When it comes to building a website, one of the first things to consider is getting a reliable domain and hosting solution from a reputable provider.
Web hosting is the basic foundation of your online presence. But how much does it cost? This is what we will discuss in this blog.
Read on to learn about different types of web hosting costs.
Types of Web Hosting Plans
The choice of NZ web hosting package has the most influence on web hosting costs. There are several options to consider:
- Shared Hosting: This is the cheapest option, costing $1 to $15 each month. With shared hosting, your website shares the single server resources with others.
- VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting: For established and growing businesses, VPS hosting is a good option. It usually costs between $15 to $80 per month and provides more dedicated resources.
- Dedicated Servers: At between $80 to $200+ a month, this is the priciest choice. For big businesses and websites with a high amount of traffic, dedicated servers are the perfect option since they provide the greatest resources.
Subscription-based Pricing Models
Web hosting providers often offer different subscription models, including monthly, annual, and even multi-year plans.
Committing to a longer-term plan can provide significant savings, with discounts ranging from 5% to 40%.
Additional Costs to Consider
- Domain Registration: Most web hosts include a free domain name for the first year, but renewal cost starts from $20 and can go up to $60 per year.
- SSL Certificates: A secure socket layer (SSL) certificate is essential for website security. These can cost around $60 per year.
- Security Plugins and Add-ons: Depending on your website’s needs, you may need to invest in additional security measures, such as malware scanning and two-factor authentication.
- Bandwidth and Data Transfer: While many hosts offer “unlimited” bandwidth, there may be limits or additional fees if you exceed a certain threshold.
- Storage: Your website’s size and content will determine how much storage you need. The amount of storage you need will depend on the size and content of your website.
- E-commerce Features: If you are running an online store, you will need to factor in costs for payment processing, SSL certificates and PCI compliance.
Calculating the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
When evaluating web hosting options, it is important to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). This includes all the factors mentioned above, as well as any potential renewal costs or web hosting price increases.
By understanding the TCO, you can make an informed decision on the best web hosting plan for your needs and budget.
Free Vs Paid Hosting
While free web hosting may seem tempting, it is generally not recommended for most websites. Free hosts often come with limitations, such as ads, limited resources, and poor performance. Additionally, you may not have full control over your domain name or website content.
Paid web hosting offers more reliable performance, better security, and more features to support your website’s growth. While the initial website hosting cost may be higher, the long-term advantages generally exceed free hosting.
Conclusion
You should carefully analyse the demands and budget of your website before considering a web hosting package.
Remember, the type of hosting plan, the subscription method and other services might affect the total low cost web hosting.
By calculating the total cost of ownership, you can choose a web hosting plan that both suits your budget and website growth.