Pricing comparison based on verified data from official websites, March 2026
Every Host's Renewal Price — Ranked Cheapest to Most Expensive
This is the table every hosting company hopes you never see. We compiled the actual renewal prices for the cheapest plan at all 17 major shared hosting providers, sorted from lowest to highest.
This guide is based on hands-on testing of 17+ hosting providers over 90-day cycles. I maintain active paid accounts on every host featured here, deploy real WordPress sites with production plugins, and monitor performance around the clock. Recommendations reflect actual test results, not marketing claims or affiliate incentives.
| # | Host | Intro | Renewal | Hike | 3-Year Total | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namecheap | $1.98 | $4.07 | +106% | $121 | A |
| 2 | InterServer 🔒 | $2.50 | $7.00 | +180% | $198 | A |
| 3 | FastComet | $1.79 | $8.95 | +400% | $236 | C |
| 4 | Bluehost | $3.99 | $9.99 | +150% | $288 | C |
| 5 | GoDaddy | $5.99 | $9.99 | +67% | $312 | C |
| 6 | Hostinger | $1.99 | $10.99 | +452% | $288 | D |
| 7 | HostGator | $3.75 | $10.99 | +193% | $309 | D |
| 8 | DreamHost | $2.89 | $10.99 | +280% | $298 | D |
| 9 | A2 Hosting | $3.99 | $10.99 | +176% | $312 | D |
| 10 | ChemiCloud | $2.49 | $11.95 | +380% | $317 | D |
| 11 | ScalaHosting | $2.95 | $11.95 | +305% | $322 | D |
| 12 | GreenGeeks | $2.95 | $13.95 | +373% | $370 | F |
| 13 | IONOS | $1.00 | $14.00 | +1300% | $348 | F |
| 14 | InMotion | $4.79 | $18.99 | +296% | $513 | F |
| 15 | SiteGround | $4.99 | $27.99 | +461% | $732 | F |
The spread is staggering: the cheapest renewal (Namecheap $4.07) is 6.9x cheaper than the most expensive (SiteGround $27.99). Over 3 years, that's a $611 difference — for the same basic product category (shared hosting).
Grading system: A = renewal under $7/mo. B = $7-8/mo. C = $8-10/mo. D = $10-12/mo. F = above $12/mo. InterServer gets an A despite $7.00 renewal because of the price lock guarantee. For a deeper analysis of all hosting costs beyond renewal, see Web Hosting Hidden Costs Explained.
The 5 Worst Renewal Price Hikes (by Percentage)
Sorting by absolute renewal price tells one story. Sorting by percentage increase from intro to renewal tells a different, sometimes more revealing one.
IONOS is the most deceptive: a $1.00/mo intro that jumps to $14.00/mo is a 1300% increase. SiteGround is the most expensive in absolute terms: $27.99/mo renewal turns a $4.99 intro into a 461% hike. Over 3 years, SiteGround costs $732 — more than 6x Namecheap's $121.
The average renewal markup across all 15 hosts is 381%. That means on average, your hosting price will nearly quintuple when the intro period ends.
The 5 Most Renewal-Friendly Hosts
These hosts either have low absolute renewal prices, modest percentage increases, or price lock guarantees.
Notice something: the 5 most renewal-friendly hosts are also our top-ranked hosts in Best Cheap Hosting and Best Hosting Under $3. Low renewal isn't just about price — it correlates with hosts that treat customers honestly.
True Monthly Cost: What You Actually Pay (Averaged Over 3 Years)
The intro price is marketing. The renewal price is reality. The true monthly cost averages both over 3 years — and this is the number that actually matters for budgeting.
