Free Web Hosting Reviews Since 1998

Tony Spencer

BS in Computer Engineering from NC State University - Addicted to things requiring hosting

Jan 14, 2019 12 min read

Free Hosting

There were 1.04 billion websites in existence in 2016, but by the following year, that number jumped to almost 1.8 billion, an increase of more than 721 million sites in only 12 months, according to Internet Live Stats.

If you’re considering adding to this number by placing your own stamp on the World Wide Web—and you want to do it without having to pay top dollar—you’re likely wondering which free web hosting providers offer the most without forcing you to sacrifice the quality of your site.

Well, look no further, because these are the 10 best and most popular free web hosting providers of 2018. Here they are in descending order.

10. Free Web Hosting No Ads

 

 

freehostingnoads.net

  • Bandwidth: 200GB
  • Storage: 20GB
  • Email Accounts: 3
  • FTP: 3
  • Support Level: Free online technical support
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: cPanel
  • # of Domains: No free domain name
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: 3

As the name suggests, Free Web Hosting No Ads doesn’t place text links or annoying pop-ups or banners on your sites. Also, with instant activation, this host provider can help you get your website online quickly. It has website creation conveniences, such as supporting 3 PHP versions (5.2, 5.3, and 5.4) and the use of a script installer, allowing you to easily install WordPress, Joomla and many other scripts you may need for your site.

Free Web Hosting No Ads also offers two different premium plans ($1.00 and $1.99 each) if your business grows or you simply want more features. The $1.00 plan has the same storage and bandwidth as the free site but it can accommodate up to 20,000 daily unique visits (the free plan is 10,000) along with unlimited MySQL databases, FTP, and email accounts. The $1.99 plan has unlimited everything while providing a free domain name and ad credits over $125.

9. FreeHostia

 

 

freehostia.com

  • Bandwidth: 6GB monthly
  • Storage: 250MB
  • Email Accounts: 3
  • FTP: Included, but number is unknown
  • Support Level: 24/7 customer support
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: Unknown
  • # of Domains: 5
  • Speed: 2.5 Gigs
  • # of MySQL Databases: 1

With no set-up fee and a 1-click free scripts installer, FreeHostia’s load-balancing cluster technology gives users a number of benefits. The free hosting plan, which is called the “Chocolate” plan, has 99.9% server uptime and many free website templates to help you create the perfect site. FreeHostia also has the capability to provide users with important site statistics, such as traffic and CPU stats.

Located in Chicago, Illinois and serving customers for more than 10 years, FreeHostia provides 24/7 support. However, if you want help quickly (within an hour), you need to purchase one of the more advanced web hosting packages such as Watercircle, Lovebeat, Wildhoney, and Supernatural.

These four range from $2.95 per month to $9.95 per month and have varying numbers of domains and varying amounts of storage space and bandwidth, with some plans providing unlimited services. The Wildhoney and Supernatural packages also provide a free domain name registration or transfer.

8. 000webhost

 

 

000webhost.com

  • Bandwidth: 10GB
  • Storage: 1000MB
  • Email Accounts: None
  • FTP: 1 user
  • Support Level: None
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: cPanel
  • # of Domains: 2 parked domains & 2 subdomains
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: 2

If you want a web host provider that offers a free website builder, free domain parking, a free FTP and file manager, and free SSL security—all with no ads—then 000webhost may be the one for you. It also has 1-click auto installer so you can set up WordPress on your site “in just a few mouse clicks.”

In business for more than 10 years now and serving more than 17 million users total, 000webhost is constantly improving and updating its services. They currently provide users with instant account activation, a custom control panel, 99% uptime, and the latest technologies. For instance, the free hosting platform has the newest versions of PHP and MySQL. Additionally, all of the servers are monitored full-time and use advanced firewalls with DDoS protection.

On the flip side, the free version doesn’t come with 24/7 support, and backup occurs monthly whereas the paid versions are backed up weekly or daily. If you need a more regular backup schedule, you can choose the silver or gold package.

The silver package starts at $3.09 per month and comes with unlimited storage and bandwidth, an unlimited number of websites and add-on domains, and a number of other features related to PHP, FTP, and email. The daily backup option is the Business Gold package, which starts at $4.80 per month and includes even more features yet.

 

7. AwardSpace

 

 

awardspace.com

  • Bandwidth: 5GB per month
  • Storage: 1GB
  • Email Accounts: 1
  • FTP: 1 account
  • Support Level: 24/7 customer support with live chat and online documentation
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: Unknown
  • # of Domains: 1 + 1 domain with dx.am extension + 3 subdomains
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: 1

With servers located in Kiel, Germany and Sofia, Bulgaria, this ad-free web hosting provider has a more unique offering than others on here. In addition to hosting your site, it also offers an affiliate program and reseller hosting plan, both of which can help you make some extra cash.

