{"id":25884,"date":"2020-06-10T03:38:55","date_gmt":"2020-06-10T03:38:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=25884"},"modified":"2026-02-19T06:28:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T06:28:40","slug":"domain-vs-hosting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","title":{"rendered":"Domain vs. hosting: What&#8217;s the difference, and why do you need both?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A domain name is the human-readable URL that visitors type into a browser to reach a website, such as example.com. Web hosting, on the other hand, is the server space that stores your site&rsquo;s files, databases, and content so visitors can actually access it.<\/p><p>The domain is like a street address people use to find you, while hosting is the physical house where everything resides.<\/p><p>The main difference between a domain and hosting is in their functions: a domain identifies a website, while hosting makes it accessible on the internet.<\/p><p>To have a functioning website, you need both: a registered domain name to point visitors in the right direction and a hosting server to store and deliver the content.<\/p><p>Here are five other key differences between a domain name and web hosting:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Purpose.<\/strong> A domain replaces complex IP addresses with a memorable name. Hosting keeps website files live and accessible around the clock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ownership.<\/strong> Domain registration locks in a name for 1&ndash;10 years and requires renewal. Hosting operates as a recurring subscription for server resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost.<\/strong> Domain names typically cost $10&ndash;$20 per year. Hosting plans vary depending on storage, bandwidth, and performance needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Provider.<\/strong> Domains are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Hosting is offered by companies that operate and maintain web servers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Performance<\/strong>. Your domain choice affects branding and memorability, but hosting quality influences speed, uptime, and overall reliability.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-domain-name\"><strong>What is a domain name?<\/strong><\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69df813d6a625\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image3.jpg\/public\" alt=\"What is a domain name?\" class=\"wp-image-140527\" title=\"what-is-a-domain-name\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image3.jpg\/w=1376,fit=scale-down 1376w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image3.jpg\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image3.jpg\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image3.jpg\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image3.jpg\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1376px) 100vw, 1376px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-a-domain-name\">A domain name is<\/a> a unique, human-readable web address that points to a specific website on the internet.<\/p><p>A domain has two parts: the top-level domain (TLD), which classifies its category or purpose, such as .com, .org, or .io, and the second-level domain (SLD), which is the unique name you register.<\/p><p>Let&rsquo;s look at <strong>google.com<\/strong>, since it&rsquo;s a domain we all use fairly often. Here, &ldquo;google&rdquo; is the SLD and &ldquo;.com&rdquo; is the TLD.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Every domain name works through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-dns\">Domain Name System (DNS)<\/a>, a global directory that translates readable URLs into the numerical IP addresses (like <strong>192.0.2.1<\/strong>) that servers use to communicate.<\/p><p>To secure a domain, you register it through an accredited registrar like Hostinger. Registration grants you exclusive use of that name for a set period, typically one to ten years.<\/p><p>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization that oversees the domain system, requires registrants to provide accurate contact details, which are stored in a public WHOIS database unless privacy protection is enabled.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-web-hosting\"><strong>What is web hosting?<\/strong><\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69df813d6b01d\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image4.jpg\/public\" alt=\"What is web hosting?\" class=\"wp-image-140528\" title=\"what-is-web-hosting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image4.jpg\/w=1408,fit=scale-down 1408w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image4.jpg\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image4.jpg\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image4.jpg\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image4.jpg\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-web-hosting\">Web hosting is<\/a> the service that makes a website available to anyone with an internet connection.<\/p><p>Behind the scenes, a hosting provider maintains specialized, always online machines called servers that store your site&rsquo;s files, execute its code, and deliver pages to every visitor who requests them.<\/p><p>A hosting plan typically bundles server space with bandwidth, security features such as firewalls and malware scanning, and a control panel for managing files and settings.<\/p><p>Most providers also offer tools like one-click CMS installers, email services, and automated backups.<\/p><p>The server handles every visitor request. When someone types a domain name into a browser, the hosting server locates the corresponding files and delivers them to the visitor&rsquo;s device so that the page can load.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-key-differences-between-a-domain-and-hosting\"><strong>What are the key differences between a domain and hosting?<\/strong><\/h2><p>A domain name identifies where a website is located, while web hosting stores and delivers the website&rsquo;s content. The domain serves as the entry point for visitors, and hosting provides the infrastructure that keeps the site running.