The best free web hosting in 2026 depends on what you are hosting. For a static site (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React or Astro), Cloudflare Pages is the strongest free choice, with GitHub Pages as the simplest option for sites that live in a repository. For a small PHP and MySQL site, InfinityFree and AwardSpace are the main free choices and for a backend app, try Render, and for a full server, the always-free virtual machines from Oracle Cloud or Google Cloud, which need a card. 000webhost, which was in our 2024 list, shut down permanently on October 14, 2024.
Quick answer: which free hosting should you pick?
| What you are hosting | Best free choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio, landing page, HTML site | Cloudflare Pages or GitHub Pages | No ads, free SSL, custom domain, fast CDN |
| React, Next.js or Astro front end | Cloudflare Pages, Netlify or Vercel (personal use) | Deploy from Git on every push |
| Documentation or open-source project | GitHub Pages | Publishes straight from your repository |
| Small PHP and MySQL site, learning project | InfinityFree or AwardSpace | Traditional hosting with a control panel and database |
| Node, Python or other backend app | Render or Cloudflare Workers | Runs server code with usage limits |
| Your own full server to practise | Oracle Cloud Always Free or Google Cloud always-free VM | Real Linux server; needs a card, so watch limits |
| WordPress for a serious blog or business | Paid hosting | Free hosts are risky for real sites; see our hosting guide |
Free web hosting compared (2026)
Limits come from 2026 comparison reviews and each provider’s free plan. They change, so check the provider’s page before you commit.
| Provider | Type | Free limits | Custom domain | Card needed | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Pages | Static | Unlimited bandwidth, about 500 builds a month, many custom domains per project | Yes | No | Static first; server code runs as limited Functions |
| GitHub Pages | Static | About 1 GB site size and 100 GB a month soft bandwidth | Yes | No | Static only; not for commercial transactions |
| Netlify | Static and serverless | About 100 GB bandwidth and 300 build minutes a month | Yes | No | Usage caps; site pauses if exceeded |
| Vercel (Hobby) | Static and serverless | About 100 GB bandwidth a month | Yes | No | Hobby plan is for personal, non-commercial use |
| InfinityFree | PHP and MySQL | About 5 GB storage, unlimited bandwidth advertised | Yes | No | Usage limits; accounts can be removed after inactivity |
| AwardSpace | PHP and MySQL | About 1 GB disk, 5 GB bandwidth, up to 4 sites | Yes (one domain plus subdomains) | No | Small limits; inactivity rules |
| Render | Backend apps | Free instances with usage limits | Yes | Check plan | Free services can sleep when idle |
| Oracle Cloud Always Free | Virtual machine | Always-free VM resources | Yes | Yes | You manage the server and security |
| Google Cloud free tier | Cloud services | Free credits and always-free usage | Yes | Yes | Exceeding limits can create charges |
Best free hosting for static websites
Static hosting serves files exactly as you wrote them. It is fast, safe and often truly free.
1. Cloudflare Pages: best overall for static sites
Cloudflare Pages connects to your Git repository and redeploys on every push. Reviews highlight unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, custom domains (up to 100 per project) and about 500 free builds a month, with no card required. That makes it the best fit for a site that might get a sudden traffic spike.
Watch out for: it is static-first. Server code runs as Functions with request limits.
2. GitHub Pages: best for repositories and documentation
GitHub Pages publishes a site straight from a GitHub repository. It supports custom domains and free SSL, with a published-site size limit of about 1 GB and soft bandwidth of about 100 GB a month. It is great for portfolios, docs and project pages.
Watch out for: it is static only, so no PHP or databases, and GitHub’s terms exclude some commercial uses such as online stores.
3. Netlify: best beginner workflow
Netlify offers simple Git deployment, preview links and basic form handling. The free tier has about 100 GB of bandwidth and 300 build minutes a month. If you pass the limits, the site can be paused.
4. Vercel: best for Next.js projects
Vercel’s Hobby plan integrates tightly with Next.js and other front-end frameworks. It is meant for personal, non-commercial projects, so check the terms before using it for a business.
Best free hosting for PHP and MySQL
Use these if you need PHP, a database or a classic control panel, for example to practise PHP, WordPress or a small CodeIgniter project. Check the PHP version first, because current frameworks need modern PHP; for example, CodeIgniter 4.7 needs PHP 8.2 or higher. See our CodeIgniter 4 guide.
5. InfinityFree: best free PHP and MySQL host
InfinityFree is the best-known always-free shared host for PHP beginners. It offers PHP, MySQL, free SSL, free DNS, no forced ads and the ability to point your own domain to it. Our 2024 article said it offers unlimited disk space; recent reviews list about 5 GB of storage with unlimited bandwidth, plus usage limits to prevent abuse.
Watch out for: limits on CPU, hits and database use, and accounts that can be removed after inactivity.
