The Best Web Hosting in the UK Under £5: Your 2025 Step-by-Step Guide
Launching a website is more accessible than ever, but with so many options, choosing the right web host can feel overwhelming. If you’re on a tight budget, you’re in luck. You can get professional, reliable, and fast web hosting in the UK without breaking the bank.
In this definitive guide, we’ll break down the absolute best web hosting options available for under £5 per month in 2025. We’ll compare features, performance, and hidden costs, and then walk you through the exact steps to get your website online.
Why Choose UK-Based Web Hosting?
Before we dive in, let’s address a key question: why does hosting location matter?
- Faster Loading Speeds: If your target audience is primarily in the UK, having your server located there reduces physical distance, resulting in quicker page load times.
- Improved SEO: Search engines like Google consider site speed and local server location as ranking factors. A UK server can give you a slight SEO boost for local searches.
- Data Compliance: Hosting data within the UK ensures it falls under UK jurisdiction (like the UK GDPR), which can simplify compliance for businesses.
The Best UK Web Hosting Under £5/Month (2025 Edition)
After extensive testing and research, these providers offer the best value for money while keeping costs under our £5 threshold. Note that these prices are usually for initial term plans; renewal prices are higher.
1. IONOS by 1&1
Best for Business Features & Value
IONOS packs an incredible number of features into its starter plan, making it arguably the best value proposition on the market.
- Price: £1.00/mo for the first 6 months, then £6.00/mo.
- Free Domain: Yes, for the first year.
- Websites: 1 website.
- SSD Storage: 10 GB.
- Key Features: Free professional email address for 1 year, free Wildcard SSL certificate, and a surprisingly powerful website builder.
- Why we love it: The inclusion of a free email account is a huge cost saver. Their infrastructure is robust and reliable for the price.
- Best for: Small businesses, freelancers, and anyone who needs a professional email address from day one.
- Visit IONOS
2. Hostinger
Best Overall Performance & Price Balance
Hostinger consistently ranks as a top budget host globally. Their custom control panel is sleek and user-friendly, and their performance is excellent for the price.
- Price: £1.99/mo for a 48-month term (Single Shared Hosting). Renews at £3.99/mo.
- Free Domain: Yes, with annual plans.
- Websites: 1 website.
- SSD Storage: 50 GB.
- Key Features: User-friendly hPanel, free SSL certificate, weekly backups, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
- Why we love it: Unbeatable long-term price after renewal. The resources (50GB SSD, 100 GB bandwidth) are very generous for a starter plan.
- Best for: Beginners, bloggers, and developers looking for a powerful yet affordable foundation.
- Visit Hostinger
3. ScalaHosting
Best for Security & Customer Support
ScalaHosting is a rising star known for its innovative SShield security system and fantastic, responsive customer support.
- Price: £3.95/mo (Mini Plan) with a 36-month term.
- Free Domain: Yes, for the first year.
- Websites: 1 website.
- SSD Storage: 10 GB.
- Key Features: Free SShield security (real-time monitoring and blocking), free SSL, free CDN, and free migration service.
- Why we love it: Their proprietary security tech is usually found on much more expensive plans. The peace of mind and top-tier support are worth every penny.
- Best for: Users who prioritize security and want excellent, knowledgeable support.
- Visit ScalaHosting
4. Krystal Hosting
Best UK-Based & Eco-Friendly Provider
Krystal is a fantastic independent UK host powered by 100% renewable energy. They are known for their transparency, great support, and strong principles.
- Price: £5.00/mo exactly (Spark Plan – billed annually at £60/yr).
- Free Domain: No, but they offer a free domain-based email address.
- Websites: 1 website.
- SSD Storage: 10 GB.
- Key Features: UK-based support, 100% green energy, free SSL, and no sneaky price hikes on renewal.
- Why we love it: What you see is what you get. The price is honest and renewable. You’re supporting a great British company that cares about the planet.
- Best for: Eco-conscious users and those who want to support an independent UK business with top-notch support.
- Visit Krystal
Comparison Table: UK Hosting Under £5/Month
| Feature | IONOS | Hostinger | ScalaHosting | Krystal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro Price | £1.00/mo (6 mos) | £1.99/mo (48 mos) | £3.95/mo (36 mos) | £5.00/mo (annual) |
| Renewal Price | ~£6.00/mo | ~£3.99/mo | ~£5.95/mo | £5.00/mo |
| Free Domain | Yes (1st yr) | Yes | Yes (1st yr) | No |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 10 GB SSD | 50 GB SSD | 10 GB SSD | 10 GB SSD |
| Free (1st yr) | Paid Add-on | Unlimited | Free | |
| Key Strength | Business Features | Price & Resources | Security & Support | UK Based & Green |
| Link | Sign Up | Sign Up | Sign Up | Sign Up |
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Your Website Online in 2025
Follow these steps to go from zero to online in under 30 minutes.
