Free Hosting

[bzzzimm]

I am developing my first site with a free hosting provider using their tools and interface. Will there be any issues when I want to move my site to a different hosing provider. Is it as simple as downloading the files and uploading to another provider? I just dont want to spend time developing the site on a free host and then find out I cant move it.

 

[shockie]

depends on how you make your website. if it's strictly .htm files and images then you should be fine. if however you have a poorly designed messy structure or if your site is database-driven, then you might have more of a hassle later on.

whatever you do, always keep backups.

 

[MJ]

Yes, as shockie stated, it all really depends on what their tools and interface is. If you are using some sort of content management system like postnuke, wordpress, etc, those use databases. Moving these sites would be slightly more complicated than just copying all the .htm, .php, .asp, or whatever other types of files you have on there.

It is still doable. Databases can be moved as well. The only way I would think your site would not be movable is if they were using some proprietary scripting methods that you needed their servers to run (which I doubt that is the case).

Either way, try to make your site great with the free tools provided if you want to use them. There are many other free html editors and free hosts, to include google page creator.

If worst comes to worse, if its not a complex site involving forms, membership, etc... just plain pages, you can just save the page via your webbrowser

Good luck