The best cheap web hosting services of 2024: Expert tested

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Great news! You can buy cheap web hosting for just a few dollars a month. Now that the year is almost finished, we've had the opportunity to test the best cheap web hosting services of 2024 to make sure you get quality hosting at an affordable price.

We discovered some real gems while researching for this buyer's guide. There's something for everyone here, whether you're starting a blog, launching a business, or looking for something scalable. All our picks are trustworthy services with affordable plans. Some entry-level subscriptions may come with limitations, but we'll let you know what those are. At the end of the day, you don't have to break the bank to get online this season.

Also: The best web hosting services: Expert tested

What is the best cheap web hosting provider right now?

A2 Hosting is ZDNET's top choice for cheap web hosting in 2024. It has some of the cheapest prices, generous storage, unlimited email accounts, and 24/7 support. In addition, A2 is beginner-friendly and can be scaled up as your needs change.

ZDNET authors have extensive experience with today's web hosting services, personally and through discussions with industry experts. Our goal is to provide the information you need to build a shortlist and then evaluate and compare alternatives, ideally using the trial period each provider offers.

Below, you will find our top recommendations for cheap web hosting providers on the market today.

Best cheap web hosting of 2024

A2 Hosting

Best cheap web hosting overall

A2 (the name is a shout-out to the company's home in Ann Arbor, Michigan) makes it easy to get started and is an excellent option for cheap web hosting. Free migration, 100GB storage, unlimited email accounts, staging, a website builder, and 24/7 support are included in A2's basic Startup package -- and for only $1.95/month.

What we particularly like about this option is the potential to upgrade as your small, basic project grows, with extra speed, storage, and capacity available when you are ready, made available through the host's turbo plans. These, too, are very cheap considering all the features on the offer.

A2 is beginner-friendly and ticks all of the boxes for most webmasters. Customers applaud the firm's 24/7 phone, email, and chat support, with assistance available during migration and beyond.

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Hostinger

Best cheap web hosting for larger projects

Hostinger has some of the absolute lowest introductory prices we've seen, with limited-time offers starting at $2.99 per month, with three months free. Considering the versatility of the plans and features on offer, Hostinger is one of our top choices for cheap, reliable web hosting.

The starter and next-level plans support up to 100 websites. Hostinger provides users with up to 200GB of storage, 100 email addresses and forwarders, free SSL website security, unlimited bandwidth, and a free domain name.

You'll be given a one-click WordPress installation and free website migration, making this an excellent option for most website developers. However, if you want e-commerce capabilities, you must opt for either a medium or higher tier.

Hostinger also provides a drag-and-drop website builder and templates if you need a theme. You can also take advantage of features including Google Analytics integration, SEO tools, AI, SSH, DDoS protection, staging functionality for test purposes, and dedicated IP addresses (on premium plans).

Overall, we consider Hostinger's cheaper plans an excellent option for multi-website projects and businesses with an attractive price point. While many customers applaud Hostinger's customer service, some clients operating multiple websites have reported bounceback and slow loads.

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Bluehost

Best cheap web hosting for e-commerce

In business since 2005, Bluehost is a solid contender as one of today's best cheap web hosting providers. Recommended by WordPress, Bluehost plans begin at $2.95/month as an introductory price, with e-commerce-ready domains on promotion for $9.95/month.

We particularly like the e-commerce plan, which comes with everything you need to start your online business: shop themes, 50GB of storage, support for multiple websites, a free SSL certificate, store analytics, AI tools, unlimited product listings, secure online payment portals, and shipping label generation. You will also be given a free domain name for your first year.

Bluehost customer feedback indicates the company offers solid support, although load times can be slow.

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DreamHost

Best cheap web hosting for novice website builders

Dreamhost offers the lowest prices with three-year commitments on shared starter plans, so if you want to know exactly how much your website will cost you monthly in the long term, consider the $2.59/month offer.

Shared plans come in two options: Starter (one website, email is an extra charge) and Unlimited (as many websites and email accounts as you wish for $3.95/month). Free domains are included for the first year, which helps keep costs down.

This option is excellent for first-time website owners, especially if you intend to use the WordPress content management system as a site builder, drag-and-drop platform, and templates are included as standard. Free SSL certificates are also included for a security boost. While we recommend considering the long-term plan, if you want a month-by-month option, it's only $4.95.

Customers say that support is top-notch, they appreciate the flexibility of the service, and many find WordPress-related services easy to use without technical knowledge. However, some find reaching customer support initially challenging.

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ScalaHosting

Best cheap web hosting for versatility

ScalaHosting is one of our top choices for versatility. Depending on whether or not you grab a promotional deal, you can spend as little as a few bucks for its entry plan ($2.51/month) and around $25/month for top-tier subscriptions.

Web hosting tiers include shared or dedicated hosting, unlimited website support, free SSL certificates, daily offsite backups, staging features, unlimited emails and databases, free migration tools, a one-click WordPress installer, and more.

Customer feedback indicates that the helpdesk team is professional and dedicated, with excellent customer support and pricing.

