Terms and Conditions

These General Terms and Conditions ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Customer", "you", or "your") and Hostino, LLC, a Limited Liability Company registered in the State of Delaware, United States (EIN: 36-5128536), with registered address at 1111B S Governors Ave, STE 26031, Dover, DE 19904, USA ("Hostino", "we", "us", or "our").

By accessing, registering for, or using any Hostino service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use our services.

1. Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms, the following definitions apply:

• "Services" means all products and services offered by Hostino, including but not limited to web hosting, domain registration, business email, web design, mobile application development, search engine optimisation (SEO), generative engine optimisation (GEO), Google Ads management, Google Business Profile management, and website maintenance.
• "Account" means the customer account created on the Hostino platform accessible at my.hostino.com.
• "Customer Area" means the client management portal at my.hostino.com where the Customer can manage services, invoices, and support tickets.
• "Order Portal" means the shopping cart system at order.hostino.com used to place new orders.
• "Billing Cycle" means the recurring period for which a service is invoiced (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, biennially, or triennially).
• "Content" means any data, files, text, images, software, scripts, or other materials uploaded, stored, or transmitted by the Customer through Hostino services.
• "Effective Date" means the date on which the Customer first accepts these Terms or begins using any Hostino service, whichever occurs first.

2. Scope of Services

Hostino provides the following categories of services:

2.1 Infrastructure Services

• Web Hosting: shared hosting plans (Starter, Business, Business Plus, Premium) with SSD NVMe storage, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL certificates, cPanel control panel, JetBackup automated backups, and WordPress pre-installation.
• Domain Name Registration: registration, transfer, and renewal of domain names including .ae, .com, .net, .org, .info, and 400+ additional TLDs.
• Business Email (Maily®): cloud-hosted, encrypted professional email with plans ranging from Maily (standard) to Maily Plus and Maily Pro, including webmail access, POP/IMAP/SMTP, SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication, antispam, and antivirus protection.

2.2 Digital Services

• Web Design: custom website development using modern frameworks (Astro, Next.js, React), including e-commerce, SaaS platforms, booking systems, and multilingual sites.
• Mobile App Development: native and cross-platform applications for iOS and Android using Flutter and React Native.
• SEO Agency: search engine optimisation including keyword research, content optimisation, link building, technical SEO, and local SEO.
• GEO Agency: generative engine optimisation for AI platforms (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Meta AI).
• Google Ads Management: PPC campaign setup, management, optimisation, and conversion tracking.
• Google Business Profile Management: profile optimisation, review management, and local visibility enhancement.
• Web Maintenance: ongoing security updates, backups, monitoring, performance optimisation, and error resolution.

The specific features, resources, and limitations of each service are described on the respective product pages at hostino.ae and in the order confirmation sent to the Customer upon purchase.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

To use Hostino services, you must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction) and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract. If you are ordering on behalf of a company or organisation, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

3.2 Account Creation

Creating an account requires a valid email address and a password chosen by the Customer. The account is created through the Customer Area at my.hostino.com.

3.3 Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You must immediately notify Hostino at [email protected] if you suspect any unauthorised access to or use of your account. Hostino shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to safeguard your login information. We strongly recommend enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) where available.

3.4 Accurate Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration and ordering process, and to update such information promptly to keep it accurate. Providing false or misleading information constitutes a breach of these Terms and may result in immediate account suspension or termination.

4. Orders, Pricing, and Payment

4.1 Placing Orders

All orders are placed through the Order Portal at order.hostino.com. An order is considered confirmed once payment has been successfully processed and you receive an order confirmation email.

4.2 Pricing

All prices displayed on the website are exclusive of applicable taxes unless stated otherwise. Hostino reserves the right to modify prices at any time; however, price changes shall not affect services already paid for during the current billing cycle. Promotional and discounted prices apply only to the initial billing cycle unless explicitly stated otherwise.

4.3 Currencies

Prices may be displayed in multiple currencies (AED, USD, EUR, and others) for convenience. The currency charged will be the one selected at checkout. Exchange rate fluctuations are not the responsibility of Hostino.

4.4 Payment Methods

Hostino accepts the following payment methods:

• Credit/Debit Cards: processed securely through Stripe. Account is provisioned within minutes of payment confirmation.
• PayPal: processed through PayPal's secure payment platform.
• Bank Transfer: provisioning may take longer pending payment verification; provisional activation may be offered at Hostino's discretion.

4.5 Failed Payments

If a payment fails, Hostino will notify the Customer by email. Services associated with unpaid invoices may be suspended after a grace period of seven (7) days. If payment is not received within thirty (30) days of the due date, Hostino reserves the right to terminate the service and delete associated data.

