This year, more than ever before, people are looking for ways to reduce their footprint on the planet. According to a study by the international research firm Tractica, web hosting serves as a gateway drug to online activism. Specifically, the firm states that hosting is a common starting point for digital dissenters who wish to remain anonymous.
While hosting is a necessary evil, it doesn’t have to be. Just because you have a website doesn’t mean you need to host it yourself. There are plenty of hosting services out there that are just as good as — if not better than — what you’re used to. Let’s take a look at how to choose the best web hosting for your needs.
Features You Need
When choosing a web host, you need to set some basic parameters beforehand. These include features like shared hosting, which we’ll discuss in a bit, as well as things like domain privacy and free backups. You also need to figure out what operating system (OS) you’ll be running on your server. Most web hosts offer a dedicated server option that comes with its own OS, which you must maintain and update yourself.
In addition to the OS, you need to consider what kind of storage (also known as disk space) you need. How much space do you need? That is the question. Once you know the answer to that question, it is much easier to choose a hosting plan that is just right for you. That being said, if budgets are no object to you, then get the most out of your web host as possible while still staying within your budget. The more you use, the more you pay, so it is always a good idea to keep your storage space as minimal as necessary. Having more than enough storage is great because you can always expand your storage as needed. That is key to having a smooth and productive experience as a webmaster without worrying about running out of space too soon. So, how much space do you need? That is the question.
The Great Divide
Now, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. Back in the day, when websites were only made up of text, images and maybe a few videos, hosting was pretty simple. You’d just need a place to put your website and you were good to go. Hosting providers back then did not offer much in terms of features. Mostly, they just provided a basic service and left you to it. If you wanted to upgrade your service, you’d either have to move to a different provider or DIY (do it yourself).
Back then, the only real choice you had was in how much you were willing to spend. That, and whether you wanted your website to be popular or not.
However, over the years, hosting has changed. Nowadays, you have multiple options to choose from when it comes to hosting providers. Some of the more popular ones are:
- Amazon
- Dreamhost
- GoDaddy
- Netsauce
- Ovh
- Rackspace
Each of these hosts has something great to offer, and it is important to do your research before making any kind of purchase. The great thing about these hosts is that, as previously stated, they do not require you to run the server yourself. That is a major plus when it comes to saving you time and energy. You’ll spend less time setting up your site and more time worrying about actually building your site. Time is money, and you need to be making as much money as you can so that you can invest in bettering your site monetarily.
If you’re curious about what the big difference is between these hosts, take a look at their dedicated servers. A dedicated server is essentially a sever that is solely dedicated to your use. The advantages of a dedicated server are many:
- No restrictions on the amount of space you need
- No limits on the amount of bandwidth you need
- Full control over the OS (operating system)
- Full control over the software (including the operating system)
- No time-based restrictions
In some cases, you may even be able to get a free dedicated server from your host. Check with their support staff to find out what kind of deals they have going on.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is fairly straightforward. You get a bunch of server space (often split into multiple drives) that is sharded (shared) among a group of websites. For example, let’s say you have a 1-year shared hosting plan and you decide to sign up for ten additional sites. Your shared hosting plan would be divided into ten equal parts, and each site would receive an equal share of the allotted space. This is the most basic level of sharing, and it is suitable for anyone who is just getting started.
The major advantage of shared hosting is that it is very cost-effective. The reason behind this is that most hosting providers offer this service at a very affordable price. Most shared hosting plans start at under five dollars per month. This is far less than what you’d spend for a dedicated server.
The disadvantage of shared hosting is that it has some inherent disadvantages. First, downtime is very high due to the nature of the service. Any sort of hardware or software failure will result in the loss of your entire site. Second, if another site on the network is experiencing a problem, it could potentially affect yours.
If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable solution, then shared hosting is a perfect fit. However, if you’re looking for a high-performance solution that can take your site to the next level, then dedicated servers are the way to go. The best of both worlds would be a solution that offers both dedicated servers and shared hosting, but that is a bit more expensive.
Pro-rated Hosting
If you purchase a one-year hosting package and decide to cancel your account after just a few months, you will incur massive fees. Most hosting providers have a 30-day money-back guarantee, but that is only if you’re the kind of person who sticks around for the entire year. After that, you’ll be charged a very high fee to renew your service. This is why it is best to sign up for a longer term plan in the first place. You’ll have an entire year to build up your site, and you won’t have to pay an exorbitant renewal fee. This is where the pro-rated hosting plan comes in. With this plan, your first payment will be divided into equal parts, and those parts will be applied to your next month’s payment. In other words, the longer you use it, the more you will pay. Naturally, you are free to cancel your service at any time and you won’t be penalized for doing so.
Like shared hosting, the major advantage of pro-rated hosting is that it is very cost-effective. The reason behind this is that most hosting providers offer this plan at a very competitive price. The disadvantage is the same as with shared hosting — high downtime and the possibility of problems with other sites on the network.
Dedicated IP Addresses
Dedicated IP addresses are crucial for any serious website. When people talk about “the Cloud”, what they actually mean is a collection of computers networked together and sharing resources. When you have a dedicated IP address, that is the case as well. You have a dedicated IP address because you have purchased that right from your internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP gives you one IP address for your website, and all requests for that website are sent to that IP address. As a result, all traffic is separate from other websites on the same network and there is no chance of conflicts.
It is very convenient to have a dedicated IP address. First off, you don’t have to share it with anyone else, so it is 100% yours. Secondly, you can use it as a source for email marketing campaigns, as well as any other service that requires you to use an IP address. Finally, you can block specific IPs from accessing your site with the help of a proxy server (more on that later).
The major disadvantage of dedicated IPs is that they are very expensive. Most ISPs charge you a one-time fee of several hundred dollars for the right to use a dedicated IP. In addition, you must pay for every year that you use it (typically, these plans are billed annually). Naturally, if you cancel your plan before the end of the year, you will have to pay the annual fee for the next year. This is why it is best to negotiate a discount if you plan on using the service for more than a year.