In business since 2003, AwardSpace guarantees 99.9% uptime and if you want more features, there are several pay-as-you go plans available. Shared web hosting and WordPress hosting are the cheapest plans and start at 0.08€ per month. They then have semi-dedicated and VPS web hosting plans, both of which begin at 2.00€ monthly.

It appears that these prices are for new customers only though, and they increase upon renewal (from 4.69€ to 9.29€ monthly). They have a 30-day money back guarantee, and you must pay extra if there is a specific domain you want and for SSL certificates.

6. 5GBFree

 

 

5gbfree.com

  • Bandwidth: 20GB
  • Storage: 5GB
  • Email Accounts: None
  • FTP: 1 account
  • Support Level: Forum and FAQs
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: cPanel Admin
  • # of Domains: 1 + subdomains
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: 3

This U.S.-based free web host provider is PCI and SAS 70 Type II certified. And even though it has only been in existence for about five years, 5GBFree has had some recent updates. According to the company, its services are now “powered on high-efficiency servers” and use an entire Cisco infrastructure.
A couple pros of choosing 5GBFree are that the company doesn’t sell your information and it also doesn’t put ads on your site. However, if you need help, you have to go to the forum for answers to your questions because a free hosting plan doesn’t come with one-on-one support.

5GBFree does offer a pro hosting plan for $2.95 per month if you want 24/7 assistance available via phone, chat, and email. The paid plan also comes with more storage (100GB compared to 5GB), unlimited bandwidth, FTP accounts, and MySQL databases, email accounts, add-on and parked domains, a spam filter; and more.

5. x10Hosting

 

 

x10hosting.com

  • Bandwidth: Unmetered
  • Storage: Unmetered
  • Email Accounts: x
  • FTP: x
  • Support Level: Online forum with more than 1.3 million members
  • Cloud Backup: Yes
  • Panel Type: cPanel X3
  • # of Domains: x
  • Speed: x
  • # of MySQL Databases: x

An 11-year industry veteran, x10Hosting has hosted more than 1.2 million websites and serves more than 12 million pages per month. It claims to be user friendly and offers more than 300 1-click installs (like WordPress, Joomla, MyBB). It also gives users access to a number of advanced web hosting tools so you can easily create and maintain your site.

If you find that you’re struggling with setting up or maintaining your site and need help, you have access to an online forum that currently has more than 1.3 million members. And if you need help from x10Hosting itself, they state that they do provide a “100% in-house, English support team,” but they don’t state how available they are.

In the event that your site outgrows the free site or you want more features, x10Hosting has a higher-level package, x10Premium, that includes access to a website builder, automatic backups, free SEO tools, and a few performance-enhancing options. Pay for it monthly and you’ll spend $6.95, but if you’re willing to sign up for three years, that amount drops almost in half to $3.95 per month.

 

4. FreeHosting

 

 

freehosting.com

  • Bandwidth: Unmetered (some restrictions)
  • Storage: 10GB
  • Email Accounts: 1
  • FTP: Not yet, but it’s coming
  • Support Level: Via support ticket
  • Cloud Backup: Not yet, but it’s coming
  • Panel Type: cPanel
  • # of Domains: 1, no subdomains
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: 1

In business since 2010, FreeHosting operates out of Germany and France. Users tend to prefer this hosting company because you can offer visitors unlimited free downloads. You also get a hosting platform that is compatible with more than 400 web applications, including WordPress, PrestaShop, AbanteCart, Joomla, SMF, and phpBB.

But FreeHosting also has some limitations. For instance, though the bandwidth is unmetered, your website has to comply with Fair Use Policy to qualify for this perk. This is true for the paid hosting packages, too. The company also doesn’t provide free hosting for domains with .TK, .ML, and .GA extensions (among others), nor does it offer free web hosting services for users from Brazil, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, or Vietnam.

If you can use FreeHosting but need more features, you can opt for a paid subscription that costs $7.99 per month. It comes with an SSL certificate, PHP mail() and sendmail, multiple MySQL databases, SSH, multiple email accounts, and more.

 

3. Free Web Hosting Area (FreeWHA)

 

 

freewebhostingarea.com

  • Bandwidth: Unmetered
  • Storage: 1500 MB
  • Email Accounts: Unknown
  • FTP: Unknown
  • Support Level: Unknown
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: Unknown
  • # of Domains: Unknown
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: Included, but number is unknown

Free Web Hosting Area (FreeWHA) has offered hosting services since 2005. The company provides customers with instant activation and regular backups that are conducted either daily or weekly, so users know their files are safe and accessible in the event of a server crash.

