Web hosting · head to head
DreamHost vs HostGator
What each costs, whether there's a free plan, and what each is best for, from prices checked on their own sites.
| Fact |  DreamHost |  HostGator |
|---|---|---|
| From | $2.89/mo | $3.75/mo |
| Renews at | $10.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Free plan | No · No free plan or trial; 30-day money-back guarantee | No · No free plan or trial; 30-day money-back guarantee (not on monthly terms) |
| Best for | Several WordPress sites without a long prepay | Many small sites on a 3-year budget |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| Website | Visit | Visit |
The difference in short
- DreamHost costs less to start: $2.89/mo against $3.75/mo for HostGator.
- After the first term, DreamHost's cheapest plan renews at $10.99/mo and HostGator's at $10.99/mo.
- Neither has a free plan; you pay from the start.
- DreamHost is best for several WordPress sites without a long prepay; HostGator for many small sites on a 3-year budget.
DreamHost pricing
All about DreamHost| Plan | Price | Renews at | Specs / includes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Hosting Launch | $2.89/mo | $10.99/mo | 25 GB NVMe SSD | 1-year term (first-year price). 4-year term: $1.99/mo, then $7.99/mo. Free domain for 1 year on yearly or longer plans. Email is free for 3 months only. |
| Web Hosting Growth | $3.99/mo | $12.99/mo | 50 GB NVMe SSD | 1-year term (first-year price). Labelled 'Most popular'. 4-year term: $3.49/mo, then $8.99/mo. |
| Web Hosting Scale | $9.99/mo | $25.99/mo | 100 GB NVMe SSD | 1-year term (first-year price). 4-year term: $7.99/mo, then $19.99/mo. |
HostGator pricing
All about HostGator| Plan | Price | Renews at | Specs / includes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling | $3.75/mo | $10.99/mo | 10 GB SSD | 36-month term, $135.00 upfront. 12-month term: $4.21/mo ($50.49). Monthly: $12.95. Free domain for the first year on 12-month or longer terms. |
| Baby | $4.50/mo | $16.49/mo | 20 GB SSD | 36-month term, $162.00 upfront. Labelled 'Recommended'. 12-month term: $5.10/mo ($61.20). Monthly: $13.95. |
| Business | $6.25/mo | $21.99/mo | 50 GB SSD | 36-month term, $225.00 upfront. 12-month term: $7.01/mo ($84.15). Monthly: $18.95. Free domain privacy for the first year. |
| Pro | $13.95/mo | $29.69/mo | 100 GB SSD | 36-month term, $502.20 upfront. 12-month term: $16.11/mo ($193.29). Monthly: $34.99. |
What's good, and what to watch for
DreamHost
- Launch allows 25 websites with 25 GB NVMe storage and unmetered bandwidth
- Daily automated backups and unlimited free SSL certificates
- Free domain for 1 year on annual or longer plans
- Renews at $10.99/month after the first year
- Email (20 mailboxes on Launch) is free for 3 months only, then billed separately
HostGator
- Hatchling allows 10 websites with 10 GB SSD storage and unmetered bandwidth
- Free domain for the first year on 12- to 36-month terms, plus free SSL
- Free Cloudflare CDN, malware scanning, a firewall and DDoS protection
- The $3.75 price needs a 36-month prepay and renews at $10.99/month
- Chat-only support on Hatchling, and a $17.99 domain fee if you cancel in the first year
Other web hosting options
Cheapest first where the prices compare.
Hosting.com
Namecheap
GreenGeeks
HostingerFAQ
Which is cheaper, DreamHost or HostGator?
DreamHost costs less to start: $2.89/mo against $3.75/mo for HostGator. Prices checked Oct 18, 2026 on each company's own site.
Do DreamHost and HostGator have a free plan?
DreamHost: No. 30-day money-back guarantee. HostGator: No. 30-day money-back guarantee; not for monthly terms or renewals.
What else should I compare with DreamHost and HostGator?
Other web hosting options we've checked: Hosting.com ($1.99/mo), Namecheap ($2.28/mo), GreenGeeks ($2.95/mo), Hostinger ($2.99/mo).
Keep comparing
- DreamHost: pricing, free plan and alternatives
- HostGator: pricing, free plan and alternatives
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- HostGator vs Hosting.com
Built from the prices and facts we checked on each company's own site. We haven't tested either hands-on.How we work