Web Hosting Budget:

• Free Website Hosting
  
  
• Cheap Website Hosting Under $10



• Reliable Web Hosting $11 - $20

• Webserver disk space 100 MB - 500 MB



• Webserver disk space 500 MB - 2000 MB

The following is a summary of areas you should be aware of before signing off with a website Hosting company. Successful web hosting is a partnership based on honesty and service. Customer service is often overlooked, but problems arise more then we would like to admit.

Customer support

Does the company offer true 24/7 support? Many cheap web hosting companies claim to offer 24/7 customer service, but in reality it may take days to get a reply. A big plus for customer service is phone support, nothing is nicer then being able to pick up the phone and get in touch with someone who can help you with any problems you might come upon.

Low pice/Contract length:

When a web Hosting company advertises a Hosting package deal, they may be advertising the price if you were to sign up for a one or two year plan. I have personally come across alot of these while looking for cheap web Hosting. Make sure to check on the rates and when payments will be due. The last thing you want to do is commit to a one or two year contract and find out after a month or two, that the service is slow or down alot.

Unlimited bandwidth:

Companies will use this tactic to try to sell you, when infact many times if your website is generating alot of traffic it will end up costing the company. Most clients won't use alot of bandwidth, so the companies feel they can offer unlimited bandwidth because they average out across the entire client base.

Unlimited disk space:

The Unlimited Disk Space offer is another selling point for some companies, but you won't see it often. Disk space is always paid for by the web Hosting company, and if you use alot of disk space you may find you will not be able to access your server or upload more files. Read the plan agreement and make sure they can't drop your account for high disk space usage, or find a different web Hosting company.

Installed Packages:

All cheap web Hosting companies are not alike. Some support ASP and windows technologies, while others support CGI and unix technologies, depending on the server configuration. Another thing to look for is database support, since many websites and inventories are dynamically driven. Under the unix platform MySQL is used for database development and Microsoft Access/SQL Server is used on windows platforms. Also remember if you are looking to setup a bulletin board, it will require a database.

Excess bandwidth:

In a usual month, your bandwidth quota may be more than sufficient, but what if you become No.1 on a major search engine overnight? With a No.1 placement your traffic will go through the roof and before you know it, your quota is gone! If your web Host doesn't allow you to add excess bandwidth, this could be your downfall. Check prices on excess bandwidth before signing up.

Script limitations:

Some scripts are well known to cause large workloads on servers and many cheap web Hosting companies are very specific in regards to the kinds of scripts you can run. Some scripts pose security concerns to the web Host company so they will not support it. If you are familiar with a certain script, make sure they have it or will support it before signing up.

Money Back Guarantees:

Check the fine print before believing what you read. Some companies will refund all of your money, some will only give you back the web Hosting package price, minus the setup fee.

Content agreement:

If you read the terms and conditions of the web Hosting company, there is a statement that they can terminate your account at any time, for any reason. This is to protect the web Host from the unwanted attention. If you have a website that displays a strong political opinion and religious view, it would be a good idea to contact the company before signing up. Check to make sure they will accept your content or views.