The Differences Between Domain Names, Web Hosting, and E-Commerce Hosting
Many people do not realize that registering a domain name is not the same as establishing a website, so we created the following table to provide summary definitions, explanations, and suggestions for domain names, web hosting plans, and e-commerce.
| Domain Names | Web Hosting | E-commerce | |
| Also Known as: | domains, domain registration, web address, website address | hosting, website hosting, shared web hosting,small business hosting, web page,website services | ecommerce hosting, ecommerce solutions, shopping cart software, online shopping cart, online store, estore, web store |
| Typically includes: | Domain name plus one page starter web page with limited customizability. | Free domain name, custom e-mail. Site building tools and disk space allow you to build a website on your domain name. | Web hosting + ecommerce capabilities such as a product catalog, shopping cart, and order management. |
| Typically does not include: | Web hosting beyond limited starter page. Custom email. | E-commerce capabilities. | Online Merchant Account. |
| Price range: | $1.99 to $35 annual fee. | $8-$15 per month. | $50-$150 per month. |
| Top providers: | Yahoo! Domains, Godaddy, Ipower, 1and1, Dotster | Yahoo! Web Hosting, Godaddy, 1and1, Ipower, Dotster | Yahoo! Merchant Solutions, Prostores, Monster Commerce |
| Suggestions | Buy web hosting package if you also need a website. | Buy your domain and web hosting package from the same provider. You need a domain name to have a website. | Build your e-commerce site separately. Do not build a web hosting site and bolt on a separate shopping cart. |
Are You Ready to Purchase a Domain?
The purpose of this web site is to compare the top domain registrars and provide reviews to help you make the best choice and find the lowest price possible. Click the image below or here to compare the top domain name providers.
Interested In Web Hosting?
We also have compiled a list of the best web hosting providers in a comparison chart. Click the image below for the comparison as well as reviews of the different providers.
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