Web hosting
Web hosting compared: what 11 hosts really cost over 3 years
The short answer
Shared hosting for one WordPress site costs about $95 to $400 over three years at the hosts we checked, then renews at $9.99 to $17.99 a month. Managed WordPress hosting runs about $1,000 to $1,050 over three years. Budget on the renewal price, not the first term.
The short version
- Most small business sites can run on shared hosting: one server shared with other sites, from about $95 to $400 for three years at the hosts we checked.
- The intro price is not the real price. Shared hosts discount the first term, then renew at $9.99 to $17.99 a month. Plan your budget on the renewal.
- Managed WordPress hosting costs about $1,000 over three years. The host handles more of the upkeep, speed and security for you.
- You may not need hosting at all. Website builders such as Squarespace and Wix include it. See builder vs WordPress vs agency.
Web hosting is renting space on a computer that is always online, so people can reach your site. How it works is explained in our encyclopedia entry on web hosting.
Shared hosting: the cheapest plan that runs WordPress, over three years
Each host’s own published prices, in US dollars before tax, checked October 23, 2026. Each page shows how its total is built. Terms differ, so read the “How it is paid” column.
| Host and plan | 3-year cost | How it is paid | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting.com Starter | $95.49 | 4-year term paid up front (covers years 1 to 3) | $13.99 a month |
| InMotion Core | $114.84 | 36 months at $3.19 a month, as we read InMotion’s unlabeled terms | $10.99 a month |
| Hostinger Premium | $119.52 | 48-month term at $2.49 a month (a Black Friday price) | $10.99 a month |
| HostGator Hatchling | $135.00 | 36 months at $3.75 a month | $10.99 a month |
| Bluehost Starter | $143.64 | 36 months at $3.99 a month | $9.99 a month |
| GoDaddy Economy | $215.64 | 36 months at $5.99 a month | $11.99 a month (assumed) |
| DreamHost Launch | $298.44 | 12 months at $2.89, then two years at renewal | $10.99 a month |
| SiteGround StartUp | $395.64 | 12 months at $2.99, then one 24-month renewal | $14.99 to $17.99 a month |
The cheapest totals need you to pay three or four years up front. Paying one year at a time costs more: at Bluehost, the yearly renewal is $11.99 a month instead of $9.99.
DreamHost also lists a WordPress Hosting Launch plan at $1.99 a month for 4 years ($95.52 up front). Its page lists that plan apart from Web Hosting, so check the cart before you count on it.
Managed WordPress and cloud hosting
These plans cost more but take server care off your plate. No separate intro and renewal price is shown: the price stays the same, though WP Engine and Kinsta say their prices can change at renewal.
| Host and plan | 3-year cost | How it is paid | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|
| WP Engine Essential | $1,008 | $336 a year billed yearly ($1,260 billed monthly) | same price, subject to change |
| Kinsta Single 35k | $1,050 | $350 a year billed yearly ($1,260 billed monthly) | same price, subject to change |
| Cloudways (DigitalOcean, smallest server) | $504 | $14 a month, billed by the hour | same price |
Which kind you need
- A brochure site, a blog or a small shop with modest traffic: shared hosting is enough.
- A busy WordPress site, or you want experts handling updates and speed: managed WordPress hosting.
- You want to pick the server size and pay by the hour: cloud hosting such as Cloudways.
Four things to check before you pay
- The renewal price and term. Some hosts renew for the same length you bought, so a 3-year plan renews for another 3 years.
- Backups. How often, how long they are kept, and whether a restore costs extra. Some plans include none.
- The uptime promise. Read what you actually get if they miss it. Usually a small credit, not cash.
- Leaving. Can you download a full copy of your site? Some hosts delete everything when the plan ends.
Getting a free domain with your hosting? It renews at the host’s price after year one. See domain and hosting together or separate for the three-year math, and our domain registrars hub to compare registrars.
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest web hosting over three years?
At published prices on October 23, 2026, Hosting.com Starter ($95.49 for a 4-year term), InMotion Core ($114.84) and Hostinger Premium ($119.52, a Black Friday price). All need several years paid up front. DreamHost's separate WordPress Hosting Launch deal, $95.52 for four years, comes close.
Why does hosting cost so much more after the first term?
Shared hosts sell the first term at a steep discount. Shared-hosting renewals at the hosts we checked run $9.99 to $17.99 a month.
Do I need hosting if I use Squarespace or Wix?
No. Website builders include hosting in their plan price.
Hosting guides
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Would you rather have someone build it?
We also build and look after WordPress sites for US businesses. Flat fees from $700. This is our own service. It isn’t part of our rankings.