If you’re a startup or small business, you know the importance of having a strong online presence. And that means good hosting services are essential to keep your website up and running. But finding the best ones can be difficult. That’s where we come in. We’ll help you find the best affordable web hosting services for startups and small businesses, so you can focus on what counts most—growing your business.
Best Cheap Web Hosting Services
1. DreamHost — The Cheapest Month-to-Month Web Hosting
Cheapest Month-to-Month Plans
Worried about making a long-term commitment? DreamHost has your back with the most affordable month-to-month payment options on the market. Paid plans start at $4.95 per month for one website with unlimited traffic and no contract. All plans come with a free SSL certificate and WordPress pre-installed.
Overall Score: 3.7 out of 5
DreamHost’s monthly, no-contract plans are the cheapest such options we found. You get the best pricing without the risk of a long-term subscription.
If you don’t want to commit to a year or more in advance, DreamHost is perfect for you.
Here’s how DreamHost did in every tested category:
- Upfront Cost = 5/5
- Renewal Rates = 4/5
- Onboarding Process = 2/5
- Website Speed = 2/5
- Customer Support = 3.3/5
- Server Uptime = 5/5
Upfront Costs 5/5 – If you want huge discounts with no commitment, no long-term contracts, and no other unexpected fees, Dreamhost is picture-perfect for you.
They offer two introductory plans.
The month-to-month plan starts at $4.95 for one month of hosting and $7.99/year for a domain, running you a total of $12.94 for the first month. Then, it’s just $4.95 for the next two months. The price goes up to $7.99 per month after that (more on this below).
The monthly plan has no contract and is the absolute cheapest risk-free way to get started with web hosting.
The second option is to pay for a full year at a total cost of $35.40—that’s only $2.95 per month. That includes a domain name and the ability to protect your private information online with free domain protection.
Both plans include:
- WordPress pre-installed, so you don’t have to worry about installing it
- Free WordPress migrations if you’re switching from a different host
- Free domain name privacy (most charge extra for this)
- A drag-and-drop WordPress website builder
- Live chat, ticket, and phone support
- A free SSL certificate
Renewal Rates 4/5 – It’s commonplace for your web host’s renewal rate to be two or three times higher than the original promotional pricing. That’s because providers know how much of a hassle it is to switch from one to another, especially after you’ve had your site hosted on one for a significant period of time.
Hosting providers bank on this and really raise their rates on renewal, knowing that most folks will stomach the higher prices to avoid having to change hosts.
2. Hostinger (www.hostinger.com)
Known for its affordable products, Hostinger is a well-rounded web hosting service. Regardless of the price, Hostinger also offers good uptime.
Pricing
When I say cheap hosting, Hostinger is among the very few companies that manage to stay below the $2 mark. Currently, the entry-level plans cost $1.99/mo. These low rates are available as long-term subscriptions. Hostinger’s low cost hosting plans are:
- Single – $1.99 per month for one site, 30 GB of SSD storage, and up to 10,000 monthly visits.
- Premium – $2.59 per month for 100 websites, 100 GB of SSD storage, free unlimited email, and a free domain.
- Business – $3.99 per month for 100 sites, 200 GB storage, 100,000 visits a month, plus everything in Premium.
Keep in mind that pricing goes up when you renew after the promotional period.
Ease of setup
The Hostinger dashboard does not run on classic cPanel, which we usually see with other hosting providers. Hostinger has put their own spin on it, calling it “hpanel,” and providing easier access to elements like files, email, and domain. It is beginner-friendly and easy to set up.
All the plans, including shared web hosting, come with WordPress features such as WordPress installers, which makes it easy to get started with a website quickly. You can see these features in the Website section, under Auto Installer in your Hostinger dashboard.
3. SiteGround — The Best for Getting The Extra Support You Need
Best for Extra Support
Never built a website before? No problem. Get everything you need to launch your website in a day (with no experience required), plus hands-on customer support that’s always ready to answer your questions and help you out in an affordably priced hosting package with SiteGround.
