![\"build](\"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/create-your-website.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is Web Hosting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Web hosting<\/a> is the service of providing and maintaining the physical servers that all the files that make up a website live on. Still confused? <\/p>\n\n\n\n For your purposes, all you really need to know about web hosting is that every website requires it. It\u2019s a necessary component in storing all your website files and making them accessible to the rest of the world online. But if you\u2019re curious about what web hosting is really all about, we\u2019ll explain in more detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of us think of websites in terms of where they live on the web. Each website has an online address-two actually: the domain name<\/a> and the IP address<\/a>. But something we don\u2019t think about as often is that all the different files that make up each website also take up physical space somewhere. They have to be stored on physical servers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because your average internet user doesn\u2019t have to interact with the physical servers that host all the millions of websites that make up the internet, it\u2019s easy to never learn they exist. We think of websites as existing in 'the cloud'\u009d or 'cyberspace'\u009d when that\u2019s only part of the truth. In fact, there are huge rooms filled with website servers around the world, all of which have to be taken care of and kept in the right conditions to work effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s what web hosting providers do. They invest in the (expensive) physical servers the internet depends on and the real estate required to house those servers. They hire specialists who know how to properly maintain them, and they make sure conditions in the server warehouses are optimal for keeping the servers in good condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this happens behind the scenes, so even your typical website owner never has to think of it. You just need to select and pay for a web hosting plan<\/a> and let your web hosting provider do the rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A website builder<\/a> is a software tool that makes it easy for anyone to create a website<\/a>, without prior training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early days of the internet, building a website required learning complicated coding languages. It was an option only accessible to skilled developers who had spent a lot of time learning how web design worked. Luckily, website creation is now much more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders are generally intuitive for even beginners to figure out. They include pre-designed website templates you can choose from, so you\u2019re not building a website from scratch<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The details of the website editors for different website builder products will vary, but all are designed with the goal of making it easy to change out different elements and move them around to create something unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In particular, most modern website builders offer drag-and-drop functionality that lets you move specific parts of the page around by clicking on an item, dragging it to where you want, and letting go of your mouse to drop it in a new spot. And processes like uploading new files and choosing new fonts use menus that look just like those people are used to from using more common computer tools, such as word and photo editors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this adds up to making website creation into a simpler experience that\u2019s within reach for pretty much anyone. If you can use a computer, you can probably figure out how to use a website builder.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web hosting and website builders are two different types of services new website owners often need, and each provides something unique. Here are some of the main differences between the two to be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want a website that other people can find on the web, web hosting isn\u2019t optional. It\u2019s a necessary component in getting your site online. A website builder, in contrast, is optional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For many new website owners it will be the most convenient choice for building a new website, but it\u2019s one of several options you have. You could always hire a graphic designer, or learn to code and build a new website from scratch (if you have time to give to doing so). A website builder is the easiest option for creating a new website, but it\u2019s not the only one, which makes it an optional expense for new website owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Web hosting services don\u2019t have anything to do with how your website looks, it\u2019s all about where the files that make up your website live. It does relate to factors like how quickly your website loads and how consistently it works for visitors, but that\u2019s ultimately a different matter than the visual appearance of a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A web hosting plan ensures that your website\u2019s files have the space they need on a physical server. The rest is up to you and the other website resources you invest in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The functionality of a website builder is all about your website\u2019s appearance. It lets you take charge of things like the website\u2019s color, images, and text. Everything that your visitors see visually when they visit your website-that\u2019s what you control when creating your site with a website builder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders also allow you to determine the number of pages you create, your site structure, and any menus you set up for easier site navigation<\/a>. Web design isn\u2019t just about how pretty a website looks, thinking about how best to design the user experience is also important. A good online website builder helps you figure that part out as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason to go with a website builder over a graphic designer or trying to create a website from scratch is largely a matter of ease of use. Website builders are designed with beginners in mind. The goal is to make it intuitive for someone to design a website the first time they sit down to use the website builder, without having to spend time going through training resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the right website builder, you may be able to build a website within a matter of minutes or hours-depending on how complex your website needs are. If you want to get a website that looks good up cheaply, affordably, and quickly<\/a>, an online website builder is usually the best path to achieving that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know the basic definition of each, you understand that web hosting and website builders are two entirely different things. So why do they sometimes get confused?