Explainer
Domain and hosting: what's the difference
People mix up domains and hosting all the time. The domain is the address, like yourcompany.com. Hosting is a computer on the internet that your site runs on. You need both, but they are two different things and you pay for them separately.
In short
- The domain is the address. It's paid yearly and must be registered to you.
- Hosting affects how fast and reliably your site runs.
- Your email depends on the domain too. A lapsed domain means broken email.
Domain
You register a domain with a registrar and pay for it every year. Country domains, such as the Czech .cz, are run by a national registry, but there are many registrars and their prices differ.
Watch three things. The domain must be registered to you, not to the company building your site. Turn on automatic renewal, because anyone can buy a lapsed domain. And remember your email runs on the domain too, so nothing can break when the site changes.
Hosting
Hosting decides how fast your site loads and whether it stays available. A simple site is fine on cheap shared hosting. A site with bookings or a shop needs more.
Modern sites often run on a network of servers around the world, and each visitor gets the page from the nearest one. That makes them fast and they rarely go down. Whatever you choose, ask about backups, https and who will help when the site stops working.
Who should look after it
Ideally whoever builds your site, but the domain still stays yours. If you don't want to deal with anything, a website on a subscription includes both the domain and hosting. How we build websites
Frequently asked questions
Can I move my domain to another registrar?
Yes. For most domains you need an authorisation code from your current registrar.
What if I forget to renew my domain?
Your website and email stop working. After a grace period, anyone else can register the domain.
Do I need email on my own domain?
We recommend it. info@yourcompany.com looks more trustworthy than an address on a free service.
How much does a domain cost?
It depends on the ending and the registrar. Prices differ between registrars, so compare them.
Want a new website, or just to test an idea?
Tell us what you need. You start in the tens of thousands of crowns, not hundreds, and you know the price upfront.
Related articles
What a business website needs
A checklist for a business website. What visitors must find straight away, what has to work on a phone and which details must not be missing.
→Comparison · 3 minOne-off payment or website subscription?
Buy a website outright or pay monthly? What's included, who each option suits and what to ask before you sign a contract.
→Overview · 3 minHow much does a website cost
Why website quotes differ so much, what you are actually paying for and which costs after launch people forget most often.
→