Startup businesses often rely on web hosting services to establish their online presence. While affordable hosting solutions are readily available, there is still interest in exploring the possibility to host a WordPress website for free. Free web hosting services typically operate within a shared hosting environment, which may result in limited features and flexibility compared to paid options. However, the good news is that many free hosting providers offer generous resources, allowing users to run small online stores and even providing advanced functionality for beginners to learn website development.
In this blog post, a step-by-step guide on how to build and host a WordPress website for free is provided. Additionally, we will highlight the top eight free website hosting companies and discuss six limitations to consider when opting for free hosting.
Steps to Host a WordPress Website for Free
Step#1: Find a Reliable Free WordPress Hosting Service
While there are many free hosting options available, it’s important to find a reliable service host a WordPress website for free. Consider the following factors when choosing a free WordPress hosting provider:
- Uptime: Look for a host that guarantees a high server uptime, ideally around 99.9%, ensuring your website is accessible without frequent interruptions.
- Performance: Check the server response time (SRT) to ensure quick loading of your website. Tools like Bitcatcha and GTmetrix can help you evaluate the SRT of different hosting providers.
- Resources: Free hosting typically offers limited resources, so assess your website’s requirements in terms of CPU power, disk space, RAM, and bandwidth to choose an appropriate host.
- Security: Ensure that the hosting company implements strong security measures, such as firewalls, DDoS protection, malware scanning, and regular backups, to safeguard your WordPress site.
- Customer Support: Check if the free hosting plan includes any customer support options to assist you in case of technical issues or questions.
- User Reviews: Research reviews and feedback from other WordPress users to get insights into the reliability and performance of different free hosting providers.
Step #2: Install WordPress on your free hosting account
Once you’ve selected a suitable hosting provider, follow these steps to install WordPress on your free hosting account:
- Sign up for a free hosting account on the provider’s website.
- Access your hosting account’s control panel (such as cPanel) and locate the “Auto Installer” or “WordPress Installer” option.
- Follow the installation wizard, which will help you through the process of setting up WordPress. Provide the necessary details, including your website name, admin username, and password.
- After the installation is complete, you will receive the login credentials for your WordPress dashboard.
Step#3: Customize and Design Your WordPress Website
With WordPress installed, you can now customize and design your website after you host a WordPress website for free:
- To begin, access your WordPress dashboard by using the credentials provided. Once logged in, select a theme that best fits your website. WordPress provides an extensive collection of free themes that can be installed and personalized to align with your preferences.
- Next, utilize the customization options within WordPress and the built-in block editor (Gutenberg) to tailor your website’s appearance, layout, and features. These tools offer flexibility in creating a unique and visually appealing website.
- To further enhance your website’s functionality, consider installing plugins. WordPress boasts a vast plugin repository where you can find various free options to improve aspects such as SEO, contact forms, security, caching, and more.
By following these steps, you can create a personalized and feature-rich website using the WordPress platform.
Step #4: Get a Domain Name
If you want a professional-looking website, it’s important to consider obtaining a custom domain name. While many free hosting providers offer domain extensions tied to their services, purchasing a separate domain name from a domain registrar can provide a more personalized touch.
To integrate your domain name with your free hosting account, you’ll need to configure it accordingly. Your hosting provider will supply you with DNS (Domain Name System) settings that can be updated in the settings of your domain registrar.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to host your WordPress website for free and establish your online presence. Remember to frequently update your website, install security patches, and backup your data to ensure the smooth operation of your WordPress site.
Top 10 Free Web Hosting Providers
1. InfinityFree
InfinityFree is widely favored as a hosting solution for small to medium-sized WordPress websites. It offers abundant storage space and bandwidth, ensuring ample capacity for your website’s content and accommodating your visitors. Its user-friendly control panel and integrated website builder further simplify the management and creation of your site and also, to host a WordPress website for free as an added advantage.
- Rating: 4.8/5 (based on user reviews)
- Best for: Small to medium-sized websites
- Key Features: Unlimited disk space and bandwidth, support for PHP and MySQL, user-friendly control panel, and website builder included.
2. 000webhost
For beginners and small website owners, 000webhost is an excellent choice to host a WordPress website for free. It offers ample disk space and bandwidth, ensuring that your website can comfortably handle your content and traffic. Furthermore, the platform presents a user-friendly website builder and a convenient one-click installer for popular CMS platforms, making the process of creating a website much simpler.
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Best for Beginners and small websites
- Key Features: 1GB disk space, 10GB bandwidth, support for PHP and MySQL, easy-to-use website builder, one-click installer for CMS platforms.
