Are you looking to launch a website for free?
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:
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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
Affordable Hosting
Let’s get started.
1. WordPress.com: The Best Free Hosting Platform for Bloggers
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.
Why I Recommend WordPress.com: The thought of having to pay for hosting, a domain and security before even writing your first post can be a huge barrier for new bloggers.
That’s why WordPress.org is an ideal choice: it lets anyone start a blog without an upfront financial commitment.
The intuitive interface and user-friendly editor make it easy to write and publish your first post, which is perfect for beginners. In my experience, the built-in SEO tools are reliable, so people and search engines are more likely to find your blog.
With WordPress.org, you can focus on creating content while someone else handles all the technical upkeep behind the scenes.
Get started with WordPress.com »
2. Wix: The Best Drag-and-Drop Website Builder
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
Why I Recommend Wix: If you have a clear idea of how you want your site to look, then Wix is a stand-out option. Its drag-and-drop editor gives you almost complete creative freedom without the technical hurdles of traditional web design.
During testing, I could easily move any onscreen element (text, photos, forms, and more) exactly where I wanted it on the page. This gave me a professional-looking site with absolutely no coding required.
Wix’s focus on visual editing makes it the perfect choice for anyone who values design control and simplicity. I also really like their App Market, as you can add powerful features like booking systems and forms with just a few clicks.
3. Weebly: The Best Builder with Basic eCommerce Features
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.
Why I Recommend Weebly: If you want to try selling online, then the last thing you want is a platform that forces you into an expensive plan right away.
If that sounds like you, then I recommend Weebly. It offers essential eCommerce capabilities right out-of-the-box, even if you choose their free or cheaper tiers. This makes Weebly the ideal option for small businesses or anyone who is venturing into online sales for the first time.
Plus, Weebly handles all the hosting and security for you, so you can focus entirely on promoting your products and getting those first sales.
4. Canva: The Best Graphic Design Platform with Web Tools
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.
- 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
- 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
Why I Recommend Canva: Are you a designer, photographer, artist, or work in a similar visual field? Then Canva perfectly bridges the gap between graphic design and web publishing.
In my opinion, Canva is perfect for creating portfolios, presentations, and other projects where how your site looks is the top priority. I especially love that Canva lets you design high-quality graphics and then place them directly onto your site, all within the same user-friendly platform.
If you’re already familiar with Canva’s design features, then using this platform to create beautiful, customizable web pages should feel effortless.
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: The Most Affordable WordPress Hosting
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.
Why I Recommend Bluehost: If you want to set your site up for success, then you need to find a host that provides all the essential features while still fitting your budget.
In my opinion, Bluehost really stands out by offering a comprehensive package at a fantastic price point. Plus, they offer a free domain and SSL certificate, so you get everything you need to start your WordPress journey right.
Claim this exclusive Bluehost deal
2. SiteGround: The Best Hosting for Performance and Support
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.
Why I Recommend SiteGround: Once your site becomes critical to your business, you need a hosting partner that provides top tier speed and reliability.
Since it’s a managed platform, SiteGround ensures that even the most complex sites run smoothly. Plus, they have an expert customer service team, so there’s always help available when you need it. If you can’t afford downtime, then SiteGround is a fantastic choice.
For extra peace of mind, they also offer a staging environment tool. This lets you test out new themes or plugins without ever risking your live site.
3. Hostinger: The Best Hosting for High Scalability
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.
Why I Recommend Hostinger: If you want to scale your site over time, then it’s important to find a host that gives you room to expand without charging you a premium.
Hostinger provides a fantastic solution here, as their robust infrastructure is designed to handle growing traffic. It’s truly impressive how Hostinger combines affordable rates with high scalability, making it an incredibly attractive option for anyone planning for the long haul.
What Is the Best Hosting Provider?
Choosing the best hosting provider really depends on your specific needs and goals.
Every website or business has unique requirements, and what works best for one might not be ideal for another.
Despite this, when it comes to free options, I generally recommend WordPress.com as the best hosting provider for bloggers. It’s easy to use, reliable, and offers a completely free plan. All of this makes WordPress.com a great starting point if you’re new to creating content online.
However, if you’re looking for specific features, then I have a few other recommendations:
- If you want an easy-to-use website builder with drag-and-drop functionality, then Wix is an excellent choice. It’s ideal if you want maximum design flexibility without any of the technical headaches.
- If you need basic eCommerce features with a simple setup, Weebly is perfect for setting up a straightforward online store or business site.
- If you’re focused on graphic design, Canva has everything you need to create beautiful sites. It’s a particularly great choice for portfolios, presentations, and other visually-focused projects.
Still unsure where to start? Then I recommend beginning with WordPress.com. Its simplicity and strong foundational features make it the ideal starting point for new bloggers and content creators.
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 to learn how to setup, design, launch, and maintain your site, 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:
Sign up for WordPress 101 course »
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.