HostGator vs Namecheap on the pages read 2026-11-02: Namecheap starts lower at $2.28 a month for 3 websites, while HostGator's Hatchling plan is $3.75 a month on a 36-month term for 10 websites and 10 GB of SSD, renewing at $10.99. HostGator lists a 99% uptime guarantee and weekly backups; Namecheap lists a 100% uptime guarantee line and twice-weekly backups. Both are vendor claims, not measurements.
Disclosure: HostingDive earns a commission when you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which plans are listed or how they are described.
HostGator vs Namecheap at a glance
| HostGator | Namecheap | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Hatchling $3.75/mo, 36-month term; renews at $10.99/mo | Stellar from $2.28/mo, 30 days free |
| Entry limits | 10 websites, 10 GB SSD, ideal for 40K visits/mo | 3 websites, 20 GB SSD |
| Mid plan | Baby $4.50/mo: 20 websites, 20 GB SSD; renews at $16.49/mo | Stellar Plus $2.98/mo: unlimited websites, unmetered SSD |
| Business plan | Business $6.25/mo: 50 websites, 50 GB SSD; renews at $21.99/mo | Stellar Business $4.98/mo: unlimited websites, 50 GB Cloud Storage |
| Top plan | Pro $13.95/mo: 100 websites, 100 GB SSD; renews at $29.69/mo | Stellar Business is the top shared plan listed |
| Uptime | 99% uptime guarantee | 100% uptime guarantee line |
| Backups | Weekly backups | Twice a week; AutoBackup on Plus and Business |
| Refund or trial | 30-day money-back guarantee | 30 days free trial |
| Support | 24/7 chat; chat and phone on higher plans | 24/7 customer support |
See the plans: Namecheap.
Pricing Table: Every Toggle and Term
HostGator prices below are on a 36-month term with a stated renewal rate. Namecheap's page offers a Monthly, Yearly and Bi-yearly toggle and says to save up to 71% with yearly and bi-yearly billing, but prints two prices per plan with no billing period, so the table does not assign them to a toggle.
| Plan | Term or toggle | Price shown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HostGator Hatchling | 36-month term | $3.75/mo | Renews at $10.99/mo |
| HostGator Baby | 36-month term | $4.50/mo | Renews at $16.49/mo |
| HostGator Business | 36-month term | $6.25/mo | Renews at $21.99/mo |
| HostGator Pro | 36-month term | $13.95/mo | Renews at $29.69/mo |
| Namecheap Stellar | Monthly, Yearly, Bi-yearly toggles | $2.28/mo and $5.88/mo | 61% off; 30 days free; which price belongs to which toggle: not shown on the vendor page |
| Namecheap Stellar Plus | Monthly, Yearly, Bi-yearly toggles | $2.98/mo and $7.88/mo | Which price belongs to which toggle: not shown on the vendor page |
| Namecheap Stellar Business | Monthly, Yearly, Bi-yearly toggles | $4.98/mo and $11.88/mo | Which price belongs to which toggle: not shown on the vendor page |
| Namecheap, any plan | Bi-yearly toggle price | not shown on the vendor page | No separate bi-yearly figure appears in the text read |
Cost Over the Disclosed Term (Worked Example)
These totals are HostingDive arithmetic: the price shown multiplied by the months in the term. HostGator states a 36-month term and renewal rates; Namecheap states no term beside its prices, so its rows use an illustrative 12 months at each printed price.
| Plan | Term | Price used | Arithmetic | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HostGator Hatchling | 36 months | $3.75/mo | $3.75 x 36 | $135.00 |
| HostGator Hatchling | first 24 months | $3.75/mo | $3.75 x 24 | $90.00 |
| HostGator Hatchling | 12 months at renewal | $10.99/mo | $10.99 x 12 | $131.88 |
| HostGator Baby | 12 months at renewal | $16.49/mo | $16.49 x 12 | $197.88 |
| Namecheap Stellar | 12 months (illustrative) | $2.28/mo | $2.28 x 12 | $27.36 |
| Namecheap Stellar | 12 months (illustrative) | $5.88/mo | $5.88 x 12 | $70.56 |
| Namecheap Stellar Plus | 12 months (illustrative) | $2.98/mo | $2.98 x 12 | $35.76 |
| Namecheap Stellar Plus | 12 months (illustrative) | $7.88/mo | $7.88 x 12 | $94.56 |
One year at HostGator's Hatchling renewal rate ($131.88) is close to the whole 36-month promo total ($135.00). Neither page states a price beyond what is shown, so no lifetime cost is projected, and HostGator's plan includes more sites and storage than Namecheap Stellar.
