How Much Should I Pay For Web Hosting

How Much Should I Pay for Web Hosting? $1 Plans to $100 Compared (Feb. 2024)

Written by: Alexandra Anderson

Alexandra Anderson

Alexandra is a web marketer, Agile Product Owner, and die-hard wordsmith who's contributed to HostingAdvice, InMotion Hosting, HostGator, and other prominent hosting and technology blogs, as well as Forbes. She has a master's degree in information technology from Virginia Tech and more than 10 years of experience building websites, advising on web and mobile app design, and crafting content that engages and converts. Her primary subject matter expertise spans WordPress, UX design, Agile project management, and, of course, web hosting.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to our team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Florida. Today, she edits HostingAdvice content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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With all the plans and technologies swirling around the marketplace, those looking to start their first website may be left wondering: How much should I pay for web hosting?

Fortunately, hosting services are probably cheaper than you might expect. Even though you can find free hosting services online, the trick is finding the provider that offers the most value. You’ll definitely want to shop around for the hosting company that provides the most useful features, helpful support, stringent security, and high-powered performance for the most reasonable price.

Whether you’re setting up your first website or your 50th, you’re smart to compare your options across the marketplace. In this ultimate guide to web hosting expenses, we’ll look at some of the most competitive pricing structures, plus additional costs to be aware of and opportunities to save.

How Much Should I Pay for Shared Hosting?

First, we have the cheapest of the hosting types. Shared hosting is a service in which the company owns X number of servers and hosts multiple client websites on each physical machine. Users share server resources and enjoy lower prices as a result. Rather than covering all costs of operating your server and its supporting infrastructure, customers can typically expect to pay around $5 per month for a solid shared hosting plan.

We took the liberty of reviewing the most popular shared hosting providers based on their affordability. Take note of the hosts that deliver utmost price-vs-quality value to users below.

CHEAP RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Unlimited everything, from storage to databases
  • FREE site builder & WP performance upgrades
  • FREE daily or weekly backups
  • Custom control panel and auto-installation scripts
  • SSH access & unlimited FREE SSL certificates
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 50 GB SSD - 200 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

As the shared hosting market becomes increasingly saturated, unlimited storage, bandwidth, and email accounts have become surprisingly average. Hostinger, however, extends the routine, expected metrics to greater lengths — the number of websites, databases, FTP users, subdomains, and parked domains are all unrestricted for most customers.

Go to full review »
CHEAP RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • FREE cPanel integration and Softaculous apps
  • Auto daily backups and web application firewall
  • Reliable and redundant cloud servers
  • FREE SSL encryption and website migration
  • 99.99% uptime guarantee
  • Get started on HostArmada now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 45 days
Disk Space 15 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
HostArmada: Our Expert's Review
Lynn Cadet (HostingAdvice.com):

HostArmada’s cloud network spans four continents, with datacenters in Europe, the US, Asia, and Australia. Its server redundancy and website optimization features allow users to run stable and performant sites for end users across the globe while running a simplified hosting environment.

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CHEAP RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • 1-click install for WordPress, Drupal and 400 others
  • Unlimited email accounts, databases & bandwidth
  • 24/7 tech support for beginners and pros alike
  • 12-month or 36-month plan at $2.95 /month
  • Anytime unconditional money-back guarantee
  • Get started on ScalaHosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.95
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 50 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
ScalaHosting: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

It's tough to argue with a shared hosting service that comes with all-SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth, databases, and email accounts. ScalaHosting provides all the above and several other premium features for a very affordable price.

Go to full review »

See more cheap shared hosting plans »

How Much Should I Pay for a Website Builder?

Aside from the costs of hosting your website, someone has to orchestrate its design and development. There are several ways to skin this cat, but one of the latest trends is to use some sort of drag-and-drop interface that allows you to visually plan and construct your site layout without fussing with HTML, CSS, or programming languages. The aptly named site builders strip away the coding component of web development and deliver a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) experience instead. Web builders tend to come in two flavors.

