Are you looking for a hosting service that’s cheap but still best?
With so many web hosting providers offering “cheap” plans, it can be tough to find a reliable option that delivers strong performance without sacrificing quality.
Over the past few years, we’ve had our fair share of experience with different web hosts. Plus, we’ve also tried and tested out other hosting plans on the market.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the best cheap hosting companies, taking into account factors like affordability, features, performance, and customer support.
Top Cheap & Affordable Hosting Services
| Hosting Service | Overview | Pricing | Money Back | Free Domain | Free Email | Free SSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | Highlights user-friendly interface and beginner focus | $2.75/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Hostinger | Affordable with good features | $2.69/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| SiteGround | Optimized servers for fast loading times | $2.99/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| HostGator | Good balance of features and affordability | $2.52/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| DreamHost | Managed hosting specifically for WordPress sites | $2.59/mo | 97 days | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| GreenGeeks | Focuses on renewable energy | $2.95/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| InMotion Hosting | Utilizes cloud infrastructure for scalability | $2.29/mo | 90 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
How We Test and Review Hosting Services
For over a decade, we’ve put dozens of WordPress hosting companies to the test. Unlike other reviewers who rely on press releases, we take a hands-on approach.
First, we sign up for the hosting service and create a sample WordPress site that mimics a real user’s website, ensuring accurate results across all providers.
Then we use industry-standard tools like Pingdom, K6, and Bitcatcha to measure speed and reliability. We focus on what matters:
- We test speed and server response time, high-traffic handling, and stress situations.
- We check on affordability and value for money taking into account free domains, SSL, and CDN, along with money-back guarantees.
- Websites are critical, and downtime can be devastating. We look for companies with knowledgeable support teams available 24/7/365.
Based on our rigorous testing, we recommend carefully selected providers. They offer exceptional value without breaking the bank.
Why Trust WP101
At WP101, we have 16+ years of experience teaching WordPress to thousands of people. Our team of WordPress experts reviews every web hosting, plugin, and theme on real websites. We also regularly update our content to keep up with changes in WordPress and the marketing world to make sure you get the latest information.
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There’s a 7-day free trial along with a 14-day no-risk money-back guarantee so you can join with peace of mind and start learning today.
What’s in This Hosting Review Guide?
Here are the best cheap and affordable hosting services we’ll review in this guide. You can use the quicklinks below to jump to the service that interests you the most.
Let’s get started.
Best Cheap Web Hosting Providers
1. Bluehost
- Top-tier site speed & uptime
- 10GB SSD storage
- Custom WP themes
- 24/7 customer support
- Get started with Bluehost »
Officially recommended by WordPress.org, Bluehost offers beginner-friendly hosting plans with a focus on WordPress websites.
You’ll get one-click WordPress installation, and security features to protect your website.
It’s by far the most budget-friendly option as their plans start from just $2.75 per month. This includes free domain, free SSL, and free CDN.
The best part is that Bluehost is in the top tier of hosting performance. You’ll get 75% faster response times, quicker loads, and better experiences.
Overall, Bluehost is a solid choice for those starting their WordPress journey.
Bluehost Pros
- Bluehost comes officially recommended by WordPress.org
- Their 1 click WordPress installation makes it easy to get started
- There’s a setup wizard as well as a beginner-friendly dashboard
- You get smart AI tools to automate the process
- Security is taken seriously with data encryption, automatic backups, and malware scans
Bluehost Cons
- Their professional email inboxes are available as an add-on service. They offer a free 3-month trial of professional email plans.
- They offer chat support and phone support. There’s no email support.
Who is Bluehost Best For?
Bluehost is perfect for those looking to get started on a tight budget and scale up later on. You won’t have to compromise on hosting reliability, security, and performance.
Bluehost Pricing
Starts from $2.75 per month
✅ Free Domain ✅ Free SSL ✅ Free CDN
2. Hostinger
- 99.9% uptime and performance
- 100 GB SSD Storage
- Global data centers
- 24/7 customer support
- Free website migration
- Get started with Hostinger »
Hostinger is a powerful web hosting service that also comes recommended by WordPress.org. They have affordable pricing plans so you can get started even on a really low budget.
