Can you buy a month's worth of web hosting for less than the price of a Starbucks cappuccino? Yes, you can, and it'll be quality web hosting, too, as we discovered when researching the best web hosting services for this buyer's guide.
When we researched cheap web hosting plans, we found a range of trustworthy services offering affordable plans to get you started as a webmaster. Keep in mind that you do get what you pay for, however, so features might be more limited than if you opt for standard or premium plans rather than entry-level subscriptions.
What is the best cheap web hosting provider right now?
Hostinger is ZDNET's top choice for cheap web hosting in 2024. It has some of the cheapest introductory and first-year prices available, a variety of features and additional bolt-on options, automatic security updates, and 24/7 support.
ZDNET authors have extensive experience, personally and through discussing hosting with industry experts, with today's web hosting services. Our goal is to provide the information you need to build a shortlist and then evaluate and compare alternatives, ideally using the trial period each provider offers. Below, you will find our top recommendations for cheap web hosting providers on the market today.
Best cheap web hosting of 2024
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Beginner-friendly
Cons
- Loading speeds reportedly can be slow for some users outside of the US and UK
More Details
Hostinger has some of the absolute lowest introductory prices we've seen, with limited-time offers starting at $2.99 per month, with threemonths free. Considering the versatility of the plans and features on offer, Hostinger is one of our top choices for cheap, reliable web hosting.
The starter and next-level plans support up to 100 websites. Hostinger provides users with up to 200GB of storage, 100 email addresses and forwarders, free SSL website security, unlimited bandwidth, and a free domain name.
You'll be given one-click WordPress installation and free website migration, making this an excellent option for most website developers. However, if you want e-commerce capabilities, you'll need to opt for either a medium or higher tier.
Hostinger also provides a drag-and-drop website builder and templates if you need a theme. You can also take advantage of features including Google Analytics integration, SEO tools, AI, SSH, DDoS protection, staging functionality for test purposes, and dedicated IP addresses (on premium plans).
Overall, we consider Hostinger's cheaper plans to be an excellent option for smaller projects and businesses with an attractive price point.
While many customers applaud Hostinger's customer service, some clients operating multiple websites have reported bounceback and slow loads.
Hostinger features: Multi-tier plans | Daily, weekly backups | Free SSL | Up to 200GB storage | Free email | Dedicated IP addresses| E-commerce support | Automatic patching, security updates
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable basic tiers
- Positive customer reviews
Cons
- Expensive dedicated server plans
- WordPress hosting plans limited to 50GB
More Details
A2 (the name is a shout-out to the company's home in Ann Arbor, Michigan) makes it easy to get started, with free migration, 100GB storage, unlimited email accounts, staging, a website builder, and 24/7 support included in A2's basic, personal package for only $2.99/month.
What we particularly like about this option is the potential to upgrade as your small, basic project grows, with extra speed, storage, and capacity available when you are ready.
Customers applaud the firm's 24/7 phone, email, and chat support, with assistance available during migration and beyond.
A2 features: Multi-tier plans|99.99% uptime commitment | Free SSL certificates | cPanel control |Money-back guarantee | Automatic backups | 24/7 phone, email, live chat support
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Plans include storage options from 10GB to 225GB SSD storage
- Free CDN
Cons
- Price is high compared to competition after initial term
- Loading time can be slow
More Details
In business since 2005, Bluehost is a solid contender as one of today's best cheap web hosting providers. Recommended by WordPress, Bluehost plans begin at $2.95/month as an introductory price, with e-commerce-ready domains on promotion for $9.95/month.
We particularly like the e-commerce plan, which comes with everything you need to start your online business: shop themes, support for up to three websites, free SSL, store analytics, unlimited product listings, secure online payment portals, shipping label generation, and more.
Bluehost customer feedback indicates the company offers solid support, although load times can be slow.
Bluehost features: Multi-tier plans | 10GB - 225GB storage | Free CDN setup | Support for one website on basic plans | Custom WordPress themes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cheap, no-contract monthly plans
- Good value three year plans
Cons
- Email must be purchased separately
More Details
Dreamhost offers the lowest prices with three-year commitments on shared starter plans, so if you want to know exactly how much your website will cost you monthly in the long term, consider the $2.59/month offer.
Shared plans come in two options: Starter (one website, email is an extra charge) and Unlimited (as many websites and email accounts as you wish for $3.95/month). Free domains are included for the first year which helps keep the cost down.
This option is great for first-time website owners, especially if you intend to use the WordPress content management system -- as a site builder, and over 200 templates are included as standard. Free SSL certificates are also included for a security boost. While we recommend considering the long-term plan, if you want a month-by-month option, it's only $4.95.
Customers say that support is top-notch, they appreciate the flexibility of the service, and many find WordPress-related services easy to use without technical knowledge. However, some find reaching customer support initially challenging.
Dreamhost features: 24/7 support | Automated daily backups | One-click WordPress installation | Free domain | Free SSL |97-Day Money-back guarantee | 24/7 support
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unlimited websites
- Free SSL
- Strong customer support
Cons
- Malware protection limited to premium plans
More Details
ScalaHosting is one of our top choices for versatility. Depending on whether or not you grab a promotional deal, you can spend as little as a few bucks for its entry plan ($2.51/month) and around $25/month for top-tier subscriptions.
Web hosting tiers include shared or dedicated hosting, unlimited website support, free SSL certificates, daily offsite backups, staging features, unlimited emails and databases, free migration tools, a one-click WordPress installer, and more.