Step 1: Choose Your Hosting Plan
Based on the comparison above, select the provider that best fits your needs.
- Need the absolute cheapest? Go with Hostinger.
- Need a business email included? IONOS is your winner.
- Value security and support? Choose ScalaHosting.
- Want a principled UK host? Krystal is the one.
Click the “Get Started” or “Order Now” button on your chosen provider’s website.
Step 2: Select Your Plan and Domain Name
- Select the Plan: Choose the specific plan we highlighted (e.g., Hostinger’s Single Shared Hosting).
- Choose a Domain: You’ll be prompted to register a new domain name (e.g.,
yourname.co.uk). Use the free offer if available. Pick a name that is short, memorable, and relevant to your site.
Step 3: Create Your Account and Checkout
- Create an Account: Enter your personal details and create a secure password for your hosting client area.
- Review the Order: This is a crucial step. Look at the subscription term. Longer terms (e.g., 48 months) lock in the low introductory price for longer, offering better value.
- Add Extras: Most hosts will upsell additional services like SiteLock security or automated backups. For a brand-new site, you can deselect these extras for now. You can always add them later.
- Enter Payment Details: Complete your purchase with a debit/credit card or PayPal.
Step 4: Install WordPress (or Another Platform)
Most hosts make this incredibly easy with a one-click installer.
- Log in to your hosting account’s control panel (cPanel, hPanel, etc.).
- Find the “WordPress” or “Softaculous Apps Installer” icon.
- Click it and follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to:
- Choose a domain to install it on.
- Set your admin username and password (make it strong!).
- Enter your site name and description.
Step 5: Build Your Website and Go Live!
- Once installed, go to
yoursite.com/wp-adminand log in with your new admin details. - You’ll be in the WordPress dashboard. This is your website’s command centre.
- Choose a Theme: Go to
Appearance > Themesto browse and install a free theme. Popular starters include Astra, Kadence, or Twenty-Twenty-Four. - Create Pages: Go to
Pages > Add Newto create essential pages like Home, About, Contact. - Install Plugins: Go to
Plugins > Add Newto extend functionality. Essential starter plugins include:- Yoast SEO: Helps with search engine optimization.
- Wordfence Security: Adds a layer of security.
- Contact Form 7: Creates simple contact forms.
That’s it! You’ve successfully chosen a budget-friendly UK host and published your website.
Final Verdict and Recommendation
While all four hosts are excellent choices, our top pick for 2025 is Hostinger. It strikes the perfect balance between an unbeatable long-term price, generous resources, and modern, easy-to-use technology. It’s the ideal launchpad for anyone serious about starting a website without a significant initial investment.
Ready to get started?
👉 Check out Hostinger’s latest deals here
Have a slightly higher budget for unmatched UK support?
👉 Explore Krystal’s eco-friendly hosting here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is web hosting under £5 per month actually any good?
Yes, absolutely. The providers on this list offer professional-grade hosting with essential features like SSD storage, free SSL certificates, and reliable uptime. The low introductory price is a marketing strategy to attract new customers. While these plans are shared hosting (meaning your site shares server resources with others), they are more than powerful enough for new blogs, small business websites, and portfolios. The key is to choose a reputable host like the ones we’ve recommended, as they invest in quality infrastructure even for their budget plans.
2. What’s the catch with these low introductory prices?
The primary “catch” is that the rock-bottom price (e.g., £1.99/mo) is almost always for an initial term, typically 12 to 48 months. When the time comes to renew, the price will revert to the standard, higher rate. This is a standard industry practice. Always check the renewal price before purchasing. The other common “catch” is that the cheapest plan is usually for a single website with limited resources, which is fine for starters but may require an upgrade as your site grows.
3. Why is a free SSL certificate important, and do I need one?
An SSL certificate is essential. It encrypts data between your visitor’s browser and your website, protecting sensitive information like login details and payment info. Crucially, Google Chrome and other browsers mark sites without SSL as “Not Secure,” which scares visitors away and hurts your credibility. Furthermore, SSL is a confirmed ranking factor for Google Search. All the hosts we recommend provide a free SSL certificate, so you should never have to pay extra for this basic security feature.
4. Can I upgrade my plan later if my website grows?
Yes, and this is a standard process with all reputable hosting companies. If your website starts getting more traffic and needs more power, storage, or the ability to host multiple sites, you can easily upgrade your plan within the same hosting provider. This process, often called a “scale-up” or “migratory upgrade,” is usually seamless and handled by their support team with minimal to no downtime for your website.
5. What is the difference between a domain name and web hosting?
This is a fundamental distinction:
- A Domain Name is your website’s address on the internet (e.g.,
www.mybusiness.co.uk). You pay a yearly fee to a domain registrar to own that address. - Web Hosting is the rented space on a physical server where your website’s files, data, and content are stored. It’s the plot of land where your website house is built.
