Top reasons free web hosting is bad for business websites

Written by Andy Campbell  ยป  Updated on: August 28th, 2024

This free alternative is quite appealing, and the internet is replete with businesses that provide web hosting at no cost. With reputable websites such as WordPress and Blogger, launching a website is simple and uncomplicated, and it can be done at no cost, but it is not without its share of drawbacks. It is undeniable that a great number of bloggers have discovered success by utilizing free web hosting for their websites.

However, the question that needs to be answered is why successful bloggers are not making use of the free services offered by WordPress or any other free host. This is due to the fact that not every free alternative may prove to be helpful in the long run. You should not sacrifice the quality of the service you provide in order to begin blogging, regardless of whether you want to do so as a pastime or as the initial step in operating your business. Free web hosting has been used to entice a great number of people, but there are a number of reasons why it is not suited for use.

Free web hosting: What is it?

Most businesses need to have a website in order to run. For those who want to be known on the web, you will need a website and a web hosting service to keep it online. There are services that offer free web hosting and sometimes a free domain name. Hosting is the computer where the files for your website are kept, and the domain name is the address that people type into their browsers to get to your website.

When you sign up for free hosting, you are limited in how many websites you can host, how much disc room you have, how fast your site loads, how often it is backed up, and how much bandwidth you can use. Also, companies that offer free web hosting will give you expensive web hosting that you may need later, and you can't be sure that the company will be around for a long time.

What are the reasons why free web hosting is bad for business websites?

1. Possible loopholes in security

It is often the case that free web providers provide very little to no protection against cyberattacks or intrusions. Using safe and secure hosting services provided by well-known web hosting companies is an obligation that falls on your shoulders in order to protect your website from an assault of this nature. In the event that your website is compromised, it will be far more challenging to recover it. This is due to the fact that these organizations provide very restricted access to your files and data.

2. Losing Ownership

You may be able to add a big deal of information to your website by devoting your full attention to the best of your abilities, but you will never truly be the owner of that content. The majority of free hosting services have terms and conditions that you should study in order to become aware of the fact that you do not actually own your website.

It is also known that some free hosting providers keep ownership of the content that their users upload to their websites. This is a very disheartening development for those experts who may, at some point in the future, wish to transfer their content to their own independent websites.

3. Lack of Professionalism

You certainly will, at some point in time, need to promote your website in order to attract more visitors to your blog. Websites that offer free web hosting appear non-professional. Prospective clients may have a tough time taking your website seriously if you do not have a domain name that is appropriate for your business. Not only that, but you are unable to create email accounts using your own domain name. Consequently, you will be required to use your personal email account, which does not give off a professional appearance.

4. Low storage capacity

Typically, free hosting providers will only supply you with a very limited amount of storage space for your data. They host hundreds of websites, all of which share the same server and disc space, which is the reason for this. As soon as you approach that limit, you will typically be requested to pay for additional storage space.

5. Limited design and functionality options

In contrast to a self-hosted website, which provides users with access to thousands of different themes, free websites only provide a small selection of templates that are either badly designed or very basic. Furthermore, free websites do not allow users to utilize the designs that they have created on the web.

A back-end control panel or platform as a service that is laden with functionality is often something that reputable web hosts provide their customers. One-click installation of common scripts, email setup, database management, traffic analyzer, and subdomain configuration are some of the features that are typically included with premium web hosting plans. Website hosting typically does not provide these options to their customers.

6. No backups

Reputable web hosts almost always provide automatic backups for their customers. You can have peace of mind knowing that the web host has maintained a backup copy of your file in the event that your material is lost under any circumstances, such as when an editor deletes your file by accident or when it is compromised as a result of a cyberattack.

The concept of frequent backups, on the other hand, does not exist in the case of free web hosting. They will not back up your data, and in the event that it is lost, there is nothing you can do to return it to its original state.

7. A poor service to the customer

Initially, you will be responsible for setting up your website on your own with the assistance of documentation that is quite restricted and poorly presented. Subsequently, you will usually not receive any assistance. If your website becomes inaccessible, you will need to contact the host to receive assistance. Unfortunately, free web hosting has terrible customer service for its users. In situations where you are unable to figure out something, you are very much on your own.

8. Excessive amount of downtime

This unequivocally suggests that the web host in question is of low quality. There is a high probability that it is the result of a certain individual abusing the server. Their servers frequently fall offline for maintenance, which may be caused by hardware issues or simply by carelessness. There is no one who would want to visit the website that is only open half the day, regardless of how wonderful the material is.

If you select a web host that offers a competitive price, you will be able to avoid a great deal of trouble. As soon as you begin working on a website, you will get the desire to expand further. Through the provision of outstanding customer service, you will be protected from being subjected to forced advertisements, security flaws, and poor speeds, ultimately resolving your issues. You can avoid all of these headaches by purchasing a website right from the beginning.

9. Unreliable

The reliability of free web hosting is typically poor. It is generally accepted that they do not have a stellar reputation in terms of speed, uptime, and availability. In addition to this, they have a tendency to shut down quite frequently.

Free hosting is not appropriate for individuals who are interested in beginning businesses of any size, even on a small scale; however, it is acceptable for individuals who are only interested in using it for the purpose of exploring its capabilities.

10. Transferring your website is more challenging

If you begin with a free website and subsequently decide that you want to move your website to a different domain, you will have difficulties in the future, such as when your website is unavailable. It is possible for transferred content to include errors that require a significant amount of effort to rectify. To ensure that your feed does not suffer a loss of subscribers, you need to check to see if the redirects that have been moved are operational.

There are often limitations placed on the accessibility of servers from free hosting services. During the process of transferring, it is possible that you will not be able to access all of your files. Because of this, it is recommended that you begin your new website with a premium template.

Conclusion-

Hosting a website for free is not a good idea for a number of different reasons. There is no way that it will save you any money or time. Before choosing a web hosting firm, it is important to think about the long-term objectives you have for your website. Do you require assistance that can be relied upon? Quick loading times and strong search engine optimization? Alternatively, how about a professional appearance that is devoid of advertisements?

Before committing to a web hosting provider, it is important to take into consideration the aforementioned aspects. In the event that you are serious about your website and desire to preserve it for an extended period of time, you should begin from the very beginning with dependable, paid hosting and a genuine, legally registered domain name.


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