Why Web Hosting is Like an Art Store - An Analogy

One way to look at web hosting is that it is similar to an art store. An art store provides you paint, brushes, canvases, and other tools you need to paint a painting, however the art store does not paint the painting for you. You select the tools you want to use and purchase them from the art store, and then use those tools to build your website. Or hire a painter to paint a picture for you.

Similarly, a web hosting company, like HostGator, provides you a variety of tools that you can use to build your website, such as a server and web space where you can upload your website, control panels that make it easy for you to configure your web hosting account, and even gives you the ability to install scripts like WordPress or use one of our many site building solutions. However, the web host does not actually build your website. You can choose to built it yourself using the many tools provided or hire a web designer to develop your website for you.

HostGator specializes in providing you the tools you need to build your website. But just like an art store, HostGator does not actually build the site for you. That is your creative space, allowing you to build your dream website, any way you choose to do so with the tools available.

HostGator is committed to making it easy to transfer your site to your new hosting account. We can transfer website files, databases, scripts, and one free domain registration transfer.

What qualifies me for a free transfer?

HostGator provides free transfers for new accounts within 30 days of sign-up, and to newly upgraded accounts. For upgraded accounts it must be an inter-server upgrade to qualify. Please note that downgraded accounts do not qualify for free transfers.

Depending on which type of account you sign up for, we offer differing numbers of free transfers. Please refer to the chart below to see what we include for new packages.

Full cPanel Transfers is the number of cPanel to cPanel transfers that are included.

Max. Manual Transfers is the maximum number of Manual Transfers that are included with your account.

Total Free Transfers is the total number websites that we will move for you.

Account Type	Total Free Transfers	Full cPanel Transfers	Max. Manual Transfers
?Shared	1	1²	1
?Reseller	30	30²	30
?VPS	Unlimited¹	Unlimited²	10 per VPS level
?Dedicated (Basic)	Unlimited¹	Unlimited²	75
?Dedicated (Standard, Elite, Pro)	Unlimited¹	Unlimited²	100

¹While we can do unlimited cPanel to cPanel transfers for you, depending on your account, you will have a limited number of Manual Transfers.

²Full cPanel transfers include all domains, Addon Domains, Subdomains, and cPanel settings. This will also include your emails and email accounts. Please note that this does require that your old host's cPanel backup generator to be active.

A few examples: An Aluminium Reseller account includes up to 30 free transfers. Out of this 30, you can have 20 cPanel to cPanel transfers and 10 Manual Transfers, or any combination of the two that totals 30 or less websites. Another example: A Pro Dedicated server includes unlimited cPanel to cPanel transfers, this means you can have 150 sites (or even more) moved. Also since there is an unlimited total number of transfers, you can utilize up to 100 Manual Transfers.

For more information please see ourTransfers Support Article, contact our transfers department at transfers@hostgator.com, or call 866.96.GATOR