Domain vs Hosting: What’s the Difference?

Domain services and hosting services are two key players when it comes to launching a website, and they’re often intertwined. Many domain providers also offer web hosting services to provide a convenient, centralized experience for customers seeking to create a website. If you’re looking to transfer your website to a new host, understanding these two concepts becomes even more critical.

However, domain names and web hosting are two distinct concepts. Exploring how each service works and how they’re related can help you make an informed decision when choosing a web hosting company or a domain name registrar for your site’s domain name and hosting.

Understanding the basics

When setting up a website, you need a domain name visitors can use to find your website as well as a web host that can display your site on the world wide web. For a more detailed understanding, take a look below at domain vs hosting specifics. 

What is a domain name?

A domain name is a unique digital address associated with a website. For instance, the domain Name.com brought you to this site. To that end, domain names provide a convenient, simple way for people to navigate the internet. 

Domain names also help businesses support their branding efforts, as they can include customizable keywords related to the business or industry. Domains can be customized not just by the keywords ‘before the dot’, but by choosing a relevant domain extension ‘after the dot’ – the part of the domain known as the top-level domain (TLD). TLDs can be a generic top-level domain (gTLD) like .COM, .NET, or .ORG, or a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) like .US, .CA, or .UK.

Examples of websites using TLDs creatively include:

• Amazon.jobs
• Cash.app
• Apple.tv

Domain registration is done through a domain name registrar, like Name.com. Domain registrars keep track of the information associated with each domain name, ensuring that each unique web address directs visitors to the right place. This process typically involves paying a fee that allows you to reserve the name for a certain period of time. Once you secure a domain name, you can connect it to your website.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is the digital space that contains a website’s data and makes it possible to keep that site live on the internet. The process of making a functional website involves creating files that contain information about the website’s appearance and features—web hosting services store those website files and ensure that visitors can access them. 

Along with offering access to a web server with a designated amount of server space, hosting platforms also typically provide security and maintenance services to keep your website functional. They may also offer website-building tools that allow you to design a website and immediately launch it on their server without requiring extensive technical knowledge.

The interplay between domain names and web hosting

Web hosting vs domain services are both key elements in creating a website, publishing it online, and giving visitors access to that site. Although you can use separate providers for your domain host and your web hosting services, the two services closely interact to keep your website functional.

How domain names and web hosting work together

Domain names and hosting services both play a role in the process of finding and using a website. If a visitor wants to access your website, for instance, they can type your website’s domain name into a browser. The browser identifies the IP address connected to the domain name, then locates the server that hosts your website content and information. 

Essentially, browsers use domain names to contact the website’s hosting services. By making this connection, visitors can access the website’s files and browse its content. Think of it like this: If your website was a physical store, the domain name would be the street address while the host would be the building.

Because domain names are essential for locating a website, and web hosting is necessary for displaying that website’s information online, both services are integral to having a functioning website. If you don’t have a domain name, no one will be able to find your site; if you don’t have hosting, no one will be able to view or interact with your site’s information.

Can you have one without the other?

Technically, you can have a domain name without connecting it to a website. You can simply register the domain name to reserve it for future use and ensure that no one else purchases that domain. This type of behavior is very common among domain investors, who buy domains with the intention of selling them at a profit to the general public.

However, if someone were to type that domain name into their browser, they wouldn’t be directed  to a website. Typically, people reserve domain names without setting up hosting if they have future plans for using that domain name. 

Web hosting, on the other hand, requires a domain name. Although you could technically launch a website with just an IP address, this would make it difficult for visitors to find. Web hosting services rely on your site’s domain name to make its website content available to visitors. 

Some hosting platforms allow you to use a free subdomain to launch your site if you don’t have a domain of your own. However, if you don’t renew that domain name, your website will no longer be visible on the internet. 

Choosing the right domain and hosting service

Because your domain and hosting services are intrinsically connected to your online presence, it’s important to choose providers that meet your needs. Whether you select separate providers for each service or opt for an all-in-one solution like Name.com, carefully research your options before creating a new website or switching providers for your current site.

