Reviewed by the SEOPointz team · Last reviewed June 2026. Hosting promo prices change constantly, so we focused on the gap between sign-up and renewal rather than chasing the headline number. SEOPointz may earn a commission from some links; it never changes what we recommend.
Almost every “cheapest web hosting” list ranks providers by the price splashed across the homepage — the $2.95 or $2.99 a month you see before you reach for your card. That number is real, but it is also the least honest figure in the entire transaction. The introductory rate is a one-time, contract-length discount. What actually decides whether a host is good value is the renewal price, the length of term you have to commit to, and what you get for the money once the discount evaporates. This guide compares the four mainstream shared hosts most readers ask us about on exactly those terms.
The intro price is the bait, the renewal price is the bill
Shared hosting promo rates typically start somewhere between $2 and $5 a month, then climb to roughly $8 to $18 a month when the plan auto-renews. Increases of 150% to 400% at renewal are normal across the industry, not the exception. That matters because the discount only applies to your first term. Sign up for a one-year plan at $2.99 and you save a few dollars in year one — then pay the full rate every year after that, often automatically, on a card you may have forgotten is on file.
The practical takeaway: when you compare hosts, compare the renewal column, not the sign-up column. A host that charges $2.95 to start and $9.99 to renew is meaningfully cheaper over three years than one that starts at $2.99 and renews at $17.99, even though the headline prices look identical.
How the four big shared hosts actually price
The figures below reflect the standard entry-level shared plans as advertised in mid-2026. Promo rates shift week to week and usually require a multi-year commitment to hit the lowest number, so treat the intro column as “best case” and the renewal column as what you should budget for.
| Provider | Intro (entry plan) | Renewal | Notable catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | ~$2.69–$2.99/mo | ~$10.99/mo | Lowest intro needs a 2–4 year term paid upfront |
| Bluehost | ~$2.95/mo | ~$9.99/mo | Renewal roughly 150% above intro |
| DreamHost | ~$2.59–$2.95/mo | ~$7.99/mo | Lowest renewal of the four; offers a true monthly option |
| SiteGround | ~$2.99/mo | ~$17.99/mo | Steepest renewal jump of any mainstream host |
Read down the renewal column and the ranking flips. DreamHost is the quiet winner on long-term cost, with a renewal under $8 and a genuine month-to-month plan if you do not want to prepay years in advance. SiteGround posts a tempting $2.99 intro but the near-$18 renewal — the largest percentage hike among the big names — means you are paying a premium for its (genuinely good) speed and support after year one. Hostinger and Bluehost sit in the middle, both renewing around $10.
Why the cheapest sticker is rarely the best value
Value is renewal price divided by what you actually get. Two things quietly inflate the real cost beyond the table above:
- Term length. The lowest intro rates almost always require paying for two to four years upfront in a single charge. A $2.69 monthly rate can mean a $129 charge today.
- Add-ons at checkout. Domain privacy, automated backups, and security tools are frequently pre-ticked or sold separately. A backup add-on alone can add a few dollars a month and erase the headline savings.
A host can be the cheapest to start and among the most expensive to keep. The honest comparison is total cost over the period you realistically plan to stay — usually three years — including renewal, add-ons, and the term you must commit to.
How to actually find the best value
Work in this order. First, decide your real time horizon; if you will keep the site three years, weight the renewal price heavily. Second, calculate the three-year total: first term at intro plus the rest at renewal, plus any backup or privacy add-on you genuinely need. Third, check the resource ceiling — storage, monthly visits, and the number of sites allowed — because a cheap plan you outgrow in six months is not cheap. Finally, confirm whether a free domain or migration is included, since those one-time perks can be worth more than a dollar of monthly discount.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my hosting renewal so much higher than what I paid?
The sign-up price is a promotional discount that applies only to your first contract term. When that term ends the plan renews at the provider’s standard published rate, which on shared hosting is commonly two to five times the intro price.
Can I avoid the renewal hike?
Sometimes. Locking in the longest available term keeps the discounted rate longer, and a handful of smaller hosts advertise fixed renewal pricing. You can also contact support before renewal to request a retention offer, or migrate to another host’s intro deal — though serial switching has its own hassle cost.
Is the cheapest plan ever the right choice?
For a brand-new personal site or blog with light traffic, yes — an entry shared plan is plenty, and you can upgrade later. The cheapest plan only becomes a trap when you put a growing business on it and hit the resource ceiling.
For broader context on which providers earn their keep, see our roundup of the top web hosting providers and our detailed Hostinger review.
