The intro-price trap
Nearly every WordPress host advertises a headline price that more than doubles at renewal. It's not a scam — it's how the industry works. But it becomes a scam when nobody tells you the renewal number before you pay. This guide does: here's every major host's intro vs renewal price, so the second-year bill isn't a surprise.
| Host | Intro price | Renewal price | Billing term | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Namecheap | $1.58/mo | $4.48/mo | 24-month lock-in | | Hostinger | $2.99/mo | $7.99/mo | 48-month intro | | Bluehost | $2.95/mo | $11.99/mo | 36-month intro | | SiteGround | $3.99/mo | $14.99/mo | Annual | | DreamHost | $2.59/mo | $8.99/mo | 36-month intro | | A2 Hosting | $2.99/mo | $9.99/mo | 36-month intro | | HostGator | $2.75/mo | $10.99/mo | 36-month intro |
Renewals are usually annual or per your original term. The gap between $2.99 and $7.99 is the real question you should ask before buying, not after a year of building on the host.
Why hosts do this
The economics are simple: hosts use cheap intros to win the switch, then recover margin at renewal. On long intro terms (24–48 months), the renewal is even more expensive per month because you pre-paid cheap. Read the buying rules in cheap WordPress hosting before committing.
The honest hosts
A few providers break the pattern:
- Cloudways — no intro games; pay-as-you-go, month to month (from ~$14/mo)
- Kinsta / WP Engine — flat, published pricing with no intro/renewal gap
- Namecheap — renewals stay low, just higher than the intro
If price predictability matters more than the cheapest first month, managed or month-to-month options are the honest choice — see managed WordPress hosting.
How to protect yourself
- Find the renewal price before checkout — it's usually buried in the terms or a footnote
- Treat multi-year intros as a bet — a 4-year Hostinger plan at $2.99/mo is great if you stay 4 years; if you leave, unused months are lost
- Set a calendar reminder — note the renewal date and review whether to stay or switch (see when to upgrade or switch)
- Know your refund window — if a renewal surprises you, the guarantee may cover it: refunds guide
- Migrate instead of paying — switching hosts is a 30-minute job with a migration, and intro prices apply to new customers
The real cost over 3 years
A 3-year picture makes the difference concrete (single site, entry plan):
| Host | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Hostinger (48m intro) | $36 | $36 | $36 | ~$108 (4-year intro) | | SiteGround | $48 | $180 | $180 | ~$408 | | Bluehost | $106 (3y lock) | — | — | ~$106 then $12/mo | | Cloudways | ~$168/yr | ~$168 | ~$168 | ~$504 but month-to-month |
The cheapest first-year plan is often the most expensive by year three. Budget hosting that stays cheap long-term is the point of the best cheap hosting rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my hosting cost more at renewal? Intro prices exist to win new customers; renewals return to the normal rate. The gap is industry-standard — the only variable is how big it is and how honest they are about it.
Which WordPress host has the lowest renewal price? Namecheap renews lowest among shared hosts. For no renewal games at all, Cloudways and the managed hosts (Kinsta, WP Engine) are month-to-month and flat-priced.
Can I get the intro price again at renewal? Sometimes — many hosts offer "renewal discounts" if you ask, or if you migrate away and back. Politely asking support or switching via a migration both work.
Should I pay for 4 years of hosting upfront? Only if you're sure you'll stay. Multi-year intros are cheap but non-refundable for unused months. One-year terms keep your options open.
How do I avoid the renewal price increase? Set a reminder before renewal, compare the renewal against the best WordPress hosting list, and switch with a migration if it's not worth it.