Website creation and hosting

sydh · Apr 24, 2023

Can anyone recommend an easy to learn website program and somewhere cheap to host it? I've tried to learn Wordpress but I'm struggling with the tutorial. Maybe it is just too complex for my requirements but I find I'm questioning the tutorial all the time, for instance it tells me to click on a menu which isn't there. Probably just me getting something wrong. Maybe a different tutorial to the Wordpress tutorial would help.
However, once a website is created, where do I host it? I already have my own domain, used for just email, through Ionos but they charge around £115 per year for basic hosting. The website will be to support a garden that we open for charity so I don't want to spend too much for hosting as we already spend too much of our own money on maintenance. I only need a static website that will be for advertising the garden and opening times. There will be no sales or blogging.
Apologies for posting this on General Support, but there is no website forum.

Peter B · Apr 24, 2023

If it's of any help, I use Zen Internet in Rochdale to host my .com domain - it's currently £8.39/month, plus £19.19 annually for the domain registration, not exactly in your range of 'cheap', I suspect, but it does everything I require and their support is excellent.

I predominantly use them for the great range of control features their cPanel gives me on my email address.

I created a basic website (which was purely an exercise to prove to myself that I could do it) by using a book called 'html & css' by Jon Duckett, though I think that Zen gives you the option of using Wordpress.

K7MEM · Apr 24, 2023

I use DreamHost for my web site for about $83 per year. They handle my domain name (k7mem.com) and provide a SSL certificate for free. The certificate automatically renews regularly. The domain is only about $19 per year. Their web site is very user friendly.

DreamHost does have WordPress as part of their offering, but I have never used it. Some web hosts offer other site builders at minimum cost. Personally, I write all of my web pages manually and at no cost. I have been writing software since the late 60's, so for me it isn't a problem. I use a free HTML/CSS/Javascript sensitive editor called HTML-Kit. For details on writing in HTML/CSS/Javascript/etc., I use W3Schools.com. That site also provides tutorials on the various web languages. Probably, all you will need is HTML and CSS.

I develop all of my web pages on my local PC. You don't need a web server for that. That way I can get my pages the way I want them and then only update my web site when I am ready. I use FileZilla to FTP my completed web pages to my web site.

It may be a little difficult to write you pages yourself, but if your needs are simple, it should not be very hard. W3Schools provides lots of useful examples. For some simple page layouts and menus, you can use DynamicDrive.com. They have a lot of Javascript but you probably won't need it.

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

Peter B said:
If it's of any help, I use Zen Internet in Rochdale to host my .com domain - it's currently £8.39/month, plus £19.19 annually for the domain registration, not exactly in your range of 'cheap', I suspect, but it does everything I require and their support is excellent.

I predominantly use them for the great range of control features their cPanel gives me on my email address.

I created a basic website (which was purely an exercise to prove to myself that I could do it) by using a book called 'html & css' by Jon Duckett, though I think that Zen gives you the option of using Wordpress.

Thanks Peter but I already have a domain with Ionos and I see no reason to change to another company. However Ionos web hosting is more expensive than I would like.

z3r010 · Apr 25, 2023

Ionos do some cheap VPS packages with Plesk installed (I'm pretty sure Plesk has an easy WordPress install option), a 2-core would be more than enough for your needs.

VPS Hosting UK | Cheap » from £1/mth | IONOS

Virtual Server Hosting in the UK » Unlimited traffic up to 1 Gbit/s ✓ SSD NVMe storage ✓ Free Plesk Web Host Edition ✓

www.ionos.co.uk

You could also look for offers at a dedicated webhost forum such as webhostingtalk

https://www.webhostingtalk.com/

Edit

Actually, the Ionos Standard web package may be better for your needs.

Web Hosting for the UK starting at £1/month ᐅ IONOS

UK web hosting packages for £1/year ✔ Includes domain ✔ Reliable – 99.9% uptime ✔ Storage and databases ✔ 24/7 support ✔ Free SSL » Get your project up and running now!

www.ionos.co.uk

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

K7MEM, thanks for your detailed reply. A couple of people suggested using html and CSS but I'm not sure if that learning curve is worth it because I only wish to create one website for myself and I would then probably never require the skills again. Many years ago I started learning Fortran and Basic but I paused me learning for a few weeks due to work pressures, but when I picked it up again, I was struggling to remember all that I had previously learned, which made me realise that it was a wasted effort unless I was to use the skills continuously. It is not like riding a bike which you never forget. As I just said to Peter, I need to create one website and that is it.
I have been trawling the net looking at the options and Hostinger could be the best for me. It has a low hosting cost of $2.49 per month and the option of Wordpress or their own website builder. Their builder could be quicker and easier for me but I'm not sure if migration to another host at a later date is possible if required. Wordpress migration is easy but as I stated before, I was struggling with it but it may just be the tutorial I was using.

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

z3r010 said:
Ionos do some cheap VPS packages with Plesk installed (I'm pretty sure Plesk has an easy WordPress install option), a 2-core would be more than enough for your needs.

