May 2, 2025 Article Update

Shortly after our original article was posted, Cory Miller, the Chief Evangelist at Hosting.com reached out to me. After a one-hour Zoom conference with him, we were able to discuss the issues outlined in this article, and get a clearer perspective from Hosting.com’s standpoint.

Before diving into the details, I want to mention that I appreciate WGH / Hosting.com reaching out so soon when concerns were raised. We have witnessed many similar situations in the past where hosting companies would face issues and leave their customers out in the open. Obviously, following an acquisition and major changes to A2 Hosting in its transition to Hosting.com, changes and some issues are expected to arise. In cases like this, I think that transparency and quick intervention is what sets apart a quality hosting company from one that doesn’t value its customers.

Concerns of the public

Recap

Before talking to Cory, my biggest concern when roaming the web regarding the acquisition and rebranding of A2 Hosting was that certain traits seemed to resemble yet another EIG case. This is what lead to me writing this article gathering the public’s concerns, and assessing the situation.

The concerns of the public at large can be broken up into the following categories:

• Service Degradation & Support Quality: The primary fear is that the quality of service, particularly speed and support, will decline following the acquisition. This is based on historical examples of other hosting company acquisitions (like those by EIG/Newfold Digital) where service levels decreased after consolidation.
• Feature Removal: Users are concerned that features previously offered by A2 Hosting, such as cPanel support, will be removed
• Pricing Increases: Concerns that prices will increase, impacting the value proposition for existing customers.
• Loss of Brand Identity: There’s concern that the rebranding from A2 Hosting to hosting.com represents a loss of a well-known and respected brand identity built on performance and community engagement.
• Lack of Transparency: Former acquisitions from EIG and the like have not made their plans or intentions clear, hence transparency is naturally a concern.

Now that we have a comprehensive list of our concerns, let’s go through each of these in detail with what Hosting.com had to say.

Regarding Service Degradation & Support Quality Concerns

I asked Cory regarding the hiccups in some quality of service and support lately, and he provided valuable insight on this. Inevitably, big changes are being implemented to Hosting.com in terms of its new Hosting Panel, alongside other parts of the website. These migrations have inevitably caused some problems. He mentioned that the volume they are dealing with is very large, and while they are trying their best, there have been some problems. Pertaining to this, Hosting.com has put a page on their Service Status page pertaining to the issues that have been faces in the past few days. The content of the update currently reads:

This is an update on the migration process from A2Hosting to hosting.com.

As you know we changed our website and we also changed the client portal. This is a big migration with hundreds of thousands of services, so we wanted to give an update on things that are still underway, and also give an update on current support times.

All services and payment methods and accounts and delegates are fully migrated. The following changes are underway in the client panel

• Historic invoices are being imported. This may take a few days due to the volume of invoices to add. These are references of previous payments
• Resolved: On managed virtual servers, there are errors with using the interface to log into cPanel or WHM. The username and password are stored in the product secrets so you can log in with those credentials, but the auto-login errors.
• In progress: Similarly on managed dedicated servers, a solution for logging in to cPanel/WHM will be released shortly. Credentials to login are also stored as secrets.
• Many user interface improvements to make things more intuitive based on customer feedback.
• We have a small number of shared and reseller accounts (~200) where the auto login to WHM is not working, this is being fixed today. (resolved)

On emailing, we have had feedback that our invoice emails have been a bit trigger-happy. We historically sent invoices 3 days before they were due, whereas we now send 14 days in advance so that people paying via slower payment methods (or with slower approval processes) have more time to organise payment. Although we send the invoices slightly further in advance now, the due date remains the same. Sorry for the confusion – we have updated the template wording to be clearer.