<\/p><p>Here&rsquo;s a comparison table to clarify their roles:<\/p><figure tabindex=\"0\" class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Domain<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hosting<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Definition<\/strong><\/td><td>A unique URL address used to locate a website<\/td><td>A service that stores website files on a server and makes them accessible online<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/td><td>Replaces numerical IP addresses with a memorable name for user navigation<\/td><td>Keeps a website live and delivers content to visitors&rsquo; browsers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Function<\/strong><\/td><td>Acts as a pointer that directs browsers to the correct server<\/td><td>Acts as storage that holds and serves files, images, and databases<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Provider<\/strong><\/td><td>Sold by ICANN-accredited domain registrars<\/td><td>Offered by hosting companies that operate and maintain web servers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cost<\/strong><\/td><td>Typically <strong>$10&ndash;$20\/year<\/strong>, depending on the TLD<\/td><td>Varies widely based on plan type, from <strong>$2\/month<\/strong> for shared hosting to <strong>$90+\/month<\/strong> for dedicated servers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Renewal<\/strong><\/td><td>Registered for 1&ndash;10 years &ndash; requires periodic renewal<\/td><td>Paid as a monthly or annual subscription<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Uniqueness<\/strong><\/td><td>Globally unique &ndash; no two websites share the same domain<\/td><td>Not unique &ndash; multiple websites can share the same physical server (on shared, cloud, and VPS hosting)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Independence<\/strong><\/td><td>Can exist without hosting (domain parked or redirected)<\/td><td>Requires a domain for visitors to reach it<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Components<\/strong><\/td><td>Consists of a second-level domain and a top-level domain (SLD + TLD)<\/td><td>Consists of server hardware, CPU, RAM, disk space, and bandwidth<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Examples<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>.com<\/strong>, <strong>.net<\/strong>, <strong>.org<\/strong>, <strong>.io<\/strong>, <strong>.store<\/strong><\/td><td>Shared, cloud, VPS, and dedicated server hosting<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-you-need-both-domain-and-hosting\"><strong>Do you need both domain and hosting?<\/strong><\/h2><p><strong>Yes, you need both a domain and hosting<\/strong>. A domain without hosting means the browser has no files on a server to retrieve. Though you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/how-to-forward-a-domain\">forward a domain<\/a> to an existing page, like a social media profile, this isn&rsquo;t a website. And hosting without a domain means visitors have no memorable address to reach your site.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69df813d6b871\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1404\" height=\"651\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image2.jpg\/public\" alt=\"A domain without hosting vs. hosting without a domain\" class=\"wp-image-140529\" title=\"a-domain-without-hosting-vs-hosting-without-a-domain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image2.jpg\/w=1404,fit=scale-down 1404w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image2.jpg\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image2.jpg\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image2.jpg\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image2.jpg\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1404px) 100vw, 1404px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>If you register a domain but skip hosting<\/strong>, visitors who type your URL will see a registrar placeholder page or a DNS error. The domain exists in the system, but there&rsquo;s nothing behind it.<\/p><p><strong>If you purchase hosting without a domain<\/strong>, your site is technically online but accessible only via the server&rsquo;s raw IP address &ndash; something no visitor will remember or trust.<\/p><p>Both services serve a distinct role, and a website only functions when they work in tandem.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-you-buy-a-domain-and-hosting-separately-or-together\"><strong>Can you buy a domain and hosting separately or together?<\/strong><\/h2><p>You can purchase a domain name and web hosting together as a bundled package from the same provider, or buy them separately from different companies.<\/p><p>Many hosting providers, including Hostinger, offer domain registration alongside their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/web-hosting\">hosting plans<\/a>, while standalone registrars focus solely on domain sales.<\/p><p>Buying both from the same provider has practical advantages:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Simpler setup.<\/strong> The domain automatically connects to the hosting, with no manual DNS configuration required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Centralized management.<\/strong> One account, one dashboard, and one support team handle both services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost savings.<\/strong> Many providers include a free domain for the first year when you purchase a hosting plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>That said, bundling has some drawbacks:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Single point of failure.<\/strong> If your account is compromised, an attacker gains access to both your domain and hosting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Potentially higher long-term costs.<\/strong> Shopping around separately may get you better deals on individual services.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>We recommend an integrated solution for most website owners, especially beginners who want to launch their websites quickly without manually configuring DNS records.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a class=\"hgr-tutorials-cta hgr-tutorials-cta-web-hosting\" href=\"\/web-hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/public\" alt=\"Hostinger web hosting banner\" class=\"wp-image-98604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-domains-and-hosting-work-together\"><strong>How domains and hosting work together<\/strong><\/h2><p>A domain name and a web hosting server form a complete system when connected.