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DreamHost3.8/5vsSiteGround4.2/5

DreamHost vs SiteGround: which is better value?

By The Web Hosting Depot team · Updated · How we research

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Quick verdict

DreamHost is cheaper over three years ($298 vs $468 on the entry plans). On our overall rating, SiteGround scores higher (4.2 vs 3.8).

Pick DreamHost if

people who want a low price without a multi-year commitment.

Visit DreamHost
Pick SiteGround if

wordPress sites that value support, speed tools and daily backups, and can live with high renewals.

Visit SiteGround

Side by side

DreamHost 5 winsSiteGround 2 wins
Cheapest planWeb Hosting Launch · $2.89/moStartUp · $2.99/mo
Prepay for intro price1-year term1-year term
Renews at$10.99/mo$17.99/mo
Renewal jump+280%+502%
3-year cost$298$468
Money-back30 days30 days
BackupsDaily automatedDaily, 30 days of history
Free domain1 year1 year (.com/.org/.net)
Control panelDreamHost panel (custom)Site Tools (custom)
Data centersUS6 regions across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia
Performance (our rating)4/55/5
Support (our rating)3/55/5
Ease of use (our rating)4/54/5
Value (our rating)4/52/5

Green = better on that row. Entry plans compared: DreamHost Web Hosting Launch and SiteGround StartUp (Shared hosting). Prices checked Oct 8, 2026.

DreamHost: real cost

Intro$2.89/mo1-year term
Renews at$10.99/mo+280%
3-year cost$298intro + renewals
Year 1: $353 yrs: $298

SiteGround: real cost

Intro$2.99/mo1-year term
Renews at$17.99/mo+502%
3-year cost$468intro + renewals
Year 1: $363 yrs: $468

Why DreamHost

  • Intro price on a 1-year term, not 3-4 years
  • Daily backups and 25 sites on the entry plan
  • Independent, employee-owned company since 1996

Downsides: Email is free for only 3 months; US data centers only; Custom panel instead of cPanel.

Why SiteGround

  • Daily backups with 30 days of history on every plan
  • Strong WordPress tooling (staging, caching, security)
  • Intro price only needs a 12-month prepay

Downsides: Steepest renewals in this group (StartUp renews at $17.99); StartUp allows just one site; Storage is modest for the price.

The bottom line

DreamHost keeps it simple: one Launch plan at about $2.89 a month for the first year, renewing at $10.99, with 25 sites, NVMe storage and daily backups. You do not need to lock in for three or four years to get the price.

SiteGround is the premium shared host: daily backups, staging and excellent WordPress tooling, with a cheap first year that only needs a 12-month prepay. Renewals are the steepest we track: StartUp goes from $2.99 to $17.99 a month.

Frequently asked questions

Is DreamHost cheaper than SiteGround?

Over three years, DreamHost costs less on the cheapest comparable plans: about $298 versus $468, counting the intro price for its required term and then the renewal price. Month one is misleading: compare the 3-year totals.

Which has the better money-back guarantee?

DreamHost: 30 days. SiteGround: 30 days. Domain fees are usually not refundable.

Can I move from DreamHost to SiteGround later?

Yes. Moving a site means copying its files and database, then pointing your domain at the new host. SiteGround advertises free migration: Free WordPress migrator plugin. See our guide to switching hosts.