Option #1: There are editing environments you access at a website, such as Weebly.com or Wix.com, that are hosted by a company you have zero interaction with. You mock up, customize, and publish your own site directly from your browser. These builders typically start off free, but you’ll quickly become annoyed by the storage and traffic limitations, the ads that appear on your site, and the lack of flexibility in general. Should you choose to upgrade to a paid plan, it may cost you anywhere from $8 to $28 per month.

Option #2: There are similar site-building tools offered as a free perk to signing up with a host. You pay the monthly hosting fee and enjoy the design simplicity the likes of Weebly or another WYSIWYG interface have to offer.

We recommend choosing a hosting plan that includes a powerful site builder in its feature list. These website builder packages typically fall in the $5 to $10 ballpark, and you’ll find reviews of our favorite website builder services from either option below.

WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • No coding skills needed with drag-and-drop builder
  • 100s of templates with niche-specific designs
  • Add features via the App Market and Wix Events
  • Easily create ecommerce functionality easily
  • Great way to build small sites on a budget
  • Get started on Wix now.
Starting Price/Mo. $0.00
Money Back Guarantee 14-day FREE trial
Disk Space 2 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Wix: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Website building is where Wix shines. The thousands of templates, the intuitive editor, the industry-leading designs that cater to a variety of specific fields and use cases — all these facets represent a platform that excels at facilitating easy web design for the non-tech-savvy user.

Go to full review »
WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • No coding skills necessary with MyWebsite Creator
  • Free domain name or transfer your existing site
  • FREE social media and marketing widgets
  • Pro templates with pre-filled text and images
  • Multilingual support and tools for SEO
  • Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.00
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
1&1 IONOS: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

If you're in need of a one-stop shop for designing and launching a website, you should be pleased to hear that 1&1 IONOS offers its own custom website building tools for both desktop and mobile devices. In addition to a free domain and email address, along with unlimited storage space, the 1&1 IONOS MyWebsite platform includes all the essentials for starting a site from scratch.

Go to full review »
WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.6/5.0
  • Drag-and-drop design from custom tools
  • FREE access to hundreds of specialized templates
  • Built-in ecommerce and payment processing
  • Easily switch among widescreen, desktop, tablet, and mobile previews
  • Support for 31 languages and 99.9% uptime
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 50 GB SSD - 200 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Whether you're taking your first foray into website hosting or are a developer looking to save some time, a strong website builder can dramatically streamline the creation process and enable users to launch a website in five minutes or less. Fortunately for customers, Hostinger has invested heavily in crafting an impressive visual editor sure to appeal to users of all levels of experience.

Go to full review »

See more website builder plans »

How Much Should I Pay for WordPress or Other CMS Hosting?

While the first three sections of this behemoth guide outline the traditional hosting avenues — shared, virtually private, or dedicated servers — the 2000s brought on a new wave of marketing these options. Application-specific hosting is more commonly known as WordPress hosting, Joomla hosting, Magento hosting, and so on.

On the surface, these services are no different than conventional shared hosting (unless specifically labeled as VPS, dedicated, etc.), but deeper inspection will reveal features that cater to whichever platform you’re hoping to use to manage your web project. The companies that excel in delivering application-specific hosting don’t just push the buzzwords that appeal to those audiences to the top of the landing page (e.g., shoving “one-click installations” and “automatic plugin updates” down our throats). The best WordPress, Joomla, Magento, or other platform hosting providers customize plans to include exclusive features that benefit these application users. Let’s take a look at what you can expect to pay for plans of this class and caliber.

Best Deals on WordPress Website Hosting

First, we have the queen of blogging and all-around website management. WordPress powers almost one-third of the world’s websites, and hosting companies have been wise to capitalize on this popularity. Basic WordPress hosting plans typically offer single-click installations for the software, unlimited disk storage and traffic allowances for your WordPress site, and perhaps a free domain name registration to get you started. Sound familiar? Yes, the basic plans described are remarkably similar to generic shared hosting offerings, which can be had for $2 to $10 per month, as discussed above.

