How to Choose a Free WordPress Hosting with a Full Admin Panel

A free WordPress hosting with a full admin panel allows you to create and manage blogs and websites without any restrictions. The control panel of a free WordPress hosting service is fully functional, meaning you can install and configure many applications and features with just a few clicks. Most importantly, you can install and activate a WordPress blog in no time at all. As you will see, setting up a wordpress blog on one of these hosting services is very simple and straightforward.

Features & Benefits

One of the great things about these hosting services is the variety of features and benefits they include. Not only do you get a free domain with the hosting package, but you also get several powerful features and tools that will improve the functioning of your WordPress blog or website. To name a few, you get free backups, free images optimized for web use, free malware scanning, and free money-back guarantees. Depending on the type of plan you choose, you can get free domain privacy, free SEO tools, or a free premium support-handling all provided by the generous folks at WordPress.

Installation

To get started, simply visit http://wordpress.org/ and click on the big green Get Started button. Next, you will be brought to the WordPress Dashboard, which is the homepage of your WordPress blog or website. On this page, you will see many icons, representing different features and tools that can help you operate your blog or website. To the right of the page, you will see three horizontal lines symbolizing three options that you can select for your blog or website. A free WordPress hosting service with a full admin panel will have these options:

  • The Classic choice, which is the most basic and least features-loaded version of WordPress;
  • The Pro choice, which is almost exactly the same as the Classic choice but with more features; and
  • The Business choice, the most feature-loaded version of WordPress among the three options.

As you can see, there is a big difference in the amount of features and tools between these three versions of WordPress. While the Pro and the Business versions include pretty much all the same features and tools, the Classic choice does not feature some crucial components found in the other two versions. It is essential to note here that all three options are completely free. This means you get everything included in the base package without having to spend a penny. Now, before we continue, it is important to state that, at this point, you do not have to make a decision yet. You can always go back and choose another option if you feel like there is something missing in one of the three options. But for the sake of this article, we will assume you made the right choice and continue with the installation.

Updates & Security

One of the critical things to keep in mind about these types of hosting services is that they are updated constantly with the most recent versions of WordPress. Due to this ongoing update process, you can be certain that your blog or website will always be in good condition, fully compatible with the most current versions of WordPress. For maximum security, the WordPress devs and the hosting providers implement additional security measures such as SSL and a firewall to protect your blog or website from hackers and malware attacks. To learn more, read the WordPress documentation on updates and security.

Performance

Another important factor you need to keep in mind about this type of hosting service is the performance. When it comes to site performance, we are mostly concerned about how fast the site will load. In general, there is no correlation between the price you pay for a web host and the speed of the site. However, the better the speed, the more expensive the hosting package you will need to pay for. When comparing hosting services, you need to check out how fast they can load your site as well as many other factors such as support, features, and security. To learn more about this, visit the WordPress documentation on site performance.

Functionality

This one may seem a little bit subjective, but it is not. When choosing a free WordPress hosting service with a full admin panel, you need to keep in mind that there are some things that matter more than anything else when it comes to functionality. These are application access, ability to install plugins, and ability to create and manage themes. For example, if you need to install a special application on your site that the hosting provider does not offer, you will not be able to do it. The same goes for plugins and themes. You may not be able to create and distribute your own themes, and the ones the site provides may not be the ones you are looking for. Applications and plugins will need to be acquired separately from the site owner or developer. When comparing these three things – functionality, application access, and theme creation – the functionality will always be at the top of the list, followed by application access and then theme creation. This is because applications and plugins can make your site more functional and allow you to expand its features, while themes simply give the site its overall look.

Value

Even though we have discussed a lot about the features and benefits of a free WordPress hosting service with a full admin panel, it is still possible to choose one that is not worth your time and effort. When it comes to value, you need to look at how much you are willing to spend on this type of hosting service compared to other alternatives. Fortunately, there are some great deals to be had when choosing a free WordPress hosting service with a full admin panel. For instance, the cost of the basic plan from Bluehost, a well-known and recommended company, is just $2.95 per month. This is much less compared to the cost of other shared hosting services that offer a lot less features and tools. When weighing the features and benefits against the price, you should be able to choose a free WordPress hosting service with a full admin panel that is both functional and affordable.

Support

The last and arguably the most important thing you need to keep in mind about this type of hosting service is its support. Just as important as all the other factors discussed so far is having a support team that is both available and able to provide assistance. The great news is that, for some reason, these types of hosting services are usually supported by very knowledgeable individuals who are more than happy to help you out should you get stuck or have a question about something. In some cases, you may even get a bonus support technician who will be able to walk you through the entire configuration process of your WordPress blog or website. To learn more, read the WordPress documentation on support.

So there you have it. If you followed all the instructions and had no trouble installing and configuring your WordPress blog or website, then congratulations! You can now continue to add content and start receiving comments from your visitors.