Safaricom Web-hosting Packages Costs and Prices

Package Summary

• Lite Package: Free with domain purchase, 50 MB storage, unlimited bandwidth, suitable for new websites with up to 10,000 monthly visitors
• Bronze Package: KES 1,500 per year, 500 MB storage, 10 email accounts, 5 subdomains, unlimited bandwidth for small businesses
• Silver Package: KES 2,500 per year, 2 GB storage, unlimited bandwidth, ideal for websites with 10,000-100,000 monthly visitors
• Gold Package: KES 4,000 per year, 10 GB storage, 100 subdomains, suitable for growing businesses needing more resources
• Premium Package: KES 5,000 per year, 20 GB storage, handles up to 8,000 daily visitors, supports medium-sized websites
• Enterprise Package: KES 7,100 per year, 50 GB storage, designed for businesses with substantial hosting requirements
• Enterprise Plus Package: KES 9,000 per year, 100 GB storage, maximum capacity for handling up to 500,000 monthly visitors
• Additional costs: SSL certificates available separately at KES 1,500, domain registration varies by extension (.co.ke, .com, etc.)

Understanding Safaricom Web Hosting

Safaricom, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has been providing web hosting services since 2010 and has become a trusted name in Kenya’s digital landscape. As the country’s leading telecommunications company, Safaricom leverages its robust infrastructure to offer reliable hosting solutions specifically designed for the Kenyan market. The platform is trusted by over 50,000 users who have hosted more than a million websites, making it one of the most popular choices for local businesses and individuals.

What sets Safaricom apart from many competitors is its focus on the Kenyan market, with particular emphasis on .co.ke domain extensions and integration with M-PESA payment systems. This local focus makes it exceptionally convenient for Kenyan businesses looking to establish their online presence without the complications of dealing with international payment methods or unfamiliar platforms.

Breaking Down the Package Prices

Safaricom’s web hosting packages are structured to accommodate websites of all sizes, from personal blogs to enterprise-level business sites. The pricing strategy reflects an understanding of the Kenyan market, with costs significantly lower than many international hosting providers.

The Bronze plan offers 5 subdomains, 500 MB storage space, unlimited bandwidth, and 10 email accounts for KES 1,500 per year. This package is particularly popular among small business owners and bloggers who are just starting their online journey. The unlimited bandwidth feature ensures that even if your site experiences traffic spikes, you won’t face additional charges or throttling.

For websites experiencing steady growth, the Silver and Gold packages provide substantial upgrades in storage and features. The Silver package costs KES 2,500 annually and offers 2 GB of storage, while the Gold package at KES 4,000 per year provides 10 GB of storage with support for up to 100 subdomains. These mid-tier packages are ideal for businesses running content-heavy websites, online stores, or portfolios that require more space for images and media files.

At the higher end of the spectrum, the Enterprise and Enterprise Plus packages cater to established businesses with significant web traffic and resource requirements. The Enterprise package at KES 7,100 annually provides 50 GB of storage, while the Enterprise Plus plan, priced at KES 9,000 per year, offers 100 GB of storage and can handle substantial traffic volumes. These packages are designed for businesses that have outgrown basic hosting and need the reliability and resources to support thousands of daily visitors.

Additional Costs and Considerations

While Safaricom’s hosting packages are competitively priced, prospective customers should be aware of additional costs that may apply. SSL certificates, which are essential for website security and SEO rankings, are available as an add-on at KES 1,500. Some competing hosts include SSL certificates free of charge, so this is an important factor to consider when calculating total costs.

Domain registration costs vary depending on the extension you choose. A .co.ke domain typically costs around KES 1,500 per year, making it an affordable option for businesses targeting Kenyan customers. International domains like .com and .net are priced higher but offer global recognition and broader market appeal.

One significant advantage of choosing Safaricom is their price lock guarantee, which means the rate you pay at sign-up remains constant throughout your subscription period. This protection against price increases provides budget certainty, especially valuable for small businesses operating on tight margins. Additionally, Safaricom offers free migration services for customers transferring their websites from other hosting providers, a service that can cost between KES 1,000 and KES 10,000 with other companies.

Value Proposition and Market Position

Safaricom’s web hosting service positions itself as a budget-friendly, locally-focused solution for Kenyan businesses. The integration with M-PESA for payments removes a significant barrier for many local entrepreneurs who may not have international credit cards or prefer using mobile money platforms. The company’s 24/7 customer support, delivered by teams familiar with the Kenyan market, provides an additional layer of value.

The hosting infrastructure utilizes Apache servers and includes features such as cPanel for easy management, a free website builder for those without technical expertise, and automatic provisioning that gets websites online quickly. Recent testing has shown uptime performance of 99.97% over a 209-day period, demonstrating the reliability of Safaricom’s hosting infrastructure.

However, it’s important to note that Safaricom’s hosting is best suited for small to medium-sized websites. For sites expecting more than 300,000 monthly page views or requiring advanced features like heavy database operations, customers may need to consider upgrading to VPS hosting solutions or exploring alternative providers that specialize in high-traffic websites.

Making the Right Choice

When evaluating Safaricom’s web hosting packages, consider your website’s current needs and projected growth. Start-ups and personal blogs will find the Bronze or Silver packages more than adequate, while growing businesses should look at Gold or Premium options to ensure they have room to scale. The annual billing cycle means committing upfront, but the cost savings compared to monthly billing make this worthwhile for most users.

Safaricom’s web hosting represents solid value for money within the Kenyan market, particularly for users who appreciate local support, M-PESA integration, and hosting infrastructure based in Kenya. While not the cheapest option available, the combination of reliability, local presence, and the Safaricom brand makes it a compelling choice for many Kenyan businesses establishing their digital footprint.