Whether you want to launch a blog, a small business website, or a portfolio site from Benoni (or anywhere in SA), you don’t need to spend a fortune to get online. There are several South African hosting providers offering affordable, entry-level plans — some from as little as R19–R30/month — and that’s plenty if you’re starting small.
This post covers: what to look for when picking cheap hosting, some top hosting providers in SA (with concrete prices and features) and how to decide which plan suits you best depending on your website’s purpose.
✅ What “Cheap” Hosting Means — and What to Check First
Before diving into providers, it helps to know what you should expect from a “cheap” hosting package — especially in SA context:
- Shared hosting — multiple websites on the same server. Works fine for blogs, small businesses, portfolios, MVPs.
- Basic storage & bandwidth — enough for modest daily traffic.
- Free SSL certificate — essential if you want secure HTTP (https).
- At least one email account & MySQL database — if you plan to use WordPress or email through your domain.
- Optional: free domain (or cheap .co.za domain) — good for small budgets.
- Local servers (in SA) — speeds are better for local visitors compared to international servers.
- Reliability & support — even cheap hosts should offer good uptime and support.
The cheapest plans may not be ideal for large-traffic or resource-heavy sites, but for starting out they’re often perfect.
Best Cheap Website Hosting Providers for South Africans
Here are some of the top hosting providers in South Africa with entry-level plans — including actual prices (as of 2025) — that balance cost vs features.
Absolute Hosting
- Entry-level plan as low as R25–R33/month for a basic site with ~500 MB–1 GB storage, one database and one domain.
- Good choice for small blogs, portfolios, or simple business pages.
- If you need more storage or stability you can scale up to higher plans affordably.
Axxess
- Shared hosting from around R59/month (or slightly higher depending on plan) for SSD hosting, email accounts, MySQL databases and unlimited bandwidth.
- Offers free domain registration (in many packages), making it solid value for money.
- Good for WordPress, small e-shops or starter websites.
Afrihost
- Monthly plans starting from around R59–R69/month for basic hosting — 1 GB storage, free domain or website-builder options, email accounts, MySQL.
- Known for reliable service, local servers and support — a balanced choice for those wanting an established brand.
xneelo (formerly Hetzner, South Africa)
- Entry-level hosting from around R99/month — includes SSD storage, email accounts, databases, etc.
- More robust than ultra-cheap plans: better performance and uptime, making it suitable if you expect moderate traffic.
- Good balance between affordability and reliability — suitable for small businesses.
Truehost Africa
- Some packages starting from about R30/month (depending on plan) — aimed at beginners, students and small websites.
- Offers free SSL, cPanel (or control-panel access), subdomains and simple site builder tools.
- Recommended if you want the lowest cost overhead while learning or testing out a site.
Other Options worth checking
Local providers such as Domains.co.za, 1-Grid and “starter” hosting plans from smaller hosts can also offer affordable plans — usually under R100/month — with reasonable storage and basic features.
Which Plan Should You Choose Based on Your Website Type?
| Website Type | Minimum Recommended Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Simple blog / portfolio / personal site | Entry-level (R25–R59/month) e.g. Absolute Hosting or Axxess | Low traffic; minimal storage; cheaper is fine |
| Small business / brochure site / service site | R59–R99/month (Afrihost, Axxess, xneelo, Truehost) | Need email accounts, stable uptime, some storage |
| Small e-commerce / online store (few products) | ≥ R99/month (xneelo or better) | More traffic, need SSL, reliability, maybe WP + plugin support |
| Growing blog / content site, moderate traffic | R99–R150/month or above | Better performance, more storage, scalable hosting |
| Multiple sites / small server for small business/clients | Mid-tier shared or upgrade to VPS later | More resources, flexibility for subdomains or multiple installations |
Tips Before You Buy Hosting in SA
- Check if SSL is included — Always go for a plan that includes free SSL, especially if you plan to handle any user data or payments.
- Look for local servers — Hosting companies with South African data centers (like Afrihost, xneelo, Truehost, Axxess) often deliver faster loading speeds for local traffic.
- Consider scalability — Start on a cheap plan, but ensure the provider lets you upgrade easily when you grow.
- Watch for hidden costs — Some “cheap” plans may charge extra for domain registration, website builders, or additional email accounts.
- Get a free domain (if available) — It saves on costs when starting — but check renewal price after the first year.
- Support & reliability — Even for small sites, having decent uptime and customer support matters — choose a host with local support and good reviews.
✅ Bottom Line: Cheap Hosting ≠ Bad Hosting
You absolutely can launch and run a website in South Africa for under R30–R60/month, especially if your needs are modest (blog, portfolio, small business presence). The providers above — Absolute Hosting, Axxess, Afrihost, xneelo, Truehost — offer legitimate, reliable hosting that’s widely used in SA.
If you expect growth, traffic, or want more control, start with a mid-range plan or opt for a host with upgrade options. But for many side-projects, side-hustles, or first websites: cheap hosting is more than enough.
