Best Web Hosting in Canada Under CAD $35: A 2025 Step-by-Step Guide
So, you have a brilliant idea for a website. Maybe it’s a portfolio to showcase your work, a blog to share your passion, or an online store for your new business. Whatever it is, you need a reliable, fast, and affordable home for it on the internet. And if you or your audience is primarily in Canada, choosing a hosting provider with local infrastructure isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity for speed and SEO.
The good news? You don’t need to break the bank. For under $35 CAD per month, you can get powerful, enterprise-level hosting. In fact, you can get world-class hosting for a fraction of that.
This guide will walk you through the best web hosting options for Canadians in 2025, complete with pricing, key features, and a step-by-step process to get your website online.
Why Does Hosting Location Matter for Canadian Websites?
- Faster Loading Speeds: When your website’s data is stored in a server located in or near Canada, the physical distance data has to travel to reach your visitor is shorter. This reduces latency and means your pages load significantly faster for your Canadian audience.
- Improved Local SEO: Search engines like Google use server location as a ranking signal for local searches. A Canadian server tells Google that your site is highly relevant to users in Canada, potentially boosting your rankings in local search results.
- Data Privacy & Compliance: Hosting data within Canada ensures it is subject to Canadian laws like the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). This is a critical consideration for businesses handling customer data.
The Best Web Hosting in Canada for Under $35/Month
Here’s a breakdown of the top providers that offer excellent value, Canadian data centers, and plans that fit well within our budget.
1. Hostinger: The All-Round Value King
Best for: Beginners, bloggers, and small businesses looking for the best price-to-performance ratio.
Hostinger has exploded in popularity by offering premium specs at shockingly low prices. They have a data center in Montreal, QC, making them a perfect choice for Canadian sites.
- Pricing: Their Premium Shared Hosting plan often starts at around $3.99 CAD/mo (on a 48-month term). Even their top-tier Business Shared Hosting plan is well under $10/month.
- Key Features:
- Free Domain Name for 1 year
- Free SSL Certificate
- 100 GB SSD Storage
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 100 Email Accounts
- WordPress Optimized (LiteSpeed Cache)
- Link: Hostinger Canada Official Site
2. WP Engine: The Premium WordPress Specialist
Best for: Businesses, serious bloggers, and e-commerce sites where performance, security, and support are non-negotiable.
WP Engine is a managed WordPress host, meaning they handle all the technical stuff (updates, security, backups, speed) for you. Their Canadian data center is in Toronto, ON. While their entry plan is above our $35 budget on renewal, their starter plan is a premier option for those who can use a longer-term discount.
- Pricing: The Managed WordPress plan starts at $26.25 CAD/mo (if paid annually—$315 CAD/year). *Note: The renewal rate is higher, but often still under $35/mo with promotions.*
- Key Features:
- Managed WordPress Updates & Security
- Daily Backups & One-Click Restore
- Evercache Technology for Blazing Speed
- 24/7 Expert WordPress Support
- Free SSL and CDN (Cloudflare)
- 10 GB Storage (~25,000 visitors/mo)
- Link: WP Engine Canada Official Site
3. Cloudways: The Flexible Cloud Powerhouse
Best for: Developers, agencies, and growing businesses that need scalable power without sysadmin headaches.
Cloudways is a unique managed cloud hosting platform. They let you choose from top cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, Google Cloud, and AWS. You can easily select a Toronto-based server for fantastic Canadian performance.
- Pricing: The DigitalOcean server starts at $16.17 CAD/mo (1 GB RAM). A more powerful Linode 2 GB server is $26.71 CAD/mo.
- Key Features:
- Pay-as-you-go pricing (no long-term contracts needed)
- Choose your cloud provider and server location
- Managed services (security, patches, backups)
- Free SSL & Built-in CDN (Breeze Cache)
- Scalable resources with no downtime
- SSH and SFTP access
- Link: Cloudways Official Site
4. HostPapa: The Canadian Local Favorite
Best for: Canadian small businesses and individuals who prefer a well-known local provider with strong customer support.
HostPapa is headquartered in Canada and is a trusted name for Canadian web hosting. They offer robust features and have multiple data centers, including in Toronto, ON.
- Pricing: Their WordPress Hosting plan starts at $4.36 CAD/mo (on a 36-month term). Their Business shared hosting plan is also a great value.
