Last updated: November 10, 2026. Prices and package details are the ones currently valid at Azhosting.az.
Everyone who wants to launch a website faces the same question: where will the site be stored on the internet? The answer is hosting. In this guide we explain in plain language what hosting is, how it works, its types, and what to look for when choosing.
What is hosting?
Hosting (web hosting) is space you rent on a server that is connected to the internet 24 hours a day and stores your website's files, images, databases and emails. When a visitor types your address in a browser, the request goes to that server and the site opens on the screen.
A simple analogy: the website is the house, hosting is the plot of land, and the domain is the house's address. Without an address nobody can find the house, and without land you cannot build it.
How does hosting work?
- You buy a domain, for example
yourcompany.com. - You point the domain's DNS records to the hosting server.
- You upload the site files to the hosting (or install a system such as WordPress).
- When a visitor types the address, DNS takes them to your server, and the server sends the web page.
Types of hosting
| Type | How it works | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Many sites on one server, resources are shared | Business card sites, blogs, portfolios, small and medium business sites |
| Reseller hosting | You create separate accounts for your own customers | Web studios, freelancers, anyone who wants to sell hosting |
| VPS | A dedicated virtual part of a server, root access | High traffic, custom software, large projects |
| Dedicated server | A whole physical server is given to one customer | Very large corporate projects |
| Cloud hosting | Several servers work together, resources grow easily | Projects with unpredictable traffic |
For most new websites the starting point is shared hosting. As the project grows you can move to a VPS. We explain the difference in detail in the article VPS vs shared hosting.
Azhosting.az hosting packages
Some of the monthly packages with the DirectAdmin panel:
| Package | Monthly price | Disk | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 2.99 ₼ | 3 GB NVMe SSD | 512 MB |
| Ekonom | 4.99 ₼ | 10 GB NVMe SSD | 2 GB |
| Standart | 9.99 ₼ | 20 GB NVMe SSD | 6 GB |
| Gold | 14.99 ₼ | 50 GB NVMe SSD | 12 GB |
Larger packages (Business and Premium) and cPanel packages are also available. You can see all of them on the hosting page. Annual payment gets a 20% discount, and DirectAdmin Gold and higher packages include a free 1-year .az domain.
Included in every package: NVMe SSD disk, LiteSpeed web server, unlimited traffic, free SSL, daily automatic backups, free site migration and 24/7 technical support in Azerbaijani.
DirectAdmin or cPanel?
Both panels let you manage your site, email and databases, and both are available at Azhosting.az. DirectAdmin has a light and simple interface. cPanel is a widely used panel and is familiar to those who have used it before. If you have no previous experience, either is enough to start.
What to look for when choosing hosting
- Disk type. NVMe SSD is much faster than an ordinary disk, so the site opens faster.
- Web server. LiteSpeed serves pages at high speed, and the difference is especially noticeable on WordPress sites.
- Uptime. Look for a 99.9% guarantee or higher. Azhosting.az gives a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
- SSL. A site without HTTPS opens with a "not secure" warning. Free SSL must be included.
- Backup. Daily automatic backups let you restore the site when something goes wrong.
- Support. Problems can appear in the middle of the night. 24/7 support in your own language matters.
- Migration. If you already have a site, check for a free migration service.
- Room to grow. Upgrading the package later should be easy.
Which package for a first site?
- Business card site, small blog: Starter or Ekonom is enough.
- Corporate site, small online store: Standart or Gold works more comfortably.
- Several sites: higher packages suit more than one domain.
- Selling hosting to your own customers: look at the reseller packages.
What is stored on hosting?
Hosting is not only the site's files. The server usually holds:
- Site files: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP files and images.
- Databases: dynamic content such as articles, products and user data (MySQL/MariaDB).
- Mailboxes: email accounts on your domain.
- SSL certificate: makes the site work over HTTPS.
- Backups: to restore the site when something goes wrong.
Hosting for a WordPress site
WordPress is the most widely used website system in the world and it is sensitive to the choice of hosting. The LiteSpeed web server and LSCache caching technology speed WordPress sites up noticeably. At Azhosting.az, WordPress hosting starts from 2.99 ₼ per month, and an existing WordPress site (database, plugins, images) is migrated for free.
Steps for your first site
- Define the goal: a business card site, a blog, a store or a corporate site? This affects the package choice.
- Choose a domain: take a short, memorable name that fits your brand.
- Order a package: starting with a small package and growing later is more economical.
- Point the domain to the hosting: set the DNS records or nameservers.
- Upload the site: move ready site files or install a system such as WordPress.
- Check: confirm SSL is active, the site opens over HTTPS and backups are running.
The most common mistakes when choosing hosting
- Looking only at the lowest price. Disk type, support and backups matter no less than the price.
- Trusting the word "unlimited". Check which resources (RAM, disk) are really allocated in the package.
- Not checking whether SSL and backups are included. Some companies sell them separately.
- Ignoring growth. Upgrading the package later should be possible.
- Not checking support. A team that answers when a problem appears and speaks your language is important.
Key terms
- Traffic: the amount of data your site sends. It is unlimited in Azhosting.az packages.
- Uptime: the percentage of time the server stays online. 99.9% means roughly 9 hours of downtime per year.
- DNS: the system that turns a domain name into a server address.
- Nameserver: shows which DNS servers the domain is connected to.
- SSL: a certificate that encrypts data between the site and the visitor.
- Control panel: the interface where you manage the site, email and databases (DirectAdmin, cPanel).
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a website without hosting?
No. You always need a server where the site files are stored. It can be hosting, a VPS or your own physical server.
Are hosting and a domain the same thing?
No. A domain is the site's address, while hosting is where the site is stored. You can buy them from different places, but buying them from one place makes management easier.
Can I move my existing site?
Yes. Azhosting.az migrates sites for free.
Can I change the package later?
Yes, you can upgrade to a higher package from your personal account.
Which payment methods are available?
Visa/MasterCard, bank transfer, M10 wallet or account balance.
If you are not sure which package suits you, contact us and we will advise based on your needs. To buy a domain, see the .az domain registration guide.