Preferred WordPress hosts go above and beyond with bonus features such as complementary software installations, WP-optimized caching tools, staging environments, and updates to the core and/or plugins conducted by experts. These are the premium WordPress hosting features we look for — and they can still be had for as little as $5 per month. Sure, you’ll pay extra for advanced management features, but we’ll get to that later. First, check out our favorite hosts to recommend to WordPress users.

WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Recommended by WordPress.org since 2005
  • Automatic WordPress updates and initial install
  • FREE WordPress themes in the Bluehost Marketplace
  • 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email
  • Get exclusive discounts on WordPress plans
  • Get started on Bluehost now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 100 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Bluehost: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

Bluehost's WordPress hosting packages are aimed at first-time site owners and personal bloggers. These services come at a premium compared to the standard Bluehost web hosting (basic shared hosting) plans, but the WordPress optimization and platform-specific resources are arguably worth the cost.

Go to full review »
WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Officially endorsed by WordPress.org
  • FREE migration plugin or automated installation
  • Pre-installed Git, 3 caching levels, and FREE CDN
  • FREE WP setup wizard, staging, and auto-updates
  • Fast, 24/7 support via custom chat system
  • Get started on SiteGround now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name New or Transfer
SiteGround: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Want a hassle-free, WordPress-optimized hosting service. SiteGround has thought of everything you need to get your site up and running.

Go to full review »
WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • 1-click WP install, PHP 7+, HTTP/2, and NGINX
  • All-in-one security protections from BitNinja
  • WordPress optimizations boost performance
  • No price markup for WordPress services
  • Daily backups and FREE SSL certificate
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 100 GB SSD - 200 GB NVMe
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

As much as we love WordPress, one of our biggest pet peeves is when hosting providers exploit the popularity of the world's most-used content management system by offering so-called WordPress hosting that, in reality, is exactly the same as the host's shared server plans. Fortunately, Hostinger's ultra-fast infrastructure and easy access to SSL certificates and backups sets up the company to outperform the vast majority of the violators of our admittedly made-up rule.

Go to full review »

See more hosts for WordPress »

Best Deals on Joomla Website Hosting

Developers love Joomla, a content management system (CMS) that owns the second-largest share of the market. As is the case with WordPress, we look for Joomla-specific perks, such as optimized hardware configurations or official partnership with the Joomla development team, when recommending a host to this user base.

Many of the leading Joomla hosts work hand in hand with the open-source community of developers actively working on the platform. The companies develop custom tools to meet the ever-evolving needs of Joomla users.

On average, you can expect to pay what you would for any shared hosting plan — but be sure to vet the features list to ensure the service is truly Joomla-optimized (or as much so as you’re hoping for). Our favorite Joomla hosting plans are outlined below.

JOOMLA RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Simplified Joomla installation and configuration
  • 24/7 US-based support with Joomla experience
  • Up to $200 in search engine ad credits available
  • Shared platform is trusted by millions of site owners
  • FREE SSL certificate and domain registration
  • Get started on Bluehost now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 100 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Joomla Hosting Plans www.bluehost.com/joomla
Bluehost: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

Bluehost offers everything you need to get a Joomla-built online store live quickly. Starting with a free domain and 1-click Joomla installation, you can easily customize a professional-looking online marketplace and get noticed in search results.

Go to full review »
JOOMLA RATING
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0
  • Official hosting partner of the Joomla project
  • FREE Joomla site transfer or 1-click setup
  • Amazing speed and security features
  • Complementary staging area for your Joomla site
  • Auto-updates to the Joomla Core and plugins
  • Get started on SiteGround now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name New or Transfer
Joomla Hosting Plans www.siteground.com/joomla
SiteGround: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

SiteGround’s Joomla web hosting services cater to speed- and security-minded site owners. The team gets you up and running quickly, then monitors your site 24/7 to prevent downtime. With a free staging area, you can test out changes to your Joomla...