Factors to consider when choosing a domain name

You can often purchase the same domain name from different service providers, so start by brainstorming different options for your business. The best domain names are: 

• Short
• Concise
• Easy to spell and remember 
• Related to your brand

To that end, consider using your business name as your domain name or stringing together impactful keywords related to your products, services, or industry.

Factors to consider when choosing a web hosting service

When choosing a web hosting provider, consider how much storage and support you need for your website. There are a few main types of hosting plans, and each has advantages for different types of websites:

• Shared hosting – With shared hosting, a third-party host allows multiple different clients to rent access to their servers. This is the most common type of hosting and is ideal for beginners who don’t need a powerful, designated server.

• Virtual private server (VPS) hosting – VPS hosting gives different websites their own private, designated space within a shared server. This option offers more control and customization options.

• Dedicated hosting – With dedicated hosting, one client rents out an entire, private server for their website. This gives them full control over the administration of the server and is ideal for large enterprises with high website traffic.

• Cloud hosting – Cloud hosting plans use the cloud to provide access to a network of shared online resources instead of physical servers.

When you first launch your website, you’ll likely start with a shared web hosting plan to give you access to secure, consistent hosting at a low price. By selecting a hosting provider that allows you to host multiple websites or increase your bandwidth, you can make upgrades to your hosting as your site grows.

How Name.com can help

Name.com makes it easy to set up a domain and host your website within the same platform. This allows you to seamlessly find, reserve, and link a domain name to your website without going through a complex domain connection process.

Domain name services at Name.com

Name.com makes it simple to find and reserve personalized domains. The powerful Name.com domain name search recommends highly relevant descriptive domains, such as .STUDIO  and .STORE, to help you hone in on the best domain name for your business. Plus, these custom domains are available at affordable prices, meaning you can easily build your domain name into your brand. 

You can also take advantage of streamlined domain transfer services to move an existing domain to the central Name.com platform.

Web hosting Services at Name.com

You can enjoy the best web hosting experience by choosing one of Name.com’s three web hosting plans. Here’s a basic overview of the available options:

• Personal – This plan allows you to create a single website with 100 associated email accounts and 10 GB of disk space for only $6 per month.

• Premium – If you want to create multiple sites, the premium plan has 100 GB of disk space—which supports up to 25 websites and unlimited email accounts—for only $8 per month. 

• Business – Businesses that are rapidly expanding can choose this plan to gain access to unlimited website creation, unlimited email accounts, and unlimited disk space at a price of $13 per month.

Name.com also offers convenient integrations with different website builders and content management systems, so you can effortlessly create your site and connect it to hosting. For instance, you can browse WordPress hosting plans for managed hosting through the WordPress platform, or explore other website-building platforms, like our Wix Website Builder.

Simplifying your online presence with Name.com

Domain names and web hosting are intertwined, so it makes sense to choose a single provider to manage both services. Whether you’re just starting to build your online presence or you’re looking for ways to expand, having a simple way to manage your digital identity makes it easier to focus on your business. 

Name.com has created a convenient, affordable space where you can find the most relevant domain names for your business and connect them to secure, reliable hosting to offer your site visitors an unforgettable experience. 

Sources:

WP Beginner. What’s the Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting (Explained). https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/whats-the-difference-between-domain-name-and-web-hosting-explained/

The Site Wizard. How to Reserve a Domain Name. https://www.thesitewizard.com/domain/reserve-domain-name.shtml#:~:text=The%20Short%20Answer,that%20to%20get%20that%20name.

Learn About Websites. Can I Create a Website Without a Domain Name? (Tip: Don’t). https://learnaboutwebsites.com/can-i-create-a-website-without-a-domain-name-tip-dont/

Google Cloud. What is a Virtual Private Server (VPS)? https://cloud.google.com/learn/what-is-a-virtual-private-server
Name.com. Affordable Web Hosting Services.https://www.name.com/purchase/hosting#plans