Category: Uncategorized

Most hosting decisions come down to five things: the type of hosting, the renewal price, what is included, how you can get help, and how easy it is to leave. The renewal price is the one most people miss. An intro price of a few dollars a month can roughly double or triple at renewal.

1. Pick the right type of hosting

Shared hosting suits small brochure sites and blogs. A VPS suits sites that need reserved resources. Managed WordPress suits sites that need updates, backups and performance handled for you. See the current rankings for providers grouped by category.

2. Read the renewal price first

Look up the plan price after the first term. Compare that number, not the headline price. If a provider does not show a renewal price on its pricing page, treat that as a reason to ask before you buy.

3. Check what is included

• SSL certificate (needed for HTTPS)
• Backups, and whether they are included or extra
• Free domain, and for how long
• Migration help if you are moving an existing site

4. Check the money-back guarantee

A 30-day guarantee is common. Check whether domain registration is excluded, since many hosts keep that fee.

5. Check support and exit options

Test support before you buy by asking a question on the live chat. Check how you export your files and database if you leave.

Three hosting types cover most sites. The right one depends on traffic, how much you want to manage yourself, and how fast your site needs to be.

Shared hosting

Your site shares a server with other sites. It is the cheapest option and works well for small blogs and brochure sites. Performance can vary when neighbours use a lot of resources.

VPS hosting

A virtual private server gives you reserved resources on a shared physical machine. It costs more and needs more setup, but it gives you more control and steadier performance.

Managed WordPress

The host handles WordPress updates, caching, security and often backups. It costs more than shared hosting. It makes sense if you would rather not run server settings yourself, or if your site earns revenue that a slowdown would hurt.

A simple rule

Start with shared or managed WordPress for most sites. Move to a VPS when you can name a specific performance limit you keep hitting.

Many hosting ads lead with a monthly price that applies only to the first term. Once that term ends, the renewal price applies. For many shared plans, the renewal price is two to four times the intro price.

How to work out the real cost

Take the renewal price, multiply it by the months you plan to stay, and add any extra fees for domains, backups or SSL. Compare that total across providers, not the intro price.

What to check on the pricing page

• The price shown after the first term
• Whether the term is prepaid, and for how long
• Which features cost extra at renewal
• Whether the money-back guarantee covers renewals

Our provider reviews list intro and renewal prices where we could confirm them. Where a price could not be confirmed, we say so.

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