Go to full review »
JOOMLA RATING
★★★★★ 4.6/5.0
  • Dependable hosting with modern technologies
  • FREE Joomla site migration to your new plan
  • Unmetered bandwidth and 1-click installs
  • FREE email marketing tools to connect with visitors
  • Join thousands of users already using HostGator
  • Get started on HostGator now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.64
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Joomla Hosting Plans www.hostgator.com/joomla
HostGator: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

We already consider HostGator as our favorite and most trusted host to help build a website, and supporting a Joomla environment is no different. The company balances forward-thinking tech with user-friendly Joomla tools like an automatic one-click...

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See more hosts for Joomla »

Best Deals on Drupal Website Hosting

Third on the list of well-known CMS platforms, Drupal is favored by technically savvy users for its robust security. The learning curve may be steep, but those who love it have specific aspirations in mind for their hosting provider.

Drupal hosting is not as commonly advertised as WP hosting or other niches, but we’ve found these plans to still fall within the same ballpark: $5 to $10 per month. Be sure to read our reviews of the following expert-approved hosts before signing up for a Drupal hosting plan.

DRUPAL RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Optimized HTTP/2 plus latest PHP and MariaDB
  • Custom control panel with easy Git integration
  • Drupal acceleration with custom NGINX caching
  • Unlimited websites, email, and bandwidth
  • FREE domain registration and regular backups
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 50 GB SSD - 200 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Drupal Hosting Plans www.hostinger.com/drupal
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Hostinger perfectly blends budget-friendly web hosting with premium modern technologies to deliver top-notch Drupal hosting services. The CMS is available through a custom control panel’s automatic installation service, and support staff will be on hand...

Go to full review »
DRUPAL RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Optimized hosting recommended by Drupal
  • Drupal pre-installed and configured for speed
  • Turbo servers feature 20x faster page loads
  • FREE account migration and SSD storage
  • Enjoy 77% off when you sign up today
  • Get started on A2 Hosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 100 GB SSD - Unlimited SSD
Domain Name New or Transfer
Drupal Hosting Plans www.a2hosting.com/drupal
A2 Hosting: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

We love A2 Hosting when it comes to launching and scaling high-powered websites. The web host takes a strong approach when it comes to performance, featuring all-SSD hardware, multiple layers of caching, and the Cloudflare CDN.

Go to full review »
DRUPAL RATING
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0
  • 1-click Drupal installation on Windows or Linux
  • Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and websites
  • Get a FREE domain from the world's top registrar
  • 24/7 security monitoring and DDoS protection
  • Save nearly 90% on Drupal hosting at signup
  • Get started on GoDaddy now.
Starting Price/Mo. $8.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 25 GB - 100 GB
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Drupal Hosting Plans www.godaddy.com/drupal
GoDaddy: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

As one of the most recognized web hosting brands in the world, GoDaddy is unsurprisingly a top choice when it comes to getting your Drupal site up and running. The company offers incredibly flexible solutions for Drupal users looking for a safe and speedy...

Go to full review »

See more hosts for Drupal »

Best Deals on Magento Website Hosting

Magento is unique to this application-specific hosting section because it’s geared toward eCommerce site owners. If you’re looking to display and sell products online, Magento should certainly be on your short list of tools to help you do so. Many of our favorite eCommerce hosting providers cater to online store owner needs with free shopping carts, PayPal integrations, and marketing credits.

We find eCommerce hosting to be on the more expensive end of the shared hosting price spectrum, given the performance and security requirements when dealing with customers’ personal and financial information. You also may find yourself paying for add-on services to customize your online marketplace.

All that said, you don’t need to pay $15 per month for a premium service like Shopify. Choose a shared hosting plan that will support your growing customer base and give you options to customize your Magento-powered store. See reviews of the top Magento hosts below.

