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 GBP.
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 | £0.19 | £0.19 | - | £6.84 |
| Yearly | £22.38 | £1.86 | None | £67.14 |
| Every 2 years | £4.12 | £0.17 | 10% | £6.18 |
| Every 3 years | £6.05 | £0.17 | 12% | £6.05 |
VPS: H-LINUX-VPS-01
| Billing period | You pay | Per month | Saving | Over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | £5.97 | £5.97 | - | £214.92 |
| Every 3 months | £17.04 | £5.68 | 5% | £204.48 |
| Every 6 months | £32.33 | £5.39 | 10% | £193.98 |
| Yearly | £61.53 | £5.13 | 14% | £184.59 |
| Every 2 years | £123.05 | £5.13 | 14% | £184.57 |
| Every 3 years | £184.58 | £5.13 | 14% | £184.58 |
Prices in GBP, +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.