Hostinger

The story of Hostinger is a classic tech evolution. It was originally founded in 2004 as "Hosting Media" by Arnas Stuopelis and his team in Kaunas, Lithuania. They were the ones who created the famous 000webhost, providing millions of people with free hosting for years. In 2011, they rebranded as Hostinger and shifted their focus toward high-quality, paid hosting that remained affordable.

In 2026, the company is led by CEO Daugirdas Jankus, with Arnas Stuopelis continuing as the Chairman of the Board. They’ve managed to stay independent and innovative, avoiding the "merger fatigue" that has ruined many other hosting brands. They are widely respected for their "customer-first" culture and their ability to roll out major features—like the AI Builder and the new Horizons app builder—much faster than their larger, slower competitors.

Hostinger is built for anyone who wants to get online fast and cheap. It is particularly popular with Beginners and Bloggers who don't want to spend hours learning how to configure a server. If you can use a smartphone, you can use Hostinger.

In 2026, it has also become a top choice for Small Business Owners. With their built-in eCommerce tools and AI content generators, a business can go from an idea to a live store in a single afternoon. It's also a great secondary choice for Developers who need a staging environment or a cheap VPS (Virtual Private Server) for testing new applications.

Hostinger is a jack-of-all-trades. Its most famous feature is the AI Website Builder. You simply describe your business, and the AI picks a layout, writes the copy, and finds royalty-free images for you. Beyond that, they offer Managed WordPress Hosting, which handles all your updates and security in the background so you don't have to worry about your site getting hacked or breaking after a core update.

In 2026, they’ve launched Hostinger Horizons, a unique tool that lets you build functional web applications using just text prompts. This means you can create tools, calculators, or simple SaaS prototypes without knowing how to code. They also provide free email addresses, weekly (or daily) backups, and a global CDN (Content Delivery Network) on their higher tiers to make sure your site stays reachable and fast at all times.

Hostinger’s pricing is all about long-term commitment. Their best rates are usually locked behind a 48-month plan. In 2026, the Single plan starts around $1.99 per month, though it’s very basic. Most people choose the Premium plan at $2.99 per month, which allows for 100 websites and gives you a free domain name for the first year.

If you need more speed, the Business plan costs $3.99 per month and includes daily backups and NVMe storage. For heavy-duty users, they offer Cloud Hosting starting at $7.99 per month, which gives you dedicated resources. Just keep in mind that if you choose to pay monthly without a long-term commitment, the price jumps significantly to around $11.99 - $13.99 per month.

The biggest thing to watch out for is the Renewal Price. That $2.99/mo rate is a promotional offer. Once your first term (e.g., 4 years) ends, the price will jump to its regular rate, which is usually around $10.99/mo. It’s still competitive, but it’s a big jump that catches some people off guard.

Also, pay attention to the Lack of Phone Support. If you're the type of person who needs to talk to someone on the phone when things go wrong, Hostinger might not be for you. They only offer 24/7 live chat and email support. While their chat team is usually very fast and helpful, some users still prefer the comfort of a phone call. Finally, remember that the "Single" plan does not include a free domain, so you'll have to pay an extra $10-$15 for that if you choose the cheapest tier.

If Hostinger doesn't feel like the right fit, you have plenty of options in 2026. Bluehost is their biggest rival for beginners and is officially recommended by WordPress, though it can be a bit pricier. If you want premium speed and top-tier support regardless of the cost, SiteGround is widely considered the gold standard, although their prices are much higher than Hostinger’s.

• • Namecheap: Better for domain names and has very transparent pricing with lower renewal rates.
• • DreamHost: Great for people who only want to pay month-to-month, as they offer some of the best monthly (no-contract) rates.

Is Hostinger actually free? No. Hostinger used to offer a free service via 000webhost, but that was shut down in 2024. Today, Hostinger is a strictly paid service, though their prices remain among the lowest in the industry.

Can I get a refund if I don't like it? Yes, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you cancel within the first month, you can get a full refund for the hosting, though domain registration fees are typically non-refundable.

Is Hostinger good for large online stores? It’s great for starting out, but if you have a massive store with thousands of products and heavy daily traffic, you will eventually need to upgrade to their "Cloud" or "VPS" plans to handle the load.

Do I get a free domain name? Yes, but only on the Premium and Business plans (if you pay for a year or more upfront). The "Single" plan does not include a free domain.