Once you sign up for their Premium plan, you can create up to 100 websites on a single hosting plan.
You’ll get weekly backups, unlimited bandwidth, and 100GB SSD storage.
Hostinger comes with an easy to use control panel, 1-click WordPress installation, and free pre-built templates to kickstart your website with ease.
Added to this, they’ll take care of auto updating your site, checking compatibility, and scanning for vulnerabilities.
Hostinger Pros
- They offer 1-click WordPress installation
- You can use the drag and drop website builder to create your site
- Hosting plans come with AI website creation options
- There are 150 designer-crafted website templates to choose from
- You can integrate with Google Analytics and your favorite marketing tools
- Built-in caching for faster website performance
- Advanced firewall and DDoS protection
- Free Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin
Hostinger Cons
- Free CDN access is available only on higher plans.
Who is Hostinger Best For?
Perfect for beginners and budget-conscious users. They offer user-friendly interfaces, very affordable plans, and a website builder for easy website creation.
Hostinger Pricing
Starts at $2.69 per month (+3 months free). There’s a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee too.
✅ Free Domain ✅ Free SSL ✅ Free Email
3. SiteGround
- 10GB web space
- Unmetered traffic
- Auto updates
- Unlimited email
- Unlimited databases
- Get started with SiteGround »
SiteGround is a popular web host that’s affordable, reliable, and eco-friendly as well.
They offer a StartUp plan for as low as $2.99 per month. You’ll save big time with this plan as it includes a free domain for the first year, free SSL, backups, security, email, and caching.
Their platform comes with enhanced security, eCommerce features, out-of-the-box caching, and much more.
SiteGround Pros
- All plans include managed WordPress features that include WordPress installation, WP Starter site-building wizard, and managed WordPress updates
- They proactively monitor and protect your website against malicious attacks
- Your site will be backed up daily
- Your website will be faster on account of their Supercache technology that’s enabled by default
- SiteGround is partnered with Google Cloud which matches 100% the energy consumed by their global operations with renewable energy and maintains a commitment to carbon neutrality.
SiteGround Cons
- Limited storage space on entry-level plans
Who is SiteGround Best For?
Ideal for performance-critical websites with high traffic or those needing top-tier speed and security. Their servers are optimized for fast loading times.
SiteGround Pricing
Starts at $2.99 per month. There’s a 30-day money back guarantee.
✅ Free Domain ✅ Free SSL ✅ Free Email
4. HostGator
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- 10GB SSD storage
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Pre-installed WordPress
- 24/7/365 support
- Get started with HostGator »
HostGator is one of the best web hosting companies that let’s you get started small and scale easily as you grow.
HostGator offers shared hosting plans at competitive prices, making them a good choice for budget-conscious website owners. However, unlike some super cheap options, they don’t skimp on features. You’ll get essentials like unmetered bandwidth and storage, a free domain name and SSL certificate (for the first year), and user-friendly tools for easy website management.
They give you unmetered bandwidth and plenty of storage so you can focus on creating amazing content, not worrying about traffic spikes or storage limitations.
WordPress comes pre-installed so setting up your site is much easier.
HostGator includes free basic email, SSL, domain for a year, and malware scanning.
HostGator Pros
- It comes with a user-friendly interface and one-click installation for popular applications like WordPress.
- You’ll get server-level caching to improve website loading times.
- You can easily upgrade your plan without having to migrate your website to a different provider.
- HostGator provides 24/7 customer support via chat, phone, or email, so you can get help whenever you need.
HostGator Cons
- You can backup your website as an add-on.
Who is HostGator Best For?
Well-suited for beginners, budget-conscious users, and those wanting to build an online store. They offer user-friendly features, affordable plans, and pre-installed eCommerce tools on some plans.
HostGator Pricing
Starts at $2.52 per month. There’s a 30 day money back guarantee.
✅ Free Domain ✅ Free SSL ✅ Free Email
5. DreamHost
- 100% guaranteed uptime
- Powerful caching
- Optimized servers
- 50 GB storage
- 24/7 expert support
- Get started with DreamHost »
DreamHost is a high-performance yet affordable web hosting provider.
