GoDaddy Web Hosting Review
Last updated on January 19, 2025 by RGB Web Tech
GoDaddy Inc. is an American publicly traded Internet domain registrar and web hosting company. Its headquarters is in Scottsdale, Arizona, and incorporated in Delaware.
The Best Website Hosting providers will not be complete without mentioning GoDaddy, which is also known for their affordable website hosting plans. At only $1 per month, you will get not only website hosting but even free domain registration. They have global data centers, which can assure that speed will not be an issue. Plus, they are also guaranteeing 99.9% uptime. The cheapest plan also comes with unmetered bandwidth, 100 GB of storage, and a free domain when you sign up for the annual plan.
GoDaddy Hosting Features
GoDaddy’s platform is optimized for WordPress, with high-performance features like load-balanced servers. WordPress Hosting from GoDaddy uses servers modified to ensure WordPress websites run smoothly.
Their WordPress search engine optimization (SEO) plugin reviews pages and automatically handles basic SEO needs so search engines can easily find their client’s website. This service includes a security feature that finds and removes malware before it does damage available in their Ultimate and E-commerce hosting plans.
1. Easy-to-use Control Panel : Includes industry-standard cPanel to install apps, manage backups and security.
2. 1-click install of over 150 Free Apps : Provides access to over 150 free apps to create CMS sites (WordPress, Joomla), forums and blogs through Installatron.
3. 24/7 Network Security : Offers peace of mind, knowing network security and DDoS protection is monitored around the clock.
4. Resources on-demand : If you require more power for your site, seamlessly increase your CPU/RAM, I/O, and storage with a 1-click purchase.
5. Global Data Centers : Gives faster page loads and a better visitor experience with nearby, state-of-the-art data centers in North America, Europe, or Asia-Pacific.
6. 1-click Domain Name Setup : GoDaddy registered domain links your site to your domain name.
Pros and Cons of GoDaddy Web Hosting
There’s no question GoDaddy is one of the biggest names out there as far as how recognizable it is. It also houses the most domains globally, with over 17 million domain names on its roster.
Still, there are pros and cons to choosing GoDaddy as your web hosting provider. Here are the more prominent ones to take into account.
Pros
1. 24/7 Support : GoDaddy ensures it’s always within reach if you ever need a hand or run into trouble with your site. You can either reach them by phone or use its handy chat support option.
2. Lots of Storage : When you look through and compare GoDaddy’s hosting plans, it’s generous with its unmetered bandwidth feature for all tiers.
3. Affordable .com Domain : GoDaddy offers you the chance to snag a domain for only 99 cents for the first year, which can save you money as you begin.
4. Unlimited Site Hosting : Most GoDaddy plans let you host an unlimited number of websites except for its cheapest Economy plan.
5. Convenience : Since you can manage your domain and website in one place, GoDaddy offers convenience in managing both from one dashboard.
Cons
1. Constant Upsells : GoDaddy is notorious when it comes to its upsells through every step of the checkout process. While it does honor the prices for each tier if that’s all you’re going for, it’s quick to suggest add-ons and extra features you might not need.
2. Expensive Renewal Rate : This is one of the reasons why I think GoDaddy is great for beginner sites that just want to get their foot in the door with hosting. Once that initial year is up, GoDaddy’s renewal rates can start to get costly for what you get.
3. Charges for Add-ons : Other hosting providers throw in free first-year domain registration, for example, or include free SSL certification as part of its plans. GoDaddy does not always include these features depending on the plan you choose and can charge extra for them.
4. Inconsistent Customer Support : Support for GoDaddy isn’t always top-notch as convenience and reliability are concerned. There is always the possibility of long wait times to be connected to the right person.
FAQs - GoDaddy Hosting Review
1. Who owns GoDaddy?
Answer : GoDaddy was founded by Bob Parsons. About 70 percent of GoDaddy was sold to a private equity consortium several years ago, and the company has since gone public on NASDAQ with the stock ticker GDDY.
2. Where are GoDaddy servers located?
Answer : GoDaddy owns a massive 320,000 square feet data center that is located in Phoenix Arizona. The company also has data centers in Los Angeles, Chicago and Ashburn, Virginia, along with international facilities in Amsterdam and Singapore.
3. Does unlimited hosting mean what I think it means?
Answer : Yes and no. Shared plans do come with unlimited storage, but you are limited to 250,000 files/folders (and each email counts as a file). Furthermore, there are certain “soft” caps on other resources — if your usage exceeds these caps, GoDaddy may throttle the resources available to your website and, in extreme cases, may even prevent your use of the resources, leading to site downtime.
