How Much Should Web Hosting Cost? A 2021 Guide

The world of website building can be intimidating. In the digital age, it’s critical for every type of business to establish an online presence. Still, it does require a bit of research, time and patience to get a website up and running. Put simply, you’ll have to pay a web hosting cost and there is no way to avoid it. 

Thankfully, many web hosting companies offer plans to make it easier for those looking to launch their website. Whether it’s an entrepreneur opening an e-commerce shop or a small business owner trying to boost revenue, there are plenty of feasible web hosting options available. 

One of the most significant considerations a company should make when choosing a web hosting service is the cost. Completing a cost-benefit analysis can be helpful when making this crucial decision, as affordability is a top priority for most businesses. 

The ultimate goal for any business looking to build a website should be to find a cost-effective and high-quality web hosting service provider. 

Below is a comprehensive guide to web hosting costs, what to expect when completing research around web hosting services and what web hosts charge their clients monthly. 

Importance of Understanding Web Hosting Costs

Businesses must consider the cost of web hosting if they plan to keep their website live for years to come. 

Deciding to act impulsively and choose the cheapest web hosting provider plan may not suit a business’ needs. The price of web hosting can vary depending on server resources, web hosting provider and hosting type, amongst other factors. 

Some companies will lock themselves into a year-long contract without understanding the implications of the agreement. After 6-12 months of using one web hosting provider, they’ll realize it’s time to migrate to another hosting provider, which can cost them extra money, time and effort in the long run. All of that can be avoided when companies do their preliminary research. 

When searching for the right web hosting provider, it’s more than just the final price tag. Reviewing a provider’s various plan options, what features are provided and understanding the types of web hosting available all come into play.

Cost Breakdown Based on Type of Hosting

As mentioned above, the type of hosting a business chooses can impact web hosting costs. Fees are another price factor even though they don’t appear immediately. For example, renewal expenses are often pricier than the sign-up cost.

Remember that typically, the higher the cost of hosting, the more features and services a business receives. While paying more for extra features is not suited to every business, it’s a general rule of thumb to keep in mind when choosing a hosting provider.

So, how much should web hosting cost?

Below are the different types of web hosting available and a cost range for each.

• Shared Hosting: $2.49-$15 per month
• VPS Hosting: $20-$80 per month
• Dedicated Hosting: $80-$300 per month
• Cloud Hosting: $4.50-$240 per month
• WordPress Hosting: $4.99-$830 per month

It’s clear to see that the prices can vary depending on multiple factors. Shared or cloud hosting can be cheaper compared to dedicated or VPS hosting, mainly because of the technology being used to complete the web hosting process.

For those looking to build a simple yet effective website, a website builder from a reputable hosting provider can make the entire process easier and cheaper. 

Some popular website builders include Wix, Squarespace and Weebly. These builders make creating a website easy for anyone, even those without coding or web development skills.

In addition to the type of hosting, businesses need to consider the features they’ll need to create and manage their website. For example, a company expecting to see high traffic volume needs to ensure their provider will have the capacity to support that traffic. 

On the other hand, if a small startup just needs a basic site to start out with, it may only need some of the core website elements. 

Keep in mind that some lesser-known hosting providers offer the same functionality as some of their bigger competitors. Regardless, it’s crucial for companies to review their needs before jumping haphazardly into any web hosting plan. 

Web Hosting Costs Based on Provider

Each web hosting provider is unique in what they offer and the price they charge for certain hosting services. Below are some of the leading providers in the web hosting industry and the plans they offer. 

Interserver Web Hosting and VPS

Interserver’s hosting plans start at just $2.50 per month for one month of service. They offer plans that include:

• ASP.NET plan at $8.00/month 
• VPS special plan for $6.00/month
• Dedicated hosting plan for $49.00/month

One of Interserver’s best selling points is its 24/7 customer support. The company exceeds the industry’s average uptime at 99.9%, and Interserver even offers free migration service, amongst other services.

