The best cheap web hosting services of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

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If you want to launch a new business or start an online project, reliable and affordable web hosting is essential. There are many options in the market tailored for individuals and small companies, offering affordable web hosting for just a few dollars per month. If you know where to look, you'll find quality web hosts providing a reasonable amount of storage, free domain names, email, CMS support, e-commerce, and even ready-made website templates.

Whether you're starting a blog or launching a business, our recommended web hosting services 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.

Also: The best cheap VPNs: Expert tested

In ZDNET's January update, we revised our 2026 guide, including updates to our top recommendations, FAQs, and alternatives.

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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 2026. It has some of the lowest entry prices starting at $2 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 2026

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

We particularly like this host's ability to upgrade as your project grows with extra speed, storage, and capacity available through premium plans. These are also cheap considering all the features on offer but be aware of the high price increases after your first contract term.

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 the boxes for most webmasters, especially those planning 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. Its price hikes can also be quite high, so another one of our recommendations might suit you more over long terms.

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Hostinger has some of the absolute lowest introductory prices we've seen with limited time offers starting at $2 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 between three and 100 websites. Hostinger provides users with between 20GB and 100GB 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 2026

You'll get 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 the firm's new AI-based website builder, and it offers decent functionality with 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 such as Google Analytics integration, SEO tools, AI, SSH, DDoS protection, staging functionality for testing, and dedicated IP addresses. However, dedicated IP addresses are only available with 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 bouncebacks and slow load times.

Who should look elsewhere: It's cheap, even outside of business promotions, and as a customer, I'm 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. The service is recommended by WordPress for its streamlined integration and optimization.

Why we like it: 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. To sweeten the deal, a free domain name for your first year is also included.

Bluehost plans begin at $4 per month for one website, with e-commerce-ready plans priced at $15 per month on a three-year contract.

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 and those who aren't too confident about designing their own website.

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 three months.

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 $3 per month offer.

Shared plans come in three options. Launch supports up to 25 websites, but email is an extra charge. Growth supports up to 50 websites, and Scale supports 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 support is top-notch. They also appreciate the service's flexibility, 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 you grab a promotional deal, you can spend as little as $3 per month for the entry plan 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. Another benefit is that there are no data caps -- we would assume based on fair and reasonable use -- unlike many other providers.

There's also a new AI-based website builder, but it may not suit everyone.

Who it's for: If you want a cheap but scalable web hosting service, ScalaHosting should be on your radar. I also appreciate the flexibility of its plans, which range from one month to three years. You will secure the best prices on longer terms.

Customer feedback indicates that the help desk 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 2026. 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. The WordPress and e-commerce packages are a bonus.
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. In the years I've operated a Hostinger website, there's been minimal downtime.
Bluehost	A host that excels in helping new online businesses get off the ground. It has everything you need to get started, including a free domain, website creation tools, and a fair amount of storage, 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. An AI website builder is included with all plans.
ScalaHosting	ScalaHosting is a flexible web hosting provider which, while reasonably cheap, allows you to scale as and when you wish. ScalaHosting will also also assist you in migrating existing websites.

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

Flexibility: While cost is a major factor, you may want the option to scale up as your project progresses. Consider whether you want one-and-done hosting or whether you want the option to switch plans in the future.
Scaling up or down: As another point on flexibility, if you're unsure how much computing power and bandwidth you will need, consider web hosting providers that make it easy to move up or down plans as your needs change.
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 on websites such as eBay and Etsy in the interim.
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 in 2026.

Let's start with the most important factor of all: A money-back guarantee. Every provider we surveyed offers at least 14 days to try the service risk-free, so you can make an informed decision before you are tied to a contract. Other factors to consider 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 options with budgets in mind, and we have also listed vendors that offer dedicated hosting.
Security: We ensured that our recommended vendors adhere to at least basic security best practices. Does the provider offer multi-factor authentication? Are crucial software packages, such as WordPress security updates, handled automatically, or are you required to stay on top of updates yourself? It's important to consider such questions before you sign up and how much time you are willing to spend keeping up with security changes.
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. If you opt for a free service, keep in mind that resources will be limited, and some providers will display advertisements on your website in return for free hosting.

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. You can also choose bolt-ons, such as additional computing resources, email, or e-commerce functionality that will increase the cost.

Many cheap web hosting providers offer consistently affordable plans and packages. However, the price may increase after the first term -- whether it is one year, two years, or longer. For example, you may enjoy an introductory price of $2/month, but this increases to $10/month after the first year. As with any subscription or contract, read the fine print.

WordPress hosting is a subset of standard website hosting and so the majority of providers will allow WordPress content management system (CMS) installs. Even the cheapest hosts often provide one-click WordPress installation, and so you won't always have to rely on HTML or coding to launch a simple website.

Typically, there are three services you will need, at minimum, for your website: a domain name, a 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, SEO, and even AI tools.

However, keep in mind you might need to purchase advanced features separately. If you intend to sell products on your website, for example, 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

January 2026: In ZDNET's January update, we revised our 2026 guide, including updates to our top recommendations, FAQs, and alternatives.
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 $3 per month, offers multi-tier plans and speedy setup and is one of our favorite affordable alternatives. Basic, WordPress, and cloud-based hosting are on offer.

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It says it in the name: cheap. Namecheap plans start at $2 per month and include affordable shared business hosting. On the entry-level plan, you can support up to three websites, and an AI website builder is included -- but be aware of price hikes.

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Starting at $4 per month, HostGator offers cheap web hosting with an interesting marketplace option for online sellers. Its e-commerce plans cost around $10 per month and include 50GB - 100GB of storage, a free domain name, website analytics, and secure online payments.

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GreenGeeks focuses its reputation on providing a sustainable, eco-friendly web hosting service. With contracts starting at $2 per month, it is very affordable, and each plan includes renewable energy matches. Watch out for price hikes.

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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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