Domain name vs web hosting
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How they work together
DNS connects a domain name to the service that delivers your website. Domain registration and hosting may be purchased from different providers.
What renews separately
Check domain renewal, hosting renewal, and email costs independently even if you buy them in a bundle.
Moving providers
You can often change hosting without transferring your domain registration. Plan DNS and email changes carefully to avoid downtime.
A move without a transfer
If your domain stays with the registrar, you can often change DNS records to point to a new host. Verify email records first: changing nameservers carelessly can interrupt mail even when the website works.
Separate renewal dates
The domain can expire while hosting remains paid, or hosting can lapse while the domain remains yours. Track both independently.
Put this guide to work
Use this short worksheet before making changes or purchasing a service. Keep your answers with your website records so you can revisit them when your needs or contract change.
- How they work together: DNS connects a domain name to the service that delivers your website. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- What renews separately: Check domain renewal, hosting renewal, and email costs independently even if you buy them in a bundle. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- Moving providers: You can often change hosting without transferring your domain registration. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
If an answer is uncertain, pause that part of the decision and verify it. For changes to a live site, make a restorable backup first and test the result before deleting the previous configuration.