4. What kind of customer support do I get?
Answer : How do I contact GoDaddy’s support? You get first class 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat.
5. What are GoDaddy’s nameservers?
Answer : If your domain name is registered someplace else (for example with Namecheap) then you need to update the domain’s nameservers. You will find the correct NS values in your control panel. For example, GoDaddy’s default DNS nameservers look like: ns01.domaincontrol.com and ns02.domaincontrol.com. Their premium DNS nameservers look like: pdns01.domaincontrol.com and pdns02.domaincontrol.com.
6. How do I request a refund?
Answer : You can contact GoDaddy using live chat (Live chat can be launched via the “Chat with us” button on their website) or phone. To request a refund go to the “Contact Us”, select your country and perform a toll-free phone call.
7. What if I decide to cancel my hosting package with GoDaddy?
Answer : GoDaddy offers a money-back guarantee however it is related to the length of your web hosting plan. So do read the fine prints. However, you do qualify for a 45-day money-return guarantee if you have selected their annual plan.
8. What features does GoDaddy's website builder offer?
Answer : First of all, you’ll find many free templates to start customizing your website with. You’ll also find a nice library of 8,700 free photos. Another feature you can add to your website is a shopping cart. If you’re really short on time, GoDaddy’s Website Builder offers you pre-built websites with pre-written words and pictures. It just takes a mere 5 minutes to perform a tweak and you’re good to go.
9. What is GoDaddy’s cheapest hosting plan?
Answer : GoDaddy’s cheapest hosting plan is $2.99 per month and it comes with unlimited bandwidth and 100 GB storage and a free domain (for the first year) is included with the purchase.
10. Can I automatically install WordPress/automate WordPress installation?
Answer : WordPress installation is manual (though easy), but GoDaddy provides you with a WordPress managing tool suite, which automatizes your WordPress site backups and software updates. GoDaddy also enhances the performance of your WordPress website and offers you 24/7/365 specialized tech support. Managed WordPress plans come with the WordPress core pre-installed.
11. Which GoDaddy plan is best for WordPress sites?
Answer : The best plan for self-hosted WordPress users depends on the total number of sites hosted. Although the Developer plan is the most expensive one, it’s meant for people who own 5 websites and have up to 800,000 monthly visitors. On the other hand, the Ultimate plan can handle one or two WordPress sites, and 400,000 monthly visitors. It also includes malware protection.GoDaddy also offers managed WordPress options, which include bonuses like WordPress installed by default, staging areas, and dedicated phone support lines (no live chat, though).
Alternatives - Web Hosting Providers
If you want to explore more web hosting plans, here is some web hosting services provider companies as below:
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Read More : You can explore here 30+ Best Web Hosting and Domain name Providers 2023
Video - Best Web Hosting For Small Business
Affordable Website Hosting for your domainIf you found this article helpful, we encourage you to share it on your social media platforms—because sharing is caring! For more information about article submissions on our website, feel free to reach out to us via email.
Send an email
Written by RGB Web Tech
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What is Linux web hosting?
Last updated on January 19, 2025 by RGB Web Tech
Linux hosting is an open source operating system where web hosting services occur with the use of a Linux-based server.
Linux web hosting can be accessed by an organization or individual, and it’s generally one of the cheapest types of hosting services for small businesses.
It's user friendly and generally offers a high level of security, with many hosting companies sharing their hosting tools according to each customer’s requirements.
Linux web hosting allows its users to share between multiple servers, and the source code can be used, modified, and redistributed freely in both commercial and non-commercial capacities.
Users of Linux often rely on cPanel to manage web development tasks and some web hosting providers include cPanel in its packages despite it being a third party application.
Advantages of Linux Hosting
- Linux hosting provides flexibility and use of open source technologies such as Apache, PHP, and MySQL.
- This hosting service is one of the most reasonable and affordable options.
- Over the years, Linux has earned a reputation for stability and safety.
- The security settings on the Linux server are highly efficient and advanced when compared to a Windows platform.
- In the current technology world, versatility is highly desirable because it ensures relevance in an ever-changing playing field. Linux hosting is versatile because it is compatible with various databases.
Disadvantages of Linux Hosting
- Linux web hosting lacks compatibility with several of the primary Windows-based scripting applications and technology.
- Certain programming languages such as ASP and its extensions are not suitable on Linux operating systems.
