Tilda Education
What Is Web Hosting: The Complete Guide
Learn what web hosting is, the different types, providers, and how to pick the right one
Sept 25, 2025
8 min
Contents:
What Is Web Hosting & Who Needs It
Hosting is a service that lets you place your website and its data on the Internet. For a monthly fee, you get the guarantee that your website will be online and accessible 24/7.
By default, anyone who wants to launch a website, web app, or online service needs hosting. First and foremost, it's essential for:
For website owners. Hosting ensures that your website stays online and accessible to users around the clock.
For developers and IT companies. Programmers often rent test servers to host client prototypes and check performance under load.
For gamers and streamers. Hosting services can be used to store large video archives and multimedia content for gaming platforms or live streams.
For entrepreneurs. Hosting is essential for running corporate websites, email, and securely storing work files in the cloud.
For entrepreneurs. Hosting is essential for running corporate websites, email, and securely storing work files in the cloud.
For developers and IT companies. Programmers often rent test servers to host client prototypes and check performance under load.
For gamers and streamers. Hosting services can be used to store large video archives and multimedia content for gaming platforms or live streams.
For website owners. Hosting ensures that your website stays online and accessible to users around the clock.
How Hosting Works: Explained In Plain English
Paying for hosting means you're renting space on a provider's server. In simple terms, you're paying for your website's files to live on a powerful computer that never gets turned off. This way, your web pages always have enough space, load fast, and stay available around the clock.
The service is provided by a hosting company that owns the servers. A server is basically a computer—but a lot more powerful. We're talking about machines that can handle workloads up to 20 times heavier than a typical home PC.
Servers are lined up on metal racks inside specialized facilities called data centers. These centers are built to keep the machines running reliably and securely around the clock. Reference
You can technically run a website without hosting by setting up your own server. But that would mean turning your home computer into a high-performance machine—upgrading RAM, replacing the processor, and installing an uninterruptible power supply. Setting this up is complicated and expensive. On top of that, you'd need to monitor and maintain the server 24/7, which is both time-consuming and costly.
Domain vs. Hosting: What's the Difference?
When you open a web page, the server finds the right data and sends it to the Internet along with the website's IP address—a unique numeric identifier. For example: 142.250.185.206.
Since remembering long strings of numbers isn't convenient, domain names were invented—simple text addresses like google.com. Think of it like a phonebook: Instead of dialing a long phone number, you just tap a saved contact name, and your phone fills in the number for you.
Every website needs two things: A domain name and hosting. Together, they make it possible for web pages to load properly online:
1
A user types the domain name into their browser.
2
The system looks up the server where the website is stored. This requires hosting—without it, the browser won't be able to find the website.
3
The server sends the website's data back to the browser.
4
The browser displays the page to the user.
What Is Included In Hosting Services?
At the core of hosting are reliable servers. But most providers also offer additional features to make managing a website easier and safer:
Data storage and backups. Files are kept in a secure system with automatic backup options. If something goes wrong, you can always roll back to a working version.
Security and protection. Modern hosting providers use multilayered security: From antivirus protection to defenses against DDoS attacks and other threats.
Easy-to-use tools. You don't need to be a developer to manage your website. Intuitive dashboards let you adjust settings, manage email, and track website traffic.
Customer support. Quality hosting services offer 24/7 support so you can get help whenever you need it.
Most providers include a client dashboard that lets you track whether your current plan has enough resources.
You don't always need to purchase hosting directly from a provider. Many website builders bundle hosting into their plans. For example, with Tilda, hosting is already included: You just build your website, and it's automatically hosted on fast, secure servers.
If you're new to no-code solutions, use this exclusive promo code to get one month of the Tilda Personal Plan instead of the standard 2-week trial.
See instructions on how to activate it
What Types Of Hosting Are There?
Shared Hosting (Web Hosting)
With this option, a single server is shared among many different websites, dividing its resources between them.
Shared hosting works well for small business websites, personal blogs, or landing pages, since they don't need a lot of storage or power.
For smaller projects, you can even find shared hosting plans for under $2.98/month.
Virtual Private Server Hosting (VPS/VDS)
VPS hosting is similar to shared hosting but with isolated environments inside the same physical server. Each VPS operates like its own server, dedicated to one website or project. Pricing starts at around $5-6/month.
VPS hosting is a popular choice for online stores and growing businesses with steady traffic (usually 500+ daily visitors). It's more stable and secure, especially during traffic spikes like holiday sales.
Many popular providers (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Linode, Vultr) offer VPS servers in different regions, including North America and Europe, so you can host closer to your target audience.
Dedicated Server Hosting
The most powerful and expensive hosting option. Prices vary depending on hardware but usually start from $100-150 per month and can reach thousands for enterprise setups.
Dedicated servers are usually rented by large e-commerce platforms, streaming services, banks, or tech companies that require high security and stable performance.
Some providers even let you configure custom-built servers with high-performance hardware or specialized storage setups for unique projects.
How To Choose a Hosting Provider
The safest approach is to start small: Pick the cheapest plan and upgrade as your project grows. But some businesses (like online stores or media-heavy projects) may need more storage and power right away. Use this comparison table to see which type of hosting fits your needs:
Tilda Website Builder is the perfect solution if you don't want to deal with complex technical setups or worry about scaling and security. Every website is automatically hosted on robust cloud infrastructure built to handle it all—traffic spikes, cyber threats, rapid project growth, etc.
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