| We all like not having to pay for things. It doesn't | | | | free web host for a few months until your site |
| really mean we shouldn't, but with these hard | | | | begins to grow, then move later - that's if its |
| times, getting something free is happily received. | | | | simple to do so or you have the skills to execute |
| But what about web hosting? Will using a free | | | | the move with relative ease. |
| web host (plenty around) end up causing you | | | | My "safe list" of the kinds of sites you can run on |
| more pain and suffering than its worth? | | | | free hosting: |
| In a simple word. Yes... and no. You need to ask | | | | - General blogs with pictures etc. Short movies |
| yourself, what are your intentions? | | | | only. |
| If you plan on running a blog (and nothing more) | | | | - Small forums. |
| than a free host is fine - that is, a free host that | | | | - Help desk software. |
| is not plagued by problems or run by a time-poor | | | | - Small shopping cart sites with few products. |
| 15 year old student. These types of free hosts | | | | - One page "sales letters" type of sites |
| eventually go down sooner or later. Truth is, most | | | | - Any kind of website with less than 30 pages |
| free hosts go down sooner or later. I mention | | | | that don't require extreme amounts of advanced |
| one below that seems to have stood the test of | | | | configuration that also require little resources to |
| time and is consistently reliable. | | | | run. |
| However if you want to start a forum, these | | | | What you absolutely cannot run on free hosts: |
| types of websites start growing "out of control" | | | | - File hosting websites (including image hosting) |
| quickly to the point your free hosting may not be | | | | - Any kind of resource-intensive scripts like proxy |
| able to cope after your forum starts growing in | | | | websites |
| popularity. It is quite a hassle to move these kinds | | | | - And obviously you want to avoid adult content |
| of websites as they are so complex by their | | | | depending on the host's owners. |
| nature. When it comes to free hosting, you have | | | | If what you are doing is not resource intensive |
| to get a little nitty gritty and think technically. Is | | | | (say a basic website with pictures, and an "about |
| the website script you are running, or are the | | | | us/contact us" page etc with your telephone |
| websites you are planning to run (if multiple) going | | | | number, you should be perfectly fine on a free |
| to start growing to the point the limitations of a | | | | host. Its just once your website grows you will |
| free host start interfering? And how easy it to | | | | get into growing pains and will have to move. If |
| transfer these sites away? | | | | you were after free hosting, you can check out |
| If you are thinking that your sites may grow, and | | | | this excellent free web host (they don't put |
| they probably will be painful to move, then you | | | | advertisements on your website either). |
| definitely do NOT want to use a free web host. | | | | Otherwise you are better off with paid hosting. |
| Simply because you will have to move. If your | | | | This unbiased web hosting review census site |
| script or website is quite simple, then sure, use a | | | | offers a great and unbiased top-10 web hosts list. |