Side-by-side comparison using HostScore™ data, Google reviews, and Trustpilot scores. No paid placements — ranked by signal only.
Cloudways scores 84/100 on HostScore versus A2 Hosting's 63. Cloudways leads by a clear margin across trust and completeness signals. Cloudways is based in HQ: Saint Julians, Malta, while A2 Hosting operates from HQ: Ann Arbor, USA — worth considering if your audience has regional latency requirements.
| Metric | vs |
|---|
| HostScore™ | 84 | — | 63 |
| Trust Score | 20 | — | 5 |
| Completeness | 17 | — | 15 |
| Performance | 22 | — | 18 |
| Freshness | 25 | — | 25 |
| Google Rating | 4.2★ | — | — |
| Google Reviews | 200 | — | — |
| Trustpilot | 4.7★ | — | — |
| Location | HQ: Saint Julians, Malta | — | HQ: Ann Arbor, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | — | — |
| Segment | PURE HOST | — | PURE HOST |
| Claimed | No | — | No |
Cloudways is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Saint Julians, Malta, founded in 2011, specialising in pure host. Managed cloud hosting platform enabling resellers to offer high-performance cloud hosting from AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean with white-label agency tools.
Cloudways has a HostScore of 84/100 and a Google rating of 4.2★ from 200 verified reviews. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
A2 Hosting is a web hosting provider based in HQ: Ann Arbor, USA, specialising in pure host. High-performance reseller hosting with Turbo Server plans delivering up to 20x faster page loads, cPanel/WHM, free WHMCS license, and white-label branding options.
A2 Hosting has a HostScore of 63/100. The listing has not been claimed by the host.
Cloudways scores higher on HostScore (84/100 vs 63/100), reflecting stronger trust signals, profile completeness, and review data. A2 Hosting may still suit users who need its specific location (USA) or specialization (pure host). HostScore is an objective algorithmic rating — it does not account for pricing, which can vary significantly between providers.
Cloudways has 4.2★ on Google (200 reviews), and A2 Hosting has no Google rating. Review volume matters as much as the star rating — a 4.5★ score from 50 reviews is less reliable than a 4.2★ score from 5,000. HostScore weights Google reviews by volume, so providers with more verified customer feedback score higher on the trust component. Check each provider's Trustpilot profile for a second independent signal before deciding.
The best alternative depends on what you value. If you want unbiased rankings across all hosting types, the HostList directory ranks 28,000+ providers by HostScore. For AI-powered matching based on your specific project requirements — tech stack, traffic, location, budget — use HostMatch at hostlist.io/match. For category-specific alternatives, the pure host rankings at hostlist.io show the highest-scoring providers in the same hosting type as Cloudways and A2 Hosting.
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