Latest Tools

As soon as you're done with creating your webpage, there's only one step to do next. And that is to put it online for everybody to see. To make it possible, you need to have web hosting. You have two choices: either go for free or paid type. If it sounds a bit confusing for you, read on. Below are some of the significant differences between the two.

As soon as you're done with creating your webpage, there's only one step to do next. And that is to put it online for everybody to see. To make it possible, you need to have web hosting. You have two choices: either go for free or paid type. If it sounds a bit confusing for you, read on. Below are some of the significant differences between the two.

With free hosting, as given by the name, you don't pay for the space. If you have no budget devoted to putting up a site online, this can be advantageous for you. Likewise, sites that are private in nature can make use of such service. But it's a different case when it comes to having a business site. It's not unlikely for potential customers to take your business for granted as they'll think you can't afford to pay a paid server.

On the other hand, paid hosting comes with a tag price, depending on which package you select. If you're an entrepreneur, the extra cost will be worth it anyway. Your target customers can easily access your webpage as it comes with its very own domain. This can be helpful because the URL may contain the name of your business.

Having a unique domain name like such isn't possible when you go for a free server. What you can have is a subdomain, which carries the server's name as well. This can be confusing to surfers, as they may remember your business' name, but not the server name. If you're putting up an online site for private purposes only, having such is fine. Besides, your friends could always ask for the domain in case they fail to remember it. But having a unique one is essential for a business site to have. In addition, in case you wish to transfer to another host, traffic won't suffer.

Forced advertisements are another thing that should be considered in choosing the kind of server you need. A free host may place banners and pop up windows on your website. And all these things oftentimes irritate web surfers. But if you go for a paid one, what goes into your site is under your control. There will be no ads that can turn off potential customers.

Does your personal site contain only a handful of low resolution photos and video clips? If yes, then it's fine to go for a limited bandwidth. The speed of loading your website also depends on how many webmasters are sharing the free server. On the other hand, this isn't an issue with a paid server. You decide on which package to pay. And it includes things like bandwidth, disk space, e-mall accounts, etc.

When it comes to technical support, there's no doubting that a paid one can provide a more satisfying service. It's because you paid for it, and the host will do its best to keep clients satisfied. It's usually done via e-mail, live chatrooms or even by phone. Such is an important feature, especially for a business site where maintaining the site is top priority. A free one, on the other hand, rarely offers excellent technical support.

There you have it, some of the main differences between the two types of web hosting. In the end, the choice is in your hands. Bear in mind the each other's pros and cons, so you can go for one that's suitable for your site.