Free Web Hosting

Free web hosting just like the name implies is a web hosting service totally free of charge. There are several free web hosting services on the internet. Among the most popular are FBhosting, Doteasy, Tripod , Zero Catch and GeoCities. In choosing the best web hosting free service, you need to know what features you actually need for your website.

Each of the free web hosting services have different rules when it comes to setting up your account. Some will allow you to get an actual domain name. Generally, they will require a sub-domain under a primary domain, i.e. http://geocities/ctibene/... Some may allow you to run own CGI Scripts. In others it is prohibited. The common denominator among all free web hosting services though is the fact that their disk space is limited mostly between 5-10 MB only. They are strict about data transfer also. You'll need to be aware of the number of users who will access your website so you can gage the data transfer requirements in your website. Finally, free web hosting services will show their banner ads on your website.

Customer Support

Free web hosting providers rarely or do not at all give customer support. Since free web hosting does not require you to pay monthly payments, technical support is not a feature they generally provide. Uptime is not guaranteed in free web hosting either. Most free web hosting providers do not guarantee at least 99% uptime for the hosting users unlike in paid hosting. This could be bad news for businesses that rely on the website for additional exposure and advertising revenue, and not so much an issue for a strictly personal site. Internet access is also very slow. Considering, you need to compete with a huge number of websites who have their sites hosted on the same free web hosting service.

Options

Most free web hosting do not assist the user in securing a domain name. Free web hosting also has limitations when it comes to using your own CGI scripts. Some free web hosting has pre-installed scripts for guestbooks, counters or email forms. For those people who want to test, install and run their own scripts, it will be best to use a paid web hosting. For those with large websites or has a number of graphics, the limited disk space could pose a problem. Since a website is dynamic in nature, it will be hard for you also to expand your website should you need to add more articles, features or pictures. You need to check the disk space limits before you put up your website to make sure that the disk space can accommodate your website.

Free web hosting could be a good alternative to paid web hosting for those people who are novice to hosting and are setting up a personal web site. It's a good testing ground to enhance your technical skills. If you are putting up an individual personal site and if the simple features of a free hosting service are sufficient, then free web hosting services are worth checking out.

On the other hand, if the web hosting service is intended for a business site or an online business where sales transactions are conducted on a regular basis, then a paid web hosting service should be your best choice.

More about Web Hosting

Business Web Hosting
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Cpanel Web Hosting
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Shared Web Hosting
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