- Linux servers are not useful for porting of websites that have been scripted or designed for a Windows environment or background.
Web Hosting on Linux
When you are planning to create a website, a web hosting package should offer various features. Some of the necessities to consider are bandwidth, domain, and affordability. Domains are necessary for hosting a professional internet site. As the site develops and grows, bandwidth becomes necessary as more information and functions increase. The market has many different companies that offer Linux and Windows hosting packages. Linux web hosting is the more practical and affordable choice because it is not restrictive and is more adaptable.
However, internet marketing requires a proper analysis of the needs of the business for the present and future. You can opt for a cost-effective Linux hosting package, make sure that it contains all the functionality required currently and in future. Additional features such as software and web-mail are important for websites as they develop and grow.
Differences Between Linux and Windows Web Hosting
As previously stated, the Linux hosting system has multiple features such as good performance, adaptability, cost effectiveness, security, stability and so on. Likewise, the Windows web hosting has its own features and strengths that are better suited for specific files and websites.
The main difference between the two is the type of files and functionalities that is used. A website needing PHP, Perl, WordPress, MySQL, SSH and applications that require specific Apache modules run better and more quickly on Linux-based web hosting because it is specifically designed for this type of data. On the other hand, a Windows platform is ideal to host ASP Classic, Microsoft Access, ASP.NET, Microsoft SQL Server, C# or Visual Basic Development.
The price is another big difference. Because Linux web hosting is more reasonably priced, it is the more popular option among web hosting providers. The Linux web hosting platform also has more features than Windows, making it many web designer’s preferred choice.
Additionally, the two web hosting services have the following different servers and control panels:
- cPanel and Web Host Manager (WHM) are used on Linux-based hosting such as VPS, Linux Reseller and Linux Dedicated Servers.
- Plesk can be used for Windows Shared and Dedicated Servers.
Both systems need, use and store files. While Linux file names are case sensitive, Windows files are not. For example, home.html and Home.html are names of two different files on a Linux server, whereas, on a Windows server, whether it is home.html, Home.html or HOME.HTML, all files are considered the same.
While Linux hosting is considered more secure, both Linux and Windows operating systems are safe. The security is mainly reliant on the setup and administration of the server. Hosted servers typically are maintained with the current security and performance patches.
Ultimately, the decision to pick one web hosting service over the other often boils down to which one offers the best necessary capabilities specific to the user. The user interface on a Linux hosting account is the same as that on a Windows account. However, users are sometimes apprehensive about using a web host system that is different from the system of the home computer as they feel it may cause usability issues. It is a misconception that using a web host system that is different than a home computer can cause usability issues. Linux websites needs specially written code to run that is usually not related to the applications operating on a home computer. HTML files are used and read by both platforms and regular websites function with the same level of performance.
Linux web hosting services have various good attributes and performance capabilities and each website or designer has its own specific needs and techniques where one or the other platform can be more suitable. In order to understand whether Linux web hosting is best for you, or to gain better knowledge and insights specific to your business needs, Flying Cow Design can provide information and guide you in a step-by-step manner to better assess how to make the right decisions for your business.
List of Linux Web Hosting Service Providers:
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Read More : You can explore here 30+ Best Web Hosting Providers 2023
Video - Best Web Hosting For Small Business
Affordable Website Hosting for your domainIf you found this article helpful, we encourage you to share it on your social media platforms—because sharing is caring! For more information about article submissions on our website, feel free to reach out to us via email.
Send an emailWritten by RGB Web Tech
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What is VPS Hosting? - Virtual Private Server
Last updated on January 19, 2025 by RGB Web Tech
A VPS ( Virtual Private Server ) is a virtual machine sold as a service by an Internet hosting service. The virtual dedicated server (VDS) also has a similar meaning.
A virtual private server runs its own copy of an operating system (OS), and customers may have superuser-level access to that operating system instance, so they can install almost any software that runs on that OS. For many purposes it is functionally equivalent to a dedicated physical server and, being software-defined, can be created and configured much more easily. A virtual server costs much less than an equivalent physical server. However, as virtual servers share the underlying physical hardware with other VPSes, performance may be lower, depending on the workload of any other executing virtual machines.
How does VPS work?
If you’re familiar with VMware or Virtualbox, you’ll be familiar with how VPS hosting works. These programs let you run what are known as virtualized operating systems from one machine. For example, your computer might be running OS X, but you could run different systems such as Linux or Windows XP without having to reconfigure or restart your computer.