VPS Hosting UK | Cheap » from £1/mth | IONOS

Virtual Server Hosting in the UK » Unlimited traffic up to 1 Gbit/s ✓ SSD NVMe storage ✓ Free Plesk Web Host Edition ✓

www.ionos.co.uk

You could also look for offers at a dedicated webhost forum such as webhostingtalk

https://www.webhostingtalk.com/

Edit

Actually, the Ionos Standard web package may be better for your needs.

Web Hosting for the UK starting at £1/month ᐅ IONOS

UK web hosting packages for £1/year ✔ Includes domain ✔ Reliable – 99.9% uptime ✔ Storage and databases ✔ 24/7 support ✔ Free SSL » Get your project up and running now!

www.ionos.co.uk

Thanjs fir that. I will check webhostingtalk for advice. My domain is with Ionos but their hosting is £115 per year which is too high for me. That £1 is just the first year. I am looking long term. Hostinger is looking promising.

z3r010 · Apr 25, 2023

I'm not sure what package you are looking at for £115, but they have lots much cheaper.

Hostinger does look to have some very cheap packages though.

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

z3r010 said:
I'm not sure what package you are looking at for £115, but they have lots much cheaper.

Hostinger does look to have some very cheap packages though.

It is their standard package. £1 per month increases to £8 per month excluding vat.

z3r010 · Apr 25, 2023

That's not the pricing I see.

Web Hosting for the UK starting at £1/month ᐅ IONOS

UK web hosting packages for £1/year ✔ Includes domain ✔ Reliable – 99.9% uptime ✔ Storage and databases ✔ 24/7 support ✔ Free SSL » Get your project up and running now!

www.ionos.co.uk

But anyway, you seem to have found a cheaper deal elsewhere.

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

z3r010 said:
That's not the pricing I see.

View attachment 58726

Web Hosting for the UK starting at £1/month ᐅ IONOS

UK web hosting packages for £1/year ✔ Includes domain ✔ Reliable – 99.9% uptime ✔ Storage and databases ✔ 24/7 support ✔ Free SSL » Get your project up and running now!

www.ionos.co.uk

But anyway, you seem to have found a cheaper deal elsewhere.

When I contacted them, they reckoned the Plus package was suited to me. Probably trying to increase sales but it worked against them because I am looking elsewhere. It doesn't help that I know zilch about website creation and hosting. Still, it keeps the mind active. I'm a retired Autocad design engineer and I thought my days of learning new software were over

z3r010 · Apr 25, 2023

sydh said:
When I contacted them, they reckoned the Plus package was suited to me. Probably trying to increase sales but it worked against them because I am looking elsewhere. It doesn't help that I know zilch about website creation and hosting. Still, it keeps the mind active. I'm a retired Autocad design engineer and I thought my days of learning new software were over

For your needs, as small as you can get will do.

jimbo45 · Apr 25, 2023

I think also most pricing includes wordpress which is a good app (at least IMO) for designing simple to use web applications for use on your own domain.

I think for the UK godaddy seems to be reasonable

https://www.godaddy.com/en-uk/offers/hosting?isc=ukhosgon1&currencyType=GBP&countryview=1&cdtl=c_19320324611.g_144162505149.k_kwd-302853133.a_642018498186.d_c.ctv_g&bnb=b&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8NqDvtnE_gIVQertCh34TA4_EAAYASAAEgIlX_D_BwE

For other countries - this seems quite a professional and cheap outlet :

101domain - Domain Names - Website Services - Brand and Corporate Solutions - Domain Management & Security

101domain is The Leader in International Domains - If it’s available, we can register it. We can also help you build it, host it, and secure it.

www.101domain.com

I think you also can get an email box too with these providers --useful when you are away from home ISP and you don't want to rely on Gmail etc.

Cheers
jimbo

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

jimbo45 said:
I think also most pricing includes wordpress which is a good app (at least IMO) for designing simple to use web applications for use on your own domain.

I think for the UK godaddy seems to be reasonable

https://www.godaddy.com/en-uk/offers/hosting?isc=ukhosgon1&currencyType=GBP&countryview=1&cdtl=c_19320324611.g_144162505149.k_kwd-302853133.a_642018498186.d_c.ctv_g&bnb=b&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8NqDvtnE_gIVQertCh34TA4_EAAYASAAEgIlX_D_BwE

For other countries - this seems quite a professional and cheap outlet :

101domain - Domain Names - Website Services - Brand and Corporate Solutions - Domain Management & Security

101domain is The Leader in International Domains - If it’s available, we can register it. We can also help you build it, host it, and secure it.

www.101domain.com

I think you also can get an email box too with these providers --useful when you are away from home ISP and you don't want to rely on Gmail etc.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks but once again, GoDaddy price is just for 1 year. It then reverts to full price but what is even worse is the SSL certificate is then charged at £75/year.