It comes with a quickstart wizard and a drag and drop builder to create your website with ease. Added to this, there are 200+ starter site templates to choose from to match your brand and creative ideas.
On the basic Shared Starter plan, you’ll get free SSL, WP website builder, automated daily backups, and free domain privacy.
That said, DreamHost shines with their DreamPress managed WordPress hosting service. While it’s more expensive than their shared plans, it includes features like automatic backups, security updates, and performance optimizations, which can be valuable for businesses or individuals who prioritize a secure and user-friendly WordPress experience.
DreamHost Pros
- You get unlimited bandwidth and storage
- It includes a custom advanced and easy-to-use control panel
- There’s a WP website builder to design your store
- All your website data and content will automatically be backed up every day
- You can migrate your website to DreamHost for free
- DreamHost will automatically update your WordPress core
DreamHost Cons
- You must use the free domain within 3 months of sign up in order to retain it for the full year.
- Email is not included in the pricing of the Shared Starter plan. You can get started with professional email for as low as $1.67 per month. You can also upgrade to
a higher plan to get email included.
Who is DreamHost Best For?
A great fit for businesses or individuals prioritizing a secure and user-friendly WordPress experience. Their DreamPress managed WordPress hosting offers features like automatic backups and security updates.
DreamHost Pricing
Starts at $2.59 per month. There’s a 97-day money back guarantee.
✅ Free Domain ✅ Free SSL ✅ Free Privacy Protection
6. GreenGeeks
- 99.9% uptime
- 50GB to unlimited web space
- Unmetered transfer
- Auto WordPress updates
- Renewable energy
- 24/7 support
- Get started with GreenGeeks »
GreenGeeks stands out as a budget-friendly web hosting option with a focus on eco-friendly practices.
Even their basic plans include essentials like unmetered bandwidth, SSD storage, and a user-friendly control panel. Plus, you get almost everything free including a domain for 1 year, SSL, CDN, and 50 email accounts. So you can get started with a website without needing to pay extra for essential features.
As your website grows, GreenGeeks offers upgrade options to accommodate your increasing traffic and resource needs. This allows you to stay with the same provider while scaling your hosting plan.
If you’re environmentally conscious, GreenGeeks uses renewable energy to power their servers and plants trees with each new account. This can be a deciding factor for those who want to choose a sustainable web hosting provider.
GreenGeeks Pros
- Includes free WordPress install and auto updates.Built-in caching ensures faster speed and reduced loading times
- You can create unlimited databases
- They offer a 300% Green Energy Match
- GreenGeeks will plant 1 tree for every plan purchased
GreenGeeks Cons
- You can create only 1 website with standard performance on the base plan.
Who is GreenGeeks Best For?
Ideal for eco-conscious users seeking budget-friendly hosting with a commitment to renewable energy.
GreenGeeks Pricing
Starts at $2.95 per month. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
✅ Free Domain ✅ Free SSL ✅ Free Email
7. InMotion Hosting
- 99.99% uptime
- 2x speed & performance
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 100GB SSD
- 24/7 live chat
- Get started with Inmotion Hosting »
InMotion Hosting is another web host that offers an affordable starter plan so anyone can launch a website.
The basic Core plan comes with free SSL, unlimited bandwidth, and 10 email addresses. Added to this, InMotion Hosting also offers a security suite to keep your site and its data safe.
They use cloud technology for their hosting, which can translate to better performance and scalability compared to traditional shared hosting. If you anticipate traffic spikes and future growth, cloud technology is a big plus point.
InMotion Hosting Pros
- On the basic Core plan, you can create up to 2 websites and up to 10 free email addresses
- You get to choose your data center location (US and EU locations)
- The security suite comes with free SSL, hack & malware protection, DDoS protection, and backups
- You also get access to marketing tools including the website builder, free ad credits, and customer management tools
InMotion Hosting Cons
- Their pricing is slightly higher compared to other shared hosts.
Who is InMotion Hosting Best For?
