What is a good cheap website hosting platform for 2023?

Discussion in 'Internet for Musician' started by Bunford, May 10, 2023.

  1. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    I'm about to set up a Web page for a project. What is the best/cheapest hosting service at the moment (May 2023)? I am looking for something simple to use for the layman with virtually zero web page building experience that ideally has professional looking templates. It will mainly be for use as a landing/portfolio page that can have links/plugins to/from other sources like social media, YouTube, and so on.
     
  2.  
  3. Coochie Bean Paste

    Coochie Bean Paste Producer

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2023
    Messages:
    167
    Likes Received:
    75
    Location:
    along the river
  4. Coochie Bean Paste

    Coochie Bean Paste Producer

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2023
    Messages:
    167
    Likes Received:
    75
    Location:
    along the river
    another: pianobook.co.uk

    payloads.com
     
  5. mercurysoto

    mercurysoto Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2011
    Messages:
    1,460
    Likes Received:
    1,270
    Location:
    The bottom of the rabbit hole, next to Alice's
    I've been using godaddy.com for a while: easy to use, comprehensive, and inexpensive. The service is good.
     
  6. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    I'm currently trying to decide between using GoDaddy for the domain and email and then use Wix for the web hosting, connecting to the domain purchased via GoDaddy or just use IONOS for the domain, email, and web hosting.

    GoDaddy domain is £3.50 for first year and £18 per year thereafter, and £2 per month for a single email address. Wix is free as I understand it.

    IONOS is £2 per month for first year and then £8 per year thereafter with everything included including up to 10 email addresses.

    Trying to decide which of the two is the best option?!
     
  7. Drumninja

    Drumninja Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2011
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    14
    I recently built a site using Google domains and Wix as the site builder. Wix is not perfect though it's pretty easy to use. They have sales often so I would wait for that if you decide to use them. Good luck with your project. Here is the site I made https://www.bigtubesstudio.com
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  8. pizza boy

    pizza boy Guest

    FYI GoDaddy is not accessible in certain regions around the world (I assume due to porn, politics etc. related sites hosted as well as company affiliations involved with the same), making it one of the worst hosting platforms for anyone looking to reach a global audience. I found that out the hard way and getting any money back, transferring sites etc. was a real PITA.

     
  9. JMOUTTON

    JMOUTTON Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2016
    Messages:
    1,099
    Likes Received:
    909
    Location:
    Virginia
    https://bootstrapstudio.io/


    Buy it for $60, make you site locally by dragging and dropping crap, the hosting is included. Buy a Domain from whoever you want, but my recommendations for non-shady, no BS and full control of your of your domain are Gandi, Route53, Namecheap. In that order. I think you can get a __.me domain from namecheap for like $4 a year. Buy 5 years for $20, if you haven't figured it out in 5 years then WTF. You don't get terabytes of storage which you would never use but it is what it is.

    Basically $80 for 5 years with a builder and hosting that's not spyware for everyone who visits and domain you can control yourself to add pointers to MX,DB,DCS & CDN. $16 a year and plenty of time to figure out what you are going to do with zero chance of surprises.


    There is a difference between cheap and free, and there is no such thing as free / free.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • Useful Useful x 1
    • List
  10. Coochie Bean Paste

    Coochie Bean Paste Producer

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2023
    Messages:
    167
    Likes Received:
    75
    Location:
    along the river
    bootstrapstudio is even on rutracker
     
  11. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    Minus the hosting though, I presume :rofl:
     
  12. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    If taking this approach, how would I then link an email address to the domain to get an @projectname.com email address?
     
  13. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    Does this necessitate a paid Wix plan though I presume?!
     
  14. bobdule

    bobdule Rock Star

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2014
    Messages:
    648
    Likes Received:
    466
    you can allways use a cheap domain without hosting space, and embed a free wix site from the html root.
    hide the commercial top banner from a iframe if you want a professional look.

    all you need is adjust the css for the size.
    <head>
    <style type="text/css">
    #wix
    {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 660px;
    margin-top: -250px;
    z-index: 2;
    }
    </style></head>

    <body>
    <div align="center">
    <div id="wix">
    <iframe id="iFrameWix" src="http://www.wix.com/XXXXXX" scrolling="No" width="100%" height="660" frameborder="0" align="middle"></iframe>
    </div>
    </div>
    </body>


    think to write correctlly the head meta data info for search engine to be well refered from the root.
    the wix html editor can embed any media player from script in case you need other player.
    jw player, jamendo, sound cloud, etc...also paypal button, locked in the free wix version.

    a fully commercial subscription enable all the options, domain url, domain mail, shopping option.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2023
    • Useful Useful x 2
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  15. JMOUTTON

    JMOUTTON Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2016
    Messages:
    1,099
    Likes Received:
    909
    Location:
    Virginia
    correct.

    You can use the forward feature from your domain provider as a catchall or mailgiun or equivalent as MX, or ... the options are endless.

    don't put you email address on your site though, form processes and other micro-services are included with the hosting, no reason to give spammers or hackers a freebee.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2023
  16. kooper

    kooper Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    563
    Likes Received:
    173
  17. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    Has anyone used IONOS? It seems quite cheap, and complete in terms of everything in one place for someone with zero HTML or web design knowledge. The project just needs a fairly simple landing page as an online presence, linking off to other pages/social media, and maybe displaying streams, sound demos, social media posts, as well as a contact form. I have the domain available, but just need to know the easiest route to getting it online a professional online presence, which includes the email address and so on.

    I'm totally new to this, so some of the above comments, though I'm sure obvious to those in the know, basically go over my head already :rofl:
     
  18. JMOUTTON

    JMOUTTON Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2016
    Messages:
    1,099
    Likes Received:
    909
    Location:
    Virginia
    IONOS is just 1&1 rebranded.

    Nothing bad to say about them for use cases such as yours that are technically not that demanding and do not require access to the server itself and will most likely be static pages.

    Decent company, German in origin servers are mostly in Germany and Spain with a few in the UK. They keep things running and very efficient as is the standard for the Huns.

    If you are only planning on having your project site up for a year or less then it's a good deal.

    If plan on going longer and want to transfer your assets and domain after the rate goes up you need to be organized and punctual or you might get a lockout and a fee but nothing illegal or outside of TOS will happen as long as you do your part on time and in full, as is standard for the Huns.

    If you plan on going for longer than a year, then the deal gets less and less interesting but it's never unfair and they do make it easy to get the basics up and running. It's a reliable company that's been around for long time, barring the improbable it's a solid host.
     
  19. mercurysoto

    mercurysoto Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2011
    Messages:
    1,460
    Likes Received:
    1,270
    Location:
    The bottom of the rabbit hole, next to Alice's
    As far as I can remember, Wix gives you a free domain for a year, but I don't think the following years will go for cheap.
     
  20. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,518
    Likes Received:
    968
    I've done some more exploring of options, and I'm now more confused than ever about limitations and what exactly is included with the various options :rofl:

    I have zero experience with web design and just need something simple that gives me the domain I want and be able to utilise a professional domain based email.

    Anyone got a simple ton's guide to how to achieve this for a basic site, noting whete/how to buy domain, where to use what service in terms of web builder, and how to link or use email exchange and so on?

    Investigating it is all going over my head at the moment :rofl:
     
  21. Semarus

    Semarus Producer

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2022
    Messages:
    232
    Likes Received:
    107
    This is how we learn! :wink:
     
Loading...
Loading...