Web hosting can be defined as a service that makes it possible for individuals and organizations to store website files on the internet. This service, as well as all the technologies that support it, is provided by a business known as a hosting service provider, or simply a web host.
Website files are stored or hosted on computers known as servers. If someone wants to access your website, they have to type your domain name or website address on a browser. So, does free web hosting exist?
Before discussing this, it is important to note that hosting service providers are businesses that have to make a profit. They operate just like any other business. However, some of them offer incentives including free web hosting to their customers.
Does Free Web Hosting Exist?
One of the most important things to consider when building a website is hosting. So, does free web hosting exist? Well, the truth is that free web hosting exists! The question we should be asking is how good free web hosting is. You can use free web hosting for your website, but you need to be careful because it might not be good in the long run.
Sometimes, you might find yourself in a situation where you want to run test websites. These are websites that are not expected to bring any returns. It would make sense if you did not want to invest a lot of money in such a website.
Should you buy a hosting space or consider a free web hosting for such a project? A free one would work for you. It would allow you to collect all the data that you need and then get rid of the website when you are done.
However, if you are looking for something else, you might be better placed to look for a paid hosting plan. Today, there are many hosting service providers with some of them offering affordable hosting plans for businesses.
Limitations of Free Web Hosting
If you look at all the services you have ever paid for, the quality of service is directly proportional to the amount of money you pay. This is the same thing with web hosting service providers. The quality of the services you get depends on the plan that you choose.
What does this mean for people who go for free web hosting services? Well, they have to be ready to encounter some issues that are prevalent with free web hosting. One of the most common limitations with free hosting is stability problems. An unstable hosting means frequent downtime.
In addition, you are likely going to face restrictions on things such as bandwidth and space, something that limits the traffic capacity as well as the growth of your website. That notwithstanding, you can explore your options at HostingAdvice for free web hosting to see if there is one that meets your requirements.
When Should You Consider Free Web Hosting?
Even though it comes with limitations, you might find yourself undertaking a project that requires free web hosting. For instance, if you are working on a personal project, then this could be the best option for you. It will save you money and resources.
If you are learning about web development and looking for a server to test yourself and hone your skills, then free web hosting should work for you as a start, but then you can learn more about web development costs. You will get enough space to deploy your test websites and perform different types of tasks without any problems.
Experienced developers can also use free web hosting. For instance, developers prefer testing things such as themes, plugins, and other applications on a live server before they can deploy them on their systems. Instead of spending money buying a server, they can sign up for free web hosting.
Finally, you can also use free web hosting as a presentation server. Let us say, for instance, you are building a website for a client. Before the client provides you with logins to their server, you can deploy the website on a free web host for the client to see.
Can You Use a Free Host to Build a Professional Website?
As discussed above, you need to consider the limitations that come with free web hosting. These limitations can affect your website and its performance, making it not ideal for use, especially with professional websites.
So, can you use a free host to build a professional website? Yes, you can. However, this should only be during the development stage. After that, it would be better for you to get a reliable and cheaper hosting plan for your professional website.
Free web hosting is going to limit your professional website. For instance, frequent downtimes might mean that the website will not be available at times. What happens when a customer visits the website and they cannot reach you? They will most likely look at what your competitors offer.
In addition, you will not be able to grow. Since free web hosting comes with limited space and bandwidth, you have to operate within these limitations. This is something you need to avoid with a professional website, making free web hosting not ideal for you.