Truth about Free Hosting – Is it Really Free?
Questioning whether free hosting is truly “free” might seem like a play on words initially, but when you delve into the realities of various hosting options and the limitations of free hosting, it becomes clear that opting for free hosting can actually end up costing you more in the long run.
Let’s take a closer look to figure out when it makes sense to use free hosting and what other options are available besides it.
Restrictions that Always come along with Free Hosting
It’s pretty straightforward: no company offers free hosting without expecting something in return. With some free hosts, they’ll let you host your site for free, but in exchange, you must display their ads on your site’s pages. You typically can’t control the type of ads shown, which might promote products you don’t endorse. This can turn away visitors and discourage other webmasters from linking to your site.
Commercial Restrictions:
Many users of “free” hosting face a frustrating issue: they can’t earn income from their website as they’d like. This is because many free web hosts don’t allow commercial websites on their platforms. For instance, if you use WordPress.org’s hosting service, you must agree not to monetize your site. Violating these terms could result in your site being deleted without notice. These restrictions on earning money can end up costing you more in lost earnings than you’d save by using a paid shared hosting account with sensible income strategies. It’s essential to weigh these limitations against the potential gains when deciding on your hosting plan.
Control Restrictions:
When you go for free hosting, you’re sacrificing a lot of control compared to paid options. By paying just a bit extra each month for a paid hosting plan, you unlock a host of benefits that free hosting can’t match. You can create websites or blogs on any topic you like, monetize them however you want, and have full control over your content without any obligations to display third-party ads. With free hosting, you’re handing over control to a third party who can impose restrictions or even shut down your site without warning. So, when you consider all these limitations, free hosting really doesn’t look like a free service at all.
Bottom Line
Although free hosting may appear economical initially, it comes with drawbacks like limited control and various restrictions on content and monetization. Opting for a paid shared hosting plan, which costs a few dollars per month, offers better control and fewer limitations for your website.
