12 Best Free Web Hosting For Beginners Reviewed

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Starting a website often begins with the question, “Can I host my website for free?” This is a commonly asked question among beginners. 

While free web hosting can seem like a great way to save money when launching your online presence, it’s not always the ideal long-term solution—especially if you aim to build a sustainable business. 

I don’t generally recommend that beginners start with a free hosting platform. Still, there are situations in which you should begin with the best free web hosting providers for beginners before upgrading to a premium server with more resources, features, and control. 

In this guide, I explore the pros and cons of free hosting, introduce you to reliable free hosting providers, and offer better-paid alternatives that provide superior value while keeping your hosting budget within limits. 

What is Free Web Hosting?

Free hosting allows individuals and businesses to host their websites without upfront costs. These services are popular among beginners, hobbyists, and students looking to experiment with web development or share personal projects online. 

However, free hosting often has significant resource, reliability, and scalability trade-offs.

The reality is that running a web hosting business costs a lot of money and resources, so most free web hosts must recoup their expenses in some way. 

They can achieve this by serving third-party advertisements on your website pages, upselling relevant services and products, restricting your platform use, and even deleting your website without prior notice. 

With this insight, let’s quickly review the pros and cons of free web hosting companies. 

Pros and Cons of Free Web Hosting

Advantages of Free Web Hosting

Free web hosting provides several advantages, especially for beginners and those with no-hosting budgets. 

Here are some key benefits:

• No Financial Commitment – Everyone can access a free hosting platform, regardless of budget. It offers a risk-free opportunity for users to explore building a website without paying upfront fees. This is especially beneficial for hobbyists, personal projects, or anyone just starting web development.

• Perfect for Testing and Experimenting – You can test ideas, experiment with designs, or build prototypes without the pressure of making a financial investment. It’s a low-risk environment for learning basic web development skills and exploring different tools and features.

• Great for Temporary or Small Projects – Free hosting can be a perfect solution for a short-term project, such as a portfolio or personal blog. It’s ideal for creating a website that doesn’t require heavy resources or extensive custom features, making it suitable for small, temporary projects that don’t generate much traffic.

• Easy to Set Up – Most free hosting platforms come with one-click website creation tools, making it easy to launch a site even for beginners with minimal technical experience. Platforms like WordPress.com and Wix provide intuitive drag-and-drop builders that simplify website design and management.

• Zero Maintenance Costs – With free hosting, you don’t need to worry about additional costs for security, backups, or upgrades—the hosting provider typically handles these services. This can be a significant relief for beginners who may not be familiar with the technical aspects of website management.

• Suitable for Learning Basic Web Development – Free hosting is an excellent way to learn the basics of web development, including HTML, CSS, and content management systems (CMS) like WordPress. It’s a valuable hands-on environment for building and experimenting with a website before committing to more advanced tools or paid services.

• Access to Prebuilt Themes and Templates – You can access various pre-designed themes and templates, allowing you to customize the sites quickly. For beginners, this reduces the need to design everything from scratch and provides a polished look without the added effort.

• Promotes Creativity—You can focus more on creativity and content creation without the pressure of running a business or generating revenue. This makes free hosting an excellent platform for personal blogs, art portfolios, or other projects prioritizing expression over financial gain.

Disadvantages of Free Web Hosting

While the “free” label might catch your attention, free hosting is far from a sustainable solution for serious website projects. Here’s why:

• Limited Resources – Free hosting services often have stringent limits on storage space, bandwidth, and processing power. This means your website might perform poorly, especially as traffic grows. For an online business, slow load times or limited availability can frustrate users and lead to lost revenue.

• Lack of Control—Customization is limited, and you don’t have total control. For instance, you might be unable to use your custom domain or install advanced plugins and themes. This lack of control can hinder your ability to optimize and brand your website effectively.

• Advertisements on your website – Most free hosting services make money by placing ads. These ads can look unprofessional and distract visitors from your content. Worse, you have no control over the types of ads displayed, which could negatively impact your brand’s reputation.

