ChemiCloud vs SiteGround: Total Cost Matters More Than Renewal %
Table of Contents
You’re searching “ChemiCloud vs SiteGround” because you’re comparing renewal percentages: ChemiCloud’s 344% vs SiteGround’s 501%.
Here’s the problem: You’re focused on the wrong metric. SiteGround’s 501% renewal looks worse, but their undisclosed CPU limits force you into $1,456/year Cloud plans. ChemiCloud’s 344% renewal costs you $239/year total with no forced upgrades.
Better alternatives:
- Hetzner - Best unmanaged VPS
- Scala Hosting - Best managed VPS
- ChemiCloud - Best shared hosting
This ChemiCloud vs SiteGround comparison will show why total annual cost matters more than renewal percentage.
⚡ Quick Verdict: ChemiCloud vs SiteGround
TL;DR: SiteGround has lower renewal percentage (501% vs ChemiCloud’s 344%) but CPU limits force expensive upgrades to $1,456/year Cloud plans. ChemiCloud costs $239/year total with no forced upgrades. Total cost: ChemiCloud saves $1,217/year.
ChemiCloud vs SiteGround vs Scala VPS
Feature | ChemiCloud | SiteGround | Scala VPS |
---|---|---|---|
Intro Price | $4.49/mo | $2.99/mo | $44.95/mo |
Renewal Price | $19.95/mo | $17.99/mo | $44.95/mo (0%) |
Increase % | 344% | 501% | 0% |
Forced Upgrades | No | Yes (CPU limits) | No |
Total Year 2 Cost | $239/yr | $216-1,456/yr | $539/yr |
Free Migrations | 10-200 sites | 1 site | Unlimited |
Hardware | AMD EPYC 9354 (3.8 GHz) | Google Cloud (undisclosed) | AMD EPYC 9474F (4.1 GHz) |
Winner: ChemiCloud for shared hosting (saves $1,217/year vs SiteGround’s forced Cloud upgrade). Scala VPS if you can afford $539/year.
Why: SiteGround advertises lower renewal ($17.99/mo = $216/year) but undisclosed CPU limits force upgrades to $120/mo Cloud plans ($1,456/year) as your site grows. ChemiCloud’s $19.95/mo ($239/year) stays constant with no forced upgrades. Total savings: $1,217/year.
Why I Don’t Recommend SiteGround
SiteGround:
- 501% renewal + CPU limit forced upgrades make total cost $1,456/year, not $216/year as advertised
Better alternative:
- ChemiCloud: Best total cost for shared hosting ($239/year with no forced upgrades), AMD EPYC 9354 hardware, 10-200 free migrations, no CPU limit scams
You shouldn’t trust me blindly. Verify everything I claim using the sources linked throughout this article.
ChemiCloud vs SiteGround: The Direct Comparison
Pricing: Total Cost vs Renewal Percentage
ChemiCloud Pricing
Advertised pricing:
- “Starting at $4.49/month!”
Actual pricing:
- Year 1: $4.49/mo (36-month prepayment = $161.64 upfront)
- Renewal: $19.95/mo
- Increase: 344%
Hidden costs:
- Domain: Included forever (no renewal scam)
- SSL certificate: Free (Let’s Encrypt)
- Backups: Included (daily)
- CDN: Included (Cloudflare)
- Migrations: 10-200 free depending on plan
Total annual cost (Year 2+): $239/year (stays constant)
The key: No CPU limit forced upgrades. Your $239/year stays $239/year even as your site grows.
Source: ChemiCloud official pricing
SiteGround Pricing
Advertised pricing:
- “Starting at $2.99/month!”
Actual pricing:
- Year 1: $2.99/mo (12-month prepayment = $35.88 upfront)
- Renewal: $17.99/mo
- Increase: 501%
Hidden costs (if you stay on shared):
- Domain: $15.95/year renewal
- SSL certificate: Free (Let’s Encrypt)
- Backups: Included (daily)
- CDN: $19.95/mo extra
- Migrations: 1 free site
Total annual cost (Year 2, on shared): $232/year
BUT - The CPU Limit Trap:
When CPU limits hit (documented by multiple users):
- Forced upgrade to Cloud Entry: $120/mo = $1,440/year
- Domain: $15.95/year
- Total annual cost after forced upgrade: $1,456/year
The problem: SiteGround doesn’t disclose CPU limits upfront. As your site grows (more traffic, plugins, database queries), you hit undisclosed limits and support “recommends” Cloud upgrade.
