Budget
The cheapest hosting that won't cause you problems
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Last updated 8 August 2026
Every hosting company advertises a headline price - often around a couple of euro a month - and that price is real, but it's rarely the whole story. Here's what to check before you're tempted purely by the number on the homepage.
Read the renewal price, not just the intro price
The advertised rate is almost always a first-term promotional price, usually requiring you to pay upfront for one to three years. When that term ends, renewal pricing is typically noticeably higher - sometimes two to three times the intro rate, though the exact multiple varies by provider and I'd recommend checking the specific renewal terms before committing, since these change and aren't always prominently displayed at signup. Budget for the renewal price, not the one you see first.
What "unlimited" usually doesn't mean
Plans advertising unlimited or unmetered storage and bandwidth almost always carry an acceptable use policy limiting what you can actually do with it - generally aimed at stopping the plan being used as a personal file server or video host rather than for an actual website's needs. For a normal small site, this essentially never becomes an issue. Worth a quick read of the provider's acceptable use policy if you're planning anything storage-heavy.
Where the cheapest tier commonly cuts corners
- Fewer resources per site - the entry tier often limits you to one website per account, which matters if you might want a second site later.
- Backups as a paid add-on rather than included - check this specifically, since restoring a hacked or broken site without a recent backup can be a genuinely bad day.
- Slower shared server tiers - cheaper plans sometimes place you on more crowded shared infrastructure. For a low-traffic brochure site this rarely matters in practice; for anything expecting real traffic it's worth checking reviews on real-world speed.
- Support quality - some budget providers gate live chat or phone support behind higher tiers, leaving you with ticket-only support on the cheapest plan.
When paying a little more is worth it
If backups, more than one website, or faster support matter to you, the next tier up from the absolute cheapest plan is usually where hosting stops being a compromise. It's rarely a large jump in price - often only a euro or two more per month - for a meaningfully better set of features.
Namecheap Stellar Plus sits in that "one step up" tier: unlimited websites, unmetered SSD storage, and automatic backups included rather than bolted on - without jumping to VPS or managed pricing. Since promotional pricing shifts, it's worth checking Namecheap's current promotions before you buy - sometimes a bundle or seasonal offer beats the standard price. View the plan →
The one thing worth checking regardless of price
Whatever plan you land on, confirm two things before you buy: a free SSL certificate is included (not an add-on), and there's a clear, working path to cancel or downgrade later. Both are standard with reputable hosts, but they're worth confirming rather than assuming.
New to this entirely? Start with how to host a website in Ireland. Already outgrowing a budget plan? See when shared hosting isn't enough.
Common questions
Why is the renewal price different from the price advertised on the homepage?
The advertised rate is almost always a first-term promotional price, usually requiring payment upfront for one to three years. Renewal pricing is typically noticeably higher once that term ends, so it's worth budgeting for the renewal price rather than the one you see first, and checking the specific renewal terms before committing.
Does 'unlimited' storage and bandwidth actually mean unlimited?
Plans advertising unlimited or unmetered storage and bandwidth almost always carry an acceptable use policy limiting what you can actually do with it - generally aimed at stopping the plan being used as a personal file server or video host. For a normal small site, this essentially never becomes an issue.
What do the cheapest hosting tiers commonly cut corners on?
Common cuts include limiting the entry tier to one website per account, treating backups as a paid add-on rather than including them, placing sites on more crowded shared server tiers, and gating live chat or phone support behind higher-priced plans.
What should I check regardless of which hosting plan I pick?
Confirm two things before buying: that a free SSL certificate is included rather than an add-on, and that there's a clear, working path to cancel or downgrade later. Both are standard with reputable hosts, but worth confirming rather than assuming.