MAGENTO RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Cloud servers optimized for Magento stores
  • Build your store with help from a dedicated expert
  • Global datacenters with PCI and GDPR compliance
  • Transparent hourly or monthly pricing
  • Secure backups and SiteLock security
  • Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
Starting Price/Mo. $4.00
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 30 GB SSD - 480 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Magento Hosting Plans
1&1 IONOS: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Boasting three Magento configurations, 1&1 IONOS serves all types of online businesses. We found the company’s cloud servers to be the perfect mix of price and performance, blending immense scalability with the affordability and support needed when...

Go to full review »
MAGENTO RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Magento installed for you during checkout
  • Drag-and-drop online store building and FREE SSL
  • Your store can load up to 20x faster with SSDs
  • Connect with customers with FREE email
  • Get up to $250 in ad credits with Business Hosting
  • Get started on InMotion Hosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.29
Money Back Guarantee 90 days
Disk Space 100 GB SSD - Unlimited SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Magento Hosting Plans www.inmotionhosting.com/magento
InMotion: Our Expert's Review
PJ Fancher (HostingAdvice.com):

InMotion Hosting has long since been one of our favorites for quick and powerful sites and online stores. Magento users will love how simple InMotion makes site setup and how fast products will load with free SSDs.

Go to full review »
MAGENTO RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Shared, cloud, and reseller hosting for Magento 2
  • Run Magento 2.1+ on VPS or dedicated server
  • FREE toll-free phone number for your store
  • Unmetered disk space and bandwidth
  • FREE dedicated IP address and private SSL
  • Get started on HostGator now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.64
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Magento Hosting Plans www.hostgator.com/magento
HostGator: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

What better host for your Magneto store than the provider we’ve deemed the best to grow with? HostGator’s tech-forward solutions are inherently scalable and optimized for the online store builder, giving entrepreneurs tons of high-class features.

Go to full review »

See more hosts for Magento »

How Much Should I Pay for VPS Hosting?

Merging the concepts of shared and dedicated server hosting, a virtual private server (VPS) is a machine that’s been partitioned to act as several independent server units. While multiple accounts may be hosted on a single physical machine, your VPS and its allotted resources are yours to use as needed. It’s essentially a happy medium between the frugality and scaling limitations of shared hosting and the robust performance potential and financial burden of hosting a dedicated server

The average costs fall where expected — just north of shared hosting but way below the cost of a dedicated server — at around $20 per month for a basic VPS. We frequently explore VPS plans to compare the best value propositions in the industry. Check out our top host recommendations below.

VPS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Cloud-based SSD storage for speed and reliability
  • Double your RAM with burst periods
  • FREE dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
  • Custom control panel for reboots and OS installs
  • HostingAdvice readers enjoy more than 50% off
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $5.99
Disk Space 50 GB NVMe - 400 GB NVMe
CPU 1 - 8 cores
RAM 4 GB - 32 GB
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Hostinger's laser focus on providing affordable hosting solutions shines brightest with the company's VPS packages. The company provides six different virtual server plans, including one that costs less than $5.

Go to full review »
VPS RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Cloud VPS that's more flexible and affordable
  • Load balancer, firewall, and managed services
  • Premium Intel CPUs with 300% more power
  • Choose between monthly or hourly billing
  • Sign up today for a 30-day FREE trial
  • Get started on Kamatera now.
Starting Price/Mo. $4.00
Disk Space 20 GB SSD - 4 TB SSD
CPU 1 - 32 cores
RAM 1 GB - 128 GB
Kamatera: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Backed by cutting-edge cloud computing technology, Kamatera adds instant and limitless scalability to the VPS hosting marketplace. Each cloud or virtual server is equipped with blazing-fast SSD storage and Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs.

