Free Web Hosting Vs Paid
There are many reasons why you should pick paying for web hosting over free hosting.
Gtld: Generic Top Level Domain
A gTLD is essentially a top-level domain that doesnt rely on a country code. Many gTLDs are intended for a specific use-case, such as .edu which is aimed at educational institutions. That said, you dont have to meet any specific criteria to register a gTLD, which is why a .com domain might not necessarily be used for commercial purposes.
Other examples of gTLDs include .mil , .gov , .org , and .net, which was originally designed for internet service providers but is now used more widely.
Buy A Domain Name & Web Hosting Separately
You can choose to buy your domain name and web hosting separately, reasons for this include:
- You want to buy your domain name now and the hosting later
- You want to setup a business email account using your domain
Doing it this way, you register your domain at a domain registrar of your choice and your hosting at a hosting company. Youll then log into your account at the domain company and point your domain to your hosting account.
You can read about pointing your domain to your hosting account here.
For example you can use Namecheap for the domain and Kinsta for web hosting.
Domain Name Provider Examples:
Namecheap Simple and affordable with included domain privacy so your personal details dont show up on a WhoIs domain name search.
Googles domain registration platform, focused on integrating with Google products.
Web Hosting Provider Examples:
Kinsta Managed WordPress Hosting only, very high security, unlimited daily backups & fastest page loading speed. Free SSL & Global CDN, 24/7 support, Google Cloud integration, hacking and malware removal. Easy to use & Free website transfers plus a 30 Day money back guarantee.
Siteground Cheap hosting plans, hosting split into categories based on regular Web Hosting, WordPress Hosting, WooCommerce Hosting and Managed Cloud Hosting. Free email accounts, Free SSL and a free website builder.
Advantages of Buying Domains & Hosting Separately
Disadvantages of Buying Domains & Hosting Separately
Also Check: How To Figure Out Who Owns A Domain
What Are Some Famous Domain Companies
Do you have an interesting and unique name for your website? Here are some recommended domain registrars for your site-
Recommended By Our Editors
When it comes to server operating systems, Linux is typically the default option. Still, some services offer a choice of Linux or Windows Server hosting. If you have specific server-side applications that require Windows, such as SQL Server or a custom application written in .NET, then you need to make sure your web host has Windows hosting. But don’t let the idea of a Linux host intimidate you. Nowadays, most web hosts offer a graphical interface or a control panel to simplify server administration and website management. Instead of typing at the command line, you’ll click easily identifiable icons.
Windows hosting is often more expensive than Linux hosting, especially in the dedicated server area. That’s not always the case, but it’s something you should be aware of as you shop around.
Also Check: How To Change Ownership Of Domain Name
What Are The Main Tlds For Domains
The top-level domain is simply the last segment of a domain name or the short part that follows the dot. TLDs are also called domain suffixes.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is the corporation responsible for managing domain names and IP addresses on the internet. ICANN categorizes TLDs as follows:
- Generic Top-Level Domains
- .edu Educational facilities like universities
What Is A Web Host
Your website has many files containing code and images that need to run on a server that has access to the Internet. Your website hosting provider houses your files on their web server and assigns your website an IP address that can be connected to through the Internet. Some hosting providers can also register your domain name as part of their services.
You May Like: How Much Should I Offer For A Domain Name
Can I Switch Domain Name Providers
Maybe you have the perfect domain name, but youre not sure about your domain name registrar. You can easily switch between any domain name registrar out there.
However, keep in mind that the transfer process may be different depending on where youre transferring to. Usually, youll have to initiate the transfer within your current registrar, and an authorization code will be sent to your new hosting account. There are multiple confirmation steps that will help to ensure you dont transfer your domain to the wrong owner.
Web Hosting Vs Domain Name: Differences Explained
Getting to grips with the difference between web hosting and domain names is essential when youre running a website. Here, we talk you through each one and what the key differences are.
When youre a beginner in the world of websites there can be a lot of jargon and technical terms to get your head around.
Two of the most important features of a website are web hosting and a domain name. However, many people often get these two different web elements confused.
Fear not, though its an easy mistake to make. So in this article, well explain the differences between the two and why you need to understand both to be successful at building your online presence.
Don’t Miss: How To Create A Domain Email With Gmail
How Much Does Web Hosting Cost To Buy And Renew
Web hosting prices depend on the type of web hosting service your website needs. Shared web hosting is usually the cheapest option because your site is stored on a server that hosts other websites too. The prices for shared hosting usually range from $3 to $10 per month.
Dedicated servers cost an arm and a leg, but they do provide clients with enhanced security and ensure effective load distribution. If you want more flexibility and greater control over your website but youre not ready to pay for a dedicated server, consider virtual private server hosting. Prices for VPS hosting range from $29 to $69 per month.
Remember that your initial costs when you first purchase a web hosting service wont remain the same once you need to renew your contract.
Purchasing Your Domain Name And Hosting Separately
Some people prefer to separate their domain names and hosting. This can make it easier if you ever decide to leave your hosting provider, as youll only have to migrate your domain names, too.
However, you might miss out on any short-term specials that many hosts offer when you bundle the two together. Plus, if youre having issues with your website, then youll have to deal with customer support across two companies, instead of one.
