Across the 14 shared hosts we checked, the cheapest plan renews at an average of 3.6× its advertised price. The typical advertised price is $3.15 a month; the typical renewal price is $10.11 a month. SiteGround has the biggest jump (9.0×), while Asura Hosting charges the same price at renewal.
Almost every web host advertises a price of $2 or $3 a month. Very few people pay that for long. The low price usually covers only your first term, and when it ends your plan renews at the regular rate, which is often three, five or even nine times higher.
To show how big the gap really is, we checked the cheapest shared hosting plan at 14 popular hosts on their own websites and recorded the advertised price, the term it requires, the renewal price and the money-back period. This page has no affiliate links: it’s here as a reference you can use and cite.
Web hosting renewal prices: the full table
| Host | Entry plan | Advertised price | Term required | Renews at | Increase | Money-back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asura Hosting | Website Hosting | $1.00/mo | Monthly | $1.00/mo | 1.0× (+0%) | 30 days |
| Bluehost | Starter | $3.99/mo | 36 months | $9.99/mo | 2.5× (+150%) | 30 days |
| ChemiCloud | Starter | $1.49/mo | 36 months | $11.95/mo | 8.0× (+702%) | 45 days |
| DreamHost | Launch | $2.89/mo | 12 months | $10.99/mo | 3.8× (+280%) | Not stated on plan page |
| GoDaddy | Economy | $5.99/mo | 36 months | $11.99/mo | 2.0× (+100%) | 30 days |
| GreenGeeks | Lite | $2.95/mo | 12 months | $13.95/mo | 4.7× (+373%) | 30 days |
| HostGator | Hatchling | $3.75/mo | 36 months | $10.99/mo | 2.9× (+193%) | 30 days |
| Hostinger | Premium | $1.99/mo | 48 months | $10.99/mo | 5.5× (+452%) | 30 days |
| Hostwinds | Basic | $4.54/mo | 12 months | $6.99/mo | 1.5× (+54%) | 72 hours, prorated |
| InMotion Hosting | Launch | $4.79/mo | 12 months | $14.99/mo | 3.1× (+213%) | 90 days |
| InterServer | Standard | $2.50/mo | 12 months | $7.00/mo | 2.8× (+180%) | 30 days |
| IONOS | Essential | $4.00/mo | 12 months | $8.00/mo | 2.0× (+100%) | 30 days |
| Namecheap | Stellar | $2.28/mo | 12 months | $4.66/mo | 2.0× (+104%) | 30 days |
| SiteGround | StartUp | $1.99/mo | 12 months | $17.99/mo | 9.0× (+804%) | 30 days |
Prices in US dollars for each host’s cheapest shared hosting plan, before tax, checked on each host’s official website on November 3, 2026. Several hosts were running Black Friday sales, which makes their advertised prices lower and their increases larger than usual. Namecheap’s renewal is $55.88 a year ($4.66 a month); GoDaddy’s renewal is the regular price shown next to its sale price; InterServer’s first year is $30. Hostwinds disclosed a security breach in October 2026 (see our Hostwinds review).
Key findings
- The average entry plan renews at 3.6× its advertised price (median 2.9×), rising from an average of $3.15 to $10.11 a month.
- The biggest jumps: SiteGround ($1.99 → $17.99, 9.0×), ChemiCloud ($1.49 → $11.95, 8.0×), Hostinger ($1.99 → $10.99, 5.5×).
- The smallest: Asura Hosting (1.0×), Hostwinds (1.5×), IONOS (2.0×). Asura Hosting is the only host here that renews at the same price.
- A big jump doesn’t always mean a big bill. ChemiCloud renews at 8× its price, yet it’s one of the cheapest hosts over three years because its sale price is locked in for 36 months.
- Term length matters more than the headline price. SiteGround and Hostinger both advertise $1.99, but SiteGround’s price lasts 12 months and Hostinger’s 48. Over three years that’s $455.64 versus $95.52.
- Refund windows vary a lot: from 72 hours (prorated) at Hostwinds to 90 days at InMotion Hosting. Most hosts give 30 days.
Renewal jump by host
What you’ll actually pay over three years
Here’s what you’d spend in your first three years on each host’s cheapest plan, buying the advertised term and then renewing at the listed price. For plans with terms of 36 months or longer, it’s simply the upfront payment.
| Host | Paid upfront today | Total for the first 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Asura Hosting | $1.00 (first month) | $36.00 |
| ChemiCloud | $53.64 for 36 months | $53.64 |
| Hostinger | $95.52 for 48 months | $95.52 (covers 4 years) |
| HostGator | $135.00 for 36 months | $135.00 |
| Namecheap | $27.36 for 12 months | $139.12 |
| Bluehost | $143.64 for 36 months | $143.64 |
| InterServer | $30.00 for 12 months | $198.00 |
| GoDaddy | $215.64 for 36 months | $215.64 |
| Hostwinds | $54.52 for 12 months | $222.28 |
| IONOS | $48.00 for 12 months | $240.00 |
| DreamHost | $34.68 for 12 months | $298.44 |
| GreenGeeks | $35.40 for 12 months | $370.20 |
| InMotion Hosting | $57.48 for 12 months | $417.24 |
| SiteGround | $23.88 for 12 months | $455.64 |
The cheapest three years cost $36.00 (Asura Hosting) and the most expensive $455.64 (SiteGround): a difference of more than $410 for the same basic job of hosting a small website.
How to avoid the renewal trap
- Look for the renewal price before you buy. Most hosts show it in small print under the sale price.
- Choose the longest term you’re confident about. A 36- or 48-month sale price protects you for years; a 12-month one doesn’t.
- Compare three-year cost, not monthly price. The three-year table above does this for you.
- Set a reminder before renewal. You can switch hosts, ask for a retention discount or downgrade your plan.
- Consider hosts with small or no increases if you don’t want to prepay for years, such as Asura Hosting, Hostwinds (see our security note), Namecheap or IONOS.
For our overall picks, see best shared hosting and best WordPress hosting.
Methodology
- We checked each host’s official website on November 3, 2026, in US dollars, before tax.
- We used each host’s cheapest shared hosting plan and the lowest advertised monthly price, together with the term required to get it.
- The renewal price is the price the host lists for renewing that plan (or its regular price where the renewal isn’t listed separately).
- “Increase” is the renewal price divided by the advertised monthly price.
- The three-year total assumes you buy the advertised term and then renew at the listed price, paying for the full term upfront.
- Prices change often, especially around Black Friday. We’ll re-check this data regularly and update the date at the top.
Cite this data
You’re welcome to quote or chart this data. Please credit and link to the source: Expertah, “Web Hosting Renewal Prices 2026”, https://expertah.com/web-hosting-renewal-prices/ (data checked November 3, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
How much do web hosting prices go up at renewal?
Across the 14 hosts we checked, the cheapest shared plan renews at an average of 3.6× its advertised price, from about $3.15 to about $10.11 a month.
Which web host has the biggest renewal increase?
SiteGround, whose StartUp plan goes from $1.99 to $17.99 a month after the first year (9.0×), followed by ChemiCloud (8.0×) and Hostinger (5.5×).
Which web host doesn’t raise its price at renewal?
Asura Hosting renews at the same price. Hostwinds (1.5×), Namecheap and IONOS (2.0×) have the smallest increases among the others.
Why do hosting prices go up after the first term?
The advertised price is a discount for new customers that only covers the first term. After that, the plan renews at the host’s regular price.
How can I avoid paying the renewal price?
Buy the longest term you’re confident about, compare three-year costs, and set a reminder before renewal so you can switch, downgrade or ask for a discount.
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