7 Best Free Hosting Companies (Actually FREE!)

Are you looking to launch a website for free?

Table of Contents

As someone who’s hosted and managed dozens of websites, I’ve seen my fair share of “free” offers that come with hidden catches.

So I’ve done the legwork to bring you a list of hosting companies that truly offer free plans.

These aren’t just trial periods or bait-and-switch tactics – I’m talking about genuinely free plans that can get your website up and running without spending a dime. Whether you’re a blogger, small business owner, or just starting your online journey, these options provide a solid foundation without breaking the bank.

Now, let’s be clear: free hosting does come with some trade-offs compared to paid plans. But for many projects, these services offer more than enough to get started. I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each option, helping you find the perfect fit for your needs.

What You Need to Know About Free Web Hosting?

Before you decide on free web hosting, it’s important to understand its potential drawbacks and dangers. While the idea of paying nothing is tempting, it often comes with trade-offs that could affect your website’s performance and growth.

These challenges could include slower loading times, limited storage space, or unexpected ads appearing on your pages.

Here are some key points to consider:

Resource Limits: Free plans give you less storage space and bandwidth. This means your website might load slowly or even go offline if too many people visit at once.
Ads on Your Site: Some free hosts put their own ads on your website. This can make your site look unprofessional and annoy your visitors.
Web Address Issues: Many free hosts only offer a subdomain (like yoursite.freehost.com) instead of a custom domain name (like yoursite.com).
Reliability Concerns: Free hosting services might experience more downtime than paid ones. This means your website could be unavailable more often. Plus, they can change their rules or even shut down without warning, which could leave your website without a home.
Security Risks: While basic security is usually included, free hosts might not offer strong protection against hackers or regular backups of your site.
Limited Growth: As your website gets bigger, you might quickly outgrow what the free plan offers. Moving to a paid plan later can be tricky.
No Support: If you run into problems, you’ll have to rely on online forums or you might not get any help at all.

When picking a free web host, make sure that they are a well-known and trusted company. Stay clear of dodgy websites that might be looking to defraud you or steal your data.

That said, I’ll first give you legit free web hosting options that are safe and reliable. These are hosted website platforms. They are all-in-one solutions that provide website building tools, hosting, and maintenance in one package.

However, on the free plans, your website will bear the host’s branding like mysite.wordpress.com or mysite.wix.com.

Also, they won’t give you access to your website’s files and database. You won’t be able to modify core functionality or add custom features easily. You can set up a basic website and that’s about it.

So, I’ll also give you affordable and reliable self-hosting options. This is the best route if you want a professional website with a custom domain like amazon.com and wp101.com. You’ll get full control and flexibility over your website’s design, growth, and monetization.

How We Test and Review Hosting Services

For close to 2 decades now, the WP101 team has used quite a few web hosts so we can speak from real-life experience. Plus, we’ve also put dozens of WordPress hosting companies to the test. Unlike other reviewers who rely on press releases, we take a hands-on approach.

First, we sign up for the hosting service and create a sample WordPress site that mimics a real user’s website, ensuring accurate results across all providers.

Then we use industry-standard tools like Pingdom, K6, and Bitcatcha to measure speed and reliability. We focus on what matters:

We test speed and server response time, high-traffic handling, and stress situations.
We check on affordability and value for money taking into account free domains, SSL, and CDN, along with money-back guarantees.
Websites are critical, and downtime can be devastating. We look for companies with knowledgeable support teams available 24/7/365.

Based on our rigorous testing, we recommend carefully selected providers. They offer exceptional value without breaking the bank.

Why Trust WP101

At WP101, we have 16+ years of experience teaching WordPress to thousands of people. Our team of WordPress experts reviews different web hosting plans, WordPress plugins, and themes on real websites. We also regularly update our content to keep up with changes in WordPress and the marketing world to make sure you get the latest information.

Just getting started with WordPress? Want to learn how to use this platform to maximize your online reach? Sign up for our video tutorials and unlock your website’s full potential:

Get started with WORDPRESS 101 »

There’s a 7-day free trial along with a 14-day no-risk money-back guarantee so you can join with peace of mind and start learning today.

What’s in This Hosting Review Guide?

Here are the best hosted options to build a website for free followed by web hosting plans that are cheap and affordable.

100% Free Hosting

WordPress.com
Wix
Weebly
Canva

Affordable Hosting

Bluehost
SiteGround
Hostinger

Let’s get started.

