The best cheap Linux hosting providers offer budget-friendly and reliable plans powered by servers running the Linux operating system (OS). The top recommended cheap Linux hosting provider is Hostinger. It stands out with its support for multiple Linux distributions, managed and unmanaged plans, and a global network of 9 data centers.
Cheap Linux hosting refers to a subset of Linux-based hosting that costs $5 or less per month. Linux hosting supports open-source Linux distributions like Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian. This price range covers 4 types of cheap Linux hosting: shared, VPS (Virtual Private Server), dedicated, and cloud hosting.
Linux hosting is inherently more affordable than Windows hosting because the OS is open-source and free to use. Providers reduce costs further by offering unmanaged plans or applying significant introductory discounts. 3 limitations of cheap Linux hosting are restricted server resources, limited advanced features, and limited tech support. The cPanel control panel is typically included for free. Cheap Linux shared hosting costs under $5 per month and is the most affordable and beginner-friendly variant. Cheap Linux VPS hosting suits more resource-hungry requirements.
Top Cheap Linux Hosting
- Hostinger – Best for affordable Linux hosting
- GreenGeeks – Best cheap Linux hosting for sustainability
- DreamHost – Best Linux hosting for 100% uptime
- Bluehost – Best Linux hosting for beginners
- HostPapa – Best cheap Linux hosting for Canada server
- IONOS – Best cheap Linux hosting for EU server
- Cloudways – Best for cheap Linux cloud Hosting
- HostGator – Best cheap Linux hosting for US server
- GoDaddy Hosting – Best cheap Linux hosting for businesses
- TMDHosting – Best for cheap Linux hosting with cPanel
- Hosting.com – Best cheap Linux hosting for speed
1. Hostinger
- Offers both managed and unmanaged hosting
- Free domain included
- Unlimited free SSL
- 9 data centers worldwide
- Weekly backups only (not daily)
- Long commitment for biggest discounts
Hostinger stands out for its budget-friendly and comprehensive Linux hosting services. Their plans start as low as $1.99 per month. Hostinger have 3 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $1.99/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $5.99/month
- Linux cloud hosting at $8.99/month
Hostinger supports 5 operating systems, including AlmaLinux, CentOS, Debian, Rocky Linux, and Ubuntu. Check our Hostinger review for more details.
2. GreenGeeks
- SSD storage available
- Daily backups
- Free domain included
- Free SSL included
- 4 data centers worldwide
- Only AlmaLinux OS available
- Only offers managed hosting
GreenGeeks provides environmentally-friendly hosting solutions and energy-efficient infrastructure. Their Linux hosting begins at an affordable $2.95 per month. They offer 2 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $2.95/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $39.95/month
GreenGeeks’ Linux servers run on AlmaLinux. Check our GreenGeeks review for more details.
3. DreamHost
- Daily backups
- Offers both managed and unmanaged hosting
- Free domain included
- Free SSL included
- 97-day money back guarantee
- Only Ubuntu OS available
- Only 2 data centers (US based)
DreamHost is renowned for its excellent uptime, user-friendly features and WordPress expertise. Their Linux hosting services begin at $2.59 per month. DreamHost has 4 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $2.59/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $10/month
- Linux dedicated hosting at $149/month
- Linux cloud hosting at $12/month
DreamHost runs on the Ubuntu operating system. Check our DreamHost review for more details.
4. Bluehost
- SSD storage available
- Offers cPanel
- Free domain included
- Free SSL included
- Only CentOS available
- No backup included
- Only offers managed hosting
- Only 1 data center (US based)
- No uptime guarantee
Bluehost is favored for its comprehensive website building tools and reliable server performance. Pricing for Bluehost’s Linux hosting starts at $2.75 per month. They have 3 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $2.75/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $29.99/month
- Linux dedicated hosting at $89.98/month
Bluehost’s Linux hosting platforms run on the CentOS operating system. Check our Bluehost review for more details.
5. HostPapa
- SSD storage available
- Offers both managed and unmanaged hosting
- Free domain included
- Free SSL included
- 3 data centers worldwide
- Need to pay for backups
- Long commitment for biggest discounts
HostPapa is recognized for its green initiatives and excellent customer support via the ‘PapaSquad’. Their Linux hosting plans start at just $2.95 per month. HostPapa has 2 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $2.95/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $19.99/month
HostPapa supports 3 operating systems, including CentOS, Debian, and Ubuntu. Check our HostPapa review for more details.
6. IONOS
- SSD and NVMe storage available
- Daily backups
- Free domain included
- Free wildcard SSL
- Only offers managed hosting
- Only HDD storage for Linux shared plans
IONOS combines affordability with a wide range of features. This appeals to both individual site owners and businesses. Their Linux hosting services start at a competitive price of $2 per month. They offer 4 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $5/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $2/month
- Linux dedicated hosting at $70/month
- Linux cloud hosting at $4/month
IONOS supports 5 operating systems, including AlmaLinux, CentOS, Debian, Rocky Linux, and Ubuntu. Find out more in our IONOS review.
7. Cloudways
- Automated backups
- Free SSL included
- 65 data centers worldwide
- 3-day free trial (no credit card required)
- No Linux shared hosting plan
- No Linux VPS hosting plan
- No Linux dedicated hosting plan
- Only Debian OS available
- Only offers managed hosting
- No free domain included
Cloudways offers user-friendly and flexible managed cloud hosting ideal for businesses and developers. Their Linux cloud hosting begins at $11 per month. Cloudways exclusively uses the Debian operating system for its Linux hosting. Check our Cloudways review for more details.
