Bluehost vs HostGator: true cost with renewals
Over three years, cheapest plan of each
Bluehost$143.64 against HostGator$135.00
Cheapest plan of each: intro price for the longest term, then the renewal price each host states. Verified 2026-10-16.
| Bluehost Starter |
HostGator Hatchling | |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price /mo | $3.99 (36-mo term) | $3.75 (36-mo term) |
| Renewal price /mo | $9.99 | $10.99 |
| Jump | +150% | +193% |
| 1-year total | $143.64† $3.99/mo over 36 mo | $135.00† $3.75/mo over 36 mo |
| 2-year total | $143.64† $3.99/mo over 36 mo | $135.00† $3.75/mo over 36 mo |
| 3-year total | $143.64 | $135.00 |
| 5-year total | $383.40 | $398.76 |
| Free domain | 12 months | 12 months |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days |
| Visit Bluehost | Visit HostGator |
Over three years the two land within $8.64 of each other, about $0.24 a month. That is close enough to call level; pick on the rows above rather than on the total.
Each total is the cheapest purchasable way to cover the period: the longest intro term upfront, then the stated renewal price for the months after it. † marks a total that buys a full term longer than the period, so it covers more months than the row says and you keep them. Prices verified 2026-10-16.
Details and the exact renewal sentences: Bluehost · HostGator.
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