Where you keep your Web page is called “hosting”. There are all different types of hosting options, from very expensive commercial Web hosts, to free Web hosts.

In order to get your Web page on the Internet, you need a hosting service provider. They range from free services with few options up to expensive business hosting and even hosting you run yourself. Which option you choose depends upon how you plan to use your Web site, how much you want to spend, and how much time you want to spend maintaining the servers that make up the Web site.

Yes. If you have an ISP that doesn’t offer Web space, free Web hosting is good. There are many free hosting providers and a lot of them offer advanced services like CGI, shell access, PHP, SSI, and other advanced topics. Free hosting is usually supported by advertising.
Free hosting is best for personal Web pages. Because they are supported by advertising, they are not ideal for any serious business. If you plan to run a business on your site, free hosting is great for testing your site and preparing the pages, but not good for running the business.

With paid hosting, you pay some money typically once a month for space and services on a Web hosting provider’s site. Prices range from $1-2USD to several hundred per month. Generally, it depends upon what services you want. Services include CGI access, database support, ASP, ecommerce, SSL, extra space, extra bandwidth, and more.
Standard paid hosting is a great option for most Web-based businesses. Be sure to examine the options available from your server so that you get what you need. And don’t focus solely on price – changing hosting providers can be difficult and expensive.