One entry-level plan from each provider, ordered by introductory monthly equivalent. These are different commitments, not month-to-month offers. A lower rate does not always mean a smaller bill.
The upfront column is the introductory rate multiplied by the entire starting term. Renewal figures are published monthly equivalents, not a promise of monthly billing. Verify the renewal term and final checkout total with the provider.
Selected hosting plans in USD · reviewed October 27, 2026 · excluding taxes and extras
Choose a plan and add any extras charged on your first bill. The estimate includes the full initial hosting commitment, even if the advertised price says “per month.”
Hosting rate × starting months + your upfront extras. Excludes tax, later domain or email renewals, and other future charges. This is an illustration, not a checkout quote. Your entries stay in this browser and are not saved.
Hosting pays for the server space and resources that make a website available online. Start with the kind of site you run, its storage, and the help you need. A brochure site and a busy online store can have very different requirements.
01
A small site
Compare entry-level shared hosting for a portfolio, local business or blog. Check that the plan supports your software and provides enough storage for images, email and backups.
02
Several sites or a store
Count websites separately from domain names. Ask about CPU, memory, database and backup limits; a large website allowance does not mean every site can handle heavy traffic.
03
Design and ongoing work
Hosting is separate from designing pages, fixing code and maintaining content. If an agency bundles these services, ask for an itemized scope so you can compare the hosting portion.
The extras that change the bill
Domains and email
A free first year is a discount, not a lifetime inclusion. Record the renewal dates and prices for your domain, privacy option and mailboxes separately from the hosting subscription.
Backups and recovery
Ask how often backups run, how long they are kept, and whether restoring one costs extra. An SSL certificate encrypts a connection; it does not replace backups or software maintenance.
Migration and renewal
Check what a free move covers, whether the old host needs to stay active during transfer, and how to cancel automatic renewal. Compare refund exclusions before paying for several years.
Web hosting cost questions
Is the cheapest monthly rate the cheapest plan?
Not necessarily. In this comparison, Hostinger's $2.49 monthly equivalent requires $119.52 for 48 months, while DreamHost's $2.89 equivalent requires $34.68 for 12 months. The first buys more time; the second needs less cash upfront. Neither figure includes taxes or extras.
Why does the price change at renewal?
These selected offers have introductory pricing for a specified starting term. The renewal column shows the provider's published ongoing monthly equivalent when reviewed. Budget with that figure, and confirm the billing term and current rate before renewing.
Can I compare these with a website builder?
Yes, but compare the complete service. A builder may bundle design tools and hosting, while a hosting plan may require you to install or maintain software. Include the domain, email, commerce features and any migration work in both totals.
How this comparison works
We reviewed public U.S.-dollar pricing on each provider's official page on October 27, 2026. Source links appear on every host card. We selected five widely available entry-level offers with disclosed starting terms and renewal rates; this is a focused comparison, not a complete market survey or a performance ranking.
Upfront figures are our calculations from the listed introductory rates and terms. Plans differ in resources and features. Prices can vary by offer, location, billing term and checkout selections. Confirm the final price before buying. Links go directly to providers with no affiliate tracking; no paid placement determines the order.
