When you browse web hosting packages, no matter which provider you're looking at, there will be a list of features for you to read through. These lists can get quite long, but it's important for you check whether some necessities are included in a package's base price, or whether they'll cost extra. This article looks at three features worth checking for: SSL certificates, backups, and email hosting.
SSL certificates: now a baseline
An SSL certificate (more precisely, a TLS certificate) lets your website load over a secure https:// connection. There was a time when this was not a requirement but today most web browsers need to see a valid SSL certificate before they connect to your site. Without SSL, your visitors will see a "Not secure" warning, and features such as online payments and many contact forms will not work properly.
Basic certificates are now widely available at no cost, and many hosting providers install and renew them automatically. For most websites, a free certificate provides the same level of encryption as a paid one.
Paid certificates still exist, and some organisations choose them for reasons such as extended validation of the business behind the site, or specific warranty terms. For a typical website, though, you only need a basic, free certificate. If your provider doesn't treat this as a standard inclusion, it is worth asking why not.
Backups: how often, and for how long
A backup is a copy of your website's files and database that can be restored if something goes wrong, such as a failed update, an accidental deletion, or a hacked site. Two details matter:
- Frequency. Daily backups are a common standard. Weekly backups mean you could lose up to a week of changes.
- Retention. This is how far back you can go. Keeping backups for at least a week or two gives you time to notice a problem before the last good copy is overwritten.
It is also worth checking whether restoring a backup is something you can do yourself, or whether you need to ask the provider, and whether there is a charge for that. Some plans include backups but charge for each restore.
Even with backups included, keeping your own copy of your site somewhere separate is a sensible habit.
Email hosting: included or separate?
Many hosting plans include email accounts that use your own domain, such as you@yourbusiness.co.nz. Others include only a limited number of mailboxes, small storage limits, or a short free trial, after which email becomes a separate subscription.
When comparing plans, check:
- How many email accounts are included.
- How much storage each mailbox has.
- Whether email is included for the life of the plan or only for an introductory period.
Some people deliberately use a different provider for email than for their website. That is a valid choice, but it is worth knowing in advance whether you will be paying for email in two places.
Questions to ask if these appear as extras
If any of these features is listed as optional or paid, it is reasonable to ask:
- What exactly does the extra provide that the base plan does not?
- Is a free alternative available, and does the provider allow it?
- Is the extra a one-off cost or an ongoing one, and does its price increase at renewal?
Red flags, not deal-breakers
A plan that charges for one of these features is not automatically poor value. The base price may be low enough that the total is still competitive, or you may not need the feature at all. The point is to include these costs when you compare plans, using the method in Comparing Apples to Apples: Currency, Billing Cycles, and Total Cost.
Extras that are bundled in rather than sold separately can raise different questions, covered in Bundles and Add-Ons: When Extra Features Add Confusion, Not Value.
*This article was drafted with the help of AI. It was fact-checked and edited by a real person.