I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to cheap WordPress hosting. I know it’s not the most exciting thing to be passionate about, but hey, don’t judge.
In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $5 per month for hosting over the past ten years. I’m talking about hosting my own personal website projects, not the site you’re reading this on right now – hosting this one actually costs quite a bit. 🙈
But back to the topic! I don’t believe that hosting a small- to mid-size WordPress website should ever cost a lot. The task just isn’t that complex, and most of the so-called “premium” features hosts try to upsell are completely unnecessary.
In this post, I’ll go through my top picks for people looking for reliable but affordable hosting for their WordPress sites. I’ll summarize what each host is good for and group them into four main categories. You can see my top recommendations for each in this quick summary table:
| Host | Best for | Price from | / | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | 🏆 best for new sites | $1.99 / mo. | 0.75s / 99.99% | (more) |
| IONOS | 💵 cheapest short term | $1.00 / mo. | 1.74s / 100% | (more) |
| Namecheap | 💸 cheapest long-term host | $3.58 / mo. | 1.47s / 100% | (more) |
| Hosting.com | solid for new sites | $1.99 / mo. | 1.66s / 99.99% | (more) |
| DreamHost | solid option for long-term hosting | $2.59 / mo. | 3s / 99.97% | (more) |
| WordPress.com | cheapest managed host | $2.75 / mo. | 0.8s / 100% | (more) |
| InMotion | great for up to 10 sites | $3.29 / mo. | 0.88s / 100% | (more) |
| Hostinger | $2.69 / mo. | 1.62s / 100% | (more) |
This post has received 100+ updates over the last five years. Last updates done:
• Pricing data and features listed verified on September 16, 2025.
• All performance and uptime data updated on September 1, 2025.
You can find more details about the methodology at the bottom of this post, but here’s the short version: We test hosting providers by setting up experimental sites, running performance tests, and tracking factors like pricing and uptime over time. Since 2016, we’ve also gathered user feedback through surveys (the latest one was published on WPShout, our sister site) to provide a well-rounded view of each host’s strengths and weaknesses. The conclusions you’re seeing here are based on all this research.
For each host I list, I cover the pricing in several key ways:
- ✅ First, I focus on the entry-level plan in their lineup, since that’s probably what you’re most interested in. I show you the introductory price * you get as a new customer during the first term.
- ✅ I also provide longer-term calculations **, showing you what it would cost to stick with that host for five and ten years.
Web hosts do a lot to convince new users to sign up. Keep in mind, though, that you’re getting this low price for your first term only. Meaning, if your initial contract is valid for one year, then after that year, the price will increase.
Once your first contract is done, you’re going to need to renew at an increased price. I help you calculate what those long-term costs would be if you stay with the host for five and then ten years.
Here are the leaders in cheap hosting divided in a couple of categories:
- Cheapest hosts for a new WordPress website
- Cheapest for long-term hosting (5+ years)
- Cheapest managed experience with WordPress
- Cheapest for hosting multiple WordPress sites
Cheapest hosts for a new WordPress website
Bluehost
- 🏆 best for new sites and cheapest for 3 years
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- From: $1.99 / month, renews at $9.99-$11.99 / month
- Sites allowed: 10
- Traffic/bandwidth: ~40,000 visits monthly
- Disk space: 10 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 1-year cost: $35.88
- Full 3-year cost: $71.64
- Full 5-year cost: $359.40
- Click to see full long-term costs
Bluehost is a top pick for WordPress beginners who want the cheapest way to launch a site.
A one-year plan starts at just $2.99 per month, totaling $35.88 upfront. That includes a free domain for that initial year, one-click WordPress setup, and easy-to-use site builders – great for beginners who want a hassle-free start. Moreover, the basic plan supports up to 10 websites, which is a great deal for small projects.
If you want an even better deal, get it for three years. Then the monthly price drops to $1.99. That said, keep in mind that after the first contract, prices jump to $9.99 per month (when renewing for three years), or to $11.99 (when renewing for one or two years).
Performance is solid, with reliable uptime and fast loading speeds, especially in the U.S. and Europe.
In summary, if you’re launching a new website and need an ultra-cheap, short-term hosting solution, Bluehost is one of the best options for your first year. According to our user survey, Bluehost earned a decent user rating of 7.10 / 10, too. Just be aware of the price hike if you plan to stay with them for the long run.
Learn more about Bluehost in this review.
