Screenshot of Namecheap's homepage, captured for this review.
Namecheap Review
Namecheap is what budget hosting should look like: tiny intro prices that renew at prices which are still tiny. You give up some speed and phone support, and backups need a step up to Stellar Plus.
Review last updated 2026-08-19 · How we rate hosts
Scorecard
Pros
- Among the lowest real long-term prices in shared hosting
- Renewal rates stay in single digits, unlike most promo-driven hosts
- Real cPanel with generous email allowances
- Free migration with a modest downtime promise
- UK and Netherlands datacenter options for European audiences
Cons
- No automatic backups on the cheapest plan
- No phone support
- Performance is decent, not class-leading
Namecheap plans & pricing
Promotional monthly rates as of August 19, 2026; most require the listed prepaid term and renew at the higher rate shown. Confirm on Namecheap's site before buying.
| Plan | Intro price | Renews at | Storage | Sites | Bandwidth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StellarShared Hosting | $1.98/mo12 mo prepay | $3.88/mo | 20 GB SSD | 3 | unmetered | Automatic backups not included on the base Stellar plan |
| Stellar PlusShared Hosting | $2.98/mo12 mo prepay | $6.88/mo | Unmetered SSD | Unlimited | unmetered | |
| Stellar BusinessShared Hosting | $4.98/mo12 mo prepay | $10.88/mo | 50 GB SSD | Unlimited | unmetered |
Our Namecheap review
Namecheap made its name selling domains without the upsell circus, and its shared hosting follows the same philosophy: the Stellar plan starts at $1.98/mo and renews at $3.88/mo, a renewal number most competitors cannot touch even at intro pricing.
That renewal honesty is the headline. After Namecheap's May 2026 price adjustment, Stellar Plus renews at $6.88/mo and Stellar Business at $10.88/mo. Where Newfold brands triple your bill in year two, Namecheap roughly doubles a very small number, and the three-year total cost of ownership is among the lowest anywhere.
You get standard cPanel, unmetered bandwidth, free SSL and surprisingly generous email allowances (30 mailboxes even on Stellar). The significant gap is backups: the base plan has no automatic backup service, so treat Stellar Plus, which adds twice-weekly AutoBackup, as the real starting point for anything you care about.
Performance from the Phoenix, UK and Netherlands datacenters is respectable for the price but a step behind LiteSpeed-based rivals like Hostinger or Verpex. For low-traffic sites, blogs and side projects, it is more than enough.
Support is 24/7 live chat and tickets. It is competent and reasonably fast, but there is no phone option, and complex issues can take a few exchanges. Note that Namecheap's site blocks automated fetchers, so pricing for this review was verified through Namecheap's own knowledge base announcement and independent trackers.
If you want the cheapest sustainable hosting bill and can live without hand-holding, Namecheap is arguably the best pure value in this entire guide.
Notable facts
- Manages over 10 million domains
- Renewal prices increased for the first time in years in May 2026
- Independent and founder-led since 2000
At a glance
| Founded | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona, US |
| Data centers | United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands |
| Hosting types | Shared Hosting |
| Starting price | $1.98/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% |
| Support | chat, tickets, knowledge-base (24/7) |
| Free migration | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Does Namecheap include backups?
Stellar Plus and Stellar Business include AutoBackup. The base Stellar plan does not, so budget the upgrade if your site matters.
Can I host in Europe with Namecheap?
Yes - you can choose UK or Netherlands datacenters at signup (a small monthly surcharge applies on some plans).
Bottom line
Namecheap is what budget hosting should look like: tiny intro prices that renew at prices which are still tiny. You give up some speed and phone support, and backups need a step up to Stellar Plus.
Check current Namecheap pricing →Links to Namecheap are affiliate links - HostProdigy may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
