Budget Hosting Comparison 2026: Best Cheap Web Hosting under €5

Cheap web hosting doesn't automatically mean poor quality. In 2026, there are excellent budget providers delivering reliable services for less than €5 per month.

In this comparison, we list the best budget hosting options. You'll learn what to look for, which providers offer the best deals and how to get quality for a low price.

Why choose budget hosting?

Budget hosting is perfect for starters, hobbyists and small websites. You don't need to spend hundreds of euros per year right away. For many projects, a basic package works just fine.

Budget hosting is suitable for:

• Personal blogs and portfolio websites
• Small business websites with limited traffic
• Test environments and development projects
• Starting entrepreneurs on a tight budget
• Simple WordPress websites

Budget hosting is less suitable for:

• Webshops with many visitors
• Websites with heavy databases
• High-traffic applications
• Websites requiring premium support

Budget hosting comparison table 2026

Provider	Price/mo	Storage	Websites	Domains	SSL	Backups
Theory7 Mini	€0.49	10GB SSD	1	1	Yes	Daily
Vimexx Basic	€2.95	10GB SSD	1	1 free	Yes	Daily
TransIP Start	€3.49	25GB SSD	1	1	Yes	Weekly
ONE.com Starter	€1.99	25GB	1	1 free	Yes	None
Hostnet Basis	€4.50	10GB SSD	1	1 free	Yes	Weekly
Antagonist Start	€4.95	15GB SSD	1	1	Yes	Daily

Prices are starting prices with annual subscription. Always check current prices on the provider's website.

Top 6 budget hosting providers

1. Theory7 Mini - best price-quality ratio

Theory7 offers the best price-quality ratio in the budget segment. For just €0.49 per month you get a complete hosting package with LiteSpeed.

Specifications:

• Price: €0.49 per month
• Storage: 10GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 25 GB
• Databases: Unlimited MySQL
• Email: 5 email addresses
• SSL: Free Let's Encrypt certificate
• Backups: Daily automatic backups
• Web server: LiteSpeed (faster than Apache)

Advantages:

• Absolute lowest entry price with LiteSpeed
• 5 out of 5 stars on all review platforms
• Dutch support 7 days a week
• Daily backups included
• Free migration service
• Scalable to larger packages (up to unlimited)

Disadvantages:

• Relatively new company (since 2023)
• 25 GB bandwidth on cheapest package
• Limited to 1 website on Mini package

Suitable for: Theory7 Mini is the best choice if you want maximum quality for the lowest price. The LiteSpeed web server provides speed you don't expect at this price. Ideal for beginners, hobby projects and small websites.

2. Vimexx Basic - reliable Dutch host

Vimexx combines low prices with Dutch quality. The Basic package offers everything you need for a simple website.

Specifications:

• Price: €2.95 per month (annual subscription)
• Storage: 10GB SSD
• Bandwidth: Unlimited traffic
• Databases: 1 MySQL database
• Email: 10 email addresses (1GB per address)
• SSL: Free Let's Encrypt certificate
• Backups: Daily automatic backups

Advantages:

• Fast SSD storage for better performance
• Dutch servers and customer service
• Daily backups included
• Good uptime statistics
• Easy to scale to larger packages

Disadvantages:

• Limited to 1 website
• Email storage relatively small
• No phone support with Basic package

Suitable for: Vimexx Basic is ideal for starters who want a reliable Dutch host without spending much. Perfect for a first blog, portfolio or small business website.

3. TransIP Start - most storage

TransIP offers ample storage at a competitive price. The 25GB SSD is enough for most small to medium websites.

Specifications:

• Price: €3.49 per month (annual subscription)
• Storage: 25GB SSD
• Bandwidth: Unlimited
• Databases: 5 MySQL databases
• Email: Unlimited addresses
• SSL: Free SSL certificate
• Backups: Weekly backups

Advantages:

• Lots of storage for the money
• Multiple databases possible
• Create unlimited email addresses
• Stable Dutch provider
• Extensive knowledge base

Disadvantages:

• Backups only weekly, not daily
• Slightly more expensive than cheapest options
• Basic package has limited support

Suitable for: TransIP Start fits users who want a bit more space without a significant price increase. Good for WordPress sites with medium content volume.

Considering WordPress? Also read our article about WordPress hosting explained.

4. ONE.com Starter - lowest intro price

ONE.com has a low starting price. Note: this is an introductory price, renewal costs are higher.