4.6 Taxes

The Customer is responsible for any applicable taxes, duties, or government levies imposed in connection with the use of Hostino services, including but not limited to VAT or sales tax in the Customer's jurisdiction.

5. Service Activation and Delivery

5.1 Automated Services

Web hosting, domain registration, and business email services are typically provisioned automatically within minutes of successful payment. In certain cases (e.g., fraud review, domain verification), activation may take up to 24 hours.

5.2 Custom Services

Web design, app development, SEO, GEO, Google Ads, and maintenance services follow a project-based delivery timeline agreed upon between Hostino and the Customer at the start of the engagement. Delivery timelines for custom services are estimates and are not guaranteed unless specified in a separate written agreement.

5.3 Service Setup

Upon activation, the Customer will receive credentials and instructions to access the service (cPanel login, email configuration details, etc.). The Customer is responsible for configuring and using the service in accordance with any provided documentation.

6. Web Hosting Services

6.1 Resource Allocation

Each hosting plan includes specified storage, bandwidth, email accounts, databases, and other resources as described on the product page. "Unlimited" bandwidth and resources are subject to our Fair Use Policy: the service must be used in a manner consistent with normal, expected usage for a shared hosting environment. Hostino reserves the right to restrict accounts that disproportionately consume server resources and negatively affect other customers.

6.2 Backups and Data Responsibility

Hostino may provide automated backup tools (such as JetBackup) as a courtesy. These backups are offered on an "as-is" basis with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, reliability, or recoverability. Backups may fail, be incomplete, be corrupted, or become unavailable without prior notice.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY: The Customer is solely and entirely responsible for maintaining independent, off-server backups of all data, files, databases, emails, and configurations. Hostino shall not be held liable under any circumstances for loss, corruption, or unavailability of Customer data — whether caused by hardware failure, software errors, cyberattacks, accidental deletion, account suspension or termination, migration, or any other reason. By using Hostino services, the Customer expressly waives any claim against Hostino relating to data loss.

6.3 Server Maintenance

Hostino may perform scheduled maintenance that could temporarily affect service availability. Whenever possible, maintenance will be scheduled during off-peak hours and Customers will be notified in advance. Emergency maintenance required for security or stability reasons may be performed without prior notice.

6.4 Content Responsibility

The Customer is solely responsible for all Content hosted on their account. Hostino does not monitor hosted content but reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts hosting illegal, infringing, or harmful material in accordance with the Abuse Policy.

7. Domain Name Registration

7.1 Registration Process

Domain registrations are processed through accredited registries and registrars. Hostino acts as a reseller and intermediary. For .ae domain names, Hostino resells through Realtime Register, an ICANN-accredited registrar and .ae domain specialist. For gTLDs (.com, .net, .org, etc.), registrations are processed through accredited registrars in accordance with ICANN policies.

By registering a domain through Hostino, the Customer agrees to comply with the applicable policies of the relevant registry authority (e.g., .aeDA for .ae domains, ICANN for gTLDs) as well as the terms and conditions of the upstream registrar (Realtime Register or other applicable registrar). Hostino shall not be liable for any actions, decisions, or policy changes made by the registry or upstream registrar.

7.2 Domain Ownership

The Customer is the registrant of the domain. Hostino does not claim ownership of any domain registered through its platform. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that the domain name does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party.

7.3 Domain Renewal

Domain names must be renewed before their expiration date. Hostino will send renewal reminders by email. Failure to renew may result in domain suspension or loss. Hostino shall not be liable for any loss arising from a domain name expiring due to non-renewal by the Customer.

7.4 Domain Transfers

Incoming domain transfers are supported subject to the policies of the relevant registry. The Customer must unlock the domain and provide a valid authorisation/EPP code. Newly registered or recently transferred domains may be subject to a 60-day transfer lock as required by ICANN.

7.5 Non-Refundable

IMPORTANT: Domain registration, renewal, and transfer fees are non-refundable. Once a domain order is processed, it cannot be reversed or refunded.

8. Business Email Services (Maily®)

8.1 Service Description

Maily is a cloud-hosted, fully encrypted professional email platform offered in three tiers: Maily, Maily Plus, and Maily Pro. Features vary by plan and are described on the product page.

8.2 Email Deliverability

Hostino employs industry-standard email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to maximise deliverability. However, Hostino cannot guarantee that all emails will reach the recipient's inbox, as delivery depends on factors outside our control (recipient mail server policies, spam filters, etc.).

8.3 Storage Limits

Each email account is allocated a storage quota according to the selected plan. When the quota is reached, the Customer will be unable to receive new emails until storage is freed or upgraded.