But, if those arent dealbreakers for you, then this approach might be right for you.
Heres how to do it.
For example, you might choose to purchase hosting through HostGator, while you pick up your domain name from a registrar like Domain.com.
There are dozens of different domain name registration services that you can choose from to change your web server. Once youve purchased your domain at a separate provider youll need to point the nameservers towards your server.
Once that change has gone into effect, your website will now be live.
Read Also: Can You Change A Domain Name On WordPress
I Understand Now How Do I Get Started
Now that you understand there is no choosing one or the other, rather its about working to integrate both web hosting and a website builder, how do you get started?
First, you need a domain name. Your domain name is going to be the name of your website, which should hopefully align with your brand or company. From there, you can choose what type of hosting and website builder package you want.
If youre still confused about all the options or have any questions regarding domains, hosting services, and website builders, then feel free to reach out to the experts at Domain.com and theyll provide the answers youre looking for. You dont need to be an expert coder to create a fantastic website, you just need a solid website builder and a decent web hosting plan.
Kristin Crabb
Content Marketing Strategist working in the digital marketing industry. Skilled in SEO-focused content creation, keyword research and competitive analysis, interactive content, web content optimization, and landing page creation.
Who Owns A Domain Name
A domain name is legally owned by a domain registrant. Whenever someone registers a domain name, the registrar will gather the registrants personal information and submit it to the WHOIS directory.With that in mind, if you register a domain name, you automatically become the registrant and will continue being so as long as you renew the fees.
Also Check: What Is My Google Apps Domain
What Are The Most Popular Domain Registrars
When choosing your domain name registrars, be aware of the following:
- Pricing: Each domain registrar offers different pricing fees and renewal fees. Some of them also have hidden fees, so be sure to check their terms of service.
- Domain transfers: Domain registrars usually allow clients to transfer their domain names easily without paying an extra fee. However, some companies deliberately make this process more complicated or charge an extra fee. Always check the domain transfer policy before you choose your domain registrar.
- Domain expiration policies: Domain names have an expiry date. If you dont renew your domain name on time, it will expire, which means that anyone can register it as their own. Thats why its very important to choose a domain name registrar that offers automatic renewals or provides clients with a grace period to renew their domain name even after its expiration.
- Add-on services: Always check what other services your domain name registrar provides. You may not need these services now, but things might change as your business grows. These services include email hosting, website marketing, email marketing tools, etc.
B What Is A Domain Name
Like weve already explained, a domain name is the unique name of your website. Its what people type in their browsers if they have to visit your site. So, its also referred to as the address of your website or the web address.
For example: SiteNerdy.com is the domain name of our website.
Similarly, Google.com, Wikipedia.org, Facebook.com, etc. also are the popular domain names of respective sites.
Now, lets understand an easy concept of why domain names came into practice.
Actually, websites are identified on the web by IP addresses of the servers they are stored in. An IP address is the combination of numbers separated by dots. It looks like this:
216.58.214.4
Want to see for yourself? Just enter the above number in your web browsers address bar. Youll see our favorite search engine Google opening. Isnt that cool?
Likewise, the IP address of the server gives the location of every respective website.
Computers indeed identify these kinds of numbers and locate the relevant websites. But for people, its very hard to catch on. Youre not supposed to remember the IP address of every website that you want to visit.
Thats where domain names came in. The idea is just to use a simple word rather than lengthy numbers to identify and locate websites.
For example, typing Google.com instead of 216.58.214.4 to visit Google is so much easier.
Recommended Reading: Can I Transfer My Domain Name
What Is A Domain
Now, what is a website domain name? When thinking about websites vs. domains, it is essential that you remember that websites act as the online storefront that potential consumers will peruse, and that storefront is made up of a variety of things such as pictures, files, data, and pages. When a computer communicates with another computer, it does so in a similar manner to how we travel from place to place. We start at a beginning point, then follow roads and directions to that final destination address. Computers act the same and in order to reach that desired endpoint, they require an address system to distinguish one computer or server from another.
In the early 80s, computer scientists, under the auspices of the American government and military, began constructing the world wide web. This computational network allowed computers to speak amongst each other and allowed the user to visit websites by physically entering their numerical address. The categorization system they created to assign unique 32-bit digits to each device or website was called the Internet Protocol Address System. Colloquially, we now call this the IP address.
What Is Web Hosting Explained
At its simplest, web hosting is basically like renting a space on the internet to place your website. You can purchase that space from web hosting service providers, also known as web hosts. Once youve done that, other people will be able to use your site through the internet.
Before you build a website, it is first necessary to have some hosting space on server. A server is basically a computer that is always running and connected to the internet.
However, its important to remember that not all hosting services are the same. In fact, youll find a number of different types of them out there.
Getting Started With Domain Names And Hosting
When it comes to registering your domain name and purchasing hosting youre going to have a few different options available to you. You can mix and match different providers, shop around for the best deal or feature set, or you purchase them both together and simplify the process.
Both approaches work entirely fine. It simply depends on what works best for you.
Some people prefer to keep their domains and hosting all under one roof, while others like to separate the two.