Should You Snap Up HostGator’s Plans?
HostGator is a popular hosting provider that aims to make hosting easy and affordable for its users.
We put it through our rigorous research process to see how well it lived up to its reputation, and it’s safe to say HostGator wowed us, coming in as the second best-hosting provider in our rankings, just behind Bluehost.
But, did HostGator’s prices manage to impress us as well?
HostGator offers six different types of hosting, and each hosting type provides three different price plans. That’s a lot to choose from – with so many plans, prices, discounts, features, and hosting types on offer, how are you meant to know which one is best for you?
HostGator Pricing: Quick Overview
HostGator plans to start at just $2.75 per month for shared hosting – it also offers VPS, WordPress, cloud, reseller, and dedicated hosting plans. Dedicated hosting is the most expensive, starting at $118.99 per month. These are discounted prices, so look out for renewal costs, plus any additional charges such as domains, CodeGuard backups, and other extras.
We’re here to help. This article will break down each of HostGator’s hosting plans and prices, take a good hard look at any extra costs you can expect, plus layout exactly how it measures up next to its competitors.
Further Information
- Read our HostGator Review for a full look at HostGator’s performance in our research, from features to customer support
- Compare the Best Web Hosting Providers in our in-depth review
- Compare over 50 plans in our in-depth review of the Cheapest Web Hosting Providers
1. How Much Do HostGator Plans Cost?
HostGator’s pricing plans start with its shared hosting Hatchling plan, which costs just $2.75 per month for your first term, and renews at $6.95 per month after that. After that, prices increase as you work your way up through the plans and different hosting types.
Check out the table below for a full breakdown:
| Basic | Better | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared | $2.75 | $3.95 | $5.95 |
| Cloud | $4.95 | $6.57 | $9.95 |
| WordPress | $5.95 | $7.95 | $9.95 |
| Reseller | $19.95 | $24.95 | $24.95 |
| VPS | $29.95 | $39.95 | $49.95 |
| Dedicated | $118.99 | $138.99 | $148.98 |
This is a summary overview of each hosting package, to give you an idea of how much each one costs. These prices reflect discounted plans for new users – we’ll cover that in more detail next, then dive into the details of HostGator’s different hosting types and their costs below.
2. How HostGator Pricing Works
You’ll have noticed that HostGator’s prices are pretty affordable. Wow! Just $2.95 per month for hosting, you might be thinking, that’s amazing! What else do I need to know when it’s that cheap?!
Well, there is one important thing to know – HostGator, like most hosting providers, offers discounts for new users. These discount prices are the ones displayed on HostGator’s website because it’s a great way of getting started with your plan.
This discount lasts for your first term. That means if you sign up for a one-year plan, you get the first year at the discounted price; if you sign up for a two-year plan, you get the first two years at a discount. It’s also worth knowing you pay the total sum upfront when you first sign up.
So, what happens once your first term is over? Well, your plan will renew at the regular rate – this is how much the plan usually costs without the discount. For example, HostGator’s Hatchling plan costs $2.75, to begin with, but renews at $6.95 once your first term is over.
This is a common practice among web hosts and can work in your favor by giving you a great deal on your first hosting plan. However, it means you need to keep both eyes open and always check the regular price before jumping feet – or rather, credit-card – first into a plan.
This will help you avoid sky-high renewal prices later down the line!
You benefit the most from HostGator’s discounts if you sign up for a longer billing cycle. However, you’ve got lots of choices – HostGator provides a variety of subscription lengths:
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 12 months
- 24 months
- 36 months
If you’re happy to “lock-in” for a long time, then you save the most money by choosing a longer billing cycle – monthly plans may sound appealing because they’re less of a commitment, but they’re also more expensive in the long run.
HostGator displays prices for the 36-month billing cycle on its site. So, to go back to the Hatchling plan, you’ll only get the cheapest $2.75 price if you sign up for 36 months. That same plan will cost $10.95 if you choose the one, three, or six-month plans.