Pricing and renewal
HostGator's four shared plans are Hatchling at $3.75, Baby at $4.50, Business at $6.25 and Pro at $13.95 a month on a 36-month term, renewing at $10.99, $16.49, $21.99 and $29.69. Namecheap's Stellar plans are $2.28, $2.98 and $4.98 a month; its spec table shows a second price for each ($5.88, $7.88 and $11.88) and the text read does not label the billing period, so confirm it at checkout. The pattern that matters is the renewal step: HostGator's Hatchling price rises nearly threefold at renewal.
Entry-to-top intro price per month (USD)
Source: the two hosting pages, read 2026-11-02. HostGator prices are for a 36-month term; Namecheap's billing period is not labeled in the text read.
Renewal price per month, HostGator plans (USD)
Source: hostgator.com/web-hosting, read 2026-11-02. The 'Renews at' lines on the 36-month term.
HostGator plans
Each HostGator plan states a site count, storage and a traffic guide: Hatchling is 10 websites and 10 GB for roughly 40K visits a month, Baby 20 websites and 20 GB for 50K, Business 50 websites and 50 GB for 200K, and Pro 100 websites and 100 GB for 400K. All list a 30-day money-back guarantee, a free domain for the first year and a free site migration tool. The Business plan's feature list shows a WordPress staging site and SSH with WP-CLI.
Namecheap plans
Stellar allows 3 websites with 20 GB of SSD; Stellar Plus and Stellar Business allow unlimited websites, with unmetered SSD and 50 GB of Cloud Storage respectively. The spec table lists file limits (inodes) of 300.000, 300.000 and 600.000. All plans list unmetered bandwidth, Imunify360 security, free automatic SSL installation and free website migration.
Site limits, storage and traffic guidance
HostGator publishes a visits guide for every plan, which helps size a purchase. Namecheap does not print a visit figure in the text read, but it does print inode limits. If you plan to run more than three sites, Namecheap's entry price is lower for unlimited sites, while HostGator's Baby plan caps at 20 and Business at 50.
Uptime, backups and support
HostGator lists a 99% uptime guarantee and weekly backups, 24/7/365 support, and chat plus phone on higher plans. Namecheap lists a 100% uptime guarantee line, twice-weekly backups and 24/7 customer support. These are vendor claims; HostingDive states no measured uptime. For measured data see the Speed Index.
Which to choose
- Lowest price at the start: Namecheap Stellar.
- Stated visit guidance and a published site count: HostGator, plan by plan.
- Many sites on a budget: Namecheap Stellar Plus at $2.98 a month lists unlimited websites.
- Price the renewal: HostGator Hatchling renews at $10.99 from $3.75.
Neighbouring reads: godaddy vs namecheap, the namecheap hosting review and the HostGator review. For a wider shortlist see best WordPress hosting in 2026.
Compare the current Namecheap plans: Namecheap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HostGator or Namecheap cheaper?
On the pages read 2026-11-02, Namecheap Stellar starts at $2.28 a month and HostGator Hatchling at $3.75 a month on a 36-month term.
How much does HostGator renew at?
Hatchling renews at $10.99 a month, Baby at $16.49, Business at $21.99 and Pro at $29.69, per the Renews at lines.
Which allows more websites?
Namecheap Stellar Plus and Business list unlimited websites. HostGator allows 10, 20, 50 and 100 websites across its four plans.
Which has the stronger uptime guarantee?
HostGator lists 99% and Namecheap a 100% uptime guarantee line. Both are vendor promises, not measurements.
Is there a refund window?
HostGator lists a 30-day money-back guarantee; Namecheap lists a 30-day free trial.