Why hosting gets expensive at renewal (and how to avoid it)
Updated October 2026
Most budget hosts advertise a first-term price that's a fraction of what you'll pay later. The intro price usually needs you to prepay one to four years, and when that term ends, the plan renews at the regular rate.
How much prices rise
These are the entry plans we review that have an intro discount, sorted by how much the price jumps. Prices checked October 2026.
| Host | Intro | Renewal | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiteGround | $2.99/mo | $17.99/mo | 6.0x |
| GreenGeeks | $2.95/mo | $13.95/mo | 4.7x |
| Hostinger | $2.49/mo | $10.99/mo | 4.4x |
| DreamHost | $2.89/mo | $10.99/mo | 3.8x |
| Hosting.com | $3.99/mo | $11.99/mo | 3.0x |
| HostGator | $3.75/mo | $10.99/mo | 2.9x |
| InMotion Hosting | $4.99/mo | $13.99/mo | 2.8x |
| Bluehost | $3.99/mo | $9.99/mo | 2.5x |
| Namecheap | $2.28/mo | $4.66/mo | 2.0x |
| ScalaHosting | $29.95/mo | $54.95/mo | 1.8x |
| Liquid Web | $5.00/mo | $6.00/mo | 1.2x |
Hosts that don't jump
Most managed WordPress hosts charge the same price from the start:
- Kinsta: $30/mo, same at renewal
- Rocket.net: $25/mo, same at renewal
- Pressable: $20.83/mo, same at renewal
- Cloudways: $14/mo, same at renewal
How to pay less
- Prepay longer at the start. The intro price locks in for the whole first term, so a three-year term delays the jump.
- Compare renewal prices, not intro prices. Our reviews show both, and our value scores use the renewal rate.
- Ask support before renewal. Some hosts will offer a discount to keep you.
- Be ready to move. Moving a WordPress site takes an afternoon. See how to move your site.