Free Webspace with PHP & MySQL Database: Providers Compared

Free web space with PHP and MySQL database provides an ideal foundation for getting started in web development and is perfect for small web projects with limited budgets. PHP as a server-side scripting language and MySQL as a database technology are widely used tools for creating dynamic websites with database connectivity. We introduce you to the best providers in comparison.

What defines free web space with PHP & MySQL database?

Free web space refers to the provision of storage space on a server provided by hosting providers without monthly fees. Although these offers typically have fewer resources and features compared to paid web hosting, they are - similar to free web space with domain - ideal for smaller projects, personal websites, or beginners in web development.

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. It enables the development of interactive features and applications such as forms, user logins, or content management systems. PHP web hosting is widely used and compatible with a variety of web applications, making it an ideal choice for free hosting offers.

MySQL databases are also an integral part of these hosting packages. MySQL is a relational database management system that allows for the structured storage and management of large amounts of data. When combined with PHP, database-driven applications such as blogs, forums, or online shops can be developed. The number of MySQL databases in a web hosting can vary depending on the provider, affecting the flexibility in managing multiple projects.

Free webspace with PHP and MySQL database offers a budget-friendly way to develop dynamic websites without the need for paid hosting services.

The 8 best free hosts for free webspace with PHP and MySQL database

Here is a list of the 8 best providers of free PHP webspace with a database for you:

lima-city Freespace

The German web hosting provider lima-city is an established player in the free web hosting space with over 15 years of experience. The free web space is particularly suitable for private or personal projects, as well as for learning and experimentation. With 10 GB of storage, unlimited traffic, and ad-free hosting, lima-city provides a solid foundation for beginners and hobby web developers. Noteworthy are the integrated WordPress tools that allow easy management of plugins, themes, and updates. Additionally, lima-city offers a 1-click installer for software applications, free SSL certificates, and an API for hosting management.

• Webspace with PHP support
• Unlimited MySQL databases with max. 500 MB MySQL storage
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 10 GB Webspace
• Ad-free
• Free subdomain

(Screenshot www.lima-city.de/webhosting/free-webspace)

AwardSpace Free Hosting

AwardSpace provides a technically advanced solution with the Free Hosting plan for users in need of free webspace. The package includes 1 GB of storage space and a 1-click installer for quick installation of popular Content Management Systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Grav. An integrated website builder is also available for website creation and management. With ad-free hosting, a disturbance-free and professional website presentation is ensured. Users benefit from a free subdomain, 24/7 customer support, and automated weekly backups for reliable data protection.

• Webspace with PHP support
• 4 MySQL databases
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 1GB Webspace
• Ad-free
• Free subdomain

(Screenshot www.awardspace.com/free-hosting/)

x10Hosting x10 Basic

Web hoster x10Hosting offers the x10 Basic plan, a free cloud hosting solution with 500 MB of storage, ideal for small web projects and simple applications. With PHP and MySQL support, high flexibility for developing dynamic web applications is ensured. Additionally, a 1-click installer simplifies the installation of Content Management Systems like WordPress. An integrated, user-friendly website builder allows website creation without deep programming knowledge. These technical features make x10 Basic a powerful and attractive option for beginners and hobby developers.

• Webspace with PHP support
• 2 MySQL databases
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 500 MB Webspace
• Ad-free
• Free subdomain

(Screenshot x10hosting.com/)

freehosting.com

The web hosting provider freehosting.com offers 10 GB of storage and unlimited data transfer with its free hosting package, making it particularly attractive for data-intensive applications. The plan supports the server-side scripting language PHP and MySQL databases, enabling developers to implement dynamic web applications. A 1-click installer for popular content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal makes setup easy. Additionally, an integrated site builder is available to efficiently create websites even without deep programming knowledge. Unlike other providers, freehosting.com does not provide a domain or subdomains, so users will need to register an external domain to fully utilise the offered web space.

• Web space with PHP support
• 1 MySQL database
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 10 GB of storage
• Ad-free
• No domain or subdomain provided

(Screenshot www.freehosting.com/)

freehostia.com

The provider Freehostia.com offers 250 MB of storage and 6 GB of monthly data transfer within its free hosting plan, suitable for small to medium web projects. With support for PHP and MySQL, dynamic web applications and database-driven content are made possible. A 1-click installer for common content management systems like WordPress simplifies the quick implementation and deployment of the desired platform. Unlike many other free hosting offers, Freehostia does not include its own domain or subdomain. To use the web space, it is necessary to separately register an external domain and point it to the server.

