Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

October 12, 2010

Hidden Fees That Are Often Associated with Cheap Web Hosting

Cheap web hosting is often used by novice webmasters that hastily want to jump start their internet careers with a minimal investment. While inexpensive web hosting certainly has its applications, in many cases it can prove to be a detrimental decision that ultimately results in poor site performance, and in some situations, additional fees that can remove the 'cheap' from cheap web hosting. If you are considering a cheap web hosting plan then, you may also gnat to examine some of the following hidden fees that are often associated with cheap web hosting plans.

Setup Fees

First on the list, and first to be charged to your credit card, are the setup fees, which are often made unbeknownst to the plan holder. Setup fees can cost anywhere from $20-$100, depending on the specific plan, although most plans come with a setup fee of about $50. Setup fees are some of the most annoying, and arguably the most unnecessary fee associated with any hosting plan, which is why it is important to include the cost of setup in the overall cost of the hosting plan, as some 'cheap' hosting plans may actually have expensive setup fees.

Multiple Domain Fees

A lot of cheap web hosting providers proudly advertise the ability to host multiple (or even unlimited) domains in a single web hosting plan. Unfortunately, they usually fail to mention that there are hidden fees of about $10 for every new domain that is activated within the hosting account. Thus, if you currently own 10 web sites, you could end up paying $100 just to associate your domains with your hosting account. If you own, or plan on owning a lot of web sites, then you'll definitely need to ensure that your cheap web hosting provider does not charge Multiple domain fees.

Service Fees

A lot of cheap web hosting providers claim that all of their plans come with free 24 hour support, however the word free should be taken with a grain of salt in many cases. Sadly, many of these hosting providers fail to tell you that every time you call the support line you will be charged a service fee. Although the number may be 'toll-free' it is important to remember that the hosting company does have the right to charge you for providing support. Thus, the best way to avoid such companies is to enquire about service fees before purchasing a plan with a new hosting provider.

Cancellation Fees

After the aforementioned fees cause you to rethink your web hosting choice, you may decide to cancel the hosting plan, only to find that, to your amazement, you're even charged a fee for choosing not to use their service anymore! Cancellation fees are considered to be the most obnoxious charges in the web  hosting industry. After all, if the company fails to provide a satisfactory service, they should at least have the decency to allow the customer to part ways without having to pay for it. Unfortunately, many cheap web hosting providers charge cancellation fees as a way to keep customers from abandoning their plan before the contract period is over.

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