Go to full review »
VPS RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Turbo server & cache options for faster page loads
  • Well-built plans starting with 4GB RAM
  • FREE CDN plus auto-installs with Softaculous
  • Multilingual support and up to unlimited databases
  • Enhanced security with and daily kernel updates
  • Get started on A2 Hosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.99
Disk Space 20 GB SSD - 450 GB SSD
CPU 1 - 10 cores
RAM 1 GB - 32 GB
A2 Hosting: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

While A2 Hosting's turbocharged shared hosting platform gives site owners ample room to grow, the company's tech prowess is on full display with its portfolio of VPS options. Ranging from unmanaged, bare-metal environments to stress-free, fully managed space, A2 Hosting is sure to have the perfect option for your expanding online presence.

Go to full review »

See more VPS hosting plans »

How Much Should I Pay for Dedicated Server Hosting?

The exact opposite of shared hosting, dedicated hosting means exactly what you think. Your server is yours to do with as you please (within reason), and all the hard disk storage, RAM, bandwidth, and other resources are exclusive to your hosting needs. You can host one or multiple accounts on the server you lease or own, and this hosting type is typically suited to customers who are expecting upward of 100,000 site visitors per month.

As you can imagine, dedicated servers are the most expensive of the three traditional hosting types (shared, virtual, and dedicated) — with monthly rates ranging from $100 to $2,000. Even when assessing the most costly of hosting company offerings, we take price, performance, security, and all-around bang for your buck into consideration. Check out our picks for affordable, powerful, and reliable dedicated hosting services below.

DEDICATED RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Bare-metal or managed servers available
  • 1-on-1 time with a server administrator
  • 99.99% uptime via Smart Routing™ technology
  • Tier 1 network with redundant bandwidth
  • SSH root access and DDoS protection on all servers
  • Upgrade for cPanel, migration, and auto backups
  • Get started on InMotion now.
Starting Price/Mo. $69.99
Disk Space 1 TB SSD - 3.2 TB SSD
CPU 12 - 32 cores
RAM 192 GB DDR4 - 512 GB DDR4
InMotion: Our Expert's Review
PJ Fancher (HostingAdvice.com):

InMotion Hosting offers amazingly fast and reliable dedicated hosting on market-leading hardware — making it an easy choice for anyone seeking a premium dedicated server host. From free SSDs to a fanatical support team, InMotion has all the bases covered for both small-scale and large-scale operations.

Go to full review »
DEDICATED RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Explore server deals to find the best rates
  • High powered modern AMD and Intel processors
  • Unlimited traffic and 1 Gbit/s network connectivity
  • 8-minute deployment with full API control
  • Auto backups, DDoS protection, and RAID-1 storage
  • Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
Starting Price/Mo. $32.00
Disk Space 480 GB SSD - 2 TB HDD
CPU 2 - 32 cores
RAM 12 GB - 256 GB
1&1 IONOS: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

If you need blazing-fast speed, optimum uptime, top-notch flexibility, and full control over the fate of your website the dedicated servers from 1&1 IONOS have you covered. The company offers an assortment of entry-level, performance-focused, and business-class server options.

Go to full review »
DEDICATED RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Linux or Windows with choice of 3 control panels
  • 100% network and power uptime guarantees
  • Custom configurations and instant provisioning
  • Auto-migrations, backups, and real-time monitoring
  • Block/object storage and load balancer add-ons
  • Get started on Liquid Web now.
Starting Price/Mo. $75.00
Disk Space 480 GB SSD - 960 GB SSD (+ 2 TB SATA)
CPU 4 - 16 cores
RAM 16 GB - 64 GB
Liquid Web: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Liquid Web's strong suit is managed dedicated server hosting. The company owns and operates five state-of-the-art datacenters in the US and Europe works tirelessly to build and maintain custom solutions for added performance and security.

Go to full review »

See more dedicated hosting plans »

How Much Should I Pay for Managed Hosting?

Getting deeper into the weeds of premium hosting features, managed services involve the hosting company overseeing some, most, or all aspects of your hardware and infrastructure. The host acts as your IT department while you focus on your blog content, web design, and/or product roadmap. It’s a white-glove service that can provide ultimate peace of mind, so naturally, it ups the price.

