southeast-host
01-23-2013, 04:40 PM
When you're looking for a Web hosting plan it can be tempting to just look at the prices, but there are still so many hosting providers that once you've decided on a price range you still might have several dozen hosting providers to choose from. So, once you've decided you need cheap hosting (Web hosting that costs less than $10 per month), what should you look for in a cheap Web host?
Free setup
There are so many hosting providers out there that choosing one that makes you pay a setup fee is just silly. There is very little effort required in creating a new hosting service, especially on a shared hosting service, so the setup fee is just a way for the hosting provider to milk a little extra from you.
Unlimited space and bandwidth
It used to be that you couldn't get a cheap Web host with unlimited space and bandwidth, but that is no longer the case. There are lots of providers out there that offer either unlimited space and bandwidth or free upgrades in space and bandwidth.
At least 30 days to evaluate the service
Not all of the cheap Web hosts offer money-back guarantees, and many of them are cheap because you are locked into a year or multi-year contract. But unless you know that they have exactly what you need, a 30-day or more money-back guarantee is helpful.
Tech support in a fashion useful to you
If you are the type of person who needs to talk on the phone when there's a problem then don't go for a host that offers 24-hour online chat support only. Many of the cheap hosts provide knowledgebases and FAQs online but very little person-to-person support. Make sure you know how to find that support and that it's something you can use. Email support is no good if your domain is down and that's where your email goes.
The features you need
If you need a database with PHP, then don't go with a host that doesn't include that in your current monthly price, even if they offer it as an upgrade. It may be difficult to convert your plan later.
Many Cheap Hosting Plans are Cheap in Package Deals
One of the most common ways you'll see cheap hosting is as a package deal over several months or years. In other words, they cost $4 per month when you buy 36 months of service. Otherwise they cost $15 per month. If you're not prepared to hand over a large amount of cash all at once, be sure you know what the monthly cost is when paid monthly.
Always Read the Terms and Conditions Before You Hand Over Your Credit Card
Some of the most common complaints I've seen about hosting providers surround non-refundable terms and cancellation fees. And most of the time, these fees and policies are clearly spelled out in the terms and conditions you agree to before you start hosting with them. Make sure you read the terms, as you don't want to find out that they claim copyright over your content when you post it to their servers. (And don't think that can't happen. When Google first released Chrome, the terms and conditions for that browser said that they owned any content you created in the browser. That was since changed.)
Free setup
There are so many hosting providers out there that choosing one that makes you pay a setup fee is just silly. There is very little effort required in creating a new hosting service, especially on a shared hosting service, so the setup fee is just a way for the hosting provider to milk a little extra from you.
Unlimited space and bandwidth
It used to be that you couldn't get a cheap Web host with unlimited space and bandwidth, but that is no longer the case. There are lots of providers out there that offer either unlimited space and bandwidth or free upgrades in space and bandwidth.
At least 30 days to evaluate the service
Not all of the cheap Web hosts offer money-back guarantees, and many of them are cheap because you are locked into a year or multi-year contract. But unless you know that they have exactly what you need, a 30-day or more money-back guarantee is helpful.
Tech support in a fashion useful to you
If you are the type of person who needs to talk on the phone when there's a problem then don't go for a host that offers 24-hour online chat support only. Many of the cheap hosts provide knowledgebases and FAQs online but very little person-to-person support. Make sure you know how to find that support and that it's something you can use. Email support is no good if your domain is down and that's where your email goes.
The features you need
If you need a database with PHP, then don't go with a host that doesn't include that in your current monthly price, even if they offer it as an upgrade. It may be difficult to convert your plan later.
Many Cheap Hosting Plans are Cheap in Package Deals
One of the most common ways you'll see cheap hosting is as a package deal over several months or years. In other words, they cost $4 per month when you buy 36 months of service. Otherwise they cost $15 per month. If you're not prepared to hand over a large amount of cash all at once, be sure you know what the monthly cost is when paid monthly.
Always Read the Terms and Conditions Before You Hand Over Your Credit Card
Some of the most common complaints I've seen about hosting providers surround non-refundable terms and cancellation fees. And most of the time, these fees and policies are clearly spelled out in the terms and conditions you agree to before you start hosting with them. Make sure you read the terms, as you don't want to find out that they claim copyright over your content when you post it to their servers. (And don't think that can't happen. When Google first released Chrome, the terms and conditions for that browser said that they owned any content you created in the browser. That was since changed.)