Many people believe that the way to go with web hosting is to choose one that is free. Depending on your situation, a free host may not be the right option for you. Like anything else, you need to educate yourself on the drawbacks of these types of hosting companies so you know what to expect. Continue on for some great tips that will inform you on what to look out for when choosing a free web host.
Look for the best hosting site for your domain name. Most free sites require you to put their name either before or after your site name in the URL. If you do not want this, you will have to search carefully for a host that suits your needs, even if it means paying for a quality host.
Find out which plans are offered by each potential web host you’re considering. A lot of the time, free sites offer only static pages, which means you can’t add any custom language scripts. You may have to search for a pay service if you need, or want, to create dynamic pages.
You can almost always save money on your web hosting by paying in advance. Discounts for multi-month and yearly packages are common. However, you don’t want to lock in with an unreliable host. Try out a new host for a month or two before you lock in a long-term commitment, and check out the cancellation and refund policy beforehand.
If you want to use a shopping cart software, make sure it is compatible with your web host. A good web host should support certain features such as Web scripting, dynamic content or executable files. These features will allow you to add different ways for your visitors to interact with your website, for instance by leaving feedback.
Take email needs into account when choosing a web hosting plan. Most plans will include some basic email services, but if you need additional mailboxes or storage, you may have to purchase an extra package or select another tier of service. Some inexpensive plans may also limit the number of emails you can send in a day.
An easy way to find a great web hosting provider, is to look for companies that have received several awards. This information speaks volumes for the quality of the service and support you can expect to receive from the provider. Not all awards are reliable, but in most cases, Internet users vote for their favorite web hosting service, meaning hosts with many awards are probably a safe bet. Web hosts that display a high number of awards from fan voting are the hosts you should include in your viable choices.
As you can, there are many inconveniences that can arise from having your site hosted by a company that is free. If you are aware of the many pitfalls that come with the territory, then you will not be upset when going with this sort of service. Apply the advice from this article so you are more aware of what these kinds of hosting services provide.