Terms of Service - freewebsite.app

1. Service Overview

freewebsite.app provides professional website design services at no cost, with the condition that clients subscribe to our hosting services. Our service includes:

Custom website design and development
Responsive design for all devices
Basic SEO optimization
Website hosting and maintenance
Technical support and updates

2. Free Design with Hosting Requirement

Our website design services are provided free of charge under the following conditions:

Hosting Subscription Required: You must subscribe to our hosting services at $30/month to receive the free website design
Design Approval: Hosting charges will not begin until your initial website design is approved and ready for publication
Service Continuity: The free design is contingent upon maintaining an active hosting subscription
Initial Design Free: The initial website design and development is provided at no cost
Ongoing Updates: Additional design changes and updates beyond the monthly allowance are charged at $60/hour

3. Hosting Services and Pricing

Our hosting services include:

Basic Hosting ($30/month): Includes one page update per month, with additional updates at $60/hour
Premium Hosting ($80/month): Includes unlimited updates and priority support
Domain Registration: Annual domain registration fees apply (typically $10-15/year)
SSL Certificate: Included with all hosting plans
Backup Services: Regular backups included

4. Website File Ownership and Cancellation

Important: Website file ownership is subject to the following terms:

One Year Requirement: You must maintain an active hosting subscription for a minimum of 12 months to retain ownership of your website files
Cancellation Before One Year: If you cancel your hosting subscription before completing 12 months, you will not be able to keep or transfer your website files
Early Cancellation Option: If you wish to cancel early but keep your website files, you may pay the remaining months of your 12-month commitment to receive full ownership of your design files
After One Year: Upon completing 12 months of hosting, you may request a copy of your website files for transfer to another hosting provider
File Transfer: File transfer services are provided free of charge after the one-year requirement is met

5. Application and Approval Process

The application process includes:

Submission of application form with business details
Review of your website requirements and business needs
Initial consultation to discuss design preferences
Design mockup creation and review
Final approval before hosting charges begin

6. Payment Terms

Payment terms and conditions:

No Upfront Costs: No payment is required until your website design is approved
Monthly Billing: Hosting fees are billed monthly in advance
Payment Methods: We accept major credit cards and digital payment methods
Late Payments: Late payments may result in service suspension
Refunds: No refunds for partial months of service

7. Service Limitations

Our services are subject to the following limitations:

Design changes are limited to the scope agreed upon in the initial consultation
Complex custom functionality may require additional development time
Third-party integrations may have additional costs
Content creation and copywriting are included in the initial design

8. Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property ownership and usage rights:

Design Ownership: Website designs remain our property until you complete 12 months of hosting and request file transfer
Early Cancellation: If you cancel before completing 12 months of hosting, you forfeit all rights to the website design and files
Portfolio Rights: We retain the right to use your completed website design in our portfolio and marketing materials
Your Content: You retain ownership of all content, images, and text you provide for your website
Third-Party Assets: Stock photos, fonts, and other third-party assets remain subject to their respective licenses

9. Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Our service level commitments:

Uptime Guarantee: 99.5% uptime guarantee for hosting services
Support Response: Initial response to support requests within 24 hours during business days
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EST) for live support
Emergency Support: Critical issues addressed within 4 hours during business hours
Compensation: Service credits may be provided for uptime below 99.5%

10. Data and Content

Data handling and content ownership:

Your Content: You retain full ownership of all content, images, and text you provide
Backup Responsibility: We perform regular backups, but you are responsible for maintaining your own content backups
Content Retrieval: Upon cancellation, you may request a copy of your content within 30 days
Data Retention: We retain your data for 30 days after service termination
Content Standards: You are responsible for ensuring your content complies with applicable laws

11. Updates and Maintenance

Maintenance and update procedures:

Scheduled Maintenance: Regular maintenance windows on Sundays 2:00 AM - 6:00 AM EST
Emergency Maintenance: Critical security updates may be applied immediately with notification
Advance Notice: Scheduled maintenance will be announced 48 hours in advance
Update Frequency: Security patches applied within 24 hours of release
Communication: Maintenance notifications sent via email and dashboard alerts

12. Termination by Provider

Circumstances under which we may terminate service:

Service Termination: We reserve the right to terminate service for any reason with 30 days written notice
File Transfer on Termination: If we terminate service early, we will provide you with a complete copy of your website files at no additional cost
Non-Payment: Service may be suspended after 15 days of non-payment
Terms Violation: Immediate termination for violation of acceptable use policies
Illegal Activity: Immediate termination for illegal content or activities
Resource Abuse: Termination for excessive resource usage or server abuse
Business Closure: 30-day notice if we cease operations

13. Force Majeure

Events beyond our control:

Natural Disasters: We are not liable for service interruptions due to natural disasters
Server Outages: Third-party server issues beyond our control
Internet Issues: Regional or global internet connectivity problems
Government Actions: Service interruptions due to government regulations or actions
Compensation: Service credits may be provided for extended outages

14. Dispute Resolution

How disputes are handled:

Direct Resolution: We encourage direct communication to resolve issues
Mediation: If direct resolution fails, mediation may be required
Arbitration: Binding arbitration for unresolved disputes
Governing Law: These terms are governed by the laws of Texas
Small Claims: Claims under $500 may be filed in small claims court

15. Cancellation Policy

Cancellation terms and conditions:

30-Day Notice: Cancellation requires 30 days written notice
File Retention: Website files are only available after 12 months of continuous hosting - unless you pay the remaining months of your 12-month commitment
DNS Assistance: We can help you point your domain to a new hosting provider after one year
Service Termination: Services will be terminated at the end of the billing period
No Refunds: No refunds for unused portions of the billing period

16. Support and Maintenance

Support services include:

Technical support during business hours
Security updates and patches
Performance monitoring and optimization
Backup management and restoration
Uptime monitoring and maintenance

17. Acceptable Use

You agree to use our services responsibly and in compliance with applicable laws:

No illegal content or activities
No spam or unsolicited communications
No violation of intellectual property rights
No excessive resource usage
Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations

18. Limitation of Liability

freewebsite.app's liability is limited to:

The amount paid for hosting services in the 12 months preceding any claim
No liability for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
No liability for data loss beyond our control
No liability for third-party service interruptions

19. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

20. Contact Information

For questions about these terms or our services, please contact us through the application form on our website or via the contact information provided in your service confirmation.

Last Updated: December 2024