In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
Don't auto-renew blindly. Check what your site actually uses, then either downgrade to a smaller plan, ask for a retention offer, or move host: back up files and database, lower DNS TTL a few days ahead, copy and test the site, move only website DNS records (not email), and cancel the old plan last.
Why hosting renewals cost so much more
Hosting companies win customers with a low first-term price that only applies when you prepay. After that, the plan renews at its regular rate. The difference is often large.
| SiteGround plan (example) | Intro price | Renews at | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| StartUp | $2.99/mo | $17.99/mo | Prepaid for 12 months |
| GrowBig | $4.99/mo | $29.99/mo | Prepaid for 12 months |
| GoGeek | $7.99/mo | $44.99/mo | Prepaid for 12 months |
That is roughly six times the intro price on SiteGround's web hosting page. It isn't hidden: the renewal price is printed next to the deal. But a three-year view changes the picture: one year at the intro price plus two years at the renewal rate. Our web hosting cost guide compares typical hosting types and prices in Singapore.
First, check what your site actually uses
Before choosing an option, spend ten minutes in your hosting control panel. You may be paying for far more than you use, or the cheap plan may really be too small.
Hosting usage check
Your four options
Which one fits depends on what you found above.
| Option | When it makes sense | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Renew as is | The plan fits, the support is good and the price is acceptable over three years | Choose the term you're comfortable with; shorter terms cost more per month but avoid long lock-in |
| Downgrade | You use a fraction of the disk, sites or traffic allowance | Some hosts only let you downgrade at renewal; check backups and features you lose |
| Ask for a retention offer | You are happy with the host but not the price | Offers often require another long prepay; read the new renewal price |
| Move host | The renewal price, speed or support isn't worth it | Plan the move: backup, DNS, email and SSL (below) |
If you move, also look at where the site is hosted. A server in or near Singapore and a CDN help speed for local visitors, and a site builder may be simpler for a brochure site.
Moving host safely, step by step
The rule is copy and test first, switch DNS last. Visitors keep seeing the old site until DNS changes, so there is no downtime if the order is right. Our full guide to moving a website to a new host goes deeper.
Take a full backup, and download it
WordPress's backup documentation explains that a site has two parts to back up: the files (themes, plugins, uploads) and the database. Keep a copy on your own computer or cloud storage, not only on the old host.
Lower the DNS TTL a few days ahead
In your DNS settings, reduce the TTL on the website records (A or CNAME) so the switch spreads quickly. Leave email records alone.
Copy the site to the new host and test it
Use the new host's migration tool or a plugin, then test every page, form and checkout on a temporary address or by editing your computer's hosts file.
Switch only the website records
Point the A or CNAME records to the new host. Keep MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records exactly as they are, so email keeps working.
Check SSL and forms after the switch
Free SSL certificates usually issue once the domain points at the new host. Send a test enquiry through every form.
Cancel the old plan last
Wait until the old host shows no traffic, take a final backup, then cancel. Check auto-renew is off so you aren't charged again.
The domain: renew, keep or transfer it
If the domain is registered with the same company as the hosting, you don't have to move both at once. You can move the website and keep the domain where it is, pointing its DNS at the new host. Move the domain later, when you are ready.
If you do transfer a generic domain such as .com, ICANN's Transfer Policy lists reasons a registrar may deny a transfer, including a request within 60 days of the domain's creation or within 60 days of a previous transfer. You will also need the domain unlocked and an authorisation (EPP) code from the current registrar. Country domains such as .sg follow their own registry's rules, so check with your registrar.
Avoiding the next renewal surprise
- Compare hosts on the regular renewal price and the three-year total, not the intro price.
- Put the renewal date and the renewal amount in your calendar, a month before it is due.
- Keep the hosting, domain and backups in an account your business owns, with a company card.
- Avoid very long prepaid terms unless the renewal rate is also acceptable.
- Keep your own backup copy outside the host, so moving is always possible.
- Keep email separate from web hosting (for example on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace), so a hosting move never touches email.
Do it yourself or get help?
If your site is a simple WordPress site and you are comfortable with backups and DNS, the steps above are a realistic weekend job. The risky parts are email records changed by mistake, a forgotten form or plugin licence, and an old plan that auto-renews after you've moved.
Our Website Migration (S$490) takes a full backup before anything changes, moves files, database and media, keeps redirects so Google rankings aren't lost, plans the DNS cut-over to avoid email downtime, sets up SSL on the new host and checks every page and form afterwards. The new host's fees are paid by you, in your name.
Frequently asked questions
Most hosts sell the first term at a promotional price that only applies when you prepay, then renew at the regular rate. On SiteGround's page in October 2026, for example, a plan shown at US$2.99 a month renews at US$17.99. The renewal price is usually printed next to the offer, so compare the three-year total when choosing a host.
You can ask. Some hosts offer a discount, a downgrade or a longer prepaid term to keep you. Check what the new deal renews at afterwards, and whether it locks you in for several years. If the offer still costs more over three years than moving, a well-planned move is usually worth it.
Only if you change the email records. If your email is with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, keep the MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records unchanged and only point the website records to the new host. If your email is hosted on the old web hosting plan, plan a separate email move before you cancel it.
No. You can keep the domain with its current registrar and just point its DNS records to the new host. ICANN's Transfer Policy lets registrars deny a transfer within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer, and a transfer needs the domain unlocked and an authorisation code, so moving the domain later is often simpler.
For WordPress, both the files (themes, plugins and the uploads folder) and the database. Download them to your own storage. Also export any email you want to keep if it was hosted there, note your DNS records, and save copies of SSL, form and plugin licence details you'll need on the new host.