FYI: Shared hosting is inherently managed. Do not fall prey to a marketing ploy that upcharges for managed hosting on a shared server account!

Depending on the base cost of the hosting, the level of management offered (semi- vs. fully managed), and the acts of service the company chooses to include, managed hosting can cost anywhere from just under $100 to upward of $250 per month for a dedicated managed server. Do your homework before signing up for managed services, added fees, and the comfort of knowing someone more knowledgeable than you is handling the hardware nonsense. Our experts have reviewed the most popular managed server plans, and you can see our top picks listed below.

MANAGED RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Choice of self-, semi-, or fully managed
  • Enterprise-grade Intel hardware
  • Linux or Windows operating system
  • RAID SSD storage for added speed
  • 100% network uptime
  • Get started on Liquid Web now.
Starting Price/Mo. $16.00
Disk Space 40 GB SSD - 200 GB SSD
CPU 2 - 12 cores
RAM 2 GB - 12 GB
Managed Hosting Plans www.liquidweb.com/managed
Liquid Web: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

It's no secret by now that Liquid Web is known for best-in-class technology and reliability that exceeds expectations. The company's cloud VPS environments embody that reputation to its fullest — including managed WordPress and WooCommerce products.Liquid...

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MANAGED RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Affordable and fast managed VPS hosting
  • Minimum 2 dedicated IP addresses per plan
  • Daily, automatic, and rebootless kernel updates
  • 24/7/365 live chat, phone, email, or ticket support
  • FREE Cloudflare CDN and New Relic monitoring
  • Get started on A2 Hosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $35.99
Disk Space 20 GB SSD - 450 GB SSD
CPU 1 - 10 cores
RAM 1 GB - 32 GB
Managed Hosting Plans www.a2hosting.com/managed
A2 Hosting: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

A2’s managed VPS hosting plans are loaded with premium features. Powerful Turbo Servers yield 20 times faster performance and are combined with the expertly managed services of the engineers and Guru Crew support personnel.

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MANAGED RATING
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0
  • $0.01 for the first month using code HOSTINGADV
  • Then $6 monthly with no contracts, no changes
  • Latest of PHP, MySQL, Perl, Python, and Ruby
  • 7 operating system options for Linux or Windows
  • Full root access and choice of datacenter
  • Get started on InterServer now.
Starting Price/Mo. $6.00
Disk Space 30 GB SSD - 480 GB SSD
CPU 1 - 16 CPUs
RAM 2 - 32 GB
Managed Hosting Plans www.interserver.net/vps
InterServer: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

InterServer's on-site datacenter and hands-on involvement with configuring and provisioning virtual private servers give customers a level of flexibility not seen with many other hosting providers.InterServer rations VPS and cloud resources through slices....

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How Much Should I Pay for Managed WordPress Hosting?

While managed hosting means the host handles the hardware while you handle the software, design, and content, managed WordPress hosting means the host handles the software. Just as there are various levels of management services (self-, semi-, and fully) and each company may do the three types differently, the description of managed WordPress hosting services varies dramatically from host to host.

Typically, we like to see complementary WordPress updates, plugin management, and other troubleshooting and support services. And you can expect to pay north of $10 to $15 per month for such luxuries. The potential for human error is the biggest security risk involved with WordPress, so being able to kick those dev needs over the wall is an increasingly popular choice. Fret not, however, because many hosts are working hard to make managed WP hosting more affordable, and a few top-recommended plans are reviewed below.

MANAGED WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Fully managed WordPress hosting for 1 to 100 sites
  • Get started quickly with Qubely Pro for Gutenberg
  • 1-click staging and unlimited email accounts
  • Built-in image compression, caching, and CDN
  • 24/7/365 support via phone, email, and live chat
  • Get started on Nexcess now.
Starting Price/Mo. $12.67
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 15 GB - 800 GB
Domain Name
Managed WordPress Hosting Plans www.nexcess.net/wordpress
Nexcess: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Unlock the peace of mind that comes with premium managed services delivered by WordPress experts. The Nexcess team bundles performance, security, and always-available support into high-value hosting.

