Hosting renewal cost: what you really pay
Almost every host advertises a low intro price and renews much higher. This calculator does the honest maths: enter the intro price, the renewal price, and how many years you plan to stay. You get the real total cost, the true average monthly price across the whole term, and exactly how big the renewal jump is. Tap a preset to load real numbers from our shortlist, or type your own.
A steep 502% jump at renewal. The intro price is bait. Judge this host on the renewal rate, and consider a provider with fairer renewals before you commit for years.
We assume year one at the intro price and every later year at the renewal price. The advertised rate is rarely what you actually pay over time.
Why the renewal price is the only number that matters
The hosting market runs on teaser pricing. That $2.99 a month you see on every banner is the first-term promo, and it exists to win the sale. Once that first year ends, the price snaps to the real rate, which is often three or four times higher. SiteGround jumps from about $3 to roughly $18 a month, Bluehost from under $3 to about $12. Over three years the cheap-looking host can quietly become the expensive one, which is exactly why the advertised price is the wrong number to compare on.
So decide on the renewal price, not the promo, and on the real average this calculator shows. A small jump is fine: budget for the renewal rate and move on. A jump above 100% is a warning, not a bargain; treat the intro price as bait, and weigh a provider with fairer renewals before you lock in for years. Whatever you pick, set a calendar reminder one month before your renewal date the day you buy. That is the moment to choose again: migrate to a fresh promo (most hosts migrate your site for free) or stay on purpose, with your eyes open.