Hosting your own website is a smart choice, but not just for businesses. It's easy and affordable to create personal web pages with a web hosting package that handles all the technical details for you. If you're running a business, having a website is essential for staying relevant, and hosting it yourself is a great option.
The good news is there are many choices for website hosting. You can either self-host your site or sign up with a web hosting platform that will serve as a home for your project.
If you want a hassle-free experience with more features, a hosted plan is the way to go. There are numerous web hosting providers with plans that fit any budget, most of which include all the necessary features. They continuously add new functions, so you don’t need advanced web development skills to get started.
Working with a web hosting provider simplifies the process. They handle the technical work while you focus on designing your pages the way you like. You get to enjoy the creative aspects while the provider manages the heavy lifting. Here’s how to begin in just a few simple steps.
How to get started with web hosting
A key part of any web hosting plan is choosing a web hosting service. These services vary widely in type and price, catering to different needs and budgets.
You can find many well-known web hosting providers that you’ve likely seen advertised. They attract a lot of customers and are eager for your business, so keep an eye out for deals and promotions.
Larger providers also offer a range of features, even in their basic starter packages. Additionally, it’s easy to upgrade and enhance your website’s capabilities as your business grows or if your personal pages require more sophistication.
Things you need to host a website
When creating a checklist for your web hosting plan, there are several important factors to consider. It's a good idea to compare different web hosting providers to see what they offer in terms of storage, bandwidth limits, speed, and uptime guarantees. These guarantees ensure your site stays live as much as possible and minimizes technical issues.
Another key aspect to think about is the length of the contract. You might prefer a contract that rolls over each year, so it's worth checking if your web hosting plan can adapt to your changing needs. The good news is that web hosting prices are competitive and provide good value for the features included in most packages.
Look out for any free domain name offers that come with signing up, as well as a free SSL certificate, which enhances your website's security and appeal. Most reputable web hosting companies also make it easy to install content management systems for creating web pages and adding content.
WordPress is a popular choice, allowing you to create and manage a website easily without needing extensive technical knowledge. It’s particularly suitable if you want something more dynamic than basic web pages. Additionally, web hosts can assist with migrating content from an existing site to your new hosting package, so be sure to check how much support you’ll receive.
Why a content management system matters
Signing up for a web hosting package that includes a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress is a smart choice, especially if you want a website that goes beyond just static content. A CMS allows you to create and manage dynamic websites, meaning your hosting package will support databases, making your site much more powerful.
While most web hosting providers include basic website builders in their plans, which work fine for simpler projects, a dynamic or database-driven website gives you more power and flexibility. These providers offer everything you need to host your website with user-friendly tools, simplifying the technical aspects like server maintenance compared to doing it all yourself.
Before you get started, you'll need a domain name, which is your website's address, like techradar.com. Check out our guide on everything you need to know about domain names. The good news is that many hosting providers also help you register domain names, and you might even get a discount if you register with them.
Different types of hosting platforms
When planning to host a website, it's important to understand the different types of web hosting available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Shared Hosting is the most basic option. With shared hosting, you share a physical server with other website owners, meaning everyone has access to the same hardware resources while maintaining separate accounts. The biggest benefit of shared hosting is its affordability, as the costs are divided among all users. However, limited resources such as CPU, memory, and bandwidth can be a downside, as providers often impose strict caps to ensure consistent service.
On the other end of the spectrum is Dedicated Server Hosting. This option provides you with an entire server for your exclusive use. You gain complete control over the server's configuration, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs. However, this increased control comes with the responsibility of managing all technical tasks, which are typically handled by a hosting provider in shared hosting scenarios. Some providers offer managed dedicated hosting for an additional fee, but this can reduce the cost-effectiveness of dedicated servers.
In between these options is Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting. VPS hosting leverages virtualization technology to divide a single server into smaller, isolated virtual servers. Each virtual server operates independently, offering a dedicated-like experience without the high costs associated with dedicated hosting. The benefits of VPS hosting include improved performance and reliable uptime compared to shared hosting, along with customization options and scalability. Keep in mind, though, that managing a VPS requires technical knowledge, unless you opt for a fully managed VPS hosting plan, which alleviates many maintenance responsibilities.
In summary, VPS hosting strikes a balance between the affordability of shared hosting and the control of dedicated hosting, making it an excellent choice for many users. Most people begin with Shared or VPS hosting and upgrade to dedicated hosting as their website grows. Understanding your bandwidth and storage requirements will help determine the best hosting solution for your needs. Whether you choose Shared, VPS, or Dedicated hosting, each option has valuable features tailored to different website goals.
Types of website you can host
Before choosing a hosting plan, take a moment to consider what type of website you want to host. Generally, websites fall into two main categories.
