Chuyển đến nội dung chính

How to Choose a Web Hosting?

Are you getting ready to move your website to a new host, or want to launch a brand new site? Choosing a web host can be a tricky process, mainly be cause there are so many companies offering cheap or free hosting. While it's tempting to just sign up for a free host, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind, and you'll often find that a paid host is much more beneficial in the long run.


See Steps below to learn how to pick the best web hosting service for you.


Part 1: Determining Your Needs

1. Look at your current website (or website idea). What does your website do? Is it a site that you made for fun to practice or share with friends and family? Is it your blog or other personal site? Is it a company site? Is it a store? The answers to all of these questions will help you determine what you need to look for in a web host.

If you're only making a site to practice or share with friends and family, you can probably get away with free hosting. It will be slow and there may be ads placed on it, but you will be able to practice working with web servers.

2. Think about your potential growth. Is your business expanding rapidly? Are gaining new customers by the day? Do you foresee a significant increase in visitors? There's a good chance that what works for you now will need to be scaled up in the near future. When choosing a web host, always try to keep the future in mind and plan accordingly.

Free hosting sites often make it difficult to transfer your site to a new host when you decide to switch.

3. Understand the three main types of hosting. There are three general types of servers offered by web hosting companies: Shared servers, virtual servers, and dedicated servers.

  • If your website is on a shared server, it will share server resources with other websites on the same server. This is often the most affordable solution, but can lead to the worst performance if other sites are hogging your resources. These are generally not recommended if you are trying to run an eCommerce site.
  • Virtual servers are virtual dedicated servers, and can provide a lot more stability and greater resources. These are highly recommended for small businesses that run an eCommerce store or have a decent number of monthly visitors.
  • Dedicated servers are entire physical servers dedicated to just your website. These are typically used for corporate websites or small businesses that do a lot of business or have very high traffic. Dedicated servers are the most expensive option, but have the least downtime and most resources.


Part 2: Checking Customer Service

1. Explore the support options. Customer service is one of the most important factors in choosing a web host, because down-time and technical issues can really impact your visitors. Check the support section of each host to see what kind of customer service options they provide.

  • Being able to talk to someone live is one of the best methods of service. Email support with quick turnaround (24 hours), is another good method.
  • If the only support the host offers is a support forum, keep looking. You are likely to go days without receiving a response to your support request.


2. Test the response time. If there is a support forum or support email address, send a test message or two to see how the response times are, ask questions about the service, or the process for getting your site onto the server. The way they treat a potential customer will give a good measure for how they'll respond once you are a customer.

3. Read reviews on the company's service. There are a variety of places online where people can post reviews about web hosting services. Check some of the more recent reviews for the company to see if people have had issues with customer service and support.

  • Be cautious – many web hosting review websites are operated by the hosting companies themselves, or people wanting to make a quick buck off of referrals. Always read the fine print, and ask someone you know who has experience working with web hosts who they prefer.
  • You may find reviews on the company's forums, but these could be curated by the company, with bad reviews getting deleted.


Part 3: Comparing Features

1. Check how much storage the host provides. Storage is the amount of space your website is given for all of its content. This includes your web pages, images, videos, databases, and anything else. If your website is not content-heavy, you likely will not need much space. The typical website is less than 100 MB in size, so you can usually ignore the claims of massive storage.

  • Lots of hosting companies will claim that you have unlimited space, but this is rarely necessary unless you are creating an incredibly content-rich website. In fact, this claim should be a red flag – unlimited space is a technical impossibility, and it could potentially mean that their servers may become overcrowded, thus decreasing server performance.
  • Give yourself room to grow. Make sure that you have room to expand and grow on the host you choose. It is recommended that you at least have the space to grow 20% within a year, so examine your needs and the storage solutions offered by the host. Some services will offer you more space as your needs expand.


2. Compare bandwidth amounts between hosts. The bandwidth is the amount of data that is allowed to be transferred from your server to a visitor. Some services will offer unlimited bandwidth, while others will put a cap on the amount that you can transfer.