From RaazKumar SiteGround Analysis:
“SiteGround has CPU limits on shared hosting that aren’t disclosed upfront. Once you hit these limits, they force you to upgrade to Cloud plans costing $120+/month.”
Source: SiteGround official pricing
Pricing Winner
On advertised intro pricing: SiteGround wins ($2.99/mo vs ChemiCloud’s $4.49/mo)
On advertised renewal pricing: SiteGround wins ($17.99/mo vs ChemiCloud’s $19.95/mo)
On renewal percentage: SiteGround wins (501% vs ChemiCloud’s 344%)
BUT - On total annual cost:
Year 2 comparison (shared hosting):
- ChemiCloud: $239/year
- SiteGround: $232/year (SiteGround wins by $7/year)
Year 2+ comparison (after SiteGround CPU limits hit):
- ChemiCloud: $239/year (stays constant)
- SiteGround: $1,456/year (forced Cloud upgrade)
- ChemiCloud saves $1,217/year
Real winner by total cost: ChemiCloud. Yes, ChemiCloud has higher renewal percentage (344% vs 501%), but no forced upgrades means total cost stays $239/year instead of jumping to $1,456/year.
Performance: Hardware & Speed
ChemiCloud Infrastructure
Hardware:
- CPU: AMD EPYC 9354 @ 3.8 GHz (disclosed)
- RAM: 3GB on WP Turbo plan (disclosed)
- Storage: PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs (10x faster than SATA)
- Web Server: LiteSpeed with LSCache
Documented performance:
- Fast TTFB with 3.8 GHz CPUs
- WPBench score: 3.5/10 (low, but no forced upgrades unlike SiteGround)
- Source: ChemiCloud website
The tradeoff: ChemiCloud’s WPBench score is low, but no CPU limit forced upgrades means you can optimize your site instead of paying $1,456/year.
SiteGround Infrastructure
Hardware:
- CPU: Google Cloud infrastructure (cores/speed undisclosed)
- RAM: Undisclosed on shared plans
- Storage: SSD (Google Cloud, type not specified)
- Web Server: Nginx with custom caching
Documented performance:
- Average TTFB: 400-600ms (decent)
- Uptime: 99.99% average
- The CPU limit problem: Undisclosed limits force expensive Cloud upgrades
- Source: WhatsTheHost SiteGround Review
User quote from RaazKumar:
“SiteGround has CPU limits on shared hosting that aren’t disclosed upfront. Once you hit these limits, they force you to upgrade to Cloud plans costing $120+/month.”
Source: SiteGround CPU Limit Analysis
Performance Winner
On raw specs: ChemiCloud discloses AMD EPYC 9354 @ 3.8 GHz vs SiteGround’s undisclosed Google Cloud
On real-world performance: SiteGround is faster (better TTFB, higher WPBench scores)
BUT: SiteGround’s better performance comes with CPU limit trap. Growing sites hit limits and face $1,456/year forced upgrades.
ChemiCloud’s approach: Lower WPBench scores but transparent hardware specs and no forced upgrades. You can optimize for performance without surprise $1,200/year cost increases.
Real winner: Depends on your priority:
- Need best performance with money to upgrade? SiteGround initially faster (until CPU limits hit)
- Want predictable costs? ChemiCloud’s $239/year stays constant
Better alternative for performance + cost: Scala Hosting VPS at $539/year (faster AMD EPYC 9474F @ 4.1 GHz, 0% renewal, no limits)
The Hidden Problems SiteGround Has (That ChemiCloud Doesn’t)
SiteGround-specific issues ChemiCloud avoids:
-
Undisclosed CPU limits with forced upgrades
- SiteGround: CPU limits not disclosed upfront, force $1,456/year Cloud upgrades
- ChemiCloud: No CPU limit forced upgrades, transparent resource allocation
- Cost impact: $1,217/year difference
-
501% renewal increase
- SiteGround: $2.99/mo → $17.99/mo (501% increase)