• Unreliable Performance—Server performance is a significant issue for a free host. It is often overloaded, leading to frequent downtimes, slow response times, and a loss of audience.

• Security Risks—Another disadvantage of free web hosts is their lack of prioritized security. Many lack SSL certificates and malware detection/removal features, leaving your site vulnerable to cyberattacks. Limited customer support can also cause a headache when resolving security and performance issues.

• No Scalability Options – As your website grows, you’ll quickly outgrow the limits of free hosting. Unfortunately, migrating your site to a paid plan or another provider can be time-consuming and technically challenging.

For these reasons, free hosting is best suited for temporary or non-critical websites. If you plan to build a long-term project, paid hosting is a far better investment.

Top Free Web Hosting Providers

Based on years of experience with internet marketing and WordPress, these web hosts offer almost free, trial period, or low-cost hosting plans. 

Most web hosts on this page guarantee that your site remains freely accessible for as long as you keep it and abide by the platform rules and terms of service. 

Still, I recommend you purchase an affordable, budget-friendly web hosting plan sooner rather than later. This will give you complete control over your site content, files, customization, and scalability, let you make money with it, and turn your passion into a sustainable business.

You can get a hosting plan from Namecheap or Hostinger for as low as $1.98 monthly. For anyone serious about their business, this is a reasonable hosting price that should never be passed on. 

Anyway, here are the best free web hosting providers for beginners. 

1. WordPress.com

WordPress.com is one of the most popular free hosting platforms on the web. It is explicitly designed for users seeking a seamless experience with the WordPress content management system (CMS). It provides all-in-one hosting, content creation, and website management solutions. 

The free plan includes 1 GB of storage, a WordPress-branded subdomain (e.g., yourname.wordpress.com), and essential features for building blogs, personal websites, or small portfolios. Its user-friendly interface and WordPress’s global reputation make it a go-to choice for beginners with no technical experience.

However, the free plan comes with restrictions. Users cannot upload custom plugins or themes, limiting advanced functionality and customization. 

While the platform offers a variety of pre-installed free themes, many premium themes are locked behind paid plans. 

Similarly, users cannot monetize their websites through ads without upgrading to a premium plan. These limitations make WordPress.com less appealing for growing businesses or advanced users requiring more flexibility.

One of WordPress.com’s strengths lies in its built-in audience reach and SEO benefits. 

The platform integrates well with search engines, and its simplified interface allows you to optimize your content for search visibility. However, advanced SEO tools are only available with paid plans. 

Additionally, WordPress.com sites benefit from a reliable hosting infrastructure, ensuring consistent uptime, security, and performance.

Upgrading to a paid plan, which starts at $4 monthly, unlocks significant benefits, including custom domains, expanded storage, access to premium themes, and the ability to upload plugins for enhanced functionality. 

Premium plans also remove WordPress.com branding and ads, giving users greater control over their site’s branding and appearance. 

These upgrades are particularly beneficial if transitioning from a personal project to a more professional or business-oriented website.

Despite its restrictions, WordPress.com remains an excellent free web hosting for beginner WordPress users.

2. InfinityFree

InfinityFree is one of the most popular free hosting platforms. It offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth without displaying ads on users’ websites. The service supports PHP, MySQL, and free SSL certificates, making it compatible with WordPress and other content management systems. 

InfinityFree is designed for hobbyists, students, and beginners who need a cost-free way to host basic websites. 

While the platform excels in affordability and ad-free hosting, its performance can vary significantly, especially during peak traffic, due to resource sharing on free servers.

InfinityFree imposes strict platform restrictions, prohibiting adult content, file-sharing websites, or resource-heavy applications. 

If you need technical support, you may be limited to essential customer support through community forums, which may not always provide timely solutions.

While it’s a good starting point for learning and experimenting with website building, InfinityFree lacks the reliability and scalability for serious business or eCommerce websites. 

The lack of automated backups and limited server control further highlight its shortcomings for long-term or professional use. 

