KnownHost Review: LiteSpeed Shared Hosting, Pricing and Verdict
hosting reviewThis KnownHost review covers what the four shared plans include, what you pay once the intro price ends, and what the company does not publish. KnownHost has run since 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama, uses LiteSpeed with LSCache and CloudLinux on cPanel, and keeps its renewal jump small, which puts it fourth in my best LiteSpeed hosting ranking with a score of 7.8 out of 10.
- plans read Nov 2026
- 5-year cost calculator
- renewal prices shown
// disclosure KnownHost did not pay for this review and there are no affiliate links on this page. Read how I wrote it.
The KnownHost Review in Brief
KnownHost is a good choice for site owners who want LiteSpeed on cPanel with CloudLinux isolation and a renewal price that stays close to the intro price. It is a weaker choice if you need published inode limits, a clear refund policy on the plan page or a large pool of public reviews.
7.8 / 10
Good stack and the smallest renewal jump in the ranking, held back by unpublished limits.
Predictable renewals
Owners who dislike a renewal that is several times the intro price.
You need inode figures
Inode limits are not on the plan page, and the Trustpilot sample is only 93 reviews.
KnownHost Pricing: Intro Versus Renewal
The prices below are based on a 3-year commitment. The renewal price is only about a third higher than the intro price, which is unusual for shared hosting.
| Feature | Basic | Standard | Professional | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro price | $6.71 a month | $9.71 a month | $14.96 a month | $29.96 a month |
| Renewal price | $8.95 a month | $12.95 a month | $19.95 a month | $39.95 a month |
| Websites | 1 | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Storage | 10 GB NVMe | 25 GB NVMe | Not shown | Not shown |
| CPU and RAM | 1 core, 1 GB | 2 cores, 2 GB | 4 cores, 4 GB | 6 cores, 6 GB |
| Extras | JetBackup | JetBackup | Patchman | Dedicated IPv4 |
// source: KnownHost shared hosting page, November 2026. The page shows backup retention of 2 days to 1 week and does not state a refund policy.
// list prices before tax. Assumes the 3-year commitment, then renewal.
What KnownHost Actually Includes
All shared plans run LiteSpeed with LSCache on NVMe storage, with CloudLinux account isolation and cPanel (KnownHost plans). Data centers are in Atlanta, Seattle and Amsterdam, and the company has operated since 2006 from Birmingham, Alabama.
CPU and RAM are printed per plan, from one core and 1 GB on Basic to six cores and 6 GB on Premium. Backups run through JetBackup with retention of two days to one week, which is shorter than ChemiCloud’s 10 to 30 days.
- LiteSpeed, LSCache and CloudLinux on all shared plans.
- Cores and RAM published per plan.
- Renewal only about 1.3 times the intro price.
- Three data center locations.
// from the KnownHost plan page, November 2026
How I Would Test KnownHost Before Paying for 3 Years
The page does not state a refund policy, so I would settle that first. This is part of my technical SEO checks.
Get the refund terms in writing
Ask support what the refund window is for a 3-year plan, since the plan page does not say.
Ask for the inode limit
Ask for the inode figure for your plan and compare it with your current file and email count.
Migrate a real site
Move the live site, then run curl -sI https://yoursite.com and look for a LiteSpeed server line and a cache hit header on the second request.
Check backups
Retention is two days to one week, so also keep your own off-site copy and test a restore.
Measure TTFB
Choose the nearest data center, then test cold and warm cache from your visitors’ region.
How I Rate KnownHost
Every host in the best LiteSpeed hosting ranking is scored from 0 to 10 on five weighted criteria. I did not run load tests, so the score reflects published limits, plan pages and user reports.
Score breakdown
Read the plan page and help pages
Prices, limits and refund terms, read in November 2026.
Check the server stack
LiteSpeed edition, isolation, control panel and storage type.
Read what users report
Trustpilot and independent reviews, looking for repeated patterns.
Score and cap
A host with fewer than 100 public reviews cannot score above 7 on reputation. KnownHost has 93 on Trustpilot, so it is capped there.
KnownHost vs Its Closest Rivals
How it compares with the other top hosts in my ranking. Figures come from the best LiteSpeed hosting comparison table and each plan page, read in November 2026.
| Host | KnownHost | ChemiCloud | ScalaHosting | NameHero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.8 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| Web server | LiteSpeed | LiteSpeed Enterprise | OpenLiteSpeed | LiteSpeed Enterprise |
| Control panel | cPanel | cPanel | SPanel | cPanel |
| Inode limit | Not published | 250k to 500k | No shared cap | 250k to 500k |
| Renewal multiple | about 1.3x | about 8x | about 2.4x | about 6x |
| Trustpilot | 4.4 (93) | 4.8 (1,300) | 4.9 (2,180) | 4.9 (5,100) |
// see the full ranking in my best LiteSpeed hosting guide
What Users Say on Trustpilot
KnownHost scores 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 93 reviews, a much smaller sample than its rivals (Trustpilot).
What people praise
Reviewers mention helpful support and stable hosting over many years.
What people complain about
With only 93 reviews, complaints do not show a strong pattern. Individual reports mention billing and support delays. Treat these as reports, not proof.
What the Plan Page Leaves Unclear
Each of these is worth a question to support before you pay.
inodesNo inode limit shownWhat is the inode limit for my plan?refundNo refund policy on the plan pageWhat is the refund window on a 3-year term?storageNot shown for Professional and PremiumHow many GB do these plans include?backupsRetention of 2 days to 1 weekCan I get longer retention or my own copies?Strengths, Weak Points and Who It Suits
- Renewal only about 1.3 times the intro price
- LiteSpeed, LSCache and CloudLinux
- Cores and RAM published
- Operating since 2006
- Inode limits not published
- No refund policy on the plan page
- Short backup retention
- Only 93 Trustpilot reviews
Before You Buy KnownHost
Tick each check as you finish it.
Independent, No Paid Placements
I am a freelance SEO specialist, not a reseller. KnownHost did not pay for this review and there are no affiliate links on this page. Every price and limit comes from the sources below, read in November 2026. I did not run speed or uptime tests, so I claim none, and the score is my editorial rating. Prices change often, so confirm them before you buy.
Sources Used for This Review
KnownHost Review FAQ
How much does KnownHost cost?
Intro prices on a 3-year commitment are $6.71, $9.71, $14.96 and $29.96 a month. Renewal prices are $8.95, $12.95, $19.95 and $39.95 a month.
Does KnownHost use LiteSpeed?
Yes. All shared plans run LiteSpeed with LSCache, CloudLinux and cPanel on NVMe storage.
Does KnownHost publish inode limits?
Not on the plan page I read. Ask support for the figure for your plan before you buy.
Where are KnownHost’s data centers?
Atlanta, Seattle and Amsterdam, with the company based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Does KnownHost have a money-back guarantee?
The plan page does not state a refund policy. Get the terms in writing before a long commitment.
How long are KnownHost backups kept?
The plan page shows JetBackup retention of two days to one week depending on the plan.
What do users complain about?
The Trustpilot sample is only 93 reviews, so no strong pattern shows. Check billing and refund terms before paying.
Choosing a Host for Your Site
If you are unsure KnownHost fits, my best LiteSpeed hosting guide compares nine alternatives. Hosting is only part of speed, and I fix the rest as part of my affordable SEO services.