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Website Hosting Cost Guide

Written by Anna Sonnenberg    Reviewed by Noa Kaufman
Last Update: February 2025


If you have a website for your business, you need a hosting provider. Website hosting is a service where providers rent out server space to store website data and keep your site online.

Typical website hosting costs depend on factors like hosting type, bandwidth, and management. Because average costs have evolved over time, you need current information to plan business expenses.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the cost of hosting a website in 2024. We'll explore what type to choose, which add-ons to consider, and a side-by-side hosting cost comparison.

Types of Website Hosting

Every website hosting type includes a unique server setup designed for a different use case. As a result, costs vary significantly. From expensive to cheap web hosting, here's what you can expect to pay.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting uses a single server for several websites owned by various customers. Every site draws from the same resources and technology, so you share the total storage and bandwidth with other users.

The average cost for shared hosting in 2024 starts at $1.48 to $5.99 per month.

Pros of shared hosting:

  • Tends to be the most affordable hosting solution since it shares capacity with other users

  • Is ideal for beginners, as it doesn't require much technical knowledge

Cons of shared hosting:

  • Is less ideal for sites with traffic spikes since it caps concurrent or monthly visitors

  • Can be difficult to scale beyond certain levels since shared web hosting plans have hard limits

VPS Hosting

Virtual private server (VPS) hosting includes dedicated bandwidth and resources. To offer VPS hosting, providers partition servers to create a separate virtual machine for each customer.

In 2024, the average monthly hosting fees for a virtual private server start at $2 to $46.99.

Pros of VPS hosting:

  • Provides more privacy and allows you to install your own software

  • Manages periods of high traffic better than shared hosting

Cons of VPS hosting:

  • Has a higher domain hosting cost than a shared setup

  • Requires you to configure and manage your own virtual machine

Dedicated Hosting

When you purchase dedicated hosting, you rent the entire server. Since you don't have to share space with other users, you get much more bandwidth. You can also configure the server to fit your business's needs.

The average cost for dedicated hosting in 2024 starts at $48.88 to $199.99 per month.

Pros of dedicated hosting:

  • Gives you the most control since it includes a dedicated server for your website

  • Supports high-traffic websites and substantial storage

Cons of dedicated hosting:

  • Tends to have the highest annual hosting costs, making it a bad fit for small budgets

  • Demands the most technical knowledge since it requires you to configure the server

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting uses multiple remote servers located around the world. It's one of the most reliable hosting options since it uses a network of cloud-based servers.

In 2024, the average cost for cloud hosting starts at $4.50 to $29.99.

Pros of cloud hosting:

  • Tends to have the most uptime since it uses multiple servers to host your site

  • Supports sites with global traffic since it uses servers around the world

Cons of cloud hosting:

  • Tends to be more expensive than shared or VPS hosting

  • Offers less control and lower security than dedicated hosting

Managed Hosting

With managed hosting, the provider handles all software and operating system installation and maintenance. Many hosting providers offer managed WordPress hosting via shared, cloud, virtual, or dedicated servers.

The average monthly cost of managed hosting packages starts at $1.43 to $16.95 in 2024.

Pros of managed hosting:

  • Includes software management, making it a good choice for beginners and low-tech users

  • May offer migration services at no extra cost

Cons of managed hosting:

  • Only supports one type of software, so it won't allow you to switch to another system

  • Doesn't offer as much control as you'd get with self-managed dedicated hosting

Factors Influencing Hosting Costs

Not all hosting plans are created equal. The factors below can have a major impact on web hosting prices.

Bandwidth and Storage

The more bandwidth or storage you need, the higher your hosting costs will be. To determine how much you need, track your usage. Many providers have bandwidth monitors to measure your site.

Uptime and Reliability

Uptime refers to the amount of time your website is accessible and running without interruptions. While 100% uptime is ideal, very few hosting providers can promise that level of availability due to factors like maintenance or unexpected issues. 

Most providers, like HostGator, offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee, meaning your site might experience a little over 40 minutes of downtime per month. If uninterrupted access is crucial for your business, expect to pay more for a service that offers higher uptime guarantees.


HostGator

Customer Support

Whether you choose a basic shared hosting plan or a fully managed plan for a high-traffic site, you need reliable support. While virtually all hosting providers offer some kind of support, the specifics vary.

Generally, less expensive plans have longer wait times and fewer support channels, such as chat only. Pricier plans often include priority support and multiple channels like chat and phone.

Security Features

Most web hosting plans include basic security measures like secure socket layer (SSL) certificates and malware scanning. For stricter security, consider paying more for a managed plan with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection.

