Is Unlimited REALLY Unlimited?

I agree! Unmetered is often confised with unlimited, which is also not a loyal offer by web hosting companies. An unmetered server is for example unmetered in 10mbps, which is definitely a limitation. Not only in speed, but also in traffic that can be generated in the matter of one month for example.

handsonhosting said:
UnMetered is NOT unlimited. Unmetered has to do with the bandwidth throughput
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I am pleased this thread I started has been shown so much interest! It must be worth a post or two huh! Matt
 
"Unlimited" is virtually unlimited but not literally unlimited as there are physical limits to everything.

The "unlimited" hosts get you by limiting other things that they disclose in their fine print. For example, you might get unlimited HDD space & unlimited bandwidth, but try using a lot and you will quickly find out that there are certain file types that you cannot store a lot of, that you cannot allow other sites to remote link your files, that you can only use a very limited amount of CPU resources, RAM, database connections, etc, etc.

"Unlimited," in my opinion, is really just a marketing ploy.
 
yes i agree most comment but i think for me more easy to manage account at unlimited never have to think hard. btw maybe this thread can read by unlimited server companies :) why their offer this plan ?

note: server companies:)
 
ldcdc said:
These accounts are not really about unlimited usage. They're about indirectly limited usage. 20TB in a $10 shared hosting package isn't any more real than "unlimited" is. Fact is, these hosts (or at least some of them) are at a level where a particular customer's usage isn't representative. They have a pretty accurate average usage per customer that won't deviate/increase much. There have been customers pushing 5TB+ off of such accounts, without issues (basically achievable only if you're offering big files for download). The line in the sand that they draw is CPU/memory/I/O usage based. Once your usage stops them from maintaining the number of accounts per server that they've deemed necessary for them to be profitable, you're stopped in your tracks. That's the whole philosophy.
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This is by far the best explanation. Business is all about being profitable - you weigh services versus revenue. Where providers draw the line isn't normally highlighted on their home page, rather in their Terms of Service.
 
It's a good explanation but it doesn't make the claim any less dishonest.

Unlimited is a lie. There can be no dispute. It is a lie.

Some companies use it as a marketing ploy. Of course they do, because it works.
Many people will use these services knowing that it is a lie and many others will use the service because they are not informed.

To me it comes down to an ethics issue.

Many hosts will be able to maintain fine service to thousands of clients while offering unlimited services.
To me the fact that a host is lying from the very beginning just to try and get my business is enough to keep me from even using the service.

An unlimited offer is a lie.
I do not and will not do business with a liar.
 
Blue said:
It's a good explanation but it doesn't make the claim any less dishonest.

Unlimited is a lie. There can be no dispute. It is a lie.

Some companies use it as a marketing ploy. Of course they do, because it works.
Many people will use these services knowing that it is a lie and many others will use the service because they are not informed.

To me it comes down to an ethics issue.

Many hosts will be able to maintain fine service to thousands of clients while offering unlimited services.
To me the fact that a host is lying from the very beginning just to try and get my business is enough to keep me from even using the service.

An unlimited offer is a lie.
I do not and will not do business with a liar.
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AMEN

woohoo 400 post!!
 
Really unlimited is not possible but surprising thing is that peoples always look for that and when they are warned by the host or their account is terminated then they post reviews and search another unlimited.
 
Blue said:
It's a good explanation but it doesn't make the claim any less dishonest.

Unlimited is a lie. There can be no dispute. It is a lie.

Some companies use it as a marketing ploy. Of course they do, because it works.
Many people will use these services knowing that it is a lie and many others will use the service because they are not informed.

To me it comes down to an ethics issue.

Many hosts will be able to maintain fine service to thousands of clients while offering unlimited services.
To me the fact that a host is lying from the very beginning just to try and get my business is enough to keep me from even using the service.

An unlimited offer is a lie.
I do not and will not do business with a liar.
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That's very true. It's just a scam to cheat people of their money and trust.
 
There is no such things as UNLIMITED. Stay far away from these hosts, the moment you start using any amount of resources, they'll give you the boot with NO warning....
 
Unlimited anything is whatever the host chooses it to be. There is usually a statement in the terms of use or agreement when you buy web hosting from them that explains exactly what they mean by unlimited. Most of the time hosts that offer unlimited really do mean no limit but what is exactly meant is that they haven’t designated a limit to your plan, the only thing is that they expect you to use reasonable resources.
 
webserveme said:
This really has to stop. We really need to educate the public about "UNLIMITED" deals.
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I'd agree. Most of us here know it's a marketing ploy, but that doesn't really do much good for us to know because most of us are hosts ourselves. The problem with educating people is actually reaching them. Most people don't even know what web hosting is, and when they discover that they need to purchase it they are likely to just google "web hosting" and there they find the unlimited offers.

Most will never understand the unlimited game/overselling as they'll never need to, and the ones who do learn of it will generally do so after a bad experience or two.

Over at WHT overselling has been discussed SOOOOOOO much. I asked Matt Heaton(Bluehost) about this years ago stating that all smaller hosts seem to hate "the oversellers", etc. He simply said "they're jealous" and for the most part I'd have to agree. At the same time I do think it's important that customers know exactly what they're getting as there are many people who know exactly what overselling is and still buy the $5/month unlimited plans. Again, people need to be educated, and some think that the unlimited offers need to go. With both it's extremely difficult to do..

We've all been on the interstate approaching where 1 lane has been closed: Signs generally warn you to merge over long before the lane close, yet many people only merge at the last moment. This in turn slows everyone down, even backing things up for miles. If everyone merged ahead of time it wouldn't really slow down that much(if at all), but you can't simply make everyone do what you want, even if it's in their best interest.

While the unlimited overselling effects us all(even just slightly) it doesn't really bother me. The customers who want unlimited everything generally demand much more than they are worth. Let Bluehost have all the n00bs that want the moon for $5, while we offer a quality service for what it's worth, to those who understand it's worth :)

I'm honestly a little sick of hosts that complain about other hosts who offer unlimited plans. The only reason to do so is jealousy IMO. If you mind your business it won't bother you. And to current/previous customers of unlimited hosts: be glad they're cheap, educate yourself, and make a better choice next time you look for a host :)
 
Just got through reading this, and have to say that the term 'unlimited' can mean so many things. However in the hosting world it is a 'bad word'. While it has become so much cheaper to upgrade RAM, Disk Space, and other resources the fact is nothing is unlimited. If this were the case many of us would not worry with the Dedicated Business, and just go purchase the Unlimited Host and utilize it.

As I got done here I noticed the top banner was was for HostGator with 'unlimited' offers of storage and such.
 
nothing is unlimited. this i only marketing - they have about 500gb hdd and if you have big site, they suspended :)
 
It is not possible to offer unlimited disk space and bandwidth with the hosting package as the hosting provider has to pay for the disk space and bandwidth used by your website.

For instance, if a hosting provider is getting a server with 160 GB disk space for $50 USD per month, how could you expect the hosting provider to offer you more than 160 GB disk space with the hosting package which is offered to you only for $5 or $10 per month.

Basically, this is just to attract some of the customers who are unaware of the fact that unlimited disk space and bandwidth is not possible in the hosting industry.
 
I don't see why this is such a hard concept to grasp.

Unlimited is a lie. PERIOD.

There is no such thing. It is a physical impossibility.

Any host who offers it is lying to you so you are getting in to business with a liar. Not a great way to start a business relationship in my opinion.

I agree with Blue, the people who offer this sort of thing are not even worthy of your time in discussing it.. If it says unlimited, stay well away from it. Common sense should dictate this really.
 
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