ScalaHosting vs Hosting.com — Detailed Comparison
VS 
ScalaHosting or Hosting.com? Compare their plans, performance, and support to find the better fit for your site.
By Mohamed Abdelaal, Founder & Lead Hosting Analyst
Our pick: ScalaHosting
100% independent
Updated August 2026
Quick Verdict: ScalaHosting wins
ScalaHosting wins overall with a 4.7 rating versus Hosting.com's 4.1, driven by stronger performance across all sub-ratings and a proprietary security system (SShield AI) that blocks 99.998% of attacks. Hosting.com offers the cheapest entry price ($1.99/mo vs. $2.95/mo) and more data centers (10 vs. 4), making it a tactical choice for budget-first buyers; however, renewal pricing jumps steeply and its rebrand from A2 Hosting remains incomplete. For sustained quality and features, ScalaHosting is the stronger pick.
At a Glance
ScalaHosting leads on ratings and security depth; Hosting.com competes on initial price and global infrastructure.
Provider Profiles
ScalaHosting, founded in 2007 and headquartered in the USA, specializes in managed cloud hosting, VPS, and WordPress environments powered by its custom SPanel control panel. It targets users who prioritize security (SShield AI), performance (NVMe across all tiers), and support quality, and who are willing to learn a non-cPanel interface.
- 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
- Free SPanel — cPanel Alternative
- SShield AI Security (Blocks 99.998% of Attacks)
- NVMe SSD Storage on All Plans
- Fully Customizable VPS Builds
Hosting.com (rebranded from A2 Hosting in 2024) was founded in 2001 in Michigan and offers a broad range of shared, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting. It appeals to budget-conscious buyers and those who value cPanel familiarity, global data-center choice, and phone support at entry-level prices, though renewal costs and post-rebrand consistency remain concerns.
- Turbo Servers — LiteSpeed + NVMe SSD (up to 20x faster)
- Formerly A2 Hosting — 20+ Years of Performance
- Free SSL, Free Migration & cPanel Included
- 24/7 Live Chat, Phone & Ticket Support
- Choose Your Data Center at Signup
1 Features
ScalaHosting bundles NVMe, free CDN, and free SSL on all plans, while Hosting.com reserves Turbo acceleration (LiteSpeed + NVMe + AMD EPYC) and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN for higher tiers.
ScalaHosting
Round winner
NVMe SSD is included on all 20 plans. Free SSL, free CDN, free zero-downtime migration, and OpenLiteSpeed are standard. SPanel (custom control panel) replaces cPanel, and SShield AI security filters attacks in real-time. SWordPress Manager automates WordPress updates and security.
Hosting.com
Entry shared plans include cPanel and free SSL but no Turbo acceleration or free CDN. Managed WordPress and VPS tiers add LiteSpeed + NVMe + AMD EPYC Turbo servers and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN. Free migration and cPanel are consistent across all 27 plans; phone support (rare at this price point) is a standout feature.
2 Pricing & Plans
Hosting.com's $1.99/mo Node.js plan is the cheapest entry on the market, but ScalaHosting's $2.95/mo shared plan is more transparent; both offer 30-day money-back guarantees.
ScalaHosting
Shared and WordPress plans start at $2.95/mo. VPS begins at $19.95/mo. All pricing is straightforward with no hidden add-ons; renewal rates match introductory pricing. 30-day money-back guarantee included.
Hosting.com
Round winner
Node.js plans start at $1.99/mo (lowest on market), shared hosting at $2.99/mo, and managed WordPress at $5.83/mo. However, renewal prices jump steeply—entry plans roughly triple (e.g., $1.99 intro to ~$11.99+ renewal). Free domain requires a 2-year commitment; domain renewal is ~$21.99/yr.
3 Performance
Both providers guarantee 99.9% uptime; Hosting.com's Turbo servers (LiteSpeed + NVMe + AMD EPYC) deliver documented page-load acceleration, while ScalaHosting's OpenLiteSpeed and universal NVMe provide consistent baseline speed.
ScalaHosting
OpenLiteSpeed web server and NVMe SSD on all plans ensure fast baseline performance. PHP 7.2–8.2 support. Custom VPS Builds allow 1–24 cores and up to 128 GB RAM. No independent speed benchmarks cited in the data.
Hosting.com
Round winner
Turbo servers (LiteSpeed + NVMe + AMD EPYC Ryzen 9 CPUs) on mid-tier and above plans deliver up to 20x faster page loads. Independent Q4 2025 testing confirmed 99.98% measured uptime (exceeding the 99.9% SLA) and excellent handling of traffic spikes. PHP 4.4–8.4 support. Entry shared plans lack Turbo acceleration.
