Web Hosting With No Credit Card Required

Let's face it, trying to find affordable web hosting is hard enough, but it can be even harder if you don't have a credit card. Since most hosting companies require a credit card to open an account you may feel limited in your choices. Don't fret, though. There are actually quite a few different options available for hosting that don't require a credit card to get up and running. Let's take a look at some of your choices.

Free Hosting

One option that you have if you don't want to use a credit card is to go with a free web hosting service. Obviously this is an appealing choice since you don't have to pay for hosting at all, let alone with credit. However, there are some downsides to free hosting as well. First, many companies require you to place their advertisements on your site which can detract from the look of your web pages and slow down loading times. Second, many companies that offer free hosting place too many sites on their servers which can lead to unreliable service or slow load times. Finally, there is typically very little customer support with free hosting account which can be difficult if you run into problems. However, it is an option and if you look around you can find some great free services out there.

Free Blogs

If you are just putting together a personal site instead of a business site you may want to consider trying a free blogging platform. There are quite a few to choose from although the most popular are probably Blogger and Wordpress. The advantage of blogs is that they are very easy to update and don't require a lot of knowledge of HTML. You can be up and running in no time and can add pages to your site with ease. However, typically with free blogging services you can't use your own domain name. This can make it harder to share your website address with others and can leave you with a long, unmemorable URL.

E-Checks or Paper Checks

Some hosting companies accept payment by electronic check or by debiting your bank account. This is a nice option if you don't have a credit card. However, some people avoid this option because they are leary of sharing their bank account information online. If you do decide to go this route be sure to choose a reliable company with a good reputation.

Paper checks are also an option with some hosting companies. The only drawback to this option is that you have to physically mail in a check each month. If your check is lost in the mail or arrives too late the hosting company can take your site down until the payment is received. Down time can harm your site's reputation and can lead to lost business or revenue.

PayPal

Many hosting companies accept PayPal payments which is a safe, convenient option. PayPal is an online payment processor that allows you to submit payments without sharing your financial information with the company you are paying. This makes it safer than submitting your bank account info directly to a hosting company but still allows you to pay without a credit card. Plus, it gives you the option of paying online rather than having to worry about mailing in a check each month.

Unlike free hosting or free blogs, when you pay for hosting with PayPal you can run your site under your own domain name and won't have to display advertisements on your page. Of all the options for obtaining hosting with no credit card, paying with PayPal is probably the most convenient, safest and most versatile. For a listing of web hosting companies that accept PayPal including cost comparisons, reviews and details of each hosting plan, please visit http://paypal.topratedwebsitehosts.com Good Luck! Sandy Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Curtis