IONOS
- 💵 cheapest on year one
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐
- From: $1.00 / month, renews at $6.00 / month
- Sites allowed: 1
- Traffic/bandwidth: unmetered
- Disk space: 25 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 1-year cost: $12.00
- Full 5-year cost: $288.00
- Click to see full long-term costs
IONOS is an industry veteran that offers one of the most budget-friendly hosting solutions, especially for short-term commitments. Starting at just $1.00 per month for the first year, it’s the absolute cheapest option if you’re looking to keep your initial hosting costs to a minimum – totaling just $12.00 for the first year.
Yes, IONOS is cheaper than Bluehost. However, we don’t have as much data on IONOS compared to Bluehost, a more reputable company that has been tested by many more WordPress users. For this reason, I’m hesitant to place IONOS in the top spot solely based on its lower price. But if pricing is your main priority, then IONOS could be a good option for you.
IONOS also provides a free domain for the first year and one email address, which is a great value for new site owners on a tight budget.
For those considering long-term hosting, IONOS remains a competitive choice. The 10-year cost comes out to $648.00, making it one of the cheapest options over that period, too.
However, be aware of one thing here with the prices listed. IONOS is tricky with its plan structure. So the cheapest plan for the first year is the second-tier plan. But then, it gets more expensive the second year. So to go for the cheapest solution available, you’d need to start with the second-tier plan at $1.00 per month, and then downgrade to the entry-level plan for the reminder of your IONOS adventure.
With a user rating of 7.30 in our survey, IONOS offers a reliable, budget-conscious solution. If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest hosting option to get your site off the ground, especially for the first year, IONOS is hard to beat.
Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting)
- 💵 3rd cheapest on year one
- Editor rating: ⭐
- From: $1.99 / month, renews at $11.99 / month
- Sites allowed: 1
- Traffic/bandwidth: unlimited
- Disk space: 15 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 1-year cost: $23.88
- Full 5-year cost: $589.80
- Click to see full long-term costs
Hosting.com – formerly known as A2 Hosting – is just a solid pick for hosting various types of websites – including WordPress, but also sites running a different CMS.
A one-year plan costs $1.99 per month – the plan lets you host one site. That’s a good initial deal – totaling $23.88 for the first year – but keep in mind that the prices rise quite a lot after first term. The renewals switch to $11.99 per month…long-term costs thus increase accordingly, to $589.80 for five years.
This plan includes a free domain (for the first year), 15 GB of disk space, unmetered bandwidth, and strong security. You can also set up 5 email accounts on your plan – always useful. This host is fast and reliable, perfect for handling new sites running WordPress.
Users rated Hosting.com 7.76 in our survey, showing strong overall satisfaction.
Cheapest for long-term hosting (5+ years)
If you’re not just looking for a short-term hosting solution, but instead want a provider you can rely on for years to come, here are the top options based on our tests:
Namecheap
- 💸 cheapest long-term host
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- From: $3.58 / month, renews at ~$5.50 / month
- Sites allowed: 1
- Traffic/bandwidth: ~50,000 visits monthly
- Disk space: 10 GB
- Free domain: ❌
- Full 5-year cost: $280.56
- Full 10-year cost: $588.96
- Click to see full long-term costs
Namecheap is one of the best cheap WordPress hosting options on the market, especially for long-term plans.
A two-year plan costs $3.58 per month, or $4.07 per month if you want to get it for one year. But the real savings come with longer commitments – $280.56 for five years or $588.96 for ten. No other stand-alone host offers a better long-term deal for ten years.
Despite the low price, performance holds up. The basic plan supports one site, includes 10 GB of storage, and handles about 50,000 monthly visits. It doesn’t include a free domain, but the hosting savings make up for it.
Users rated Namecheap 8.03/10 in our survey, praising its mix of affordability and performance. Uptime and load speeds are solid, too, which you can see below.
If you want the best long-term hosting deal and don’t mind buying a domain separately, Namecheap is a top choice.
DreamHost
- 💸 2nd cheapest long-term host
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐
- From: $2.59 / month, renews at $5.99-$6.99 / month
- Sites allowed: 1
- Traffic/bandwidth: unlimited
- Disk space: 50 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 5-year cost: $261.00
- Full 10-year cost: $608.40
- Click to see full long-term costs
DreamHost is one of the most affordable WordPress hosting providers available, and especially long term. It’s the second cheapest shared host for a ten-year span.
It starts at $2.59 per month, with a renewal rate of $5.99 or $6.99 (depending on your subsequent contract length). You can host one site with 50 GB of storage and unlimited traffic. A free domain is included for the first year.
WordPress comes pre-installed. Daily backups and automatic updates keep your site safe. You can also use their simple site builder or get help from their AI setup tool.
Support is US-based mostly. Chat is available during business hours. Tickets, of course, can be added all day and night.
Speed and uptime are okay for the most part, which you can see below. The control panel is what really stands out about DreamHost. I’ve been enjoying it for years now.