3. HostGator Shared Hosting Cost
Shared hosting is the most basic form of hosting – it’s very limited, but this also makes it extremely affordable. The main benefit of shared hosting is how cheap it is – your site shares a server with other sites, meaning resources are spread between all of you.
If other sites are using up too many of those shared resources, then your site suffers – for example, it could crash if another site gets a spike in traffic. This makes shared hosting best for very small, simple websites with low traffic.
HostGator’s Shared Hosting Plans
HostGator has three shared hosting plans, ranging from $2.75 to $5.95 per month (for a 36-month billing cycle and with the initial discount). Plans start at:
- Hatchling plan: $2.75, renews at $6.95 per month
- Baby plan: $3.95, renews at $9.95 per month
- Business plan: $5.95, renews at $14.95 per month
HostGator’s shared hosting plans range from $2.75 to $5.95 per month, making it an affordable option for getting started online.
Here’s a closer look at how their features stack up – we’ll go into more detail underneath the table:
| Hatchling Plan | Baby Plan | Business Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial discount price | $2.75 | $3.95 | $5.95 |
| Disk space | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| No. of domains | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free dedicated IP | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Backup function | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free SSL | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Looking at the features available, you might be wondering what the difference is between unmetered and unlimited. Let’s take a quick look to clear up any confusion.
Unmetered means you’re not charged for the number of resources you use – but there is still a limit on how much you can use. It’s very unlikely that your site will approach these limits, however, and HostGator will email you if it looks like you might exceed their limits.
Unlimited does mean there’s no limit – so you can as many domains as you like!
Another feature you’ll see a lot is SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This encrypts information passing between your visitors and your website, protecting data from hackers or leaks. Google warns visitors when they’re entering an unsecured site, so having SSL is an essential feature.
We only recommend the Hatchling plan for very small websites – as the name suggests, its features are best for sites that are just getting started online. You can only host one domain, and you can’t upgrade your SSL certificate for added protection.
The Baby plan is a good middle-ground for $3.95 per month – you can host an unlimited number of domains, and if you want to upgrade to private SSL then you can. This makes it a better choice if you’re running more than one website or need better security.
The Business plan has the most advanced features, giving your site more room to grow. It’s also the best plan if you’re running a small online store. You get a free upgrade to a Positive SSL (which offers a higher level of security than the basic version) and SEO tools to help people find your site online.
So, which plan should you choose? If you need to host more than one domain, the Baby plan is your best choice. If you want to run a small online store then you’ll need the Business plan. For simply hosting a single site that’s just getting started, the Hatchling plan will get you on your feet.
Is Shared Hosting Right For You?
Further Information
- Looking for cheap shared hosting? Your search ends here with our in-depth review of the 6 Best Cheap Shared Hosting Providers
- Read our review of the 8 Best Shared Hosting Services to find the best quality shared hosting on the market
4. HostGator Cloud Web Hosting Cost
Cloud hosting is where your website’s data is stored across multiple virtual servers, instead of physical servers like normal shared hosting uses. This means that if one server fails, your site won’t go down because another server will automatically take over. Cloud hosting very scalable, reliable, and versatile.
If you need extremely flexible hosting to handle surges in traffic, then cloud hosting is a great choice – it’s usually favored by online stores that experience large traffic spikes as a result of sales and seasonal trends.
HostGator’s Cloud Hosting Plans
HostGator has three cloud hosting plans ranging from $4.95 to $9.95 per month:
- Hatchling plan: $4.95, renews at $8.95 per month. You get a free domain name and SSL certificate, unmetered bandwidth, and can host one site.
- Baby plan: $6.57, renews at $11.95 per month. You get the same features as the Hatchling plan but can host unlimited sites.
- Business plan: $9.95, renews at $17.95 per month. You get the same features as the Baby plan, plus SEO tools and a better SSL certificate.
