I recently bought a domain from Namecheap and have my website ready, but I'm unsure how to actually host it. I've only used platforms like Vercel and NeonDB in the past. Do I need to pay for hosting, and is Namecheap a good option, or should I consider other hosting services? Also, I found out that Vercel offers free hosting as long as I'm the only one working on the project, which is great! Any help would be appreciated!
5 Answers
If your website is static, GitHub Pages is a free option you could try for hosting. It's straightforward and lets you host your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files without much hassle.
I wonder if the OP even knows how to set up GitHub Pages though.
You can definitely use Vercel! Just go into the dashboard and point your new domain to your site using A or CNAME records in the domain settings. It’s pretty easy to manage once you get the hang of it.
Here's a detailed guide: https://vercel.com/docs/domains/working-with-domains/add-a-domain
I tried doing this but now my site is showing 'cannot be displayed'. Any ideas?
You don't need to pay extra if you’re already hosting on Vercel. Just add your domain under 'Domains' in your Vercel account, get the A record and CNAME, then update your Namecheap DNS settings accordingly. Give it 24-48 hours to propagate, and it should work!
I did this but it’s still showing an error about 'page content cannot be displayed' and shows it's not secured. Any suggestions?
If your site is on Vercel, connect your domain in their dashboard. Make sure you clarify what type of site you're hosting since different platforms cater to different needs—Vercel is great for the frontend, while Render can be better for backend applications!
Absolutely! Most developers prefer using Vercel for the frontend and Render for backend needs.
After buying your domain, it lets you associate an IP address with it. For example, if Vercel gives you an IP address, you'd set your domain's DNS settings to point there. This means when someone visits your domain, the request will go to your Vercel site.
Cloudflare Pages is also super easy to use and might fit your needs well.