On support volume, we have had delayed responses during the transition and are still not where we like to be. As of right now we have:

• Instant responses on live chat in all departments
• ~10 minute responses on billing tickets
• Triaged ~1hr responses on sales, domains, trust and safety
• Migrations started within 1 hour.
• Restorations of old terminated accounts are handled within 4 hours.
• However technical support tickets are currently operating on a slower schedule with up to a 24 hour response. Some escalated tickets have gone to senior engineers for further debugging. We are triaging more urgent issues where possible and the support queue is dropping quickly. Our aim is to get all ticket first responses down to under 1 hour with high quality technical responses.
• Phone wait times and abandonment rate is unfortunately unacceptably high, although it has historically been high for the last six months. In May we have a new dedicated phone support team starting who will be live by the end of May. When up and running we will pick up all calls within 2 minutes.

We have our team of account managers reach out to larger clients and they will continue to do so and give them a direct point of contact. We also have a VIP support team now live.

On products and feedback

• Dedicated servers have been added again to the hosting.com website. Dedicated servers will be a big part of our offering and we will be able to offer them in 10+ global locations as with all other hosting products.
• Existing customers can continue to use old plans and certainly in the short to medium term move between old style A2Hosting plans and billing cycles.
• We have made changes to some common support issues causing high support load and frustration for customers including working with the Imunify360 team to reduce false positive blocks, and lengthening the time before accounts are terminated after expiry to ensure customers can reactivate without waiting for restorations.

We will post a further update on Friday with the status on all of the above and will continue to publicly post ticket and support response times.

Thank you to all customers for your patience in this transition,

Source: https://status.hosting.com/notices/byzkq8hxwpv1zvfn-hosting-com-migration-update

I think that public updates like the one they have shared are crucial in times like this, and I particularly like their choice of words here, such as:

“we have had delayed responses during the transition and are still not where we like to be. As of right now we have…”

The update does come off in a sincere tone, and the company does not seem to resemble EIG with the care they have shown in attempting to keep the crowd informed regarding issues faced in this regard.

Additionally, Hosting.com has directly addressed support concerns via what appears to be their Reddit account, stating:

Hey, totally get where you’re coming from. Response times have been a bit slower lately with higher ticket loads, but we’re on it and working to speed things back up. Fast support is super important to us too. If you’ve got an open ticket, shoot me the number and I’ll help get it looked at faster.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/webhosting/comments/1ka0726/comment/mplweva/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Regarding Feature Removal

cPanel

A major concern was regarding cPanel and WHM. I asked Cory about what would happen to existing customers from A2 Hosting that were using cPanel, and whether the company would force them to adapt to another panel and how long of a time would be provided to them to adjust if they wanted to move out or the like. He reassured me that the existing customers on cPanel would continue with their cPanel plans, and later mentioned in a follow-up email in detail:

We know cPanel is a trusted and familiar tool for many of our customers — and we want to be clear: cPanel is not going away. We will continue offering cPanel hosting for both existing and new customers who prefer it. Its popularity and widespread use make it an essential part of our hosting lineup.

At the same time, we’re investing significantly in the development of our own Hosting Panel, which will see continuous feature enhancements over the next six months and beyond. Our goal is to create a modern, intuitive experience that supports common customer workflows while reducing complexity. We envision a future where new and entry-level users can do everything they need within our Hosting Panel — quickly, easily, and confidently.

Our approach is guided by one core principle: stay close to the customer and what they’re trying to do. 

For instance, in my role at hosting.com, I work extensively with our digital agency partners to understand their needs and challenges — and bring that insight directly to our Leadership and Product teams. It’s a real-time feedback loop that ensures what we’re building is not just functional, but deeply aligned with how our customers work and grow.

