Since pretty much over a decade, AwardSpace has risen to fame as one of the most reliable and customer-friendly Free Web Hosting service providers in business. They have a full suite of features that serve both newbies and veteran webmasters. This guide will take you through the basics of AwardSpace; its features, performance and restrictions whilst shedding light on when it is most suitable for use - with additional comparisons to other Free Hosting options.
Key Features of AwardSpace
Disk Space and Bandwidth
AwardSpace offers 1 GB of disk space and 5 GB of bandwidth, making it suitable for small and medium-sized websites. It is ideal for personal blogs, portfolios, and small business sites that do not require much disk space or bandwidth.
Free Subdomain
AwardSpace provides a variety of free subdomains or allows you to use your own domain. This flexibility enables you to get your website up and running quickly and easily.
One Email Account
The free plan includes one email account, which adds a professional touch to your website. This feature is often restricted or available at an additional cost with other free hosting providers.
1-Click Installer
AwardSpace offers a 1-click installer for popular applications like WordPress and Joomla, making it easy to get your site up and running quickly without technical knowledge.
Performance and Reliability
Uptime Guarantee
AwardSpace guarantees 99.9% uptime, ensuring that your website remains online with solid infrastructure.
Speed and Optimization
AwardSpace claims its servers are fast and reliable, with minimal downtime. Optimizing your website content and using a CDN can further improve performance.
Limitations of AwardSpace
Ads Displayed
Free users will have ads displayed on their websites, which may detract from the overall look. While this is standard among free hosting providers, not everyone might like it.
Limited Bandwidth
The 5 GB bandwidth limit is not sufficient for websites with heavy traffic. You may need to upgrade to a paid plan if your website sees a lot of traffic.
Perfect Users for AwardSpace
Personal Blogs
AwardSpace is an excellent platform for personal blogs, offering adequate resources and capabilities to get started without spending a lot of money. The free subdomain and 1-click installer make it easy to set up and manage a blog.
Portfolios
For those looking to create portfolios, AwardSpace provides stable features and good performance. The free subdomain and one email account make it easy to create a professional, branded portfolio.
Small Websites
AwardSpace is ideal for small websites that do not anticipate heavy traffic. The free subdomain and 1-click installer make it an easy and cost-effective way to get online.
Creating Your First Website with AwardSpace
Getting Started
Visit AwardSpace to create a free account. The sign-up process is quick and simple. After registration, you will receive access to a control panel to manage your hosting account and website.
Choosing a Subdomain
AwardSpace provides a variety of free subdomains to choose from. You can also use your own domain if you already have one.
Installing Applications
Install applications on your website easily with the 1-click installer. Go to the 1-click installer section in your control panel, select the application (e.g., WordPress), and follow the on-screen instructions. This process is quick and requires no technical knowledge.
Security and Backup
Security Features
AwardSpace includes basic security features to keep your site safe. It is important to use strong passwords, update software regularly, and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Backup Options
The free plan does not include automatic backups. It is recommended to create your own backups regularly to protect your data. You can manually back up your website using the control panel or use third-party backup solutions to automate the process.
Improving Performance of Your Site
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Using a CDN can improve your website's performance by distributing content across multiple servers worldwide. AwardSpace does not include a built-in CDN, but you can use third-party services like Cloudflare to enhance speed and reliability.
Optimizing Images and Content
Optimizing your website's images and content can also improve performance. Compress images, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and use caching mechanisms to reduce load times. Numerous plugins and tools are available to help you optimize your site's performance.
Hosting Specifications
Free Hosting Plan
- Disk Space: 1 GB
- Bandwidth: 5 GB
- Subdomain: Free subdomain
- SSL Certificate: Optional
- Email Accounts: One
- Databases: One MySQL database
- Website Builder: Included
- Ads: Displayed on website
- Support: Ticket system, knowledge base, community forum
- Resource Usage: Low CPU and RAM usage
Premium Hosting Plans
Basic Plan
- Disk Space: 5 GB SSD
- Bandwidth: 50 GB
- Subdomain: Custom domain support
- SSL Certificate: Free Let's Encrypt SSL
- Email Accounts: Unlimited
- Databases: Unlimited MySQL databases
- Website Builder: Included
- Ads: No ads
- Support: 24/7 customer service
- Resource Usage: Higher CPU and RAM limits
- Price: $2.99 per month
Advanced Plan
- Disk Space: 20 GB SSD
- Bandwidth: Unlimited
- Subdomain: Custom domain support
- SSL Certificate: Free Let's Encrypt SSL
- Email Accounts: Unlimited
- Databases: Unlimited MySQL databases (max 5 GB per database)
- Website Builder: Included
- Ads: No ads
- Support: 24/7 customer service, priority support, email ticketing
- Resource Usage: High CPU and RAM limits
- Additional Features: Daily backups, JSON security headers
- Price: $5.99 per month
Pitting AwardSpace Against Other Similar Free Hosting Services
While AwardSpace is a good choice, it's essential to compare it with other free hosting providers to find the best fit for your needs. Consider aspects like disk space, bandwidth, uptime, customer support, and extra features when making comparisons.
For example, InfinityFree offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, making it a strong competitor for those who need more resources. However, InfinityFree has restrictions on CPU and RAM usage, which can affect performance during traffic surges.
FreeHosting.com is another popular choice, providing 10 GB of disk space and unmetered bandwidth, which covers most website requirements. Additionally, FreeHosting.com offers a free subdomain, so you don't need your own domain to start.
Upgrading to Premium Hosting
Although AwardSpace's free hosting is a good option, there may come a time when your website surpasses the limitations of the free plan. Upgrading to a premium hosting plan offers more resources, improved performance, and dedicated support.
Premium hosting plans from AwardSpace provide additional disk space and bandwidth, as well as advanced features like daily backups, priority support, and enhanced security measures. Transferring your website to a premium plan is easy and hassle-free.
Conclusion
AwardSpace is one of the best free web hosting services available, offering a range of features to fit various types of websites. With 1 GB of disk space, 5 GB of bandwidth, and a free subdomain, AwardSpace is an excellent choice for hosting your website for free.
For beginners, AwardSpace is the perfect platform for creating a personal blog, portfolio, or landing page. However, it has some limitations, such as ads on free accounts and restrictions on streaming media.
Ultimately, you can decide whether upgrading to a premium plan is worth it or if AwardSpace's free hosting serves your needs better than other free hosting providers. With the right hosting provider, you can grow your website traffic and achieve your goals.
Keep reading our comprehensive reviews of other top free hosting providers, such as InfinityFree, FreeHosting.com, x10Hosting, and 000WebHost, to find the ideal fit for your web hosting requirements. When you need more robust capabilities for a growing website, consider the Most Popular Web Hosting Service, which offers plans for all users, from beginners to professionals.
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