Hostinger vs Namecheap
Two budget favorites with a different promise. One has the best panel, the other the fairest renewal.
Short answer
Hostinger wins this head-to-head.
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Hostinger
The most popular starter hosting, dirt cheap when you commit long term.
Namecheap
The domain giant with surprisingly cheap hosting.
| Feature | Hostinger | Namecheap |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Price | From $2.99/mo | From $2.28/mo |
| Renews at | $10.99/mo | $4.66/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | First website | Tight budgets |
| Category | Starter hosting | Starter hosting |
| Provider | Hostinger International | Namecheap Inc. |
| Visit Hostinger | Visit Namecheap |
Our verdict
Namecheap is the rare budget host whose renewal stays genuinely cheap ($55.88 a year on annual billing), which makes it the honest long-term deal. Hostinger counters with faster servers and a far nicer control panel, at a renewal of $10.99 a month. Both entry plans hold three sites. For pure set-and-forget value, take Namecheap.
For the better product while the promo runs, take Hostinger. On the total package, Hostinger wins by a nose.
“Fast hosting and a clean control panel for a few dollars a month. The low price does require paying four years up front. Renewal is higher but reasonable. For a first website, the obvious place to start.”Editorial team, on Hostinger
“Better known for domains, but the Stellar hosting is genuinely cheap to get started. Not the fastest servers in this lineup. For a simple site, few rivals come close on the intro price.”Editorial team, on Namecheap
Frequently asked questions
Hostinger or Namecheap: which is the better host?
Hostinger, by a nose. It is faster and the control panel is far nicer. Both entry plans carry three websites. We score it 4.4 against 4.2. Namecheap wins if you want to stop thinking about the bill, because its renewal stays under six dollars where Hostinger's climbs to almost eleven.
Which is cheaper, Hostinger or Namecheap?
Namecheap over the long run. Stellar's first year is $2.28 a month ($26.88 a year) against $2.99 at Hostinger, and more importantly it renews at $55.88 a year ($4.66 a month) against $10.99 a month. Hostinger's promo also asks for 48 months up front, so its cheap rate is a four-year commitment rather than a first-year discount.
Is Namecheap fast enough for a WordPress site?
For a simple site, yes. For anything demanding, Hostinger is the safer bet. Namecheap's servers are decent rather than spectacular and support runs through chat. Hostinger's platform is the faster one and its panel makes routine jobs quicker. Both include free SSL and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so a month of real use tells you more than any benchmark.
How many sites do I get on each plan?
Hostinger Premium and Namecheap Stellar both hold three websites. Namecheap also includes a free .website domain in the first year. With the same allowance on both, the cheaper renewal wins. More than three sites means an upgrade at either host.