Namecheap is the cheapest start: about $33 for a year with a .com. Over four years Hostinger is cheaper (≈ $121 vs ≈ $195 hosting only) and gives unlimited sites and an AI builder. Short term or testing an idea: Namecheap. Long term business site: Hostinger.
Scores are my own editorial ratings from testing both carts and dashboards, out of 10. They are not customer reviews. Our overall rating is calculated from four assessed categories: price, renewal pricing, ease of use and features. We have not independently tested customer support response times or resolution quality, so support is excluded from the score.
The overall score is the plain average of the four tested ratings.
What you pay over 4 years
Hostinger
≈ $121
Namecheap
≈ $195
💡 Hostinger saves you about $74 over 4 years.
Hosting only, before tax. Hostinger: $2.51/mo with coupon LEARN2EARN (48 months). Namecheap: $26.88 the first year, then $55.88 a year (hosting only).
With the domain and cart extras
HHostinger
≈ $181 over 4 years
Hosting (4 years)≈ $121
.com domain (free 1st year, then $19.99/yr) pre-checked$59.97
NNamecheap
≈ $195 over 4 years, plus a domain you buy separately
Hosting (4 years)≈ $195
.com domain ($5.98, then $18.48/yr) optional$61.42
From our own US carts (USD, before tax). "Pre-checked" items were already ticked at checkout and are counted; optional items are not. Unknown renewal prices are never guessed. How we test.
Side by side
HHostinger
NNamecheap
💵First term price
$2.51/mo (48 months)
$2.28/mo (1 year)
🧾Pay today
≈ $121 (4 years upfront)
$33.06 (1 year + .com)
📆4-year total (hosting)
≈ $121
≈ $195
🔁Renewal price
$16.99/mo
$55.88/yr (≈ $4.66/mo)
🌐Websites
Unlimited
3
🏷️Free domain
1 year, .com included
Free endings only, .com is $5.98
🔒Domain privacy
Included
Free forever
🤖AI website builder
Included
No
✓ green = the better option for that row.
Watch me compare them
Price: Namecheap is the cheapest start
Namecheap Stellar is $2.28 a month billed yearly. In the cart it was $26.88 for the year, plus $5.98 for a .com and a 20 cent ICANN fee: $33.06 in total. Hostinger Unlimited is about $2.51 a month with LEARN2EARN, but you pay 48 months upfront, about $121.
Renewal: Namecheap renews lower
After the first year Stellar goes back to $55.88 a year, about $4.66 a month. Hostinger renews at $16.99 a month. Over the first four years Hostinger is still cheaper (≈ $121 vs ≈ $195 hosting only), but after that Namecheap renews much lower.
Features
Stellar gives three websites, 20 GB of storage, 30 mailboxes and free domain privacy. Hostinger Unlimited gives unlimited websites, daily backups, a CDN and the AI website builder. The free Namecheap domain does not include .com.
Pros and cons
HHostinger
Cheaper over 4 years
Unlimited websites
AI website builder
Free .com for year one
Pay 4 years upfront for the best price
Higher renewal
NNamecheap
Lowest upfront price (~$33)
Low renewal ($55.88/yr)
Free domain privacy forever
Yearly plan, no long commitment
Only 3 websites
.com is not free ($5.98, renews $18.48)
No AI builder
Free trial has no free domain
FAQ
Is Namecheap hosting cheaper than Hostinger?
For the first year, yes: $33.06 with a .com. Over four years Hostinger is cheaper for hosting (≈ $121 vs ≈ $195). After that Namecheap renews lower.
Does Namecheap give a free .com?
No. The free domain covers endings like .org. A .com was $5.98 the first year and renews at $18.48.
Disclosure: these are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices change by country and over time.
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