Node.js Support

Regarding concerns about Node.js support, their (likely) Reddit account also stated:

Just to reassure you, yes, we still support Node.js. In fact, most of what you know from A2Hosting isn’t changing.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/webhosting/comments/1ka0726/comment/mpkogl5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Unlimited Websites

Regarding a user’s concern raised about the removal of unlimited websites in Hosting.com’s plans, they (likely) replied on Reddit:

The original ‘unlimited’ cPanel plans always operated under a fair-use policy at A2, we need to make sure existing customers continue to be supported.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/webhosting/comments/1ka0726/comment/mpkogl5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Regarding Pricing Increases

Regarding price increases, a follow-up email includes the following statement to clarify their stance:

Historically, A2 Hosting has implemented modest, rolling price increases of around 5–7% per year, in response to rising vendor costs and operational needs. At hosting.com, we are not planning any significant price increases. However, we may maintain this same measured approach to pricing adjustments in the future to keep pace with industry costs.

Loss of Brand Identity

With changes to ownership, it’s quite natural for a hosting company’s vision and goals to undergo changes, and that may be for the better or worse (as the hosting community, I think we are more used to the latter unfortunately). It should be noted holistically that major changes are being implemented to A2 Hosting, and this may of course upset some customers who were used to the way that things were. Cory mentioned that a rebranding was needed for A2, and that some things just needed to be changed. This is understandable from WHG’s standpoint so long as they are being legitimate with pursuing a vision that cares about customers. WGH’s founder, Seb states regarding this:

At the heart of this vision is a commitment to transparency, reliability, and innovation. With A2 Hosting, we’re not only preserving what has made it special, but amplifying it to deliver unparalleled value to its customers (Source).

Needless to say, changes within/to a company requires delicate care towards existing customers. A good hosting company would ideally provide them the ability to continue with their existing ways of doing things or provide them enough time to move out to another hosting when implementing major changes. By the looks of things, Hosting.com is doing good in providing heads-ups ahead of time, and allowing existing customers to keep with their plans moving forth.

Back in January 29, 2025, WHG cited the following plans pertaining to A2 Hosting’s acquisition:

Global Network Expansion: Access to 13+ state-of-the-art data centers worldwide, including new regions in the Middle East and South America. A2 Hosting currently has four data centers.

Unparalleled Support: Dedicated 24/7 trust and safety teams, ensuring security and reliability at every level.

Enhanced Tools for Agencies: Advanced collaboration features, bulk management tools, and integration options tailored to the needs of agency partners.

Sustainable Growth: Investment in removing legacy technology and upgrading infrastructure for greater efficiency and reliability.

Source: https://worldhost.group/news/worldhostgroup-acquires-a2hosting

Following the transformation to Hosting.com more recently, they have also shared the following advantages with the shift:

Technical advancements: we’re committed to providing you with cutting-edge technology. Expect a faster, more modern site, an intuitive and feature-rich customer panel, and access to a suite of innovative tools designed to streamline your hosting experience (without any faff or confusion).

Unwavering reliability: while our name is changing, our dedication to providing fantastic support and the reliable products you’ve come to expect remains the same. You’ll still have access to the same robust hosting solutions and the same team of experts ready to assist you 24/7.

Source: https://hosting.com/blog/a-new-chapter-begins-a2-hosting/

If Hosting.com is genuine with its transformation and true to its promises, their vision moving forth may provide a positive outcome for a lot of their existing customers and for new customers as well. This is something that can only be proven with time.

Based on the conference with Cory, I was convinced that there is a lot of effort being put into Hosting.com, and they have people from the industry and among the community working to achieve a better product. In that regard, as long as they persist in their efforts to do what’s right, time should only aid in helping things settle in their places.

Regarding Lack of Transparency Concerns

As previously mentioned, Cory’s reaching out to me, alongside the recently published Status Page update, and Hosting.com/WHG’s activeness in online forums and Reddit are huge plusses when it comes to the way that WHG is handling the acquisition of A2 and transition to Hosting.com.

We can see that users online have also pointed out the difference between EIG and WHG in terms of credibility and transparency:

At least WHG are making an effort to reply to this thread. That alone is credible.

I don’t remember EIG doing that.

Source: https://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1934269&page=2

I also asked Cory whether users were notified regarding the Hosting.com changes ahead of time, and he informed me that they had a heads up beforehand so it wasn’t a sudden done-deal.