3. AwardSpace
When looking for a reputable website solution to host a WordPress website for free, individuals and small enterprises should strongly consider AwardSpace. To suit the needs of your site, it provides enough disc space and monthly traffic limits. You may create dynamic, database-driven websites with ease if your server supports PHP and MySQL. A user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder and an efficient one-click installer for a multitude of scripts and programs are also offered by this incredible hosting provider.
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Best for: Personal and small business websites
- Key Features: 1GB disk space, 5GB monthly traffic, support for PHP and MySQL, drag-and-drop website builder, one-click installer for scripts.
4. Freehostia
Freehostia is a suitable choice for small websites and blogs to host a WordPress website for free. It provides a moderate amount of disk space and monthly traffic, catering to sites with lighter content and traffic volumes. With support for PHP and MySQL, Freehostia accommodates various website requirements. It also offers a user-friendly control panel and supports different scripting languages.
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Best for: Small websites and blogs
- Key Features: 250MB disk space, 6GB monthly traffic, support for PHP and MySQL, user-friendly control panel, and support for various scripting languages.
5. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a renowned website builder specifically designed for WordPress websites and to host a WordPress website for free. One of the key features of WordPress.com is its extensive collection of free templates. With dozens of templates to choose from, site owners have the flexibility to select a design that suits their needs. The templates can be easily customized using pre-set color schemes, built-in font sets, and access to a library of stock images. This makes designing and personalizing the website a convenient process, even for those without advanced technical skills.
- Rating: 4.4/5 (G2 reviews)
- Best for: Personal WordPress websites like blogs, review sites, online resumes, portfolio websites
- Key features: 1 GB of storage space, Unlimited bandwidth, Pre-installed SSL certificate for enhanced security, Extensive collection of free templates, Easy customization with pre-set color schemes and built-in font sets, Access to a library of stock images, Built-in SEO tools for improved search engine visibility, Social media integration for seamless connection with social platforms, and Mobile responsiveness for optimal user experience on mobile devices.
6. Byet.Host
Developers and advanced users highly prefer Byet.Host due to its exceptional features. The hosting service provides generous disk space and bandwidth, catering to the needs of resource-intensive websites and applications. It supports a wide range of technologies, including PHP, MySQL, and advanced scripting languages, enabling developers to meet specific technical requirements. Moreover, the hosting service’s robust control panel offers ample flexibility and customization options for users besides an opportunity to host a WordPress website for free.
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Best for Developers and advanced users
- Key Features: 1GB disk space, 50GB monthly bandwidth, support for PHP and MySQL, powerful control panel, and support for advanced scripting languages.
6. GoogieHost
GoogieHost emerges as a dependable choice to host a WordPress website for free, specially for individuals looking to establish personal websites or small businesses seeking an online presence. It offers a considerable allocation of disk space and unlimited bandwidth, ensuring your website can accommodate increasing traffic.
By supporting PHP and MySQL, GoogieHost enables the development of dynamic and engaging websites. The user-friendly control panel and inclusive website builder streamline the process of managing and creating websites, making them accessible to all users.
- Rating: 4.3/5
- Best for: Personal websites and small businesses
- Key Features: 1GB disk space, unlimited bandwidth, support for PHP and MySQL, easy-to-use control panel, website builder included.
7. GoDaddy
Known for its paid hosting services, GoDaddy also offers a platform to host a WordPress website for free. While the free plan comes with limited features, including 100MB disk space and 1GB bandwidth, it is suitable for small personal websites or experimental projects. GoDaddy supports PHP and MySQL, allowing users to build dynamic websites. With GoDaddy’s reputation and reliable infrastructure, it provides a solid option for those looking for free hosting.
- Rating: 4/5
- Best for: Small personal websites or experimental projects
- Key Features: Limited 100MB disk space, 1GB bandwidth, support for PHP and MySQL, reputable infrastructure, suitable for individuals who want to try out a basic website.
8. Wix
Wix, a renowned website builder, provide options to host a WordPress website for free along with its drag-and-drop functionality and extensive template selection. It simplifies website creation, making it accessible to all. Although the free plan has storage and bandwidth limitations, it is suitable for small websites, portfolios, or personal blogs. With its user-friendly interface and customizable design options, Wix appeals to beginners and individuals seeking a seamless website-building experience.
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Ideal for: Novices and individuals seeking an intuitive website builder
- Key Features: Effortless drag-and-drop functionality, extensive template collection, flexible design options, perfect for small websites, portfolios, or personal blogs, user-friendly interface, streamlined website creation process.
