Cheap promo, expensive renewal: how to read the gap before you buy

The problem: only year one is on the banner

Promo banners usually show the first month or the first year. The price after that is in small print, or only appears at checkout. That makes side-by-side comparisons unfair.

The 3-year cost formula

Compare what you actually pay over three years, not the monthly sticker price.

total_3_years = promo_price x promo_months
              + renewal_price x remaining_months

On Serlist, the Renews at column already shows the renewal price for every plan, so you can plug it straight into this formula.

Three signs a renewal price needs a second look

• The renewal price is missing from the plan page.
• The promo only applies to the first month or first 12 months.
• There is no written statement about price locking.

Takeaway

Compare total cost, not the opening price. If the renewal gap is large, consider a longer term up front, or a provider that locks the price in writing. See the hosting list sorted by lowest renewal.