Budget shared hosting is sold on an introductory rate. The number that actually determines your multi-year cost is the renewal rate, and every host in this set has one.
The jump, by host
| Host | Entry plan | Intro price | Renewal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | Starter | $4.99/mo | Renews at $11.99/mo |
| Hostinger | Premium | $2.99/mo | Renews at $10.99/mo |
| InMotion | Launch | $4.79/mo | Renews at $14.99/mo |
| GreenGeeks | Lite | $2.95/month | Renews at $13.95/month |
| SiteGround | StartUp | $2.99/mo | Renews at $17.99/mo |
Why the term length matters more than the sticker price
Bluehost's one-year Starter term is $4.99/mo (For 12 month term), but the same plan drops to $3.99/mo (For 36 month term), renews at $9.99/mo. A longer term lowers the monthly-equivalent sticker price but locks in the commitment before your first renewal decision. Read it this way: a longer term is a discount you pay for in flexibility -- worth it only when you already know the site will outlive the term.
Why this matters more than the entry price
A renewal jump on one small site is a manageable surprise. The reader who should care most is anyone running several client or portfolio sites, where the same jump multiplied across sites is a budget event, not a rounding error. Track your actual exposure in the shared hosting cost worksheet rather than budgeting off the introductory number.