However, its zero-cost entry point remains attractive for beginners or casual users who want a hands-on introduction to hosting without financial commitments.

If 5GB storage space is sufficient, InfinityFree is a good web host for beginners.

3. Google Cloud Free Tier

Google Cloud’s free tier allows users to explore Google’s robust hosting infrastructure. The tier offers $300 in credits, valid for the first 90 days. 

You also gain access to limited free-tier resources, such as Google Compute Engine and Cloud Storage, for small-scale projects. 

Open an account and start building a website for free on the Google Cloud platform with just your Gmail. 

The free tier is not a simplified version of the Google Cloud platform but a full-featured entry point, making it ideal for those who need robust testing and development tools.

However, the free tier is not designed for beginners. 

You must configure virtual machines, set up servers, and manage resources manually, which requires a solid understanding of cloud technologies. 

Likewise, hosting costs can escalate quickly once the initial credits are exhausted, especially for resource-intensive applications. 

If you’re a non-technical user or running a simple website, the learning curve and complexity of Google Cloud can be challenging. 

So, I suggest you try Cloudways or other web hosts specializing in cloud hosting services. This web host has simplified cloud hosting complexity, making it accessible and manageable for an average internet user. 

Google Cloud platform excels in performance and scalability. Its free tier best suits developers and tech-savvy individuals who need advanced hosting solutions rather than casual users or small businesses.

4. AWS Free Tier

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a free tier with 12 months of access to some of its most popular services, including Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Amazon Lightsail. This makes it an excellent choice for developers and businesses looking to test their applications for free in a cloud environment. 

The free tier is particularly valuable for those needing a secure and reliable platform to experiment with building websites or apps without initially committing to a paid plan.

Despite its robust capabilities, AWS is not beginner-friendly. 

Setting up a website requires technical expertise, and navigating its vast ecosystem of services can overwhelm first-time users. 

Free-tier users must also monitor resource usage carefully to avoid incurring charges, as exceeding the free limits can lead to unexpected costs. 

AWS does not include dedicated customer support for free users, leaving you to rely on documentation and community forums for assistance. 

While it’s a powerful tool for experienced developers, the AWS free tier is not ideal for those who need a simple or hassle-free hosting solution.

5. ByetHost

ByetHost is a lesser-known but reliable free hosting provider managed by iFastNet. It offers 1 GB of storage, 50 GB of monthly bandwidth, ad-free hosting, and support for PHP and MySQL. These features make it suitable for hosting small-scale WordPress sites, personal blogs, or experimental projects. 

Since its inception in 2005, ByetHost has carved out a niche among users, prioritizing performance over extra features. The platform also includes access to the VistaPanel control panel, which provides a user-friendly interface for managing files, databases, and emails.

While ByetHost provides a solid foundation for free hosting, it has significant limitations. Resource allocation is minimal, making it unsuitable for growing or high-traffic websites. You shouldn’t be surprised at this. 

The absence of automatic backups and limited server control can pose challenges if you want more control over your site’s functionality and safety.

As a free user, you get minimal customer support, which encourages you to upgrade to paid plans for better assistance and features. ByetHost is a good option for temporary or small-scale projects but lacks the scalability and reliability needed for more ambitious website projects.

In addition, you can start a free website with free hosting on ByetHost to build your knowledge about Internet marketing. 

6. Weebly

Weebly is a beginner-friendly website builder that offers free hosting. Acquired by Square in 2018, Weebly has been a go-to platform for small businesses and individuals looking for an easy way to create and host websites without technical skills. 

Its drag-and-drop website editor allows you to design professional-looking sites quickly. 

The free plan provides 500 MB of storage and basic SSL security, making it suitable for personal blogs, portfolios, and small projects. 

You can also integrate eCommerce features like a shopping cart, though these are limited in the free version.

One major drawback of Weebly’s free hosting is the mandatory display of Weebly branding on all pages. This reduces the professional appearance of websites, which can be a dealbreaker for business sites. 

