Why the renewal price is the only price that matters

Hosting is commonly sold at $2–4 a month for a 48-month prepay, renewing at $9–17 a month. Neither number is a lie, but only the second one is your actual cost of staying.

The arithmetic

• Multiply the RENEWAL price by the years you will stay, not the intro price.
• Add the lock-in: leaving a 48-month prepay early usually forfeits the remainder.
• Check what the intro excludes — free domain (first year only?), mailboxes (first year?), SSL (always free here).

Our position

One monthly price, no lock-in, renewal at the same price, 30 days notice of any change. It will never win a 'cheapest first year' comparison, and that is deliberate — the cheapest first year is how the most expensive fourth year happens.