Bluehost vs Namecheap Hosting (2026): Which Is Cheaper Over Time?
Short answer: Namecheap is cheaper. Its Stellar plan costs about $148 over four years against about $264 for Bluehost Starter, and it renews at about $4.66 a month against Bluehost's $9.99. Choose Bluehost if you want more websites on one plan, faster NVMe storage or phone support.
See Namecheap's current priceNamecheap is best known for domains, and its hosting is one of the cheapest you can buy, both at signup and at renewal. Bluehost costs more but gives you more on its entry plan.
Prices as of November 2026. Namecheap’s renewal prices come from its May 2026 pricing notice, and its intro price from a September 2026 review, because Namecheap’s site blocked our direct check. Confirm at checkout.
Bluehost vs Namecheap at a glance
| Bluehost Starter | Namecheap Stellar | |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | $3.99/mo (36-month term) | About $1.88/mo (24-month term, after a 30-day trial) |
| Renewal price | $9.99/mo | $55.88/yr (about $4.66/mo), or $102.88 for 2 years |
| Cost over 4 years | ~$264 | ~$148 |
| Websites | 10 | 3 |
| Storage | 10 GB NVMe | 20 GB SSD |
| Free domain | First year | Offered with some plans and promotions |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Support | 24/7 chat; phone from Business up | 24/7 chat and tickets |
What each one really costs
Namecheap is the rare host whose renewal price stays low.
| Plan | First 2 years | First 4 years | Each year after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namecheap Stellar | $45.12 | $148.00 | $51.44 (on a 2-year renewal) |
| Bluehost Starter | $95.76 | $263.52 | $119.88 |
| Namecheap Stellar Plus | Varies by promotion | — | $73.22 (on a 2-year renewal) |
| Bluehost Business | $167.76 | $419.52 | $167.88 |
These totals assume you prepay the longest intro term on both. Namecheap’s monthly renewal ($5.88 a month) costs more than renewing yearly.
Check Namecheap’s current price
Where Bluehost is better
- More sites: 10 websites on Starter against 3 on Stellar.
- Faster storage: NVMe on Bluehost’s plans.
- Phone support: from Bluehost’s Business plan up.
- Speed for growing sites: Bluehost’s higher plans add more CPU.
Where Namecheap is better
- Price, especially at renewal. Namecheap renews at less than half of Bluehost’s rate.
- Everything in one place if your domains are already there. Many people already buy domains at Namecheap, and keeping hosting in the same account is simple.
Who should choose Bluehost
- You want to run 4 to 10 sites on the cheapest plan.
- You want phone support or room to grow on the same host.
Who should choose Namecheap
- You have one to three small, simple sites.
- Low cost now and at renewal matters more than top speed.
- Your domains are already at Namecheap.
When neither is the best fit
Hostinger costs about $96 for four years through our link, includes free migration, and lets you move up to a VPS for AI agents later. See Bluehost vs Hostinger.
FAQ
Is Namecheap hosting good? For small, simple sites, yes. It’s one of the cheapest hosts to keep long term. Busy sites and online stores do better on faster plans.
Did Namecheap raise its prices? Yes. Namecheap announced higher shared hosting renewal prices from May 19, 2026. Stellar now renews at $55.88 a year, which is still low.
Can I use a Namecheap domain with Bluehost? Yes. Point the domain’s nameservers to Bluehost. You don’t need to move the domain.
Sources
- Shared hosting pricing changes, May 2026, Namecheap
- Best cheap web hosting, TechRadar, updated Sep 2026
- Bluehost pricing and plans, Website Builder Expert, updated Feb 2026