The Namecheap Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Namecheap 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.
Namecheap
The Insider’s Guide
Domain registrar's cPanel shared hosting, billed monthly or yearly
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from Namecheap’s own pages.
Made by Namecheap, Inc. · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Namecheap’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Namecheap’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
2.2
GPA, above 15 of the 21 other web hosts we grade
Namecheap is best known as a domain registrar and also sells cPanel shared hosting in three Stellar plans, alongside managed WordPress, reseller, VPS and dedicated hosting. Shared plans can be paid monthly, yearly or every two years, and include a free SSL for each domain's first year, malware scanning and AI site-building tools.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Namecheap, taken from its own pages and our grades.
cPanel and Softaculous are familiar to many, but there's a fair bit to learn if you're new to them.
- 1
Best for cheap cPanel hosting beside your domains
It's cPanel with Softaculous, so it'll feel familiar to plenty of people.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.29 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $5.88 per month (Stellar), or $102.88 every 2 years, at renewal rates.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day trial of yearly Stellar packages, after which the first year is charged at the after-trial price
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
cPanel with Softaculous
Plans are run from cPanel, with the Softaculous installer for WordPress and more than 200 other scripts, plus email, file, database and DNS tools.
- 6
AI site builders
Sitejet in cPanel can generate a one-page site from a few business details, and Extendify adds AI site setup and writing help to new WordPress installs.
- 7
Free SSL for the first year
Each domain or subdomain on a shared account gets a single-domain SSL certificate free for a year, issued and installed automatically, up to 50 per account.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 15 of 21
That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Namecheap 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.
Namecheap at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $5.88 per month (Stellar), or $102.88 every 2 years, at renewal rates
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day trial of yearly Stellar packages, after which the first year is charged at the after-trial price
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Namecheap, Inc., since 2001
- Category
- Web Hosting
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for cheap cPanel hosting beside your domains
Namecheap's Stellar hosting is cheap even at full price: we could only read the renewal rates, and two years still come to $102.88. It's cPanel with Softaculous, so it'll feel familiar to plenty of people. The catches are on the entry plan: 3 websites, 20 GB, and backups you make yourself.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Only renewal rates could be read, and Stellar on a 2-year term is still $102.88, about $4.29 a month over two years, under the $5.97 an A needs. Any first-term discount would only bring that down. Monthly is $5.88. |
| Free plan and trial | D | A 30-day trial on yearly Stellar packages, which turns into a paid first year at the after-trial price when it ends. That makes it a trial you sign up to pay for, not a free plan. |
| Features | C | cPanel with Softaculous for 200+ apps, AI site builders, malware scanning and 2FA. The gaps are on Stellar: manual backups only, 3 websites and 30 mailboxes, and the free SSL lasts a year per domain. |
| Ease of use | C | No app store rating to go on. cPanel and Softaculous are familiar to many, but there's a fair bit to learn if you're new to them. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A web dashboard only. The named integrations are installers and builders, WordPress, Softaculous, Sitejet and Extendify, with no API on record. |
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 Namecheap is for
- Great if your domains already live at Namecheap
- Handy when you want to pay month to month at a low rate
- Good for people who already know their way around cPanel
Who it is not for
- Tight if you need more than 3 sites or automatic backups, which start on Stellar Plus
- Pricey if you keep the free SSL past year one, as it's a paid renewal after that
- Skip it if you want to try it without committing, as the trial turns into a paid year
Good to know
Good for
- People who already keep their domains at Namecheap
- Small sites that want to pay month to month at a low rate
- Owners who prefer cPanel and Softaculous to a custom dashboard
Worth knowing
- Only the renewal rates could be read: the shared hosting page, which shows first-term discounts and trial terms, answered our readers with a bot check.
- The free SSL lasts one year per domain; keeping it after that is a paid renewal.
- Stellar stops at 3 websites, 30 mailboxes and 20 GB; unlimited sites and automatic backups need Stellar Plus or Business.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee covers first-time hosting accounts only, and cPanel or Softaculous licenses are not refunded.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.29
A month to start
Namecheap is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $5.88 per month (Stellar), or $102.88 every 2 years, at renewal rates.
Any first-term discount would only bring that down.
Stellar, 1 month
$5.88
per month, the renewal rate
3 websites, 20 GB SSD and 30 mailboxes. The renewal rate since May 19, 2026; first-term discounts were not readable.
Stellar, 1 year
$55.88
per year, the renewal rate
The same Stellar plan billed yearly. A 30-day trial is offered on yearly packages.
Stellar, 2 years
$102.88
every 2 years, the renewal rate
The same Stellar plan billed every two years, the lowest rate for it.
Stellar Plus, 2 years
$146.44
every 2 years, the renewal rate
Unlimited websites and mailboxes, unmetered SSD storage and AutoBackup. Also $7.88 a month or $85.44 a year.