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both are terms likely to come up when a person\u2019s in the early stages of researching how to build a new website<\/a>. For many new website owners, they\u2019re new terms they don\u2019t understand yet, and need more information about. And perhaps muddying the waters even more, they often come packaged together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, here at HostGator many of our web hosting plans<\/a> come with our website builder <\/a>included. This kind of packaging of web services<\/a> is pretty common, since most people who start up a new website will need multiple products and services-web hosting, a website builder, a domain name, an SSL certificate<\/a>, email addresses, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you understand the basics of what they are and how they\u2019re different, there are a few other things you may want to know before choosing what web hosting plan or website builder to go with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re new to owning and building a website, understanding the basics about web hosting will help you select the best web hosting company and plan for your particular needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web hosting isn\u2019t something you purchase once and you\u2019re done. Web hosting plans use a subscription model. Most companies will let you pay for a few years upfront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you know for sure your website will be up for the long term and want to save some money, you can make a payment now and not worry about it again for a couple of years. But you also have the option to pay monthly or yearly as you go. It costs more, but gives you the flexibility to cancel if you change your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, make sure you budget for web hosting as an ongoing expense. It\u2019s a service you\u2019ll need to invest in for the full lifetime of your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The quality of your web hosting-and choosing the right web hosting plan for your website\u2019s needs-has a direct influence on website speed<\/a>. A fast loading time is something people don\u2019t just prefer, they expect it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your website takes too long to load, people will leave. And it hurts your search engine optimization (SEO<\/a>), which is important for potential visitors to be able to find you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you start looking into your web hosting options, you\u2019ll quickly notice a few main types of web hosting<\/a> plans available:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a wide variety in what web hosting costs<\/a>, and which type of plan you choose has a lot to do with what you\u2019ll pay. Simple, new websites can get by with a shared hosting plan that costs a few dollars a month. Bigger, more complex websites that get a lot of visitors may spend hundreds a month for a dedicated server that provides the level of service they need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Figuring out which is right for you is important to make sure you don\u2019t overspend, but still deliver the level of performance your visitors expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uptime is the percentage of time a web host guarantees your website\u2019s availability. All web hosting providers go offline occasionally when doing server maintenance, and some experience downtime when servers need repairs or warehouses encounter extreme weather events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But ideally, you want a hosting provider that knows how to manage their servers so that the amount of time your website is unavailable is so minimal your visitors never notice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When starting a new website, you definitely need web hosting, but there are a number of other services and products you\u2019ll need as well. For instance, every website needs a domain name. And you\u2019ll likely want additional features like an SSL certificate for security, email addresses at your domain, and a website builder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s common for web hosting companies to package these products together, which can potentially save you money and make handling your payments and managing your website subscriptions more convenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While a website builder is less of a necessity for new websites, most new website owners will benefit from investing in one. If you\u2019ve decided a website builder is your best option for creating a new website, here are the main things to know when getting started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Website templates<\/a> are what saves you from starting from scratch when building your new site with a website builder. A template that comes reasonably close to what you want your website to look like will result in less work, since you won\u2019t need to make as many changes to bring it in line with your vision. Your template gets a basic structure into place for you, then all you have to do is make tweaks from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing the right website builder should include a consideration of their template options. Do they provide a number of templates to choose from? Do they have any for the type of website you\u2019re creating? <\/p>\n\n\n\n With a drag-and-drop website editor, you can move things around the page by simply clicking on an item, moving your mouse to where you want it to go, then letting go of the mouse to drop it into place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It makes design much easier than if you had to make changes using code. Plus, the website editors in most modern website builders let you make changes like adding images and changing out colors via intuitive menus that work similarly to those you\u2019re familiar with from other computer programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile use has become so widespread that it actually surpassed desktop usage a couple of years back. That means when choosing your website builder, and creating your site with it, you need to be thinking about the mobile experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a Website Builder?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"website](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/BuU5_kxppArL-bb6ZktL9eNHBpdswEbuul8sS5WfDfgG2leJwXz0T4FwheL6dFhP3u3nTZMn4dR4rSwrHLjdHNQ169iOFM7Yu-SCKZnCZ0ic27WXjV4nUy0tURcJZMGIzOUkNKQ0\")
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The Difference Between Web Hosting vs. Website Builders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Web hosting is required for all websites.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Web hosting is where your site is stored.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. A website builder gives you control over how your site looks.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. A website builder makes web design easy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why Do People Confuse Hosting Services and Website Builders?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5 Things to Know About Web Hosting Plans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Web hosting is an ongoing need.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Web hosting affects website speed.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. There are different types of web hosting plans.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Your web host determines your website\u2019s uptime.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Many web hosting companies offer packages that include other common website needs.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5 Things to Know About Website Builders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Creating a new website with a website builder starts with a template.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. A drag-and-drop website editor is easy to figure out.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Mobile functionality is a must.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n