Best Free Web Hosting Sites That Still Work (Updated Guide)

Free web hosting is perfect for learning, testing a WordPress theme or putting a small personal project online. But many of the “free hosting” lists you find on Google are years out of date: some of the most famous names have closed, and others quietly stopped accepting signups. We have rewritten this guide for 2026 with the hosts that still work, what they really give you, and the limits that usually decide whether a free site survives.

Table of Contents

Quick answer: the best free hosts in 2026

Best for WordPress / PHP: InfinityFree
Best for developers (cron, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL): HelioHost
Best if you already own a domain: FreeHosting.com
Best for static sites (HTML, React, Next.js exports): Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel or GitHub Pages

Free PHP and WordPress hosting that still works

Host	Disk	Traffic limit	Free SSL	Good for
InfinityFree	5 GB	Unlimited bandwidth, 50,000 hits/day	Yes	WordPress, PHP sites
ByetHost	5 GB	Unlimited bandwidth	Yes (subdomains)	Same platform as InfinityFree
HelioHost	1,000 MB	Limited by CPU/RAM use	Yes	Developers, cron jobs, Node/Python
AwardSpace	1 GB	5 GB/month	No	Small sites that need one email inbox
FreeHostia	250 MB	6 GB/month	Yes	Tiny brochure sites
FreeHosting.com	10 GB	Unmetered	Paid add-on	One site on your own domain

Limits change often. Always confirm on the provider’s own pricing page before you build.

1. InfinityFree

The default choice for a free WordPress site. You get 5 GB of space, PHP 8.3, MySQL databases, free subdomains and free SSL, with no ads placed on your site. The real limit is 50,000 hits per day, and every file counts as a hit (each image, CSS and JS file), so a heavy theme reaches it faster than you think. Accounts with almost no visitors for 30 days can be deactivated.

2. ByetHost

Runs on the same iFastNet platform as InfinityFree, with a similar control panel and 5 GB of space. It is a good backup if you want a second free account, but expect the same type of limits.

3. HelioHost

A non-profit host and the most flexible free option for developers: switchable PHP versions, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, unlimited email accounts, cron jobs, and support for Node.js, Python and more. The catch: 1,000 MB covers files and databases together, free signup slots are limited, and you must log in at least once every 30 days to keep the account active.

4. AwardSpace

One of the oldest free hosts, and it gives you a real email inbox on your domain. However, the free plan has no SSL and blocks outgoing connections, which breaks WordPress auto-updates and many plugins. Use it only for very simple sites.

5. FreeHostia

The free “Chocolate” plan offers 250 MB of disk, 6 GB monthly traffic and a 10 MB database. Enough for a one-page site or a class project, not for a growing blog.

6. FreeHosting.com

Generous 10 GB of storage and unmetered bandwidth, but it only works if you already own a domain name. HTTPS and cron jobs are paid add-ons.

Free hosting for static websites

If your site is plain HTML or built with React, Vue, Astro or a static Next.js export, you do not need PHP hosting at all. These platforms are fast, reliable and free for personal projects:

Cloudflare Pages – unlimited static requests on a global CDN.
Netlify – easy drag-and-drop deploys and Git integration.
Vercel – best for Next.js projects.
GitHub Pages – free hosting straight from a GitHub repository.

Note: these platforms do not run PHP, so they cannot host a normal WordPress site.

Hosts you should skip

000webhost – shut down completely on October 14, 2024. Old links now redirect to Hostinger.
Freehosting lists that mention FreeWHA, Host1Free or Freewebhostx – registration is closed or the domains no longer host websites.

Can you get a free domain too?

Every host above gives you a free subdomain (for example yourname.rf.gd). A real .com domain is not free anywhere reliable; it usually costs around $10–15 per year. If you plan to apply for AdSense or build a brand, a proper domain is worth it.

Tips before you build on free hosting

Keep your own backups. Free hosts do not guarantee your data. Export your files and database regularly.
Use a lightweight theme (GeneratePress, Astra) and few plugins to stay under hit and CPU limits.
Put Cloudflare’s free CDN in front to cache images and reduce server load.
Plan your upgrade. When your site starts earning, move to paid hosting for speed, email and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is free hosting good for AdSense approval?

It can work, but a custom domain, fast loading and SSL improve your chances. AwardSpace’s free plan has no SSL, so InfinityFree is a better free choice.