If you’re a growing business that needs cloud technology for scalability and dedicated resources to handle increasing traffic, this is a great option.
InMotion Hosting Pricing
Starts at $2.29 per month
✅ Free SSL ✅ Free Email ✅ Free Website Builder
Get started with Inmotion Hosting »
That’s our list of the best cheap web hosting services to choose from. We hope you found this guide helpful in choosing the right plan whether you want to start a blog, business website, or eCommerce store.
Next, we’ll reveal our speed test and server load test process and results for the top 3 providers in this list.
Speed Test Results on the Top 3 Cheap Hosting Services
We’ve put three of the most popular cheap hosting providers to the test, analyzing their speed performance to help you make an informed decision. Here, we’ll dive into the results, revealing which budget-friendly options offer the best features, experience, and website speed.
1. Bluehost
Bluehost Speed Test
Here’s a snapshot of our Pingdom speed test on a website hosted with Bluehost.
The page loaded in 1 second which is pretty impressive considering we hadn’t turned on any caching plugin yet.
To get a clearer picture, we also tested the site on Bitcatcha that lets you see server response times from different geographical locations. Here’s the results for Bluehost:
Bluehost Server Load Test
We also ran a load impact test on Bluehost servers to see how the website would perform as the number of visitors increased.
In the snapshot below, the blue line represents the server load time and the purple line is the number of active virtual users on the site. Even as the number of users increased, the server load remained stable.
2. Hostinger
Hostinger Speed Test
We ran our demo website on Hostinger through speed and stress tests and here are our results:
First, the website loaded in less than 1 second which is awesome! However, full disclosure, this website didn’t have much traffic so this may not be the full picture.
When we tested it with Bitcatcha, we can see a more accurate server response time from different locations all over the world.
What’s promising here is that for all locations, it loaded in under a second.
What stands out here is that Hostinger is super fast in Europe and North America.
So if you’re starting these regions, Hostinger is a great choice. They have data centers across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America.
Hostinger Server Load Test
To test the server load time, we built up traffic to 50 unique visitors simultaneously. This method allows us to see how the server would handle increased requests from multiple connections at once.
In the snapshot above, the blue line represents the server load time and the purple line is the number of active virtual users on the site.
Hostinger performed well even as the number of users increased – the server load remained steady.
3. SiteGround
SiteGround Speed Test
Here are the results from our SiteGround performance tests:
Between my top 3 hosting picks, SiteGroound loaded the fastest at 417 milliseconds. That’s super fast and is a plus for user experience and SEO.
Here are our Bitcatcha results to test server response time from various geographical locations.
Overall, our test shows that you should have no issues with SiteGround across the globe.
SiteGround Server Load Time
To test the server load time, we built up traffic to 50 unique visitors simultaneously. This method allows us to see how the server would handle increased requests from multiple connections at once.
In the snapshot below, the purple line is the number of active virtual users on the site and the blue line represents the server load time
As you can see, the SiteGround’s server performed well and stayed stable through the test.
That brings us to the end of this guide on cheap hosting solutions. To recap, here’s our final verdict on the best cheap hosting plans.
Which is the Best WordPress Cheap Hosting Service?
| Hosting Service | Overview | Pricing | Money Back | Free Domain | Free Email | Free SSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | Highlights user-friendly interface and beginner focus | $2.75/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Hostinger | Affordable with good features | $2.69/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| SiteGround | Optimized servers for fast loading times | $2.99/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| HostGator | Good balance of features and affordability | $2.52/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| DreamHost | Managed hosting specifically for WordPress sites | $2.59/mo | 97 days | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| GreenGeeks | Focuses on renewable energy | $2.95/mo | 30 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| InMotion Hosting | Utilizes cloud infrastructure for scalability | $2.29/mo | 90 days | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
FAQs on Cheap Hosting Service?
What is the cheapest server host?
- Bluehost: Reliable, beginner-friendly, and guaranteed uptime
- Hostinger: Consistently ranks among the cheapest with feature-rich plans.
- GreenGeeks: Eco-friendly hosting with competitive pricing.
How much is the cheapest web hosting?
