Starting a website and want to use AWS? Wonder if it’s the cheaper and better option for you? See how AWS compares with HoboHost web hosting.
Is AWS Cheaper Than HoboHost Hosting Plans?
These days, it goes without saying that having your own website is one of the keys to building a brand. And that applies to more than just businesses. It also applies to students and recent graduates trying to land their first job, bloggers, musicians, and even social media influencers.
But with so many available web hosting providers to choose from, it’s not always easy to know where to start. And making the right decision often comes down to weighing cost versus performance. The goal is to find a web host that offers just the right mix of features without breaking the bank.
And that search leads many to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The reasons for that are obvious. Amazon’s got name recognition, an excellent service reputation, and it powers around a third of the whole internet.
Plus, it offers a free usage tier that’s hard to resist for someone building a small website.
But it isn’t always the best – or cheapest – option available. In fact, HoboHost offers a range of hosting plans that are a much better fit for a variety of website needs. And they can save you more money than you might think.
To prove it, here’s a deep dive that will answer the question: is AWS cheaper than hosting your website with HoboHost? If you’re ready to find out, let’s get started.
The Limitations of The AWS Free Tier
To compare AWS with HoboHost is no easy task. And that’s a reflection of one of the biggest drawbacks of the AWS free usage tier – that it’s difficult to even measure what you’re getting for free.
The reason is simple. It’s that the AWS service isn’t designed to host small websites. It’s built to accommodate massive SaaS platforms and cloud services. The free usage tier, while handy for hosting small websites, is designed to give advanced users a way to get to know the multitude of AWS services.
For you, this means doing an awful lot of work to stay within the limits set by the free tier. Doing so can limit your monthly cost to as little as $0.50. On average, though, you can expect to spend up to $3 per month to host a small website on AWS.
But that assumes you’ve set everything up correctly. And if you don’t, you could end up with a much bigger bill at the end of the month. If you’re lucky, your overage will only cost you a few more dollars. If you’re not, you may end up with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in charges.
HoboHost Offers Simplicity and Price Certainty
Unlike AWS, HoboHost is built to accommodate small websites and doesn’t rely on complex hourly billing schemes and per-service pricing models. The available hosting plans tell you exactly what you’ll pay and exactly what you’re getting for the money.
The cheapest plan – which is only $0.92 per month – gives you everything you need to build and host your website and then some. It includes the databases you need to run your site. It includes enough traffic to handle up to around 2000 visitors per day every month (assuming your site uses WordPress). It even provides you with 10 email addresses for the domain name you’re using.
And that’s a major difference in and of itself. AWS doesn’t provide email as a part of its free tier. You’ll have to pay an additional $4 per address, per month to get it. That’s an instant potential savings of up to $40 if you go with HoboHost.
On top of that, you won’t have to worry about overage charges if your site’s traffic starts to grow. When your needs change, you can upgrade your hosting plan with a quick email to HoboHost support. You’ll even get your charges prorated to reflect when you upgraded, so there are no unexpected bills involved.
Getting Up and Running
The differences don’t end with dollar-for-dollar comparisons, though. Another part of the cost that comes with using AWS is the amount of time it’ll take you to configure your new website.
Let’s assume, for a moment, that you wish to publish a single static webpage. On AWS, you’ll have to follow these directions to do it. Even if you’re knowledgeable and familiar with AWS, you’re looking at a minimum of an hour or two of work. Then you’ve got to design a page to upload.
With HoboHost, by contrast, you can install an entire basic WordPress site with just three clicks. And if all you want is a simple static page, you can use HoboHost’s built-in page builder to design and publish something in mere minutes.
This is because HoboHost, unlike AWS, is built with small website owners in mind. It includes a straightforward control panel that makes managing your domain and website a snap – even if you have no prior experience.
Total Cost of Ownership
The bottom line here is that AWS is only a cheaper web hosting option under some very limited and specific circumstances. And that’s not an accident. Amazon’s whole hosting business model relies on complex price structures and a pay-as-you-go configuration.
If you’re an experienced web administrator, that might be just fine. But if you’re not, it’s an invitation to trouble. Instead, the so-called AWS free tier might turn into a money pit you’ll be desperate to escape from. So if you’re building your first website, caution is advised.
But HoboHost has no such drawbacks. The pricing is transparent, fixed, and fair. In truth, it’s one of the cheapest reliable hosting options you’ll find anywhere. It’s tailor-made for small websites and has the features to match.
And unlike AWS, you won’t have to spend any time figuring out how much it’s going to cost you when your needs grow. All you’ll need to do is send a quick email to HoboHost support and they’ll upgrade your plan on the spot. That gives you a kind of cost certainty that you just can’t get with AWS.
So, the takeaway is clear. Although AWS – and particularly its free usage tier – might look like an offer you can’t refuse, don’t be fooled. In reality, it’s likely going to cost you more in money and time than you’d spend on a HoboHost hosting plan. So save yourself the trouble and check out HoboHost for all of your web hosting needs!