| # | Host | Advertised | True Monthly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namecheap | $1.98 | $3.37 | +$1.39 |
| 2 | InterServer | $2.50 | $5.50 | +$3.00 |
| 3 | FastComet | $1.79 | $6.56 | +$4.77 |
| 4 | Hostinger | $1.99 | $7.99 | +$6.00 |
| 5 | Bluehost | $3.99 | $7.99 | +$4.00 |
| 6 | DreamHost | $2.89 | $8.29 | +$5.40 |
| 7 | HostGator | $3.75 | $8.58 | +$4.83 |
| 8 | GoDaddy | $5.99 | $8.66 | +$2.67 |
| 9 | A2 Hosting | $3.99 | $8.66 | +$4.67 |
| 10 | ChemiCloud | $2.49 | $8.80 | +$6.31 |
| 11 | ScalaHosting | $2.95 | $8.94 | +$5.99 |
| 12 | IONOS | $1.00 | $9.67 | +$8.67 |
| 13 | GreenGeeks | $2.95 | $10.28 | +$7.33 |
| 14 | InMotion | $4.79 | $14.26 | +$9.47 |
| 15 | SiteGround | $4.99 | $20.33 | +$15.34 |
The industry average true monthly cost is $9.19 — more than triple the average advertised price of $2.97. The biggest gap is SiteGround: $4.99 advertised vs $20.33 true monthly — a $15.34 difference from what you think you're paying to what you actually pay.
IONOS is the most misleading by percentage (+$8.67 on a $1.00 intro), but SiteGround is the most expensive in absolute terms. For a complete analysis of all hosting costs beyond just renewal, see our hidden costs exposé.
Price Lock Hosts: Who Actually Guarantees Their Price?
Only a handful of hosting companies offer genuine price protection. Here's who does — and who claims to but doesn't.
Real Price Lock 🔒
InterServer — Contractual Price Lock Since 1999
The only shared hosting provider with a binding price lock guarantee. Your $7.00/mo renewal is locked in writing — no fine print, no expiration. InterServer has honored this since 1999. They also offer monthly billing, so you don't need to prepay at all. See InterServer vs Hostinger for a detailed comparison with a non-locked competitor.
ScalaHosting Managed VPS — Fixed VPS Pricing
ScalaHosting's managed VPS plans ($29.95/mo) maintain the same price on renewal. Combined with SPanel (which saves $204/yr vs cPanel licensing), this makes ScalaHosting one of the most cost-predictable VPS options. Their shared hosting renewal does increase ($2.95 → $11.95), but the VPS pricing is stable.
No-Surprise Pricing (No Intro Discount)
Some hosts avoid the intro/renewal game entirely by charging the same price from day one:
- Cloudways — $14/mo from day one. No discount, no hike. Pay-as-you-go monthly.
- Kinsta — $35/mo fixed. No intro tricks. Monthly billing.
- Liquid Web — $25/mo VPS. Same price on renewal.
These are premium hosts, but the pricing honesty is refreshing. You know exactly what you'll pay next year. For budget-conscious managed options, see Best Managed WordPress Hosting.
5 Strategies to Beat High Renewal Prices
You don't have to accept the renewal hike. Here are 5 proven approaches, ordered from easiest to most effort.
1. Ask for a Discount (Success Rate: ~60%)
Contact support before your renewal date. Say: "I'm considering switching to [competitor] because their renewal is lower. Can you offer a discount?" Most hosts (Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, GoDaddy) have retention offers of 20-40% off renewal. The key: ask before the charge, not after. Once billed, getting a refund is harder.
2. Prepay for the Maximum Term at Intro Price
If you're confident in your host, prepay for 3-4 years upfront at the intro rate. A 4-year Hostinger plan at $1.99/mo costs $96 upfront — but delays the $10.99/mo renewal by 4 full years. This buys time and locks the low rate for longer. Downside: you're committed for years, and migration forfeits the remaining balance.
3. Migrate to a Cheaper Host
If your renewal difference exceeds $50/year, migration saves you real money. Most quality hosts offer free migration (ChemiCloud, FastComet, Hostinger, InMotion). The process takes 1-4 hours. Example: switching from SiteGround ($27.99/mo) to ChemiCloud ($11.95/mo) saves $192/year — that's $576 over 3 years for a one-time migration.
4. Buy a New Intro Plan (Host Hopping)
Create a new account at the same or different host to get the intro price again. Some hosts allow this with a different email address. Ethical gray area, but it works. The hassle of migrating every 1-2 years is the trade-off. Best paired with hosts that offer free migration.
5. Switch to a Price-Locked Host
The nuclear option: move to InterServer ($7.00/mo locked forever) and never worry about renewal again. Your price won't change in year 3, year 5, or year 10. The trade-off: InterServer is mid-tier on performance (215ms TTFB) and uses the traditional cPanel interface. See InterServer vs Hostinger for the full comparison.
