Hatchling Plan
Billing: 36 months
$3.75/mo
Renews at $10.99/mo
- 10 GB storage
- 10 sites
- 40K visits/mo traffic
- Beginners
As listed in April 2026, not rechecked
HostGator
Shared hostingManaged serverNorth America
HostGator offers shared hosting for small sites and first websites, with the server run for you, priced in the middle for its type.
From $3.75/mo on a 36-month term, renews at $10.99/mo. As listed in April 2026, not rechecked
Three years on the entry plan
$135
First 3 years$3.75/mo
From year 4$10.99/mo
+193% at renewal
Hatchling Plan
Where its servers are
HostGator has data centres in 1 region. The shaded areas are regions, not exact cities.
- North America
We can only time hosts that publish speed-test addresses. The latency chart measures five clouds; a city close to you there is a good sign for any host in that city.
Plans and prices
As listed in April 2026. We have not rechecked these against the host's page yet, so confirm before you buy.
Baby Plan
$4.50/mo
Renewal price not listed
- 20 GB SSD Storage
- Unmetered Bandwidth
As listed in April 2026, not rechecked
Business Plan
$6.25/mo
Renewal price not listed
- 50 GB SSD Storage
- Unmetered Bandwidth
As listed in April 2026, not rechecked
Our test of HostGator
Tested by Hosting Compass, April 2026
3.8/5
- Performance3.7/5
- Ease of use4.1/5
- Support3.8/5
- Features3.7/5
- Value3.9/5
HostGator remains a viable budget option for basic hosting needs, though newer competitors offer better performance at similar prices.
Overview\n\nFounded in 2002, HostGator hosts over 2 million websites. Now owned by Newfold Digital, they offer shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting with a focus on affordability.\n\nPerformance\n\nPerformance is adequate with load times around 450ms. Uptime averaged 99.93%. Not class-leading but acceptable for basic websites.\n\nPricing\n\nShared hosting from $3.75/month. VPS from $23.95/month. All plans include free SSL and unmetered bandwidth. 45-day money-back guarantee.
Prices mentioned in these notes are from the time of the test. Current prices are in the plans above.
HostGator at a glance
The dials are our editorial estimates on a 1 to 5 scale, not test results. How we estimate
- Management
- Managed server
- cPanel
- Yes
- Email included
- Yes
- Headquarters
- Houston, TX
Best for
Fit by project
- WordPress siteStrong fit
- Online storePossible fit
- Business websiteStrong fit
- Web app or SaaSWeak fit
- Portfolio or static siteStrong fit
- Blog or content siteStrong fit
- Agency with client sitesPossible fit
From the type of hosting, the same rule the finder uses.
Strengths and trade-offs
In its favour
- cPanel included
- Email included with hosting
Watch for
- Renews 193% higher after the first term ($3.75 to $10.99/mo)
- Data centres in North America only
The first points come straight from the price and plan data.
Questions about HostGator
How much does HostGator cost after the first term?
HostGator's entry plan (Hatchling Plan) costs $3.75 per month on a 36-month term and renews at $10.99 per month, as listed in April 2026. Over three years that is about $135 in total.
Does HostGator include email?
Yes. Our data shows email accounts included with HostGator's hosting plans.
Where are HostGator's data centres?
In North America. We list regions, not exact cities, for HostGator.
Does HostGator offer cPanel?
Yes, HostGator offers cPanel.