The short answer
Paying for a longer period up front lowers the monthly equivalent on most plans. Pay monthly while you are testing an idea or expect to change plans soon; pay yearly or for three years once you know the plan fits and want the lowest total.
How much each period saves
| Billing period | Plans offering it | Saving vs monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Every 3 months | 35 | 0% to 12% |
| Every 6 months | 30 | 10% to 32% |
| Yearly | 67 | 0% to 48% |
| Every 2 years | 67 | 8% to 14% |
| Every 3 years | 67 | 10% to 14% |
Calculated just now from the live prices of 67 plans that offer monthly billing, in AUD.
Worked examples from today’s prices
The lowest-priced plan in two families, with every billing period it offers. “Over 3 years” is what you would pay in total for 36 months on that period, including any setup fee once.
Shared hosting: Hostia Lite
| Billing period | You pay | Per month | Saving | Over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | A$0.36 | A$0.36 | - | A$12.96 |
| Yearly | A$42.69 | A$3.56 | None | A$128.07 |
| Every 2 years | A$7.86 | A$0.33 | 9% | A$11.79 |
| Every 3 years | A$11.53 | A$0.32 | 11% | A$11.53 |
VPS: H-LINUX-VPS-01
| Billing period | You pay | Per month | Saving | Over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | A$11.39 | A$11.39 | - | A$410.04 |
| Every 3 months | A$32.50 | A$10.83 | 5% | A$390.00 |
| Every 6 months | A$61.67 | A$10.28 | 10% | A$370.02 |
| Yearly | A$117.36 | A$9.78 | 14% | A$352.08 |
| Every 2 years | A$234.72 | A$9.78 | 14% | A$352.08 |
| Every 3 years | A$352.08 | A$9.78 | 14% | A$352.08 |
Prices in AUD, +VAT 5% where applicable.
Renewal prices
Each billing period renews at the price shown for that period, so the saving continues at renewal, and with our price-lock your renewal price does not go up. Typical providers often advertise a low introductory price for a long term and renew at a higher one, so always compare the renewal price.
Which period to choose
- Monthly keeps your options open: good for testing, short projects and servers you may resize soon.
- Yearly is the usual balance between saving and flexibility for a site that is already running.
- Two or three years gives the lowest monthly equivalent when you are sure about the plan, and fixes your cost for longer.
Unsure? Shared hosting comes with a money-back period; see the terms in the order form.