Customer feedback indicates that the helpdesk team is professional and dedicated, with excellent customer support and pricing.
ScalaHosting features: Multi-tier plans | One-click installation | Staging | Daily backups | One or unlimited websites | Free SSL certificates | 10GB to 100GB storage
What is the best cheap web hosting?
Hostinger is ZDNET's top choice for cheap web hosting in 2024. It has some of the cheapest introductory and first-year prices available, a variety of features and additional bolt-on options, automatic security updates, and 24/7 support. However, you can check out the key features of all of our top recommendations below.
Cheap website hosting service | Wordpress integration in base plan | Free website migration | Free SSL support in base plan |
Hostinger | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
A2 Hosting | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Bluehost | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
DreamHost | ✔️ | ✔️(plugin) | ✔️ |
ScalaHosting | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Which cheap web hosting service is right for you?
To help you make the best decision, consider what matters the most to you in a web hosting provider:
Choose this cheap website hosting service... | If you want… |
Hostinger | A host that allows you to run your website without breaking the bank. Considering the versatility of the plans and features on offer, Hostinger is one of our top choices for cheap, reliable web hosting. |
A2 Hosting | A high-quality, reasonably-priced hosting service that allows for plenty of options to upgrade in the future. |
Bluehost | A host that excels in helping new online businesses get off the ground. Keep an eye on renewal prices, though. |
DreamHost | A host that allows templates and an easy interface for new website builders and WordPress users – the perfect choice if you're just getting started. |
Scala Hosting | ScalaHosting is a flexible web hosting provider which, while reasonably cheap, allows you to scale as and when you wish. |
Factors to consider when choosing a cheap web hosting provider
Below, you will find the important factors you should consider when you are looking for the best cheap web hosting provider available and on the market today.
- Affordability: One of the first questions you should ask is: what is your preferred budget? Keep in mind that promotional deals won't last forever and there may be price hikes after the first year.
- Speed and stability: Generally speaking, shared hosting is cheaper than dedicated hosting. However, if you anticipate high volumes of traffic or you want lightning-fast page loads, you may opt for slightly more expensive hosting packages.
- E-commerce: Consider whether or not your website will need e-commerce functionality. If this is on the horizon, it is likely the cost of your plan will change. However, you can get around this by selling from websites including eBay and Etsy.
- Additional features: Many web hosts are not shy about generating extra revenues through features like backup and site migration, so you'll have to factor in those costs before you can make an informed choice. If you choose a cheap plan, expect regular upsell offers for more full-featured (and significantly more expensive) plans.
How did we choose these cheap web hosting services?
When choosing a web hosting package, there's more to consider than just a low price. We considered a wide range of extra factors that can be crucial when it comes time to separate contenders on your shortlist of hosting providers.
Let's start with the most important factor of all: A money-back guarantee. Every provider we surveyed offers at least 30 days during which you can try the service risk-free. Other factors include:
- Customer support:How many contact options does the provider offer for the plan you've chosen? If phone support isn't available and email and ticket-based systems are the primary mechanism for problem resolution, how quickly does the support team respond?
- Bandwidth and storage:For shared hosting plans, most providers offer "unlimited" data transfers and storage, but there's invariably a page full of fine print that requires you to abide by "reasonable" restrictions and acceptable-use policies.
- Backup:Automated online backups are the most reliable way to backup your website. Most hosting providers offer automatic backups, but some charge extra. We included options for, at least, daily and weekly backups.
- Performance:As a rule, the less you pay for a shared hosting plan, the more likely you are to encounter slow page loads, because those low-cost plans typically cluster more shared accounts on the server. We have included shared hosting with budgets in mind, but we also listed vendors that offer dedicated setups.
- Security:We ensured that our recommended vendors follow, at least, basic security best practices. Does the provider offer multi-factor authentication? Are crucial software packages updated automatically, or are you required to stay on top of updates yourself? It's important to consider such questions before you sign up.
- Email and domain options:Several providers offer free domain registration as part of a hosting package, but of course, the cost of that registration is built into the bill for the plan itself. Others may require domains and email services to be paid for separately, and we have considered each offering during our research.
Are there free website hosting services?
Yes. But they often don't allow for many customization options. Free web hosting services include Wix, WordPress, and GoDaddy. They may also include advertisem*nts.
How much does it cost to run a website?
It all depends on which web hosting platform you decide to use. But paid web hosting for a single website ranges anywhere from $2 to $10 per month. If you need enterprise-grade hosting, the cost can reach hundreds of dollars per month.
Can cheap web hosts run WordPress?
WordPress hosting is a subset of standard website hosting and so the majority of providers will allow WordPress content management system (CMS) installs. Indeed, even the cheapest hosts will often provide one-click WordPress installation functions.
What do I need to run a small business website?
Typically, there are three services you will need, at minimum, for your website: a domain name, host, and email services. Many web hosts will give you a domain name for free -- at least, for your first year -- and they may also bundle in limited email services. However, keep in mind you might need to purchase these separately. If you intend to sell products on your website, you will need to select a package that supports e-commerce.
Are there alternative web hosting platforms to consider?
You need to weigh your options before choosing a web hosting service. While these services didn't make their way into our main list, they are highly reliable and great options if none of the other web hosts appeal to you.
ZDNET Recommends
- The best smartwatches you can buy: Apple, Samsung, Google, and more compared
- The 5 best VPN services (and tips to choose the right one for you)
- The best Android phones you can buy (including a surprise pick)
- The best robot vacuum and mop combos (and if they're worth the money)
