What we like
- Classic cPanel
- Generous site limits on every plan
- Long-running, well-known brand
Watch out for
- Renewals roughly 4× the intro price
- Backups are "courtesy", not guaranteed
- Prices hidden behind placeholders when we checked
The real price of HostGator
HostGator’s cheapest plan, Hatchling, is advertised at $3.75 a month, but that price requires paying for 36 months upfront: about $135 at checkout. When the intro term ends it renews at $17.59 a month, 369% more. Over three years you’d pay about $135 in total.
Money-back: 30 days. Free domain: 1st year. Backups: Courtesy backups. Email: POP3/SMTP mail included; Pro Email trial.
HostGator plans and prices
| Plan | Type | Intro | Term | Renews at | 3-yr cost | Sites | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling | Shared hosting | $3.75/mo | 3-year term | $17.59/mo | $135 | 10 | 10 GB SSD |
| Official page showed placeholder prices on Oct 8, 2026; figures from a July 2026 price tracker. | |||||||
| Baby | Shared hosting | $4.50/mo | 3-year term | $18.69/mo | $162 | 20 | 20 GB SSD |
| BusinessFree domain privacy | Shared hosting | $6.25/mo | 3-year term | $24.19/mo | $225 | 50 | 50 GB SSD |
HostGator price history
No price changes logged since our baseline check on Oct 8, 2026.
Last checked Oct 8, 2026. We re-check every host monthly. See all hosting price changes.
Key facts
| Company | Houston, Texas, USA · founded 2002 · owned by Newfold Digital |
|---|---|
| Hosting types | Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS, Dedicated |
| Control panel | cPanel |
| Data centers | US |
| Money-back | 30 days |
| Free domain | 1st year |
| Free SSL | Yes |
| Free migration | Not advertised |
| POP3/SMTP mail included; Pro Email trial | |
| Backups | Courtesy backups |
Verdict
HostGator offers cPanel hosting with generous site limits, but the gap between intro and renewal pricing is among the widest we track, and backups are only "courtesy" backups. Best for: cPanel users who want many sites on one account.
Check today’s price at HostGatorHostGator alternatives
Premium plan
Beginners and small sites that want the lowest upfront cost and an easy panel.
- 30-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Weekly on Premium; daily on Busin…
Starter plan
Small sites outside the US that want a nearby data center.
- 45-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Daily (10-30 days retention)
StartUp plan
WordPress sites that value support, speed tools and daily backups, and can live with high renewals.
- 30-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Daily, 30 days of history
Launch plan
Small businesses that want room to grow and a long trial window.
- 90-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Backup Manager add-on (automated …
Sources · checked Oct 8, 2026
Ratings are editorial estimates based on published specs, policies and expert and customer consensus, not our own lab tests.