The first category is Static websites. These are usually hand-coded in HTML or created with web design software like Blocs, Rapidweaver, or Pinegrow Web Editor, before being uploaded to the hosting provider’s server. They are called static because any changes must be made on your computer, and then you have to re-upload the edited HTML file.
Static websites are easier to design and cheaper to maintain. However, they have limited functionality and can make common tasks, like handling transactions or engaging with visitors, more challenging.
The second category is Dynamic websites. Besides HTML, these websites use scripts to generate and update content as needed (hence the name dynamic). Dynamic websites are often powered by content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Joomla.
CMS setups allow you to interact with your website and simplify complex online tasks that would be difficult to manage with a static site.
When choosing your hosting type, remember that both static and dynamic websites have different technical requirements. It’s a good idea to contact any providers you’re interested in and compare what they offer and their prices.
Features to look for in web hosting providers
Once you determine the best type of hosting platform for your needs, it's time to find the right hosting provider. In our view, a good host shouldn't be judged solely on price. There are several other factors to consider, which we’ll highlight below. There are many options available, each varying in price and services. So, it's important to consider the features you need and compare them against the tradeoff in terms of pricing and adaptability.
- Bandwidth: If you're not just hosting a personal website or an online resume that won't get much traffic, it's important to estimate how much bandwidth your site will need. Most hosting providers offer low-tier plans to start, but if you're planning a media-heavy site with lots of content, you'll require a lot of bandwidth right from the start. Check that the package you choose can handle your traffic and won't penalize you if your site gets busy. Also, make sure there are no extra fees if you need to increase your resources later.
- Scalability: Besides considering your current website needs, think ahead. If you do well, your site will attract more visitors, so look for hosts that can grow with you. This means enough storage for your increasing content and sufficient bandwidth for your rising visitor count, ideally with a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): Depending on your website type, a hosting provider with a built-in CDN can help deliver your content faster. This is especially important for sites that serve a global audience. If you’re unfamiliar with CDNs, check out our guide: What is a CDN?.
- Linux or Windows Server: Most web hosting providers offer both Linux and Windows servers. Your choice shouldn't depend on the operating system on your desktop. Generally, choose Windows hosting only if your site needs Windows frameworks like ASP.NET or MS SQL. For most other types of websites, we recommend Linux hosting.
- Website Builder: Many web hosting providers offer tools and control panels like cPanel and Plesk to help manage your site. A useful option is a website builder platform. If you're planning to build your site yourself, look for a provider that includes an online website builder to simplify the process.
- SSL Certificates: One of the main reasons we discourage self-hosting is security. A good web hosting provider will ensure the safety of their server, protecting your website. An SSL certificate adds another layer of security for information exchanged between you and your visitors, including login and credit card details. SSL certificates are now essential for hosting a website, so choose providers that help you acquire one. For more details, see our guide: What is an SSL Certificate?.
- Automated Backups: Regular backups are crucial, whether for your personal computer or website. While hosting providers take steps to protect against risks, having a recent backup of your website is vital in case of unexpected issues. Good hosting providers usually offer automated backups at least once every 24 hours, saving you the hassle of managing your own backup policy.
- Email Services: Not all web hosting providers include an email address in their starter packages, while some do. If you need more email addresses, ensure you select the right plan. Some providers also offer email as an add-on feature, giving you extra addresses and benefits like spam protection.
- Domain Name Registration: While it’s not essential, registering your domain name with your hosting provider allows you to manage both from a single interface.
Why self-hosting isn’t worth it
When you don’t have anyone to set up, configure, and maintain your web server, you’ll need the technical skills to install the hosting infrastructure yourself. You’ll also need to adjust your firewall to allow incoming traffic from the Internet to reach your self-hosted website. Even if you’re willing to go through all this effort to set up your web host, you still won’t be able to send emails. Most ISPs block outgoing traffic over port 25 to reduce spam.
As you can see, hosting a website is much easier if you choose a pre-built package from a premium provider. It often makes more sense than a do-it-yourself approach.
Technically, you can host a website from your own computer, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Self-hosting can be time-consuming and may not save you money compared to a paid web hosting package.
While self-hosting gives you full control over your hosting environment, it comes with some challenges. Before you install your software, you need to ensure your web server has a constant power supply and backup options for outages. Additionally, you’ll need a static IP address from your ISP, as most provide a dynamic one that changes when you reset your router.
For the best results, pick a good web host
Self-hosting a website comes with several inconveniences. Server maintenance and monitoring is a constant task that needs specialized skills, and if not done properly, it can drive away visitors. If you choose a web hosting package, much of this behind-the-scenes work is handled for you.
Overall, self-hosting can be a decent choice for small project teams working together internally, but it’s not ideal for a publicly accessible website. With so many web hosts offering great deals and valuable hosting packages, opting for a professional service usually makes more sense.
Now that you understand what it takes to host a website, check out our list of the best web hosting providers to find one that fits your needs.
