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Low Cost - Does it mean low quality?

The first image that usually comes to mind when you think of a "low cost" alternative is the "made in China" knockoffs or the cheap plastic imitations. Lower cost options don't have a good reputation simply because of what they are- why are they less expensive, anyway?

This theory is pretty universal as there aren't a lot of products that can be cost reduced without sacrificing quality. However, as soon as you mention "internet" anywhere in that sentence it all of a sudden makes sense. Why, I wonder, is the internet synonymous with "bargains" or "discounts"?

Web hosting used to be an expensive service. A few years ago hard drives were no where near the size they are now and any significant amount of web space was expensive. I can remember the days of 50 megabytes of web space for $14 a month. 50 megabytes - my watch has more disk space in it. Back then, however, 50 megabytes was a big chunk of a 4 or 5 gigabyte hard drive.

In the last two years we've seen the emergence of 500 gigabyte and 1 terabyte hard drives; the cost of disk space has plummeted and so has the cost of web space. There are dozens of hosting companies that offer competitive packages from just $3.95 a month (read our review of Brius and Site5). Flash back five years ago and this was completely unheard of, or if a host did offer extremely low cost hosting, it was extremely limited.

Today low cost hosting is still somewhat limited (by today's standards), but it's more an option now than it ever has been before. Today you get more space, more bandwidth, more domains, and more options. You get 500 megabytes of space (at the minimum) and live technical support. Some hosting companies have integrated web site builders that look and feel just like Microsoft Word, making it easier than ever to create a professional looking page.

That's not to say that there aren't advantages from purchasing a more expensive hosting plan ($15 a month instead of $5 a month, for example). Often a more comprehensive hosting plan includes better tracking features or integrated PHP scripts, such as a forum or guestbook. As well, they almost always have more disk space, more e-mail addresses, and more monthly bandwidth. If your business is growing or experiencing high traffic volumes that last perk should be very important.

So does low cost mean low quality? For many things, yes it does, but not necessarily when it comes to web hosting. Just make sure that when you find your low cost solution you find out what hidden fees (if any) exist and how much they are.

Some low cost hosting companies we recommend are Host Gator and Site5; a good host that offers more comprehensive packages is Brius. We've made these recommendations because of our experience with them. Give them a try, they've worked out great for us and we know they'd be the same for you.