  • The amount of bandwidth you use will be determined by the amount of traffic you receive as well as the size of the content on your host. For example, a heavily-visited site with lots of pictures will take a lot more bandwidth than a heavily-visited site with mostly text.
  • "Unlimited bandwidth" is rarely actually unlimited, and the trade-offs for services like these are often very noticeable. These hosts will typically be much slower than a host that applies bandwidth limits.
  • Make sure you know what will happen if you go over your bandwidth allotment. Depending on the hosting company, you may be charged extra or your website may be taken offline until the next billing period.


3. Test the connection speed. The time it takes for the server to respond can make or break your website. The speed of the server often goes hand-in-hand with the bandwidth limits. If a server offers unlimited bandwidth, it will often put as many websites on the same server as possible, which can severely impact the speed. Find a few sites that are hosted by the company and test how long it takes pages to load.

Many hosting companies will show some of the more popular websites that they host as a means of advertisement. Use these to test the speed, but also know that this is not completely indicative of the speed your site will have.

You can ping websites to see how long it takes for packets to be sent and received from the server. This can give you a good idea about how quick the server is.

4. Pay attention to uptime claims. Uptime is especially important for websites, especially if the website is business-related. Customers expect the service to be available 24/7. Many hosts will claim 99% or more, but be wary of any host that claims 100% uptime.

The difference between 99% and 99.9% is three days out of the year. This is a very significant difference, as three days of down-time could cost you a lot of business.

5. Make sure the host provides the services you need. Ensure that the web host you choose has the tools and services that you need to best manage your site. This includes cPanel, WordPress or other blog integration, FTP access, analytics, and a variety of other back-end tools.

Check to ensure that the host allows you to configure an email address using the domain name that you register.

6. Confirm that the host offers acceptable security tools. The security of your web host is especially important if your are dealing with eCommerce and other forms of customer and user information.

7. Check what operating system the server is using. The industry standard is Linux, but if you are running a business that uses custom tools written with Microsoft .NET, you'll want to make sure you use a Windows server for greater compatibility.

  • For most people setting up their website for the first time, the operating system is largely irrelevant.
  • Windows Servers can be less secure than Linux servers.


Part 4: Thinking About Cost

1. Know the limits of free hosting. There are many companies that offer free web hosting, but the services offered are often severely limiting. Sites on free hosts will usually have ads on them that cannot be removed, and you typically can't set up ads for yourself.

Free hosts are often much slower than a paid host. The benefits you gain for paying monthly will usually far outweigh the cost.

2. Balance cost against features. When comparing paid packages, pay attention to the cost of additional features that you may not use. Web hosts love to bundle all kinds of services and products with their expensive packages, but they are usually only useful in very specific situations. Make sure that you're paying for reliability and customer service, and not useless add-ons.

3. Know that good customer support often costs more. Customer service is one of the most crucial aspects when making your web hosting decision, but keep in mind that good customer service does not come cheap. When you're choosing among low-cost providers, the chances are that the customer service will not be stellar.

4. Avoid buying your domain name from your host. Most web hosting services offer to take care of your domain name registration for an extra fee. You can almost always find the domain for cheaper through other domain registries. Save your money.

Tự Học tiếng Anh Giao Tiếp

Tự Học tiếng Anh Giao Tiếp
Những video tự học tiếng Anh giao tiếp đơn giản dễ thuộc

Bài đăng phổ biến từ blog này

Vì sao xác con tàu huyền thoại Titanic vẫn chưa được trục vớt?

