Key facts
- Budget plans often show a low first-term price that rises at renewal.
- On many budget plans, extra backup retention, migration help or premium support are paid add-ons.
- Budget shared hosting is usually self-service: you configure DNS, email records and PHP settings yourself.
- dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT), the same price each year.
- The dijitul plan includes daily backups kept for 14 days, 10 POP3/IMAP email accounts, free SSL, Cloudflare DNS management and one domain registration or renewal per year.
- dijitul moves your existing website for you and supports older PHP versions where it is safe to do so.
- dijitul is a UK limited company (DIJITUL LTD) trading since 2006.
Two different approaches to hosting
Most hosting falls into one of two approaches. Budget hosting gives you an account on a shared server and a control panel. Everything else, such as moving your site, setting DNS records, checking backups and fixing PHP errors, is your job. That suits people who are confident doing it themselves.
Managed hosting means someone looks after the website as well as the server. dijitul Complete Hosting is managed hosting. We set things up, keep them running and fix them when they break. You pay a little more than the cheapest headline price and spend far less of your own time.
Neither approach is wrong. The right one depends on how much your website matters to your business and how much time you want to spend on it.
Side-by-side comparison
This table compares typical approaches, not any one named company. Always read a host's own terms before you buy.
| What you get | Typical budget host | dijitul Complete Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Low introductory price, higher renewal price | £1 a day + VAT, same price at renewal |
| Website migration | DIY, or a paid service on some hosts | Included: we move it for you |
| Backups | Varies: some include short retention, some charge for longer history or restores | Daily backups, kept for 14 days, included |
| Varies by plan, check mailbox limits | 10 POP3/IMAP accounts included | |
| DNS | You edit records yourself | Cloudflare DNS set up and managed for you |
| Domain name | Often free for year one only | One registration or renewal included every year |
| Older PHP websites | Old PHP versions often removed on a fixed timetable | Older PHP versions supported where safely possible |
| Control panel | Usually cPanel or a custom panel | Plesk, with your own login |
| Support | Ticket or chat, often scripted first line | UK-based people who can fix the problem |
Where budget hosting is the better choice
Being fair, budget hosting is a sensible pick when:
- The site is a hobby project and downtime would not cost you money.
- You are comfortable with DNS, SSL, PHP settings and restoring backups yourself.
- You want to test an idea for a few months on the lowest possible spend.
- You already have a developer who manages everything and just needs server space.
If that is you, a budget host may well be the right answer, and that is fine.
Where dijitul is the better choice
dijitul Complete Hosting is built for business owners who want their website looked after. It is a good fit when:
- Your website brings in enquiries or sales and you cannot afford it going offline.
- Your site is older, built on older PHP, or your current host is forcing an upgrade it cannot survive.
- Your previous developer has gone and you need someone to take over the website.
- You want one bill that covers hosting, backups, SSL, DNS and your domain.
- You want to phone a UK company and speak to someone who knows your site.
Read more about Complete Hosting or order online. Bigger sites, VPS and dedicated servers are quoted.
How to compare the true cost
Headline prices hide a lot. To compare fairly, add up three years, not one month:
- Hosting at the renewal price, not just the first term.
- Domain renewal each year after any free first year.
- Any paid backup, restore, SSL or migration add-ons.
- Your own time to set up, maintain and fix things, at what your hour is worth.
For many small businesses, a managed plan at £365 a year + VAT works out close to, or cheaper than, a budget plan once renewals, add-ons and time are counted. Our guide on what a small business should pay for hosting walks through the sums.
Frequently asked questions
Is dijitul more expensive than budget hosting?
On the headline price, usually yes. dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT. But it includes migration, daily backups kept for 14 days, 10 email accounts, Cloudflare DNS management, free SSL and a domain renewal each year, and the price does not jump at renewal. Once you add those to a budget plan, the gap is often small.
Why do budget hosts' prices go up at renewal?
Many hosts use a low introductory price to win new customers, then charge a standard rate when the first term ends. It is common and legal, but it means the first-year price is not what you will pay long term. Always check the renewal price before you sign up.
Can I move from a budget host to dijitul?
Yes. dijitul moves your website, databases and files for you as part of Complete Hosting. We test the site on our server before switching DNS, so there is little or no downtime. You need login details for your current host or domain, and we help you find them if they are lost.
Is managed hosting worth it for a small business?
If your website brings in work, usually yes. Managed hosting means someone else handles updates, backups, security and fixes. The cost of a day offline, or hours spent fixing DNS or PHP errors yourself, is often more than the difference in price between budget and managed hosting.
Does cheap hosting mean bad hosting?
No. Plenty of low-cost hosts run reliable servers. The difference is usually in what is included and who does the work. Budget hosting expects you to manage your own site. Managed hosting does it for you. Pick based on your skills and how much your website matters.
What if I outgrow shared hosting?
If your site needs more power, dijitul quotes for managed VPS and dedicated servers, and can move you across when you need it. Most small business websites, including WordPress and older PHP sites, run comfortably on Complete Hosting.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.