Hosting true-cost calculator
Pick how long you will keep the plan. We add the intro term at the promo price and every remaining month at the renewal price each host states on its own pricing page.
True cost calculator
| # | Host / plan | Intro /mo | Renewal /mo | Jump | 3-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChemiCloud Starter cheapest |
$1.49 36-mo term |
$11.95 | +702% | $53.64 $1.49/mo avg |
Visit ChemiCloud |
| 2 | AccuWeb Hosting Budget (Best Cheap Web Hosting) cheapest |
$1.99 12-mo term |
$1.99 | +0% | $71.64 $1.99/mo avg |
Visit AccuWeb Hosting |
| 3 | HostArmada Start Dock cheapest |
$1.99 36-mo term |
$9.95 | +400% | $71.64 $1.99/mo avg |
Visit HostArmada |
| 4 | DreamHost Web Hosting Launch cheapest |
$1.99 48-mo term |
$7.99 | +302% | $95.52† $1.99/mo over 48 mo |
Visit DreamHost |
| 5 | WordPress.com Personal cheapest |
$2.75 36-mo term |
$2.75 | +0% | $99.00 $2.75/mo avg |
Visit WordPress.com |
| 6 | HostPapa Essentials cheapest |
$2.95 36-mo term |
$8.99 | +205% | $106.20 $2.95/mo avg |
Visit HostPapa |
| 7 | ScalaHosting Web hosting tier 1 (name not extracted) cheapest |
$2.95 36-mo term |
$11.95 | +305% | $106.20 $2.95/mo avg |
Visit ScalaHosting |
| 8 | UltaHost Starter (Shared) cheapest |
$3.44 24-mo term |
$3.44 | +0% | $123.84 $3.44/mo avg |
Visit UltaHost |
| 9 | HostGator Hatchling cheapest |
$3.75 36-mo term |
$10.99 | +193% | $135.00 $3.75/mo avg |
Visit HostGator |
| 10 | Hostinger Premium cheapest |
$2.99 48-mo term |
$10.99 | +268% | $143.52† $2.99/mo over 48 mo |
Visit Hostinger |
| 11 | Bluehost Starter cheapest |
$3.99 36-mo term |
$9.99 | +150% | $143.64 $3.99/mo avg |
Visit Bluehost |
| 12 | InterServer Standard Web Hosting cheapest |
$2.50 24-mo term |
$7.00 | +180% | $144.00 $4.00/mo avg |
Visit InterServer |
| 13 | EasyWP (Namecheap) Starter cheapest |
$3.58 24-mo term |
$5.25 | +47% | $148.92 $4.14/mo avg |
Visit EasyWP (Namecheap) |
| 14 | InMotion Hosting Launch cheapest |
$4.99 36-mo term |
$13.99 | +180% | $179.64 $4.99/mo avg |
Visit InMotion Hosting |
| 15 | Verpex Bronze cheapest |
— 36-mo term |
$6.00 | — | $216.00 $6.00/mo avg |
Visit Verpex |
| 16 | Hostwinds Basic Web Hosting cheapest |
$4.54 12-mo term |
$6.99 | +54% | $222.24 $6.17/mo avg |
Visit Hostwinds |
| 17 | IONOS Essential cheapest |
$4.00 12-mo term |
$8.00 | +100% | $240.00 $6.67/mo avg |
Visit IONOS |
| 18 | KnownHost Basic Web Hosting cheapest |
$6.71 36-mo term |
$8.95 | +33% | $241.56 $6.71/mo avg |
Visit KnownHost |
| 19 | FastComet Starter cheapest |
$1.99 | $9.95 | +400% | $262.68 $7.30/mo avg |
Visit FastComet |
| 20 | GreenGeeks Lite cheapest |
$2.95 12-mo term |
$13.95 | +373% | $370.20 $10.28/mo avg |
Visit GreenGeeks |
| 21 | Cloudways Micro (DigitalOcean, Flexible) cheapest |
$11.00 1-mo term |
$11.00 | +0% | $396.00 $11.00/mo avg |
Visit Cloudways |
| 22 | SiteGround StartUp cheapest |
$2.99 12-mo term |
$17.99 | +502% | $467.64 $12.99/mo avg |
Visit SiteGround |
| 23 | Pressable Signature 1 cheapest |
$20.83 12-mo term |
$20.83 | +0% | $749.88 $20.83/mo avg |
Visit Pressable |
| 24 | Rocket.net Starter cheapest |
$25.00 12-mo term |
$25.00 | +0% | $900.00 $25.00/mo avg |
Visit Rocket.net |
| 25 | WP Engine Startup cheapest |
$20.00 12-mo term |
$30.00 | +50% | $960.00 $26.67/mo avg |
Visit WP Engine |
| 26 | Kinsta Single 35k / Single 20GB cheapest |
$30.00 12-mo term |
$30.00 | +0% | $1,080.00 $30.00/mo avg |
Visit Kinsta |
Totals are the cheapest purchasable way to cover the period: the longest intro term upfront, then the stated renewal price. † = the cheapest option is buying a full term longer than the period (you keep the extra months). Prices last verified 2026-08-27.
How to read this
- Intro price is the per-month price shown when you commit to the longest term (usually 36–48 months, paid upfront).
- Renewal is the per-month price the host states you pay after that term. Most hosts renew on 12-month terms.
- Jump = renewal ÷ intro − 1. A +150% jump means the price becomes 2.5× the intro rate.
- Switching hosts is normal: the cheapest multi-year path is often "longest intro term, then move". Most hosts migrate a site for free.
Frequently asked
Why do hosts hide the renewal price?
Because the intro price converts better. Most state the renewal price in small print under the plan card, in the cart, or in their terms; we quote the exact sentence on each host page.
Can I keep paying the intro price?
Usually not; the intro rate applies to the first term only. A few hosts (Cloudways, Kinsta) have flat pricing with no intro discount, which is why they can look expensive in year one and reasonable over five years.
Do these totals include the free domain?
No. Where a host bundles a domain for the first year we note it on the host page; from year two a .com domain typically renews at $15–20.
How often are prices checked?
Every day. See methodology for exactly how, and price changes for what moved.
Get an email when a host changes its price
One short email when a tracked intro or renewal price moves. No newsletter, no spam; unsubscribe in one click.
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