The best free WordPress hosting accommodates shoestring budgets and provides reliable hosting for WordPress sites. Hostinger is our top recommendation in this category. They offer 1-click WordPress installation, unlimited bandwidth and free SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. Hostinger’s value-packed plans provide reliable WordPress hosting at next to no cost.
Free WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting that lets users create and manage WordPress sites without needing to pay high upfront costs. This forever-free service allows users to experiment with WordPress or build small websites with minimal financial commitment. It should therefore be used by beginners or website owners on tight budgets, but is best avoided by business owners or growing WordPress sites. 4 common disadvantages of free WordPress hosting are limited resources, unprofessional domain names, mandatory ads, and slower performance. A domain name is not typically included in free WordPress hosting, but SSL certification and cPanel are. Customer support is also available in free WordPress hosting but comes in limited forms like knowledge bases and email support.
Some budget-conscious WordPress users choose to launch their WordPress site for free via the WordPress.com service. It’s important to remember that free WordPress.com does not include custom domains and does impose mandatory ads. 2 alternatives to free WordPress hosting are hosting with free trials, and cheap WordPress-optimized hosting that costs below $5 per month. We recommend looking beyond free WordPress hosting for eCommerce purposes since free hosting options don’t provide the required resources and professionalism. Free WooCommerce hosting is therefore not recommended.
Top Free WordPress Hosting
- Hostinger – Best budget alternative to free WordPress host
- AccuWeb – Best for free WordPress host with cPanel
- Freehostia – Best free WordPress host for the US
- FreeHosting – Best free WordPress host for unmetered bandwidth
- x10hosting – Best for free cloud-based WordPress host
- InfinityFree – Best for zero-ads free WordPress host
- AwardSpace – Best free hosting for multiple WordPress sites
- GoogieHost – Best for free WordPress host with NVMe
- What Is Free WordPress Hosting?
- Is Free WordPress Hosting Free Forever?
- Should I Use Free WordPress Hosting?
- What Are The Disadvantages Of Free WordPress Hosting?
- Is A Domain Name Included With Free WordPress Hosting?
- Is SSL Certification Included With Free WordPress Hosting?
- Is CPanel Included With Free WordPress Hosting?
- Do I Get Customer Support With Free WordPress Hosting?
- Are There Alternatives To Free WordPress Hosting?
- Should I Use Free WooCommerce Hosting?
- Which Is The Best Free WordPress Hosting Provider?
1. Hostinger
- Ad free
- Up to 100 subdomains
- LiteSpeed web server and cache
- Free custom domain name included
- Unlimited free SSL
- 9 data center locations worldwide
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Cheapest price requires a 48-month subscription period
- Weekly free backups only (not daily)
Hostinger is known for their very budget-friendly WordPress hosting solutions. Their WordPress hosting plan comes at a nearly-free price of $2.45. This service includes 1-click WordPress installation for easy setup and management of up to 100 WordPress sites. The package features 100 GB SSD storage and 100 email accounts. You also get unlimited bandwidth, databases, and FTP accounts. Users manage their WordPress site efficiently with Hostinger’s user-friendly hPanel control panel. Check our Hostinger review for more details.
2. AccuWeb Hosting
- Ad free
- xVarnish cache (page cache) and Redis (database cache)
- Custom domain name
- Free backups included
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- No free subdomains included
- No free SSL included
AccuWeb provides free WordPress hosting with a focus on performance and security. They offer pre-installed WordPress for ease of use. This is suitable for hosting a single WordPress site. The package includes 2 GB SSD storage, 30 GB bandwidth, 10 databases, 5 FTP accounts, and 25 email accounts. Everything is managed through the industry-standard cPanel control panel. Read our AccuWeb Hosting review to learn more.
3. Freehostia
- Ad free
- Up to 15 subdomains
- Custom domain name
- Free SSL included
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Powered by cloud hosting
- No WP acceleration technology
- No free backups included
Freehostia offers a user-friendly solution for those looking for free WordPress hosting. They provide 1-click WordPress installation and accommodate up to 5 WordPress sites. The plan includes 250 MB SSD storage, 6 GB of bandwidth, 1 database, and 1 FTP account. Users have access to 3 email accounts. They manage their site through Freehostia’s custom control panel.
