When it comes to choosing a web hosting service for our needs, there are a number of different criteria that we need to take into account. Depending on the nature of your website, you will require a service which will provide you with the necessary support and features that will help utilize your site and help it perform well on the web. However, with an array of free hosting services and commercial hosting services at our disposal, how can we be sure which is the ideal service for our site needs?

Free Web Hosting
Although a free web hosting service can be incredibly beneficial in terms of cost, it can create a number of issues. Firstly, most free hosting services will impose a number of advertisements on your site which you will be unable to remove. This is put in place in order for the service to cover their costs as they are providing a free service to their clients. However, with many adverts being unsightly or if the adverts are irrelevant to the nature of your site, they can become somewhat of a nuisance. Many web users also do not like to see a vast number of adverts on a website and so excessive advertisements may cause users to leave your site. Next, there is the issue of web space. As you are using a free web hosting service, you will only provided with a small amount of web space which may not be enough depending on the intended use you have for your site. Your needs will also be determined by whether you require adding pictures, video clips and other forms of media.

The speed in which your site loads will also be affected by the type of web hosting service you use. If a site runs slow it will lose a large percentage of its traffic and as your hosting is free, it is unlikely that you will receive a large amount of support from the service, meaning much of your problem solving may have to be completed yourself. Bandwidth will also have a huge impact on your sites traffic as if your site receives a specific number of visitors per day; your service may choose to disable your site or may even issue you with a bill if you are going over your bandwidth through traffic.

Commercial Web Hosting
The main benefit of using a commercial web hosting service is that you will be provided with a higher level of speed and reliability compared to free hosting services. Most commercial hosting services will provide a minimum uptime of 99% and may also issue a refund should your speed fall below this. However, be aware that guarantees can be hard to enforce from your side as the client. In terms of bandwidth, be wary of any service that promises to provide you with unlimited bandwidth as should you go over a specific amount of bandwidth, you are guaranteed to be issued some form of bill from the host provider. Always investigate into the level of traffic which the package will allow for and be wary of any service that advertises ‘unlimited transfer’. Do not opt for a package that provides a large level of bandwidth if you are unsure you will even require that amount as you will be forced to pay for a service that ultimately, you do not require.

One of the main advantages of commercial hosting over free hosting is that you will be provided with more support and help from the service provider. However, inquire as to whether customer support is provided 24/7 or during certain hours but if your site is for business use, do not use services that provide no support help over the weekend. You can test the level of service you can receive by emailing the service during the weekend or during the evening to see how long it takes for you to receive a response, if you receive one at all. If you do receive a response, note how technically competent the staff are and where possible, inquire as to whether you will be dealt with by a local call centre or an overseas centre. Along with the web hosting service, some services may also offer additional perks such as email accounts, POP3 and mail forwarding. If these are also provided, check how these work and to what extent you can use these freely without the aid of the service provider. This is especially important if your site is for business use.

When it comes to choosing a web hosting service, you need to firstly identify what the purpose of your site will be and the services you will require in order to ensure the smooth running of it. If you are only setting up a site for personal enjoyment, a free hosting service may be best, whereas a business will require additional help and support to ensure its success. No matter which type you may opt for, ensure to conduct enough research into the different services available to ensure is it money well spent- or saved, and that you receive the level of service you require.

Compare the best cheap hosting sites.

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