The biggest limitation on the cheapest Hatchling plan is that you can only host one website, and it has a small memory allowance. HostGator recommends its $6.57 per month Baby plan instead, which gives you more space for growth while keeping the price pretty reasonable.
HostGator’s cloud web hosting plans promise better speeds, reliability, and resources than its normal shared hosting. But what do you get for your money? The table below breaks down each plan’s features:
| Hatchling Plan | Baby Plan | Business Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial discount price | $4.95 | $6.57 | $9.95 |
| Disk space | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| No. of domains | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free dedicated IP | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Backup function | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free SSL | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Memory | 2GB | 4GB | 6GB |
| No. of CPU cores | 2 | 4 | 6 |
You’ll notice a similarity between the features here and those provided on the shared hosting plan. So why the increase in price? Well, cloud hosting gives you better performance because you have access to multiple servers.
It’s worth knowing that resources are still shared out rather than being dedicated to your account – but, you’re much more in control of your resources and how much you’re using, making it easier to manage.
The main difference here is the addition of memory and CPU cores. The more memory you have, the better your site will perform in times of high traffic – we recommend the Baby plan to be safe unless your site is really small.
CPU stands for central processing unit and is the part of a computer that performs most of the important actions to keep things running smoothly.
Luckily, you don’t need to worry too much about what a CPU core is. You just need to know that the more CPU cores you have, the more data your system can handle, and the better performance your site will receive. Simply: the more cores you have, the better!
For most websites, between two and four CPU cores should be find – you’ll only need more than that if you’re running complex programs (like advanced gaming) through your website.
Overall, the Hatchling plan is fine for newbie sites with low traffic, but the $6.57 per month Baby plan is definitely worth paying for. It provides the tools to handle more traffic, giving your site room to grow. Most people won’t need the extras that come with the Business plan unless you’re running a complex website.
Do You Need Flexible Hosting?
Further Information
- Are you after the best of the best? Read our review of the Best Cloud Hosting Providers to make sure you get a first-class service
5. HostGator WordPress Hosting Cost
Are there any WordPress fans out there? Chances are, you’ve used – or at least heard of – WordPress, seeing as it powers 34% of the internet! And what do all those WordPress sites need? You got it – they need hosting.
WordPress hosting caters to the specific needs that come with running a WordPress website. For example, it usually includes better security and protection, migration services, and updates to keep your WordPress site safe and running smoothly.
HostGator’s WordPress Hosting Plans
HostGator has three WordPress hosting plans – the cheapest starts at $5.95 per month, while the most expensive comes in at $9.95 per month:
- Starter plan: $5.95, renews at $9.95 per month. Host one site, with free SSL and domain name, included. Supports up to 100k visits per month.
- Standard plan: $7.95, renews at $15.95 per month. Host up to two sites, with free SSL and domain name included. Supports up to 200k visits per month.
- Business plan: $9.95, renews at $22.95 per month. Host up to three sites, with free SSL and domain name included. Supports up to 500k visits per month.
The plan you choose largely depends on the number of websites you have – for example, if you have more than one site then you’ll need at least the $7.95 per month Standard plan. Take a look at the table below to help you decide:
| Starter Plan | Standard Plan | Business Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial discount price | $5.95 | $7.95 | $9.95 |
| Disk space | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Visits per month | 100,000 | 200,000 | 500,000 |
| No. of sites | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Free domain | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free SSL | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free backups | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Backup storage | 1GB | 2GB | 3GB |
| Automatic malware removal | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Automatic WordPress updates | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
All plans also include a free migration service for any users who need to transfer their existing WordPress site over to HostGator’s servers.
If you only have one WordPress website, then the $5.95 per month Starter plan has all the essential features you’ll need to succeed. Free backups up to 1GB, a free domain name, and automatic updates are all included to make your life as easy as possible.
If your site gets more than 100,000 visits on average per month, or you have multiple sites to host, you’ll need a more advanced plan.
