Free Web Hosting Vs. Paid Web Hosting
Free web hosting and paid web hosting are two different types of web hosting, categorized on the basis of a particular feature in web hosting packages; called – ‘Price’. Free web hosting includes hosting websites with the free web hosting service providers without paying any charge. In comparison, paid web hosting involves hosting websites with the paid web hosting service providers by paying some charges in lieu of the service provided.
A comparative analysis of both the types of web hosting is presented as follows:
Budget: Free web hosting is free but, paid web hosting involves some expenditure. - Features: Free hosting has limited features but, paid hosting provides enhanced features.
- Accountability: Free hosting providers hold no accountability for server uptime. Even though they run automated back-ups but, there is no confirmation about the content security. Paid hosting providers can be held accountable for the service continuity, if the servers experience down time more than usual. Moreover, they provide back-up facility at users’ discretion, for storing the web content.
- Scope of expansion: Free hosting has a limited scope of expansion due to limited features available but, paid hosting has a wider scope due to the availability of more features.
- Appearance: Free hosting uses predefined attractive and flashy designs that may be used by other users as well but, paid hosting provides exclusive and professional looking designs.
- Domains: Free hosting does not provide individual domain name. Thus, users cannot have email IDs based on individual domain names rather they are provided with lengthy domain names and email IDs that are hard to remember and recall. All these ultimately lead to a limited brand presence online. Paid hosting addresses all these concerns.
- Advertisements: Free hosting gives no control over the advertisements. Users may be provided with unwanted or unmatched advertisements, includes text ads, banners and pop-ups. While choosing a paid hosting service, the user has more control over type and extent of advertisements displayed. In addition, revenue earned from displaying ads goes to the service provider in free hosting but, user can be benefitted using paid hosting.
- There are many more parameters to compare with which, collectively lead to just one conclusion. Free web hosting is best suited for personal usage or for the novices who are learning web industry basics; whereas, paid web hosting should be the choice for the serious business owners and professionals; who are looking for earning decent incomes through their websites.
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