Short answer: web hosting costs $2 to $5 a month for the first term on a budget plan, $20 to $35 a month for managed WordPress, and from $14 a month for a cloud server. But the advertised price is rarely what you'll keep paying: budget hosts renew at a median 2.9 times their intro price.
This guide shows what hosting really costs over one and three years, using prices we checked in October 2026.
What you'll pay, by type of hosting
| Type | First term | After renewal | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | $2–$5/mo | $5–$18/mo | New blogs, small sites |
| Managed WordPress | $5–$35/mo | Usually the same | Business sites, stores |
| Cloud hosting | From $14/mo | The same (billed hourly) | Growing sites, agencies |
Shared hosting puts your site on a server with many others. It's cheap and fine for small sites. Managed WordPress tunes the server for WordPress and handles caching, updates, backups and security for you. Cloud hosting gives you your own server resources. Our guide to managed vs shared hosting explains the difference in detail.
The real cost over three years
The cheapest first year isn't the cheapest over time. Here's what each host's entry plan costs, counting the intro price for the first term and the renewal price after that:
| Host | Intro price | Renews at | Year one | Three years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namecheap | $2.28/mo | $4.66/mo | $27 | $139 |
| Bluehost | $3.99/mo* | $9.99/mo | $48 | $144 |
| Liquid Web | $5/mo | $6/mo | $60 | $204 |
| DreamHost | $2.89/mo | $10.99/mo | $35 | $298 |
| SiteGround | $2.99/mo | $17.99/mo | $36 | $468 |
| Kinsta | $30/mo | $30/mo | $360 | $1,080 |
*Bluehost's intro price needs a 36-month prepay, so you pay $143.64 up front. Hostinger is cheaper still (about $90 for three years of service), but only on a 48-month prepay of $119.52.
The pattern: long prepays hide the jump. A three- or four-year term locks the low price in, but you pay it all at once, and the full renewal price arrives when the term ends. See every host in the Hosting Renewal Price Index.
Costs that aren't in the headline price
- Domain renewal. Most "free domain" offers last one year, then the domain renews at the regular rate.
- Email. Some hosts include it; others, like DreamHost after three months, charge for it. Managed hosts like Kinsta don't offer email at all.
- Backups. InMotion charges for backups on shared plans, and Hostinger's entry plan backs up weekly, not daily.
- Visit overages. Managed hosts such as WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel and Pressable charge extra if you go over your monthly visits. Read how visit limits work.
- Add-ons at checkout. Security scanners and backup tools are often pre-selected. Untick anything you didn't choose.
How much hosting do you actually need?
For a new blog or small business site, the entry plan of almost any host is enough. You can upgrade later without moving your site. Pay for more only when your traffic grows or you start selling online.
- 1
Namecheap7.3/10
Hobby sites and side projects, especially if your domain is already at Namecheap
- 2
Hostinger8.3/10
Beginners and small businesses who want the most features for the least money
- 3
Liquid Web8.5/10
Small businesses and WooCommerce stores that want managed hosting, unlimited visits and phone support on a budget
How to pay less
- Compare renewal prices, not intro prices.
- Prepay for as long as you're sure you'll stay, but no longer.
- Ask support for a renewal discount before your term ends.
- Be ready to move: most hosts migrate a WordPress site for free.
Our guide to lowering your hosting bill covers each step.