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As you prepare to build a website, two terms you'll come across are domain hosting and web hosting. Often used interchangeably, these services play distinct roles in getting your website infrastructure up and running. Understanding the definitions and differences between what is a domain and web hosting is crucial for anyone looking to build and maintain a website.
Domain hosting, also sometimes known as domain registration, is a service that allows you to choose and register a unique online name for your website and brand. It's then used to find and access your site online. It's often referred to as your web address.
Web hosting is essentially what stores all of your site's information, files and anything else needed to make it what it is. Its usually a server or space on a server. When someone uses your domain to access your site, signals are sent to the server which then responds with your live site. It's all a little more complicated than that, technically but this is a quick intro to a complex process.
This article will compare domain hosting vs web hosting to demystify these concepts, helping you make informed decisions in your website development journey.
Difference between domain name and web hosting
Domain names and web hosting are often purchased together, yet they serve different purposes. Simply put, web hosting is where your website physically resides, while a domain name is its digital residence. Web hosting houses your website files, while a domain name acts as the gateway to access that storage.
When creating a website, you need to purchase a domain name first, but you can have a domain name without having a website yet.
What is a domain name?
A domain name acts as your website's internet address, allowing visitors to easily reach your site. When users type this text into their browser's Universal Resource Locator (URL) bar, they can access your site without the hassle of memorizing website IP (Internet Protocol) addresses.
Your website's true address is a compound numerical IP, such as 192.0.2.1. Thanks to the Domain Name System (DNS), users can quickly type in friendly domain names to find desired websites, a process known as DNS lookup.
When a visitor enters your domain name into a web browser, it gets translated into a server IP address. The server then delivers your site files to the user's browser, displaying them as a regular web page.
Purpose of a domain
Branding and identity: Your brand's online presence is greatly influenced by your domain name. It's your chance to pick a name that resonates with your business or organization, creating a strong association between your domain and brand.
Professionalism and credibility: Opting for a custom domain name, like yourbusinessname.com elevates the professionalism and credibility of your website, fostering trust with your audience.
Email address: By using your domain name, you can set up business email addresses like, info@yourbusinessname.com and enhance your professional image and ensure brand consistency in your communication.
Types of domain extensions
Domain names consist of two parts, separated by a dot: the Top Level Domain (TLD) and the Second-Level Domain (SLD). Your brand name or chosen word forms the first part or SLD, allowing a mix of letters and numbers. The second part, the TLD, is referred to as a domain extension.
For example, in the case of wix.com, the second-level domain is wix and .com is the TLD.
TLDs hold the highest position on the DNS hierarchy. The web hosts hundreds of TLDs, managed and updated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). IANA classifies TLDs into three main categories based on their purpose and location, including:
gTLDs (Generic Top-Level Domains): These are the most common domain names suitable for any website. Examples include the familiar .com, .org and .net, along with unique ones like .wiki, .biz and .tech.
sTLDs (Sponsored Top-Level Domains): Reserved for specific organizations and groups, like .gov for government sites, .edu for educational institutions and .post for postal services.
ccTLDs (Country Code Top-Level Domains): Representing specific territories or locations with ISO codes. For instance, .us for the USA, .in for India, .es for Spain, .id for Indonesia and .co.uk for the United Kingdom.
How to get a domain name
When setting up a domain for your website, start by registering it. Domain registration reserves a name on the internet for a specific period. Typically, you renew the license annually, but you have the option to prepay for up to a decade for the domain to be in your name.
Companies that handle domain name registrations are known as domain registrars. Before proceeding with domain registration, check the availability of your custom domain. Use a domain name search tool to find available names. The domain checker displays your chosen domain's availability, different domain extensions and prices. In case your preferred domain is already taken, the domain checker proposes alternative options. If the domain you desire is unavailable, consider using a domain name generator for suggestions.
Key points to consider when choosing a domain name for your website:
Consider your website's purpose. Are you aiming to create a business site, a personal page or an organization's online presence?
Opt for a memorable, concise domain name. Avoid lengthy names and steer clear of similar or trademarked domains.
Avoid using numbers in domain names.
What is web hosting?
Your website consists of files, folders and data. To let visitors see your site, this info must move from your computer to a web server they can access. Web hosting servers step in here. They hold your website files for a fee and grant visitor access. When someone enters your domain name, your web hosting provider sends the content. Without this service, your files are homeless, making your domain like a disconnected phone number in a directory. Your site lacks online availability without web hosting.
Think of hosting a website like the space you rent for your business—it's just the space itself, no frills. Just as it doesn't come with shelves for your products, a web hosting account doesn't automatically give you a site to sell your products.
Purpose of web hosting
Server resources: Web hosting gives your website the processing power, memory and disk space it needs to handle web traffic. The hosting company manages these resources to keep your site running smoothly for visitors.
Data backup and security: Web hosting services often come with backup systems and website security measures to safeguard your website’s data. Regular backups protect your files in case of data loss, while security features defend against unauthorized access and malware.
When you choose a hosting service, you're entrusting the provider to set up, maintain and run your physical servers. Beyond that, they can offer extra support like website backup, security and performance enhancements. This allows you time to focus on the core functions of your website. Wix provides secure and reliable web hosting with 24/7 customer support, ensuring your website is always available to visitors.
Types of website hosting and pricing
There are various types of web hosting options available. Depending on the type you choose, you'll have access to different tools. Some hosting services are designed to keep your website up and running smoothly, even if you're not a tech expert. Others provide more control over the servers, requiring a skilled tech team. Here are a few common types of hosting and web hosting costs as you consider the right model for your business website.