Specifications:

• Price: €1.99 per month first year, then €4.99
• Storage: 25GB
• Bandwidth: Unlimited
• Databases: 10 MySQL databases
• Email: 1 email address (5GB)
• SSL: Free certificate
• Backups: Not included by default

Advantages:

• Very low entry price for first year
• Ample storage and unlimited traffic
• Website builder included
• Simple interface for beginners
• Free domain with annual subscription

Disadvantages:

• Price increases significantly after first year
• No automatic backups
• Support mainly via email
• Servers located abroad

Suitable for: ONE.com is attractive if you want to test cheaply for a year. Account for higher costs from year two. Good for complete beginners due to simple interface.

5. Hostnet Basis - all-in-one package

Hostnet bundles web hosting with unlimited email. Convenient if you need many email addresses.

Specifications:

• Price: €4.50 per month (annual subscription)
• Storage: 10GB SSD
• Bandwidth: Unlimited
• Databases: 1 MySQL database
• Email: Unlimited addresses (25GB per address)
• SSL: Free Let's Encrypt
• Backups: Weekly backups

Advantages:

• Unlimited email addresses with ample storage
• Dutch customer service via phone
• Free domain first year
• Good uptime guarantee
• Website builder included

Disadvantages:

• Slightly more expensive than alternatives
• Only 1 database in basic package
• Smaller community than larger providers

Suitable for: Hostnet Basis is ideal if email is as important as your website. Perfect for small businesses wanting to give multiple employees an email address.

6. Antagonist Start - most sustainable option

Antagonist runs entirely on green energy. The price is slightly higher, but you consciously choose sustainability.

Specifications:

• Price: €4.95 per month (annual subscription)
• Storage: 15GB SSD
• Bandwidth: Unlimited
• Databases: 3 MySQL databases
• Email: 10 addresses (5GB per address)
• SSL: Free certificate
• Backups: Daily automatic backups

Advantages:

• 100% green power (CO2 neutral)
• Daily backups by default
• Good performance and uptime
• Dutch servers and support
• Transparent business operations

Disadvantages:

• Highest price in this comparison
• Limited to 10 email addresses
• Less known than larger competitors

Suitable for: Antagonist is the right choice if sustainability matters. Suitable for conscious entrepreneurs and organizations valuing green hosting.

What to look for in budget hosting?

Check renewal costs

Many providers attract with low starting prices. Always check what it costs from the second year. Some providers double the price after the first year.

Example:

• ONE.com: €1.99 first year → €4.99 afterwards
• Vimexx: €2.95 stays €2.95
• TransIP: €3.49 stays €3.49
• Theory7: €0.49 stays €0.49

Always calculate what you pay total over multiple years. Sometimes a slightly more expensive option with stable prices is cheaper long-term.

SSD vs HDD storage

SSD (Solid State Drive) is much faster than old HDD disks. Budget packages nowadays often offer SSD, but check this.

Why SSD matters:

• Website loads 3x faster
• Database queries work smoother
• Better user experience
• Google values fast websites (SEO advantage)

All providers in our top 6 use SSD storage. Avoid offers with HDD, even if they're cheaper.

Backup possibilities

Automatic backups are crucial. If something goes wrong, you can restore your website to an earlier version.

Backup frequency:

• Daily: Best option, minimal data loss
• Weekly: Acceptable for static websites
• None: Risky, make your own backups

Theory7, Vimexx and Antagonist offer daily backups in their budget packages. This is a major plus.

Support options

Budget hosting often means limited support. Check which channels are available.

Support levels:

• Premium: Phone, chat, email (24/7)
• Standard: Email and chat (office hours)
• Basic: Email or ticket system only

For beginners, Dutch support is a must. Theory7 offers support 7 days a week, including weekends. If you're technically proficient, a good knowledge base suffices.

Also check our web hosting selection checklist for more tips.

Uptime guarantee

Uptime is the percentage of time your website is online. Aim for at least 99.5% uptime.

Uptime percentages:

• 99.9% = maximum 8.7 hours offline per year
• 99.5% = maximum 43.8 hours offline per year
• 99.0% = maximum 87.6 hours offline per year

All providers on our list achieve at least 99.5%. Check reviews and status pages for real-world experiences.

Budget hosting vs premium hosting

What do you miss with budget hosting?