Overall, DreamHost is a solid pick if you want a low-cost, reliable host for one site and for a longer period of time especially.
Cheapest managed experience with WordPress
* A quick explainer: by “managed WordPress experience,” I mean a setup where you don’t have to handle technical tasks like installing WordPress, updating it, or managing plugins. Instead, you can focus solely on your content with minimal hassle. However, keep in mind that if you’re looking for both affordability and a managed solution, there will be tradeoffs. Most notably, you won’t be able to use WordPress plugins, and some other features may be limited.
WordPress.com
- 🙌 cheapest managed experience
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐
- From: $2.75 / month, renews at $2.75 / month
- Sites allowed: 1
- Traffic/bandwidth: unmetered
- Disk space: 6 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 5-year cost: $177.00
- Full 10-year cost: $345.00
- Click to see full long-term costs
WordPress.com – the commercial leg of the WordPress project – handles your entire WordPress experience all in one place, making it ideal for those who want something hands-off.
Pricing starts at $4 per month on a one-year plan or $2.75 per month for three years. WordPress.com also has promo offers in some locations depending on the country you’re connecting from, so you might see slightly different pricing.
The WordPress.com team manages everything, so you don’t need technical skills. However, this also means that if something goes wrong, you have to count on them to fix it eventually. You also can’t customize the backend directly.
Beginners will find the limited themes and basic customization options easy to use. However, deeper customization requires upgrading to a pricier plan. The entry-level plan only includes preset themes and minimal options.
A major downside is the lack of plugin support on lower-tier plans, too. To use third-party plugins, you must upgrade to the $17.50 per month plan (three-year contract). Without them, you’re stuck with built-in features, which work for simple sites but may feel restrictive.
WordPress.com is great for hassle-free site management, but it’s not the best choice for users who want full control.
Not sure what the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com is? Read this.
Cheapest for hosting multiple WordPress sites
In this final category of budget hosts, it’s harder to pinpoint a single top choice. That’s because each host limits the number of sites differently – some allow 10, others 25, and some go up to 100 or even “unlimited.”
Rather than guessing how many sites you might need, I’ll provide a quick shortlist of hosts along with their site limitations. Afterward, I’ll introduce some new hosts that haven’t been mentioned yet.
Here are the entry level prices – when you sign up as a new customer (you can sort through these tables by clicking on the head rows):
| Host | # of sites | Single month | Monthly on 1-year plan | Monthly on 2-year plan | Monthly on 3-year plan | Regular monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | 10 | $15.99 | $2.99 | $1.99 | $11.99 | |
| InMotion | 10 | $16.49 | $5.09 | $5.49 | $5.49 | $19.49 |
| Hostinger | 25 | $11.99 | $3.59 | $3.14 | $2.69 * | $10.99 |
* Hostinger offers a 4-year plan instead of a 3-year one.
Here’s the long-term cost of hosting with each company:
| Host | # of sites | Full 1-year cost | Full 3-year cost | Full 5-year cost | Full 10-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | 10 | $35.88 | $71.64 | $359.40 | $934.80 |
| InMotion | 10 | $61.08 | $197.64 | $641.40 | $1,762.80 |
| Hostinger | 25 | $43.08 | $207.24 | $261.00 | $920.40 |
Now, let’s highlight a few newcomers to the list:
InMotion Hosting
- 👍 great for up to 10 sites
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐
- Entry price for 1 site: $3.29 / month
- Entry price for 10 sites: $5.09 / month
- Sites allowed: 1-40
- Traffic/bandwidth: unlimited
- Disk space: 100-300 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 5-year cost (1 site): $408.60
- Full 10-year cost (1 site): $1,110.00
- Click to see full long-term costs for 1 site
- Full 5-year cost (10 sites): $641.40
- Full 10-year cost (10 sites): $1,762.80
- Click to see full long-term costs for 10 sites
InMotion Hosting is a great choice for users who need affordable hosting with the flexibility to manage multiple websites. With its entry-level plan starting at $3.29 per month on a one-year contract, you can host one site, but then the other plans scale well if you need more.
Over the long term, the cost remains competitive, too, with five years of hosting for 1 site totaling $408.60 and ten years costing $1,110.00. Then, if you need more, InMotion’s $5.09 per month plan supports up to 10 websites, making it a nice budget-friendly option. Long-term pricing is competitive for that plan too. It adds up to $641.40 for five years or $1,762.80 for ten.
It’s a solid choice for managing several websites affordably while leaving room to grow. Users rated InMotion 8.00 in our latest survey.
