The best cheap web hosting services of 2024: Expert tested

A2 Hosting is ZDNET’s top choice for cheap web hosting in 2024. It has some of the cheapest prices available, a variety of features and additional bolt-on options, automatic security updates, generous storage, and 24/7 support. However, you can check out the key features of all of our top recommendations below.

To help you make the best decision, consider what matters the most to you in a web hosting provider:

Below are the important factors to consider when looking for the best cheap web hosting provider available today.

• Affordability: One of the first questions you should ask is: what is your preferred budget? Promotional deals won’t last forever, and there may be price hikes after the first year.
• Speed and stability: Shared hosting is generally cheaper than dedicated hosting. However, if you anticipate high traffic volumes or want lightning-fast page loads, you may opt for slightly more expensive hosting packages.
• E-commerce: Consider whether your website will need e-commerce functionality. If this is on the horizon, the cost of your plan will likely change. However, you can avoid this by selling from websites such as eBay and Etsy.
• Usability: You should also consider your current technical knowledge and whether you need a beginner-friendly host or if you are happy to customize your setup.
• Additional features: Many web hosts are not shy about generating extra revenues through features like backup and site migration, so you’ll have to factor in those costs before making an informed choice. If you choose a cheap plan, expect regular upsell offers for more full-featured (and significantly more expensive) plans. 

When choosing a web hosting package, there’s more to consider than just a low price. We considered a wide range of extra factors that can be crucial when it comes time to separate contenders on your shortlist of hosting providers.

Let’s start with the most important factor of all: A money-back guarantee. Every provider we surveyed offers at least 30 days during which you can try the service risk-free. Other factors include:

• Customer support: How many contact options does the provider offer for the plan you’ve chosen? If phone support isn’t available and email and ticket-based systems are the primary mechanism for problem resolution, how quickly does the support team respond?
• Bandwidth and storage: For shared hosting plans, most providers offer “unlimited” data transfers and storage, but there’s invariably a page full of fine print that requires you to abide by “reasonable” restrictions and acceptable-use policies. 
• Backup: Automated online backups are the most reliable way to backup your website. Most hosting providers offer automatic backups, but some charge extra. We included options for, at least, daily and weekly backups.
• Performance: As a rule, the less you pay for a shared hosting plan, the more likely you are to encounter slow page loads, because those low-cost plans typically cluster more shared accounts on the server. We have included shared hosting with budgets in mind, but we also listed vendors that offer dedicated setups.
• Security: We ensured that our recommended vendors follow, at least, basic security best practices. Does the provider offer multi-factor authentication? Are crucial software packages updated automatically, or are you required to stay on top of updates yourself? It’s important to consider such questions before you sign up.
• Email and domain options: Several providers offer free domain registration as part of a hosting package, but of course, the cost of that registration is built into the bill for the plan itself. Others may require domains and email services to be paid for separately, and we have considered each offering during our research.

Yes. But they often don’t allow for many customization options. Free web hosting services include Wix, WordPress, and GoDaddy. They may also include advertisements. 

It all depends on which web hosting platform you decide to use. But paid web hosting for a single website ranges anywhere from $2 to $10 per month. If you need enterprise-grade hosting, the cost can reach hundreds of dollars per month.

WordPress hosting is a subset of standard website hosting and so the majority of providers will allow WordPress content management system (CMS) installs. Indeed, even the cheapest hosts will often provide one-click WordPress installation functions. 

Typically, there are three services you will need, at minimum, for your website: a domain name, host, and email services. Many web hosts will give you a domain name for free — at least, for your first year — and they may also bundle in limited email services. However, keep in mind you might need to purchase these separately. If you intend to sell products on your website, you will need to select a package that supports e-commerce.

Yes, you can. However, free websites usually come with a catch – and in Wix’s case, this means you don’t get to connect your own domain name, and your website will display Wix adverts. You must upgrade to a paid plan to remove these restrictions and secure more storage.

You don’t, but this doesn’t mean you can claim your preferred domain name for free. Some web hosting providers will give you the chance to publish websites for free, but you will likely need to purchase a plan to secure a free domain name of your choosing — or you will need to purchase one outright separately.

You need to weigh your options before choosing a web hosting service. While we can’t showcase every reputable service and strong contender, the options below are highly reliable and could work if none of the other web hosts appeal to you.