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A2 Hosting is ZDNET's top choice for cheap web hosting in 2024. It has some of the cheapest prices available, a variety of features and additional bolt-on options, automatic security updates, generous storage, and 24/7 support. However, you can check out the key features of all of our top recommendations below.

Cheap website hosting service	Wordpress integration in base plan	Free website migration	Free SSL support in base plan
A2 Hosting	✔️	✔️	✔️
Hostinger	✔️	✔️	✔️
Bluehost	✔️	Limited	✔️
DreamHost	✔️	✔️(plugin)	✔️
ScalaHosting	✔️	✔️	✔️

To help you make the best decision, consider what matters the most to you in a web hosting provider:

Choose this cheap website hosting service...	If you want…
A2 Hosting	The best cheap web hosting service overall. A2 is a high-quality, reasonably priced service that offers generous storage and plenty of options to upgrade in the future.
Hostinger	A host that allows you to run your website without breaking the bank. Considering the versatility of the plans and features on offer, Hostinger is one of our top choices for cheap, reliable web hosting for larger projects.
Bluehost	A host that excels in helping new online businesses get off the ground. It has everything you need to get started, but keep an eye on renewal prices.
DreamHost	A host that allows templates and an easy interface for new website builders and WordPress users -- the perfect choice if you're just getting started.
Scala Hosting	ScalaHosting is a flexible web hosting provider which, while reasonably cheap, allows you to scale as and when you wish.

Below are the important factors to consider when looking for the best cheap web hosting provider available today.

Affordability: One of the first questions you should ask is: what is your preferred budget? Promotional deals won't last forever, and there may be price hikes after the first year.
Speed and stability: Shared hosting is generally cheaper than dedicated hosting. However, if you anticipate high traffic volumes or want lightning-fast page loads, you may opt for slightly more expensive hosting packages.
E-commerce: Consider whether your website will need e-commerce functionality. If this is on the horizon, the cost of your plan will likely change. However, you can avoid this by selling from websites such as eBay and Etsy.
Usability: You should also consider your current technical knowledge and whether you need a beginner-friendly host or if you are happy to customize your setup.
Additional features: Many web hosts are not shy about generating extra revenues through features like backup and site migration, so you'll have to factor in those costs before making an informed choice. If you choose a cheap plan, expect regular upsell offers for more full-featured (and significantly more expensive) plans.

When choosing a web hosting package, there's more to consider than just a low price. We considered a wide range of extra factors that can be crucial when it comes time to separate contenders on your shortlist of hosting providers.

Let's start with the most important factor of all: A money-back guarantee. Every provider we surveyed offers at least 30 days during which you can try the service risk-free. Other factors include:

Customer support: How many contact options does the provider offer for the plan you've chosen? If phone support isn't available and email and ticket-based systems are the primary mechanism for problem resolution, how quickly does the support team respond?
Bandwidth and storage: For shared hosting plans, most providers offer "unlimited" data transfers and storage, but there's invariably a page full of fine print that requires you to abide by "reasonable" restrictions and acceptable-use policies.
Backup: Automated online backups are the most reliable way to backup your website. Most hosting providers offer automatic backups, but some charge extra. We included options for, at least, daily and weekly backups.
Performance: As a rule, the less you pay for a shared hosting plan, the more likely you are to encounter slow page loads, because those low-cost plans typically cluster more shared accounts on the server. We have included shared hosting with budgets in mind, but we also listed vendors that offer dedicated setups.
Security: We ensured that our recommended vendors follow, at least, basic security best practices. Does the provider offer multi-factor authentication? Are crucial software packages updated automatically, or are you required to stay on top of updates yourself? It's important to consider such questions before you sign up.
Email and domain options: Several providers offer free domain registration as part of a hosting package, but of course, the cost of that registration is built into the bill for the plan itself. Others may require domains and email services to be paid for separately, and we have considered each offering during our research.

Yes. But they often don't allow for many customization options. Free web hosting services include Wix, WordPress, and GoDaddy. They may also include advertisements.

It all depends on which web hosting platform you decide to use. But paid web hosting for a single website ranges anywhere from $2 to $10 per month. If you need enterprise-grade hosting, the cost can reach hundreds of dollars per month.

WordPress hosting is a subset of standard website hosting and so the majority of providers will allow WordPress content management system (CMS) installs. Indeed, even the cheapest hosts will often provide one-click WordPress installation functions.

Typically, there are three services you will need, at minimum, for your website: a domain name, host, and email services. Many web hosts will give you a domain name for free -- at least, for your first year -- and they may also bundle in limited email services. However, keep in mind you might need to purchase these separately. If you intend to sell products on your website, you will need to select a package that supports e-commerce.

Yes, you can. However, free websites usually come with a catch -- and in Wix's case, this means you don't get to connect your own domain name, and your website will display Wix adverts. You must upgrade to a paid plan to remove these restrictions and secure more storage.

You don't, but this doesn't mean you can claim your preferred domain name for free. Some web hosting providers will give you the chance to publish websites for free, but you will likely need to purchase a plan to secure a free domain name of your choosing -- or you will need to purchase one outright separately.

You need to weigh your options before choosing a web hosting service. While we can't showcase every reputable service and strong contender, the options below are highly reliable and could work if none of the other web hosts appeal to you.