HostGator vs Bluehost: the real 5-year cost
Over 5 years, HostGator works out about $19.20 cheaper than Bluehostonce renewal prices are counted. Here's the breakdown.
| HostGator | Bluehost | |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | $3.75/mo | $2.95/mo |
| Renews at | $9.99/mo | $11.99/mo |
| Renewal markup | +166% | +306% |
| True 5-year cost | $374.76 | $393.96 |
| Effective monthly | $6.25/mo | $6.57/mo |
Both are shared hosts with renewal jumps — whichever you pick, switch before renewal or you'll pay the higher rate.
The honest take
Headline promo prices make hosts look interchangeable. They're not — the gap shows up at renewal. HostGator's Hatchling starts at $3.75/mo and renews at $9.99/mo; Bluehost's Basic starts at $2.95/mo and renews at $11.99/mo.
Prices are 2026 figures synthesized from public sources and change often. Confirm on each host's official page before buying. See our methodology.
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