Owning a website can significantly expand your reach and visibility. By 2024, over 71% of small businesses worldwide are expected to have a website, underscoring the importance of establishing an online presence.
But before you can build your website, you need to identify the best hosting provider.
While free web hosting may have limitations, it’s an excellent starting point for those new to the online space or those with budget constraints. However, it’s crucial to understand both the benefits and limitations of these services.
In this guide, we’ll explore and compare the 12 best free website hosting services for 2024 to help you make an informed decision.
Should you choose free hosting?
Choosing free website hosting can be a smart option if you’re new to creating websites or need to stick to a tight budget. Free hosting lets you get your site online without spending money upfront, making it a good choice for personal blogs, small portfolios, or test projects. When your site is just starting out and doesn’t have much traffic, free web hosting might seem perfect.
However, as your website grows and more visitors come to your site, the limits of free hosting become clear. Free web hosting services often give you limited disk space, bandwidth, and uptime. This means your site could load slowly or even crash if too many people visit at once. This can be especially bad if you have an eCommerce site or a business website where a slow site can hurt your revenue.
Plus, many free hosting services put ads on your site, which can make it look less professional and turn visitors away.
Another downside is the lack of advanced features. Free web hosting often doesn’t include custom domain names or essential security features like SSL certificates and regular backups. Without these, your site might seem less trustworthy, and your visitors could be at risk.
Over time, relying on free website hosting can hurt your site’s performance and frustrate your users. This isn’t good for your business or online presence. It’s important to consider these issues when choosing a hosting option. If your website is important for your business or brand, it might be better to invest in a web host that offers scalable features and better performance.
Pros and cons of choosing free hosting
Choosing free hosting for your website can have its benefits, but it also comes with certain limitations. Here’s a deeper look into the pros and cons of opting for free hosting:
Pros of free hosting:
- Free to use: The biggest benefit is that free hosting doesn’t cost anything. It lets you start a website without spending money.
- Easy for beginners: Free web hosting often comes with easy-to-use tools, which are great for those who are new to building and managing websites. These tools simplify the process and make it accessible to everyone.
- No tech skills needed: Most free web hosting services have simple drag-and-drop website builders, so you don’t need to know how to code. This makes it easier for beginners to create and launch their websites.
- Good for small businesses: If you’re a small business or startup with basic website needs and want to keep costs down, free hosting might work well for you. It allows you to establish an online presence without a significant investment.
Cons of free hosting:
- Limited resources: Free hosting usually comes with caps on bandwidth and storage, which can become a problem as your website grows and attracts more visitors. These limits can cause your site to load slowly or even crash during high traffic periods.
- No dedicated support: With free hosting, you often don’t get the same level of customer service or technical help that comes with paid hosting. If issues arise, you might have to troubleshoot and solve them on your own.
- Small storage space: Free hosting plans typically offer limited disk space, which can run out quickly, especially if your site has a lot of high-quality images or videos. This can slow down your website and affect its performance.
- Might need extra tools: To overcome some of the limitations of free hosting, you might need to add extra tools or plugins. Setting these up can be tricky, and they may not always work perfectly with your hosting service.
The “Truth” about free website hosting service
Starting a website is now a key way to spread your message around the world. However, when you’re just starting out, you might not want to spend money on a website and want to look for quick, easy, and free solutions. There are plenty of companies that offer free web hosting, but remember, nothing is truly free.
Running a web hosting service costs money, and companies offering free services need to make money somehow, or they’ll go out of business. So, they might put ads on your site, limit your website traffic, cause downtime, tie you to their platform, or push their other services. Sometimes, the ads might not match your brand or even promote a competitor.
For anything other than a test site, free web hosting isn’t the best choice, especially for businesses wanting to establish an online presence. But what if you’re on a tight budget? Maybe you’re a non-profit looking for free WordPress hosting, or you need free hosting for students. There are still options for you.
Each free hosting company we mention lets you keep your site free forever, but if you’re serious about your website, consider a low-cost, feature-rich hosting service. Prices range from $2.75 to $5 per month, which is worth it when you consider what you could earn from your site. This small investment gets you professional support, better service, and full control of your site. This also means no ads and a better user experience for your visitors.
With this in mind, let’s look at some of the best almost-free hosting services, and then we’ll cover the top free hosting sites.
