Unlimited Policy
Last Updated: August 5th, 2021
What do you mean "Unlimited"?
What we mean is, you don't have to worry about disk storage or network transfer when your site gets popular.
You DO still have to worry about plenty of other things though... if your site isn't well optimized and is causing issues for others on your shared server (either because it's pounding the CPU, hogging RAM, or doing tons of disk I/O), you may be asked to sign up for your own DreamHost Private Server.
Trust us, every host out there has exactly the same limitations... we're just trying to be up front about them!
What about VPS and DreamPress?
The Unlimited Policy will no longer apply to any DreamPress accounts, nor to VPS machines provisioned on or after November 12th, 2014. The specified disk allotment will be listed on the sign-up page for each VPS and DreamPress plan offered.
It should be noted that the Unlimited Policy still applies to any existing VPS machines provisioned before November 12th, 2014! For machines that were provisioned before November 12th, 2014, the unlimited plan will remain in effect, even during renewals. DreamHost reserves the right to change pricing with notice to customers 30 days prior to renewal. Amount of network transfer is unlimited on all VPS services.
What about databases?
You're certainly allowed an unlimited number of MySQL databases, but in the interest of server stability, MySQL databases on any shared hosting platform are limited to 3GB in size per database. Databases on a MySQL VPS platform are unlimited in size, but we request that you try to keep them optimized.
...and email?
In order to keep the mail system operating smoothly, there are some restrictions on email storage. The number of email addresses that can be created on an account is dependent on your chosen email or hosting plan. All email addresses have a 25GB storage limit. All forward-only mail accounts are limited to 10 forward addresses.
What's not allowed in "Unlimited"?
Basically, sites whose essential purpose is to use disk or bandwidth. When making a website, you should be thinking about "How can I make an interesting site for my visitors while minimizing my server storage, bandwidth, file system, memory, and cpu impact as much as possible?"
The result will be a better experience for your visitors, your web host, and yourself!
Here are some specific examples of things not allowed:
- Copyrighted content to which you do not hold usage or distribution rights.
- File upload / sharing / archive / backup / mirroring / distribution sites.
- A site created primarily to drive traffic to another site.
- Making your account resources available (whether for free or pay) to the general public.
DreamHost reserves the right to delete data stored on our servers that violates any of the terms in the Unlimited Policy, and, generally, in our Terms of Service. DreamHost has sole discretion to determine what does, and does not violate either policy.
Hey, that doesn't sound very "Unlimited" to me!
Actually, for you, my dear Legitimate Website Owner, it is unlimited.
This whole page is just to announce to the "<.1%" of people who want to try and run free porn affiliate sites or anime video trading forums or host pirated rips of The Dark Knight on DreamHost that we're not having any.
But our pledge to you is to do our best to always keep your website, with the content you created, UP... no matter how many times you get Slashdotted or Reddited.