1. Why Host Your Website for Free?
Free hosting is great for:
- Personal projects
- Portfolios
- Testing & learning web development
(Note: Paid hosting is better for large, high-traffic, or commercial sites.)
2. Popular Free Hosting Platforms
A. GitHub Pages – Best for Static Websites
Steps:
- Create a free GitHub account.
- Upload your website files to a GitHub repository.
- Go to Settings → Pages and select the branch to publish.
- Your site will be live at
username.github.io/projectname.
Pros:
- Totally free, no ads
- Supports custom domains
- Version control with Git
Cons:
- Only works with static files (HTML, CSS, JS — no PHP, databases)
B. Netlify – Beginner-friendly, More Features
Steps:
- Sign up at netlify.com.
- Connect your GitHub repo or drag-and-drop your website folder.
- Netlify automatically builds and deploys your site.
Pros:
- Automatic updates from GitHub
- Free SSL (HTTPS)
- Form handling & redirects
Cons:
- Some features require upgrades
C. Vercel – Great for Modern Web Apps
Steps:
- Sign up at vercel.com.
- Import your project from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
- Deploy instantly — great for React, Next.js, and other modern frameworks.
Pros:
- Fast global CDN
- Easy deployment for JavaScript frameworks
- Free SSL
Cons:
- Not ideal for non-JS-based sites
D. Other Options:
- Firebase Hosting – great for single-page apps
- Surge.sh – super simple static site hosting
- Render – free tier for apps and static sites
3. Choosing the Right Free Host
- Simple static site → GitHub Pages
- Dynamic frontend app → Netlify / Vercel
- App with backend → Render / Railway
4. Pro Tips for Free Hosting
- Always enable HTTPS for security.
- Use a custom domain for branding.
- Regularly update your site for bug fixes and new content.
- Keep a backup of your files in case the service changes its policy.