<\/p><p>Using the house-and-address metaphor, the address (domain) brings visitors to your front door (your website&rsquo;s homepage), while the house (hosting) holds everything they came to see, like rooms, furniture, and decorations (your pages, content, and images).<\/p><p>DNS settings, especially the nameserver records, link the two. They tell the internet which hosting server is responsible for a domain.<\/p><p>The process works in four steps:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A visitor types your domain name into their browser.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The browser checks the domain&rsquo;s nameserver records to determine which hosting server to contact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The nameservers direct the browser to the correct server&rsquo;s IP address.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The server retrieves the website files and delivers them to the visitor&rsquo;s screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69df813d6cfe8\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image1.jpg\/public\" alt=\"DNS resolution process\" class=\"wp-image-140530\" title=\"dns-resolution-process\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image1.jpg\/w=1408,fit=scale-down 1408w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image1.jpg\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image1.jpg\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image1.jpg\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/image1.jpg\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-get-started-with-a-domain-and-hosting-plan\"><strong>How to get started with a domain and hosting plan<\/strong><\/h2><p>Every live website depends on a domain and hosting working in tandem: one to be found, the other to deliver what visitors came for.<\/p><p>Getting both ready for your site takes five steps.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Choose and search for a domain name<\/strong> that reflects your brand or website&rsquo;s purpose, and verify its availability through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/domain-name-search\">domain checker<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select the right hosting plan<\/strong> based on your website&rsquo;s needs. Shared hosting works well for personal sites and small blogs, while VPS or cloud hosting is better suited to higher-traffic projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Register your domain and purchase your hosting plan<\/strong>, either bundled or purchased separately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Link your domain to your hosting<\/strong> by updating the DNS nameserver records to point to your host&rsquo;s servers. You can skip this step if you purchase them as a bundle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Install a content management system (CMS)<\/strong> like WordPress, design your pages, create content, and publish your site for an online presence that grows with your goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>For a complete walkthrough of each stage, read our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/how-to-make-a-website\">how to make a website<\/a>, which covers platform selection, design, and content setup in detail.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A domain name is the human-readable URL that visitors type into a browser to reach a website, such as example.com. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":411,"featured_media":87122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Domain vs. hosting: Definitions and key differences","rank_math_description":"Are you trying to figure out the difference between a domain and hosting? This article will explain both in detail.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"domain vs hosting","footnotes":""},"categories":[22631],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domains"],"hreflangs":[{"locale":"en-US","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"pt-BR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/br\/tutoriais\/diferenca-entre-dominio-e-hospedagem","default":0},{"locale":"fr-FR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/fr\/tutoriels\/nom-de-domaine-et-hebergement","default":0},{"locale":"es-ES","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/es\/tutoriales\/hosting-y-dominio","default":0},{"locale":"id-ID","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/id\/tutorial\/perbedaan-domain-dan-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"it-IT","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/it\/tutorial\/dominio-e-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"en-UK","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/uk\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"en-MY","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/my\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"en-PH","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ph\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"es-MX","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/mx\/tutoriales\/productos-para-vender-8","default":0},{"locale":"es-CO","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/co\/tutoriales\/tipos-de-comercio-electronico-18","default":0},{"locale":"es-AR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ar\/tutoriales\/hosting-y-dominio","default":0},{"locale":"pt-PT","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/pt\/tutoriais\/diferenca-entre-dominio-e-hospedagem","default":0},{"locale":"en-IN","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"en-CA","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"en-AU","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/au\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0},{"locale":"en-NG","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/domain-vs-hosting","default":0}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/411"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25884"}],"version-history":[{"count":116,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140531,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25884\/revisions\/140531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}