Is there such thing as free Web hosting?

Free web hosting sounds appealing, but the important question is what you actually receive. Some providers offer free plans, while others only offer trials or promotional periods.

In this blog I will be asking the important questions to assist the regular Joe in making the right choice for them.

Firstly, is there such a thing as free hosting?

Yes, free web hosting exists. Some website builders and hosting platforms offer limited free tiers, which can be useful for testing or personal projects. For a business website, compare branding, domain support, performance, backups and upgrade options before choosing a plan.

For a broader comparison, see our guide to different types of web hosting.

Does this include my own domain name?

A free hosting plan does not always include a custom domain such as yourbusiness.co.za. Domain registrations usually carry recurring fees, even when the first year is included in a promotion. Check renewal costs and whether you can connect your own domain.

Web agencies or providers sometimes provide you with your own subdomain and NOT top-level domain name. For example, yourbusiness.providername.com. This will technically be your domain name to use for your website, but there will be limitations attached to this including not having full control over the management of the website. This also is not suited for long term or business use.

Am I expected to pay for anything at a later date?

Free plans can be a way for providers to introduce users to paid services, but some are intended for hobby projects or developers. Review the terms carefully, especially any requirements for payment details, upgrades or inactivity limits.

Before signing up with an unfamiliar provider, read our guide to recognising trustworthy websites.

Can I use a free web hosting option for my personal website?

There is nothing wrong in doing so. However, the following reasons may deter you from exploring this option:

You cannot monetize your web traffic
You cannot sell directly from the website (in most cases)
Using a provider’s subdomain means your content initially lives at that address. If you later move it, rankings do not automatically disappear because the content is duplicated, but a poorly managed migration can affect visibility. Use suitable redirects and migration practices where available.
You must adhere to the providers policy on how your website should be used. This will be stricter then having your own domain. For example, depending on the provider, you might not be able to publish content related to finance, politics, healthcare, and other topics that will have substantial influence on the viewers behaviour and mood. Certain web apps or forms may also be barred as this is used to collect user information or which can be resource intensive.
Some free plans display the provider’s branding or advertising. Others do not. Check the current plan’s restrictions before publishing a public website.

If you are not concerned about any of these then you should have no problem.

Uses and limitations of free website hosting

What are some of the limitations I can expect with free web hosting?

Apart from those mentioned above, the following are other limitations. These will vary from provider to provider and have different combinations of what they will limit.

Limited number web pages
URL is a cryptic string of text and not a human friendly name. example b83hgdjow.provider.com
Website will contain ads and other provider embedded information. Some can be intrusive, and some may be simple footer text.
Limited elements to choose from when designing a webpage. This is the most common limitation. Elements offered will defer but often enough to give you an idea on what the web builder is capable of.
Limited layout options. These are where elements are placed on the webpage. These may be oversimplified for what you require.
Limited hosting time. Some providers offer a 1 month, 3 months and so on period of time for which you can host. After which you would need to pay a fee.
Security. Limited security as these are free services and may not have the desired security. It is also something you have no control over. This is another reason some free hosting providers do not allow sensitive content or collection of sensitive information from their websites.
Website performance. Understandably this is going to be an issue as providers are offering this to you for free. If you are expecting any sort of traffic, this is going to be an issue. You also have limited to no control over this.
No add-on services. Often with hosting solutions when you get a domain name, you are provided the ability to create an email address, setup redirect rules, manage your DNS zone and more. This is all stripped away. (Unless you are using a personalized domain name)

What can I do with free web hosting?

There are things you could learn if you are new to building and designing websites. If you intend to eventually manage your own website, exploring free hosting options with the intent to purchase later on is a good start.

Free web hosting is also ideal for students learning about web development as they can host their web files online and publish them to see how they perform in a live environment.

Even experienced web developers sometimes turn to free web hosting options to test their web app projects, create client mock ups, or even do their own exploring of different web building platforms.

Lastly, there may be some non-profit organizations, clubs or individuals that want to share information with a small group of people like calendars, announcements, and events. In these cases, it may not be worthwhile spending money on and so using free web hosting the perfect option.

An example of a website builder with a free tier is Weebly, subject to its current plan restrictions. Do not confuse a free trial or money-back guarantee with permanently free hosting. If you need business hosting, review Web Force’s hosting options.

Summary

Don’t label free web hosting as strictly good or bad; instead, see it as an option that suits specific situations. Always bear in mind that web service providers, even if they claim to be “charitable”, they are essentially businesses. So, don’t set your expectations too high when opting for free web hosting.