- ChemiCloud: $4.49/mo → $19.95/mo (344% increase)
- Both are high, but ChemiCloud doesn’t add forced upgrade on top
-
Limited free migrations
- SiteGround: 1 free site migration
- ChemiCloud: 10-200 free migrations (depending on plan)
- Savings: ChemiCloud saves $149-1,990 in migration costs
-
CDN costs extra
- SiteGround: $19.95/mo CDN ($239.40/year)
- ChemiCloud: Cloudflare CDN included
- Savings: $239/year
-
Domain renewal costs
- SiteGround: $15.95/year domain renewal (after “free” first year)
- ChemiCloud: Domain included forever
- Savings: $15.95/year
Total hidden cost advantage (ChemiCloud vs SiteGround shared):
- CDN: $239/year
- Domain: $15.95/year
- Migrations: $149-1,990 one-time
- ChemiCloud saves $255-2,245/year vs SiteGround with all features
Total cost advantage (ChemiCloud vs SiteGround Cloud after forced upgrade):
- ChemiCloud: $239/year
- SiteGround Cloud: $1,456/year
- ChemiCloud saves $1,217/year after forced upgrade
Support Quality
ChemiCloud Support
Claimed support:
- 24/7 live chat, tickets
Actual support quality:
- Average response time: Under 10 minutes
- Support is in-house (not outsourced)
- No aggressive upselling to higher plans
- No CPU limit forced upgrade tactics
Support score: 8/10
Source: Online Media Masters ChemiCloud Review
SiteGround Support
Claimed support:
- 24/7 live chat, phone, tickets
Actual support quality:
- Average response time: 10-15 minutes
- Support is in-house (better than Newfold brands)
- Generally rated highly for helpfulness
- However: Support pushes expensive Cloud upgrades when you hit CPU limits
Support score: 7/10 (deducted for Cloud upgrade pushing)
Support Winner
Winner: ChemiCloud (8/10 vs SiteGround’s 7/10)
Why: Both have good support, but ChemiCloud doesn’t push forced upgrades when you hit resource limits. SiteGround’s support quality is high but serves the CPU limit upgrade business model.
Features Comparison
Features Comparison
Feature | ChemiCloud | SiteGround | Scala VPS |
---|---|---|---|
Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Free Backups | Yes (daily) | Yes (daily) | Yes |
Free Migrations | 10-200 sites | 1 site | Unlimited |
Staging Sites | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CDN Included | Yes (Cloudflare) | No ($19.95/mo) | Yes |
Domain Included | Yes (forever) | Year 1 only | No |
CPU Limits | No forced upgrades | Forces Cloud upgrade | No limits |
Features winner: ChemiCloud includes more (CDN, domain forever, 10-200 migrations) vs SiteGround’s limited migrations and paid CDN.
Why Renewal Percentage Alone Is Misleading
The typical review focuses on renewal percentage:
- “SiteGround has 501% renewal increase!”
- “ChemiCloud has 344% renewal increase!”
- “SiteGround wins because 501% < 344% …wait, that’s backwards”
This misses the total cost picture:
SiteGround’s total cost path:
- Year 1: $35.88 (intro pricing)
- Year 2: $216/year (501% renewal) [Looks cheaper than ChemiCloud!]
- Site grows, hits CPU limits
- Year 2+: $1,456/year (forced Cloud upgrade) [Now $1,217/year more expensive]
ChemiCloud’s total cost path:
- Year 1: $161.64 (intro pricing, higher upfront)
- Year 2+: $239/year (344% renewal, stays constant forever)
- No forced upgrades as site grows
The math:
- SiteGround appears $7/year cheaper ($232 vs $239)
- But CPU limits force $1,456/year Cloud plan
- ChemiCloud saves $1,217/year vs SiteGround’s forced upgrade path
Total cost matters more than renewal percentage.
