Do I Need Hosting and a Domain? A Beginner's Guide

Nordlyte Web Studio · Web Basics · 6 min read

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 .com or .co.ke over 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.

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.

Do I need both if I use a website builder?

Website builders such as Wix or Shopify include hosting in their monthly subscription, so you pay for it as part of the plan instead of separately. Many also give you a free subdomain, an address that carries the builder's name. It works, but it isn't your own brand.

A domain of your own looks more professional, is easier to remember, and lets you use email at your own address. If you use a builder, check whether the domain is included and who owns it.

What affects the cost in Kenya?

• Domains: a .co.ke domain typically costs about KSh 1,000–1,500 a year, a .com roughly KSh 1,500–2,600, and the shorter .ke from about KSh 3,500. Many registrars advertise a low first-year price, so check the renewal price before you buy.
• Shared hosting: entry-level plans start around KSh 2,500–4,000 a year and suit blogs and very small sites. Business plans typically run KSh 4,000–6,000 a year, and can reach roughly KSh 12,000 for larger or WordPress-optimised plans.
• VPS and cloud hosting: growing sites and online stores often move to these, which cost roughly KSh 10,000–40,000+ a year.
• Renewals: some hosts raise the price when you renew, so compare renewal rates as well as first-year offers.
• Local or international: Kenyan hosts bill in KSh and many accept M-Pesa, and a host with local servers may load faster for visitors in Kenya. International hosts bill in USD and can work well for a global audience.

These are typical market ranges, and prices change, so check current offers and renewal rates before you buy.

Hosting vs website maintenance

Hosting keeps your site online. Maintenance is the hands-on work on the site itself: updates, backups, security checks and fixes. They're separate, and most sites need both. Our website maintenance guide explains what's involved, and our maintenance plans cover websites, with hosting paid separately. For the full yearly picture, see our yearly website costs budget.

Do I need to buy these myself?

You have two options:

1. 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.
2. 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.