VPS web hosting environments work in the same way as a virtualized operating system in the sense that one server will run numerous, one of a kind virtualized OS’s on a single server -since each virtualized system behaves as though it is a dedicated server. Virtualization is possible through a hypervisor. A hypervisor is computer hardware, software or firmware that creates and runs virtual machines (VM) by separating the underlying physical hardware from a computer’s operating system and applications. The computer system on which the hypervisor runs is known as a host machine, and each VM is called a guest machine.
The hypervisor provides each guest machine (each website using the VPS) with a virtual operating system and takes care of managing and executing guest operating systems. This process makes the most effective use of computer resources such as network bandwidth, memory space and processor cycles. For this reason, a hypervisor also goes by the name of a virtual machine monitor (VMM).
VPS hosting relies on a hypervisor to take resources from the physical server and provide each website with access to an emulated server (the VM). These physical servers are often held in a data center and divided equally between several virtual compartments (known as server virtualization). Each compartment is rented out, and server software is set-up on them separately so that each unit is capable of functioning as an independent unit. Each individual VPS is called a container, and the server each container is held within is known as a node.
With VPS, you benefit from many of the advantages of a dedicated server for a significantly lower cost. It offers more privileges within the OS and allows users to install any type of software capable of running on that OS. Each virtual server’s software is installed separately, enabling independent functionality for all users.
Defined amounts of CPU time and memory are shared throughout all the accounts sharing the server space. So, despite the fact that there might be far bigger websites than yours on another VPS compartment powered by the same server, that doesn’t matter. You are guaranteed the system resources you are paying for.
VPS is a step up for most users, but you'll also benefit by knowing a bit more about the technology. When your website is stored on a VPS, you are solely responsible for setting up, maintaining and running the server yourself. Handling an internet server is not an easy task! It involves taking care of security patches, server configuration, software updates, and so on. Unless you have the degree of technical skills required, it is going to tricky, and for this reason, there are two versions of VPS hosting – managed VPS and unmanaged VPS.
There are different types of VPS Hosting
Unmanaged VPS
With unmanaged VPS, your web hosting takes over installing the operating system, and you as the site owner take over managing various aspects of the server such as:
- Installing software, your control panel and taking care of software updates.
- Monitoring for security threats, installing security patches and fixing error messages.
- In the event of an outage or hardware failure you won’t get much if any support from your host.
- Configuring and maintaining your server including any upgrades you might want to see.
- You take over the responsibility of setting up your sites backup services.
This is recommended for site owners who have a technical background.
Managed VPS
Site owners with less technical acumen or a smaller staff can benefit from managed VPS. With managed VPS hosting, IT professionals lighten your load by keeping your server running correctly and taking care of your virtual server. Here’s what you should expect from a web hosting provider:
- Initial server setup : When you launch your site with a VPS there are a few steps to take in order to set the server up including installing your control panel, server software and installing any applications and your operating system. A managed host will take care of this.
- Updates : Similarly, all applications and OS updates, and ongoing fine tuning of the server will be handled for you.
- Security Patches : Security patches for your OS and core server software are installed and updated, on your behalf.
- Monitoring : Monitors for early warning signs of hardware failure and malicious attack.
- Automated Backups : In the event anything goes wrong with your site, you can retrieve it back to an earlier version.
Check with your VPS hosting provider to see what levels of management they offer. Some have greater flexibility, like Namecheap; we offer Self-Managed, Managed, Fully Managed and Emergency Assistance.
The tradeoffs between managed and unmanaged hosting are cost vs flexibility. While unmanaged services are, naturally, far cheaper than managed plans, there’s a snag - you need to have the tech know-how to run and maintain a server, or be prepared to hire someone to keep it running smoothly and safe from potential attacks.
What are the benefits of VPS Hosting?
The main merits of VPS servers is that they give you the freedom of having your own virtual machine just like you would from a more expensive, dedicated server with performance that can allow you to handle moderate traffic with the occasional heavy spike.
- Customization : Since you have your own OS, with a VPS, you can customize it to your needs. For example, if you have your own instances of server applications from PHP, to MySQL, or Apache, you can customize them so that the server fits your needs.
- Control : Offers the ability to oversee a hosting environment. Also, if you plan to install applications that need you to perform a system restart to finalize the installation, you can do this without affecting anyone else, at any time. Even though you share a VPS server with others, yours can be restarted without disrupting others.
- Cheaper : More affordable than a dedicated server.
