Best Web Hosting For Your Money - January 2023
Introduction
Welcome to this month's guide on the cheapest hosting in South Africa. I've tried to make the guide as simple as possible but I know not everyone has the time to read everything that is presented here. The pricing tables are there for those who want to look at the packages in detail. If you just want to select a host on what I think is the best value for money then click on any of the winners.
The point of this guide is to find the cheapest hosting packages with the best value that's being offered by South African hosts.
There are 16 companies listed in this month’s post.
These links will take you to their sites. Some of them are affiliate links which means I will get a little bit of money if you sign up but don't worry you won't get charged more by following these links. In some cases they may actually lead to discounts.
- Afrihost
- Ample Hosting
- Cybersmart
- Domaincheap
- Domains.co.za
- Elitehost
- Frikkadel
- Gridhost
- Hetzner
- Host4Africa
- Hostking
- MI HOST
- MWEB
- Serve-Hosting
- Web Africa
- Webspacebar
I've removed @tlantic since their site now redirects to Vox Telecom and they aren't transparent with their prices.
Categories
Linux Shared Hosting-Cheapest of the cheap (R0 to R50)
-Medium sized website (R50 to R100)
-Large with fries (R100+)
Windows Shared Hosting
Final Word
Linux Shared Hosting
Cheapest of the cheap (R0 to R50)
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersmart-Pink | R0 PM | Unlimited | 600 MB | Yes | 5 | Yes | No | ? |
| Domaincheap-Free | R0 PM | Unlimited | 700 MB | Yes | 1 | No | No | ? |
| Webspacebar-50mb | R4.95 PM | Unlimited | 50 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| MI HOST-Bronze | R6 PM | Unlimited | 100 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Gridhost-Newbie | R8.95 PM | Unlimited | 70 MB | Yes | 15 | 2 | No | 1 |
| Ample Hosting-Zinc | R9 PM | 100 GB | 500 MB | No | 5 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Bronze Home | R9 PM | Unlimited | 300 MB | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Frikkadel-Just the Sauce | R9 PM | Unlimited | 50 MB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Hostking-Starter | R9 PM | Unlimited | 500 MB | Yes | 10 | Unlimited | Yes | 1 |
| Webspacebar-100mb | R9.95 PM | Unlimited | 100 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Host4Africa-Tungsten Hosting | R9.99 PM | Unlimited | 350 MB | No | 10 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Webspacebar-250mb | R12.95 PM | Unlimited | 250 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Webspacebar-500mb | R15.95 PM | Unlimited | 500 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Cybersmart-Blue | R18 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 25 | Yes | No | ? |
| Webspacebar-750mb | R18.95 PM | Unlimited | 750 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Web Africa-Starter | R19 PM | 750 MB | 750 MB | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Silver Home | R19 PM | Unlimited | 750 MB | Yes | 25 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Micro | R19 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | 20 | No | No | 1 |
| Webspacebar-1Gig | R21.95 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Domaincheap-Micro | R24 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 20 | 0 | Yes | ? |
| Hostking-Basic | R24 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | 25 | Unlimited | Yes | 1 |
| Webspacebar-2Gig | R24.95 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Gridhost-Blogger | R24.95 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 30 | 3 | Yes | 5 |
| Frikkadel-Standard Plate | R25 PM | Unlimited | 250 MB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| MWEB-Lite | R29 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 1 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Ample Hosting-Bronze | R29 PM | 200 GB | 5 GB | Yes | 15 | 5 | Yes | ? |
| Webspacebar-3Gig | R29.95 PM | Unlimited | 3 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Serve Hosting-Serve 1 | R29.99 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 10 |
| MI HOST-Silver | R31 PM | Unlimited | 500 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Webspacebar-4Gig | R34.95 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Elitehost-Unlimited | R35 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 1 |
| Cybersmart-Yellow | R38 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 75 | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Gold Home | R39 PM | Unlimited | 2 000 MB | Yes | 75 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Micro Pro | R39 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 50 | No | No | 1 |
| Web Africa-Standard | R39 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 15 | 1 | Yes | 2 |
| Webspacebar-5Gig | R39.95 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Host4Africa-Copper Hosting | R39.99 PM | Unlimited | 2.5 GB | No | 35 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Hostking-Standard | R42 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| MI HOST-Gold | R46 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Cybersmart-Green | R48 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 200 | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Platinum Home | R49 PM | Unlimited | 3 000 MB | Yes | 200 | 5 | Yes | 1 |
| Ample Hosting-Silver | R49 PM | 300 GB | 10 GB | Yes | 35 | 10 | Yes | ? |
| MWEB-Pro | R49 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 5 | 2 | Yes | 1 |
| Frikkadel-The Full Plate | R49 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Domains.co.za-Budget Plan | R49 PM | 5 GB | 2 GB | Yes | 25 | 5 | Yes | 1 |
| Domaincheap-Starter | R50 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 30 | 1 | Yes | ? |
It's probably going to take a long while before we get anything better for free. You must host your domain with them but you get some email addresses and a database so it's possible to run a WordPress website. I wouldn't use it for a company site since speeds aren't that great but for a personal site you can't beat the price.