8. HostGator
- SSD and NVMe storage available
- Offers managed and semi-managed hosting
- Free wildcard SSL
- Only CentOS OS available
- No free domain included
- Only 2 data centers (US based)
- No uptime guarantee
HostGator is known for its user-friendly and scalable hosting solutions. Their Linux hosting plans start at $3.75 per month. They offer 3 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $3.75/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $23.95/month
- Linux dedicated hosting at $89.98/month
HostGator’s Linux hosting is based on the CentOS operating system. Check our HostGator review for more details.
9. GoDaddy Hosting
- Daily backups
- Offers both managed and unmanaged hosting
- Free domain included
- Free SSL included
- Unreliable support
- Long commitment for biggest discounts
GoDaddy is a leading domain registrar that also excels in offering comprehensive hosting solutions. Their Linux hosting options start at $5.99 per month. They offer 3 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $5.99/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $9.99/month
- Linux dedicated hosting at $149.99/month
GoDaddy Hosting supports 2 operating systems, which are CentOS and Ubuntu. Check our GoDaddy Hosting review for more details.
10. TMDHosting
- All plans are managed
- Provides cPanel and Softaculous
- 6 global data centers
- Free SSL
- Free domain name
- Backups are not included in the lowest-priced plan
TMDHosting offers affordable Linux hosting starting from $2.99 per month. Their plans support cPanel and Softaculous for easy website management. All plans include managed services such as server management and maintenance. They offer 3 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $2.99/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $24.99/month
- Linux dedicated server hosting from $79.99/month
All TMDHosting’s Linux plans run on the AlmaLinux operating system. Read our review of TMDHosting for more details.
11. Hosting.com
- SSD and NVMe storage available
- Offers both managed and unmanaged hosting
- Free SSL included
- 4 data centers worldwide
- No backup included
- No free domain included
Hosting.com (formerly A2) is praised for its high-performance hosting solutions that offer generous features. Their Linux hosting services start at just $2.99 per month. They have 3 Linux hosting plans:
- Linux shared hosting at $2.99/month
- Linux VPS hosting at $5.99/month
- Linux dedicated hosting at $89.99/month
A2 Hosting supports 4 operating systems, which are AlmaLinux, CentOS, Debian, and Ubuntu. Check our Hosting.com review for more details.
What Is Cheap Linux Hosting?
Cheap Linux hosting refers to Linux-based web hosting that costs $5 per month or less. This low price range includes shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting types. Cheap Linux hosting still caters for a wide range of customers by offering a choice of multiple Linux distributions (Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian). This allows customers with different performance needs or levels of expertise with the Linux ecosystem to benefit from the cost savings of cheap Linux hosting.
How are cheap Linux hosting plans so affordable?
Cheap Linux hosting plans are so affordable mainly because of the nature of the Linux OS, which is open-source and free. Such plans come with limited features and caps on server resources to further reduce costs. Cheap Linux plans are also usually unmanaged plans. This means that the host provides limited technical support or server maintenance services. This is in contrast to managed plans wherein the host absorbs these tasks for a higher fee. Many providers also offer substantial introductory discounts of up to 80% for new signups. Read our cheap web hosting guide to learn more.
Are there hidden costs with cheap Linux hosting plans?
No, there are no hidden costs with reputable cheap Linux hosting plans. Hidden costs are additional fees associated with your hosting plan that are not clearly communicated upfront but are charged later. Trustworthy cheap Linux hosting providers ensure transparency by clearly stating the renewal prices of their hosting plans. They also provide the option to select add-ons like control panels, security features, or additional technical support during checkout. This allows customers to understand and control their total costs.
What Are the Limitations of Cheap Linux Hosting?
There are 3 limitations of cheap Linux hosting:
- Limited server resources Limited storage, bandwidth, vCPU/CPU cores, CPU clock speed, and RAM will eventually be outgrown. This causes bottlenecks in website performance until you scale up your plan.
- Limited features Access to wildcard SSL, advanced firewall, dedicated IP, requires additional fees or an upgrade to more expensive plans. eCommerce features such as shopping carts and payment gateways also require extra fees.
- Additional cost for tech support Cheap Linux hosting providers only offer basic support. Advanced or technical support will incur additional charges. This is particularly the case for unmanaged forms of Linux hosting where the host’s involvement in server management is minimal.
Does Cheap Linux Hosting Include Linux OS for Free?
Yes, cheap Linux hosting does include Linux OS for free. The Linux OS is an open-source operating system that is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. Its open-source nature means there are no licensing fees. This makes it a cost-effective option for hosting providers to offer.
Do Cheap Linux Hosting Include cPanel for Free?
Yes, cheap Linux hosting includes cPanel for free. Bluehost, HostPapa, GreenGeeks, A2 Hosting, HostGator, and GoDaddy hosting offer a complimentary cPanel license in their packages.
What Is Cheap Linux Shared Hosting?
Cheap Linux shared hosting is a service where multiple websites share a single Linux-based server. It costs under $5 a month. This kind of hosting is a convenient, low-cost way to get the server space and basic features you need to start a website.
What Is Cheap Linux VPS Hosting?
Cheap Linux VPS hosting is a service where you can get a Linux-based virtual private server for under $10 per month. This hosting provides dedicated resources and more control compared to shared hosting. Cheap Linux VPS hosting is suitable for websites that have outgrown shared hosting but still need to keep costs low. Check our cheap Linux VPS shortlist for our brand recommendations.