Also, the platform does not provide a custom domain on free plans, meaning all sites are hosted on a Weebly subdomain (e.g., yourname.weebly.com). Performance and customization are also limited compared to premium hosting solutions. 

If you don’t mind these drawbacks, Weebly is an ideal free web hosting platform. 

7. Wix

Wix is a leading website builder known for its flexibility and ease of use. Founded in 2006, it offers free hosting bundled with its drag-and-drop site builder. The free plan includes 500 MB of storage and 500 MB of bandwidth, making it ideal for personal sites, small portfolios, or basic informational pages. 

Wix also provides hundreds of professionally designed templates, allowing users to create visually appealing websites with minimal effort. The platform suits creative individuals or small businesses, prioritizing aesthetics and usability over advanced technical features.

However, the free hosting plan has its limitations. Websites are hosted on a Wix subdomain and feature Wix ads, which can detract from their credibility. 

Free users cannot access advanced SEO tools, analytics, or eCommerce features, restricting the platform’s utility for growing businesses. 

Additionally, while the builder offers extensive customization, its design elements are often “locked in,” making it challenging to migrate a site to another host in the future. 

Still, Wix is a top choice for free hosting if you’re just starting your journey in online marketing.

Paid Alternatives to Free Hosting

The premium web hosts listed here offer budget-friendly hosting plans ranging from $1.95 monthly to $20.

Beyond the low-cost hosting plan, these web hosts are some of the industry’s most widely used and recognized. Top brands and organizations like WordPress, Google, and the like recommend them.

Go through the list and check on a web host that aligns with your business needs.

8. EasyWP by Namecheap

EasyWP is a managed WordPress hosting solution offered by Namecheap. It caters to WordPress users who value simplicity and performance. 

EasyWP is designed for beginners and professionals who need an affordable, user-friendly, managed WordPress hosting platform. 

Its unique one-month free trial makes it stand out, allowing you to explore its features without financial responsibility. 

After the trial, the Starter plan costs just $24.88 per year, making it one of the most cost-effective options on the market. 

All plans include free SSL certificates, one-click backups, a website builder, SuperSonic CDN, and easy integration with Namecheap’s domain services.

It also has its built-in cache function, which provides speed and performance optimization automatically. 

EasyWP is perfect for bloggers, small businesses, and startups that want to build fast and reliable WordPress sites. 

The platform boasts fast loading speeds through its optimized cloud infrastructure, ensuring smooth user experiences even during traffic spikes. 

However, while EasyWP offers excellent value for small websites, larger businesses with high traffic might need to consider more robust hosting solutions, such as Kinsta, Pressable, WP Engine, or Cloudways. 

EasyWP is a fantastic entry point into paid hosting, especially if transitioning from free hosting.

9. Hostinger

Hostinger, established in 2004, is one of the most affordable web hosting providers globally. Its competitive pricing starts at $1.99 monthly, making it nearly free for users on a tight budget. 

The Single Shared Hosting plan includes 50 GB of SSD storage, 100 GB of bandwidth, free automatic site migration, and a free SSL certificate, ensuring optimal site performance and security.

Hostinger sweetens the deal with a free domain name for one year on higher-tier plans, which appeals to first-time website owners. Its hPanel interface is also intuitive, simplifying website management even for beginners.

Hostinger caters to a broad audience, from bloggers and portfolio creators to small businesses. The platform supports various CMS options, including WordPress, Joomla, and Magento, ensuring flexibility for diverse project types, including Woocommerce.

However, its lowest-tier plan has limitations, such as hosting only one website and limited resources, which may not suffice for high-traffic sites. 

For higher hosting plans, Hostinger offers up to 200GB NVMe storage, free CDN, free email hosting, smart WordPress auto-updates, advanced WordPress acceleration cache (Litespeed Cache + Object Cache), and more tools.

Hostinger is an excellent choice if you want to secure a long-term hosting contract at the lowest prices in the industry. 

