Before buying any hosting plan, you need to understand today’s web‑hosting price landscape. Plans run anywhere from $1 to $2,000 per month. So how much should you pay? Are you overpaying already? This guide answers those questions and helps you avoid the myths many new site owners face (see common myths here).
With more than 300,000 hosting companies competing in 2025, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re also juggling starting your first affiliate site.
This article breaks down the real costs, so you know what you actually need to pay for (and what to skip). Let’s dive in:
Tool for Keeping Web‑Hosting Costs Low
Bluehost still hosts 2‑plus million sites in 2025 and remains our top pick for keeping long‑term costs low. Yes, there are $0.99 “free” hosts, but those often come with heavy limitations—better to invest smartly, just as you would in any revenue‑generating channel.
You’ll soon see how Bluehost pricing compares across all ten cost factors below.
Cost 1: Web‑Hosting Type
Your hosting tier drives price more than anything else. From cheapest to most expensive:
- Shared Hosting
- Cloud Hosting
- Virtual Private Server (VPS)
- Dedicated Hosting
Most new sites can thrive on shared hosting (10k–25k visits/month). Scale up to VPS/cloud at 50k+ visits and dedicated around 100k+ visits—especially if you’re pushing paid traffic with tools like our ad‑platform cloaker guide.
Cost 2: Contract Length
Locking in 24–48 months nets the lowest monthly rate. A 36‑month Bluehost plan can save ~$70 versus 12 months—savings you could redirect into free ClickBank promotions.
Cost 3: Renewal Rates
Expect renewal prices to double. The longer the intro contract, the longer you postpone that hit.
Hosting Price Cards
Cost 4: Hosting Resources
Bandwidth, CPUs, RAM, and SSD storage all scale pricing. Beware of “unlimited bandwidth” marketing—every server has limits.
Need dynamic scaling? Cloud plans flex resources on demand—handy for list‑building campaigns powered by GetResponse or Brevo (Sendinblue).
Cost 5: Setup Fees & Site Migrations
Entry‑level plans are usually free to set up. Dedicated servers often carry setup or migration fees (Bluehost charges ~$150 for a full site move).
Cost 6: Domain Registration
Bundling with your host is convenient—Bluehost includes the first year free—but long‑term thrift hunters may register separately. Either way, point DNS correctly and you’re set.
Cost 7: Security
Every reputable host now ships free SSL certificates (a must since Google’s 2024 core update). For deeper protection, stack on malware scans or use a reputable VPN during admin sessions.
Cost 8: Managed Support & Maintenance
Managed WordPress starts near $20/month and scales to half‑a‑million visitors. If you’re non‑technical, paying for managed support beats firefighting server issues alone.
Cost 9: Package Extras
Upsells (SEO tools, single‑domain SSL, etc.) can nearly double checkout totals. If a feature isn’t mission‑critical, skip it and invest in revenue‑drivers instead.
Cost 10: Downtime
Downtime is the silent killer—every minute offline can cost sales, ad budgets, or email engagement (we measure ours with Pingdom).
🔗 Recommended Reading
- How to Promote ClickBank Products for Free
- 10 Affiliate Marketing Tips Can Make You Rich
- How to Start Affiliate Marketing as a Beginner
- Constant Contact Review 2025
- Sendinblue (Brevo) Review 2025
- The Best VPN Services
- Best Cloaker for Ad Platforms 2025
Conclusion
We’ve explored the ten biggest costs of hosting in 2025. Knowing these levers helps you budget wisely and keep more profit for growth.
Ready to lock in a cost‑effective plan? Bluehost still offers free SSL, a free first‑year domain, and industry‑leading support—all reasons it remains our recommended host this year.
Questions? Drop them below, and happy building!
