How to Host Your Websites Free
Reliable Free & Low-Cost Web Hosting — Review for 2025
Introduction
If you’re building a website — whether it’s a personal blog, static site for a side project, or a small business presence — hosting costs and reliability matter.
Free hosting can get you started, but as you grow, you may want to choose a low-cost paid host that offers better performance, uptime, and support.
This article reviews reliable free and low-cost web hosting options in 2025, including updated pricing, features, and considerations for selecting the best host for your needs.
Free Hosting vs. Low-Cost Paid Hosting
Free hosting means no monthly fee (or minimal cost), but it often comes with trade-offs: limited storage, bandwidth, sub-domains instead of custom domains, or slower response times.
Low-cost paid hosting, on the other hand, usually provides full domain support, better performance, stronger uptime guarantees, and professional support — typically for just a few dollars a month.
It’s often worth the modest investment for serious or long-term projects.
Free Hosting Options (with caveats)
There are several platforms that offer free web hosting services where you can host your websites at no cost.
Each has its own limitations (bandwidth, domain, uptime, traffic), but they’re useful for small projects, portfolios, or test sites.
1. GitHub Pages
Status: Fully active and supported.
GitHub Pages provides hosting for static websites (HTML, CSS, JS) directly from a GitHub repository.
- Free for public repositories, private repos require specific GitHub plans.
- Supports custom domains and free HTTPS.
- Ideal for static site generators (Hugo, Jekyll, Pelican, etc.), documentation, or personal portfolios.
- Not designed for dynamic, server-side applications.
How to Use:
- Create a GitHub repository named
yourusername.github.io. - Upload your HTML/CSS/JS or generated SSG output.
- Go to Settings → Pages → Source, and choose the branch/folder to publish.
- Your site appears at
https://yourusername.github.io/.
More Info: GitHub Pages Docs
2. Netlify — Free Tier
Status: Still one of the best free hosting services in 2025.
Netlify provides continuous deployment and CDN hosting for static sites.
- Free plan includes: 100 GB bandwidth/month, build minutes, SSL, custom domains, and Git integration.
- Automatically builds and deploys from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
- Excellent choice for JAMstack and static site generator users.
Caveats:
Free plan has bandwidth and build-minute limits; you can upgrade anytime.
More Info: Netlify Free Plan
3. 000WebHost
Status: ⚠️ Discontinued for free hosting
Once a popular free host for PHP/MySQL, 000WebHost ended its free hosting service in late 2024.
Existing users must migrate to paid hosting or another provider.
Recommendation: Use alternatives like InfinityFree or AwardSpace instead.
4. InfinityFree
Status: Active and continues to offer free hosting.
- Free hosting with PHP, MySQL, and free SSL.
- “Unlimited” disk and bandwidth, but subject to fair-use policy.
- Free subdomains provided; custom domains supported.
Caveats:
“Unlimited” is policy-based and may have hidden restrictions on heavy traffic or resource use.
Uptime and support are limited compared to paid hosting.
More Info: InfinityFree.net
5. AwardSpace
Status: Active and reliable small-site host.
- Free plan includes 1 GB storage, 5 GB bandwidth, PHP/MySQL, and free subdomain.
- Custom domain support available even on the free plan.
- Includes their Zacky Installer for easy WordPress setup.
Caveats:
Performance and resources are limited; best for small personal or test sites.
More Info: AwardSpace Free Hosting
6. Google Cloud Free Tier
Status: Active, with “Free Credits” and “Always Free” services.
- New users receive $300 in credits to explore Google Cloud for one year.
- Certain resources (Compute Engine f1-micro, Cloud Storage, App Engine) remain always free within limits.
- Excellent for developers needing scalable infrastructure for learning or small apps.
Caveats:
Setup is more technical. Costs can accrue if you exceed free quotas.
More Info: Google Cloud Free Tier
General Tips for Free Web Hosting
- Custom domains: Use them if possible; it looks professional and avoids lock-in.
- Bandwidth & storage limits: Keep your site lightweight.
- Backups: Always back up your files; free hosts rarely guarantee data safety.
- Upgrade plans: Free tiers are best for testing; move to paid hosting when traffic or reliability becomes critical.