4 Customer Support
ScalaHosting rates 4.7 on support with live chat (15-second average response); Hosting.com offers 24/7 live chat, phone, and ticket support but rates 3.9 overall post-rebrand.
ScalaHosting
Round winner
24/7/365 expert support via live chat with an average response time of 15 seconds. No phone support listed. Support sub-rating is 4.7 across 259 reviews, indicating strong customer satisfaction.
Hosting.com
24/7 support via live chat, phone (rare at this price point), and tickets. Phone support is a major differentiator at budget price points. Post-rebrand from A2 Hosting has introduced inconsistencies; support sub-rating is 3.9, with some users reporting slower ticket resolution and UI glitches in legacy A2 systems.
5 Ease of Use
ScalaHosting's custom SPanel requires learning; Hosting.com uses industry-standard cPanel but suffers from post-rebrand interface inconsistencies.
ScalaHosting
Round winner
SPanel is a proprietary control panel that differs from cPanel; users familiar with cPanel will face a learning curve. SWordPress Manager simplifies WordPress installs and updates. Sub-rating is 4.7, suggesting that despite the learning curve, users find it intuitive once familiar.
Hosting.com
cPanel is the industry standard and familiar to most users. However, the rebrand from A2 Hosting is visibly incomplete—legacy A2 branding lingers in cPanel/WHM, and some users report UI glitches. Sub-rating is 4.0, reflecting confusion and inconsistency post-rebrand.
6 Privacy & Security
ScalaHosting's SShield AI actively blocks 99.998% of attacks in real-time; Hosting.com does not advertise an equivalent proprietary security layer.
ScalaHosting
Round winner
SShield AI security with real-time attack detection blocks 99.998% of threats. Free SSL and automated daily backups standard on all plans. Zero-downtime migration reduces risk of data exposure during setup.
Hosting.com
Free SSL included. No proprietary advanced security system advertised. Standard cPanel-based security (user isolation, SSL, backups) but no mention of real-time threat detection or active blocking beyond baseline controls.
7 Server Locations
Hosting.com operates 10 data centers globally; ScalaHosting has 4, giving Hosting.com a clear geographic edge for latency-sensitive users.
ScalaHosting
4 data centers. Locations not specified in the data. Fewer global options compared to larger providers.
Hosting.com
Round winner
10 data centers across the USA, UK, Germany, Singapore, and additional regions. Users can select their data center at signup to minimize latency. Significantly broader geographic coverage.
Final Verdict: ScalaHosting vs Hosting.com
Why choose ScalaHosting
- SShield AI security blocks 99.998% of attacks with real-time detection—industry-leading threat protection.
- NVMe SSD and free CDN on all plans means no hidden upgrades required to reach baseline performance.
- 4.7 overall rating across all sub-categories (support, features, reliability, pricing, user-friendliness) indicates consistent quality.
- Transparent, stable pricing with no renewal shock; intro and renewal rates match.
- Free zero-downtime migration and SWordPress Manager simplify onboarding and WordPress administration.
When to consider Hosting.com
- You are price-sensitive and willing to accept a steeper renewal cost in exchange for the lowest intro rate ($1.99/mo).
- You require phone support or prefer cPanel's familiar interface for day-to-day management.
- You serve a globally distributed audience and want to select your server location (10 data centers) to minimize latency.
Alternatives to Consider
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest price difference between ScalaHosting and Hosting.com?
Hosting.com's cheapest Node.js plan starts at $1.99/mo, compared to ScalaHosting's $2.95/mo shared plan. However, Hosting.com's renewal prices jump steeply (e.g., roughly triple to ~$11.99+ on entry plans), whereas ScalaHosting's renewal rates match intro pricing. Over 24 months, ScalaHosting is typically more cost-effective.
Can I use cPanel with ScalaHosting, or is SPanel mandatory?
ScalaHosting uses SPanel exclusively; cPanel is not available. SPanel is a custom control panel that requires a learning curve if you are accustomed to cPanel, but ScalaHosting's 4.7 user-friendliness rating indicates most users find it intuitive once familiar. If cPanel familiarity is critical, Hosting.com is the better choice.
How does security differ between these two providers?
ScalaHosting includes SShield AI, which blocks 99.998% of attacks in real-time across all plans. Hosting.com offers standard cPanel-based security (SSL, backups, user isolation) but does not advertise an equivalent proprietary threat-detection system. For security-sensitive sites, ScalaHosting has a clear edge.
Which provider is better for international audiences?
Hosting.com operates 10 global data centers and lets you select your location at signup, making it better for reducing latency for far-flung audiences. ScalaHosting has 4 data centers with locations not specified in the data. If serving multiple continents, Hosting.com's geographic reach is superior.
ScalaHosting Plans
20 plans available across all hosting types.