Hostinger
- 💵 cheapest for multiple sites
- Editor rating: ⭐⭐
- Entry price for 25 websites: $2.69 / month, renews at $10.99 / month
- Sites allowed: 25
- Traffic/bandwidth: ~25,000 visits monthly
- Disk space: 25 GB
- Free domain: ✅ (first year)
- Full 5-year cost: $261.00
- Full 10-year cost: $920.40
- Click to see full long-term costs
Hostinger is a top option if you’re looking for budget-friendly hosting that can handle multiple websites. For $2.69 a month, Hostinger lets you host up to 25 websites with 25 GB of disk space.
The first year costs $43.08 in total, and if you’re planning for the long haul, the five-year cost comes in at a very affordable $261.00, making it one of the cheapest long-term options out there. Even the 10-year cost is relatively okay at $920.40, which is great news if you’re looking to avoid price hikes down the road.
It’s also good that Hostinger doesn’t cut corners on features. You get a free domain for the first year, SSL, one-click WordPress installations, and a nice overall user panel with all the features easily accessible.
It’s perfect for small to medium-sized websites. If you’re handling up to 25,000 visits per month, Hostinger has you covered. Customers rate Hostinger highly, too, giving it a solid 8.11 in our latest user survey.
Learn more about Hostinger in this in-depth review, or this handy guide to Hostinger pricing.
My top recommendations
Here are the top choices again, based on what they’re best suited for:
- Bluehost – Best for launching a new WordPress website. A reputable choice with solid performance.
- IONOS – The cheapest short-term option, with a $1.00 per month plan for the first year.
- Namecheap – Best cheapest solution for long-term hosting. Offers some of the lowest overall cost for 5- and 10-year plans.
- Hosting.com – A good deal for new websites that want an affordable setup for the first year. Keep in mind that the renewal gets a bit expensive, though.
- DreamHost – Another solid option for the long term. But this one also comes with a free domain for the first year (unlike Namecheap) and an easy to use panel.
- InMotion Hosting – Great if you want to host up to 10 websites, but there are plans that handle up to 40.
- Hostinger – Great for those needing flexibility and multiple websites. Solid performance with robust features.
- WordPress.com – Best for a hands-off, fully managed experience. Ideal for beginners who want WordPress hosting without the need for technical management or frequent updates.
FAQs about cheap WordPress hosting
IONOS. It starts at $1.00/month for the first year. Total cost: $12.00.
Yes. It’s beginner-friendly, fast, and includes a free domain – all for $1.99/month for three years. It’s great for that initial period, but renewals jump to $9.99–$11.99/month.
Namecheap wins here. Five years costs $280.56. Ten years: $588.96. No free domain, but still a bargain.
They’re only for your first term. After that, prices go up – sometimes a bit, sometimes a lot. Always check renewal rates.
No. WordPress.com hosts everything for you. With WordPress.org, you need your own host. Read this for more.
Yes, but only with some. Bluehost lets you host 10 sites, and Hostinger supports 25 sites on its entry plan.
If you want 10 sites, go with Bluehost. For up to 25, Hostinger is cheaper long term.
WordPress.com. It manages everything. But you can’t use plugins unless you upgrade to a more expensive plan.
Most do for the first year. Choose: Bluehost, IONOS, Hosting.com, DreamHost, WordPress.com, InMotion, Hostinger.
We update all info in this post every month.
About our methodology
Since 2009, we’ve reviewed over 20 hosting providers using expert analysis, real user feedback, and performance data. Our in-house team tests everything hands-on, and we run annual surveys to gather insights from real users like you.
Here’s how we test: We sign up for hosting plans, set up test sites, and load them with demo content. Then, we track global load speeds, monitor uptime, and evaluate pricing, features, storage, and bandwidth. We also check for hidden fees and discounts to give you the full picture.
Since 2016, we’ve run anonymous user surveys to collect honest feedback on different hosting providers. These surveys help us understand what works (and what doesn’t) so we can recommend only the best hosts based on real experiences.
I hope this guide helped you find an affordable WordPress hosting option that fits your needs. If you have questions or need more details on any host, drop a comment!
Can you please add Elementor Hosting to your test cases next time.
Want to see how the Google Cloud C2 servers they brag about compare to the rest.
and AWS Lightsail too please…
Kudos to Hosting Home for consistently delivering top-notch web hosting solutions! Your commitment to reliability and performance truly sets you apart. I’ve been a satisfied customer for 5 years, and the level of support and features provided has been exceptional. Keep up the excellent work, Hosting Home – you’ve got my trust and recommendation
Or start the conversation in our Facebook group for WordPress professionals. Find answers, share tips, and get help from other WordPress experts. Join now (it’s free)!