Performance: Budget servers are shared with more websites. This can cause slower load times during peak hours.

Support: Wait times are longer, phone support is limited. You solve problems yourself more often via knowledge base articles.

Scalability: Resources are limited. As your website grows, you may need to upgrade quickly.

Extras: Premium features like CDN, advanced caching and staging environments are often missing.

When to upgrade?

Consider an upgrade if:

• Your website attracts more than 5,000 visitors per month
• Load times exceed 3 seconds
• You regularly hit resource limits
• You start a webshop or want to sell online
• Professional support becomes important

For starting websites, budget hosting is perfect. You can always upgrade later as your website grows.

Read our article about cheap web hosting tips for more saving tips.

Budget hosting frequently asked questions

Is cheap hosting reliable?

Yes, provided you choose reputable Dutch providers like Theory7, Vimexx, TransIP or Hostnet. They offer entry-level packages without compromising uptime and security.

Avoid ultra-cheap foreign providers under €1 per month. They often save on crucial things like support and security.

Can I upgrade later?

Absolutely. All providers in this comparison offer upgrade paths. You can usually switch to a larger package with one click.

Some providers migrate your website for free to the new package. Theory7 offers free migration service, for example.

How many visitors can budget hosting handle?

This varies per provider and website type. As a rule of thumb:

• Static HTML site: 10,000+ visitors per month
• WordPress blog: 2,000-5,000 visitors per month
• WordPress with plugins: 1,000-3,000 visitors per month
• Dynamic application: 500-2,000 visitors per month

Have more traffic? Then consider a midrange package or VPS directly.

Is SSL certificate included?

Yes, all providers in our top 6 offer free SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt. This is now standard, even with budget packages.

SSL is essential for security and SEO. Google prioritizes HTTPS websites. Read more in our article about SSL certificates.

What's the difference between shared hosting and VPS?

Shared hosting (budget packages):

• You share server resources with other websites
• Cheaper (€0.49-5 per month)
• Easy to manage
• Suitable for small to medium sites

VPS (Virtual Private Server):

• Own virtual server with guaranteed resources
• More expensive (€10+ per month)
• More control and flexibility
• Suitable for larger sites and applications

For most starters, shared hosting is the logical choice. Only when growing do you switch to VPS.

Can I register my domain elsewhere?

Yes, you don't have to register your domain with your hosting provider. Many people use separate domain registrars like TransIP or Registrar.nl.

Advantages of separate domain:

• Easier to switch hosts
• Often cheaper with specialized registrars
• More control over DNS settings

Advantage of everything with 1 provider:

• Simpler management
• Everything on one invoice
• Often free domain with annual subscription

Both options work fine. Choose what's most convenient for you.

Action plan: choose the right budget hosting

Step 1: Determine your needs

Ask yourself these questions:

• What kind of website do you want to make? (blog, business, portfolio)
• How many visitors do you expect?
• Do you need many email addresses?
• Is sustainability important?
• What's your budget?

Step 2: Compare providers

Use our comparison tool to put providers side by side. Pay attention to:

• Total price after renewal costs
• Storage and type (SSD!)
• Backup frequency
• Support language and channels
• Server location

Step 3: Check reviews

Read experiences from other users. Especially note:

• Uptime and speed
• Customer service quality
• Hidden costs
• Migration support

Step 4: Start with annual subscription

You get the sharpest prices with annual subscriptions. Monthly packages are 20-40% more expensive.

Tip: Start with 1 year with a reliable provider like Theory7 or Vimexx. This way you test the service without committing for years.

Step 5: Use trial periods

Some providers offer money-back guarantee within 30 days. Use this to test the service risk-free.

Test during this period:

• Website speed
• Control panel user-friendliness
• Support responsiveness
• Stability (uptime)

Our recommendation

For most starters, we recommend Theory7 Mini as the best price-quality option. You get LiteSpeed hosting, daily backups and Dutch support for just €0.49 per month.

When to choose another provider:

• Need unlimited traffic? Choose Vimexx Basic (unlimited bandwidth)
• Need more storage? Choose TransIP Start (25GB)
• Email important? Choose Hostnet Basis (unlimited email)
• Sustainability priority? Choose Antagonist Start
• Budget temporarily super tight? Choose ONE.com first year

Start with your website today. Budget hosting makes it accessible for everyone to get online. You can always upgrade later as you grow.