- Dedicated resources : With a VPS Server, you have a predefined amount of RAM available to you whenever you need it. In contrast to shared web hosting, where there could be others sharing your server that could eat up the RAM when you want it most!
- Scalable : Another great thing about VPS is that you can purchase the resources you think you will need, and if that’s insufficient, you can simply increase its size.
Virtual Private Server Pros and Cons
VPS hosting can be an ideal solution for you if that’s the service you really need. Below, you can read the pros and cons of running a virtual private server.
Pros
- It’s faster and more reliable than a shared hosting server.
- As server resources such as memory or processing power are guaranteed, there’s zero to minimal fluctuation in available resources.
- Issues and traffic surges of other server users don’t affect your site.
- You get superuser (root) access to your server.
- You have better privacy, as your files and databases are locked from other server users.
- It’s an easy-to-scale service. As your website grows, you can easily upgrade your server resources (RAM, CPU, disk space, bandwidth, etc.).
Cons
- It’s more expensive than shared hosting.
- It requires more technical knowledge to setup your VPS, though there are a lot of tutorials available online.
- Server management is more technically demanding than shared or cloud plans.
- Improperly configured servers may lead to security vulnerabilities.
Do I need VPS hosting?
There are use cases for every type of hosting, so who exactly is VPS hosting for? You should consider VPS hosting if:
- Your business is expanding beyond the constraints of shared hosting.
- You are expecting a substantial increase in site traffic within the next few months. For example, your site is geared toward a new marketing effort or promotional campaign, or if you’re expanding into other markets.
- You might have enough bandwidth to handle a single website, but two, three? If you plan on hosting several websites in the near future you’re going to need more resources. Similarly, if your current shared hosting account is eating through the resources and your host is asking you to consider upgrading, it’s time to consider VPS.
- Your website needs better privacy and performance compared to what’s available with shared hosting.
- You want full control over the server, things like custom configurations, root access and installations unavailable with shared hosting.
Conclusion
VPS style hosting is the best way to keep up the success of any site going through rapid growth and expansion. It’s the next best plan that can afford some form of scalability. With VPS, not only will you enjoy a tremendous amount of storage and bandwidth (that’s entirely yours), it’s a cost effective solution to meeting the demands of a busy site. Of course we’ve mentioned dedicated hosting, which for most will be a vast amount of resources you may not need, and you’ll pay significantly more for it.
When deciding between the type of VPS, consider how hands on you want to be, or whether you are able to employ someone else to do the heavy lifting for you. If you like the sound of running your own server, go for unmanaged VPS, if on the other hand you’d like some help with server maintenance, automated backups and software updates, opt for the managed version. When it comes to choosing a VPS host.
Namecheap has the most optimized VPS hosting plans, we provide three types of VPS management: self-managed, managed (which includes root access) where we provide assistance with the additional configuration of core services to meet the specific requirements of each site. We can also help to optimize the server performance. We offer constant monitoring of all services on the server to prevent any of them from being down, and the ability to take immediate actions to resolve the issue in the case sudden downtime occurs. Our fully managed service plans (when root access is granted to Namecheap) includes all the features of the managed option including extras such as priority support and weekly backups.
List of VPS (Virtual Private Server) Service Providers:
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Read More : You can explore here 30+ Best Web Hosting Providers 2023
Video - Best Web Hosting For Small Business
Affordable Website Hosting for your domainIf you found this article helpful, we encourage you to share it on your social media platforms—because sharing is caring! For more information about article submissions on our website, feel free to reach out to us via email.
Send an emailWritten by RGB Web Tech
Latest Technology Trends
Latest technology trends shaping the future, including AI advancements, blockchain innovation, 5G connectivity, IoT integration, and sustainable tech solutions. Explore breakthroughs in quantum computing, cybersecurity, augmented reality, and edge computing. Stay ahead with insights into transformative technologies driving innovation across industries and revolutionizing how we live, work, and connect.
What is Managed Web Hosting?
Last updated on January 19, 2025 by RGB Web Tech
Managed dedicated hosting is an IT service model where a customer leases dedicated hardware from a managed hosting services provider. This solution includes servers, storage, and networking hardware. Because you aren’t sharing these resources with anyone else, it’s referred to as a single-tenant solution.
When you choose managed dedicated hosting, you get to choose your operating system while your service provider handles the administration, management, and support of your solution. And because you’re not sharing any of these resources with another tenant, you have access to the full performance capabilities of the hardware you’re leasing.
Managed Web Hosting Pros & cons
Pros:
- Time-saving (managing and maintenance is taken care of so you can focus on your core business).
