Getting started with HostingSwift
Create an account, verify your email, pick a service and get your first deployment online.
Welcome to HostingSwift. This guide takes you from a brand-new account to a running service in the time it takes to make coffee. If you only read one article, read this one.
1. Create your account
Sign up at /signup with an email address you actually control — it is where password resets, invoices and security codes go. Choose a strong password (a passphrase of four random words beats a short mangled word every time) or use a password manager.
We email a verification link. Click it before you do anything else; unverified accounts cannot order services. If the email does not arrive within a couple of minutes, check your spam folder, then use the resend option on the verification page.
2. Take the client panel tour
Everything you own lives in the client panel at /panel. The left sidebar has five groups:
| Group | What lives there |
|---|---|
| Hosting | Your services — VPS, web hosting, radio, video, VPN, files, domains, monitoring, logs |
| AI | AI Hub playground, AI Chat assistant, AI Router (OpenAI-compatible API) |
| Billing | Cart, orders, invoices, account credit, saved payment methods |
| Support | Tickets, live chat, and this knowledge base |
| Account | Profile, team members, activity log, email archive, affiliates, console |
You do not need to memorise it. The search box at the top of the panel (or Ctrl/Cmd-K) jumps to any page or service by name.
3. Choose a service
Every service has a free tier so you can evaluate it before paying. The broad categories:
VPS hosting — a full virtual machine with root access. Start here if you want to install arbitrary software.
Web hosting — managed PHP/Node hosting with one-click installs. Start here if you just want a website that works.
Domains — register or transfer a domain name and manage its DNS.
Radio and video — streaming servers for audio and video.
VPN, storage, email, DNS, monitoring — the supporting cast.
Not sure which to pick? VPS vs shared hosting walks through the decision.
4. Deploy and connect a domain
Once a service is provisioned you will get connection details — an IP address, and often a hostname and credentials. To make it reachable on the web:
Register or transfer a domain (or bring one you already own).
Add an A record pointing the hostname at your service IP, or a CNAME if you use a HostingSwift hostname.
Wait for DNS to propagate — usually minutes, sometimes up to the record's TTL.
Full detail is in Pointing your domain at HostingSwift.
5. Set up the safety net before you need it
Three minutes now saves an afternoon later:
Enable two-factor authentication on your account (Account → Security).
Add a backup server or turn on service snapshots so a bad change is reversible.
Set a spending alert if you want a nudge before usage-based charges grow.
6. When something goes wrong
Open a ticket from /panel/support or use live chat. Include the service name, the exact error message, and roughly when it started — that is 90% of a fast resolution. Our troubleshooting guides cover the most common issues before you even need to ask.
What next?
A tour of the client panel — find your way around.
Adding funds and using account credit — how billing works.
Resetting your password — lockouts explained.