Best value “Almost-free” website hosting
1. Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the biggest website hosting companies in the world and is officially recommended by WordPress. They offer a special deal for WPBeginner users that includes a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and a big discount on hosting that starts at just $3.95 per month.
Bluehost’s hosting plans come with useful features like free branded email addresses, unlimited storage, and easy one-click WordPress installation. The control panel is simple to use and includes a site builder, Cloudflare CDN, SEO tools, and other helpful tools for building your website.
Bluehost is a great choice if you’re building a personal website, a small business site, or a blog. It’s affordable, easy to use, and packed with features, making it a top option for those on a budget.
2. HostGator
HostGator started in 2002 and has grown into one of the largest and most trusted web hosting companies. Their success comes from offering affordable, reliable hosting and strong customer support.
HostGator’s entry-level Hatchling plan costs just $2.52 per month. This plan includes:
- a dedicated domain
- unlimited free subdomains
- multiple email addresses
- free HTTPS/SSL
- unlimited FTP accounts
- unrestricted storage capacity (disk space)
- uncapped bandwidth.
Each HostGator account comes with a cPanel that includes an auto-installer for WordPress and other popular website builders. This makes it easy for anyone to get started, whether you’re creating your first site or managing several.
Best free hosting sites in 2024
1. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a popular free website hosting platform that offers a unique version of WordPress. However, it’s important not to confuse it with WordPress.org, which is the self-hosted version of the WordPress website builder.
With WordPress.com, you get a free hosting plan that includes a WordPress.com subdomain (e.g., yourwebsite.wordpress.com), 3 GB of storage, and access to free website templates. This package does display ads on your website.
If you want to remove ads, use a custom domain name, and access more features, you can upgrade to their paid plans. Once you reach that stage, considering one of the “almost-free hosting” options mentioned earlier might be more beneficial.
2. Wix
Wix is another fully managed website builder that offers free website hosting. Like many free hosting services,
Wix funds its free plan by displaying ads and Wix.com branding on your website. You can remove these ads by upgrading to a paid package.
The free package includes a Wix.com subdomain, access to a wide range of website templates, and 500 MB of storage and bandwidth. Wix is user-friendly, making it a good choice for beginners who want to build a website without coding skills.
Related: Is Wix free? Everything you need to know before you commit.
3. Weebly
Weebly is a widely used free website builder that offers a simple drag-and-drop builder and pre-designed templates for easy website creation. The free hosting package includes a Weebly subdomain, 500 MB of storage, and displays Weebly ads on your site.
You can upgrade to a premium plan to remove ads, get more storage, and unlock additional features. Weebly is well-suited for users who want a straightforward, no-fuss approach to building their site.
4. GoDaddy (free trial)
GoDaddy is the world’s largest domain name registrar and a well-known hosting provider. They offer a website builder with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and pre-configured templates. This service is available as a 30-day free trial, after which you can switch to one of their premium plans starting at $5.99 per month.
GoDaddy is affordable and easy to use, but as your website grows, you might find its features somewhat limiting. Additionally, moving your site from the GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress or another platform can be challenging.
5. Squarespace (free trial)
Squarespace is a well-known website builder that’s perfect for users without technical skills. It offers beautiful, professional templates and a simple drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to design your site.
Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial of their website hosting service, allowing you to test their features. However, your website won’t go live unless you choose a paid plan. Their premium plans start at $16 per month and include a custom domain, unlimited bandwidth and storage, and access to pre-designed templates.
6. Google Cloud
Google Cloud offers several free website hosting solutions, ideal for small businesses and students. This platform is known for its powerful features, making it a strong choice for those who want a reliable hosting platform.
Google’s free plan works on a pay-as-you-go basis, which is great for students who need an affordable starting point. New customers receive $300 in free credits, enough to cover hosting costs for a year if you’re mainly using it for experimental sites.
7. Amazon Web Services
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading hosting platform used by some of the world’s most popular websites. While it may not be the easiest for small businesses, it’s an excellent choice for students and aspiring web developers.
AWS offers a year of free access to various services through its AWS Free Tier, making it one of the best free website hosting platforms for testing and learning. Students can use AWS to develop their skills on a robust platform that offers a wide range of features.
8. InfinityFree
InfinityFree is a popular free web hosting service that offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, making it a great option for small websites and personal projects. It provides a free subdomain and an ad-free environment, which is a rare feature in free hosting.
InfinityFree also includes free SSL certificates to secure your site. However, it does have limitations, such as no support for custom domain emails, and customer support is mainly community-based.