Cheap hosting plans start at around $1.99 – $3.99 per month with introductory offers. Be sure to consider renewal rates, which can be higher than introductory prices.
Who is the cheapest domain host?
Similar to website hosting, domain registration prices can fluctuate. Namecheap and Google Domains are known for offering affordable domain registrations. However, some registrars might bundle domain registration with web hosting for a discounted rate.
Is Hostinger cheap?
Yes, Hostinger is considered a cheap web hosting provider. They offer very affordable plans with good features, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious website owners and small businesses.
What is cloud hosting?
In simple terms, here’s how cloud hosting works:
- Your website lives on a network of servers, not just one machine.
- These servers are spread out across the internet, making it very reliable.
- You can easily grow your website (more visitors) without needing a whole new server.
- You only pay for the resources you use, making it cost-effective.
What is VPS and dedicated hosting?
Both VPS hosting (Virtual Private Server) and dedicated hosting are website hosting solutions that offer more power and control compared to shared hosting, the most common type.
VPS plans are like having your own private apartment within the building. It’s still part of the same physical server, but it’s virtually partitioned using software. This gives you a guaranteed share of the server’s resources, offering more control and stability compared to shared hosting.
Dedicated hosting is like renting the entire building for yourself. You have exclusive access to all the server’s resources (CPU, memory, storage) and complete control over the software and configuration.
Which is the fastest free hosting?
We don’t recommend free web hosting plans as most of them require you to host a domain such as mysite.freehostingserver.com. Our recommendation for the fastest affordable host is SiteGround.
Which hosting is best for beginners?
Bluehost. They offer low-cost web hosting plans as well as an easy-to-use dashboard and cPanel, free SSL certificate, and 1-click WordPress installation.
Which is the cheapest plan to host a website?
Hosting packages start as low as $1.99 per month. However, when considering everything that’s included in the plan, we think Bluehost offers the cheapest plan at $2.75 per month inclusive of SSL, domain, CDN, and more.
Can I host unlimited websites?
Yes, providers like SiteGround lets you host unlimited websites on their higher plans like GrowBig. You have to bear the cost of the domains though.
Are there other hosting companies not mentioned in this list?
Yes there are hosting platforms like GoDaddy, Ionos, and A2 hosting. We limited this list to just the top 7 options that we recommend for cheap hosting.
Is there any hosting plan with unlimited storage?
Be cautious of web hosting plans that advertise “unlimited storage.” While it might sound appealing, there are usually catches and limitations to consider.
Most providers with “unlimited” plans have fair use policies in place. This means they set limits on how much data you can realistically store or transfer each month. Exceeding these limits could result in warnings, throttling (slowing down your website), or even suspension of your account.
Instead, look for affordable web hosting plans with generous storage. Many providers offer plans with a substantial amount of disk space and storage space (e.g., 100 GB or more) which may be sufficient for most websites.
Can I host my own website?
Technically yes, but it’s not recommended for most people. Self-hosting requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain a server, which can be complex and time-consuming. Web hosting providers handle the server side for you. For as little as $2, you can rent space on a server and focus on building and managing your website.
If you’re concerned about security issues on shared servers, consider dedicated servers. These plans are more expensive but give you access to your own server, more resources, and security.
Once you choose a hosting plan and get a domain name, you can install WordPress and start building your website. You can use the default WordPress customizer or choose a website builder like SeedProd or Thrive Theme Builder.
If you want WordPress experts to build your WordPress site, improve your site’s performance, or help with WordPress maintenance, check out Pro Services from WPBeginner.
Their experts will:
- Design the website you’ve dreamed of complete with your professional logo and branding
- Audit your site for speed and performance and also take measures to improve loading time
- Handle everything behind the scenes, monitor uptime, and update your WordPress core
- Clean up your WordPress site in case it gets hacked
If you want to learn how to setup, design, launch, and maintain your site on your own, then you’ll want to check out our step-by-step video tutorials that are easy to follow and always up to date to help you unlock the full potential of WordPress:
Sign up for WordPress 101 course »
There’s a 7-day free trial along with a 14-day no risk money back guarantee so you can join with peace of mind and start learning today.