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The Hostinger Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Hostinger in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Hostinger

The Insider’s Guide

Shared, WordPress and cloud hosting run from its own hPanel dashboard

Hostinger, as pictured on hostinger.com

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from Hostinger’s own pages.

Made by Hostinger · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.0GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Hostinger’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Hostinger’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.0

GPA, above 7 of the 21 other web hosts we grade

Hostinger sells shared web hosting and cloud hosting for WordPress and other sites, managed from its own hPanel dashboard. Plans include a free domain for the first year, SSL, email, malware scanning and AI tools that build and run WordPress sites. Its AI website builder is sold as a separate product.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Hostinger, taken from its own pages and our grades.

hPanel and the AI agent take fiddly bits like DNS off your hands, but you're still setting up a domain, email and a site.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for cheap hosting if you can pay four years upfront

    Hostinger is the cheap all-in-one pick: hosting, a first-year domain, SSL and email in one account, plus an AI agent that'll build a WordPress site and set up your DNS.

  2. 2

    Paid plans start at $10.99 a month

    As its pricing page puts it: $10.99 per month at renewal (Premium), after a first 48 months for $143.52.

  3. 3

    It runs on Web

    Web.

  4. 4

    hPanel dashboard

    Hostinger's own control panel handles sites, domains, email, databases and backups, with one-click installs for WordPress and more than 100 other apps.

  5. 5

    Domain, SSL and email included

    Plans bought for a year or longer include a domain free for the first year. SSL is installed automatically, and mailboxes are free for the first year.

  6. 6

    Backups by plan

    Premium keeps weekly backups, Unlimited daily backups with restore, and Cloud Startup daily plus on-demand backups.

  7. 7

    A 2.0 GPA, above 7 of 21

    That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    Keep it

    To replace Hostinger you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

Hostinger at a glance

Pricing
Paid, from $10.99 per month at renewal (Premium), after a first 48 months for $143.52
Free plan
No
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Web
Made by
Hostinger, since 2004
Category
Web Hosting
Our grade
2.0 GPA, fair

The report card

Best for cheap hosting if you can pay four years upfront

Hostinger is the cheap all-in-one pick: hosting, a first-year domain, SSL and email in one account, plus an AI agent that'll build a WordPress site and set up your DNS. The catch is the deal. $2.99 a month means paying $143.52 for four years upfront, and Premium then renews at $10.99 a month.

ToolGPA report cardHostingerGraded Oct 17, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyBPremium's only readable price is 48 months for $143.52 upfront, so two years cost you $143.52, about $5.98 a month. That's inside the cheaper quarter of hosts and a cent over the A line, and the same payment covers years three and four. Then it's $10.99 a month.
Free plan and trialFNothing free. There's no free plan and no trial, just a 30-day refund on hosting, and a new domain can only be refunded within 96 hours.
FeaturesChPanel, one-click WordPress, malware scanning, free migrations and an AI agent are all there. The gaps are on the plan most people buy: Premium keeps weekly backups, not daily, and the domain and mailboxes are free for the first year only.
Ease of useCNo app store rating to go on. hPanel and the AI agent take fiddly bits like DNS off your hands, but you're still setting up a domain, email and a site.
Platforms and integrationsBA web dashboard, with no app on record. There's a public API, though, and hooks for Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Pixel, Claude Code and Cursor.
Grade point averageFair, out of 4.02.0

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Hostinger is for

  • Great if you want hosting, a domain and email from one account
  • Handy when you'd like an AI agent to build the site and sort out DNS
  • Good for small sites and blogs that'll fit in Premium's 3 websites

Who it is not for

  • Pricey if you stay past year four, as Premium renews at $10.99 a month
  • Skip it if you don't want to pay years ahead, as only 48-month prices are shown upfront
  • Tight if you need daily backups, which start on Unlimited rather than Premium

Good to know

Good for

  • Small sites and blogs whose owners can pay four years upfront
  • Owners who want hosting, domain and email in one account
  • People who want AI help building and running a WordPress site

Worth knowing

  • The advertised $2.99 a month needs 48 months paid upfront ($143.52); Premium then renews at $10.99 a month, Unlimited at $16.99 and Cloud Startup at $25.99.
  • The plan table shows only 48-month prices. 1-, 12- and 24-month terms are also sold, but their prices appear only once the term is chosen.
  • The free domain needs a plan of a year or longer, and both the domain and the mailboxes are free for the first year only.
  • Hosting can be refunded within 30 days, but a new domain registration only within 96 hours.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$10.99

A month to start

Hostinger is a paid product, starting at $10.99 per month at renewal (Premium), after a first 48 months for $143.52.

That's inside the cheaper quarter of hosts and a cent over the A line, and the same payment covers years three and four.
From our grade for value for money

  • Premium, 48 months

    $10.99

    per month at renewal, after a first term of 48 months

    3 websites, 20 GB SSD and weekly backups. The first 48 months cost $143.52 ($2.99 a month), paid upfront, then it renews at $10.99 a month.