1. WordPress.com

My #1 pick for free web hosting is WordPress.com. It’s designed for people who want to create websites or blogs without dealing with technical aspects like hosting or software updates.

It’s a trusted and reliable platform to start your website for free. The main catch with the free plan is your site will have a WordPress.com subdomain (yoursite.wordpress.com). You can’t use a custom domain name on the free plan.

You get 3GB of storage space, which is enough for a basic blog or simple website with text and some images. You can choose from a selection of free themes to customize your site’s look. However, premium themes aren’t available on this plan.

Pros

Easy to use, especially for beginners.
Access to a variety of free themes
Built-in spam protection
Good uptime and reliability
Basic blogging and SEO tools
WordPress.com handles security and keeps your site updated automatically.

Cons

Limited storage space
Your site will have WordPress.com branding, which you can’t remove on the free plan
The free plan doesn’t allow you to run your own ads or set up an online store
You can access the WordPress.com forums for help, but direct support is limited

This free plan is good for personal blogs or trying out WordPress, but it has limitations for growing websites or businesses.

Get started with WordPress.com »

2. Wix

Wix is a popular website-building platform that allows users to create professional-looking websites without needing coding skills. It’s known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and wide range of customizable templates.

Wix offers an AI website builder which is easy to use. The downside to Wix is that while it’s easy to set up a basic website, it’s difficult to customize it to your liking. You’ll be limited in what you can and cannot change.

Pros

Very easy to use, even for beginners
Wide variety of professional-looking templates
Flexibility in design customization
No coding knowledge required
Regular updates and new features
Integrated blogging platform
Mobile editor for on-the-go updates

Cons

Free plan shows Wix ads on your site
Limited storage and bandwidth on free plan
Can’t use a custom domain with free plan
Difficult to switch templates after site creation
Limited eCommerce features on free plan
Can’t fully back up or export your site

Get started with Wix »

3. Weebly

Weebly is a user-friendly website builder and hosting platform that allows users to create websites, blogs, and online stores without needing coding skills. It’s known for its simplicity and straightforward drag-and-drop interface.

You can create a website for free that will bear an address like mytravelblog.weebly.com. You’ll get basic storage, basic SEO tools and free SSL security.

What I like about Weebly is that it gives you access to chat and email customer support even on the free plan.

It also comes with eCommerce features like item listings, quick shop, shopping cart, inventory management, coupons, and gift cards. It even has an automatic tax calculator.

But the thing is, most users will not shop at a website like mystore.weebly.com. It doesn’t send signals that your business is legitimate and trustworthy. So it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to set up a successful eCommerce store on the free plan.

Pros

Easy to use, suitable for beginners
Clean, professional templates
Free plan available for basic websites
Mobile-responsive designs
Basic eCommerce features even on the free plan
Decent app center for additional features
Ability to switch themes without rebuilding
Good for small business websites

Cons

Limited storage on free plan
Can’t use a custom domain with the free plan
Fewer design options compared to some competitors
Not suitable for larger, more complex websites

Weebly is particularly popular among small businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals looking for a straightforward way to create a website or simple online store. Its free plan offers more eCommerce capabilities than some competitors, making it a good choice for those testing the waters of online selling.

Get started with Weebly »

4. Canva

Canva is primarily a graphic design platform that has expanded to include website creation tools. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates and design elements.

Canva’s website builder is particularly useful for individuals or businesses who already use Canva for design work and want a simple, visually appealing website. It’s great for portfolios, landing pages, or simple business sites, but may not be the best choice for more complex web projects or those requiring advanced functionality.

Pros:

Very easy to use, especially for those familiar with Canva
Extensive library of design elements and templates
Integrates seamlessly with other Canva design projects
Free plan available for basic websites
Unique designs are possible due to Canva’s graphic design roots
Good for visually-focused websites
Easy to create and update visual content
Collaboration features for team projects

Cons:

Limited website functionality compared to dedicated website builders
Basic SEO tools only
No custom domain on the free plan
Limited storage on free plan
No e-commerce features on free plan
Less suitable for complex websites or blogs
Canva branding on free plan sites
Limited customization of website structure

Get started with Canva »

Best Cheap Web Hosting Providers

With these self-hosted providers, you’re not locked into one system or website builder. You can use WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Shopify or other popular software and content management systems (CMS), giving you more options for how your site looks and works. You can migrate between different CMSes any time you need as well.

1. Bluehost

Bluehost is a popular web hosting provider that stands out for its reliability and seamless WordPress integration. While they don’t offer a free plan, their Basic plan is an affordable option that packs a lot of value.