6. AwardSpace: small PHP learning sites
AwardSpace’s free plan includes ad-free hosting, about 1 GB of disk, 5 GB of bandwidth, a CMS installer and support messaging. Reviews note you can connect one domain and three subdomains, and it includes email hosting, which is rare on free plans.
Watch out for: the small limits mean it suits test and learning sites only.
7. ByetHost, Freehostia and similar hosts
These classic free hosts appear on 2026 lists, but their plans and reliability change often. Read recent reviews and the provider’s terms, and do not host anything important there.
Best free hosting for backend apps and servers
8. Render: best for small backend apps
Render runs Node, Python and other server code on free instances. Free services can go to sleep when idle, so the first request after a pause can be slow.
9. Oracle Cloud Always Free and Google Cloud free tier: for learning servers
These give you a real virtual machine in the cloud. They are excellent for learning Linux, Docker and deployment, but they ask for a card, and you must watch your usage so you do not get charged. You are also responsible for patches and security. If you use PHP on your own server, read our guide on how to check if your PHP website was hacked and the PHP2Shell security guide.
Our 2024 list described Google Cloud mainly through App Engine. Cloud providers now offer free credits and limited always-free usage, so check the current free-tier page and set a budget alert before you start.
What happened to the hosts on our 2024 list
| 2024 entry | 2026 status |
|---|---|
| 000webhost | Shut down permanently on October 14, 2024. Removed |
| Wix, Weebly, WordPress.com | These are website builders, not hosting platforms. See our guide to the best free website builders |
| InfinityFree | Still available, with updated limits |
| AwardSpace | Still available, with small limits |
| ByetHost | Still listed on some 2026 reviews; verify before use |
| GitHub Pages | Still free; limits updated |
| Google Cloud Platform | Replaced by a broader cloud free-tier section |
| x10hosting and FreeHosting.com | We could not verify current free plans, so we removed them. Check their sites if you want to try them |
Risks of free web hosting
- Ads or branding on some hosts and builders
- No uptime guarantee and little support
- Accounts removed for inactivity or high resource use
- Weak security, so do not store customer data, payments or passwords of real users
- Slow performance on shared free servers
- Banned uses: many free hosts forbid commercial or high-traffic sites
- Moving costs: you may need to rebuild when you outgrow the plan
- Surprise bills on cloud providers if you exceed free limits
How to host a website for free in 3 steps (static site)
- Create your site as HTML files or with a framework such as Astro, React or Hugo, and put the project in a GitHub repository.
- Connect the host: in Cloudflare Pages or Netlify, create a new project from your repository. For GitHub Pages, open your repository’s Settings, choose Pages, and publish from a branch.
- Add your domain and SSL. Buy a domain from a registrar, add it in the host’s settings, and update the DNS records the host shows you. SSL is issued automatically.
To practise before you upload, try our JavaScript editor and HTML beautifier, and learn the basics in our JavaScript course and PHP course.
When to move to paid hosting
Move to paid hosting when you need reliable uptime, a business email, backups, support, a WordPress site that earns money, an online store or a security and performance guarantee. Paid plans in India start at a low monthly price, but renewals are higher than the intro price, so read our best web hosting in India guide first.
FAQs
What is the best free web hosting in 2026? Cloudflare Pages is the best free host for static sites. InfinityFree is the best free option for PHP and MySQL.
Is free web hosting safe? It is fine for learning and test sites. Do not use it for customer data, payments or business-critical sites, because support and security are limited.
Can I host a PHP or WordPress site for free? Yes, on hosts such as InfinityFree and AwardSpace, within their limits. Check the PHP version and expect limits on resources and uptime.
Can I use my own domain with free hosting? Yes on Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel, InfinityFree and AwardSpace. You still pay a registrar for the domain.
Is GitHub Pages free? Yes, for static sites, with a size and bandwidth soft limit. It is not meant for commercial transactions.
Do I need a credit card for free hosting? Not for Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel, InfinityFree or AwardSpace. Large cloud providers usually ask for a card, which can lead to charges if you exceed free limits.
Is Wix free hosting? Wix is a website builder with a free plan that includes hosting on a Wix subdomain, with ads. See our free website builders guide for details.
Free hosting or paid hosting for a blog? Use free static hosting for a developer blog. For a WordPress blog you want to grow, paid hosting is safer.
What happens if I exceed the free limits? Some hosts pause the site, some ask you to upgrade and some cloud providers charge you. Read the limits first and set alerts.
Conclusion
Free hosting is better than ever for static sites and learning projects. Use Cloudflare Pages or GitHub Pages for static sites, InfinityFree or AwardSpace for small PHP experiments, Render for small backend apps and an always-free cloud VM to learn servers. Once your site earns money or holds user data, move to reliable paid hosting.
Plans and limits were checked against 2026 reviews on October 30, 2026 and may change. Confirm on each provider’s official page before you sign up.