Shared Hosting 4
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | $2.95/mo | 10 GB Fixed NVMe SSD | Shared CPU (3% limit) | Shared RAM (3% limit) | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
| Start Best | $5.95/mo | 50 GB Fixed NVMe SSD | Shared CPU (5% limit) | Shared RAM (5% limit) | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
| Advanced | $9.95/mo | 100 GB Fixed NVMe SSD | Shared CPU (9% limit) | Shared RAM (9% limit) | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
| Entry Cloud | $14.95/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD (Scalable) | Dedicated 2 CPUs | Dedicated 2 GB RAM | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
WordPress Hosting 4
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini - WP | $2.95/mo | 10 GB Fixed NVMe SSD | Shared CPU (3% limit) | Shared RAM (3% limit) | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
| Start - WP Best | $5.95/mo | 50 GB Fixed NVMe SSD | Shared CPU (5% limit) | Shared RAM (5% limit) | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
| Advanced - WP | $9.95/mo | 100 GB Fixed NVMe SSD | Shared CPU (9% limit) | Shared RAM (9% limit) | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
| Entry Cloud - WP | $14.95/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD (Scalable) | Dedicated 2 CPUs | Dedicated 2 GB RAM | Unlimited (No Bandwidth Limits) | Get Plan |
VPS Hosting 8
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build #1 | $29.95/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD (Scalable) | 2 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 4 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #2 Best | $44.95/mo | 100 GB NVMe SSD (Scalable) | 4 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 8 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #3 | $69.95/mo | 150 GB NVMe SSD (Scalable) | 8 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 16 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #4 | $94.95/mo | 200 GB NVMe SSD (Scalable) | 12 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 24 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #1 (Self-Managed) | $19.95/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD Space | 2 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 4 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #2 (Self-Managed) Best | $36.95/mo | 100 GB NVMe SSD Space | 4 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 8 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #3 (Self-Managed) | $66.95/mo | 160 GB NVMe SSD Space | 8 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 16 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #4 (Self-Managed) | $122.95/mo | 240 GB NVMe SSD Space | 16 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 32 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
AI Hosting 4
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Cloud - AI agents | $14.95/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD | 2 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 2 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #1 - AI agents | $29.95/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD | 2 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 4 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #2 - AI agents Best | $44.95/mo | 100 GB NVMe SSD | 4 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 8 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
| Build #3 - AI agents | $69.95/mo | 150 GB NVMe SSD | 8 CPU Cores (Dedicated) | 16 GB RAM (Dedicated) | Unmetered Bandwidth | Get Plan |
Hosting.com Plans
27 plans available across all hosting types.
Shared Hosting 4
WordPress Hosting 4
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small plan for WordPress | $5.83/mo | 20 GB NVMe | — | — | 100 GB | Get Plan |
| Medium plan for WordPress Best | $9.96/mo | 50 GB NVMe | — | — | 300 GB | Get Plan |
| Advanced plan for WordPress | $16.63/mo | 100 GB NVMe | — | — | 600 GB | Get Plan |
| Turbo plan for WordPress | $24.99/mo | 200 GB NVMe | — | — | 1.2 TB | Get Plan |
VPS Hosting 4
Reseller Hosting 4
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reseller 30 | $20.42/mo | 100 GB NVMe | 1 vCore per account | 2 GB per account | Unlimited | Get Plan |
| Reseller 60 Best | $32.92/mo | 180 GB NVMe | 2 vCores per account | 2 GB per account | Unlimited | Get Plan |
| Reseller 120 | $53.75/mo | 360 GB NVMe | 2 vCores per account | 2 GB per account | Unlimited | Get Plan |
| Reseller 150 | $66.25/mo | 500 GB NVMe | 2 vCores per account | 4 GB per account | Unlimited | Get Plan |
Managed VPS 8
| Plan | Price | Storage | CPU | RAM | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managed cPanel 4GB | $28.75/mo | 100 GB NVMe SSD | 2 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 4 GB dedicated | 1 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 8GB | $45.42/mo | 150 GB NVMe SSD | 4 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 8 GB dedicated | 2 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 16GB Best | $70.42/mo | 300 GB NVMe SSD | 8 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 16 GB dedicated | 3 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 32GB | $116.25/mo | 400 GB NVMe SSD | 16 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 32 GB dedicated | 4 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 64GB | $207.92/mo | 800 GB NVMe SSD | 24 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 64 GB dedicated | 5 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 128GB | $457.92/mo | 1.2 TB NVMe SSD | 32 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 128 GB dedicated | 6 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 160GB | $582.92/mo | 1.4 TB NVMe SSD | 48 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 160 GB dedicated | 7 TB | Get Plan |
| Managed cPanel 256GB | $916.25/mo | 2 TB NVMe SSD | 64 CPU cores (AMD EPYC) | 256 GB dedicated | 8 TB | Get Plan |