£3.95/moinc VAT · £142 over 3 years. Affiliate link: we may earn a commission, which never changes a score. Why this pick?
Which UK host is best for anyone who wants cheap web hosting that stays cheap after the intro price ends? We rank 7 hosts with a published score built from prices (inc VAT) and features verified on each provider's own site. Commission is never an input.
Why scores differ from the homepage. Every guide uses the same six score components but weights them for the job. This one counts renewal price (45%) and intro price (25%) most; the homepage's all-round score gives renewal price the biggest share. So WebHosting UK scores 8.4 here and 8.6 overall (#1 on the homepage, where WebHosting UK is #1). See this guide's weights · Methodology
Lowest 3-year cost is not the same as the top score. Hostinger has the lowest 3-year total in this guide (£86 inc VAT, against £142 for WebHosting UK) but scores 6.5/10 here, because the guide score weighs more than the 3-year total. Check the terms on its plan before you buy: some of the lowest prices need a long term paid upfront.
Small print under each price is exactly as the provider advertises it. Buttons are affiliate links (disclosure). Converted figures add VAT at 20% where prices are quoted ex VAT (or the basis isn't stated). 3-yr cost = intro price for the promo period then renewal.
How the score works for this guide
Each component is scored 0–10 and weighted as shown. Commission is never an input. Full methodology.
Host
Renewal price (inc VAT) 45%
Intro price (inc VAT) 25%
Trustpilot 10%
Support 10%
Guide features 5%
UK data centre 5%
Total
WebHosting UK
10.0
4.5
9.5
10.0
6.7
10.0
8.4
eukhost
8.1
3.7
9.5
10.0
6.7
10.0
7.3
Hostinger
4.1
10.0
8.0
4.0
10.0
10.0
6.5
IONOS
5.5
5.0
8.5
10.0
10.0
0.0
6.1
Heart Internet
5.5
5.0
8.5
2.0
10.0
10.0
5.8
123 Reg
4.7
7.5
4.0
2.0
10.0
0.0
5.1
GoDaddy
3.7
3.7
7.0
8.0
10.0
0.0
4.6
Guide features: Free SSL, Email included, Free domain. Only features verified on the provider's own site count.
What to look for: cheapest hosting
Renewal priceThe price after the promo is what you'll pay for most of the time you're with a host.
Promo length and upfront paymentSome intro prices last 3 months, others need 4 years paid upfront.
VATMost hosts quote ex VAT; UK customers pay 20% on top.
LimitsCheapest plans often allow 1 site, a few GB, or one mailbox.
Cheap hosting is easy to find; cheap hosting that stays cheap is not. Of the 7 budget plans in this guide, the lowest intro price is Hostinger at £1.49/mo, but over three years including renewals and VAT the cheapest is Hostinger at about £86.
That's why our cheap-hosting score gives renewal price the biggest weight (45%) and intro price 25%. WebHosting UK comes out top at 8.4/10, ahead of eukhost (7.3).
Real cost of cheap web hosting: 1, 2 and 3 years inc VAT
Cumulative totals including 20% VAT, intro price for the promo period then the published renewal price. Where the intro price needs a multi-year prepayment (e.g. Hostinger 48 months, 123 Reg 36 months), you pay the whole term on day one, so the year-1 figure already covers years 2 and 3. Prices verified on each provider's site; check another term in the hosting cost calculator.
Cheap hosting watch-outs
Intro vs renewal. Hostinger goes from £1.49/mo to £7.99/mo; IONOS goes from £3/mo for 6mo to £6/mo; Heart Internet goes from £3.00/mo to £5.99/mo; 123 Reg goes from £1.99/mo to £6.99/mo; GoDaddy goes from £3.99/mo to £8.99/mo. Flat-priced plans (WebHosting UK, eukhost) look dearer on day one and often cost less by year three.
Upfront terms. The lowest monthly prices are often only available if you prepay 3–4 years. That's money you won't get back pro rata if you leave early outside the refund window.
VAT. Nearly every host here advertises ex VAT, so add 20% (UK standard rate, gov.uk).
Free extras that renew. A "free" domain is usually free for year one only; free mailboxes or SSL can be time-limited on some plans.
Limits. Entry plans often cap you at one site, a single mailbox or weekly backups.
What is the cheapest web hosting in the UK right now?
By intro price: Hostinger £1.49/mo, 123 Reg £1.99/mo, IONOS £3/mo for 6mo (mostly ex VAT). By 3-year cost including renewals and VAT, Hostinger is cheapest at about £86.
What's the catch with £1-a-month hosting?
Usually the renewal price and the term. Promo prices last between 3 and 48 months and some must be paid upfront for the whole term; after that you pay the renewal price, often several times higher. Cheap plans also tend to limit sites, storage or mailboxes.
How do I avoid renewal price shock?
Compare the renewal price, not just the intro price; use our cost calculator for 1–3 years; and set a reminder a month before your promo ends so you can renew, downgrade or move.
Is cheap web hosting good enough for a small business?
Often, yes, for a brochure site or blog. Check you get enough mailboxes, backups at least weekly (daily is better) and a support route you can actually reach. Our small business guide scores exactly that.
Are hosting prices in the UK shown with VAT?
Usually not. Every host in this guide advertises ex VAT (or doesn't state it), so add 20% at checkout. The 1-, 2- and 3-year totals on this page already include VAT.
Is free web hosting worth it?
We don't cover free hosting: free plans usually come with ads, subdomains, tight limits or no support. For a real business site, the cheapest paid plans here cost £43 or more in year one inc VAT.