Direct answer: True 3-Year Cost = (entry monthly price × 12) + (renewal monthly price × 24). That is twelve months on the promotional rate plus twenty-four months on the renewal rate — the formula published in our dataset and methodology.
Worked example from hosting-comparison-2026.json (verified 12 June 2026): Hostinger at $2.99/mo entry and $9.99/mo renewal is (2.99 × 12) + (9.99 × 24) = $276. SiteGround at $3.99/mo / $14.99/mo becomes $408. Bluehost at $2.95/mo / $11.99/mo becomes $323. DreamHost at $2.59/mo / $4.95/mo becomes $150. Kinsta stays flat at $35/mo, so the same formula yields $1,260. Use those totals when you compare hosts — not the first invoice alone. Affiliate links are not active on this site.
The formula ignores domain markups, email seats, and checkout upsells on purpose: those vary by cart. What it does capture is the plan's published entry and renewal, which is enough to stop most teaser-ranking mistakes. After you compute the number, run the match engine so support and performance constraints still matter beside the spreadsheet.
Data verified 12 June 2026. Scores follow the published methodology. Paid placement is not accepted, and affiliate links are not active.
true_3yr_cost_formula field in the JSON.| Provider | Arithmetic | Published True 3-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | (2.99 × 12) + (9.99 × 24) | $276 |
| SiteGround | (3.99 × 12) + (14.99 × 24) | $408 |
| Bluehost | (2.95 × 12) + (11.99 × 24) | $323 |
| DreamHost | (2.59 × 12) + (4.95 × 24) | $150 |
| Kinsta | (35 × 12) + (35 × 24) | $1,260 |
For why the second number exists at all, read why hosting renewal prices jump. For whether the cheapest sticker survives year two, read does cheapest hosting cost more after year one. The sortable table for all 22 providers lives on hosting renewal price comparison.
Because the intro rate typically covers the first billed year (or promo term). Years two and three are usually renewal years. Our published formula matches that pattern across the 22-provider file.
Then entry × 12 is enough for your horizon. Most buyers who care about renewals plan to keep the site longer — that is when True 3-Year Cost matters.
No. The JSON field true_3yr_cost_usd is plan hosting only: entry and renewal monthly rates. Domains, email seats, and upsells are outside that field.
In /data/hosting-comparison-2026.json and on the renewal price comparison page. Scores and prices on this page are copied from that file only.