Overall Score: 3.6 out of 5
Lots of hosting companies promise you the moon, but when things go wrong they don’t have your back.
Not SiteGround. They offer one-on-one support for all their customers and are always available to help via live chat or phone call.
SiteGround has real humans answering customer service calls 24/7 in over 10 languages, giving them an advantage over other hosting providers who rely on bots to answer customer questions and avoid the hard work of hiring people to actually speak with customers.
Our experience was pleasant and the best out of all other providers when dealing with customer service.
Here’s how well they did in our testing categories:
- Upfront Cost = 3/5
- Renewal Rates = 1/5
- Onboarding Process = 5/5
- Website Speed = 4/5
- Customer Support = 5/5
- Server Uptime = 5/5
Upfront Cost 3/5 – SiteGround is the most expensive on our list for cheap web hosting. That’s the main reason for the score being so low overall.
Right out of the gate you pay $3.99/month for 12 months, which equals $47.88 for year one of hosting.
This does not include a domain name. If you need one, it’s $17.95/year. And, to add domain protection, you’re looking at another $12/year.
That is a total upfront cost of $77.83 for your first year.
Aside from hands-on support, you also get a good array of benefits and features on the cheapest plan, including:
- 10 GB of storage space (plenty for new websites)
- Daily backups in case something happens to your site
- Unlimited email accounts
- A free content delivery network (CDN)
- Automatic core and plugin WordPress updates
- A complimentary SSL certificate
Renewal Rates 1/5 – When it’s time to renew, you get the same high-quality service and benefits. However, now it’s $14.99/month for 12 months, which comes to $179.88 for the second year of hosting. That’s a 276% increase in price.
This is definitely higher than most other providers, especially if you’re trying to budget out your web hosting and cut costs. But the reliability and benefits you receive with SiteGround, in our experience, are well worth the price.
Onboarding Process 5/5 – Hands down, SiteGround offers the best checkout/onboarding experience out of everyone on the list.
4. Bluehost (www.bluehost.com)
Bluehost is an old reliable, seeing as how it was one of the first hosts endorsed by WordPress. Bluehost has also always made hosting affordable.
Pricing
They base Bluehost pricing strictly on how many months you pay for in advance. For instance, a 36-month plan is cheaper per month than a 24-month plan. Although sometimes they make 12-month plans more appealing than the 36-month plans; it all depends on the current promotions.
We’ll outline the 12-month plans below:
- Basic – $2.75 per month for one website, 50GB of SSD storage, 20 databases, a website builder, free domain, free CDN, and free SSL certificate.
- Plus – $5.45 per month for everything in the previous plan, unlimited websites, unlimited storage, unlimited databases, and access to promotions for things like email, Google Ads, and spam protection.
- Choice Plus – $5.45 per month (it’s more expensive than Plus upon renewal) for everything in the previous plans, free domain privacy, and automated backups for the first year.
- Pro – $13.95 per month for everything in the previous plans, optimized CPU resources, forever free automated backups, a premium SSL, and a free dedicated IP.
Ease of setup
The Bluehost dashboard is one of the easiest ones to use out there. There’s a simple one-click install for WordPress, as well as basic controls to take care of the primary customizations of your setup.
You also get a free SSL if you need to secure all transaction information for an online store.
Bluehost excels with its WordPress integration and one-click installation, but we also recommend you check out other cheap WordPress hosting providers and see which hosts actually offer the best value for your money.
5. HostGator — The Best for Getting Paid To Promote Your New Site
Best for Ad Credits
Not only does HostGator offer bargain pricing for shared web hosting with above-average site speed and uptime performance, but you also get $250 in Google and Microsoft ad credits to start driving traffic. At the end of the day, HostGator actually pays you to launch and market your new site!
Overall Score: 3.6 out of 5
HostGator has an incredible promotion for all newcomers building a site on their hosting platform. You receive free credits for Google Ads spending at $150 and Microsoft Advertising credits at $100.
