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How to Estimate Your Hosting Costs

Introduction

When choosing hosting, cost is an important factor. Beyond the advertised monthly price, there are hidden costs you should be aware of.

Main Costs

  1. Hosting Plan: Shared, VPS, or Dedicated.
  2. Domain Name: Renewed yearly.
  3. SSL Certificates: Sometimes free, but EV SSL costs extra.
  4. Backups & Security: Some hosts charge for premium features.
  5. Email Hosting: May be included, or billed separately.

How to Calculate

  • Add up the monthly hosting cost.
  • Include annual costs like domain renewal.
  • Consider scalability — higher traffic may require an upgrade.

Tips to Save Money

  • Start with VPS if you’re growing.
  • Use free SSL (Let’s Encrypt).
  • Compare renewal vs. first-year discount prices.

Conclusion

Don’t just look at the first invoice. Calculate the true yearly cost to avoid surprises and ensure you stay within budget.