The main benefits of the Standard plan are that it can handle twice the amount of traffic than the Starter plan, and doubles your backup storage as well. It’s a well-rounded plan that suits most regular WordPress sites, whether you’re scaling up or just ticking along steadily. You can host up to two websites on this plan – a good choice if you’re running multiple projects!
The Business plan sees a big jump in the number of visitors it can handle per month – up to 500,000! This makes it best if you’re gunning for big-time growth and need your plan to support large amounts of traffic.
HostGator includes all the most important features for all its users to enjoy, so your choice comes down to two main things:
- The number of sites you need to host
- How much traffic those sites generate per month
Base your decision on these factors, and you should end up with the perfect WordPress hosting plan for you!
Further Information
- Wondering if you can get a better deal somewhere else? Check out our review of the Best Cheap WordPress Hosting to find out!
- Read our comparison of the 8 Best Managed WordPress Hosting Providers if you’re after a professional service
6. HostGator Reseller Hosting Cost
If you’re looking to set up your own hosting business, you’ll need reseller hosting. This is where you pay for hosting, and then resell it to your clients to make money. It’s a great way of starting a hosting business because you don’t have to pay for overheads such as server maintenance.
HostGator provides you with power and technology, and you provide your clients with hosting, services, support, and more. It’s a popular option with web designers, freelancers, and budding web hosts – reseller hosting is how a lot of big names in the hosting industry started!
HostGator’s Reseller Hosting Plans
HostGator has three reseller hosting plans, ranging from $19.95 to $24.95 per month:
- Aluminum plan: $19.95, renews at $29.95 per month. You get 60GB disk space and 600GB bandwidth.
- Copper plan: $24.95, renews at $41.95 per month. You get 90GB disk space and 900GB bandwidth.
- Silver plan: $24.95, renews at $59.95 per month. You get 140GB disk space and 1400GB bandwidth.
These are a lot more expensive than the plans we’ve looked at so far because they include a lot more features. This is a case where you need to look carefully at renewal costs – the discount prices mean you can get the Silver plan for the same price as the Copper plan, but their renewal prices reflect their usual value.
Reseller hosting comes with pretty technical features – it goes without saying that if you just need hosting for your website, then this type of hosting isn’t for you.
| Aluminum Plan | Copper Plan | Silver Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial discount price | $19.95 | $24.95 | $24.95 |
| Disk space | 60GB | 90GB | 140GB |
| Bandwidth | 600GB | 900GB | 1,400 GB |
| No. of domains | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free SSL | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free WHMCS software | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Automatic backups | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| No. of MySQL databases | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| WHM control panel | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| cPanel control panel | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
The main difference between the plans is the amount of storage and bandwidth you get with each one – this is the easiest way to decide which plan is best for you.
The cheapest Aluminum plan is best for those just starting, or freelancers selling to a small number of clients. It can also be a good fit for those who need multiple servers, as it can work out cheaper and more manageable than buying several web hosting packages.
For a standard-sized business selling to a larger handful of clients, the Copper plan should be a comfortable fit. It has more storage and bandwidth, leaving you room to grow your business.
For even more resources, the Silver plan is the obvious choice – however, it can get pretty expensive once the discount period is over, so make sure your business needs the extra features before upgrading.
In case you’re in the dark about a few of those technical features, here’s a quick overview:
- WHMCS is a client management software that helps you manage your billing process
- cPanel is a popular control panel where you manage your site and system settings – this is what your clients will be using to run the hosting you’ve sold them.
- WHM (Web Hosting Manager) control panel lets you create cPanels for each of your clients. This is what you use to manage all your clients’ accounts.
- MySQL is a database management system that makes it easy for you to add and manage content
The Aluminum plan is a good place to start if you’re unsure how many resources you need – although you may not want to lock into a long-term plan to start with. HostGator makes it free and easy to upgrade, so you can start with the lowest amount of storage and bandwidth and grow from there.
