The advertised price is a first-term promotion. Over three years IONOS's $1/month plan costs $348, 9.7× the $36 the advertised rate implies.
You pay the advertised price for the length of the introductory term, then the renewal price for everything after. We hold the term length the provider states, run it out over 36 months, and compare the total against what 36 months at the advertised rate would have cost. No assumptions, no add-ons, just the two prices they publish.
| provider / plan | what the ad implies | what you pay | multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| IONOS Plan 3 | $36 | $348 | 9.7× |
| GreenGeeks Lite | $106.20 | $370.20 | 3.5× |
| SiteGround StartUp | $143.64 | $479.64 | 3.3× |
| SiteGround GrowBig | $240.84 | $800.04 | 3.3× |
| SiteGround GoGeek | $384.84 | $1,208.04 | 3.1× |
| Norton Norton 360 Deluxe | $90 | $280.08 | 3.1× |
| NordVPN Complete | $161.64 | $492.84 | 3.0× |
| GreenGeeks Pro | $178.20 | $514.20 | 2.9× |
| Norton Norton 360 Standard | $74.88 | $215.04 | 2.9× |
| DreamHost Launch | $104.04 | $298.44 | 2.9× |
Some providers sell 48-month terms. Because the intro price holds for the whole term, the increase falls outside a three-year window entirely, the plan really is cheap for those years. That is a legitimate way to buy, provided you know the cliff exists and diarise it. It is only a trap when nobody tells you it is coming.
How much does web hosting really cost?
Over three years, the plans we track cost on average well above their advertised rate. The largest gap we measure is IONOS: $36 implied versus $348 actual.
Is the cheapest advertised plan the cheapest plan?
Frequently not. A plan advertised at a very low intro rate with a high renewal rate can cost far more over three years than a plan with an honest flat price.
Does prepaying for longer help?
Yes, mechanically, a 36- or 48-month term keeps the intro price in force longer, so the increase lands later. It does not remove the increase, it defers it.