- Cost-saving (no expensive upgrading hardware, no IT staff to run and maintain the server needed, no own servers, therefore no risks of damages).
- Reduced risk (technical support of highly specialized technicians always available).
- Reliable (managed hosting service level agreement guarantee that your site is continuously available and monitors all important operations).
- Flexible and fast solutions (e.g., scalability).
- Technology is always up-to-date (a professionally managed hosting company provides you access to the latest technology).
Cons:
- No own server storage and network.
- Control is given away to the hosting provider; therefore, a highly professional and reliable company has to be chosen.
Unmanaged Web Hosting Pros & cons
Pros:
- Own servers.
- Fully and autonomous control over processes and operations
Cons:
- Time-consuming (you have to manage and maintain your networks, storage, servers, updates, etc.).
- Can be costly (specialized IT staff for running and maintaining the server has to be employed, defect hardware has to be renewed).
- Support depends on the working of team members.
- Scalability is not given or complicated.
- Usage of the latest technology depends on the budget.
Summed up, the benefits of managed web hosting are quite obvious.*
Conclusion
Managed hosting services are recommended for your e-commerce shop. While unmanaged hosting was a popular solution in the past, day to day, managed hosting services are providing individual solutions easily and comfortably.
By outsourcing your hosting to a reliable hosting provider, you are making the right choice.
Managed hosting ensures you get the latest technology combined with the professional support of highly specialized experts.
Having such a powerful hosting solution working for you in the background enables you to concentrate on your main business like never before.
List of Managed Hosting Service Providers:
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Read More : You can explore here 30+ Best Web Hosting Providers 2023
Video - Best Web Hosting For Small Business
Affordable Website Hosting for your domainIf you found this article helpful, we encourage you to share it on your social media platforms—because sharing is caring! For more information about article submissions on our website, feel free to reach out to us via email.
Send an emailWritten by RGB Web Tech
Latest Technology Trends
Latest technology trends shaping the future, including AI advancements, blockchain innovation, 5G connectivity, IoT integration, and sustainable tech solutions. Explore breakthroughs in quantum computing, cybersecurity, augmented reality, and edge computing. Stay ahead with insights into transformative technologies driving innovation across industries and revolutionizing how we live, work, and connect.
17 Best FREE Web Hosting Services
Last updated on January 19, 2025 by RGB Web Tech
Is free website hosting any good? Well, “free” is always good but not always worth it in the long run. Let me explain:
In short, if you want to run a test website, you’re not expecting to get much from it, and you don’t want to invest any money into it at all, then free website hosting might indeed work for you!
In 95% of other cases, you’re going to be better off with a cheap website hosting plan like Bluehot, Hostinger etc. no more expensive than $2.75 or even $1.99 per month (small businesses or online stores often choose something in this price range).
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a summary of our findings based on the analysis below:
Free website hosting is okay for a hobby project or a proof-of-concept type of project. It’s okay if you want to run a site for a short while, get your data and then shut it off.
For any sort of serious website building project or a site that’s meant to stay online for a long while, you’re better off with an affordable web hosting plan or even a pick from the very best web hosting services out there.
For example, Bluehost is our recommended self-hosted website server. If you check them out through our link, you’ll unlock a special discounted price of $2.75 / mo vs the $3.75 standard entry-level price. You also get a free domain name bundled in.
Alternatively, you might opt for an all-in-one solution. For example, Wix is a good choice for a quick start, covering both hosting and website builder in one place. Although there is a free plan, you can try any premium plan offering 14 days of money-back.
Want to get the full story? We compared 17 best free website hosting options to help you make your decision.
The limitations of free website hosting
In life, you tend to get what you pay for, and web hosting is no exception. If you choose the free hosting route, be prepared for some common issues that come along with it.
Even the best free hosting tends to be fairly unstable, which can result in downtime. Also, providers typically place restrictions on storage space and bandwidth, limiting your site’s growth and traffic capacity. Your personal website or business website may also have slow performance.
That said, there are times you may want to consider free hosting. For a personal project, it may be all you need. The same is true if you’re practicing your web design and web development skills and just want a space to try out new ideas.
Perhaps you’re setting up an area to test new plugins or themes. In that case, the limitations of free hosting shouldn’t be a barrier to what you want to accomplish. Of course, if you simply need a staging site, you may want to use a local development tool, such as Local, and not worry about hosting at all.