As an example, A2 Hosting offers DDoS protection:

A2Hosting

he fourth quarter of 2023 Q4 saw a 117% increase in DDoS attacks year-over-year. "2023 was the year of uncharted territories. DDoS attacks reached new heights — in size and sophistication," explain Omer Yoachimik and Jorge Pacheco.

Scalability

If your business is growing quickly, you need a hosting plan that can support more website traffic. Providers often limit concurrent visitors or cap bandwidth per month. 

For adequate bandwidth, consider scaling your shared or cloud hosting plan. Alternatively, switch to a dedicated hosting service.

Additional Costs to Consider

Altogether, how much does it cost to host a website? Here are a few additional setup costs to consider.

Domain Registration

Many providers include free domain registration for the first year of your hosting plan. Renewing your domain registration typically costs $9.99 to $11.99 per year.

SSL Certificates

SSL certificates are critical for security, but they don't usually add to the cost of your website. Most providers include free SSL certificates with every hosting plan.

For instance, Dreamhost includes free SSL certificates with hosting plans:

Dreamhost

Email Hosting

Some providers include free email hosting so you can set up a professional email address along with your website. Others charge an annual fee ranging from $14.88 to $24.99.

Website Builders and CMS

While some providers include basic content management systems for free, you'll have to pay for premium themes and website builders. For example, Wix plans start at $17 per month, while custom WordPress themes can cost $1,500 or more. 

WIX

Top Web Hosting Providers in 2024

Use this side-by-side comparison to find the best web hosting provider for your business.

Key FeaturesStarting PricesUser Ratings
Shared and WordPress hosting plans have a free domain for the first year
Cloud hosting plans have 100% uptime
Dedicated hosting plans include free migration
Shared hosting: $2.95/month
Managed WordPress hosting: $2.95/month
Cloud hosting: $29.99/month
VPS hosting: $46.99/month
Dedicated hosting: $141.19/month
4.1 stars / 14,000+ reviews
Shared and WordPress hosting plans have a free domain for the first year
VPS hosting has 99.9% uptime
Servers have up to 40% faster load times
Shared hosting: $5.99/month
VPS hosting: $8.99/month
Managed WordPress hosting: $8.99/month
4.7 stars / 103,000+ reviews
Shared hosting plans have WordPress auto-updates and AI tools
Cloud hosting plans have daily backups and unlimited bandwidth
VPS hosting plans include real-time snapshots and an AI assistant
Shared hosting: $2.99/month
Managed WordPress hosting: $2.99/month
Managed WooCommerce hosting: $3.99/month
VPS hosting: $4.99/month
Cloud hosting: $7.99/month
4.6 stars / 29,000+ reviews
Shared hosting plans have professional email
VPS hosting plans allow unlimited traffic at 1GB/s
VPS hosting plans have 99.9% uptime
VPS hosting: $2/month
Shared hosting: $4/month
4.6 stars / 21,000+ reviews
Shared hosting plans include website builder and generative AI tools
VPS hosting plans include free migration
Dedicated hosting plans include your choice of server level
Managed hosting: $1.43/month
Shared hosting: $1.48/month
VPS hosting: $6.88/month
Dedicated hosting: $48.88/month
4.3 stars / 16,000+ reviews
Shared, VPS, dedicated, and managed plans have unmetered bandwidth
Shared hosting plans have WordPress pre-installed
VPS and dedicated hosting plans have free migration
Shared hosting: $3.75/month
Managed hosting: $4.50/month
VPS hosting: $36.99/month
Dedicated hosting: $91.98/month
4.2 stars / 7,000+ reviews
Shared hosting plans have WP website builder
VPS hosting plans allow unlimited traffic
Many plans include one-click WordPress installs
Shared hosting: $2.59/month
Cloud hosting: $4.50/month
VPS hosting: $10/month
Managed WordPress hosting: $16.95/month
Dedicated hosting: $165/month
4.7 stars / 6,000+ reviews
Most shared plans include unlimited websites and unlimited storage
Most plans include free site migration
Shared and dedicated hosting plans have 99.9% uptime
Shared hosting: $1.95/month
VPS hosting: $2.99/month
Dedicated hosting: $199.99/month
4.6 stars / 2,000+ reviews

Conclusion

Choosing the right hosting plan starts with assessing your website's needs and calculating your budget. Once you know your must-haves and your budget, use the information above to create a shortlist. Then, browse customer reviews and ratings to find the ideal option.

Ready to find the right web hosting service for your site? Explore our top-rated hosting providers.