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 SGD.
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 | S$0.32 | S$0.32 | - | S$11.52 |
| Yearly | S$38.34 | S$3.20 | None | S$115.02 |
| Every 2 years | S$7.06 | S$0.29 | 8% | S$10.59 |
| Every 3 years | S$10.36 | S$0.29 | 10% | S$10.36 |
VPS: H-LINUX-VPS-01
| Billing period | You pay | Per month | Saving | Over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | S$10.23 | S$10.23 | - | S$368.28 |
| Every 3 months | S$29.19 | S$9.73 | 5% | S$350.28 |
| Every 6 months | S$55.38 | S$9.23 | 10% | S$332.28 |
| Yearly | S$105.39 | S$8.78 | 14% | S$316.17 |
| Every 2 years | S$210.78 | S$8.78 | 14% | S$316.17 |
| Every 3 years | S$316.17 | S$8.78 | 14% | S$316.17 |
Prices in SGD, +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.