  • Unlimited, 48 months

    $16.99

    per month at renewal, after a first term of 48 months

    Unlimited websites and mailboxes, 50 GB NVMe and daily backups. The first 48 months cost $191.52 ($3.99 a month), then $16.99 a month.

  • Cloud Startup, 48 months

    $25.99

    per month at renewal, after a first term of 48 months

    Cloud plan with dedicated resources, 100 GB NVMe and on-demand backups. The first 48 months cost $383.52 ($7.99 a month), then $25.99 a month.

Read from hostinger.com on Oct 17, 2026.

Ways to pay less

  • Other savings

    First 48 months of Premium for $143.52

    Premium costs $2.99 a month for the first 48 months, paid upfront, against a regular $575.52. Unlimited is $191.52 ($3.99 a month) and Cloud Startup $383.52 ($7.99).

    Stated on hostinger.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: Web

Shared, WordPress and cloud hosting run from its own hPanel dashboard. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, malware protection.

hPanel, one-click WordPress, malware scanning, free migrations and an AI agent are all there.
From our grade for features
hPanel dashboard
Hostinger's own control panel handles sites, domains, email, databases and backups, with one-click installs for WordPress and more than 100 other apps.
Domain, SSL and email included
Plans bought for a year or longer include a domain free for the first year. SSL is installed automatically, and mailboxes are free for the first year.
Backups by plan
Premium keeps weekly backups, Unlimited daily backups with restore, and Cloud Startup daily plus on-demand backups.
Malware scanning and blocking
Every plan scans for and removes harmful files, and lets you block visitors by IP address or country. Domain privacy hides your contact details.
Hostinger Agent and AI credits
An AI agent builds a WordPress site, sets up domains and DNS, and fixes common problems in chat. Plans come with a one-time gift of 250 to 1,000 AI credits.
Free site migrations
Hostinger moves existing sites over at no charge, with no limit on how many, either automatically from hPanel or with help from support.

Where it runs

  • Web

What it works with

  • WordPress
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Ads
  • Meta Pixel
  • Claude Code
  • Cursor

Hostinger is made by Hostinger, and has been around since 2004.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

7/21

Other web hosts it is graded above

Hostinger's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 7 of the 21 other web hosts we grade, and level with 7.

It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 12 of 21) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).

Its paid plans start at $10.99 a month, against a middle price of $10.99 for the category: 8 of the 16 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 22 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. Hostinger’s own letter is outlined.

  • BValue for moneyAbove 11 of 21
  • FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 21
  • CFeaturesAbove 0 of 21
  • CEase of useAbove 0 of 21
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 21

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 17 web hosts. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Hostinger is the marked dot.

C2.0B3.0A4.0$1$2$5$10$20$50More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessHostingerLiquid WebChemiCloudDreamHostKinstaWPX

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace Hostinger you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $131.88 a year.

What you could not

  • An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
  • It plugs into other products, WordPress, Google Analytics and Google Ads among them, and has an API.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.

What this rests on. Hostinger’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Bluehost, Namecheap, SiteGround, HostGator and Hostinger AI Builder

The 5 tools Hostinger is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

14

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Hostinger free?

No. Hostinger is a paid product, starting at $10.99 per month at renewal (Premium), after a first 48 months for $143.52.

How much does Hostinger cost?

Hostinger lists 3 plans. Premium, 48 months: $10.99 per month at renewal, after a first term of 48 months.

What platforms does Hostinger work on?

Hostinger is available on Web.

Does Hostinger offer any discounts?

Hostinger publicly lists the following: First 48 months of Premium for $143.52.

Does Hostinger have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Hostinger is listed for Web.

Does Hostinger have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Hostinger is listed for Web.

Is Hostinger open source?

Hostinger is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.

Does Hostinger have an API?

Yes. Hostinger offers a public API, according to its own site.

What does Hostinger integrate with?

Hostinger's listing names WordPress, Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Pixel, Claude Code and Cursor.

Who makes Hostinger?

Hostinger is made by Hostinger. It dates from 2004.

What are the alternatives to Hostinger?

The closest alternatives to Hostinger in our directory are Bluehost, Namecheap, SiteGround, HostGator and Hostinger AI Builder.

How does Hostinger compare with other web hosts?

Hostinger's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 7 of the 21 other web hosts we grade, and level with 7.

Is Hostinger good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Hostinger B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $10.99 a month, against a middle price of $10.99 for the category: 8 of the 16 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of Hostinger?

To replace Hostinger you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Hostinger’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Hostinger's own pages on 17 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Hostinger. Prices change, so check hostinger.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

1,880

Tools graded, in 47 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 1,880

    tools graded

  • 47

    categories

  • 426

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Hostinger: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hostinger

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See our other guides

The best-graded web hosts after Hostinger, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

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Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Hostinger’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Hostinger is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Hostinger. Prices and plans change: check hostinger.com before you buy.