Choosing Free Web Hosting over a paid option should, in theory, be based solely upon on the type of web presence that you are contemplating, rather than cost. The alternative can ultimately end up restricting your growth down the track.
By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of Free Web Hosting you can make an informed decision. The following is a common sense summary of the advantages and disadvantages of using a Free Web Hosting option.
Advantages
1. A no cost/Free service allowing you to get a web presence.
2. Excellent for non business ” i.e. students, uploading small text documents, non profit organisations and or families ” all with small disk space and bandwidth requirements.
3. Best when there is only limited traffic to the site.
Disadvantages
1. The web host provider will often insist that their name is in the domain name.
2. Limited bandwidth is offered. OK to start but limiting to future growth.
3. Linking to files is often not offered. Linking can be especially important SEO component for driving organic traffic to your website.
4. Restricted storage space
5. Uptime is not assured. Unreliability causes a lack of confidence amongst your customers.
6. The Free Web Hosting will often insist that they insert unrelated advertising on the web page that may distract and annoy visitors.
7. Limited or not guaranteed level of customer support.
8. Special features are limited” i.e. PHP, MySQL, FTP accounts and POP email.
9. Susceptible to spamming
10. Graphics are restricted as they reduce the amount of available advertising space for the free web provider. This restriction reduces the amount of brand presence you can place on your site.
Any discussion on whether to go Free or paid web hosting is further complicated by the fact that for as much as $5 a month, a web hosting company will promised 24/7 customer support, along with a stream of other special features, such as
1. Disk space varying from anything up to unlimited
2. Bandwidth unlimited
3. Unlimited number of domains
4. The option to use either a UNIX or Windows servers
5. 24/7 telephone support.
6. Shared or dedicated hosting environment, depending on your needs.
Before making the decision to go either with a Free or paid hosting provider, you should consider your current and future needs. It is so often the case that any short term gains are in fact outweighed by possible long term problems.
