Hostinger vs Namecheap
Two budget favorites with a different promise. One has the best panel, the other the fairest renewal.
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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.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Hostinger | Namecheap |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Price | From $2.99/mo | From $1.98/mo |
| Renews at | $10.99/mo | $5.88/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 (around $4.50), which makes it the honest long-term deal. Hostinger counters with faster servers, a far nicer control panel, and a hundred sites per plan, at a renewal around $11. 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, the control panel is far nicer, and one plan carries 100 websites where Namecheap Stellar carries three. 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 $1.98 a month ($23.76 a year) against $2.99 at Hostinger, and more importantly it renews at $5.88 a month against $10.99. Prices checked August 2026. 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 holds 100 websites, Namecheap Stellar three. Namecheap also includes a free .website domain in the first year. If you only ever plan one site, the allowance costs you nothing and the cheaper renewal wins. If you collect projects, Hostinger removes an upgrade you would otherwise run into.