/mo
The same price at sign-up and at renewal. No surprises, ever.
Plan Comparison
A2 Hosting vs ExtraVM: Side-by-Side Pricing
Compare the real cost of A2 Hosting web hosting plans versus ExtraVM over 1, 2, and 3 years
| Feature | A2 Hosting / Hosting.com Starter Plan | ExtraVM Basic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Intro Price | $1.99/mo | $3.99/mo |
| Renewal Price | $13.99/mo | $3.99/mo |
| 1 Year Total Cost | $23.88 (intro) | $47.88 |
| 2 Year Total Cost | $191.76 ($23.88 + $167.88) | $95.76 |
| 3 Year Total Cost | $359.64 ($23.88 + $335.76) | $143.64 |
| Storage | 15GB SSD | 10GB NVMe |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unmetered |
| Websites / Domains | 1 | Unlimited |
| Email Accounts | 10 | Unlimited |
| CPU Cores | Shared (not disclosed) | 8 Cores |
| RAM | Shared (not disclosed) | 8GB |
| Web Server | LiteSpeed | OpenLiteSpeed |
| Control Panel | cPanel | SPanel |
| Redis Cache | Not Included | Isolated Instance |
| Node.js Support | Not Included | PM2 Manager |
| N8N Automation | Not Included | Built-in |
| Feature | A2 Hosting / Hosting.com Plus Plan | ExtraVM Premier Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Intro Price | $1.99/mo | $6.99/mo |
| Renewal Price | $16.99/mo | $6.99/mo |
| 1 Year Total Cost | $23.88 (intro) | $83.88 |
| 2 Year Total Cost | $227.76 ($23.88 + $203.88) | $167.76 |
| 3 Year Total Cost | $431.64 ($23.88 + $407.76) | $251.64 |
| Storage | 30GB SSD | 20GB NVMe |
| Websites / Domains | 2 | Unlimited |
| Email Accounts | 20 | Unlimited |
| CPU Cores | Shared (not disclosed) | 8 Cores |
| RAM | Shared (not disclosed) | 8GB |
| Redis Cache | Not Included | Isolated Instance |
| Feature | A2 Hosting / Hosting.com Pro Plan | ExtraVM Ultimate Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Intro Price | $6.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Renewal Price | $24.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| 1 Year Total Cost | $83.88 (intro) | $119.88 |
| 2 Year Total Cost | $383.76 ($83.88 + $299.88) | $239.76 |
| 3 Year Total Cost | $683.64 ($83.88 + $599.76) | $359.64 |
| Storage | 50GB SSD | 30GB NVMe |
| Websites / Domains | 10 | Unlimited |
| Email Accounts | 40 | Unlimited |
| CPU Cores | Shared (not disclosed) | 8 Cores |
| RAM | Shared (not disclosed) | 8GB |
| Redis Cache | Not Included | Isolated Instance |
Real Savings
Save Hundreds by Switching from A2 Hosting
ExtraVM's consistent pricing means you save more every year compared to A2 Hosting's renewal rates
Basic vs Starter
$216.00
saved over 3 years
Premier vs Plus
$180.00
saved over 3 years
Ultimate vs Pro
$324.00
saved over 3 years
Why ExtraVM is the Best Alternative
More Than Just a Cheaper A2 Hosting Alternative
ExtraVM includes features that A2 Hosting charges extra for or doesn't offer at all
No Renewal Price Hikes
The price you sign up at is the price you pay forever. No introductory bait-and-switch tactics.
NVMe Storage
All ExtraVM plans use NVMe drives which are significantly faster than the standard SSDs A2 Hosting uses on their shared plans.
Unlimited Domains
Host unlimited websites on every ExtraVM plan. A2 Hosting's cheapest plans limit you to just 1 or 2 sites.
Isolated Redis Cache
Every ExtraVM account gets a dedicated Redis instance for object caching. A2 Hosting doesn't include this on shared plans.
Node.js & N8N Built-in
Deploy Node.js apps with PM2 and use N8N workflow automation, included with every plan at no extra cost.
US-Based Support
In-house technical support available around the clock. No outsourced or AI-generated responses.
FAQ
A2 Hosting Alternative FAQ
Common questions about switching from A2 Hosting to ExtraVM
Why should I switch from A2 Hosting?
A2 Hosting (now Hosting.com) uses introductory pricing that increases dramatically at renewal. Their Starter plan goes from $1.99/mo to $13.99/mo... a 603% increase. ExtraVM charges the same price at signup and renewal, so you never face unexpected cost increases.
Is ExtraVM cheaper than A2 Hosting long-term?
Yes. While A2 Hosting may appear cheaper in the first year, ExtraVM costs significantly less over time. For example, over 3 years ExtraVM's Basic plan costs $143.64 compared to A2 Hosting's Starter plan at $359.64 - saving you $216.
Does ExtraVM offer free migration from A2 Hosting?
Yes, we offer free migration assistance. Our support team can help transfer your websites, databases, and email accounts from A2 Hosting to ExtraVM with minimal downtime.
What control panel does ExtraVM use instead of cPanel?
ExtraVM uses SPanel, a modern control panel that provides the same functionality as cPanel - including website management, email, databases, file manager, and DNS - without the additional licensing costs that A2 Hosting passes on to customers.
How does ExtraVM's performance compare to A2 Hosting?
ExtraVM uses NVMe storage (faster than A2 Hosting's standard SSDs), OpenLiteSpeed web server, and provides dedicated resource allocations with 8 CPU cores and 8GB RAM. A2 Hosting does not disclose specific CPU or RAM allocations on their shared plans.
Can I host unlimited websites on ExtraVM?
Yes, every ExtraVM web hosting plan supports unlimited domains. A2 Hosting's Starter plan limits you to 1 website and their Plus plan to only 2, requiring you to upgrade to their more expensive tiers for more sites.
Does ExtraVM include Redis caching?
Yes, every ExtraVM web hosting account includes an isolated Redis instance at no extra charge. This significantly speeds up WordPress and PHP applications. A2 Hosting does not include Redis on their standard shared hosting plans.
Is A2 Hosting the same as Hosting.com?
Yes, A2 Hosting rebranded to Hosting.com. The plans, infrastructure, and pricing structure remain largely the same, including the practice of low introductory pricing with significantly higher renewal rates.
Ready to switch from A2 Hosting?
Get better performance, honest pricing, and more features. We'll even help you migrate for free.