Stellar Business, 2 years
$251.88
every 2 years, the renewal rate
50 GB SSD, fewer users per server, a choice of US, UK, EU or Singapore servers. Also $11.88 a month or $128.88 a year.
Trying it first
30-day trial of yearly Stellar packages, after which the first year is charged at the after-trial price
Read from namecheap.com on Oct 17, 2026.
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
Domain registrar's cPanel shared hosting, billed monthly or yearly. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, malware protection, managed WordPress.
The named integrations are installers and builders, WordPress, Softaculous, Sitejet and Extendify, with no API on record.
- cPanel with Softaculous
- Plans are run from cPanel, with the Softaculous installer for WordPress and more than 200 other scripts, plus email, file, database and DNS tools.
- AI site builders
- Sitejet in cPanel can generate a one-page site from a few business details, and Extendify adds AI site setup and writing help to new WordPress installs.
- Free SSL for the first year
- Each domain or subdomain on a shared account gets a single-domain SSL certificate free for a year, issued and installed automatically, up to 50 per account.
- Malware scanning and 2FA
- cPanel includes ImunifyAV or Imunify360 malware scanning, ModSecurity and two-factor authentication.
- AutoBackup
- Stellar Plus and Stellar Business restore from automatic backups, with unlimited backup storage on Business. Stellar has manual backups only.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- WordPress
- Softaculous
- Sitejet
- Extendify
Namecheap is made by Namecheap, Inc., and has been around since 2001.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
15/21
Other web hosts it is graded above
Namecheap's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 15 of the 21 other web hosts we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 16 of 21) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 19).
Its paid plans start at $4.29 a month, against a middle price of $10.99 for the category: 7 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 22 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. Namecheap’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 16 of 21
- DFree plan and trialAbove 19 of 21
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 21
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 21
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Namecheap is the marked dot.
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 Namecheap 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 is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.2 is higher than 15 of the 21 other web hosts we grade. It costs $51.44 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers kept running, patched and backed up for you.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Namecheap’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
Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, DreamHost and IONOS
The 5 tools Namecheap is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Hostinger
From $10.99/mo
Shared, WordPress and cloud hosting run from its own hPanel dashboard.
- Namecheap also covers managed WordPress.
- 1.6GPA
Bluehost
Paid
- 1.6GPA
HostGator
Paid
Shared and WordPress hosting with malware scanning and a free domain.
- 2.2GPA
DreamHost
From $7.99/mo
Independent shared and WordPress host with monthly or multi-year terms.
- Namecheap also covers malware protection.
- 1.8GPA
IONOS
From $8/mo
Shared and WordPress hosting with a domain, wildcard SSL and email.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Namecheap free?
No, Namecheap is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day trial of yearly Stellar packages, after which the first year is charged at the after-trial price.
How much does Namecheap cost?
Namecheap lists 5 plans. Stellar, 1 month: $5.88 per month, the renewal rate.
What platforms does Namecheap work on?
Namecheap is available on Web.
Does Namecheap have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Namecheap is listed for Web.
Does Namecheap have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Namecheap is listed for Web.
Is Namecheap open source?
Namecheap is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
What does Namecheap integrate with?
Namecheap's listing names WordPress, Softaculous, Sitejet and Extendify.
Who makes Namecheap?
Namecheap is made by Namecheap, Inc. It dates from 2001.
What are the alternatives to Namecheap?
The closest alternatives to Namecheap in our directory are Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, DreamHost and IONOS.
How does Namecheap compare with other web hosts?
Namecheap's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 15 of the 21 other web hosts we grade, and level with 6.
Is Namecheap good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Namecheap A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.29 a month, against a middle price of $10.99 for the category: 7 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Namecheap?
To replace Namecheap 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 Namecheap’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 Namecheap's own pages on 17 October 2026. Only its renewal rates were readable. 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 Namecheap, Inc. Prices change, so check namecheap.com before you buy.
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/10780/22/shared-hosting-pricing-changes-may-2026/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/10112/22/shared-hosting-plans-comparison/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9347/22/benefits-of-stellar-business-hosting-packages/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/519/22/do-you-offer-a-free-trial-period-for-hosting/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/134/22/what-is-your-moneyback-policy/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/177/27/shared-hosting-getting-started/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9927/2218/1year-free-cpanel-standard-ssl-certificate-offer/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/132/22/do-you-offer-any-sitebuilding-software/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/10714/2182/what-is-sitejet-builder-and-how-to-use-it/
- namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/10649/2187/extendify-overview/
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
- Namecheap, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/namecheap
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
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, "Namecheap: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/namecheap
Know someone choosing between web hosts?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/namecheap/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded web hosts after Namecheap, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Web Hosting Insider's GuideEvery one of the 22 web hosts we grade, compared
- ChemiCloud Insider's GuideShared cPanel hosting and managed WordPress on LiteSpeed servers2.2 GPA
- DreamHost Insider's GuideIndependent shared and WordPress host with monthly or multi-year terms2.2 GPA
- FastComet Insider's GuidecPanel shared and WordPress hosting with first-term discounts2.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Namecheap’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. Namecheap is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Namecheap, Inc. Prices and plans change: check namecheap.com before you buy.