8.4 Prohibited Use

The email service must not be used for unsolicited bulk email (spam), phishing, distribution of malware, or any activity that violates the Abuse Policy. Violations may result in immediate account suspension without notice.

9. Web Design, App Development, and Digital Marketing

9.1 Scope of Work

Custom services (web design, app development, SEO, GEO, Google Ads management, and maintenance) are governed by a separate project agreement or proposal that defines the scope, deliverables, timeline, milestones, and pricing. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and a project agreement, the project agreement shall prevail for that specific engagement.

9.2 Client Obligations

The Customer shall provide all necessary materials, content, access credentials, and approvals in a timely manner. Delays caused by the Customer may result in adjusted timelines and, where applicable, additional fees.

9.3 Approval and Revisions

Deliverables will be submitted for Customer approval at agreed milestones. The number of included revision rounds is specified in the project agreement. Additional revisions beyond the agreed scope may be billed at an hourly or per-revision rate.

9.4 Google Ads — Transparent Billing

For Google Ads management services, the advertising spend is paid directly to Google by the Customer or on the Customer's behalf. Hostino's management fee is separate and independent from the advertising budget. Hostino does not guarantee specific results from advertising campaigns, as performance depends on market conditions, competition, and other external factors.

9.5 SEO and GEO Disclaimers

Search engine rankings and AI platform visibility are determined by third-party algorithms that Hostino does not control. While Hostino employs industry best practices, no specific ranking position or traffic volume is guaranteed. Results may vary and are subject to algorithm updates by Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, and other platforms.

10. Renewal and Auto-Renewal

10.1 Automatic Renewal

Unless cancelled before the end of the current billing cycle, services will renew automatically at the then-current standard renewal price. Hostino will send a renewal reminder at least fourteen (14) days before the renewal date.

10.2 Renewal Pricing

Renewal prices may differ from the initial purchase price. Promotional discounts apply only to the first billing cycle unless otherwise stated. Current renewal pricing is available on the respective product pages and in the Customer Area.

10.3 Cancelling Auto-Renewal

The Customer may disable auto-renewal at any time through the Customer Area. Disabling auto-renewal does not trigger a refund for the current billing period; the service will remain active until the end of the paid period.

11. Money-Back Guarantee

Hostino offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on the following services:

• Web hosting plans (Starter, Business, Business Plus, Premium).
• Business email plans (Maily, Maily Plus, Maily Pro).

If you are not satisfied with the service, you may request a full refund within thirty (30) days of the initial purchase. The guarantee applies only to the first billing cycle of a new service and does not apply to renewals.

Exclusions: The money-back guarantee does not apply to domain name registrations, domain transfers, domain renewals, custom services (web design, app development), or third-party advertising spend (Google Ads budget).

12. Refund Policy

12.1 Eligible Refunds

• Hosting and email services cancelled within the 30-day money-back guarantee period: full refund.
• Hosting and email services cancelled after the guarantee period: no refund for the current billing cycle; service remains active until the end of the paid period.
• Annual or multi-year plans cancelled mid-term (after the 30-day guarantee): not eligible for pro-rata refunds unless otherwise agreed in writing.

12.2 Non-Refundable Items

• Domain name registrations, renewals, and transfers.
• Setup or migration fees (where applicable).
• Custom development work already delivered or in progress (web design, app development).
• SEO, GEO, and Google Ads management fees for services already rendered.
• Third-party advertising spend paid to Google or other platforms.

12.3 Refund Method

Refunds are issued to the original payment method. Processing times depend on the payment provider (typically 5–10 business days for credit cards, up to 30 days for bank transfers).

13. Cancellation and Termination

13.1 Cancellation by Customer

The Customer may cancel any service at any time through the Customer Area or by contacting support. Cancellation requests take effect at the end of the current billing cycle. The Customer is responsible for backing up their data before cancellation.

13.2 Termination by Hostino

Hostino reserves the right to suspend or terminate services immediately if:

• The Customer breaches these Terms or the Abuse Policy.
• The Customer's account is used for illegal activities.
• The Customer fails to pay outstanding invoices after the grace period.
• Continued provision of service would expose Hostino to legal liability or compromise the security and stability of infrastructure serving other customers.

13.3 Data Retention After Termination

Upon termination or cancellation, Hostino will retain account data for a period of thirty (30) days, during which the Customer may request data export. After this period, all data associated with the terminated account may be permanently deleted without further notice.