However, if you need a live site and don’t want to deal with the drawbacks of free web hosting, there are some affordable alternatives to consider. A cheap host can help you keep your budget low while avoiding poor site availability.
17 Best FREE Website Hosting Services
The good news is that you can test drive free website hosting at no cost to see if it might work for you. If you’ve decided to give it a try, here are 17 options to consider.
1. InfinityFree
InfinityFree is a free web hosting service that boasts a 99.9% uptime guarantee. It offers users:
- An auto-installer with more than 400 different apps, including WordPress
- Free subdomains
- 5 GB disk space
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 400 MySQL databases
- Knowledge base support
You’ll also have access to the Softaculous Script Installer to set up WordPress. This hosting service provider doesn’t offer domain registration, but you can use one you’ve acquired from another registrar.
Once your website is published, your visitors won’t see ads. However, there will be ads in cPanel on the back end. Your site is also limited to 50,000 hits per day.
2. Wix
Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder – similar to tools like Weebly or Squarespace; and yup, you don’t need to be familiar with PHP, like you do with other solutions (e.g. – Joomla).
However, we’re featuring Wix on this list because it’s kind of an all-in-one solution for both a website platform and server space to host that website. Since Wix does come with a free plan, this makes it a free website hosting service as well. This free website builder is a unique way to enjoy awesome site-building features backed by enterprise-grade reliability. On that free plan, you get:
- Wix.com subdomain
- Beautiful templates
- 500 MB disk space
- 500 MB bandwidth
- Global content delivery network
- Free SSL and security monitoring
- Knowledge base and customer support
- Decent load times
Unfortunately, if you’re expecting no ads, you will be disappointed. Just like most of the free web hosting providers, Wix places their own ads on free plan sites. You can only connect a Wix subdomain and would have to move to a paid plan for connecting a custom domain.
The eCommerce functionality is also unavailable in the free version. However, you can still set up things like bookings, events, and forums, and fill in your site with SEO-friendly content with just a few clicks.
3. ByetHost
ByetHost is another free hosting service that you could use. Its plan features:
- Five subdomains
- 1 GB disk space
- 50 GB monthly transfers
- One MySQL database
- 24/7 support via ticket system and knowledge base
ByetHost offers solid support for its free plan, which can be rare. You can access a self-service knowledge base and video tutorials, but a ticketing system is also available.
In addition, you’ll receive usage statistics such as disk space, bandwidth usage, and daily hits. You can find this data in VistaPanel, which is ByetHost’s free hosting control panel. Then, you can use the information to help budget your resources.
4. 000WebHost
000WebHost is a free hosting option from Hostinger. Some of its features include:
- One website
- 300 MB disk space
- 3 GB of bandwidth
- One MySQL database
- Community forum
000WebHost comes with the Zyro website builder, which should make designing your site less intimidating. Like InfinityFree, visitors to your website won’t see ads, but there will be ads in your WordPress dashboard.
Free hosting from 000WebHost doesn’t even require a credit card to set up, and you can use it as long as you like. Also, if you outgrow your free plan, you can easily upgrade to a cheap plan from Hostinger. Hostinger plans start at $1.99 / month for your first billing cycle.
5. Google Cloud Hosting
Google Cloud Hosting isn’t technically free. However, it does offer a one-year free trial that includes:
- One website
- Unlimited storage
- Extensive support documentation
While Google Cloud Hosting is tailored towards large businesses, anyone can use it. To get started, all you need is a Google account.
The free trial lasts for 12 months, or until you’ve used up the $300 credit it includes. After this, you only pay for the resources you use. Google offers a price calculator to help you estimate your costs.
6. AwardSpace
AwardSpace offers a variety of hosting services. It’s best known for its free plan, which includes:
- One website
- Three subdomains
- 1 GB disk space
- 5 GB bandwidth
- MySQL database
- 24/7 live chat
Awardspace includes one-click content management system (CMS) installation as well as the Zacky website builder. Also, the 24/7 live chat is available to free plan users if you have questions.
Once launched, your own website will be ad-free. Plus, you can place ads to monetize it. AwardSpace provides you with the ability to monitor your bandwidth usage as well, which may help you budget your resources.
7. Freehostia
Freehostia offers paid and free hosting. The free plan, called ‘Chocolate’, provides:
- Five websites
- 250 MB disk space
- 6 GB bandwidth
- One MySQL database
- FAQ and ticket support system
Freehostia’s cluster platform aims to offer more reliability from its free hosting. Hopefully, this results in less downtime for your website.
