SiteGround vs Kapsule
SiteGround's headline price is USD$2.99-$14.99/mo intro. Renewal jumps to USD$17.99-$44.99/mo (3-5x). Kapsule prices in NZD with GST and the signup price is locked at renewal in our TOS.
International
SiteGround
StartUp
Entry price
USD$2.99/mo intro
Renewal: USD$17.99/mo
3-year cost: ~$700 over 3 years (NZD)
Kapsule Cloud
Web Hosting Start
Match for SiteGround
Entry price
NZ$5/mo
Renewal: NZ$5/mo (locked, clause 7.5)
3-year cost: ~NZ$180
Read the breakdown
The cost math
What you actually pay, year by year.
All bars normalised to NZD so length reflects real spend. USD prices show the NZD-equivalent in brackets.
Year 1
SiteGround
USD$3/mo
Kapsule
Year 2
SiteGround
USD$18/mo
Kapsule
Year 3
SiteGround
USD$18/mo
Kapsule
SiteGround 3-year cost
~NZ$772
~$700 over 3 years (NZD)
Kapsule 3-year cost
~NZ$180
Locked at signup, never increases
You save with Kapsule
~NZ$592 (77%) over 3 years
NZD totals calculated at 1 USD ≈ 1.65 NZD. SiteGround pricing snapshot 2026-06-07; check their current rate before signup. Kapsule renewal price guaranteed at signup price in Terms of Service clause 7.5.
Scorecard
Where Kapsule wins vs SiteGround.
No intro-price trap
SiteGround StartUp: USD$2.99/mo intro -> USD$17.99/mo renewal. Kapsule Start: NZ$5/mo at signup, NZ$5/mo at renewal, forever. Clause 7.5.
NZD-billed, GST included
Invoiced in NZD with GST broken out. No USD-to-NZD surprise, no separate tax line.
NZ-based support
Every ticket lands with an NZ-based engineer. No outsourced overflow desk on the other side of the world.
Comparable WP features
Auto updates, staging, edge cache, daily off-site backups (30 days), free Let's Encrypt SSL: included on Web Hosting plans. Same set as SiteGround StartUp.
Free white-glove migration
Our team migrates your site, database, email, and DNS for you. Zero downtime, scheduled with you. Free.
Spec sheet
Feature by feature.
Honest note
Where SiteGround legitimately wins.
SiteGround datacentres global
They have presence in EU, US, AU, SG. Kapsule's edge is global; origin is currently EU with Auckland Q3 2026.
WordPress-only optimisations
SiteGround has invested heavily in their own WP caching layer (SG Optimizer). Our Managed WordPress tier matches it; on shared Web Hosting we use Redis + Varnish which is comparable but different.
When to pick SiteGround
If your buying decision is heavily SiteGround-brand-specific (e.g. agency template choice based on SiteGround GrowBig), the cost gap may not move you. For most other cases, Kapsule Start at NZ$5 vs SG StartUp at USD$17.99/mo renewal is the comparison most buyers should run.
Moving over
Free migration from SiteGround.
Free white-glove migration from SiteGround. We use their backup tool to export, mirror to Kapsule staging, verify, then cut DNS outside business hours. Zero downtime. We do not charge a migration fee even if you're mid-contract with SiteGround.
Q + A
What buyers ask us about SiteGround.
Why is SiteGround intro so much cheaper?
It's an intro rate. After year 1 you renew at USD$17.99/mo for the same plan. The "discount" depends on staying for a multi-year commitment, then they raise. The 3-year cost is closer to USD$650+ vs Kapsule $540 NZD.
Do I lose SG Optimizer features?
No, you lose their plugin, but you gain Redis object cache + Varnish full-page cache on Managed WordPress, plus the edge network. The total speed result is comparable; the workflow is different.
Can I move mid-contract?
Yes. SiteGround does not offer pro-rata refunds on multi-year prepayments but you can move whenever you want. Our migration is free.
Ready?
Start on Web Hosting Start.
NZ$5/mo, locked at signup. Free migration from SiteGround. Cancel any time.