4. Freehosting
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Up to 3 email accounts
- DirectAdmin control panel
- Up to 3 WordPress sites
- Ads included
- No WP acceleration technology
- Custom subdomain only
- No free SSL included
- No free backups included
- No uptime guarantee
Free Hosting offers a straightforward and accessible free WordPress hosting experience for users of all skill levels. They provide 1-click WordPress installation for a single WordPress site. The hosting includes 10 GB HDD storage, unmetered bandwidth, 1 database, unlimited FTP accounts, and 1 email account, all managed through the widely-used cPanel.
5. x10hosting
- Unmetered bandwidth
- cPanel control panel
- Ad free
- Custom domain name
- No free subdomains included
- No WP acceleration technology
- No free SSL included
- No free backups included
- No uptime guarantee
x10Hosting offers a flexible free WordPress hosting service with ample resources. They include 1-click WordPress installation and support up to 3 WordPress sites. The package comes with 500 MB SSD storage and unmetered bandwidth. You also get 2 databases, 1 FTP account, and 3 email accounts. Users manage their sites using the DirectAdmin control panel.
6. InfinityFree
- Ad free
- Unlimited subdomains
- Free SSL included
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- No WP acceleration technology
- Custom subdomain only
- No free backups included
InfinityFree offers unlimited free WordPress hosting for users that need extensive resources without paying. They feature 1-click WordPress installation and support an unlimited number of WordPress sites. The hosting plan includes 5 GB SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth. You also get an impressive 400 databases and 1 FTP account. Everything is managed through the user-friendly VistaPanel.
7. AwardSpace
- Ad free
- Up to 3 subdomains
- Custom domain name
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- No WP acceleration technology
- No free SSL included
- No free backups included
AwardSpace is popular for their beginner-friendly free WordPress hosting services. They offer 1-click WordPress installation for a single site. They provide 1GB HDD storage, 5 GB bandwidth, 1 database, 1 FTP account, and 1 email account. Their hosting is managed through a custom control panel to streamline user experience.
8. GoogieHost
- Ad free
- Unlimited subdomains
- Custom domain name
- Free SSL included
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- No WP acceleration technology
- No free backups included
GoogieHost provides free WordPress hosting that stands out for its high-performance NVMe SSD storage. It offers 1-click WordPress installation for managing a single WordPress site. The plan includes 1 GB NVMe SSD storage and a generous 100 GB bandwidth. It also includes 2 databases, 2 FTP accounts, and 2 email accounts. Everything is accessible through the DirectAdmin control panel.
What Is Free WordPress Hosting?
Free WordPress hosting is a web hosting service that allows users to host sites built with the WordPress Content Management System (CMS) without any cost. WordPress CMS is an open-source platform that allows users to create and manage their websites without needing coding expertise. Free WordPress hosting allows everyone to take advantage of WordPress’s user-friendly interface, theme library, and management dashboard. This type of WordPress hosting particularly suits first-time bloggers and very small businesses with no budget.
Is Free WordPress Hosting Free Forever?
Yes, free WordPress hosting is free forever. When you opt for a free WordPress hosting plan, your website stays up and renews at no cost indefinitely. Note that most providers will still require you to log into your account periodically. This policy helps the hosting service manage inactive accounts while providing ongoing service to active users.
Should I Use Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, you should use free WordPress hosting for two purposes:
- Learning how to build and run WordPress sites Free WordPress hosting provides a cost-free environment for gaining practical experience with WP Admin. This helps get a feel for website management.
- Testing out WordPress CMS This service allows you to explore WordPress’ features and functionalities before committing to a paid service. You are able to browse WordPress themes, widgets and the Gutenberg editor.
When Do I Upgrade From Free To Paid WordPress Hosting?
Upgrade from free to paid WordPress hosting when your website shows signs of slowdowns or downtime. These are both indicators that your WordPress site has outgrown your free WordPress hosting resources. Track your server response time and uptime using a host tracker such as UptimeRobot, Pingdom, GTmetrix, or Bitcatcha Host Tracker.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Free WordPress Hosting?
There are four disadvantages of free WordPress hosting:
- Limited Server Resources You get very limited storage and bandwidth with free WordPress hosting. This will eventually restrict your WordPress website’s growth and performance as your traffic increases.
- No Custom Domain Name Free hosting doesn’t allow the use of your own domain name. You’re limited to using subdomains of the provider. This detracts from your site’s branding and professionalism.
- Advertisements Your WordPress site will typically display advertisements from the hosting provider. These ads can interfere with your visitors’ user experience.
- No WP Acceleration Free hosting doesn’t come with WordPress acceleration features. This means your site experiences slower loading times. This affects user engagement and your SEO performance.
