If you have been looking around for a web host, you probably already have seen some of these offers: Unlimited Data Transfer, Unlimited Bandwidth or Unlimited Disk Space. The truth is, these deals are not possible.
Unlimited data transfer, or some web hosts might say unlimited bandwidth, is not possible, because if a web host has a server that is connected at 1.544 Mbps (Megabits per second) the maximum amount of data transfer that can be received is * 465.9 GB (Gigabytes) per month. This is a lot more data transfer than most websites will need. However, it is limited to the 465.9 Gigabytes per month and there will be other websites on the server sharing the data transfer if you have a shared web hosting plan.
You may also have heard of offers for unlimited disk space. Also, this is not possible. This maybe a little more obvious. Your disk space is limited to the size of the server's hard drive. Again, if you have a shared web hosting plan, you will be sharing the space with other websites.
So, why do web hosts make these offers? They do it under the assumption that many websites won't use very much data transfer and disk space. Be careful with web hosts who make these unlimited offers and always read their policies, terms of service, or user agreement page concerning the unlimited offers.
If you know the connection speed of a web host's server or your own server, you can use one of these calculators to find the maximum amount of data transfer it can receive in Gigabytes per month.
Remember, when using the calculators, 1 Kilobyte = 1,024 Bytes, 1 Megabyte = 1,048,576 Bytes and 1 Gigabyte = 1,073,741,824 Bytes.
When searching for a web hosting provider, look for hosts that don't make these unlimited data transfer and unlimited disk space offers or, make sure you read the web host's terms of service concerning the offers.
* 1.544 Megabits x 60 (seconds in a minute) x 60 (minutes in a hour) x 24 (hours in a day) x 30 (days in a month) = 4002048 Megabits = 4002048000000 bits = 500256000000 bytes = 465.9 Gigabytes
(8 bits = 1 byte and 1 Gigabyte = 1,073,741,824 bytes)
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