5 features to look for in a hosting plan

If you’re new to websites, browsing the selection of hosting plans available can get confusing. Which features do you really need when you’re starting a website? We’ve narrowed it down to five key features you should look for while choosing a hosting plan.

Free email accounts

If your hosting provider doesn’t provide complementary email addresses with every hosting plan, it’s time to walk away. Creating a professional email address to go along with your website is a great way to allow website visitors to get in touch. No matter if your website is a one-man (or woman) show or is run by a whole office, getting email addresses for free through your hosting plan is a must.

Regular backups

There’s nothing more terrifying than the idea that you could lose all of your hard work if something were to happen to your website. That’s why backups are essential for protecting your online property. Automatic backups are especially helpful because you can rest assured that your content is being protected with no extra effort on your part. If the worst were to happen, you want reassurance that your web hosting provider will be there to help.

Easy-to-use apps

If you’re a website beginner, chances are you’re planning to use a service like WordPress or Joomla for backend management and publishing. The last thing you want to worry about after you get hosting set up is another complicated process for installing one of these scripts on your website. Hosting providers that offer apps make it easy to get your website up and running by handling most of the set up process for you. Ideally, you should be able to follow a few prompts to get your website in working condition.

Free subdomains

As your website grows bigger, you might decide that it makes sense to split your website off into additional subdomains. For example, your blog might grow to include an eCommerce section or you may decide to include a separate careers portal on your corporate website. When that time comes, you should be able to create and host that subdomain for no additional fees.

Free SSL certificates

A great website is a secure one, for both you and your visitors. Hosting providers that offer free SSL certificates through programs like Encryption Everywhere are your best option for keeping your website safe. Not only does it save you the cost of getting your own SSL certificate for your website—it also saves you time as the SSL certificate is automatically installed for you.