Low-Cost Paid Hosting Services — 2025 Review
1. Hostinger
Overview: Still one of the best low-cost options overall.
- Pricing: From ~$2.49/month (4-year plan). Renewal around $10.99/month.
- Features: Free domain (1 yr), SSL, CDN, 30-day money-back, 24/7 support.
- Best For: Beginners or small to medium websites.
Pros:
✅ Excellent value and performance.
✅ Easy setup, beginner-friendly.
Cons:
⚠️ Low intro price requires long commitment; renewals much higher.
More Info: Hostinger Pricing
2. Bluehost
Overview: Long-standing WordPress-recommended host.
- Pricing: Starts at ~$2.95/month (promo), renews at ~$11.99+.
- Features: Free domain (1 yr), SSL, 24/7 support, 1-click WordPress install.
- Best For: WordPress users, personal or small business sites.
Pros:
✅ Easy WordPress integration, reliable uptime.
Cons:
⚠️ High renewal rates; resource limits on cheaper plans.
More Info: Bluehost Hosting
3. SiteGround
Overview: Premium low-cost hosting with top-tier performance.
- Pricing: Starts at ~$2.99/month (promo); renews ~$17.99/month.
- Features: Daily backups, free CDN & SSL, Google Cloud infrastructure, strong support.
- Best For: Business or high-traffic sites.
Pros:
✅ Excellent uptime, speed, and security.
Cons:
⚠️ Renewal cost jumps significantly after promo period.
More Info: SiteGround Hosting
4. GreenGeeks
Overview: Eco-friendly hosting powered by renewable energy.
- Pricing: Starts around $2.95/month (promo).
- Features: Free domain, SSL, CDN, nightly backups, 24/7 support.
- Best For: Users seeking sustainability and performance.
Pros:
✅ Strong green initiative, excellent uptime.
Cons:
⚠️ Renewal prices higher, like most shared hosts.
More Info: GreenGeeks Hosting
5. IONOS by 1&1
Overview: Simple, budget-friendly entry-level hosting.
- Pricing: From $1/month for first year (Basic plan).
- Features: Free domain (1 yr), SSL, email account, scalable resources.
- Best For: Beginners and small static or business sites.
Pros:
✅ Very low intro cost, strong support.
Cons:
⚠️ Limited advanced features; interface feels dated.
More Info: IONOS Hosting
How to Choose a Web Host
When choosing a free or low-cost web host, consider:
- Intro vs. renewal pricing — watch for large renewal jumps.
- Resources (bandwidth, storage) — match them to your site’s size and growth.
- SSL and domain inclusion — essential for credibility and SEO.
- CDN and performance tools — improve global site speed.
- Uptime guarantees — 99.9% or higher is standard.
- Upgrade paths — ensure your host supports scaling.
If you’re using a Static Site Generator (SSG) such as Hugo, Jekyll, or Pelican, ensure your host supports static file deployment (e.g., FTP upload, Git-based deployment, or CDN hosting).
Summary Recommendations
| Type | Recommended Host | Key Strength | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Static Sites) | GitHub Pages / Netlify | Free HTTPS, Git automation | Portfolios, small projects |
| Free (Dynamic) | InfinityFree / AwardSpace | PHP/MySQL support | Hobby or test sites |
| Low-Cost (General) | Hostinger | Best value | Beginners, general use |
| Low-Cost (WordPress) | Bluehost | WordPress integration | Blogs, small business |
| Premium Low-Cost | SiteGround | Performance & security | Serious or business sites |
| Eco-Friendly | GreenGeeks | Renewable energy hosting | Environment-focused users |
| Ultra-Budget | IONOS | $1 intro plan | Simple, small sites |
Conclusion
Reliable web hosting doesn’t have to be expensive.
If you’re experimenting, GitHub Pages or Netlify give you professional-grade static site hosting for free.
For small business or long-term sites, affordable providers like Hostinger, Bluehost, or SiteGround deliver better uptime, scalability, and customer support.
Start free, learn the tools, then upgrade when your traffic or features demand it — ensuring your website stays fast, secure, and reliable.
Author:
D.X. Zhang
Technical Writer & Developer
© 2025