I made a website that's all about me. It has a contact form, portfolio, contacts, and a blog, so it's not complex and doesn't require a lot of resources since only potential customers or employers will visit it. However, when I started looking for hosting services, I found that the prices were high and many advertised features I didn't need.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N-QrqlRhgcg/maxresdefault.jpg)
Finally, I came across a hosting service that charges only $1 per month - which is quite affordable! But I wonder if there's a hidden catch, as other sites charge more.
Do you have any recommendations for hosting services that are good for simple projects, such as personal or business card sites that are also budget-friendly? The only requirement is that the project archive can be easily uploaded and unpacked in the hosting panel.
Shared resources are the primary caveat of this type of hosting. However, most sites won't utilize all of the space allotted to them and these resources tend to be limited. For instance, insignificant traffic (up to 1000 people per day) is allowed, after which there is often a decline in productivity.
To compensate for these limitations, users are encouraged to purchase more. Though savings are made on backups and support, a good response time and uptime cannot be guaranteed.
For example, hosting services may have 1000 clients each paying $1 per month for 1 terabyte of space. A traditional hard drive with this capacity would cost approximately $30, meaning that it would take years to recoup the costs of such hosting. Consequently, annual subscriptions are heavily promoted and resource inefficiency is utilized.
Typically, beginners using Joomla or WordPress with minimal information take up most of the shared resources. Thousands of identical installations exist, and a special file system is installed on the server side to manage duplicate files. This drastically reduces the amount of required storage space. As a result, each new client stores ten times less information and the host can earn income through multiplicity. Generally, these sites receive very few visits and even robots have little interest in returning.
Furthermore, such resources have quotas on processor time. Once a site receives significant traffic (several thousand people per day), users may begin to receive notifications about exceeding this quota.
Hosting can be found for free through a search, but the question is whether or not it has the required functionality to handle the intended load. Knowing the exact amount and type of resources needed is key.
In this text, I will discuss free website hosting and the potential drawbacks that may come with using such services. Companies that offer free hosting may advertise themselves as doing so without any hidden costs or catches. However, as we know, no company operates at a loss. Therefore, it is likely that they make money through embedded advertising on the websites hosted on their servers. Even if a free hosting service does not require payment or place its own ads on a client's website, it may be limited in terms of resources and will require payment for higher tariffs as a website grows.
There are several disadvantages to using free hosting services. Firstly, third-party advertising can be intrusive and negatively impact a website's design and visitor experience. Also, outgoing links to other websites can impact a website's credibility in the eyes of search engines. Moreover, technical support for free hosting services is often slow and unresponsive due to high volumes of requests and unstable server performance caused by cheap servers and demanding clients.
In conclusion, while free hosting services may be suitable for educational purposes or non-commercial use, they are generally not recommended for those looking to create a good, reliable website.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it – there's usually a catch. Either the service is overselling its resources, which can lead to slow loading times and downtime, or they're skimping on customer support. As a general rule, if a hosting service is too cheap, it's likely because they're cutting corners somewhere.
Now, if you're looking for a budget-friendly hosting service that's good for simple projects like personal or business card sites, here are some recommendations:
Bluehost: Bluehost is a popular choice among webmasters, and for good reason. They offer a range of plans starting at $2.95 per month, and their basic plan includes unlimited storage and bandwidth. Plus, they have a user-friendly control panel and 24/7 customer support.
Hostinger: Hostinger is another budget-friendly option that's perfect for small projects. Their single plan starts at $0.99 per month, and it includes unlimited storage and bandwidth. They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is always a plus.
SiteGround: SiteGround is a bit pricier than the other two options, but they offer a range of features that make them worth the extra cost. Their basic plan starts at $3.95 per month, and it includes unlimited storage and bandwidth. Plus, they have a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support.
000webhost: 000webhost is a free hosting service that's perfect for small projects. They offer unlimited storage and bandwidth, and their control panel is easy to use. However, keep in mind that they have ads on their free plans, and their customer support is limited.
When it comes to uploading and unpacking your project archive, most hosting services have a file manager or FTP client that makes it easy to transfer files. Just make sure to check the hosting service's dоcumentation to see if they have any specific requirements or limitations.