• Web space with PHP support
• 1 MySQL database with a maximum of 10 MB MySQL storage
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 250 MB of storage
• Ad-free
• No domain or subdomain provided

(Screenshot www.freehostia.com/)

Bplaced

bplaced is a German web hosting provider that offers free web space with extensive technical features. With 1 GB of storage space and unlimited data transfer, the service provides a solid foundation for smaller web projects and personal websites. Support for PHP and MySQL allows for the implementation of dynamic web pages and database-driven applications, including the use of content management systems like WordPress. Another advantage is the ad-free hosting, ensuring uninterrupted use of the websites. bplaced also allows the integration of custom domains, while providing a free subdomain. For users looking for a flexible and ad-free hosting option, bplaced is a technically attractive choice.

• Web space with PHP support
• 2 MySQL databases
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 1 GB of storage space
• Ad-free
• Free subdomain

(Screenshot www.bplaced.net/)

web4free.eu

The provider web4free.eu from France offers free web space with 512 MB of storage space, primarily suitable for smaller web projects and personal applications. The service supports server-side scripts in PHP as well as MySQL databases, making the implementation of dynamic web applications seamless. In addition, web4free.eu offers features for managing email accounts and provides comprehensive statistics on web space usage. This combination of technical features makes the provider a solid choice for simple web hosting requirements.

• Web space with PHP support
• 1 MySQL database
• 512 MB of storage space
• Ad-free
• Free subdomain

(Screenshot www.web4free.eu/)

InfinityFree

InfinityFree, a British provider of free web hosting, offers generous 5 GB of storage space and unlimited data transfer, making it particularly interesting for projects with higher resource requirements. The service supports server-side scripts in PHP and relational database management using MySQL, enabling the development of complex, dynamic websites. In addition, a 1-click installer is provided to facilitate the quick and easy installation of content management systems such as WordPress. In addition to providing a free subdomain, users can also integrate their own domains. With an intuitive user interface and stable performance, InfinityFree provides a flexible and powerful solution for both beginners and experienced users.

• Webspace with PHP support
• 400 MySQL databases
• 1-click installer for CMS
• 5 GB storage space
• ad-free
• free subdomain

(Screenshot www.infinityfree.com/)

Who is free webspace with PHP & MySQL database suitable for?

Free webspace with PHP and MySQL support is particularly suitable for beginners in web development, hobby webmasters, and smaller projects that do not have high demands on server resources. Students and developers who want to gain initial experience with dynamic websites and database-driven applications using MySQL also benefit from such offers. For private blogs, personal portfolios, or smaller websites such as forums and communities, free webspace (similar to a free homepage builder) provides an ideal way to realise projects without financial investments. Additionally, this hosting option is suitable for testing environments or developing prototypes before transitioning to professional, paid services. As it usually involves free webspace with FTP access, users can quickly and easily upload their own data to the provider's server.

• Beginners in web development
• Hobby webmasters with smaller projects (blogs, forums, portfolios)
• Students and developers for learning and experimenting
• Projects with low server resource requirements
• Testing environments for dynamic websites and database-driven applications
• Prototyping before transitioning to paid hosting services
• Free solution for private or personal websites

When should paid alternatives be considered?

Paid hosting alternatives should be considered when projects have higher performance requirements, for example, on heavily visited or data-intensive websites. Particularly, professional and business applications benefit from the stability, faster loading times, advanced security features, and scalability that paid hosting services offer. Additionally, paid solutions allow for an ad-free web presence with a custom domain and often provide round-the-clock support – a crucial advantage for businesses. For users needing advanced features like dedicated IP addresses, unlimited email accounts, or complex software requirements, paid options are usually the better choice.

• Higher performance requirements
• Professional and business applications
• Stability and advanced security features
• Scalability for growing projects
• Ad-free web presence with custom domain
• Round-the-clock support
• Advanced features or complex software requirements

Free web space with PHP and MySQL support offers an attractive option for beginners, small projects, and test environments without any financial investment. However, for larger, more professional applications or projects with higher performance, security, and support requirements, paid hosting solutions are the better choice. Ultimately, the decision depends on the individual needs and goals of each project.

Tip: Many web hosting providers also allow you to test web hosting for free before committing to a paid contract.

Our article is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from external sources.

Sources & further links on the topic:

Image credits:

Main image - Steve Buissinne on Pixabay
Graphics - napkin.ai