Is A Domain Name Included With Free WordPress Hosting?
No, a domain name is not included with free WordPress hosting. Users have to rely on a subdomain provided by the web host instead. Another alternative is to purchase a domain name separately.
Can I Use A Custom Domain Name with Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, you can use a custom domain name with free WordPress hosting. You have the option to connect the free WordPress hosting service with a custom domain name that you bought and registered with the hosting provider or another domain registrar. Using a custom domain name enhances the brand identity of your free WordPress site but be prepared to pay extra.
Do I Get Subdomains with Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, you do get subdomains with free WordPress hosting at no extra cost. The number of subdomains you’re allowed to use varies depending on the provider. Some free WordPress hosting services limit you to hosting your site on a single subdomain only.
Is SSL Certification Included With Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, SSL certification is included with free WordPress hosting. This means that your WordPress sites, whether hosted as subdomains or with your own domains, will be encrypted with basic SSL certifications like Let’s Encrypt.
Is CPanel Included With Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, cPanel is included with free WordPress hosting. cPanel is a popular control panel for managing web hosting aspects like domain settings and email accounts. It should not be confused with WP Admin, which is dedicated to managing WordPress site content and settings. You will receive login credentials to access the cPanel of your free WordPress hosting service upon signing up Note that users do not own the cPanel license itself.
Do I Get Customer Support With Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, you do get customer support with free WordPress hosting. Some providers of free WordPress hosting offer 24/7 customer support through chat or email even to customers on their free plans. Most providers also give you access to their knowledgebase and community support.
Does WordPress.Com Offer Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, WordPress.com offers free WordPress hosting that is free indefinitely but that has certain limitations. Users cannot use a custom domain name and this results in a website address like yourdomain.wordpress.com. Free sites also contain WordPress.com advertisements, and online businesses are charged a 10% fee on each transaction.
Are There Alternatives To Free WordPress Hosting?
Yes, there are two alternatives to free WordPress hosting. The first alternative is WordPress hosting with free trials. This is offered by hosts like Cloudways and Namecheap. These trials don’t require a credit card which allows you to test their services before deciding. The second alternative is cheap WordPress hosting that costs less than $5 per month. This is an affordable solution for those looking for more features and higher resources than what’s available with free hosting.
What Is the Best Cheap WordPress Hosting?
The best cheap WordPress hosting options include Hostinger, DreamHost, and GreenGeeks. Their plans cost less than $5 per month and include features such as SSH and WP-CLI and over 50 GB of SSD storage. They also provide unlimited or unmetered bandwidth, a free domain name and SSL certificate. Check our best cheap WordPress hosting shortlist for more brand recommendations.
Should I Use Free WooCommerce Hosting?
No, you should not use free WooCommerce hosting. These services have significant limitations that impact the user experience of your WooCommerce store, such as restricted resources (storage and bandwidth), no custom domain names, and mandatory ads on your store. There’s also no payment card industry (PCI) compliance, which means that transaction information and customer data are not stored or handled securely. Check our best WooCommerce hosting shortlist for our brand recommendations.
Which Is The Best Free WordPress Hosting Provider?
The best free WordPress hosting provider balances essential features and reliable performance with budget-friendliness. Here’s a recap of the top 9 free WordPress hosting:
| Specifications | Hostinger | AccuWeb | Freehostia | FreeHosting | x10hosting | InfinityFree | AwardSpace | GoogieHost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of WordPress sites | 100 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | Unlimited | 1 | 1 |
| WP acceleration | Litespeed web server and cache | xVarnish cache, Redis cache | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Ad free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 100 GB SSD | 2 GB SSD | 250 MB SSD | 10 GB HDD | 500 MB SSD | 5 GB SSD | 1 GB HDD | 1GB NVMe SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | 30 GB | 6 GB | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unlimited | 5 GB | 100 GB |
| Database | Unlimited | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 400 | 1 | 2 |
| Control panel | hPanel | cPanel | Custom panel | cPanel | DirectAdmin | VistaPanel | Custom panel | DirectAdmin |
| Free email accounts | 100 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 3 | No | 1 | 2 |
| Free domain name | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Free SSL | Unlimited | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.90% | 99.90% | 99.90% | No | No | 99.90% | 99.90% | 99.90% |
| Starting price /mo | $2.99 | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| See all features |
Hostinger is our #1 pick for free WordPress hosting based on these criteria.