What web hosting really costs
Intro prices last one term. Pick up to three hosts and see the total you pay over the years, renewals included.
Read the kink, not the sticker.
Each line is the running total of what you pay. It climbs gently during the intro term, then bends upward where the plan renews at the regular price.
Compare the lines at the end of the period you plan to stay. A host that looks cheap for year one is often the most expensive by year three. Paying for a longer intro term moves the bend to the right.
Already hosted? Check your priceQuestions people ask
Why is the intro price so much lower than the renewal?
Hosts win customers on the first bill. The low price usually needs one to four years paid up front and applies only to that first term. After it, the plan renews at the regular monthly rate, which on most shared hosts is two to four times the intro price.
Is it cheaper to pay for four years up front?
Often, yes, as long as you are sure you will stay. A longer intro term pushes the renewal further away. The catch is that you pay it all on day one, so read the refund terms before you commit. The chart shows the total either way, so you can compare a long prepay with a shorter one.
Where do these prices come from?
From each host's own pricing page, read on the date shown under the chart. Where a figure came partly from third-party sources, the note says so. Prices change often, so check the host's page before you pay.
What is not included?
Taxes, the domain after any free first year, paid add-ons such as backups, email or extra sites, and any move to a bigger plan as your site grows.
What does effective monthly price mean?
The total you pay over the period divided by the number of months. It is the fairest single number for comparing plans with different intro terms.