What makes Bluehost special is their all-inclusive approach to web hosting. Unlike many other hosts that charge you for add-ons, Bluehost includes most of these features in their basic package.

When you sign up, you’ll get an AI site creator, a free domain name for the first year, free SSL certificate for security, and a free Content Delivery Network (CDN) to boost your site’s speed.

But that’s not all. Bluehost also throws in robust security features at no extra cost. This includes a firewall to protect your site, malware scanning to detect threats, and DDoS protection to keep your site online during attacks. With most other hosts, you’d have to pay extra for these essential security measures.

The cherry on top? You can manage all these features from a single, user-friendly dashboard. This makes Bluehost an excellent choice for beginners and experienced users alike who want a comprehensive, hassle-free hosting solution.

Bluehost Pros

10 GB SSD storage
AI site creation tools
Free domain 1st year
Free SSL – Let’s Encrypt
Free CDN – Cloudflare with Argo Routing
Web application firewall and DDoS protection
24/7 chat support
Free WordPress migration tool
Free malware scanning
Free Yoast SEO
Managed updates
WordPress staging site

Bluehost Cons

Their professional email inboxes are available as an add-on service. They offer a free 3-month trial of professional email plans.
They offer chat support and phone support. There’s no email support.

Bluehost Pricing

Starts from $2.75 per month. We’ve worked out a deal with Bluehost to get you a discount to make it even more affordable to start your website. This exclusive WP101 deal will get you the basic web hosting plan at just $1.99 per month with all the same benefits and features.

Claim this exclusive Bluehost deal

2. SiteGround

SiteGround is a popular web host that’s affordable and reliable.

It’s known for excellent performance and customer support. Their StartUp plan is their entry-level offering, designed for small websites and beginners.

While SiteGround costs money, you’ll find the extra features, control, and support worth it for a serious website or online business.
SiteGround offers faster loading times and better reliability. This means your website will work smoothly even with more visitors.

SiteGround Pros

1 website
10 GB web space
10,000 visits monthly
Unmetered traffic & unlimited databases
Enhanced security
eCommerce enabled
Managed WordPress
Out-of-the-box caching
100% renewable energy match
Free Domain, SSL, daily backup, CDN, email, and email migrator

SiteGround Cons

You can host only 1 website on the StartUp plan
Higher price point compared to some competitors’ basic plans

SiteGround Pricing

Starts at $2.99 per month. There’s a 30-day money back guarantee.

Get started with SiteGround »

3. Hostinger

Hostinger is a powerful web hosting service that also comes recommended by WordPress.org. It’s a good choice for individuals or small businesses looking to start their first website on a tight budget.

You can host up to 100 websites on the basic plan! You’ll get 100GB NVMe storage.

It includes 150 free pre-built templates, an AI website builder, and marketing integrations. Plus, they take security seriously. Your sites will get a firewall, DDoS protection, malware scanning, and WHOIS privacy.

Freebies include a domain name, unlimited free SSL, email, weekly backups, automatic website migration, and more.

It offers a balance of essential features at a very competitive price point, making it an attractive alternative to free hosting platforms for those ready to invest a small amount in their online presence.

Hostinger Pros

They offer 1-click WordPress installation
You can use the drag and drop website builder to create your site
Hosting plans come with AI website creation options
There are 150 designer-crafted website templates to choose from
You can integrate with Google Analytics and your favorite marketing tools
Built-in caching for faster website performance
Advanced firewall and DDoS protection
Free Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin

Hostinger Cons

Free CDN access is available only on higher plans.

Hostinger Pricing

Starts at $2.69 per month (+3 months free). There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee too.

Get started with Hostinger »

That’s our list of the best affordable web hosting services to choose from. We hope you found this guide helpful in choosing the right plan whether you want to start a blog, business website, or eCommerce store.

That brings us to the end of this guide on free and cheap hosting solutions.

Once you choose a hosting plan and get a domain name, you can install WordPress and start building your website.

Here’s our round up of the Best WordPress Blog Themes to Elevate Your Content.

You can use the default WordPress customizer or choose a website builder like SeedProd or Thrive Theme Builder.

Here’s a list of free plugins you can use to build and grow your site. These plugins can be used only if you’re using self-hosted WordPress.org with your own hosting plan like one from Bluehost or Hostinger.