Further Information
- Make sure you choose the best host for the job with our review of the 5 Best Reseller Hosting Services.
7. HostGator VPS Hosting Cost
Usually, once you’ve outgrown shared hosting, the next step up is VPS hosting. This is a type of hosting where sites still share a server, but you share with fewer sites so that each one has its own set of resources. It’s a faster, safer, and more reliable type of hosting that delivers better performance than shared hosting.
This is best for regular or medium-sized sites that need more consistent hosting than shared plans can provide. If you’re running a business website, for example, then VPS hosting is a smart choice.
HostGator’s VPS Hosting Plans
HostGator has three VPS hosting plans to choose from, ranging from $29.95 to $49.95 per month:
- Snappy 2000 plan: $29.95, renews at $89.95 per month. You get 2GB of RAM, 120GB disk space and 1.5TB bandwidth.
- Snappy 4000 plan: $39.95, renews at $129.95 per month. You get 4GB of RAM, 165GB disk space and 2TB bandwidth.
- Snappy 8000 plan: $49.95, renews at $159.95 per month. You get 8GB of RAM, 240GB disk space and 3TB bandwidth, plus an extra 2 CPU cores.
We’re not going to lie – these prices are pretty expensive compared to other providers on the market!
Why does HostGator charge so much for its VPS plans? Let’s take a look at the features you get to see if it’s worth your hard-earned cash:
| Snappy 2000 Plan | Snappy 4000 Plan | Snappy 8000 Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial discount price | $29.95 | $39.95 | $49.95 |
| Disk space | 120GB | 165GB | 240GB |
| Bandwidth | 1.5TB | 2TB | 3TB |
| No. of domains | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free SSL | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free backups | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Memory (RAM) | 2GB | 4GB | 8GB |
| No. of CPU cores | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Root access | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Dedicated IP addresses | 2 | 2 | 2 |
There’s nothing wrong with HostGator’s features – it gives you everything you’d need to successfully run your site. The only place it falls here is value for money, because of its expensive prices.
Luckily, the cheapest plan is a great starting point – you get a huge amount of bandwidth to allow for traffic spikes, plus a decent amount of memory and storage space to keep your site’s performance smooth.
The main reason for upgrading to the Snappy 4000 plan would be a need for more storage space, as the rest stays pretty much the same. Bandwidth nudges up to 2TB, but you’ll only feel the benefit of that if you were bursting out of your bandwidth on the cheapest plan.
As for the Snappy 8000 plan, it’s hard to recommend it knowing it costs $49.95 per month with a discount. Still, if you’re loving the reliability and power that comes with HostGator’s features and don’t mind shelling out, you’ll enjoy a massive 3TB bandwidth – that should handle as much traffic as you can throw at your site!
All plans come with full root access, which gives you access to your site’s server. This means you have total control over your site’s settings – you can customize your server to suit your specific needs.
Further Information
- Read our review of the Best VPS Hosting Providers to see if HostGator makes the list
- HostGator’s VPS plans aren’t the cheapest – for more affordable prices, read our review of the Best Cheap VPS Hosting Providers
8. HostGator Dedicated Hosting Cost
Dedicated hosting is the most advanced type of hosting – and the most expensive! This is where your site gets a whole server to itself, giving you the ultimate level of performance, speed, and security.
Most sites don’t need this extreme level of hosting, but it’s appropriate if you’re running a huge online store, a site with eye-popping levels of traffic, or have very sensitive security requirements.
HostGator’s Dedicated Hosting Plans
HostGator came out as the best provider for dedicated hosting in our research. It has three dedicated hosting plans, ranging from $118.99 to $148.98 per month:
- Value Server plan: $118.99, renews at $189 per month. You get 4 CPU cores and 8GB RAM.
- Power Server plan: $138.99, renews at $249 per month. You get 8 CPU cores and 16GB RAM.
- Enterprise Server plan: $148.98, renews at $289 per month. You get 8 CPU cores and 30GB RAM.