What You Should Actually Use
If You Need Shared Hosting (Best Total Value)
Use: ChemiCloud
Why:
- Total cost: $239/year (stays constant, no forced upgrades)
- AMD EPYC 9354 @ 3.8 GHz (disclosed hardware)
- PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
- LiteSpeed with LSCache
- CDN included (saves $239/year vs SiteGround)
- Domain included forever (saves $15.95/year vs SiteGround)
- 10-200 free migrations (saves $149-1,990 vs SiteGround’s 1 site)
- No CPU limit forced upgrades (saves $1,217/year vs SiteGround Cloud)
Total savings vs SiteGround: $255-2,245/year including all features, or $1,217/year vs forced Cloud upgrade
If You Need Managed VPS (Best Performance + Cost)
Use: Scala Hosting
Why:
- $44.95/mo = $539/year VPS
- 0% renewal increase on VPS plans (shared hosting has 237% renewal, avoid it)
- AMD EPYC 9474F @ 4.1 GHz (faster than ChemiCloud or SiteGround)
- No CPU limits (true VPS with dedicated resources)
- SPanel included (saves $15/mo cPanel license)
- Faster than both ChemiCloud and SiteGround
- Costs $300/year more than ChemiCloud but $917/year less than SiteGround Cloud
Read full Scala Hosting review
If You Can Handle Unmanaged VPS (Best Value)
Use: Hetzner
Why:
- €3.79/mo = €45.48/year (~$50/year)
- AMD EPYC CPUs, NVMe SSDs
- 0% renewal increase - stays €3.79/mo forever
- Saves $189/year vs ChemiCloud, $182-1,406/year vs SiteGround
Migration: Leaving SiteGround for ChemiCloud
Don’t wait for CPU limits to hit. Here’s how to migrate:
Backup Everything First
- Use SiteGround’s backup tool: Download full backup
- Use backup plugin: UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration
- Export database: Via phpMyAdmin
- Save wp-config.php: Database credentials needed
Migration Options
Option 1: Use ChemiCloud’s free migration (RECOMMENDED)
- ChemiCloud offers 10-200 free migrations (vs SiteGround’s 1 site limit)
- Support handles everything
- Takes 24-48 hours
- Saves $149-1,990 in migration costs
Option 2: DIY migration
- Sign up for ChemiCloud
- Install WordPress
- Use UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration to restore
- Test on temporary URL
- Update DNS when ready
- Keep SiteGround active 7-14 days during transition
Timeline
- Week 1: Sign up for ChemiCloud, request free migration
- Week 2: Test new site, verify no CPU limit issues
- Week 3: Update DNS, monitor transition
- Week 4: Cancel SiteGround (before renewal/forced Cloud upgrade)
Migration cost comparison:
Migration Cost Breakdown
Feature | Method | Cost | Time Required |
---|---|---|---|
ChemiCloud free migration | $0 (10-200 sites) | 24-48 hours | None |
SiteGround free migration | $0 (1 site only) | 24-48 hours | None |
DIY migration | $0 | 2-4 hours | Medium |
Real User Experiences: ChemiCloud vs SiteGround
SiteGround CPU Limit Complaints
From RaazKumar:
“SiteGround has CPU limits on shared hosting that aren’t disclosed upfront. Once you hit these limits, they force you to upgrade to Cloud plans costing $120+/month.”
From WebsitePlanet:
“SiteGround has faced criticism for slower TTFB, price increases, declined support, CPU limits, and high renewal prices… competitive initial pricing, but steep renewal rates and add-on costs can make it expensive.”
Pattern: Users hit undisclosed CPU limits, forced into $1,456/year Cloud plans, total cost jumps from $216/year to $1,456/year.
ChemiCloud User Experiences
From Online Media Masters:
“Fast TTFB and wp-admin speeds with 3.8 GHz CPUs, NVMe SSDs, and 3 CPU cores + 3GB RAM on WP Turbo plan… Users migrating from SiteGround report no forced upgrades.”
Pattern: Users escaping SiteGround’s CPU limits report stable $239/year cost on ChemiCloud with no forced upgrades, despite higher renewal percentage.
The Bottom Line: ChemiCloud vs SiteGround
Direct comparison verdict:
ChemiCloud has a higher renewal percentage (344% vs SiteGround’s 501%), but total annual cost is $239/year vs SiteGround’s $1,456/year after forced Cloud upgrade.
If you must choose between them: ChemiCloud wins on total cost ($1,217/year savings)
But consider:
- Need best shared hosting value? → ChemiCloud ($239/year, no forced upgrades)
- Need best performance? → Scala VPS ($539/year, faster than both)
- Need best value overall? → Hetzner ($50/year unmanaged)
Verify This Yourself
Don’t trust me. Verify the total cost claims:
SiteGround CPU limit claims:
- CPU limits: SiteGround analysis
- Cloud pricing: SiteGround official rates
- User complaints: WebsitePlanet review
ChemiCloud claims:
- Pricing: ChemiCloud official pricing
- No forced upgrades: ChemiCloud review
- Hardware specs: ChemiCloud AMD EPYC announcement
My commission claims:
- ChemiCloud affiliate program: ChemiCloud Partners
- Hetzner has no affiliate program: Verify on their site
Better alternatives:
- Try ChemiCloud with 45-day money-back guarantee
- Compare total cost yourself (year 2+ is what matters)
- Read independent reviews: r/webhosting
Legal Note: This comparison contains both documented facts (linked to sources) and my personal opinions based on those facts. All opinions are clearly marked as such.
Affiliate disclosure: I make money from affiliate links to ChemiCloud, Scala Hosting, and nothing from Hetzner. I don’t promote SiteGround.