Free Vs. Paid Web Hosting

With the growing number of free Web Hosting services available today, you may ask "Why should I pay for Web Hosting when I can get it for free?" This is actually a very good question and we will evaluate the benefits of each type of Web Hosting below.

Some of the free Web Hosting services available include Xoom, Hypermart, and GeoCities, with most such services offering distinctly varying degrees of flexibility. For instance, some allow you to have an actual domain name, yet require that you put it in a sub domain under their primary domain
(i.e., http://geocities/yourownwebsite/). Some allow you to run your CGI scripts, while others do not. One thing almost all free Web Hosts have in common is that they provide limited disk space (usually 5-10 MB) and are very strict when it comes to data transfer, usually requiring that you display ads on your website.

One of the biggest complaints that users of free Web Hosting have is that they must often allow the Web Host to include banners or advertisements on personal web pages. You have probably come across a Hypermart (like GeoCities) and been immediately accosted with an ad pop-up when accessing the site. Many people find this annoying and prefer the freedom from pop-up ads that paid Web Hosting allows.

Another big factor that often causes people to go in search of paid Web Hosting is the desire to have their own domain name. Most free Web Hosting companies do not give you this advantage. If you do have access to your own domain with a free Web Host, chances are you will have to live with pop-up ads on your site.

In addition, most companies that offer free Web Hosting also have strict limitations on running and installing CGI scripts. Some will provide pre-installed scripts such as guestbooks, counters, or email form processors. However, if you want to test, install, and run your own scripts, you will probably need to find a reliable paid Web Host. If this is a feature that you are interested in, be sure to ask any potential Web Host about its CGI script policies, since they vary widely from company to company.

If you have a fairly large website or offer lots of graphics, free Web Hosting may present some problems for you. Most free Web Hosting companies have strict disk space limits, usually 5-10 MB or less. While this is plenty for some sites, you may find this amount lacking if you use a lot of graphics. Before signing with any Hosting service, be sure to ask about disk space limits and the policies for increasing allotted space.

Ultimately, the type of Web Hosting you choose depends on the specific needs of your website. If you have a small personal site and do not mind the ads and limitations that come with most free Web Hosting, then that may be the best choice for you. However, if you are planning to put up a company or business site, then you probably want your own domain name and that usually requires that you find paid Web Hosting.