When to Switch: The Renewal vs Migration Math
Switching hosts costs time and carries minor risk. Here's the formula to decide if it's worth it:
Example calculations:
| Scenario | Current | New Host | Monthly Savings | 2-Year Savings | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiteGround → ChemiCloud | $27.99 | $11.95 | $16.04 | $385 | Yes ✓ |
| InMotion → Namecheap | $18.99 | $4.07 | $14.92 | $358 | Yes ✓ |
| GreenGeeks → Namecheap | $13.95 | $4.07 | $9.88 | $237 | Yes ✓ |
| IONOS → InterServer | $14.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 | $168 | Yes ✓ |
| Hostinger → Namecheap | $10.99 | $4.07 | $6.92 | $166 | Maybe |
| ChemiCloud → Namecheap | $11.95 | $4.07 | $7.88 | $189 | Maybe* |
* "Maybe" means the savings are real but you may lose features (performance, support quality, backups) that are worth the premium. Always compare what you're getting, not just the price.
Migration cost is usually $0 — most hosts offer free migration. Your real cost is 2-4 hours of your time plus the minor risk of a few hours of downtime during DNS propagation. If the 2-year savings exceed $100, it's almost always worth switching. See our Best Cheap Hosting guide to find your next host, or Shared vs VPS if it's time to upgrade entirely.
Want to see how renewal pricing plays out in a direct matchup? Our Hostinger vs Bluehost comparison and SiteGround vs Hostinger comparison break down real costs, performance, and value beyond just the sticker price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hosting company has the lowest renewal price?
Namecheap at $4.07/month has the industry's lowest renewal, giving you a 3-year total of just $121. InterServer's $7.00/month is slightly higher but comes with a price lock guarantee — it never increases, even after 5 or 10 years. DreamHost renews at $10.99/month ($298 over 3 years).
Why do hosting companies raise prices on renewal?
The intro price is a loss leader — hosts lose money acquiring you at $2-3/month. They profit on renewal, banking on the inconvenience of migration. The average markup across 15 hosts is 381%, meaning your price nearly quintuples after year one. This is the standard business model for the entire shared hosting industry.
Can I negotiate a lower renewal price?
Yes — about 60% of the time. Contact support before your renewal date and mention you're considering competitors. Hostinger, Bluehost, and HostGator commonly offer 20-40% retention discounts. The key: ask before the charge hits, not after. Be specific about which competitor you'd switch to and their pricing.
Is it worth switching hosts to avoid high renewal?
If the difference exceeds $50/year, yes. Migration is free at most hosts and takes 1-4 hours. Switching from SiteGround ($27.99 renewal) to ChemiCloud ($11.95 renewal) saves $192/year — $576 over 3 years for a one-time migration effort.
Which hosts never raise their prices?
InterServer is the only shared host with a contractual price lock — $7.00/month forever. ScalaHosting's managed VPS ($29.95) also maintains fixed renewal pricing. Cloudways ($14/mo) and Kinsta ($35/mo) use flat monthly pricing with no intro discounts, so there's no surprise on renewal.
How much does hosting really cost per month?
The true monthly cost (averaged over 3 years) ranges from $3.37 (Namecheap) to $20.33 (SiteGround). The industry average is $9.19/month — more than triple the average advertised price of $2.97. Always calculate the 3-year total before choosing a host.
Bottom Line
Every hosting company advertises $1-5/month. Nobody advertises $8-28/month. But the renewal price is what you'll pay for 90% of the time you use the service. Choosing by intro price is choosing by the one month that matters least.
The cheapest long-term hosts:
- Namecheap — $4.07/mo renewal, $121 over 3 years, 3 sites on cheapest plan
- InterServer — $7.00/mo locked forever, $198 over 3 years, unlimited sites + monthly billing
- FastComet — $8.95/mo renewal, $236 over 3 years, daily backups + 11 data centers
The best value considering performance + renewal:
- Hostinger — $10.99 renewal but 198ms TTFB, LiteSpeed, free domain + CDN ($288/3yr)
- Bluehost — $9.99 renewal, official WordPress.org pick, free domain ($288/3yr)
The hosts to avoid on renewal:
- SiteGround — excellent WP tools but $27.99 renewal ($732/3yr) is unjustifiable for most users
- InMotion — $18.99 renewal ($513/3yr) makes it one of the most expensive shared hosts
Bookmark this page. When your renewal email arrives, check the table above before you pay. A few minutes of comparison could save you $100-300 over the next few years.