The Best Web Hosting in the UK Under £30: Step-by-Step Guide in 2025
Launch your UK website without breaking the bank! Our 2025 guide reviews the best web hosting under £30, with a comparison table and a simple step-by-step guide to get you online.
Starting a website is one of the smartest moves you can make, whether for a business, blog, or portfolio. But for beginners, the world of web hosting can be a maze of technical jargon and confusing pricing. One thing is clear: you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started.
A budget of £30 is more than enough to secure reliable, high-quality hosting for your first year. The key is knowing where to look and what to look for.
This guide will walk you through the best UK web hosting under £30, complete with a comparison table, and then show you exactly how to get your site live, step-by-step.
What to Look for in UK Web Hosting Under £30
Before we dive into the providers, let’s cover the essentials you should expect for your money:
- Server Location: For a UK audience, a server located in the UK is crucial for faster loading times and better SEO rankings locally.
- Free SSL Certificate: A non-negotiable security feature that encrypts data between your visitor and your site. It’s also a Google ranking factor.
- Good Uptime (99.9%+): Reliability is key. You want a host that guarantees your site will be online nearly all the time.
- Adequate Resources: Enough storage, bandwidth, and processing power for your starter site.
- Customer Support: 24/7 support via live chat or phone is invaluable when you run into trouble.
- Free Domain Name: Many hosts include a free domain for the first year, saving you around £10-£15.
- Easy-to-Use Control Panel (cPanel): A user-friendly interface to manage your hosting, emails, and databases.
The Top Web Hosting Providers in the UK for Under £30 in 2025
After extensive research and testing, these three providers consistently offer the best value and performance for UK users on a tight budget.
1. IONOS by 1&1: The All-Rounder Value King
IONOS is a global hosting giant with a massive presence in Europe, including state-of-the-art data centres in London. They are famous for their incredibly aggressive introductory prices and feature-packed plans.
Why it’s great for under £30:
- Unbeatable First-Year Price: Their starter plan often costs just £1.00/month for the first 12 months, totalling only £12.
- Free Domain: Includes a free domain name for the first year.
- UK Data Centres: Optimal performance for your UK visitors.
- Strong Performance: Consistently good uptime and speed test results.
Pricing: The Business Plan starts at £1.00/month for the first 12 months (then renews at a higher standard rate). Well within our £30 budget for year one.
Visit IONOS.co.uk for this offer
2. Hostinger: The Budget Powerhouse
Hostinger has taken the budget hosting world by storm. They offer a custom control panel (hPanel) that is incredibly intuitive for beginners, and their global infrastructure ensures speedy sites.
Why it’s great for under £30:
- Extremely Affordable: Even their regular pricing is among the lowest in the industry.
- User-Friendly: Perfect for absolute beginners with a clean and simple interface.
- Global Speed: They have servers in the UK (London), meaning great local performance.
- Freebies: Includes a free SSL certificate and weekly backups on their single shared hosting plan.
Pricing: The Single Shared Hosting plan is often on sale for around £1.99/month. For a 12-month term, that’s approximately £23.88.
Visit Hostinger.com for this offer
3. ScalaHosting: The Performance & Security Contender
While slightly less known than the giants, ScalaHosting is a premium provider that often fits a beginner’s budget. They are innovators, offering their own secure control panel (SPanel) and advanced security features.
Why it’s great for under £30:
- Proactive Security: Includes SShield security, which proactively blocks 99.998% of web attacks.
- Free Migration: They will help you move an existing site for free.
- UK Servers: Located in London for low latency.
- Great Support: Known for responsive and knowledgeable customer service.
Pricing: The Mini Web Hosting plan starts at £2.50/month if you commit to 36 months. A 12-month plan brings the total to £30 on the nose.
**Visit ScalaHosting.com for this offer**
Comparison Table: Best UK Hosting Under £30 (First Year)
| Feature | IONOS | Hostinger | ScalaHosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Absolute best value | Ease of use & simplicity | Security & innovation |
| Starting Price (12mo) | ~£12.00 | ~£23.88 | ~£30.00 |
| Free Domain | Yes | No (on cheapest plan) | Yes |
| UK Server Location | Yes (London) | Yes (London) | Yes (London) |
| Free SSL Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Panel | Custom | hPanel | SPanel / cPanel |
| Email Accounts | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Customer Support | 24/7 Phone & Chat | 24/7 Live Chat | 24/7 Live Chat |
| Our Rating | 9.5/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hosted (in Under 10 Minutes)
Follow these steps to get your website live today. We’ll use IONOS as our example, but the process is very similar for all providers.