Hazel123 · Apr 25, 2023

sydh said:
K7MEM, thanks for your detailed reply. A couple of people suggested using html and CSS but I'm not sure if that learning curve is worth it because I only wish to create one website for myself and I would then probably never require the skills again. Many years ago I started learning Fortran and Basic but I paused me learning for a few weeks due to work pressures, but when I picked it up again, I was struggling to remember all that I had previously learned, which made me realise that it was a wasted effort unless I was to use the skills continuously. It is not like riding a bike which you never forget. As I just said to Peter, I need to create one website and that is it.
I have been trawling the net looking at the options and Hostinger could be the best for me. It has a low hosting cost of $2.49 per month and the option of Wordpress or their own website builder. Their builder could be quicker and easier for me but I'm not sure if migration to another host at a later date is possible if required. Wordpress migration is easy but as I stated before, I was struggling with it but it may just be the tutorial I was using.

I use Hostinger and am very happy with them. They have really good support via a chat system and will help you work things out or even do the odd thing for you if you're stuck. I started from scratch knowing nothing about websites and they helped set up quite a bit. The basic package prices seem to vary on different days! Deals etc. But once you have one it's fixed. They are reasonably priced. At some point, if you wanted to, you can also transfer your domain to them as well.

Hazel123 · Apr 25, 2023

Current deal showing at the moment is £2.59 a month with three months free. If you scroll down, that's the premium option (cheapest one). I'm on the middle one which is currently £3.99 a month. The main difference is daily backups are included (as opposed to weekly ones) but it also seems to have more Wordpress options included as standard. Not the £2.59 a month says it goes up to £5.99 a month at renewal in a year. And the £3.99 a month goes up to £8.99 in a year's time (also has three months free). But at renewal time they will sometimes do a deal if you chat to them.

They have an article here about the pros and cons of using a website builder versus wordpress.

"Website Builders are ideal for beginners who want a fast and easy way to create a simple website, while WordPress offers more flexibility, scalability, and control for advanced users who want to build a complex website with custom features and plugins."

Website Builder vs WordPress: Choosing the Right Platform for You

Looking for a platform to create a website? Read this website builder vs WordPress comparison to find the best tool for you.

www.hostinger.co.uk

Go Online With Hostinger - The Hosting Platform Made For You

Choose Hostinger and make the perfect website. From Shared Hosting and Domains to VPS and Cloud plans. We have all you need for online success.

www.hostinger.co.uk

Hazel123 · Apr 25, 2023

Hostinger have their own website builder package. It's the same £2.59 a month basic option and includes the website builder and the hosting (still increases to £5.99 after the first year). You can do daily back ups as an add on rather than go for the higher priced option as well.

Website Builder: Create a Website With Ease

Build a professional site with our drag-and-drop website builder. Choose from hundreds of website design templates, or let AI create one for you.

www.hostinger.co.uk

K7MEM · Apr 25, 2023

jimbo45 said:
I think for the UK godaddy seems to be reasonable

I was with GoDaddy for about 10 years. They use to be number one for hosting. They were really nice at first, but once your locked in, things will change. Over time they continually reduce their offerings and increase the price.

Initially, 10 years ago, they offered 100 email addresses, as part of my hosting. I didn't need 100. I only needed one. But that worked great for me. Then, after 10 years of using the email, they decided that they no longer handled email and passed me off to MS for a mere $9 per month. I waited out the free test drive period and threw it away. During that time I had to go around and change my email address "everywhere". What a pain. Almost 2 years later, I still don't know if I found all the instances of my old email address.

GoDaddy would call me once in a while and try to talk me into a ton of extra services. Which I did not need. The last time they called me, they offered up a SSL certificate for a mere $250 per year. I gave them a piece of my mind. They never called me again. Check out their current offerings for certificates. After that I switched to DreamHost. With DreamHost, the SSL certificate was free with the hosting and renews automatically. Plus the hosting price on DreamHost was much lower than GoDaddy.

While I still like Danica Patrick, I would never recommend GoDaddy for hosting.

jimbo45 · Apr 25, 2023

K7MEM said:
I was with GoDaddy for about 10 years. They use to be number one for hosting. They were really nice at first, but once your locked in, things will change. Over time they continually reduce their offerings and increase the price.

Initially, 10 years ago, they offered 100 email addresses, as part of my hosting. I didn't need 100. I only needed one. But that worked great for me. Then, after 10 years of using the email, they decided that they no longer handled email and passed me off to MS for a mere $9 per month. I waited out the free test drive period and threw it away. During that time I had to go around and change my email address "everywhere". What a pain. Almost 2 years later, I still don't know if I found all the instances of my old email address.

GoDaddy would call me once in a while and try to talk me into a ton of extra services. Which I did not need. The last time they called me, they offered up a SSL certificate for a mere $250 per year. I gave them a piece of my mind. They never called me again. Check out their current offerings for certificates. After that I switched to DreamHost. With DreamHost, the SSL certificate was free with the hosting and renews automatically. Plus the hosting price on DreamHost was much lower than GoDaddy.

While I still like Danica Patrick, I would never recommend GoDaddy for hosting.

That's fine

the point being though there's plenty of reasonably cheap providers - and for creating web sites wordpress seems to be the most common used one.

Just google for providers --and don't always believe everything (and sometimes believe NOTHING) that's written on trustpilot.

Cheers
jimbo

sydh · Apr 25, 2023

Thanks for everyone's input. I shall probably give Hostinger a try. I just need to find out if I use their builder, will I be able to migrate if required.