Like with the other hosts, you can upgrade your Free Web Hosting Area account to a paid version. The cost is $1 per month and it removes all ads on your site while granting access to more databases, unlimited emails, 1-click database backup, and other features.

The one caveat to using this provider is that while your account never expires, your website must have at least one visitor per month or it will be closed. And if your site has a lot of data, the amount needed to keep it open is one hit per day.

Also, if you decide that you want to delete your account, it can’t happen. FreeWHA will only remove a site if it becomes inactive. Another potential con of using FreeWHA is that a backlink to its site is “automatically inserted” on your site after some time.

 

2. ByetHost (Byet)

 

 

byet.host

  • Bandwidth: Unknown
  • Storage: Unlimited
  • Email Accounts: 5
  • FTP: 1 account
  • Support Level: Free 24/7 support
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: cPanel
  • # of Domains: 1 + unlimited addon, parked, & sub-domains
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: Unlimited

With a decade of experience and more than one million clients, Byet says that its number one goal is uptime, which is why this provider utilizes a “load balanced” network that spreads your web traffic across many servers at the same time.

This keeps your website up and running while maximizing its speed. Each free hosting account is SSL enabled and comes with VistaPanel, a control center that enables you to quickly and easily manage all of your websites and domains in one convenient location.

Whereas many of the other free web hosting providers only offer one premium-level plan, Byet offers two. You can choose between monthly payments ($3.99 per month or $6.99 per month) or you can pay annually ($47.88 or $83.88 per year).

These plans come with additional (and sometimes unlimited) bandwidth, add-on domains and subdomains, email addresses, and MySQL databases. They also all come with one free domain, though the domain extensions are specific to the chosen plans.

1. U Host Full 

 

 

uhostfull.com

  • Bandwidth: Unlimited
  • Storage: Unlimited
  • Email Accounts: Included, but number is unknown
  • FTP: Included, but number is unknown
  • Support Level: Free support, unknown level
  • Cloud Backup: Unknown
  • Panel Type: Vista cPanel
  • # of Domains: Unknown
  • Speed: Unknown
  • # of MySQL Databases: Included, but number is unknown

U Host Full guarantees 99% uptime and says that the signup process is so fast that you can have your website up and running within just five minutes. This web host provider also grants access to more than 50 blogs, eCommerce stores, and photo galleries when creating your site.

Some cons of U Host Full? First and foremost, the website does not give a lot of detailed information about what you get when you sign up for a free web hosting package. For instance, it doesn’t list how many domains you receive, the site speed, or whether it has cloud backup.

U Host Full also does not host certain applications, such as proxy scripts, shell scripts, online gaming scripts, file/image sharing scripts and chat scripts. So, if you need any of these on your site, you’ll need to choose a different provider. Your site also cannot contain adult content of any kind, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if you want to host that type of content.

 

What are some pros and cons of free web hosting?

Pro: This may be obvious, but a major pro is that it doesn’t cost you a thing. This is particularly beneficial if funds are limited or if you’re not totally sure whether you actually need a site.

Pro: You can “get your feet wet” and learn a little bit about websites and what it takes to create them before you have the need for a more advanced (and often more expensive) site.

Con: You’re often limited in what you can do with your site due to storage restrictions and all of the other additional features that cost extra to add.

Con: Your website’s performance may be hindered with free web hosting options, potentially impacting your ability to build and retain loyal customers if they find it difficult to access or use.

What is shared hosting, cloud hosting, and WordPress hosting?

When looking at web hosting providers—whether free or paid—it’s not uncommon to come across terms like “shared hosting,” “cloud hosting,” and “WordPress hosting.” Let’s go over what each one means.

Shared hosting means that the web host will put many different websites’ data all on one server. This is generally the cheapest hosting option. However, if another site uses more storage or bandwidth, it can really slow your site down.

A site that is cloud hosted means that the hosting company uses multiple servers to store all its users’ important data. This offers the benefit of never paying for more resources than you need. Additionally, the data tends to be more secure and less likely to be impacted by a server that could potentially crash.

WordPress hosting refers to hosting that is provided specifically for WordPress sites. If your goal is to maximize speed and performance on that platform only, choosing a provider with this option may be the way to go.

Why is uptime important?

Have you ever visited a website only to receive an error message that it was temporarily down or not up at all? And did you go back and try it again later? Probably not, unless it was a major site that you frequently visit.

If your website is not up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you could be losing out on important leads. That’s why you want a web host provider that has high uptime percentages.

When your website is down, you’re losing money—now and in the long run.

Can I transfer my existing website to one of these web hosts?

Yes. If you don’t like your current web host provider and want to switch to another, you can totally do that.

However, it may cost you because not all sites offer this service for free. In fact, depending on the one you choose, you may spend a few hundred dollars (or more) if you decide to make a switch.