9. 000WebHost
000WebHost is one of the most well-known free hosting services, offering 300 MB of disk space and 3 GB of bandwidth per month. It’s a good option for small sites or testing projects.
The free plan includes a 000webhostapp.com subdomain and a simple control panel for easy website management. While 000WebHost is ad-free, it has limitations in resources and does not provide email accounts or live customer support.
10. Freehostia
Freehostia offers a unique free hosting service with “clustered” hosting technology, which is designed to be faster and more reliable than traditional shared hosting. Their free plan includes 250 MB of disk space, 6 GB of monthly bandwidth, and five hosted domains.
While Freehostia’s free plan has limited resources, it’s a good choice for small sites that need reliable performance. Users can upgrade to a paid plan to access more storage, bandwidth, and additional features like SSL certificates and email accounts.
When to switch to a paid hosting plan?
Starting with free website hosting is a smart move, but there comes a time when upgrading to a paid plan makes sense. Whether you run a blog, a small business site, or an online store, knowing when to switch can help your website succeed.
Performance issues
If your site is often slow or goes offline, it might be time to consider a paid hosting plan. Free web hosting usually comes with limits on bandwidth and disk space. As your site gets more visitors, these limits can cause problems. A paid plan gives you more resources, faster speeds, and better uptime, so your site stays online and loads quickly, even when traffic increases.
Need for a custom domain name
A custom domain name (like yoursite.com) is important for making your website look professional. Free hosting often gives you a subdomain (like yoursite.freehost.com), which might not seem as credible to your visitors. Paid plans usually include a custom free domain as part of the package, helping you build trust and improve your brand’s visibility.
Security concerns
Security is another big reason to switch to a paid plan. Free web hosting often doesn’t include key features like SSL certificates, regular backups, or malware scans. As your website grows, it’s important to protect it from hackers and other risks. Paid hosting plans usually come with these security features, keeping your site and its users safe.
Customization and advanced features
A free web hosting service often limit what you can do with your site. If you want more control—like adding plugins, using advanced SEO tools, or accessing more design options—a paid plan is the way to go. Paid plans let you customize your site to fit your needs better.
Importance of customer support
When something goes wrong with free hosting, you might be on your own. Paid hosting plans usually offer 24/7 customer support. This means you can get help whenever you need it, making it easier to fix problems quickly.
Monetization opportunities
If you want to make money from your website, a paid plan is often necessary. Free web hosting can limit how you monetize your site, such as restricting ads or eCommerce options. A paid plan gives you the freedom to earn money through ads, affiliate links, or online sales.
Conclusion
The landscape of free website hosting is diverse, offering a variety of options to suit different user needs.
From the user-friendly platforms of Wix and Weebly, the distinctive version of WordPress offered by WordPress.com, to the globally recognized GoDaddy, each service brings unique features and benefits.
However, it’s important to note that while free hosting services are cost-effective, they may come with limitations such as ads and less control over your site.
For those serious about their website’s growth, considering “almost free hosting” services or premium plans from these providers might be a wiser long-term solution.
By comparing the offerings of each, users can find the best fit for their specific needs.
FAQs
Free hosting is a service offered by some companies where you can host your website on their servers without any cost. This is often seen as an attractive option for beginners or small-scale projects.
The common limitations of free hosting services include limited storage and bandwidth, lack of customer support, restrictions on the use of your domain name, and the display of the provider’s ads on your website. Additionally, free hosting often lacks advanced features like SSL certification, regular backups, and a range of plugins.
Security is a major concern with free hosting. Free hosting providers often lack robust security measures, making your website more susceptible to hacking attempts, data breaches, and malware attacks. They also often lack the infrastructure and resources to provide regular software and security updates.
While some free hosting providers allow you to use your domain name, many require you to use a subdomain of their own. This can make your website appear less professional to visitors.
To choose the right free WordPress hosting provider, consider factors like the uptime guarantee, storage and bandwidth limits, customer support, and whether they offer a seamless upgrade path to paid plans as your needs grow. Also, check if the provider has a good reputation in the industry and positive user reviews.
Free web hosting is generally not as reliable as paid hosting. Free hosts often suffer from frequent downtimes, slow loading speeds, and poor customer support. While it may be a good starting point for small, personal projects, it’s usually not advisable for serious businesses or websites with a high volume of traffic.