And it doesn’t matter what plan you start with. You’re getting paid to advertise your own website.
HostGator is the third cheapest option for upfront costs, meaning you have the opportunity to receive incredible value at a relative bargain.
Here’s how they did on our scorecard:
- Upfront Cost = 4/5
- Renewal Rates = 3/5
- Onboarding Process = 3/5
- Website Speed = 4/5
- Customer Support = 3.67/5
- Server Uptime = 4/5
Upfront Cost 4/5 – HostGator’s upfront cost can be a bit of an investment for some. The best part about this company? All their plans are upfront and transparent, meaning no extra charges on top of what you’ve already paid.
Your initial out-of-pocket expense is $3.95/month for 12 months, equaling $47.40 for the first year of hosting. This includes a free domain name. Domain protection is $14.95/year if you need it. We recommend always getting this benefit, as it protects your private information from spammers and hackers online.
That brings your first-year upfront price tag to $62.35.
But, when you factor in the free ad credits they are actually paying you $187.65—which is a steal.
You can start your brand-new website at a profit.
Even as a beginner, you can find new customers or visitors with minimal expense and test your hand at ads without risk.
When you select the Starter plan, you receive:
- Free one year of domain registration
- One click WordPress installs
- Free HostGator website builder
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Free email
- Free positive SSL upgrade
Renewal Rates 3/5 – Current research shows HostGator renewal pricing is the cheapest on our list. So if you’re looking for low risk high reward web hosting, HostGator torches the competition.
Your renewal consists of $8.95/month for 12 months, which comes to $107.40 for your second year.
So, even though most web hosts more than double the price per month on renewals, HostGator manages to still keep the price down and affordable, remaining one of the cheapest providers on the web.
The Best Cheap Web Hosting Services for Startups and Small Businesses
When it comes to finding a good web hosting service for startups and small businesses, there are a few things to consider. First, how much space will the host need? Second, what type of software will your website run on (WordPress, Drupal, etc)? Third, is the hosting company reputable and reliable? Finally, is the price worth it?
The best way to find out if a provider is reputable and reliable is to use their website. Many providers have reviews available online that can help you make an informed decision. Next, look into provider ratings and reviews to see if they seem trustworthy. Finally, use a provider’s plan calculator to get an idea of how much space they need and what type of software they offer.
If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable web host, check out HostGator or Bluehost. They both provide high-quality servers with low monthly fees.
Cheap Web Hosting For Small Business
1. Google Cloud Platform
Google Cloud Hosting is an excellent option for a small business cloud server. Known as AWS’s main competition, Google Cloud has millions of users and has many outstanding features for small businesses. Some features include its excellent support team, security, and continued network expansion.
The Google Cloud support team is reachable 24/7. Similarly, users with the Premium support plan can expect responses within 15 minutes, year-round.
As a result, this platform is constantly growing and offers encryption, independent verification, and more to make you feel safe and secure.
2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Amazon’s AWS offers a wide range of cloud hosting services. Plans include Pay as you go, Pay less when you reserve, Pay even less per unit by using more, Pay even less as AWS grows, and Custom pricing. “Pay as you go” allows one to pay only for the resources actually used, without any long term commitments or upfront costs. The “Pay less when you reserve” plan allows one to invest in reserved capacity, and later get discounts and savings. “Pay even less per unit by using more” allows one to get benefits of reduced costs with increased storage space and data transfer. “Pay even less as AWS grows” plan allows one to receive benefits when AWS optimizations result in reduced operational costs. Custom pricing, as you might expect, is for clients needing customized solutions.1 AWS claims its unique selling proposition (USP) in computation and dedicated application services, including website hosting, mobile data backup, business apps hosting and gaming. Pricing details vary widely across multiple product offerings, and one can start with AWS free tier to get a firsthand experience of services and expected costs.
3. DigitalOcean
A popular IaaS platform, DigitalOcean is known for supporting manager Kubernetes clusters. Some of the pros of DigitalOcean include its scalability, deployment, security, and storage abilities.