Unlike EIG, there are evidently efforts to communicate with existing customers and the community at large to address any concerns or issues. A direct quote from Seb de Lemos within WHG’s article on A2’s acquisition reads “We believe hosting isn’t just about servers; it’s about trust,” and thus far, they have done a lot to show that they are attempting to build trust (Source).

Conclusions & Personal Take

In my call with Cory, I was provided the platform to ask questions about the recent acquisition and changes. Over anything else, I think this initiative to ensure that the community is being listened to from Hosting.com’s end is valuable.

Whether everything plays out perfectly or not, and whether there are major differences with the old A2 Hosting and the new Hosting.com, I think the most important thing is how these changes are implemented and whether the company is being transparent and keeping its users up to date.

Now, only time will tell whether the quality of the hosting will change for the better or worse. However, without any doubt, the case is not looking nearly as bad as it was when I initially wrote this article. Perhaps, WHG will redefine the narrative when it comes to hosting acquisitions, there is certainly some positive signs – now the floor is all theirs 🙂

Below is the original article written before Cory sought out to me:

Original Article

For years, A2 Hosting cultivated a reputation as a performance-driven web host, particularly popular within the WordPress ecosystem. Their emphasis on speed, exemplified by their “Turbo Servers,” distinguished them in a competitive market. However, recent events have seen this well-known brand undergo a substantial transformation, prompting scrutiny and discussion within the hosting community. As of a few days ago, A2 Hosting has transitioned away from its original name, rebranding as hosting.com following its acquisition by World Host Group.

This change occurs within a web hosting industry marked by a trend of larger entities acquiring smaller, established providers. This often raises concerns about potential repercussions for service quality, support, and the overall customer experience. Historically, companies like Newfold Digital (infamously known as Endurance International Group or “EIG”), have been cited as examples where such consolidations have been perceived negatively, leading to a decline in service standards. World Host Group’s recent spate of acquisitions, including both A2 Hosting and FastComet, has naturally sparked comparisons and anxieties within the community regarding the potential for a similar “liquidation company” model.

The Genesis: The History of A2 Hosting

Prior to the acquisition and rebranding, A2 Hosting was the creation of Bryan Muthig. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Muthig, with a background as a Unix Systems Administrator, co-founded the company in 2003 as an initial side venture with a colleague (Source). What began as a small-scale hosting operation for friends and family steadily grew, eventually enabling Muthig and his partner to dedicate themselves to A2 Hosting full-time.

Muthig’s technical background significantly shaped the company’s core values. The focus was distinctly on prioritizing the customer experience, emphasizing speed, and fostering continuous innovation, rather than being primarily driven by marketing initiatives. This engineering-first philosophy led to key advancements, including the introduction of VPS hosting in 2007, the debut of their high-performance “Turbo Hosting” in 2014, and the integration of NVMe storage in 2020 to further enhance hosting speeds. A pivotal moment occurred approximately 7-8 years ago when customer feedback underscored the increasing importance of fast page load times. This prompted A2 Hosting to strategically concentrate on high-performance hosting at a time when many competitors were competing primarily on price. They were notably among the early adopters of Solid-State Drives (SSDs) for hosting, observing substantial performance gains compared to traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) (Source).

Beyond technological innovation, A2 Hosting actively participated in the WordPress community, sponsoring numerous meetups and WordCamps globally (Source). This engagement contributed to building a connection with their user base.

The Acquiring Entity: An Introduction to World Host Group

The organization that has assumed control is World Host Group. According to their “About” section on the newly rebranded hosting.com website, World Host Group was established in 2019 with the stated objective of consolidating hosting brands under a network with a global perspective. They highlight rapid expansion, reporting growth from 30 to over 800 employees across 11 offices and a significant increase in hosted websites from 80,000 to over 2 million within a few years (Source). They also claim to have expanded to over 40 locations with continuous support and advanced infrastructure (Source).

