How Does Web Hosting Work?
Web hosting is about finding a home for your website. The contents of your website—the domain name, HTML code, images, text, and so on—all need a place to live. Web hosting provides a place for this content to live on a server.
In short, a server is a computer that connects users to your website. Think of the server as a large condo building. Web hosting is the process of renting or buying a condo in that building.
Web Hosting vs. Domain Hosting
Before finding a home for your website via web hosting, you first need a domain name.
While related, web hosting and domain hosting are very different services. Web hosting is connecting your website to a server, whereas domain hosting is securing a domain name or web address for your website.
Following our earlier analogy, if web hosting is akin to renting space in a building, then domain hosting is like putting a nameplate outside your door with your name and address. The domain is what people use to navigate to your address on the Internet.
Many service providers provide both domain and web hosting, which can offer one-stop-shop convenience. To get started, you need to choose a domain name via a domain registrar.
How To Choose the Best Web Hosting Service for You
When choosing the best web hosting service, consider factors such as pricing, storage space and bandwidth limits, customer service, server location options, security features, and whether it has automatic backups.
Another thing you need to consider is its scalability. Migrating a website isn’t easy, even when a web hosting service does it for you.
Essential Web Hosting Features
We recommend that you look for a web hosting provider with the following key features, regardless of your specific website needs:
Reliability and performance: Look for a hosting provider with good uptime, preferably 99.9% or higher, so your site won’t experience outages. Most hosts provide a contractual guarantee where they’ll reimburse you part of your premium for outages.
Security: Make sure your web host has DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and other security features. This keeps your site safe from malicious attacks.
Customer service: Look for a host with 24/7 customer support, so you can easily get help if something goes wrong. What support options are available? Chat, phone, ticket, and email support are typical for web hosts.
Storage and bandwidth: The more storage you have, the more content you can store, such as videos and images. Bandwidth affects how quickly your website loads and how much data is transferred when visitors view your site. Look for a host that provides unlimited storage and bandwidth.
Domain registration and management: Most website hosting services offer domain registration and management features, so you can keep all your web assets under one roof. Many website hosting plans include free domain registration for the first year, and a few offer free or discounted domain registration throughout the plan term.
Ease of Use
Look for a web hosting provider with an intuitive user interface and control panel. A good web host should offer one-click installations for popular content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress or Drupal, and a drag-and-drop website builder if you’re uncomfortable with coding.
Scalability
How will you grow your website in the future? You want a host that can keep up with your growth. Does the host offer an easy way to scale up, such as offering VPS and dedicated hosting options? If you take a break for a while, can you drop to a lower-tiered plan?
Types of Web Hosting
There are several different types of web hosting available. It’s important to look at cost as well as customer service, security, speed, and customization options.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is most popular with small businesses and websites that don’t need customization or expect a lot of traffic. Shared hosting provides space for several websites—dozens, hundreds, or thousands—on one server. It is an economical option, but there could be service disruptions or slower connection speeds because several clients/websites are all accessing the same server’s resources.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
VPS hosting means various websites are all housed on the same server, but each website’s files and content are housed in its own dedicated space on the server. You will pay a little more than with shared hosting, but you also have your own section of the server isolated from other clients on the server. VPS hosting is scalable to your needs, and you’ll be able to modify the server and install any software you need.
VPS hosting can be managed or unmanaged. If you choose managed VPS hosting, the host will provide all maintenance and services necessary to keep the website and server up and running. Using unmanaged VPS hosting will mean you are responsible for configuring and maintaining the server yourself.
WordPress Managed Hosting
Many web hosting providers offer WordPress-specific hosting. In addition to web hosting, these providers provide technical support and software updates specific to WordPress. There are fewer customization options since it is limited to WordPress features.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting houses your website on multiple servers for maximum performance and connection speeds. It is more expensive than shared hosting, but will minimize any connection or speed issues because it can handle traffic surges with ease. Cloud hosting also offers scalability, backups, and disaster recovery.
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated web hosting is when a website has sole use of the entire server. Because you have a dedicated server, you minimize security and connection issues. A dedicated server will provide additional security, which will be helpful when dealing with personal information, like credit card information.
Type of Web Hosting Pros Cons Appropriate For
Shared Hosting Economical Increased potential for service disruption and slower connection speeds Small websites Personal blogs Startup websites
VPS Hosting Additional security and customization, while still being relatively economical More expensive than shared hosting Medium-sized businesses Professional blogs
WordPress Managed Hosting Security and speed Ease of use More expensive than shared hosting Lack of customization Medium-sized businesses Professional blogs
Cloud Hosting Minimizes service disruptions Maintains quick connection speeds Can be confusing to set up High-traffic websites
Dedicated Hosting Minimizes service disruptions Maintains quick connection speeds Offers additional security Most expensive Websites that maintain personally identifiable information
Web Hosting Cost
Web hosting can range from almost nothing to hundreds of dollars a month. Consider the renewal cost of the hosting plan as well, since some providers offer a lower rate for the first term and then significantly increase the price when it’s time to renew.
Average Cost By Hosting Type
Pricing varies significantly between various types of web hosting services. In general, prices range as follows:
Shared web hosting: up to $15 per month
VPS web hosting: $18 to $85 per month
WordPress managed hosting: $2 to $30 per month
Cloud hosting: $5 to $50 per month
Dedicated server hosting: $80 to several hundred dollars per month
Website Hosting Cost Factors
There are several factors that go into the cost of website hosting. These include:
Storage: The amount of data storage your hosting plan allows.
Bandwidth: The amount of traffic your website can handle without interruptions or slowdowns.
Number of websites: Depending on the plan, you could host multiple websites with one account.
IP addresses: If you need a static IP address with your hosting plan, you may have to pay an additional cost.
SSL certificate: Some hosting plans offer a free SSL certificate, but others may require you to purchase one in addition to the hosting plan.
Customer service: Some hosting companies offer 24/7 customer service, while others may only provide limited support.
Customization options: Hosting plans that allow customization and add-ons, such as databases or web servers, will usually cost more.
Fees & Add-Ons
Your web hosting provider may charge additional fees, such as setup fees (often waived when signing a contract and paying up-front), domain registration fees, or monthly support fees.
Additionally, there may be add-on services you can purchase to enhance your website, such as SEO optimization or extra security features. Be sure to read the fine print of your contract and thoroughly understand what is included in your hosting plan before signing up.
Beyond Hosting: Other Website Setup Considerations
In addition to hosting, there are a few other items to consider when setting up your website. These include website builders, domain registration, email hosting, and e-commerce functionality.
Website Builder
Website builders are tools or programs that allow you to create a website without coding. They provide a variety of drag-and-drop templates and often include hosting, so you don’t need to purchase a separate plan.
Domain Registration
Your domain name is the URL or web address used to access your website. You can purchase and register a domain name when signing up for hosting, though many web hosting companies have an additional fee for domain registration. A domain name is important for businesses as it helps to create a professional online presence.
Email Hosting
Having a dedicated email address is essential if you want to build customer trust. You can usually purchase email hosting from your web host or use a separate service such as Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). Other web hosts include free email hosting in their plans.
E-commerce Functionality
If you plan to sell products or services online, you’ll need to look for a hosting plan with e-commerce functionality. Hosts usually offer e-commerce hosting tools such as payment gateways, shopping carts, and secure checkout pages to help you get started.
Do I Need A Web Host?
A website for your business or personal use is essential in today’s digital world. You can build and host your site yourself, or you may opt for an all-in-one website builder that includes hosting. However, if you want more control over your site and access to additional features, a separate web hosting service might be a better choice.
