LWS (Ligne Web Services) has been selling domain names and web hosting for more than twenty years, and it is one of the most visible French hosts: a very low headline price, a free domain name, everything included. This review answers the question that matters before you order: what you will really pay once the first year is over, and against whom LWS stays the cheapest.
To price your own case (number of sites, duration, VAT), use our real web hosting cost calculator over 1 to 5 years, where the three LWS plans now sit next to o2switch, PlanetHoster and Infomaniak.
How this review was put together
We did not run a benchmark on an LWS account. This review is documentary: it relies on the web hosting plans page of lws.fr checked on 24 October 2026, and compares its prices with our checks of o2switch (22 Oct), PlanetHoster (18 Oct) and Infomaniak (23 Oct). The Trustpilot score displayed by LWS (4.6 out of 5) is quoted as a claim by the host, without verification on our side. Note that the LWS website, its customer area and its support are in French.
LWS plans in 2026
| Plan | Year one (excl. VAT/month) | Afterwards (excl. VAT/month) | Sites | SSD space | Emails | Advertised visits/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perso | EUR 1.49 | EUR 3.99 | 3 | 100 GB | 5 | 30,000 |
| Starter | EUR 3.49 | EUR 5.99 | 10 | 200 GB | 25 | 100,000 |
| Performance | EUR 6.99 | EUR 11.99 | 50 | 300 GB | 100 | 300,000 |
All three plans include the SSL certificate, unlimited traffic, automatic daily backups, free migration of an existing site and a WordPress management tool. Performance adds two free domains instead of one and priority support.
Price: very low in year one, check it again at renewal
LWS writes it itself under its plans: "the discount applies to the first year only. The normal price will apply in the following years". Over three years, here is what that gives, including 20% French VAT:
- Perso: EUR 17.88 excl. VAT in year one, then EUR 47.88 excl. VAT a year, or about EUR 136 incl. VAT over 3 years.
- Starter: EUR 41.88 excl. VAT, then EUR 71.88 excl. VAT a year, or about EUR 223 incl. VAT over 3 years.
- Performance: EUR 83.88 excl. VAT, then EUR 143.88 excl. VAT a year, or about EUR 446 incl. VAT over 3 years.
Even at the full rate, Perso (EUR 3.99 excl. VAT, or EUR 4.79 incl. VAT a month) stays cheaper than o2switch Grow (EUR 7 excl. VAT) and PlanetHoster Standard (EUR 7.99). The increase is real, but it starts from very low. The maths changes if you have many sites: o2switch accepts an unlimited number of sites for EUR 84 excl. VAT a year, while Perso stops at 3 and Starter at 10.
What the price buys, and what it does not
LWS's strong point is everything included for a beginner: domain, email addresses, SSL, backups and WordPress tools are in the price, with no add-on to buy. The data centres are in France, which matters for a site aimed at a French audience or one that processes personal data.
The limits are those of an entry-level plan. LWS advertises an indicative ceiling of 30,000 visits a month on Perso and a single MySQL database: enough for a blog or a showcase site, tight for an online shop. If you plan several sites or a busy WooCommerce store, Starter or a competitor with no site limit will be a better fit.
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
LWS suits you if you are launching one or two small sites, want to spend as little as possible in the first year, and find the 30-day guarantee enough to try it out.
Look elsewhere if you run many sites (o2switch, unlimited sites, see our o2switch review), if you want 60 days to get a refund (see our PlanetHoster review), or if you are looking for hosting in Switzerland (see our Infomaniak review).
Disclosure: as of 24 October 2026, HostPilote is not paid by LWS. This link earns us nothing; LWS is listed here because it is one of the most requested French hosts.
Our verdict
LWS is the cheapest way to put a small site online with a French host, and it stays so after the first year: about EUR 136 incl. VAT over three years for Perso, less than half of o2switch Grow. The trap is not really one, provided you read it before paying: the monthly rate is multiplied by 2.7 at renewal. Beyond three sites, or for a site that is growing, compare with your own usage in the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is LWS a good web host?
For a small site that wants the lowest entry price at a French host, with a domain name, email addresses and daily backups included, yes. The point to know before you order: the discount only applies to the first year. LWS Perso goes from EUR 1.49 excl. VAT to EUR 3.99 excl. VAT a month at renewal, 2.7 times more.
How much does LWS cost in 2026?
Checked on 24 October 2026 on lws.fr: Perso EUR 1.49 excl. VAT/month in year one then EUR 3.99 excl. VAT, Starter EUR 3.49 excl. VAT then EUR 5.99 excl. VAT, Performance EUR 6.99 excl. VAT then EUR 11.99 excl. VAT. Prices are shown excluding VAT; Perso comes to EUR 1.79 incl. VAT a month in the first year.
Where are LWS sites hosted?
In France: LWS states that its data centres are located in France and certified ISO/IEC 27001, and that its technical teams are based in France.
Does LWS offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes, LWS displays a 30-day money-back guarantee, with no justification required, valid on its web hosting and VPS plans.