The Most Space: Elitehost - UnlimitedIn theory MWEB offers the most space for the cheapest price but the rest of the features are so limited that I would rather recommend Elitehost.
Most Sites on a Single Package: Webspacebar - 50mbIf you have a 100 websites that are all very small then this is the deal for you. 50MB is quite small though and MI HOST is probably a more realistic package for only a few Rand more.
Medium sized website (R50 to R100)
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gridhost-Techie | R59.95 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | Unlimited | 10 | Yes | 10 |
| Gridhost-Corner Store | R59.95 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | Unlimited | 10 | Yes | 10 |
| Webspacebar-10Gig | R59.95 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Host4Africa-Silver Hosting | R59.99 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | No | 500 | 5 | Yes | 2 |
| Elitehost-Unlimited Plus | R60 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 3 |
| Afrihost-Bronze pro | R65 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 500 | 20 | Yes | 1 |
| Ample Hosting-Gold | R79 PM | 400 GB | 20 GB | Yes | 50 | 20 | Yes | ? |
| Ample Hosting-Gold | R79 PM | 200 GB | 20 GB | Yes | 25 | 10 | Yes | ? |
| Web Africa-Premium | R79 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | 100 | 100 | Yes | 100 |
| Elitehost-Business | R89.95 PM | 45 GB | 10 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 1 |
| Serve Hosting-Serve 2 | R89.99 PM | Unlimited | 3 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 25 |
| Cybersmart-Aqua | R98 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Silver Pro | R99 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 2000 | 100 | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Basic | R99 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | 100 | 5 | No | 10 |
| Domaincheap-Silver | R99 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 50 | 5 | Yes | ? |
| MI HOST-Elite | R99 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Domains.co.za-Value Plan | R99 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | 100 | 10 | Yes | 5 |
| MWEB-Ultra | R99 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 10 | 3 | Yes | 2 |
| Hostking-Business | R99 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Webspacebar-20Gig | R99.95 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Host4Africa-Gold Hosting | R99.99 PM | Unlimited | 12.5 GB | No | 2000 | 100 | Yes | 5 |
It's still the only package where everything is unlimited. If you don't want to be limited in any way then this is the deal for you.
Best deal for R100 or less Hostking - BusinessIn fact, for just under R100 per month you can have it all and I don't think it's beatable by anything else on this list. I will write more about why at the end of this guide.
