Start with the website you’re building
A small brochure website, a growing WordPress site and an online shop can have different hosting needs. Before comparing prices, list the number of websites you want to run, the software you plan to use, the size of your files and the email accounts your team needs. If you already have a website, ask your current host for its disk usage and resource limits.
A domain is your website’s address. Hosting stores the files and software that make the website work. You can manage both with the same provider, but registering a domain alone does not create a website. If you are starting from scratch, search for your business domain and choose how you will build the site.
Compare web hosting and WordPress hosting
General web hosting is a practical option for a business website, a site built with a visual editor or a small WordPress installation. A control panel such as cPanel lets you manage files, databases, email and domains in one place.
WordPress hosting is worth comparing when WordPress is central to your business. Look at the actual CPU, memory and storage allocation, backups and migration support. A plan’s name does not tell you how much traffic it can handle: plugins, page size, caching and visitor activity all affect resource use. For a busy shop or a site with demanding plugins, discuss the workload before ordering.
Check the limits behind the headline price
- Storage: allow for website files, databases, images and email. Mailboxes can account for a substantial part of shared storage.
- Website limits: check primary and addon domains if you plan to host more than one website.
- Email: compare mailbox counts and total storage, rather than looking only at the number of addresses.
- Resources: ask about CPU and memory limits if your website runs complex software or receives bursts of traffic.
- Backups: confirm what is backed up, retention and how a restore is requested. Keep your own independent copy of important business data as well.
Unlimited bandwidth or account counts do not mean unlimited computing power or storage. Read the acceptable use policy and compare the resources of the plan you are considering.
Budget for the whole setup
Compare the hosting charge, domain registration, domain renewal and any work needed to build or move your site. Check the billing period and the total due at checkout. A free domain offer can have eligibility rules; confirm which extension is included and what renewal will cost.
Lemon Host’s current plan prices and inclusions are listed on the hosting comparison page. On web hosting, Zest suits a small starting setup, while Citrus and higher include a free .co.za domain, migration and the Sitejet builder. The right choice still depends on your storage and resource needs.
Plan the move before changing DNS
If you are moving providers, make a backup and keep your old service active while the new copy is tested. Website migration, email migration and domain transfer are separate tasks. Write down which services you are moving and who will handle each one. Use the domain transfer checklist to prepare DNS and approvals.
Your next step
Compare web hosting packages and WordPress plans using the same checklist. If you are unsure, tell us what you are building, how many people need email and whether you have an existing website to move.