On the seven entry-level plans we checked on 29 and 30 October 2026, the renewal price was 2.5 to 4.5 times the first-term price. Intro prices ran from $2.49 to $4.99 a month, but renewal prices ran from $9.99 to $17.99 a month. Bigger plans can differ: ScalaHosting’s Advanced plan, for example, goes from $9.95 to $19.95 a month (2 times).
That gap is why Black Friday hosting deals look so cheap: the discount covers your first term, and the renewal price is what you pay after that. Below are the intro and renewal prices from each host’s own pricing page, what four years would cost, what changes the renewal bill, and how to keep it down.
Web hosting renewal prices compared
| Host and plan | Intro term | Intro price | Renews at | Renewal vs intro | Websites / storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger Premium | 48 months | $2.49/mo | $10.99/mo | 4.4× | 3 / 20 GB |
| DreamHost Web Hosting Launch | 1 year | $2.89/mo | $10.99/mo | 3.8× | 25 / 25 GB |
| ScalaHosting Mini | 36 months | $2.95/mo | $11.95/mo | 4.1× | 1 / 10 GB |
| HostGator Hatchling | 36 months | $3.75/mo | $10.99/mo | 2.9× | 10 / 10 GB |
| Bluehost Starter | 36 months | $3.99/mo | $9.99/mo | 2.5× | 10 / 10 GB |
| SiteGround StartUp | 12 months | $3.99/mo | $17.99/mo | 4.5× | 1 / 10 GB |
| InMotion Launch | 3 years | $4.99/mo | $13.99/mo | 2.8× | 2 / 100 GB |
The lowest renewal price shown was Bluehost’s: $9.99 a month when you renew for 3 years, even though its intro price was not the lowest. On a 1-year plan, Bluehost’s cart showed a renewal of $143.88 a year ($11.99 a month). SiteGround had the highest renewal ($17.99), and its intro price is prepaid for 12 months. Namecheap and GreenGeeks are not in the table: we could not see a renewal price on Namecheap’s page, and GreenGeeks’ page did not load for us.
What four years of hosting really costs
Because the intro terms differ (from 1 year to 4 years), a fair way to compare is the total for the same period. Here is four years on each entry plan: the intro term, then renewal for the rest of the four years. Where a plan’s intro term is 3 years, we used that host’s 1-year renewal rate for the fourth year, because a shorter renewal can cost more per month.
| Host and plan | 4-year total | Average per month |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger Premium (all 4 years at the intro price) | $119.52 | $2.49 |
| ScalaHosting Mini | $249.60 | $5.20 |
| Bluehost Starter | $287.52 | $5.99 |
| HostGator Hatchling | $293.28 | $6.11 |
| InMotion Launch | $359.52 | $7.49 |
| DreamHost Web Hosting Launch | $430.32 | $8.97 |
| SiteGround StartUp | $695.52 | $14.49 |
Hostinger comes out lowest here mainly because its 48-month intro term keeps the low price for all four years. A 1-year intro term (DreamHost, SiteGround) means three years at the renewal rate. The plans also differ a lot in what you get: ScalaHosting Mini and SiteGround StartUp host 1 website, while DreamHost Launch allows 25. Compare the websites and storage you need, not just the price.
Why web hosting renews at a higher price
The pricing pages show a promotional first-term price and a regular price for renewal. DreamHost’s FAQ says its “promotional pricing applies to your first term”, and HostGator’s notes say its prices “apply to the initial term. Regular renewal rates apply afterward.” Black Friday discounts follow the same rule: in the offers we checked, they lower the first term only.
What else changes your renewal bill
- You pay the whole renewal term upfront. Bluehost’s 3-year Starter renewal is $359.64 at once. Hostinger Premium renews “for the same term”, so $10.99 × 48 months is $527.52 in one bill, by our calculation.
- The renewal term changes the price. A shorter renewal usually costs more per month: Bluehost $11.99 on 1 year vs $9.99 on 3 years; HostGator $13.19 vs $10.99; InMotion $14.99 vs $13.99.
- The free domain renews too. Bluehost, HostGator, Hostinger and InMotion include a free domain for the first year only. InMotion says that after that “the domain will renew at the regular price at that time”.
- Monthly plans have the smallest jump but the highest price. Bluehost’s monthly Starter was $15.99; InMotion’s monthly Launch was $15.99, renewing at $16.99.
How to pay less when your hosting renews
- Compare renewal prices before you buy. All seven hosts above showed the renewal rate on their pricing page.
- Choose the longest intro term you are sure about. A 3- or 4-year term keeps the low price longer. Remember it also renews on a long term, billed upfront.
- Watch out for 1-year Black Friday deals. Bluehost’s and HostGator’s holiday discounts apply to 1-year terms; over three years their standard 3-year plans cost less, by our calculation.
- Set a reminder before renewal. Most plans renew automatically (Bluehost and DreamHost say so on their pages). Decide a few weeks before whether to renew, downgrade or move.
- Move to a new host’s intro offer if it is cheaper. Moving your site lets you pay a new first-term price, but it takes time. Money-back windows give you room to test: 30 days at Hostinger, Bluehost and HostGator, 90 days at InMotion, and “anytime” (for unused time) at ScalaHosting.
Shopping during the sales? See our Black Friday web hosting deals, the Bluehost Black Friday sale, the HostGator Black Friday deal and the ScalaHosting Black Friday deal. For one host in detail, read Hostinger plans and renewal prices.
InMotion’s current VPS, dedicated and cloud promotions are covered in our InMotion Hosting Black Friday guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is web hosting renewal so expensive?
The first term is a promotional price. At renewal you pay the host’s regular price, which on the seven entry plans we checked was 2.5 to 4.5 times the intro price.
Which web host has the cheapest renewal price?
Of the entry plans we checked, Bluehost Starter: $9.99 a month when renewed for 3 years ($359.64 billed upfront). Hostinger Premium (on a 48-month renewal), HostGator Hatchling (36-month) and DreamHost Launch (yearly) renew at $10.99.
Do Black Friday hosting prices apply when I renew?
No, not in any offer we checked. Bluehost’s terms say its discount applies to the first 12-month term only, and HostGator says regular renewal rates apply afterward.
Is a longer hosting term cheaper?
Over time, usually yes, because the low price lasts longer. Per month, not always: InMotion Launch’s 1-year price ($4.59) was lower than its 3-year price ($4.99) in our check, though it renews higher ($14.99 vs $13.99). You also pay the whole term upfront.
Can I avoid a renewal price increase?
Not completely. You can choose a long intro term, compare renewal prices before you buy, or move to another host’s intro offer when your term ends.
Justwebworld has published guides since 2012. How we write and update articles Report an error