Step 1: Choose Your Hosting Plan
Head to the IONOS website and click on “Web Hosting”. Select the Business Plan (or the equivalent starter plan on your chosen provider’s site). Click “Order Now”.
Step 2: Register Your Domain Name
You’ll be prompted to enter your desired domain name. IONOS includes one for free for the first year. Check its availability and add it to your cart.
Step 3: Configure Your Package & Duration
You’ll often see options for your contract period. To get the best price (under £30), choose a 12-month plan. You can usually deselect any add-ons like “Professional Email” or “Site Lock” for now—you can add them later if needed.
Step 4: Create Your Account & Checkout
Enter your personal details and create your customer account. Proceed to the payment section. You’ll need to enter your card details. The total for the year should be around £12-£14 (including VAT).
Step 5: Confirm Your Email and Log In
After payment, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Click the link to verify your account. You can then log into your IONOS customer portal.
Step 6: Install WordPress (or Another Platform)
In your IONOS dashboard, look for a section called “My Products” or “Websites”. There should be a one-click installer for WordPress (or other CMS like Joomla). Click it, follow the simple prompts (choose your domain, admin username, and password), and the software will be installed automatically.
Step 7: Start Building Your Website!
Once installed, you can log into your new WordPress site by going to www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin. From here, you can choose a theme, create pages, and start publishing content!
Final Verdict and Recommendation
For anyone in the UK looking to start a website with a budget of under £30, you are spoilt for choice with excellent options.
- Choose IONOS if you want the absolute cheapest first-year price and a free domain included.
- Choose Hostinger if you prioritise a modern, super-easy-to-use interface and are happy to buy a domain separately.
- Choose ScalaHosting if cutting-edge security and excellent support are your top priorities from day one.
Remember, the introductory price is for your first term. After that, the plan will renew at the standard, higher rate. By then, your website should hopefully be generating value, making the renewal cost a worthwhile investment in your online presence.
Ready to launch? Click on any of the links above to grab these fantastic deals and get your UK website online today
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is web hosting under £30 actually any good?
Yes, absolutely. For the first year, hosting in this price range from reputable providers like IONOS, Hostinger, and ScalaHosting is excellent for beginners, bloggers, and small business websites. These companies offer loss-leading introductory prices to attract new customers. You get access to the same robust infrastructure, security (SSL), and support as their full-price customers. The low cost is a marketing tool, not a reflection of poor quality.
2. What happens after the first year? Will my price go up?
Yes, this is the most important thing to understand. The advertised price of ~£1-£3 per month is almost always an introductory offer for your initial contract term (e.g., 12, 24, or 36 months). When it’s time to renew, the plan will revert to the provider’s standard, higher rate. This is standard industry practice. You should budget for this price increase in your second year, though by then, your website may be generating enough value to easily cover the cost.
3. Can I host more than one website on these plans?
Typically, the entry-level “starter” or “single” shared hosting plans are designed for one website. For example, Hostinger’s “Single Shared Hosting” and IONOS’s “Business Plan” are for a single site. If you think you might want to run multiple websites, look for “unlimited” or “multiple” website plans. ScalaHosting’s “Mini” plan, for instance, allows for two websites. Always check the plan’s specifics before purchasing.
4. Do I need to know how to code to use these hosting plans?
Not at all! This is the beauty of modern web hosting. All the providers listed offer simple, one-click installers for popular website builders like WordPress. WordPress uses a visual, point-and-click interface where you can build professional-looking websites using pre-designed themes and “drag-and-drop” editors. The control panels (like cPanel or hPanel) are designed to be user-friendly, so you can manage your hosting without any technical knowledge.
5. What’s the difference between a domain name and web hosting?
This is a very common point of confusion. Think of it like this:
- Your Domain Name (e.g.,
myukshop.co.uk) is your website’s address. It’s what people type into their browser to find you. - Your Web Hosting is the plot of land and the house where your website’s files and data live.
You need both to have a functioning website. Many hosts, like IONOS, offer a free domain for the first year when you buy a hosting plan, which simplifies the process.