For example, Hostinger’s Premium WordPress hosting plan offers a 3-year hosting plan for less than $290.

10. HostGator

HostGator is a trusted name in the web hosting industry and one of the oldest web hosts. It offers affordable, feature-rich shared hosting plans. 

With prices starting at $2.75 per month for the Hatchling plan, you gain access to unmetered bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, and a free domain for the first year. 

HostGator offers a cPanel interface and one-click WordPress installation, making it beginner-friendly. Its scalability allows you to upgrade as your websites grow. 

With a 45-day money-back guarantee, you can thoroughly test and assess the services.

HostGator is ideal for bloggers, small businesses, and beginners looking for a low-cost hosting solution with dependable performance. Its customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, phone, and email, ensuring users can resolve issues promptly. 

HostGator is a dependable web host offering affordable plans if you have the budget. 

11. Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform launched in 2011. It offers flexibility, scalability, and performance for many users. 

Unlike traditional monthly or yearly tired hosting billing, Cloudways operates on a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to scale your hosting resources up or down as needed. 

Cloudways hosting plans start at $11 monthly on the DigitalOcean standard server. 

The platform supports multiple cloud providers, including AWS, Google Cloud, Linode, Vultr, and DigitalOcean, allowing you to choose the cloud infrastructure that suits your needs.

Cloudways also suits developers, agencies, eCommerce hosting for online shops, and small- to medium-sized businesses seeking high-performance hosting with minimal technical overhead. 

Cloudways custom control panel simplifies server and application management. At the same time, features like automated backups, free SSL certificates, malware protection, Cloudways autonomous, Breeze (Cache plugin), Cloudflare Enterprise addon, and dedicated firewalls ensure security, high server performance, and reliability. 

However, Cloudways is less beginner-friendly than traditional hosts, requiring some understanding of hosting concepts. 

Its pricing structure can also be complex for those unfamiliar with cloud hosting and a pay-as-you-go billing structure. But in my experience, it’s the best way to ensure you pay for only the resource used in a month.

12. Namecheap Shared Hosting

Namecheap Shared Hosting is a low-cost solution for individuals and small businesses seeking affordable yet reliable hosting. 

The Stellar plan starts at $1.98 per month and includes 20 GB of SSD storage, free domain name registration for the first year, and free SSL certificates. 

Namecheap has a long-standing reputation for excellent customer support, is an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar, and offers a user-friendly experience. 

Its shared hosting plans support up to three websites on the Stellar plan, making it an excellent choice for beginners or for managing multiple small projects with minimal cost.

Namecheap appeals to budget-conscious users, offering features like cPanel access, email hosting, and easy one-click WordPress installation with Softaculus. 

Before moving to a more powerful hosting plan, I started with Namecheap, and it was a good and memorable experience. 

Why Paid Hosting is Better for Business

If you’re serious about building a long-term online presence, paid hosting is the way to go. Paid hosting providers offer reliable performance, robust security, and professional support, all critical for success. 

For example, an eCommerce website can’t afford frequent downtime or slow load speeds, as these directly impact sales and customer trust.

Also, when you purchase your hosting plan, you have more freedom and control to experiment, build, and manage your business in a way that suits you. 

You can try different industry tools and services and explore growth without limits. 

You also have access to your server, which is a significant drawback in a free hosting environment. In a free hosting platform, you don’t have control or access to configure server resources and applications to suit your specific needs. 

However, with premium web hosts like Cloudways and Kinsta, you can tweak server settings to suit your unique use case.

Conclusion

Free web hosting might seem attractive initially for beginners, but it has significant trade-offs. 

It’s a low-risk way for beginners to explore web development. However, paid hosting is the choice for anyone building a serious business. 

Web hosting providers like Namecheap, Hostinger, and Cloudways offer affordable plans that provide better performance, security, and scalability, ensuring your website grows with your ambitions.

By investing in reliable hosting from the start, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. This is ideal for any serious individual and small businesses looking to build a sustainable and profitable online business.