The best free web hosting depends on what you are publishing. For a plain HTML/CSS/JavaScript site, choose a static deployment service; for PHP, MySQL, or WordPress, look at traditional hosting; for a no-code site, use a hosted builder. These options are not interchangeable, and free plans can restrict domains, storage, traffic, features, or commercial use.
This shortlist groups 13 candidates by the kind of beginner they may suit rather than claiming a tested 1-to-13 ranking. Current plan details beyond the verified GitHub Pages and InfinityFree information below should be checked with each provider before you commit.
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- Static site: Pages made from files such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with no server-side database or application logic. Deployment services are often a fit; some use a repository-based workflow.
- PHP or database-backed site: A site that needs server-side code or a database, such as many WordPress installations. You need traditional hosting that explicitly supports those requirements.
- Visual-builder site: A site made inside a hosted editor. The builder provides both the editing interface and hosting, so you do not manage deployment in the same way as uploading a set of files.
Before choosing, check whether the free plan permits your intended use, supports a custom domain, adds branding, and sets limits on storage, traffic, builds, or features. A free plan is a way to get started, not a guarantee of business-grade continuity or capacity.
13 free-hosting candidates, grouped by use case
The options below are grouped for decision-making, not ranked by performance. GitHub Pages and InfinityFree have provider information supporting the specific capabilities and limits described here. For the other candidates, the available coverage is secondary and does not establish current detailed quotas, uptime, support quality, or commercial terms.
#1 Best Overall
For static files and code-based deployment
- GitHub Pages — for static sites and repository learners. GitHub says GitHub Free supports Pages from public repositories. Its documentation lists a maximum published site size of 1 GB, a soft bandwidth limit of 100 GB per month, and a soft build limit of 10 per hour. Those are GitHub’s service limits, not independently measured performance figures. GitHub also says Pages is not intended or allowed as free hosting for an online business, e-commerce site, or site primarily facilitating commercial transactions or commercial SaaS. Do not use it for those purposes. Read GitHub’s Pages limits.
- Cloudflare Pages — a static deployment candidate. Secondary comparisons identify it as a static-site/deployment option. Confirm its current framework support, free-plan quotas, and commercial terms directly with the provider before selecting it; no current quota is established here.
- Netlify — a static deployment candidate. Secondary comparisons include it among deployment options. Check the provider’s current plan and usage limits, including any applicable build or traffic restrictions, before publishing.
- Vercel — a deployment candidate for code-based sites. It appears in secondary comparisons of hosting platforms. Verify current framework support, usage quotas, and terms for your intended project with the provider.
For PHP, MySQL, or WordPress
- InfinityFree — for beginners seeking traditional hosting. Its official page says the service supports PHP and MySQL, offers WordPress installation through Softaculous, and provides FTP and file-manager uploads. It also advertises free subdomains; a custom domain must be registered elsewhere. The provider describes its hosting as permanently free, which is a provider claim, not independent evidence of uptime or performance. Check InfinityFree’s hosting details.
- x10Hosting — another traditional-hosting candidate. It is included in a secondary 2026 free-hosting roundup. Treat reported resource and support tradeoffs as unverified by the provider here; confirm that its current free offering supports the server language, database, and site setup you need.
- GoogieHost — a traditional-hosting candidate. A secondary roundup lists it among free-hosting options. Check the provider’s present limits, terms, and supported technologies rather than assuming a free plan will suit a WordPress or database-backed project.
- AwardSpace — a traditional-hosting candidate. It appears in secondary coverage of free hosts. Verify current PHP/database availability, resource limits, domain rules, and acceptable-use terms with the provider.
- FreeHosting.com — a traditional-hosting candidate. It is also listed in secondary coverage. Confirm current technical requirements and limits directly before moving a site or choosing it for a project.
For a hosted visual editor
- Wix — for building inside a hosted editor. It appears in a current builder roundup, which reports free-tier tradeoffs across the category such as branding, domain limitations, storage or bandwidth restrictions, and customization limits. The exact terms for Wix can change; check its current plan details.
- WordPress.com — for a hosted WordPress-style site. It is included in the builder roundup. Confirm current free-plan features and restrictions with the provider; do not assume the hosted service is equivalent to installing WordPress on PHP/MySQL hosting.
- SITE123 — for a guided builder workflow. The builder roundup includes it among free options and describes category-level tradeoffs. Check its current branding, domain, and feature terms before building.
- Jimdo — for a hosted builder workflow. It is another candidate in the roundup. Verify the current free-plan limitations, including whether its domain and features meet your needs.
The builder tradeoffs above reflect secondary category coverage, not a guarantee that every listed restriction currently applies to each named provider. For plan-specific decisions, use the provider’s own current terms.
How to choose without getting trapped by a free plan
- Write down the site’s technical needs. If you only have static files, do not pay for a database you do not need. If you need PHP, MySQL, or WordPress installed on a server, rule out static-only deployment services.
- Decide how you want to build. A repository-based workflow gives you direct control over files but requires learning version control and deployment. A hosted builder reduces deployment work but can limit customization and portability.
- Check domain and branding terms. Determine whether the free tier gives you a provider subdomain, permits a custom domain, or displays platform branding. A custom domain may require separate registration even when hosting is free.
- Read the limits that match your project. Look for published storage, bandwidth or traffic, build frequency, file size, and feature restrictions. A limit that is irrelevant to a small personal page may matter for a larger or frequently updated site.
- Review acceptable use and upgrade paths. Confirm that your project is allowed, especially if it involves commerce. Also understand what happens if you exceed a limit or need a paid feature; do not assume migration will be automatic or effortless.
- Recheck before launch. Free-plan terms change. Confirm the provider’s current pricing and conditions immediately before committing, and do not rely on a comparison page as an uptime promise.
Which option makes sense for common beginner projects?
- “I have an index.html file and want it online.” A static deployment service is the relevant category. GitHub Pages is a documented option if the project meets its rules and you are comfortable with a repository workflow.
- “I want to learn WordPress or run PHP/MySQL.” Choose a traditional host that confirms those technologies are available on its current free plan. InfinityFree documents PHP, MySQL, and Softaculous WordPress installation; check its current conditions before using it.
- “I want to make a simple site without managing files or deployment.” Consider a hosted visual builder. Compare its current free-tier branding, domain, and feature restrictions before investing time in the editor.
- “I need an online store or commercial SaaS.” Do not use GitHub Pages as free hosting for that purpose. For other providers, read their acceptable-use and commercial terms directly; the information here does not establish that any particular free plan is suitable for a business-critical service.
What this shortlist can and cannot establish
GitHub’s published limits and commercial-use restrictions, and InfinityFree’s stated features, are specific provider claims linked above. The other candidates are identified from secondary comparison coverage, which is not enough to make a dependable claim about their current quotas, uptime, privacy, support response, migration experience, or exact free-plan features. Treat the list as a starting point for matching a hosting model to your project, then confirm provider terms before launch.
Rank #2
For broader discovery, see Tom’s Guide’s free web hosting roundup, TechRadar’s free website builder roundup, and Klymentiev’s 2026 hosting comparison. These are secondary sources and should not replace provider plan pages for current terms.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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