Guide
Website maintenance: domain, hosting and what it includes
A website is not finished the day it goes live. This guide explains what a domain is, what hosting is, which tasks maintenance covers, what drives the cost of keeping a site running and what happens when something expires.
PixelBot · Last updated:
The short answer
Maintaining a website means paying on time for what keeps it online (domain and hosting, sometimes licenses), renewing what keeps it secure (certificate and updates), keeping backups and checking that everything works: forms, WhatsApp buttons, speed and current information. How much work it takes depends mostly on how the site is built: a static site needs far less than a WordPress site with dozens of plugins, and an online store needs more than both.
Domain, hosting and website: what each one is
They are three different things that are bought, paid for and changed separately.
| What it is | Example | If it expires or is lost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | The address people type to reach your site | yourcompany.com | The address stops working, and so does email on that domain |
| Hosting | The server where the website files are stored | A shared plan, your own server or a content delivery network (CDN) | The address exists but shows nothing or an error |
| Website | The design, copy, images and code | Your home, service and contact pages | Without a backup, it has to be rebuilt |
| Security certificate (SSL) | What enables HTTPS, the padlock in the browser | A free or paid certificate installed on the hosting | The browser warns that the site is "not secure" |
Are a domain and hosting the same thing?
No. The domain is the name and hosting is the place. A domain is registered for a number of years with a domain registrar; hosting is bought from a hosting provider. Many companies sell both together, which is why they get confused, but you can keep them with different providers: the domain points to the hosting through its DNS settings.
Keeping them separate has a practical advantage: if you change hosting or website provider, the domain is still yours and you only change where it points. When an offer includes a "free domain", it is almost always for the first year of a hosting plan, so ask what the renewal costs and whose name it is registered in.
What website maintenance includes
Complete maintenance covers these tasks. Not all of them apply to every site:
- Renewals: domain, hosting and paid licenses (themes, plugins, tools) before they expire.
- Security: a valid HTTPS certificate, updates to the content management system and its plugins, and strong passwords with access only for those who need it.
- Backups: automatic, stored off the same server and test-restored now and then, because a backup that was never restored is unproven.
- Functionality: forms deliver, the WhatsApp button opens the right conversation and there are no broken links.
- Speed: check how the site loads on a phone, especially after adding images, videos or new tools.
- Content: services, prices, hours, photos and contact details up to date; expired promotions removed.
- Measurement: check in Google Search Console that pages remain indexed and error-free, and that analytics still records leads.
How often to check each item
A reference guide. Adjust the frequency to how often your site changes and how much your business depends on it.
| Task | Suggested frequency | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Backup | Automatic; weekly, or daily if the site changes often | Restore a backup to a test environment at least once a year |
| WordPress and plugin updates | Every week or two | Admin dashboard; test the site after updating |
| Forms and WhatsApp button | Monthly | Send a test message from your phone |
| Mobile speed | Monthly and after every major change | Google PageSpeed Insights, mobile view |
| Indexing and errors | Monthly | Pages report in Google Search Console |
| Content and prices | Quarterly | Walk through your service pages as a customer would |
| Expiration dates | Once a year | Domain, hosting and licenses, with auto-renew turned on |
How much does it cost to maintain a website?
There is no single figure, because it depends on what has to be maintained. It helps to split costs into two groups. Fixed costs are paid even if nobody touches the site: the yearly domain renewal, hosting (monthly or yearly) and, if any, licenses for themes, plugins or platforms such as online store builders, which usually charge a monthly fee. Variable costs depend on the work: updates, reviews, content changes, new sections or fixes.
What moves the cost most is the site’s technology. A static site (pre-built pages, no database or plugins) has very little to update and can be served from a content delivery network at low cost. A WordPress site needs frequent updates and an eye on plugin compatibility. An online store adds payments, inventory and orders, and any failure costs sales. Before accepting a maintenance price, ask for the list of tasks it includes and how often; larger design or content changes are usually quoted separately.
Whose name should the domain and accounts be in?
Your company’s. It is the issue that causes the most trouble when changing providers: the domain was registered in the name of whoever built the site, or the hosting sits in a former employee’s personal account. Getting it back can take weeks or prove impossible.
- The domain registrant should be the company, with an email address the company controls.
- Keep access to the registrar, hosting, Google Search Console and analytics accounts, even if whoever maintains the site has their own login.
- Keep a secure list of services, providers, expiration dates and who has access.
- Turn on auto-renew and make sure the payment method on file is still valid.
What happens if the domain, hosting or certificate expires
If the domain expires, the site and email on that domain stop working. Registrars usually offer a grace period to renew, but it varies by extension and provider, and afterwards the domain may become available for someone else to register. If hosting expires, the address still exists but does not show the site, and some providers delete the files after a while, which is why your own backup matters.
The security certificate deserves special attention: since March 15, 2026, public certificates last at most 200 days, and the rules agreed by browsers and certificate authorities cut that to 100 days in 2027 and 47 days in 2029. Renewing them by hand is no longer practical; the safe option is hosting that renews them automatically.
How we do it at PixelBot
We build sites to need little maintenance. This site, for example, is generated as static pages served from a content delivery network with automatic HTTPS: there are no plugins to update or database to protect, and every change is recorded in a repository with its history.
We launch on the client’s domain with the SEO foundations and measurement in place, and we remain available for support, adjustments and new phases, with no lock-in. If you already have a website and are not sure where the domain and hosting are or who has access, we can help you sort it out.
Not sure what shape your website is in?
Send us your site’s link. We will tell you what it needs to be secure, fast and up to date, and how we can help.
Chat on WhatsApp(opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
What does website maintenance include?
Renewing the domain, hosting and licenses on time; keeping the security certificate valid; applying updates if the site runs on a system like WordPress; taking backups; checking that forms and contact buttons work; keeping it fast; and keeping content current. Redesigns and new sections are usually quoted separately.
What is the difference between a domain and hosting?
The domain is your site’s address (yourcompany.com) and hosting is the server where its files are stored. They can be bought together or from different providers; the domain points to the hosting through its DNS settings.
How often should a website be maintained?
Backups should be automatic. On WordPress sites, check updates every week or two. Forms, speed and indexing monthly; content and prices quarterly; and expiration dates once a year.
What happens if I don’t renew my website’s domain?
The site and email on that domain stop working. There is a grace period that depends on the extension and registrar; once it passes, the domain may become available for someone else to register. Turn on auto-renew and check that the payment method is valid.
Does a static website need maintenance?
Less of it: there are no plugins or database to update. You still need to renew the domain, keep content current, check that leads arrive and watch speed when you add images or tools.
Sources
Official documents and texts consulted when writing or reviewing this guide.