World Host Group’s CEO, Seb de Lemos, has a background as a hosting entrepreneur and has been involved in the development of multiple successful businesses in the sector. World Host Group’s stated ambition is to become the “world’s most trusted hosting group” (Source), emphasizing a commitment to transparency, reliability, and innovation.

The acquisition of A2 Hosting was publicly announced on January 29, 2025. World Host Group framed this acquisition as a strategic move to bolster A2 Hosting’s infrastructure and global presence, offering customers access to an expanded network of data centers and advanced hardware upgrades. They explicitly stated an intention to preserve the core strengths of A2 Hosting while enhancing its capabilities (Source).

However, the acquisition of A2 Hosting is part of a broader pattern of acquisitions by World Host Group. Shortly after, on April 24, 2025, they announced the acquisition of FastComet, another hosting provider known for its performance and support (Source). This repeated pattern of acquiring multiple hosting brands has drawn comparisons within the web hosting community to the strategies historically employed by entities like EIG and Newfold Digital (Source).

Concerns regarding World Host Group’s acquisition approach and its potential impact on acquired brands are evident in online discussions. A user on Reddit commented, “EIG 2.0. History just repeats itself over and over in the web hosting industry unfortunately,” in response to the A2 Hosting rebranding (Source). Another user, discussing the FastComet acquisition, stated, “World host group is way over their heads. It’s a Newfold Digital/EIG 2.0.” and voiced apprehension about their support potentially being inferior to Newfold Digital’s (Source).

It has also been noted that World Host Group is supported by Oakley Capital (Source), a private equity firm that previously had an investment in WebPros, the parent company of cPanel and WHMCS, and was associated with price increases for those products (Source). This connection further fuels anxieties within the hosting community about potential price hikes and alterations in service quality under World Host Group’s ownership.

Notably, while World Host Group is actively acquiring numerous brands, their official website previously listed their acquired brands but has since removed this information (Source). This lack of transparency regarding their portfolio of brands can be perceived as a tactic similar to how EIG historically operated, where acquired brands often retained their original names with limited public disclosure of the new ownership (Source).

From A2 to Hosting.com: Examining Service Changes

A2 Hosting was recognized for its commitment to speed and offering a variety of hosting services, including shared, reseller, VPS, and dedicated hosting, with a notable focus on WordPress. Their “Turbo Servers,” promoting up to 20X faster speeds, were a significant selling point (Source). They also provided features such as free SSL certificates, free account migration, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee (Source). Their support was generally viewed favorably, with users frequently mentioning knowledgeable and helpful interactions (Source).

With the rebranding to hosting.com, the fundamental hosting types offered appear consistent thus far. Shared web hosting, reseller hosting, turbo hosting, hosting for WordPress, email hosting, cPanel hosting, and VPS hosting are all listed on the new website. The site also promotes a new AI Sitebuilder and their “TurboHub” control panel for WordPress users. The promises of speed (“Up to 20X faster turbo”), 24/7/365 support, free migration, a money-back guarantee, and a 99.9% uptime commitment are still featured (Source).

However, initial observations indicate some changes and potential shifts in the service offerings. A user on Reddit observed that the shared cPanel hosting plans on the new hosting.com site seem to have eliminated options with unlimited websites and Node.js hosting, expressing disappointment if this is indeed the case (Source). Another user reported that A2 Hosting’s renewal prices are already increasing (Source).

World Host Group has outlined future plans for former A2 Hosting customers as part of the transition, including access to a more extensive global network of over 13 data centers (an increase from A2 Hosting’s previous four), dedicated 24/7 trust and safety teams, enhanced tools for agencies, and investment in removing legacy technology and upgrading infrastructure. They also plan to introduce a reimagined hosting control panel in April 2025 (Source). The latter of these news probably sounds like a disaster for anyone who’s been in the hosting industry for long enough.