Việc khôi phục lại di tích từ các thảm kịch của lịch sử không phải lúc nào cũng dễ dàng, và đó chính là trường hợp của việc trục vớt xác con tàu huyền thoại Titanic. Tháng 9/1985, đoàn thám hiểm chung giữa Mỹ và Pháp đã xác định vị trí xác tàu Titanic nằm dưới đáy đại dương ở độ sâu khoảng 3900m. Tìm thấy xác tàu dưới đáy đại dương sau 73 năm Đống đổ nát dưới đáy đại dương không được phát hiện trong nhiều thập kỷ cho đến năm 1985. Vào tháng 9/1985, nhà hải dương học Robert Ballard muốn thử nghiệm tàu ​​ngầm robot, một loại công nghệ mới sẽ được sử dụng để tìm kiếm tàu ​​chiến và tàu ngầm bị chìm. Ông yêu cầu Hải quân Mỹ cho phép ông thử xác định vị trí Titanic bằng công nghệ mới này và đã được cấp phép để tiến hành. Ngày 1/9/1985, một đoàn thám hiểm chung giữa Mỹ và Pháp đã xác định vị trí xác tàu Titanic Chỉ sau hai tuần tìm kiếm ở độ sâu 12.500m dưới mặt nước, nhóm các nhà khoa học do Robert Ballard dẫn đầu đã xác định vị trí xác con tàu ở độ sâu hơn 3.900m dưới bề mặt Đại Tây Dương,...

Google xóa rào cản ngôn ngữ với cuộc gọi dịch giọng nói sống động như thật

Trong bối cảnh thế giới ngày càng kết nối, rào cản ngôn ngữ vẫn là một trong những thách thức lớn đối với giao tiếp toàn cầu. Với hơn 7.000 ngôn ngữ được sử dụng trên toàn thế giới, việc giao tiếp hiệu quả giữa những người nói các ngôn ngữ khác nhau không phải lúc nào cũng dễ dàng. Tuy nhiên, tại sự kiện Google I/O 2025 diễn ra vào ngày 21/5/2025, Google đã công bố một bước tiến công nghệ mang tính đột phá: tính năng dịch giọng nói trực tiếp trong cuộc gọi. Tính năng này không chỉ hứa hẹn xóa bỏ rào cản ngôn ngữ mà còn mang lại trải nghiệm giao tiếp tự nhiên, gần gũi và liền mạch hơn bao giờ hết. Bài viết này sẽ phân tích chi tiết về công nghệ mới của Google, những ứng dụng tiềm năng và tác động mà nó có thể mang lại cho đời sống và công việc. Công nghệ dịch giọng nói trực tiếp: một bước đột phá Tính năng dịch giọng nói trực tiếp được giới thiệu bởi CEO Google Sundar Pichai tại Google I/O 2025, được mô tả như một “bước đột phá công nghệ” giúp phá vỡ rào cản ngôn ngữ. Khác biệt hoàn toà...

Hiện tượng "nửa nạc nửa mỡ" trong ngôn ngữ giới trẻ: Góc nhìn và suy ngẫm

Trong bối cảnh hội nhập toàn cầu, ngôn ngữ của giới trẻ đang chứng kiến một sự thay đổi đáng kể, nổi bật nhất là xu hướng sử dụng ngôn ngữ “nửa nạc nửa mỡ” – cách nói pha trộn giữa tiếng Việt và tiếng Anh. Những câu nói như “Có ok hay không thì mày nhớ confirm cho người ta nha” hay “Deadline gần kề rồi, mày finish cái project đi nha!”  đã trở thành một phần quen thuộc trong giao tiếp hàng ngày của giới trẻ, đặc biệt ở các đô thị lớn. Hiện tượng này không chỉ phản ánh sự sáng tạo và năng động của thế hệ trẻ mà còn đặt ra những câu hỏi về việc bảo vệ sự trong sáng của tiếng Việt và hiệu quả giao tiếp trong bối cảnh văn hóa đa dạng.     Ngôn ngữ “nửa nạc nửa mỡ” không phải là một hiện tượng mới mẻ. Từ hàng chục năm trước, nó đã manh nha xuất hiện trong các bài hát nhạc trẻ. Trào lưu này không chỉ dừng ở âm nhạc mà còn lan sang nghệ danh của các nghệ sĩ, tạo nên một làn sóng “Tây hóa” trong cách đặt tên và giao tiếp. Những cách dùng từ này nhanh chóng được giới trẻ đón ...

