Black Friday 2026: the hosting deals worth buying, with real renewal prices
Hosting

InMotion vs HostGator (2026): Price, Storage and Support Compared

Short answer
Until 1 December 2026, InMotion is the better deal for one or two sites: Launch costs $125.64 over three years against $135 for HostGator Hatchling, with 100GB of storage instead of 10GB and a 90-day refund instead of 30. HostGator wins if you need many sites cheaply: Hatchling allows 10 websites and renews lower, at $10.99 a month.
How I tested · Nov 12, 2026
I opened both hosts' own pricing pages on 12 November 2026 and recorded each plan's promo price, term, renewal price, storage, site limit, support and money-back terms. The 3-year cost is the promo price over its term. I hosted my own sites on InMotion for years before moving to Cloudways. I haven't used HostGator's current plans, so for HostGator this is a price and features comparison, not a hands-on review.

I hosted my sites on InMotion for years before I moved them to Cloudways. HostGator is the other big name in cheap shared hosting, and its 36-month price is one of the lowest you can lock in. On paper they look almost identical: about $3.50 to $4 a month for three years. Look closer and they're built for different people.

I checked both hosts' own pricing pages on 12 November 2026. Every price below includes the renewal, because that's what you'll pay from year four.

Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The prices and verdicts are the same either way.

InMotion vs HostGator at a glance

FeatureInMotion HostingHostGator
Entry planchecked 12 Nov 2026Launch: $3.49/mo for 36 monthsHatchling: $3.75/mo for 36 months
Entry plan, 3-year cost$125.64$135.00
Entry plan renews at$13.99/mo$10.99/mo
Websites on entry plan210
Storage on entry plan100GB NVMe10GB SSD
Mid planPower: $4.49/mo, 10 sites, 200GB NVMeBaby: $4.50/mo, 20 sites, 20GB SSD
Mid plan renews at$17.99/mo$16.49/mo
Money-back guarantee90 days (shared)30 days
Phone supportFrom PowerFrom Baby
Free domainWith select termsFirst year
Sale price ends1 Dec 2026No end date shown
One or two sites, lowest 3-year costInMotion

$125.64 for Launch against $135 for Hatchling, until 1 December.

Storage and refundsInMotion

100GB NVMe on the entry plan, 10 times HostGator's, and a 90-day guarantee.

Many sites on a budgetHostGator

Hatchling allows 10 websites; Baby allows 20 for $4.50 a month.

Lower renewal priceHostGator

Hatchling renews at $10.99 a month against $13.99 for Launch.

Price: InMotion is cheaper for now, HostGator renews lower

Here are both hosts' shared plans on their 36-month terms:

DealPromo priceRenews at3-year costEndsLink
InMotion Hosting Launch
Black Friday: 75% off shared hosting (3-year term)
$3.49/mo $13.99/mo $125.64 Dec 1, 2026 Get deal →
HostGator
66% off shared hosting
$3.75/mo $10.99/mo $135 Not stated Get deal →
InMotion Hosting Power
Black Friday: 75% off shared hosting (3-year term)
$4.49/mo $17.99/mo $161.64 Dec 1, 2026 Get deal →
HostGator
73% off shared hosting
$4.50/mo $16.49/mo $162 Not stated Get deal →
InMotion Hosting Pro
Black Friday: 66% off shared hosting (3-year term)
$8.49/mo $24.99/mo $305.64 Dec 1, 2026 Get deal →
HostGator
72% off shared hosting
$6.25/mo $21.99/mo $225 Not stated Get deal →

Prices as listed on each host's own site on Nov 12, 2026. Promo prices depend on the billing term, so check the term and the renewal price at checkout.

Two things decide which is cheaper for you:

  • When you buy. InMotion's Black Friday prices end on 1 December 2026. The week before the sale, Launch was $4.99 a month on the 3-year term, which works out at $179.64 for three years: more than HostGator's $135. HostGator's site showed no end date for its prices.
  • How long you'll stay. After the first 36 months, HostGator renews lower: $10.99 a month on Hatchling against $13.99 on Launch. HostGator also says its discount applies to the first invoice only, so it's the 36-month term that locks the price in.

To see what any of these plans costs once the promo ends, use my hosting cost calculator.

Storage and site limits: a clear trade-off

This is the biggest difference between the two, and it isn't obvious from the prices:

  • InMotion gives you much more storage. Launch has 100GB of NVMe storage and Power has 200GB. HostGator's Hatchling and Baby have 10GB and 20GB of SSD storage. If your blog is image-heavy or you keep backups on the server, 10GB fills up quickly.
  • HostGator lets you run more sites. Hatchling allows 10 websites and Baby allows 20. InMotion's Launch allows 2, and you need Power for 10.

So for one or two serious sites, InMotion gives you more room. For a handful of small sites, HostGator lets you run more of them on one cheap plan.

Support and refunds

Both hosts have 24/7 chat on every plan, and both add phone support on their second plan (InMotion's Power, HostGator's Baby).

The real difference is the refund window. InMotion's money-back guarantee is 90 days; HostGator's is 30. Support is the part of InMotion I'd vouch for from my own years there, and 90 days is long enough to find out whether a host's support is any good before you're committed.

Who should pick which

Choose InMotion if you're starting one or two sites before 1 December, you want room to grow (100GB or more of storage), or you want a long refund window. InMotion's Black Friday sale has every plan and term, and you don't need a coupon (here's why).

Choose HostGator if you want to run several small sites on one cheap plan, or you're buying after 1 December and want the lowest 36-month price. See HostGator's plans next to the other hosts I've checked.

If price matters more than anything else, Hostinger is cheaper than both over three years.

Frequently asked questions

Is InMotion better than HostGator?

For one or two sites, yes, while InMotion's Black Friday sale runs (until 1 December 2026). Launch costs less over three years ($125.64 against $135), has 10 times the storage and a 90-day refund. HostGator is better if you need many sites cheaply or want the lower renewal price.

Which is cheaper, InMotion or HostGator?

Right now, InMotion over three years: Launch is $3.49 a month for 36 months ($125.64), and HostGator Hatchling is $3.75 for 36 months ($135). After the first term HostGator is cheaper, renewing at $10.99 a month against InMotion's $13.99.

Which has more storage?

InMotion. Its entry plan has 100GB of NVMe storage and HostGator's has 10GB of SSD storage. On the mid plans it's 200GB against 20GB.

Which has the longer money-back guarantee?

InMotion: 90 days on shared hosting. HostGator's is 30 days.

Do both have phone support?

Yes, from the second plan up. InMotion includes phone support from Power, and HostGator from Baby. Both entry plans have 24/7 chat.

Backend software engineer and founder of Blogging House

I've built websites since 2012 and started Blogging House in 2015. Today I'm a backend software engineer working on SaaS and AI systems. I test every tool and deal here myself, and I take deals down when they end. More about me →