While these prospective advancements are presented as beneficial, the historical trajectory of other large hosting groups necessitates caution regarding potential trade-offs. The apparent removal of features like unlimited websites on certain plans and reports of price increases for renewals could indicate a move towards standardizing service offerings and prioritizing revenue generation, which are often characteristics of companies focused on consolidating and optimizing acquired assets for profitability.

Furthermore, the quality of customer support is a crucial element frequently impacted by such acquisitions. While World Host Group pledges enhanced support, a user on WebHostingTalk shared a negative experience with another company recently acquired by World Host Group. This user reported a significant deterioration in support responsiveness and effectiveness following the acquisition, with resolution times increasing substantially and the assistance provided being less helpful. The user also criticized the handling of a datacenter outage, describing the communication and resolution process as poor compared to their experience before the acquisition (Source). This firsthand account suggests that the promised “enhanced support” from World Host Group may not consistently translate into a better customer experience across all their acquired brands.

The rebranding to “hosting.com” has also generated commentary. While World Host Group views it as a strategic step towards achieving global recognition (Source), some perceive it as a less distinctive and more generic name compared to the established A2 Hosting brand (Source). One user on Reddit described the new name as “corny and backward,” drawing a comparison to the outdated “Web.com” brand (Source). The blog post on hosting.com announcing the change, despite attempting to be reassuring, contains corporate language that one user found uninspiring, specifically commenting on the phrase “It’s more than just a name change. It’s a reflection of our transformation into a global entity with a clear vision for the future.” with the remark “Who wrong this drool” (Source).

Conclusions and Considerations

The transition of A2 Hosting to hosting.com under World Host Group represents a pivotal shift in the web hosting landscape. For many years, A2 Hosting was a respected provider, particularly valued for its speed and performance focus, a legacy built by Bryan Muthig and his technically-minded team. The acquisition by World Host Group, a company aggressively expanding its portfolio through acquisitions, ushers in a new era for the former A2 Hosting customer base.

While World Host Group frames the rebranding and acquisition as a positive step towards global expansion, improved infrastructure, and enhanced services, the historical context of similar acquisitions in the hosting industry gives rise to valid concerns. The comparisons being drawn to entities like EIG and Newfold Digital, known for practices that have, at times, resulted in a decline in service quality and increased pricing, warrant attention. The observed changes, such as the apparent removal of features like unlimited websites on some plans and reports of increased renewal prices for hosting.com, suggest that some of these concerns may indeed be materializing.

The current moves taken by World Host Group thus far seem to be that of a typical liquidation company. The genuine impact of World Host Group on the services formerly provided by A2 Hosting will become clearer in the coming months and years as customers directly experience the changes.

The web hosting industry is in a constant state of flux, with consolidation being a notable trend. While acquisitions can occasionally lead to positive developments through increased resources and infrastructure, they can also result in a degradation of service quality and a less customer-centric approach. As of April 2025, the long-term trajectory of hosting.com under World Host Group remains uncertain. The upcoming period will reveal whether this new chapter lives up to the promises of enhanced global service or if it aligns with the less favorable outcomes observed with other large hosting conglomerates.

Here’s a summary of key points for consideration:

As a user navigating the hosting market, staying informed and critically evaluating providers based on recent performance and customer feedback is essential, particularly when a company undergoes significant ownership and branding changes. Only time will ultimately tell if hosting.com, under the management of World Host Group, will successfully preserve the positive attributes of its A2 Hosting legacy while effectively expanding its global reach and service offerings.

World Host Group’s Stated Perspective

As RankThatHost, we are often cautious against liquidation companies. Therefore, this article is strongly impacted by our stance. However, to be fair and open minded, we are also including links to World Host Group’s perspective in case you would like to read their side of the story:

• https://hosting.com/about
• https://hosting.com/blog/a-new-chapter-begins-a2-hosting/
• https://worldhost.group/news/worldhostgroup-acquires-a2hosting
• https://www.a2hosting.com/blog/behind-the-tech-with-world-host-group-and-a2-hosting/