Bonus: Free WordPress Plugins

1. WPForms – Create any form you need for your site
2. AIOSEO – Optimize your site for search engines
3. MonsterInsights – Google Analytics made easy for WordPress
4. SeedProd – Quickly create landing pages and coming soon pages
5. WP Mail SMTP – Improve email deliverability from your WordPress site
6. Smash Balloon – Easily embed social media feeds on your website
7. Easy Digital Downloads – Sell digital products directly from WordPress
8. WP Simple Pay – Accept one-time and recurring payments with Stripe
9. SearchWP – Enhance WordPress search functionality and relevance
10. Charitable – Create and manage fundraising campaigns on your site
11. Duplicator – Migrate, copy, or clone your WordPress site effortlessly
12. Sucuri – Boost your website security and monitor for threats

If you want WordPress experts to build your WordPress site, improve your site’s performance, or help with WordPress maintenance, check out Pro Services from WPBeginner.

Their experts will:

Design the website you’ve dreamed of complete with your professional logo and branding
Audit your site for speed and performance and also take measures to improve loading time
Handle everything behind the scenes, monitor uptime, and update your WordPress core
Clean up your WordPress site in case it gets hacked

If you want to learn how to setup, design, launch, and maintain your site on your own, then you’ll want to check out our step-by-step video tutorials that are easy to follow and always up to date to help you unlock the full potential of WordPress:

There’s a 7-day free trial along with a 14-day no risk money back guarantee so you can join with peace of mind and start learning today.

FAQs on Free Hosting Service

Are there any catches to using free hosting?

Yes, there are usually limitations. Free hosts often display ads on your site, offer limited storage and bandwidth, and may have slower loading times. Your site might also use a subdomain instead of a custom domain name.

Can I use my own domain name with free hosting?

Most free hosting services don’t allow custom domain names. You’ll usually get a subdomain like yoursite.freehost.com. Some services might offer domain connection as a paid upgrade.

Is free hosting suitable for business websites?

Generally, free hosting isn’t recommended for business websites. The limitations, potential downtime, and lack of advanced features can negatively impact your business’s online presence.

What types of websites work best with free hosting?

Free hosting is most suitable for personal projects, hobby sites, or testing out web development ideas. Small blogs or simple portfolio sites can also work well on free hosts.

How reliable are free hosting services?

Reliability can vary. Free hosts may have more downtime compared to paid services. They might also have slower loading times and less consistent performance.

Can I upgrade from free to paid hosting later?

Most free hosting providers offer paid plans, allowing you to upgrade when needed. However, transitioning to a different hosting company might require migrating your website.

Do free hosts provide customer support?

Support for free hosting is often limited. You might have access to community forums or basic documentation, but personalized support is usually reserved for paid plans.

Are there security risks with free hosting?

Reliable free hosts typically provide basic security measures, but they may not be as robust as paid options. Always be cautious about the data you store on a free hosting platform.

What are some other free web hosting providers?

There are other free web hosting providers that we have not recommended. These include:

1. InfinityFree
2. 000WebHost
3. AwardSpace
4. Freehostia
5. Byethost
6. FreeHosting.com

Each of these has its own set of features, limitations, and terms of service. At WP101, we only recommend ones we’ve tried and can vouch for.

Is Wix really free?

Wix does offer a free plan, but with limitations:

Your site will have Wix branding and ads
You’ll use a Wix subdomain (yoursite.wixsite.com/yoursite)
Limited storage and bandwidth
Basic features only

For full functionality, custom domains, and no Wix ads, you need to upgrade to a paid plan. So while you can create and maintain a basic website for free, Wix’s free plan has significant restrictions.

Is free hosting good for SEO?

Free hosting generally isn’t ideal for SEO for several reasons:

Slower loading times, which can negatively impact search rankings
Limited SEO tools and customization options
Shared IP addresses, which might be associated with spam sites
Subdomains instead of custom domains, which are less favored by search engines
Potential downtime, which can hurt your search engine rankings
Limited storage and bandwidth, restricting how much content you can create and publish

Is free web hosting safe?

It depends on the web hosting provider. You need to research the reputation of any free host you’re considering and be cautious about the type of data you store on these platforms. For sites handling sensitive information or financial transactions, paid hosting with robust security features is strongly recommended.

What are the different kinds of hosting I can get?

There are generally shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting. Some web hosts also provide specific plans for Cloud Hosting, WooCommerce Hosting, Blog Hosting, and WordPress Hosting.

That’s all. Check out our Ultimate WordPress Toolkit which has everything you need to create and grow your website.