14. Acceptable Use Policy

All Hostino services are subject to the Acceptable Use (Abuse) Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. In summary, the following activities are strictly prohibited:

• Hosting or distributing illegal content, including pirated software, child exploitation material, or content that incites violence.
• Sending unsolicited bulk email (spam) or phishing communications.
• Hosting malware, botnets, or participating in DDoS attacks.
• Cryptocurrency mining on shared hosting servers.
• Running processes that disproportionately consume shared server resources.
• Engaging in trademark or copyright infringement.
• Any activity that violates applicable local, national, or international law.

Violations may result in immediate suspension or termination without refund. Please refer to the full Abuse Policy for detailed information.

15. Data Protection and Privacy

Hostino collects and processes personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and our Cookie Policy, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Hostino implements appropriate technical and organisational security measures, including SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, access restrictions, and staff confidentiality obligations, to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure.

The Customer retains ownership of all data stored on Hostino infrastructure. Hostino will not access, use, or disclose Customer data except as necessary to provide the contracted services, comply with legal obligations, or respond to a valid legal process.

16. Intellectual Property

16.1 Hostino's IP

All trademarks, logos, service names, website designs, and proprietary technology belonging to Hostino remain the exclusive property of Hostino, LLC. The Customer does not acquire any ownership rights by using Hostino services.

16.2 Customer's IP

The Customer retains all intellectual property rights in their Content. By uploading Content to Hostino services, the Customer grants Hostino a limited, non-exclusive licence solely to host, store, and transmit such Content as necessary to provide the contracted services.

16.3 Custom Deliverables

For web design and app development projects, intellectual property ownership of the final deliverables transfers to the Customer upon full payment, unless otherwise specified in the project agreement. Hostino retains the right to use general techniques, knowledge, and non-proprietary code developed during the engagement.

17. Limitation of Liability and Data Loss Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: To the maximum extent permitted by law, Hostino's total aggregate liability to the Customer for any claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of any service shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Customer to Hostino during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

17.1 No Liability for Data Loss

DATA LOSS DISCLAIMER: Hostino shall not be held liable for any loss, corruption, deletion, or unavailability of Customer data, regardless of the cause — including but not limited to hardware failure, software errors, cyberattacks, natural disasters, accidental deletion, account suspension, account termination, service migration, or actions of third parties. The Customer acknowledges and agrees that maintaining independent backups of all data is their sole responsibility.

While Hostino may provide automated backup tools (such as JetBackup) as a convenience, these are offered on an "as-is" basis with no warranty of completeness, accuracy, or availability. Backups may fail, be incomplete, or become inaccessible without notice. Under no circumstances shall Hostino be liable for the failure of any backup system or for the inability to restore data from backups.

17.2 Exclusion of Damages

In no event shall Hostino be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of data, data corruption, or inability to recover data.
• Loss of profits, revenue, or business opportunities.
• Business interruption, loss of goodwill, or reputational damage.
• Costs of procurement of substitute services or data reconstruction.
• Damages arising from unauthorised access to or alteration of Customer data.
• Damages arising from service interruptions, downtime, or degraded performance.

17.3 Services Provided "As Is"

All services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Hostino expressly disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and any warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade. Hostino does not warrant that services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or completely secure.

These limitations apply regardless of the theory of liability (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise) and even if Hostino has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

18. Indemnification

The Customer agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hostino, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• The Customer's use or misuse of Hostino services.
• The Customer's Content, including any claims of intellectual property infringement.
• The Customer's violation of these Terms or any applicable law.
• Any third-party claims resulting from the Customer's actions or omissions.

19. Force Majeure

Hostino shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under these Terms to the extent that such failure or delay results from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, pandemics, government actions, power outages, internet or telecommunications failures, cyberattacks, and failures of third-party service providers.

In the event of a force majeure event lasting more than thirty (30) consecutive days, either party may terminate the affected service with written notice, and the Customer will receive a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of any prepaid fees.

20. Modifications to These Terms

Hostino reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to the Customer by email and/or by posting a notice on the website at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect.

Continued use of Hostino services after the effective date of modified Terms constitutes acceptance of the changes. If the Customer does not agree with the modified Terms, they must discontinue use of the services and may cancel in accordance with Section 13.

21. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Delaware, and the parties irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

22. Dispute Resolution

22.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute informally by contacting [email protected]. The parties will make good-faith efforts to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days.

22.2 Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in English, and the arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

22.3 Class Action Waiver

The Customer agrees that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not as part of a class, consolidated, or representative action.

23. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while preserving its original intent.

24. Contact Information

For any questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Hostino, LLC — 1111B S Governors Ave, STE 26031, Dover, DE 19904, USA
• Website: www.hostino.ae