How Much Does Website Hosting Cost in 2024

website hosting cost

What are the factors affecting your website hosting cost and how much can you expect to pay in 2024? Are there any ways you can save and how can you ensure you’re getting the best web hosting plan for you?

Today, we’re breaking down all the different types of hosting, the hosting fees associated with them, and ways to save on your website in 2024.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a service that provides the necessary storage for your website’s files, along with the software, physical hardware, and network infrastructure needed to make your website accessible on the internet. Web hosting providers offer a range of hosting options, from affordable to premium. 

When researching the average cost of a web hosting service, you’ll also see some free plans. While it’s true you can get free hosting, there is a pretty big catch here.

These “free” servers run ads on your website and profit from them. You can’t remove these ads and usually have little or no control over what those ads are.

If you opt for free web hosting, you will also only receive a basic service and you will likely need to use their website builder. Even if you have the capacity, you won’t be able to do a lot of customizations or use different software, for example.

So while it might sound like a good idea, free website hosting will only interfere with your site and will limit your abilities severely. Instead, if you have a tight budget, you can opt for a simple but paid plan to ensure better features and more security. 

How Much Does Website Hosting Cost in 2024

How much does website hosting cost? What can I expect to pay for web hosting in 2024?

These are questions that unfortunately don’t have simple answers. There are so many factors affecting the cost of web hosting, many of which you won’t have any control over. Let’s take a closer look at what those are and how much you can expect to pay to host a website.

Web Hosting Type

First, we have to talk about the different hosting options as the type of web hosting you choose is the biggest driver of cost.

Shared Hosting

Shared web hosting means using the same server as other users. You would have access to the same allocated pool of resources, including storage, bandwidth, and processing power as other websites.

Shared hosting could be a good option for those launching their first website, or those with blogs, online portfolios, and small to medium-sized business websites. However, a shared hosting plan would also mean having limited resources and it would be very difficult to scale it.

Typically, the cost of shared hosting, depending on the provider is $2–$10 per month.

VPS Hosting

Virtual private servers or VPS hosting plans provide dedicated resources and web hosting spaces. This hosting type uses virtualization technology to divide a physical system into multiple isolated virtual machines.

Many VPS hosting providers give websites full root access, allowing them to install their own software and operating systems. Unlike shared hosting, what you choose to do with your account won’t affect any other users.

Another benefit of this type of hosting is that your files are databases are secure and private and it’s suitable for high traffic surges. However, it does cost more than shared hosting and the only way to ensure you’re using it to its full potential is by having technical knowledge of VPS.

VPS hosting plans can start at only $3 per month but can cost upwards of $100.

Cloud Hosting

With cloud web hosting, you get high uptime and excellent scalability as it uses multiple servers to host your website. This type of hosting is more impervious to issues with physical hardware because it uses a network of remote servers. If one server crashes or is down, there is another one that will keep your site running.

A cloud hosting plan is one of the best options for growing websites because it allows you to easily upgrade your bandwidth and storage. On the other hand, as a user, you have less control because the web host manages the hosting. Also, improper configuration can cause security issues.

Cloud website hosting cost is typically higher than shared or VPS, with the lowest pricing plans starting at around $7. That said, the average prices usually range between $50–$300 but can go upwards to $1,000. Keep in mind that, while it’s always good to keep an eye out on your budget, with hosting, you usually get what you pay for.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting plans give users complete control over their server environment and users have entire physical servers allocated to them. With dedicated hosting, you can customize the operating system, and software, and do general configurations.

Dedicated hosting is aimed at sites with heavy traffic and web hosting companies often offer unlimited websites and domains in the same package. There are also dedicated hosting plans that offer unlimited email accounts and storage.

Thanks to their flexibility and scalability, dedicated hosting plans can be pretty pricey. The average for the dedicated plan is around $75, while more complex plans can cost a few hundred dollars monthly.

The two types of dedicated servers are managed and unmanaged. 

Managed vs. Unmanaged

Managed dedicated web hosting offers professional support to users. That means you can still customize and tailor your service, but you would have assistance in case something went wrong.

On the other hand, unmanaged servers do not provide any customer support. It’s geared toward those who have their own IT departments or web developers who could handle any issues with hosting.

WordPress Hosting

Websites built on the WordPress content management system (CMS) can improve their performance and security by using WordPress hosting. In addition to boosting overall performance, this type of hosting can also make the entire web-building process simpler.

WordPress hosting sets itself apart from other types of hosting solutions because it has WordPress-specific features. This can include one-click installers and security tools. 

However, keep in mind that WordPress hosting often only offers a shared environment and can come with pre-installed plugins and themes which may not work for you. 

For personal use, the lowest price of a WordPress hosting plan is $4, while businesses can pay $25 per month.

Features

In addition to the specific type of web hosting you choose, you will also likely be able to choose certain features. However, better features also result in a higher website hosting cost, so make sure you know your priorities.

Some of the most popular features are higher bandwidth, RAM, website backups, access to web builders, and premium plugins.

Hosting Plan Period

Oftentimes, you will be able to get a discount or promotional rates on your fees if you lock into a long-term contract. Short-term or month-to-month plans are generally more expensive than if you were to sign up for a year or more. Of course, make sure the features and providers are right for you before choosing the longer plans.

Web Server Location

Website hosting cost can also depend on the location of your preferred data centre. Hosting servers located in highly populated areas incur higher prices than less-populated places. However, you might want to host your website in a specific region to provide a target audience with faster loading times and lower latency, so make sure you factor that in.

Choosing the Right Hosting Service for You

The other key factors that affect web hosting costs are your provider and plan. Before you make a final decision on a hosting package, here’s what to consider.

Understand Your Hosting Needs

Before you begin looking for a hosting provider, consider your budget and what you’d be comfortable spending each month for the service. Also, take into account the number of monthly visitors you expect on your site.


The next step is to determine the complexity of the website and the level of performance your website needs. Be clear on the performance you think your site will need to run smoothly.

Research Different Providers

A reputable hosting provider can make a world of difference to your web experience. When comparing providers, consider their technical specifications, additional features and services they’re offering, and look at third-party reviews. These things will help you determine who will be the best fit for you.

Choose a Plan

Once you’ve found a company that ticks all of your boxes, you need to choose a hosting plan that works for you. Consider the website hosting cost, the features you need, and the entire package. If you feel comfortable with the price and the provider, think about getting into a long-term contract as it might get you a good discount.

Check the Fine Print

The last step is reading the fine print or the terms and conditions of your hosting contract. Check for clauses that stipulate any additional charges for changing providers, cancelling early, or migrating your hosting, for example. Also, make sure you confirm your renewal prices to avoid any unpleasant surprises later.

Final Thoughts on Website Hosting Cost

As you can see, website hosting cost can vary significantly based on countless different factors. From types to plans and providers, always make sure you’re reading the fine print and making a good investment.

If you’re looking for optimized WordPress Web Hosting – Guru SEO Services offers the ultimate solutions for high-performing sites. We offer blazing-fast speeds, enterprise-grade security, scalability, and flexibility. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you!

Share
Picture of Jesse Tutt

Jesse Tutt

Jesse has over 16 years of digital marketing experience and is the Founder and CEO of Guru SEO and Web Design Services. Jesse is an international speaker, renowned entrepreneur and web design and SEO expert.