What you are actually paying for
A hosting bill is a bundle. Some of it is hardware, some of it is work someone else does so you don't have to. When two quotes look very different, it is usually because one of them leaves part of the bundle out.
- Compute. CPU time to run your code. A static site barely uses any. WordPress and Node.js apps use CPU on every uncached request, so busy dynamic sites need more of it.
- Storage. Space for files, uploads and the database. NVMe storage is faster than older SATA SSDs, which matters most for database-heavy sites.
- A database. Anything with a login, a CMS or an order form needs MySQL, PostgreSQL or similar. A database has to be run, tuned and backed up, so it costs more than plain file hosting.
- Backups. Copies of your site that you can restore when something breaks. Who takes them, how often, and how long they are kept all affect the price.
- Delivery. SSL certificates and a CDN that serves your pages from locations close to your visitors.
- People. Support, security patching and someone to fix things when they go wrong. This is the part that is easiest to cut and the part you miss most when it is gone.
If you are deciding between paying for a managed service and running a server yourself, the trade-off is mostly about that last item. Our guide on managed hosting vs a VPS walks through it.
Your site type sets the baseline
The biggest single factor is what kind of site you are running. A static site is a folder of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and images. Once it is built, nothing runs on the server when someone visits, so it is cheap to host and hard to break. A dynamic site runs code and queries a database on each request, which needs more CPU, a database, and backups that capture data changing every day. An online shop adds carts, checkouts and logged-in customers, which are pages that cannot simply be cached, so it needs the most headroom.
Here is how common site types map to our plans:
| What you are running | What it needs | NevaraCloud plan |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio, landing page, static site, React app or Next.js static export | File hosting, SSL, CDN. No database. | Starter, LKR 1,500/month |
| Company website or blog on WordPress | PHP, a MySQL database, daily backups | Business, LKR 3,500/month |
| Node.js app or API with a database | A running Node.js process, MySQL or PostgreSQL, backups | Business, LKR 3,500/month |
| Online shop (e.g. WooCommerce), membership site, busy WordPress | More CPU, object caching for pages that can't be cached, malware scanning | Pro, LKR 6,500/month |
| Full-stack app with heavier traffic | CPU priority, Redis, an uptime commitment | Pro, LKR 6,500/month |
| An app already packaged as Docker containers | Depends on the containers | Quoted in LKR after we look at it |
If you are not sure which row you are in, start with the smaller plan that actually runs your site. Moving up later is easier than paying for headroom you never use.
Costs that are not on the headline price
The monthly number on a pricing page is rarely the whole cost. Check each of these before you compare two hosts:
- Backups. Some hosts include daily backups; others charge for them, keep them only a few days, or charge again to restore one. Ask how a restore works and whether you can do it yourself.
- Email. Business email on your own domain is often a separate service. Even when a host helps set it up, the mailboxes usually come from a provider such as Zoho or Google Workspace, which has its own plans and terms.
- SSL. Free certificates from Let's Encrypt or a CDN are standard now. If a host wants to sell you a basic certificate just to get HTTPS working, factor that in.
- CDN. A CDN makes pages load faster for visitors far from the server and absorbs some attack traffic. Check whether it is included or an extra.
- Support. Find out what is included and what is billed separately. "Support" can mean a ticket queue that answers in days, or a person you can message.
- Migration. Moving an existing site takes real work: files, database, DNS, email records. Some hosts do it for free, some charge, some leave it to you. See how to move a site without downtime for what is involved.
- Domain name. Your domain is registered and renewed separately from hosting, usually every year. Budget for it as its own line, and make sure it is registered in your name.
Intro price vs renewal price
A common pricing pattern is a low first-term price that only applies if you prepay for one or more years, followed by a higher renewal price. Neither part is wrong, but they are easy to compare badly.
- Compare the renewal price, not the intro price. That is what you will pay for most of the site's life.
- Check whether the intro price requires paying a long term up front, and what happens if you leave early.
- Check whether free extras (a domain, email, SSL) are free only for the first term.
- Work out the total over two or three years, including renewals and any add-ons you will need.
A cheap first year followed by an expensive renewal can still be the right choice. Just make the decision on the multi-year total, with your eyes open about when the price changes.
Paying in dollars vs paying in rupees
Many hosting companies price and bill in US dollars. For a business in Sri Lanka that has a few practical effects, none of which show up on the pricing page:
- You need a card that can pay abroad. Not every debit or credit card is enabled for foreign online payments, and some have limits. If the card fails, the renewal fails, and the site can be suspended.
- The rupee cost moves. A price fixed in dollars is not fixed in rupees. Your bill in LKR changes with the exchange rate even when the host's price does not.
- Your bank may add charges. Foreign currency transactions can carry bank fees on top of the price. Check your own card's terms.
- Accounting is harder. A foreign-currency invoice from an overseas company can be more work for your bookkeeping than a local one.
Paying in LKR to a local provider removes those variables. It does not make a host better on its own, so weigh it alongside everything else on this page.
Questions to ask any host before you pay
Copy this list and get an answer to each one in writing, from us or from anyone else:
- What is the price after the first term, and is there a minimum contract?
- What currency am I billed in, and how can I pay?
- Are backups included? How often are they taken, how long are they kept, and how do I restore one?
- Is there a database included, and which one (MySQL, PostgreSQL)?
- Is SSL included and renewed automatically?
- Is there a CDN, and is it included in the price?
- Is email included, or is it a separate service with its own cost?
- Will you migrate my existing site, and what does that cost?
- How do I contact support, during what hours, and how quickly do you reply?
- What happens if my site outgrows the plan? Can I move up without a rebuild?
- If I leave, can I take a full copy of my files and database with me?
- Who owns the domain registration, and is it in my name?
If you are choosing hosting for a new product rather than an existing website, the startup hosting checklist adds a few questions about scaling and lock-in.
Where NevaraCloud fits
We bill monthly in LKR with no contract, and you can cancel anytime. Starter (LKR 1,500) covers static sites with free SSL and Cloudflare CDN. Business (LKR 3,500) adds a WordPress or Node.js site, a MySQL or PostgreSQL database, daily backups kept for 7 days, free migration and priority WhatsApp support. Pro (LKR 6,500) adds 2× CPU priority, Redis object caching, weekly malware scanning, an uptime SLA guarantee and free business email setup. One-time extras such as migration on Starter (LKR 2,000) or email setup (LKR 3,000) are listed on the pricing page under add-ons.
If you need root access to a server, we are not the right fit, because we don't sell VPS plans. If you run a small business and just want the site, backups and support handled, our page on hosting for small businesses explains what that looks like.