In short
- A domain is the name, like
yourcafe.com. You rent it yearly from a domain company. - Hosting is the computer that stores your site and sends it to visitors, all day, every day.
- You always need hosting. You need a domain of your own only if you don't want the host's free address.
- They connect through DNS: a couple of records at the domain company point the name at the host.
The simple picture
Think of a shop. The domain is the street address on your sign and your business cards. Hosting is the building itself, where the goods are. An address with no building leads nowhere. A building with no address of its own can still be found, at the landlord's address, like yourname.pagelemon.dev.
Side by side
| Domain | Hosting | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The name people type | Where the site's files live and are served from |
| Who sells it | A domain company (a registrar) | A host |
| How you pay | Yearly, renewed | Free, monthly or yearly |
| Without it | You use the host's free address | There is no website |
| Can you move it? | Yes, to another domain company | Yes, by moving the files |
Do you need both?
- Trying an idea, a class project, an event page: hosting only. The free address is enough.
- A business, a portfolio you'll print on a CV, anything people will type from memory: both. A short name of your own is easier to trust and remember.
- You already own a domain: you need hosting, then connect the two. Your domain stays where it is.
One company or two?
Some companies sell both, and some hosts sell domains as an extra. Buying both in one place means one bill. Keeping them apart means you can change host without touching your domain. Either is fine. What matters:
- The domain is registered in your name and account, not a designer's.
- You know where to log in to change its DNS.
- Auto-renew is on.
Page Lemon is a host and doesn't sell domains. Your AI can suggest names and link you to domain companies to buy one; you own it and pay them directly.
How they connect
At your domain company you add a record that points your name at your host. For a www address that is usually a CNAME record, plus a TXT record so the host can check the domain is yours. The host then sets up HTTPS, the padlock. Where the domain company supports one-click connect, you only click Connect. Step by step: put your AI-made site on your own domain.
Questions
Is email part of hosting or the domain?
Neither, exactly. An address like you@yourcafe.com uses your domain, but the mailbox comes from an email provider, usually as a separate service. Its records sit next to your website's records at the domain company. Leave them alone when you connect a website.
If I change host, do I lose my domain?
No. You move the site's files to the new host and change the records at your domain company. The name stays yours.
If I stop paying for the domain, what happens?
After a grace period it expires and someone else can buy it. Your site is still on the host's own address, but links using your name stop working.
What does Page Lemon charge for each?
Hosting is free on a pagelemon.dev address. Connecting your own domain comes with paid plans. The domain is paid to your domain company. See pricing.