9. FreeHosting.io
FreeHosting.io is a reliable hosting provider offering services to host a WordPress website for free that is loaded with 10GB of disk space and unlimited bandwidth. It supports PHP and MySQL, making it suitable for dynamic websites and database-driven applications. With a user-friendly control panel, website management is a breeze. This free web hosting also permits you to host multiple websites on a single account, providing convenience and flexibility.
- Rating: 2/5
- Best for: Individuals and small businesses seeking ample storage and bandwidth
- Key Features: 10GB disk space, unlimited bandwidth, support for PHP and MySQL, user-friendly control panel, and the feature to host multiple websites on a single account.
10. FreeWebHostingArea
FreeWebHostingArea is a well-known option for individuals seeking services to host a WordPress website for free. It presents ample resources with 1.5GB of disk space and unlimited bandwidth. Whether you require support for PHP, MySQL, or other scripting languages, this incredible platform can accommodate a wide range of website needs. With its user-friendly control panel, managing your website becomes effortless. Moreover, FreeWebHostingArea allows you to host multiple domains using just one account, making it a convenient choice for handling multiple projects.
- Rating: 3/5
- Best for: Developers and users with diverse website requirements
- Key Features: 1.5GB disk space, unlimited bandwidth, PHP and MySQL support, compatibility with various scripting languages, intuitive control panel, and ability to host multiple domains on a single account.
Limitations of Free Hosting Services
While opportunities to host a WordPress website for free can be cost-effective, they often come with certain limitations. Here are some common limitations of free hosting services to consider:
- Limited Resources: Free hosting services typically offer limited disk space, bandwidth, and server resources. This can impact the performance and scalability of your website, especially if you have high-traffic or resource-intensive applications.
- Advertisements: To offset the costs of providing free hosting, many providers display advertisements on your website. These ads may be intrusive, affecting the user experience and the overall aesthetics of your site. You may not have control over the type or placement of these ads.
- Restricted Features: Services to host a WordPress website for free often come with fewer features compared to paid hosting plans. You may have limited access to advanced features, customization options, or certain software installations. This can restrict the functionality and flexibility of your website.
- Limited Support: Service to host a WordPress website for free may offer limited or no customer support. In most cases, you’ll need to rely on community forums or self-help resources to troubleshoot issues or seek assistance. Priority support is usually reserved for paid customers.
- Domain Limitations: Free hosting plans typically provide a subdomain (e.g., yoursite.providerdomain.com) instead of a custom domain. This can impact your website’s professionalism and branding. Some providers may allow you to use a custom domain but often at an additional cost.
- Security Concerns: ‘Host a WordPress website for free’ plan may have limited security measures in place, leaving your website more vulnerable to hacking attempts or malware infections. Backups, advanced security features, and SSL certificates may not be available or require an upgrade to a paid plan.
- Limited Scalability: As your website grows, you may outgrow the resources and limitations of a free hosting plan. Scaling up or adding advanced features may not be feasible or may require migrating to a paid hosting service.
Conclusion
Opportunities to host a WordPress website for free is an attractive option for individuals and small businesses looking to establish an online presence without incurring hosting costs. While free hosting services come with limitations, they can still be a viable solution for personal blogs, online portfolios, and small websites. By considering the recommended free hosting providers and their unique features, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your particular needs and goals. Start building your WordPress website for free and unlock the potential of your online presence today.
FAQs
How reliable is it to host a WordPress website for free?
While free web hosting services can be reliable, it’s important to choose a reputable provider. Research user reviews, uptime guarantees, and available resources to ensure the reliability of the hosting service.
Can I use a custom domain to host a WordPress website for free?
Some free hosting providers offer the option to use a custom domain, but this may involve additional costs or limitations. Check with the hosting provider to understand their domain options and any associated fees.
Are there any hidden costs involved to host a WordPress website for free?
Most free hosting services are indeed free, but be aware of any potential hidden costs. Some providers may offer additional paid features or upgrades that can enhance your website’s performance or functionality.
Can I monetize my website to host a WordPress website for free?
In most cases, hosting providers that allow you to host a WordPress website for free do not restrict monetization options for your website. However, it’s essential to review the terms and conditions to ensure compliance with their policies.
Can I upgrade from free hosting to a paid plan later?
Yes, many free hosting providers offer paid plans with expanded features and resources. If your website outgrows the limitations of the free plan, you can typically upgrade to a paid hosting plan for better performance and scalability.