Large with fries (R100+)
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ample Hosting-Platinum | R129 PM | 500 GB | 40 GB | Yes | 70 | 25 | Yes | ? |
| Ample Hosting-Platinum | R129 PM | 400 GB | 40 GB | Yes | 75 | 50 | Yes | ? |
| Gridhost-Guru | R129.95 PM | Unlimited | 15 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 30 |
| Gridhost-Shopping Centre | R129.95 PM | Unlimited | 15 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 30 |
| Elitehost-Unlimited Pro | R140 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 7 |
| Domains.co.za-Pro Plan | R149 PM | Unlimited | 15 GB | Yes | 200 | 15 | Yes | 10 |
| Hetzner-Standard | R149 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 250 | 10 | No | 25 |
| Frikkadel-All You Can Eat Buffet | R149 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Serve Hosting-Serve 3 | R149.99 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 50 |
| Host4Africa-Platinum Hosting | R159.99 PM | Unlimited | 25 GB | No | 5000 | 200 | Yes | 10 |
| Afrihost-Gold Pro | R165 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 5000 | 200 | Yes | 1 |
| Elitehost-Business Plus | R169.95 PM | 90 GB | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 3 |
| Domaincheap-Gold | R199 PM | Unlimited | 50 GB | Yes | 100 | 10 | Yes | ? |
| Domains.co.za-Expert Plan | R199 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 500 | 20 | Yes | 20 |
| Ample Hosting-Diamond | R199 PM | 600 GB | 60 GB | Yes | 200 | 100 | Yes | ? |
| Web Africa-Premium Plus | R199 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Hetzner-Advanced | R279 PM | Unlimited | 15 GB | Yes | 500 | 20 | No | 50 |
| Elitehost-Business Pro | R319.95 PM | 180 GB | 40 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 7 |
| Host4Africa-Rhodium Hosting | R389.99 PM | Unlimited | 60 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 25 |
| Afrihost-Platinum Pro | R399 PM | Unlimited | 50 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Master | R439 PM | 100 GB / Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 1000 | 40 | No | 75 |
Some people may prefer to have their sites hosted overseas. In that case Frikkadel is ideal because you can deal with someone locally while having unlimited hosting internationally.
Unlimited Everything Local (Part 2): Web Africa - Premium PlusInterestingly enough of all the affiliate links this one gets signed up for the most. People trust the Web Africa brand and it being one of the biggest hosts in South Africa the prices are actually very good.
Windows Shared Hosting
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostking-Starter | R9 PM | Unlimited | 500 MB | Yes | 10 | Unlimited | Yes | 1 |
| Cybersmart-Blue | R18 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 25 | Yes | No | ? |
| Hostking-Basic | R24 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | 25 | Unlimited | Yes | 1 |
| MWEB-Lite | R29 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 1 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Web Africa-Starter | R29 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | 5 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Bronze Home | R29 PM | Unlimited | 300 MB | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Cybersmart-Yellow | R38 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 75 | Yes | No | ? |
| Hostking-Standard | R42 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Cybersmart-Green | R48 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 200 | Yes | No | ? |
| MWEB-Pro | R49 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 5 | 2 | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Silver Home | R59 PM | Unlimited | 750 MB | Yes | 25 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Web Africa-Premium | R79 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | 100 | 100 | Yes | 100 |
| Cybersmart-Aqua | R98 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | No | ? |
| MWEB-Ultra | R99 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 10 | 3 | Yes | 2 |
| Afrihost-Gold Home | R99 PM | Unlimited | 2 000 MB | Yes | 75 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Hostking-Business | R99 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Afrihost-Platinum Home | R149 PM | Unlimited | 3 000 MB | Yes | 200 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Bronze Pro | R199 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 500 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Web Africa-Premium Plus | R199 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Afrihost-Silver Pro | R249 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 2000 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Gold Pro | R349 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 5000 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Platinum Pro | R599 PM | Unlimited | 50 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | 1 |
At under R10 a month plus a free domain this is ridiculously good value for money. If you want to host on Windows then you won't get cheaper than this.
Best Windows Hosting Deal: Hostking - StandardYou are only limited by space: 2GB. For R42 per month you can host a lot of Windows based websites and these days that can be anything from Wordpress to .NET MVC web apps.
Final Word
As this site is starting to get more traffic I'm getting more and more queries as to where people should host. I've had my favourite hosts and pointed people to them. Recently though I've been very impressed with Hostking. Their prices make them the winners of many of my monthly awards but not only that. They also have live support, friendly staff and I know that if I send people to them they will be helped properly. Hostking has a site builder too so even people who have never created a website can easily make one. So yes, they get my vote this month.
If you have any questions or comments you are welcome to either comment at the bottom of this article or to contact me via the Contact Me page. Please note that I reply via my personal email address and not a hostingweb email.