Question 1

What is the cheapest way to host a website?

Accepted Answer

When it comes to web hosting, there are a few different types of plans that vary substantially in price. Shared hosting plans are typically the most affordable, as users have to share space on a server. This makes your site a bit less reliable, but the savings can be pretty substantial. If you need a bit more reliability, a VPS hosting plan is a relatively affordable option, providing users with their own section of a server rather than a shared space. Some providers offer comparable prices to shared plans, but you'll almost certainly have to pay a bit extra for VPS hosting. If you're looking for an affordable option, avoid dedicated hosting plans, as these are typically the most expensive. Reserved for enterprise level websites, a dedicated server plan provides users with their own server to host their website, but can serious get up there when it comes to cost.

Question 2

How much should I pay for web hosting?

Accepted Answer

Almost all web hosting plans operate on a monthly basis, charging a flat rate per month. The size of that flat rate primarily relies on which type of hosting plan you opt for. For shared hosting plans – the most affordable option – you can expect to pay between $2-$8 per month. If you're looking for more robust options, VPS hosting plans will typically run you approximately $20-$50 per month (unless of course you go with 1&1 Hosting, although that comes with its own caveats). VPS hosting is a bit more expensive because it gives you slightly more control over your website than shared hosting. Enterprise-level users that need a server all of their own will want a dedicated hosting plan, and these plans regularly cost several hundreds of dollars per month. If you don't need a robust, high functioning website where you have all the control, you can probably forego this decidedly expensive option.

Question 3

Which website hosting service is best?

Accepted Answer

After thoroughly researching all the web hosting providers on this list, we believe that Bluehost and InMotion are the best available web hosting providers on the market, predominantly for their reasonable prices, bevy of plans, and incredible customer support ratings. After those two, the playing field levels off a bit, with HostGator, A2 Hosting, and 1&1 Hosting rounding out the second tier of solid web hosting options. Each of these services offers a solid option that would do well for anyone, but they each have unique downfalls – such as poor customer support or weak uptime performance – which take them out of the top tier. GoDaddy and WPEngine make up the bottom of the list; the former is a bit on the expensive side as the plans progress, while the latter is exclusively good for WordPress sites, which notably limits functionality.

Question 4

Where can I host my website for free?

Accepted Answer

There are a number of options for free web hosting online, including Wix and WordPress. You'll be able to build a rudimentary website, and get it on the web at no cost. However, if you're looking to build a website with any functionality beyond displaying information, we would not recommend opting for free web hosting services. For one, they won't be able to handle any advanced functionality, such as transactions or animation, which will fundamentally cripple your website from the start. If you're truly concerned about how much web hosting costs, some services like HostGator provide free trials that last up to a month, so you can get a good idea of how the process works before committing any money to it.

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