As you can see, this is big hosting, designed for big websites with big budgets!
If you don’t have much technical knowledge, you could struggle to make the most of dedicated hosting – its features are advanced, and you’ll need some experience to get to grips with them. We recommend the managed hosting solution as it makes life much easier!
| Value Server Plan | Power Server Plan | Enterprise Server Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial discount price | $118.99 | $138.99 | $148.98 |
| Disk space | 1TB HDD | 2TB HDD or 512GB SSD |
1TB SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Free SSL | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB | 16GB | 30GB |
| No. of CPU cores | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| Root access | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Dedicated IP addresses | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The $118.99 per month Value Server plan is a great starting point – it doesn’t swamp you with features, making it a manageable choice. 8GB RAM is plenty of memory, and four CPU cores should be enough to keep your site running smoothly.
The only downside of the cheapest plan is that it uses HDD (Hard Disk Drive) storage. This isn’t bad, but it won’t be as fast as the newer SSD (Solid State Drive) storage that comes with more advanced plans.
HostGator recommends the Power Server plan, and if you’ve got the budget to stretch to $138.99 per month, it’s a solid choice. You get to choose between HDD and SSD storage, for one thing, meaning you can choose the faster option if you want to.
Most users won’t need the Enterprise Server plan, and not right away – this plan is something to work towards. Eight cores and 1TB SSD storage would be wasted on “normal” websites – make sure you’re getting value for your money by picking the plan that’ll work hardest for you!
Further Information
- Take a look at the Best Dedicated Server Hosting in our in-depth review of the top providers
- Dedicated hosting is the most expensive type, but you can still get great value for money – we reveal the Best Cheap Dedicated Server Hosting in our detailed review
9. HostGator Hosting Plans vs Competitor Hosting Plans
We’ve looked at each of HostGator’s hosting plans in detail, so you should have a pretty good idea of which one you would choose for your site. But before doing that, you probably want to know if you could get a better deal elsewhere, right?
HostGator’s pricing matches up pretty well on the whole with its main competitors, InMotion and Bluehost. It’s not the cheapest, but overall it puts some appealing deals on the table. Across all hosting plans, here’s how these three top competitors range in price:
- HostGator’s prices range from $2.75 to $289 per month
- Bluehost’s prices range from $2.95 to $209.99 per month
- InMotion’s prices range from $3.99 to $589.99 per month
HostGator sits fairly close to Bluehost in its overall pricing range, and you can see it offers much cheaper pricing than InMotion when it comes to their top-priced plans. But how do they compare on a plan-by-plan basis? Let’s take a look (all prices shown in the table are discount prices only):
| HostGator | Bluehost | InMotion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared | $2.75 – $5.95 | $2.95 – $13.95 | $3.99 – $13.99 |
| Cloud | $4.95 – $9.95 | N/A | $21.04 – $69.34 |
| WordPress | $5.95 – $9.95 | $2.95 – $49.95 | $4.99 – $10.99 |
| Reseller | $19.95 – $24.95 | N/A | $15.39 – $89.94 |
| VPS | $29.95 – $49.95 | $18.99 – $59.99 | $29.19 – $69.34 |
| Dedicated | $118.99 – $148.98 | $79.99 – $119.99 | $105.69 – $519.49 |
While HostGator may not offer the cheapest prices on the market, it does tend to have a more affordable upper limit on its price plans.
HostGator offers better value for money than InMotion, and its shared plans give you better value than Bluehost’s. We’ve already seen that HostGator isn’t the best value choice for VPS hosting, but apart from that its plans are pretty well-matched with its competitors.