- Key Features:
- Canadian-based company and support
- Free Domain Registration
- Free SSL Certificate
- Unlimited SSD Storage (on higher plans)
- Free Website Migration
- PapaCare 24/7 Support
- Link: HostPapa Official Site
Comparison Table: Best Canadian Web Hosting Under $35
| Feature | Hostinger | WP Engine | Cloudways | HostPapa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (CAD) | ~$3.99/mo | ~$26.25/mo | ~$16.17/mo | ~$4.36/mo |
| Canadian Server | Montreal, QC | Toronto, ON | Toronto, ON | Toronto, ON |
| Type | Shared Hosting | Managed WordPress | Managed Cloud | Shared Hosting |
| Free Domain | Yes (1st year) | No | No | Yes (1st year) |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 100 GB SSD | 10 GB | 25 GB SSD | 100 GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | ~25k visits/mo | 1 TB | Unlimited |
| Best For | Budget, Beginners | Performance, Support | Scalability, Power | Canadian Support |
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hosted in Canada
Follow these steps to get your website online quickly and correctly.
Step 1: Choose Your Hosting Plan
Based on the comparison above, select the provider that best fits your needs. For most beginners, Hostinger or HostPapa are fantastic starting points. If you are launching a business on WordPress, WP Engine is worth the investment.
Step 2: Register a Domain Name
Your domain is your website’s address (e.g., yourbusiness.ca). Most providers (like Hostinger and HostPapa) offer a free domain for the first year when you sign up for hosting. Have a few ideas ready and check their availability during the sign-up process.
Step 3: Select Your Billing Cycle
Hosting companies offer significant discounts for longer-term commitments (e.g., 12, 24, or 36 months). If you’re serious about your website, a longer plan offers the best value. Just be aware of the standard renewal price when the initial term ends.
Step 4: Configure Your Server Location
This is the most crucial step for a Canadian website! During the checkout process, you will often be asked to choose a data center. Ensure you select Montreal or Toronto (depending on the provider) to get the best performance for your audience.
Step 5: Complete Your Purchase & Install WordPress
Enter your payment details and create your account. Once you’ve logged into your hosting dashboard (cPanel), look for the “WordPress” or “Website” installer. Most hosts have a one-click installer that will set up WordPress for you in seconds.
Step 6: Build Your Website
Now the fun begins! Log into your new WordPress site (yoursite.com/wp-admin), choose a theme, and start adding your content. Consider using a drag-and-drop page builder like Elementor to make designing easy.
Final Recommendation
- For absolute beginners on a tight budget: Go with Hostinger. Its combination of low price, Canadian servers, and excellent features is unbeatable.
- For a serious WordPress business or blog: Invest in WP Engine. The managed service, top-tier security, and blazing speed will save you time and help you grow.
- For tech-savvy users expecting rapid growth: Cloudways offers unparalleled flexibility and power starting at a very reasonable price.
Remember, your website is the foundation of your online presence. Choosing a host with a Canadian data center for under $35 CAD is a smart investment that will pay off in faster load times, happier visitors, and better search engine rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it really necessary to have a server located in Canada?
While not strictly necessary, it is highly recommended. A local server significantly reduces latency, meaning your website will load much faster for your Canadian visitors. Speed is a critical factor for user experience and search engine rankings (SEO). Google uses server location as a signal for local search results, so a Canadian server can help you rank higher for searches within Canada.
2. The prices shown are very low. What’s the catch?
The incredibly low introductory prices (e.g., $3.99/mo) are almost always tied to a long-term commitment of 12, 24, or 48 months. The catch is that the renewal price will be significantly higher, often 2-3 times the initial cost. Always check the renewal price before purchasing. The prices in our guide are accurate for the initial term, and all providers listed still offer excellent value even at their standard renewal rates, well within the $35 CAD budget.
3. What is the difference between “Shared Hosting” and “Managed WordPress Hosting”?
- Shared Hosting: Your website shares a single server’s resources (CPU, RAM) with many other websites. It’s affordable and perfect for beginners with low to medium traffic. Providers like Hostinger and HostPapa offer this.
- Managed WordPress Hosting: The hosting provider (like WP Engine) handles all the technical aspects of running WordPress for you, including speed optimization, security, daily backups, and updates. This is a premium service for websites where performance, security, and reliability are top priorities.
4. Besides the server location, what else should I look for in a Canadian web host?
- Customer Support: Look for 24/7 support via live chat or phone. Having support that understands the Canadian market can be a plus.
- Data Privacy Laws: Ensure the provider is compliant with Canadian data protection laws like PIPEDA.
- Payment Methods: Some Canadian hosts offer preferred payment methods like Interac e-Transfer.
- Uptime Guarantee: Look for a provider offering at least a 99.9% uptime guarantee to ensure your site is always accessible.
5. Can I start with a cheap plan and upgrade later?
Absolutely! In fact, this is the recommended strategy for most people. You can start with an affordable shared hosting plan from a provider like Hostinger. As your website grows and attracts more traffic, you can seamlessly upgrade to a more powerful plan (like VPS or cloud hosting) within the same provider, often without any downtime. All the providers listed make it easy to scale your resources.