Some of the best muscle cars to ever tear up the tarmac

1964 Pontiac GTO The original 1960s muscle car, the Pontiac GTO had amazing performance for its day 1964 Pontiac GTO The Pontiac GTO is widely acknowledged as the car that really kicked off the 1960s Muscle Car era. It was initially offered as an optional package on the mid-size Pontiac Tempest and was the first truly mass-market high performance model to follow the big displacement engine route, using a tuned 389 cubic inch (6.4-litre) V8 engine in place of the entry-level Tempest’s 140bhp six. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 The Chevelle Super Sport was Chevrolet's 60s muscle car monster 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Chevrolet’s first foray into the Muscle Car world was with the Chevelle Super Sport (or SS) introduced in 1964. Early in its life it was significantly out-gunned by the Pontiac GTO, but it wasn’t long before Chevy started turning up the wick. By 1970, the Chevelle SS had reached its most outrageous specification, with a huge 454 cubic inch (7.5-litre) big block V8 th...

The first robot to paint like an artist

Gripping the brush, Ai-Da's robot arm moves slowly but accurately, dipping into the palette one by one, then sketching the lines on the paper. Ai-Da (centre) is painting a guest portrait. Photo: Guardian In her small London room, Ai-Da glued her eyes to every stroke, with the same attention as the average person. Unlike robots that rely on available paintings, Ai-Da chooses and makes decisions for each stroke to produce works. This robot spends an average of 5 hours on each picture, no two pictures are alike. "Ai-Da is an intellectual and groundbreaking tool," said Aidan Meller, head of the robotics team. "We spent a lot of time and money creating a smart painter." Ai-Da started showing off its painting abilities last year, but new enhancements allow the robot to think at a higher level thanks to an upgraded AI algorithm. According to Meller, machines like Ai-Da change the way people envision robots. Now, there is no longer the question "can robots create a...

Chevrolet Impala

The 1959 Chevrolet Impala was redesigned. Sharing bodyshells with lower-end Buicks and Oldsmobiles as well as with Pontiac, part of a GM economy move, the Chevrolet's wheelbase 1-1/2 inches longer. Using a new X-frame chassis, the roof line was three inches lower, bodies were two inches wider, and curb weight increased. Its tailfins protruded outward, rather than upward. The taillights were a large "teardrop" design at each side, and two slim-wide nonfunctional front air intake scoops were added just above the grille. 1959 Chevrolet Impala 4-Door Sedan The Impala became a separate series, adding a four-door hardtop and four-door sedan, to the two-door Sport Coupe and convertible. Sport Coupes featured a shortened roof line and wrap-over back window. The standard engine was an I6, while the base V8 was the carryover 283 cu in (4,640 cc), at 185 hp (138 kW). Optional were a 283 cu in with 290 hp (220 kW) and 348 cu in (5,700 cc) V8 up to 315 hp (235 kW). Standard were front...

The ten Iconic American Muscle Cars That Defined Power And Performance

Some of the most iconic muscle cars of all time had extremely limited production numbers and can sell for 6 figures or even 7 figures in some extreme cases. Many collectors are willing to pay such exorbitant price tags for outstanding condition vehicles with original factory parts and matching serial numbers because these models literally defined what many see as the greatest era of American muscle cars. With that in mind, the American scene really started to take off with iconic muscle cars from the 1960s leading to what many would call the most iconic muscle cars ever made in the 1970s. 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 425 HP, 0-60 MPH In 5.4 Seconds The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T had 4 engine options: the 383 Magnum, 440 Magnum, 440 Six Pack, and 426 Hemi. The 426 Hemi V8 engine put out 425 hp and 490 ft-lbs of torque which was more than enough to get the adrenaline pumping. The R/T only options included a Rallye instrument cluster which consisted of a 150 MPH speedo, 8,000 rpm tach, and ...