You’ll have access to a website builder complete with templates. If you run into issues, you can have an answer to your support ticket in one hour, even with the free plan.
8. FreeWebHostingArea
FreeWebHostingArea is a volunteer-maintained free hosting service. It offers:
- 1.5 GB disk space
- Unmetered traffic
- MySQL databases
- Free email support
9. W3Schools Spaces
W3Schools Spaces features of the free plan:
- Free templates
- Allow 500 requests/month
- Allow 100MB data and storage/month
- Free SSL
10. Glitch
Glitch features of the free plan:
- Provide 4000 requests/hour
- The server processes 512MN of RAM
- Storage capacity 512MB
- Unlimited static sites
- Support import/export Github function.
11. Fleek
Fleek features of the free plan:
- Support to edit domains
- Provide services https
- 3GB of storage
- Unlimited websites
- Automatically deploy on Git
- 250 minutes to build and 50GB of bandwidth
- Free SSL
12. Netlify
Netlify features of the free plan:
- Automatically built from Git
- Deployed on the global edge network
- Bandwidth: 100GB/Month
- Number of websites: Unlimited
- Restorable to any version
- Provides a free CLI.
13. Render
Render features of the free plan:
- 100GB/month for bandwidth and storage
- Lightning-fast CDN
- Can custom domain with full SSL functionality
- Automatically deploy on Git
14. Surge
Surge features of the free plan:
- Provides 404.html page functionality
- Unlimited websites and APIs
- Can custom domain
- Easy to deploy via CLI
- Unlimited websites.
15. Vercel
Vercel features of the free plan:
- Improve website performance with Edge Network
- Unlimited websites and APIs
- Can custom domain with full SSL functionality
- Provides Serverless Functions
- 100GB bandwidth/month
- Automatically optimize images (1000 images for the free version)
16. Firebase
Firebase features of the free plan:
- 10 GB of storage
- 360MB Bandwidth/day
- You can edit your website’s domain name
- Allows multiple pages to be added to the same project
- SSL support.
17. HyperPHP
HyperPHP is a free hosting and domain service for personal websites. Its plan offers:
- 1 GB disk space
- Free subdomains
- MySQL database
- Free tech support and community forums
HyperPHP offers a few ways to make launching a new website easy. Firstly, a free domain transfer is available. This host also offers an automatic script installer, which you can access through VistaPanel.
FAQs - Free Web Hosting
1. Is free web hosting reliable?
Answer : No, free web hosting isn’t reliable. Most free web hosting has absurdly limited resources and you’re also likely to run into multiple issues. This includes poor performance, complicated interface, compromised security, and ads on your website. Not to mention questionable terms of service.
2. Can I get free hosting and a domain?
Answer : Free hosting and domain is rarely possible, none of the providers here has such a deal. However, many hosts offer free subdomain hosting. You can choose a desired name for your site, but it will look something like this: desiredname.freehosting.com.
3. Can I use free hosting for selling online?
Answer : Yes, as long as you can host WordPress and install WooCommerce on your paid plan, it's possible to sell online using free hosting. Yet, it’s extremely likely to cause many problems and potentially ruin the seller/buyer relationship. If your online store is always down or very slow, the buyers will simply go to more professional sites.
4. Can I host my own website?
Answer : Yes, you can host your own website if you have the tech skills and 100% uninterrupted network. It will require significant skills, technical know-how, resources, and time among other things. Plus, many Internet service providers also forbid personal hosting.
5. Does it matter where you host your website?
Answer : Yes. With a bad hosting provider, your website may be plagued with slow loading times, a lack of proper security, and extensive downtime. It’s really important to choose a web host with a discerning eye.
Conclusion
While your free web hosting platform might not be perfect, it can be a viable option in some scenarios. However, finding a quality provider that delivers on its promises is no easy task.
In this article, we shared our opinions on the 17 best free website hosting options available. You have nothing to lose by giving one a try. Our top pick in the category of best free web hosting is AwardSpace for its 24/7 live chat support and easy WordPress installation.
However, for any type of serious project, we recommend using at least a cheap paid shared hosting service. In our collection of cheap web hosting sites, you’ll find services that cost just a few dollars per month.
As we mentioned earlier in this post, you can get quality, affordable website hosting like Bluehot, Hostinger etc. for $2.75 or even $1.99 per month
Recommendation - Paid Web Hosting Service Providers
If you are looking for safe and secure website hosting, we recommend to use paid web hosting services.
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Read More : You can explore here 30+ Best Web Hosting Providers 2023
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