Using Registrar also as Web Host - Good or bad?

[ms268]

I am just starting out a business at a domain. Frankly it is an experiment for me and I'm not sure my business will be successful, so I am also looking forward in the future to if anyone might be interested in purchasing my domain. So I will be putting content on my site for my business, but don't want to lose any content if I sell it for whatever reason. Should I use a different webhost than the registrar? I am worried that if i eventually sell the domain, I will lose the content because the domain registrar is also the host. If I sell my domain with the webhost, will I be able to host the same webpage material at a different domain? I know they can only sell the name not the content, but if I lose the domain then don't I lose access to the material hosted at the domain too??

 

[nicenic]

Hello ms268, actually it doesn't matter where you register the domain name and where you purchase the web hosting, the domain name is registered through Registrar and Registry, while the web hosting is purchased through hosting provider and server provider, they are 2 different places.

Only when your hosting expires or is suspended, you might lose your material/website files hosted in the server, it has nothing to do with the domain name.

 

[snowbird]

nicenic is correct on this matter. Your website content is hosted separately from your domain name. So if you ever move your domain name to another registrar or transfer it to a different owner, your web hosting packages should be separate. With some simple DNS changes on your hosting account, you should be able to have the content work with a different domain.

Historically however, there have been rare occasions where having a domain registered at the same place you host your website could cause problems although it is not as common as it use to be. There was once a couple of web hosts out there that would allow you to get a free domain name with the purchase of web hosting. The domain registration would always be free for as long as you kept your hosting with them. But if you ever tried to transfer your hosting out to a different web host, they would hold your domain hostage indicating that you were not the true registrant of the domain and that the web host was. However I believe those companies stopped those practices. But it's just a reminder to always check your terms of service and make sure if you ever get hosting somewhere because they are offering you a free domain name, make sure you are the true registrant of that domain.

 

[DediRock]

It’s best to separate hosting and domain registration. If you sell your domain, transferring content can be tricky. A separate host gives you more control.