DigitalOcean is available globally. Therefore, it can be scaled up or down and move between virtual machines called Droplets. Consequently, users can also use Droplets to distribute traffic and can redirect network traffic easily.
This platform is considered incredibly secure because it uses a centralized billing system, private networking, firewalls, and two-factor authentication.
4. Microsoft OneDrive
The tech giant Microsoft offers its cloud hosting services through OneDrive. Individual users can opt for 5 GB storage for free, while higher capacities such as 100GB, 1TB, and 6TB cost $1.99, $6.99, and $9.99 per month, respectively.10 The business plans start at 1TB per user for $5 per month, and come with a free trial. Beyond the storage, cross-platform syncing and powerful searching are the key features of OneDrive. It has its own downloadable software to keep remote and local data in sync, and also supports many third-party apps to seamlessly work with cloud data. It also offers hybrid options that integrate your on-premises solutions with the cloud services offered by Microsoft.
5. Dropbox
Dropbox is an excellent option for people new to the cloud realm. Consequently, it’s a popular service many individuals use to organize their files, photos, and schoolwork. Dropbox is comfortable and familiar for many as a service.
Along with the comfortability of Dropbox, this service offers a variety of cloud storage options for small and large businesses alike. Therefore, Dropbox is great for file sharing, backups, syncing, and more. File recovery is a critical feature for many business owners. Additionally, Dropbox keeps a copy of every deleted file or folder for up to 180 days, depending on your plan.
With free and paid options starting at $15 a month, Dropbox is a great way to join a cloud server if your business is starting.
How to Choose the Right Web Hosting Services?
In order to find the best web hosting services for your startup or small business, it’s important to compare different options. This can be done by checking out host reviews and selecting the one that offers the best value and service. You should also consider using a service that is reputable and safe, as well as one with a good customer history.
Select the Right Hosting Plan
Hosting plans are important, but you also need to choose a plan that is right for your business. There are three main types of hosting plans: monthly, yearly, and annual. Monthly plans offer more storage space and usually have lower monthly fees than yearly plans, but they may not offer as much free space or support. Annual plans offer more storage space and typically have higher monthly fees than monthly plans, but they can often provide lifetime support. It’s important to choose a plan that provides enough storage space for your website and applications, as well as easy access to common features like email accounts and file sharing.
Use a Service that Is reputable and Safe
Finally, it’s important to use a service that is reputable and safe when contracting with web hosts. Many startups don’t feel comfortable trusting unknown companies with their online identities or data privacy – so it’s important to choose a company with strong safety standards in place. By following these tips, you can ensure your online experience is both safe and reliable.
Tips for Choosing the Best Web Hosting Services
Hosting services come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it’s important to choose one that offers moaning and warranty. If you don’t have the time or resources to research each company thoroughly, it may be better to select a lower-cost host than risk having your site fail during startup.
In addition, compare hosting plans and services to find the best deal for your needs. Hosting companies offer a variety of plans, from small-scale (single site service) to large-scale (multi site service). Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before signing up.
Compare Hosting Plans and Services
When choosing a web hosting service, it’s important to compare plan prices, features, and customer service. Look for companies that offer good customer service and policies that cover post-purchase issues (like warranty repairs). You can also find companies with good reputations who offer low prices without sacrificing quality.
Use a Hosting Company that Offers a Good Warranty
If you think you might experience problems after using a hosting company, it’s important to contact them right away so they can investigate the issue and work on resolving it as quickly as possible. Many hosts offer 24/7 customer support, which is an useful perk if you need help during off hours or if there are any unexpected problems arising from your hosting service.
Conclusion
Choosing the right web hosting service is important for startups and small businesses. By comparing different services, you can find one that meets your needs and is reputable. You can also use a service with a good warranty to ensure that your business is safe. Finally, it’s important to choose an appropriate hostING plan that works for you and will give you the best performance. By following these tips, you should be able to start your business successfully.