The most common hosting comparison mistake is looking only at the first-year price. A business website, blog or store usually runs much longer. A better method is to calculate the real 3-year cost.
If you first want to understand the difference between starting price and renewal, read Hosting Price: Registration vs Renewal.
| What are you comparing? | Why it matters | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | Shows entry cost | Package page or cart |
| Hosting renewal | Shows long-term cost | Standard price list or promotion terms |
| Domain renewal | Domain promotions often differ from hosting promotions | Domain price list |
| Backups and SSL | They may be included or paid extras | Package specification |
| Migration | It can save time and reduce risk | Service description or support contact |
Step 1: note the first-year price
The first year may be promotional. Write down whether the price is net or gross and compare the same type of price across providers.
Step 2: add two renewals
Find the standard renewal price and add it for years two and three. If the provider shows only promotional pricing, look for the full price list or ask support.
Simple formula:
3-year cost = first-year price + year 2 renewal + year 3 renewal
If you compare the full website cost, use a broader formula:
website cost = 3-year hosting + 3-year domain + extras + migration cost
Step 3: add domain costs
Domains also have registration and renewal prices. A domain promoted for a few PLN may renew at a much higher price. Add at least two domain renewals to your comparison.
Step 4: check extras
Not every service includes the same things. Add the items you actually need:
- SSL certificate,
- backups,
- website migration,
- extra storage,
- larger mailboxes,
- antivirus protection,
- administration support.
If one offer includes backups and migration while another charges extra, the subscription price alone is not enough.
If the domain is an important part of the comparison, also read Domain Pricing: Registration, Transfer and Renewal Explained.
Step 5: consider switching cost
Migration after one year also has a cost. Even if it is not paid in money, it costs time: files, databases, email, DNS, testing and downtime risk.
Choosing hosting only for one promotional year can therefore be a false saving.
Example comparison
Offer A:
- Year 1: 39 PLN
- Year 2: 300 PLN
- Year 3: 300 PLN
- Domain: 15 PLN + 2 x 120 PLN
- Total: 879 PLN
Offer B:
- Year 1: 150 PLN
- Year 2: 150 PLN
- Year 3: 150 PLN
- Domain: 50 PLN + 2 x 60 PLN
- Total: 620 PLN
Offer A looks better in an ad, but it costs more after 3 years.
Template for your own comparison
| Item | Offer A | Offer B | Offer C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting year 1 | |||
| Hosting year 2 | |||
| Hosting year 3 | |||
| Domain year 1 | |||
| Domain year 2 | |||
| Domain year 3 | |||
| Backups / SSL / extras | |||
| Migration | |||
| Total 3 years |
Fill the table with either gross or net prices, but do not mix both. If one provider shows net prices and another shows gross prices, convert them before comparing.
Summary
The real hosting cost is a multi-year sum of hosting, domain and extras. A starting promotion can be useful, but it should not hide renewal pricing or service quality.
Before buying, create a simple 3-year table. To compare MGHost packages, see web hosting and domain pricing. If you are considering very cheap promotions, also read Why 1 PLN Hosting Can Become Expensive in the Second Year.
Have a question that hasn't been answered or want to know more? Contact us!
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