Got a domain name and want to build a web site but don’t have a lot of money? Free domain hosting could be your answer! Free domain hosting is a service whereby you can build a web site and not be charged for hosting fees. For the student web site builder, the online beginner, or a new domain owner experimenting with the possibilities, free domain hosting is a great deal.
There are a lot of ways to find free domain hosting. You might see a web site that you like with a message in the logo text or end of the page, asking: Do you want a free website too?” with a hyperlink. You might be directed towards such a host by a friend who knows a lot about the Internet. Or you might get a search result in a search engine and check out the available options.
However, there’s no such thing as a free lunch and the Internet is no different. Free domain hosting usually has a stipulation attached: You must pay to remove the web host’s logo and advertising messages from the front page of your web site, or viewers must be distracted by the messages they may place inside affiliate banners and the like. Annoying pop-up messages may appear. There might even be a one-time setup fee equivalent to the cost of a normal year’s hosting.
There might also be a requirement hidden in the fine print to qualify for the “free” hosting, such as a number of signups made by your friends or the full-price purchase of a new domain name. You may not even know there are fees until you have transferred your domain name over, and find your “free” account has been billed for an amount you never realized might come due.
For all such drawbacks, free domain hosting remains a great resource and great option for cash-strapped webmasters and website designers looking to build their portfolio.