Free hosting
Some hosting services offer free plans, perfect for creating a personal website or starting a blog. With free web hosting, you typically have limited storage, bandwidth, features and control over your website. This may include ads on your site and a less professional domain name (e.g., yourname.freehosting.com).
Expected cost: $0/month
Shared hosting
Shared hosting is the most common type of hosting for small businesses and personal websites. With shared hosting, multiple websites share a single physical server and have a set amount of storage and resources. This makes it a more budget-friendly option, but may result in slower loading times if one of the sites on the server receives high traffic.
Expected cost: $3-$15/month
Dedicated hosting
Dedicated hosting hosts each website on its own server, giving you full control over a physical server. You have complete access to all resources and can customize the server to meet your website's specific needs. This is often used for large websites with high traffic, specialized requirements and a skilled tech team. It can be more expensive than other types of hosting but provides maximum control and flexibility.
Expected cost: $100-$500/month
VPS hosting
VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting is a hybrid between shared and dedicated hosting. It offers more control than shared hosting, as your website is still hosted on a shared server, but with dedicated resources allocated for your site's use only. This option is perfect for websites with medium-to-high traffic that have outgrown shared hosting but may not require the full capabilities of a dedicated server. It provides resources that are exclusive to you, such as RAM and bandwidth, which can improve the speed and your website performance. It also enhances your data protection by providing an isolated environment, meaning your site won’t be affected if others on the server are compromised.
Expected cost: $20-$100/month
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting is a flexible and scalable option that uses a network of virtual servers to host websites. This means your website can use multiple servers as needed, providing unlimited resources and accommodating sudden traffic spikes. It's also more reliable, as if one server goes down, another can pick up the slack. Cloud hosting is ideal for sites that need high-availability, such as if you choose to build an eCommerce site. It may require a skilled IT team to manage and can be more expensive than other options, but provides maximum site reliability and scalability.
Expected cost: $0-$300/month
Enterprise hosting
Enterprise hosting is a more advanced option for large businesses with high-traffic websites. With this type of hosting, your website is hosted on multiple servers to ensure it can handle heavy traffic without crashing. It also provides extra website security and storage options. The downside is that it can be expensive and requires a dedicated IT team to manage and maintain the servers.
Expected cost: See Wix Enterprise for more information.
Email hosting
In addition to website hosting, you may want email hosting to have a branded business email address ( yourname@yourwebsite.com). This allows for a more professional and trustworthy appearance when communicating with customers. Many web hosting providers offer email hosting as an add-on service or included in their plans. It simplifies the process of managing your website by keeping everything in one place.
Expected cost: $0-$10/month
Managed hosting
Just as there can be confusion between domain hosting and web hosting, there also tends to be confusion between shared and managed hosting. The reason it gets confusing is that all types of web hosting, be it shared, dedicated or cloud, can also be managed. With managed hosting, the provider handles all technical tasks associated with server maintenance and updates. This is a good option for those without a dedicated IT team, as it allows them to focus on other aspects of their website. Having managed hosting saves time and frustration when things go wrong.
Wix provides a range of hosting options tailored to meet your website's specific needs. Whether it's shared hosting for small businesses or dedicated and VPS hosting for larger websites, we've got you covered. Our reliable, secure hosting ensures your site is always accessible to visitors, with our 24/7 support team ready to help with any technical issues.
Remember these key points when choosing a web hosting provider:
User-friendliness: Each web host offers a control panel to manage your web hosting account. Ensure the dashboard is easy to use and packed with useful features.
Server speed and uptime: Opt for a web hosting provider that guarantees fast loading times and excellent uptime to minimize site downtime.
Pricing and plans: Before buying a hosting plan, consider add-ons and renewal fees that align with your long-term budget.
Customer service: Choose a hosting company with a dependable support team ready to assist you promptly with any technical issues.
How a domain name and web hosting work together
Domain and hosting are closely connected. The domain name serves as the website address, while web hosting acts as the actual house for your site. Web hosting plays a key role in making your website available to visitors. Keeping both in sync is essential for website creation.
Let’s walk through the steps of building a website with Wix:
Pick your domain name and check its availability using the domain checker. Choose the option that best suits your needs, finalize the order and complete the domain registration.
Select a web hosting plan that suits your website’s needs.
Use Wix's drag and drop website builder or AI website builder to create and customize your site, using our website templates.
Publish your site.
Advantages of using a domain and hosting service provider
To ensure seamless setup, we recommend getting your domain name and web hosting from the same provider. This eliminates the hassle of manual linking and gets you started on your website quickly. Wix provides both domain registration and web hosting, simplifying the process for you. Here are a few more benefits of choosing a domain and web hosting company:
Convenience: Domain and web hosting providers give you an all-in-one solution. Easily handle your domain name and hosted services from one place.
Cost-effectiveness: Save with discounts on multi-year services. Enjoy budget-friendly packages covering domain registration and website hosting.
Technical support: Get help from expert teams specialized in domain and hosting matters.
Security: Trusted providers safeguard your site with SSL certificates, spam filters, virus scans and firewalls.
Backup and recovery: Providers regularly back up your site's files and data to prevent loss from accidents, hacking or hardware issues.
Domain hosting vs web hosting FAQ
Do I need web hosting if I have a domain name?
Yes, web hosting is necessary to have a website. Your domain name serves as the address for your site, while web hosting provides the storage and resources needed to make it accessible on the internet.