Further Information
- Did InMotion’s price catch your eye? If so, read our full InMotion Hosting Review to learn more about this top provider
- Bluehost is famous for its WordPress hosting – find out why in our Bluehost Review
- Bluehost offers pretty competitive prices – check out its plans in our Bluehost Pricing Review
- HostGator and Bluehost are top rivals – see who wins in our Bluehost vs HostGator comparison
10. Other Costs to Think About
When you sign up for hosting, you’ll find there’s a whole range of other things you either should, could, or definitely must get. Some extras are even automatically selected when you get to the checkout – let’s take a look at what other costs you can expect from HostGator if you sign up.
1. Domain Names
Some of HostGator’s plans – its WordPress hosting, for instance – include a free domain name. This is a great bonus, but not all plans include a domain for free. Luckily, you can buy your domain name directly from HostGator – but how much does it cost?
HostGator’s domain prices work in a similar way to its hosting costs – in this case, the first year is discounted, and you then pay the regular price afterward. Here’s a look at some of its prices:
- .com: $12.95 per year, renews at $17.99
- .org: $12.95 per year, renews at $17.99
- .website: $9.95 per year, renews at $15
- .net: $12.95 per year, renews at $17.99
- .me: $15 per year, renews at $19.95
These are pretty high renewal prices, but it does come with the benefit of having your hosting and domain name all in one place!
2. SSL Certificates
HostGator includes a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate on all its hosting plans. This gives you basic protection, but if you want a more advanced level of security then you can buy premium SSL certificates through HostGator.
There are three SSLs to choose from:
- Positive SSL: $19.99 per year (renews at $39.99 per year)
- Multi-Domain SSL: $79.99 per year
- Extended Validation SSL: $269.99 per year
You don’t have to buy one of these – it’s mostly for sites that need an extra level of trust and security, such as online stores.
3. CodeGuard
CodeGuard is a backup and security software that gives you protection against things going wrong. It runs daily, automatic backups for your site, lets you know of any unauthorized changes, and lets you restore your site to a previous version should anything not go to plan.
Pricing starts at $2 per month for your first term, then renews at $23.95 per year. You can add this as an extra at checkout when you sign up for a hosting plan. Heads up – it often comes already selected, so if you don’t want these features you’d better make sure this box isn’t ticked.
4. SiteLock Monitoring
This is a helpful feature that monitors your website daily and alerts you if your site gets hacked or injected with malicious code. Pretty scary stuff, right? That’s why HostGator lists it as a “highly recommended” add-on at checkout.
SiteLock monitoring costs $24.99 per year – this is added to your hosting plan and comes pre-selected by HostGator. Double-check to make sure whether it’s ticked or not to avoid any surprises at payment.
5. Other Extras
Other extras you might find at checkout include a professional email address, which costs $6 per month, and HostGator SEO Tools, which cost $35.40 per year. These don’t usually come automatically selected, so if you want them as add-ons simply tick the ones you want!
HostGator Pricing: Recap
We’ve covered the ins and outs of HostGator’s pricing plans, from the cheapest to the most expensive packages, how it compares with its top competitors, and flagged the extra costs you should look out for.
By now you should know whether HostGator’s hosting plans are right for you – and which one you want to take a closer look at. We’ve talked about a lot of different plans, though, so let’s have a quick recap of HostGator’s plans:
- Shared hosting: $2.75 – $5.95
- Cloud hosting: $4.95 – $9.95
- WordPress hosting: $5.95 – $9.95
- Reseller hosting: $19.95 – $24.95
- VPS hosting: $29.95 – $49.95
- Dedicated hosting: 118.99 – $148.98
Shared, WordPress, and VPS hosting are the most commonly chosen hosting types, but it depends on your individual needs – and your budget!
Remember that the initial discount won’t last forever, so always check the renewal prices before signing up. Watch out for additional costs at checkout, too – Hostgator offers tons of optional extras that you can pick and choose, such as domain names, backup services, and SEO tools – so be careful to review your plan before completing your purchase.
Our final verdict of HostGator’s pricing is a positive one. It’s an extremely strong hosting provider, so although its plans aren’t always the cheapest, you know you’re getting a great quality service for your money. It’s shared hosting especially offers great value for money.
