What is the difference between shared (paid) web hosting and free web hosting? This is an important question for those who are interested in setting up web sites. Whether just for blogging or promoting a cause, or trying to make money with a business, the type of hosting you choose can make a big difference in your site and the reaction of your visitors. Just setting up shop on a free social site like Facebook isn't always a great idea.
Anything you put on a free social network site really isn't yours. You are subject to rules and regulations regarding what you can post. There is nothing wrong with having standards, and this usually isn't a problem for most people, anyway. The biggest reason to have your own site is ownership. If you spend a lot of time building content on a free social site, it can all be wiped out if that site changes the rules or decides there is something about your site they don't like. It happens.
If you decide that getting your own domain name and publishing your own website is what you want to do, you'll have a variety of hosting choices, including options for free hosting and paid hosting. The paid hosting is really a great deal now, because many hosts are offering packages sufficient for most users at rates under $12 a month. Some are as low as $5 per month.
Free web hosting, nonetheless, is still popular despite the low cost of superior paid hosting options. For anyone putting up a website as a hobby, or just as a pastime that isn't a big deal, free hosting might be okay. You would never want to put up a commercial site of any type - free hosting just isn't right for any business or commercial application.
Looking at the bright side, free web hosting doesn't cost a dime and there is no commitment. It isn't all wonderful, though, because somebody somewhere has to pay for it.
Free hosts typically run advertisements on your site, and you have no control over this. While your page will still be there, the advertising all around can make it look bad. It just isn't attractive.
Visitors to your site will also be treated to pop ups and pop unders, which are additional advertisements that the free web host places there.
Free hosting is for small sites that don't get a lot of traffic, and don't use a lot of video or file transfers. Don't plan on having more than a small, simple site with these hosts.
You can't use your own domain with free hosting. Typically, your web address will be something along the lines of: bobjones.freehostingprovidername.com. This might be okay, but lacks a personal flair if that's what you want.
A lot of fly by night operations tend to get into the business of hosting free web sites. They do this because the idea of getting money from all the ads is appealing. It's easy enough for someone to get a reseller account with a major hosting provider and set up a hosting service. Problem is, if it doesn't make money, they can be out of business and gone overnight.
Unless you are just totally broke or don't care if your site is full of ads, I suggest that you avoid free web hosting completely. Good quality hosting is so affordable now, and you have complete control over your domain and content with it. Go with free hosting if you must, but understand the pros and cons.
Getting your own website up and running is exciting. When choosing a web host, you have many different choices. Learn the truth about whether free web hosting is a plan that will meet your needs. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
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