Headline finding
Across the hosts in our catalogue the advertised entry price is often a fraction of the three‑year cost. Using the plan prices we hold, the typical customer who pays a low introductory rate for 12 months and then pays standard renewal rates for the next 24 months ends up paying roughly 3–8× the first‑year monthly price when viewed as a 36‑month monthly equivalent.
How we calculate
We use the monthly figures in our catalogue. Where a vendor in the catalogue publishes a renewal price we assume the catalogue’s entry rate applies for the first 12 months and the renewal rate applies for the following 24 months. Where no renewal price is present we apply the catalogue’s entry monthly rate for all 36 months. We do not claim to have used or tested any product; these are arithmetic totals from the prices we hold.
Three‑year totals (our catalogue prices)
Below are three‑year totals computed from the prices we hold and the 36‑month equivalent monthly cost (total ÷ 36). Each provider name links to the product page in our catalogue.
| Provider | Three‑year total (USD) | 36‑month equivalent (USD/month) | Notes from our catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsta | $1,260.00 | $35.00 | entry $35.00/m (no renewal price in our catalogue) |
| Hostinger | $287.64 | $7.99 | entry $1.99/m first 12m, renewal $10.99/m thereafter (catalogue). |
| Rocket.net | $900.00 | $25.00 | entry $25.00/m (flat rate in our catalogue). |
| ScalaHosting | $322.20 | $8.95 | entry $2.95/m first 12m, renewal $11.95/m thereafter. |
| SiteGround | $647.64 | $17.99 | catalogue entry $17.99/m and renewal $17.99/m; catalogue also holds an annual equivalent figure of $2.99/m (see note). |
| DigitalOcean | $144.00 | $4.00 | entry $4.00/m (catalogue); vendor offers small Droplet tiers and separate add‑ons). |
| InMotion Hosting | $89.64 | $2.49 | entry $2.49/m (catalogue). |
| FastComet | $260.28 | $7.23 | entry $1.79/m first 12m, renewal $9.95/m thereafter. |
| WP Engine | $1,080.00 | $30.00 | entry $30.00/m (catalogue). |
| GreenGeeks | $370.20 | $10.28 | entry $2.95/m first 12m, renewal $13.95/m thereafter; catalogue also lists an annual equivalent of $2.95/m. |
| Cloudways | $396.00 | $11.00 | entry $11.00/m (catalogue). |
| Namecheap Web Hosting | $211.68 | $5.88 | entry $5.88/m (catalogue); catalogue shows an annual equivalent $4.98/m. |
What the numbers mean in practice
Two patterns dominate the results above.
- Promotional first‑term pricing that is low (for example $1.99/m) and a much higher renewal rate (in our catalogue $10.99/m for Hostinger) produces a low advertised monthly price but a substantially higher three‑year cost. For Hostinger the advertised $1.99 figure hides a 36‑month equivalent of about $7.99/m using the prices we hold.
- Some vendors present an "annual equivalent" or a low per‑month number when you commit to annual billing; our catalogue records those numbers where the vendor publishes them. Where annual‑billing reductions exist they can improve the 36‑month equivalent, but the effective cost depends on whether you renew under the same terms or the higher renewal price the vendor publishes.
Examples and vendor statements
SiteGround’s public marketing still highlights plans "starting at $2.99/mo", which is a low entry figure that often applies only to a first billing term or to a specific annual commitment. That advertised starting price appears on SiteGround’s plans page; our catalogue also records a much higher monthly entry and renewal figure in other fields, so the three‑year arithmetic above uses the catalogue entry and renewal numbers we hold. siteground.com
DigitalOcean advertises basic Droplets from $4/month; the vendor’s pages make clear that the $4 figure is the base Droplet price and that backups, bandwidth overages and other resources are separate lines on your bill. That’s consistent with our catalogue entry of $4.00/m and explains why a $4 figure can still leave room for extra costs in real use. digitalocean.com
Kinsta’s pricing page displays plans with monthly and annual prices; our catalogue records a $35.00/m entry and an annual‑equivalent $30.00/m where the vendor shows an annual discount. Comparing the vendor’s published monthly and annual figures clarifies why a one‑page advertised monthly figure can be different if you select annual billing. kinsta.com
WP Engine’s public pricing has changed in recent years; vendor communications and industry summaries show adjustments to subscription pricing. Our catalogue holds a $30.00/m entry figure; if a vendor’s public price changes you should check the vendor page before purchase since renewal and future‑term prices set the long‑run bill. content.wpengine.com
Three practical takeaways
- Always calculate multi‑year totals. A low promotional monthly rate can look attractive for one billing term but produce a much higher 36‑month equivalent.
- Ask whether the low figure is conditional on annual billing, a specific term length, or one‑time discounts. Our catalogue lists annual equivalents where vendors publish them; those lower figures only apply if you accept the associated commitment terms.
- Budget for add‑ons. Providers that advertise low per‑month rates (for example the $4 Droplet at DigitalOcean) often separate backups, block storage, managed services and extra IPs as additional charges. Use the vendor’s published line‑item pages for realistic budgeting. digitalocean.com
How to use these numbers
If you are comparing vendors, compute a 36‑month total for the exact plan you expect to buy: use the promotional first term where applicable, then the vendor’s published renewal price for subsequent terms, and add any recurring add‑ons you will need (backups, CDN, extra storage). The arithmetic is simple, and the three‑year equivalent monthly figure reveals the real ongoing budget impact.
Final note
The totals above are the arithmetic results of the monthly figures we hold in our catalogue and the renewal prices recorded there. We have not attempted to model site‑specific variables such as bandwidth overage, traffic‑driven plan changes, managed service add‑ons or the effect of coupons. For the vendor’s current advertised terms consult the vendor pricing pages linked in the body (examples cited above) before you commit.