Do I Need Hosting and a Domain? A Beginner's Guide
If you're new to getting a website built, two terms come up almost immediately: domain and hosting. They sound technical, but the idea behind each is simple — and yes, you need both for a website to work.
What is a domain name?
Your domain is your website's address — the part people type into a browser, like yourbusiness.co.ke or yourbusiness.com. It's how customers find and remember you online, similar to a physical shop's street address.
Choosing a good domain
- Keep it short and easy to spell out loud
- Match it to your business name where possible
- Prefer
.comor.co.keover less familiar extensions - Avoid hyphens and numbers if you can — they're easy to mistype
What is web hosting?
Hosting is the storage space and computing power that keeps your website's files online and accessible 24/7. Think of it as renting a plot of land for your website to actually live on — without it, your domain has nowhere to point to.
| Domain | Hosting | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your website's address | Where your website's files live |
| Typical cost (Kenya) | KSh 1,000–2,500/year | KSh 3,000–15,000/year |
| Typical cost (USD, approx.) | $8 – $19/year | $23 – $115/year |
| Renewed | Annually | Monthly or annually |
USD figures are approximate, based on an exchange rate of roughly KSh 130 to $1, and will shift slightly with the exchange rate at the time.
💬 Short on time? We can just tell you what you need.
Chat with us →Do I need to buy these myself?
You have two options:
- You purchase and own them directly — you register the domain and hosting account under your own name/email, and your developer builds on top of it. This means you have full control and can switch developers anytime without losing your site.
- Your developer sets them up for you — convenient if you're not comfortable with the technical side, but make sure you're still listed as the owner/account holder, not just the developer, to avoid losing access later.
We always recommend confirming ownership in writing — see our note on choosing a web designer for more on this.
What happens if I don't renew?
If a domain expires, your website effectively disappears from that address (and could even be bought by someone else). If hosting lapses, the site itself stops loading. Both need to be renewed on time — most providers send reminder emails, but it's worth marking the renewal date yourself too.
Can I switch hosting providers later?
Yes, your domain and hosting don't have to stay with the same company forever. Websites can be migrated to a new host if needed — as long as you own the domain and have access to your website's files.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a domain to have a website?
Yes. A domain is your website's address — the part people type into a browser to find you. Without one, there's no way for customers to reach your site directly.
If I buy a domain name, do I need hosting?
Yes. A domain is just an address — hosting is the storage space where your website's actual files live. Buying a domain alone gives you an address with nowhere for it to point to.
If I already have a domain, do I need hosting too?
Yes. A domain and hosting do two different jobs, and a working website needs both — the domain points visitors to your site, and hosting is what actually serves the site's files.
What's the difference between a domain and hosting?
A domain is your website's address, while hosting is the storage space and computing power that keeps your website's files online. Think of the domain as your address and hosting as the house.
Not sure where to start?
We handle domain registration and hosting setup as part of every website we build.
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