The difference between hosting, a domain and maintenance
Your website is like a shop: it has an address, a building and upkeep. Each is paid for differently.
The domain
Your website's address, such as example.com. You pay a yearly fee to register it, and if you do not renew it your site loses it and someone else may buy it. Register it in your own name, not the designer's.
Hosting
The place where your site's files run and are served to visitors. It usually includes an SSL certificate (the green lock), a delivery network that speeds up the site, a protection layer and backups. It is usually a yearly subscription.
Maintenance
Monthly hours for your changes, security updates and monitoring the site. Optional, but it stops the site becoming outdated and exposed to problems.
What should you ask?
- In whose name is the domain registered? The right answer: yours. Can the site be moved to your account whenever you want? The answer should be yes.
- Can I move my site to another provider? The answer must be yes.
- Who warns me before the domain and hosting expire?
- What happens to my site if the subscription stops?
The bottom line
If you own your accounts and your code, you are free at any time. If you do not, you are tied to whoever manages them, whatever you think of them.
Want hosting and maintenance without worry?
We host and protect your site and follow up domain and hosting renewals.
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