Bluehost

Through Bluehost, companies can purchase plans for:

• Shared hosting ($4.95/month)
• Online stores ($12.95/month) 
• Managed WordPress sites ($9.95/month). 

Bluehost also offers dedicated and VPS hosting plans for a higher cost. Bluehost is known as one of the industry’s leaders, as it hosts over 2 million websites. Additionally, WordPress endorses Bluehost — companies can feel confident knowing that Bluehost is a viable option for their web hosting needs based on this endorsement.

HostMonster

HostMonster offers various plans for shared, VPS and dedicated hosting. Plans start at:

• Shared hosting for $4.95/month and up
• VPS hosting for $19.99/month and up
• Dedicated hosting for $79.99/month and up

As mentioned above, plans can always be upgraded through HostMonster. As companies pay more for hosting, they receive more hosting features. Users can email, chat or call to access 24/7 customer support so they can rest assured that their website is running smoothly. 

Just Host

Similar to many hosting companies, Just Host offers several plans to suit business needs. For example, Just Host offers VPS, dedicated and shared hosting options. Here are some of their plan details:

• Basic plans for hosting at $3.95/month
• Dedicated hosting starting at $79.99/month and up
• VPS hosting starting at $19.99/month and up

Just Host offers a money-back guarantee for companies looking to try their hosting services. If a company finds that a provider’s services do not meet their needs, they can request a full refund and switch providers.

Hostinger

Hostinger manages to give users a handful of extra hosting features that most companies charge extra for. Here are some of their plan details:

• Web hosting starting at $2.59/month and up
• VPS hosting starting at $3.95/month and up
• Cloud hosting starting at $9.99/month and up
• WordPress hosting starting at $1.99/month and up

Like Just Host, Hostinger also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for customers who aren’t satisfied with its services.

HostGator

Some of HostGator’s offerings include a plethora of hosting options, free SSL certificates, WordPress installs and a free domain for a year. Here’s some more information about their hosting plans:

• Web hosting starts at $2.75/month and up
• Cloud hosting starts at $4.95/month and up
• VPS hosting starts at $19.95/month and up
• Dedicated hosting starts at $89.98/month and up

HostGator also put together a comprehensive guide to help businesses decide which plan is best tailored to their needs.

It’s clear that all of these web hosting services come at varying prices — that’s why it’s absolutely critical for businesses to identify their needs, do their research and set a budget before selecting any of these plans listed above.

Avoid overpaying and use the estimated prices listed above to help guide any decisions regarding web hosting. It’s a vital piece of any business, so it isn’t a decision to take lightly.

Additional Costs Besides Hosting

Aside from paying a web hosting provider for their services, businesses must also consider other factors when creating a good website. For example:

• Content: In order to stay competitive, brands must focus on producing unique, quality content for their customers. Whether it’s keeping up with the latest blogging trends or posting highlights from company events, keeping customers engaged through content can push them through the sales funnel.
• Marketing: It’s challenging to estimate how much marketing will cost a company, as it depends on several factors. Marketing efforts could cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.
• Design and Development: There are plenty of low-cost website builders — as mentioned above, there are also more expensive options that offer more features and customization options for a website. Design plays a significant role in the user experience.

It’s vital to keep these other potential cost factors in mind when selecting a web hosting provider. Take them into account when budgeting for this endeavor.

Find an Affordable, Quality Web Hosting Provider

To reiterate, it can be challenging for businesses to know which web hosting provider will meet and hopefully exceed their expectations. However, finding the right balance between affordability, included features and customer support options is vital. 

The most expensive provider plans are not always the best — however, the more a customer pays for a plan, the more likely the plan is to have all the bells and whistles that can help take their website to the next level. Establishing a strong online presence can help drive revenue, satisfy customers and build a viable brand reputation. 

For businesses looking to launch a website or migrate to a new hosting platform, keep the prices listed above and the estimated costs for web hosting in mind when making this significant business decision.