Go to full review »
MANAGED WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • 1-click WordPress installs via enhanced cPanel
  • VPS with NGINX architecture for extreme speed
  • Advanced CDN and WAF protection
  • Custom cPanel simplifies WP site management
  • Instant provisioning and regular backups
  • Get started on Bluehost now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 100 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Managed WordPress Hosting Plans www.bluehost.com/managed-wp
Bluehost: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

From a custom WordPress control console to core software updates, Bluehost is a go-to for managed WordPress hosting services. The company’s plans are ideal for the first-time site owner, but Bluehost’s in-house hardware and performance-boosting...

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MANAGED WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Managed services for all WordPress plans
  • In-house-built technologies for speed and support
  • WordPress kept up to date with automatic backups
  • Easily test and deploy changes via staging area
  • 3 levels of caching for optimal performance
  • Get started on SiteGround now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name New or Transfer
Managed WordPress Hosting Plans www.siteground.com/managed-wp
SiteGround: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

The SiteGround team touts fully managed services across all hosting plans, including WordPress. The company caters its managed WordPress plans to customers in search of speed, performance, scalability, and support. With automatic backups taken regularly and a...

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See more managed WordPress hosting plans »

Get Discounted Rates for Popular Hosting Plans

The consensus: Web hosting doesn’t have to leave you on a diet of Ramen noodles and PB&Js. It’s actually rather affordable, so long as you know which features to look for and when you’re being taken advantage of. Web hosting is an investment, however, especially since most companies bill annually, and we’re here to set you and your business up for success.

We’ve negotiated special deals with many of the most trusted hosts on the market today. Click here to sort by category and find the largest discounts on shared, VPS, dedicated server, WordPress, and site builder hosting services, or click to activate any one of the coupons below. For convenience, we’ve selected a few of our most popular bargains:

Basic Hosting

38% Off Basic Hosting

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VPS Hosting

67% Off VPS Hosting

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Special pricing for our visitors. No promo code needed.


WordPress Hosting

77% Off WordPress Hosting

Was $12.99.
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Special pricing for our visitors. No promo code needed.


Website Builder

100% Off Site Builder Hosting

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Special pricing for our visitors. No promo code needed.


Dedicated Hosting

53% Off Dedicated Hosting

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Special pricing for our visitors. No promo code needed.

See more coupons »

Other Website Costs to Consider: Domains, Design, and Marketing

Technology continues to amaze. All around the world, companies are coming out with new developments that render humans obsolete, and it’s kind of awesome. For example, companies like Wix are leveraging artificial intelligence to automate web design. Search engine advertising makes your company’s name appear on the radar of potential customers all around the globe without the need for one-on-one marketing efforts. Pre-made templates cut design and development time in half, and the list goes on.

Of course, these futuristic innovations can’t all be free. Other costs of creating and scaling a website include:

As your website needs grow, so do the maintenance costs involved. Fortunately (or hopefully), your brand’s reach and revenues should be growing alongside. For more on which hosting type is best for your next project and how to know when to scale to a more expensive infrastructure, click here. Did you find a statistic I may have missed? Let me know below!

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HostingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). HostingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.

Our Editorial Review Policy

Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandra Anderson’s interest in website administration was sparked in her teens, priming her for a fast-paced career in managing, building, and contributing to online brands, including HostingAdvice, Forbes, and the blogs of prominent hosting providers. She brings firsthand experience reviewing web hosts, perfecting website design, optimizing content, and walking site owners through the steps that add up to a successful online presence. With a master's degree in information technology from Virginia Tech, she combines her extensive writing experience and technical understanding to unpack some of the most complex topics that daunt novice website owners, as well as the subjects that excite veteran technologists within the HostingAdvice readership.

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