The best cheap web hosting services of 2025: Expert tested

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You don't need to spend a fortune to secure a reliable, quality web hosting service. Indeed, some hosts offer plans for as little as a few dollars per month, with the option to eventually scale up depending on your needs. You just need to know where to look.

Whether you're starting an individual blog or launching a business, the web hosting services we recommend are solid and offer a range of useful features. Some entry-level subscriptions may come with limitations, but you don't have to break the bank to get online quickly as we move into 2026.

Also: The best cheap VPNs: Expert tested

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What is the best cheap web hosting provider right now?

Hosting.com, previously branded as A2 Hosting, is ZDNET's top choice for cheap web hosting in 2025. It has some of the cheapest prices starting at $1 per month, generous storage, unlimited email accounts, and 24/7 support. In addition, Hosting.com 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 2025

Previously branded as A2 Hosting, this service makes it easy to get started and is an excellent option for cheap web hosting, making it our favorite pick overall.

Why we like it: Free migration, 15GB storage, 10 email accounts, unlimited bandwidth, LiteSpeed servers, and 24/7 support are included in Hosting.com's basic Starter package. This tier costs just $2 per month on a one-year term.

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 premium plans. These, too, are cheap considering all the features on offer, but be aware of potential price jumps after your contract ends.

There's support available for up to 100 websites, email is included, bandwidth is uncapped, and you will be given a free domain and SSL certificate.

If you're interested in WordPress-based hosting, you can try it out for only $1. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans.

Who it's for: Hosting.com is beginner-friendly and ticks all of the boxes for most webmasters, especially if they plan to grow over time. Customers applaud the firm's 24/7 phone, email, and chat support, with assistance available during migration and beyond.

Who should look elsewhere: While extremely cheap, it doesn't offer many advanced features, and its price hikes can be quite high, so another one of our recommendations might be of interest.

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Hostinger has some of the absolute lowest introductory prices we've seen, with limited-time offers starting at $2.49 per month, with three months free.

Why we like it: Given the versatility of its plans and features, Hostinger is one of our top choices for affordable, reliable web hosting.

The starter and next-level plans support up to 100 websites. Hostinger provides users with between 25GB and 200GB of storage outside of its enterprise plan, free mailboxes and forwarders, SSL website security, generous bandwidth, and a free domain name.

Also: Best Cloud hosting of 2025

You'll be given a one-click WordPress installation and free website migration, making this an excellent option for most website developers. If you want e-commerce capabilities, Hostinger provides a web builder. I also tried out the firm's new AI-based website builder tool, and it offers decent functionality based on a few prompts.

Hostinger also offers a drag-and-drop website builder and templates for those who 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).

Who it's for: 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.

Who should look elsewhere: It's cheap, even outside of business promotions, and as a customer, I have been happy with the service. However, I'm not the biggest fan of its email inbox setup. If you plan to rely heavily on email, you might want to consider a different option.

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In business since 2005, Bluehost is a solid contender as one of today's best cheap web hosting providers for e-commerce.

Why we like it: Recommended by WordPress for its streamlined integration and optimization, Bluehost plans begin at $3.79 per month for one website, with e-commerce-ready plans priced at $14.79 per month.

We particularly like the e-commerce plan, which comes with everything you need to start your online business. The tier includes shop themes, 100GB of storage, support for up to 100 websites and 200,000 visitors, a free SSL certificate, WooCommerce, store analytics, AI tools, unlimited product listings, secure online payment portals, and shipping label generation. You can also allow your customers to create accounts and make appointments.

You will also be given a free domain name for your first year and a free professional email trial.

Who it's for: Anyone looking to launch an e-commerce website. Sure, it's not the cheapest e-commerce plan outside of sales, but it offers excellent value for money.

Who should look elsewhere: Bluehost customer feedback indicates the company offers solid support, although load times can be slow. If this is an issue, explore our other favorite cheap web hosting services.

Also: Best VPS hosting software of 2025

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DreamHost is an excellent option for first-time website owners.

Why we like it: A WordPress content management system (CMS), a starter website, drag-and-drop platform, and templates are included as standard, together with free email services for a limited time.

Other features include unmetered bandwidth, daily automatic backups, traffic analytics, AI business tools, and MySQL database support.

Dreamhost offers the lowest prices with four-year commitments on shared starter plans. If you want to know exactly how much your website will cost you monthly in the long term, consider the $2 per month offer.

Shared plans come in three options. Starter (up to 25 websites, email is an extra charge), Growth (up to 50 websites), and Scale (up to 100 websites). Free domains are included for the first year, which helps keep costs down, alongside complementary SSL certificates.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to get started quickly, without having to worry about learning the intricacies of website design.

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.

Who should look elsewhere: Dreamhost has a lot to offer for novice website owners, but it might not suit those who want to quickly scale up.

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ScalaHosting is one of our top choices for versatility.

Why we like it: Depending on whether or not you grab a promotional deal, you can spend as little as a few bucks for its entry plan for $2.66 per month and around $15 per 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, and a one-click WordPress installer.

There's also a new AI-based website builder, although this might not suit everyone.

Who it's for: If you want a cheap but scalable web hosting service, ScalaHosting should be on your radar.

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

Who should look elsewhere: There's plan flexibility, but not many advanced features. If this is important to you, look elsewhere.

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Hosting.com 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
Hosting.com	✔️	✔️	✔️
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…
Hosting.com	The best cheap web hosting service overall. Hosting.com 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.
ScalaHosting	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.

Flexibility: While the cost is a major factor, you may want the flexibility to scale up as your project develops. Consider whether you want one-and-done hosting or whether you want the option to switch plans in the future.
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 factors that can be crucial when it comes time to narrow down 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 to try the service risk-free, so you can make an informed decision before you are tied to a contract. 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 back up 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 have 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.

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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.

Cheap web hosting is best suited for independent projects, blogs, small e-commerce stores, and small businesses. Entry-level web hosting is based on shared hosting, limited computing resources, and restricted storage with no advanced features. This means it won't suit more complex needs unless it can be scaled up as your project grows.

Yes, although this may either be limited or provided as a bolt-on service that you will have to pay extra for. However, some web hosting providers will give you a free, custom email address and an inbox as part of your package.

Latest updates

December 2025: In ZDNET's December update, we revisited all of our top recommendations, updated for accuracy, performed editorial changes throughout, and included a new news section.

Alternative web hosting platforms to consider

SiteGround hosting, starting at $4 per month, offers multi-tier plans and speedy setup and is one of our favorite affordable alternatives.

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Namecheap plans begin at only $1.78 per month and include affordable, shared business hosting.

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Starting at $3.75 per month, HostGator offers cheap web hosting with an interesting marketplace option for online sellers.

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If you would like to explore more of the best web hosting services around, check out our guide to the best web hosting services overall and the best cloud hosting services in the market today.

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