Free WordPress Hosting: Providers Compared

Free WordPress hosting offers you the opportunity to try out the most popular content management system WordPress without any financial commitment or even run small websites at no cost. Technically, it usually provides a stripped-down hosting environment, which is mainly suitable for simple blogs or test installations. The limits that apply depend heavily on the respective provider. Our comparison provides an overview of the available options and shows you what to watch out for when choosing.

What is free WordPress hosting?

Free WordPress hosting refers to offers where you can use a custom WordPress installation without monthly fees. Technically, it is often based on heavily reduced shared web space packages with limited storage, restricted resources, and sometimes limited functionality. Many of these offers are aimed at beginners who want to try out WordPress, or users who need a simple testing or development environment. Unlike traditional web hosting plans, you do not pay a basic fee, but you often have to accept restrictions such as advertising, limited support, or constrained performance resources.

Free WordPress hosting is often provided via subdomains and only allows limited access to technical settings such as databases, PHP versions, or backup management. However, for simple websites, personal projects, or the first introduction to WordPress, this can be completely sufficient. Once you require more control, better loading times, custom domains, or higher security standards, you should consider switching to a paid WordPress hosting in the medium term.

The 5 best free hosts for free WordPress hosting

Here we have compiled a list of the best providers of free WordPress hosting for you:

AwardSpace Free Hosting

AwardSpace offers a technically advanced solution with its Free Hosting plan for users who need free web hosting. The package includes 1 GB of storage space and a 1-Click Installer that enables quick installation of popular content management systems such as WordPress. An integrated website builder is also available for creating and managing websites. Thanks to ad-free hosting, a smooth and professional presentation of the website is guaranteed. Users benefit from a free subdomain, 24/7 customer support, and automated weekly backups to ensure reliable data security.

• Web hosting for WordPress
• 1-Click Installer for WordPress
• 1 GB Web hosting
• ad-free
• free subdomain

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

x10Hosting x10 Basic

The web host x10Hosting offers a free cloud hosting solution with the x10 Basic plan, providing 500 MB of storage, ideal for smaller web projects and simple applications. Support for PHP and MySQL ensures high flexibility for developing dynamic web applications. Additionally, a 1-Click Installer is available, greatly simplifying the installation of content management systems like WordPress. An integrated, user-friendly website builder also allows for website creation without advanced programming skills. These technical features make x10 Basic a powerful and attractive option for beginners and hobby developers.

• Web hosting for WordPress
• 1-Click Installer for WordPress
• 500 MB Web hosting
• ad-free
• free subdomain

(Screenshot x10hosting.com/)

freehosting.com

The web hosting provider freehosting.com offers its free hosting package with 10 GB of storage space and unlimited data transfer, making it particularly attractive for data-intensive applications. The plan supports the server-side scripting language PHP as well as MySQL databases, enabling developers to implement dynamic web applications. A one-click installer for popular content management systems such as WordPress simplifies rapid setup. Additionally, an integrated site builder is available, which makes creating websites efficient even without advanced programming skills. Unlike other providers, freehosting.com does not offer its own domain or subdomains, so users must register an external domain to fully utilise the provided web space.

• Web space for WordPress
• One-click installer for WordPress
• 10 GB storage space
• ad-free
• No domain or subdomain

(Screenshot www.freehosting.com/)

freehostia.com

The provider freehostia.com offers 250 MB of storage space and 6 GB of monthly data transfer as part of its free hosting plan, which is particularly suitable for small to medium-sized web projects. With support for PHP and MySQL, dynamic web applications and database-driven content are enabled. A one-click installer for popular content management systems such as WordPress facilitates quick deployment and operation of the desired platform. Unlike many other free hosting services, freehostia does not provide its own domain or subdomain. To use the web space, it is necessary to register an external domain separately and point it to the server.

• Web space for WordPress
• One-click installer for WordPress
• 250 MB storage space
• ad-free
• No domain or subdomain

(Screenshot www.freehostia.com/)

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 via MySQL, enabling the development of complex, dynamic websites. Additionally, a one-click installer is provided to facilitate quick and straightforward installation of content management systems such as WordPress. Besides the free provision of a subdomain, users can also integrate their own domains. With an intuitive user interface and stable performance, InfinityFree offers a flexible and powerful solution for both beginners and experienced users.

• Web hosting for WordPress
• One-click installer for WordPress
• 5 GB storage space
• ad-free
• free subdomain

(Screenshot www.infinityfree.com/)

Who is free WordPress hosting suitable for?

Not every project requires paid hosting immediately – in many cases, a free WordPress plan can be completely sufficient.

Private blogs & hobby projects

Free WordPress hosting is well suited for small private websites, personal blogs, or hobby projects where there are no high demands on performance or storage space. If you want to publish content without a large reach or simply need a straightforward online presence, the free resources are often enough. Such projects benefit from being able to start without financial risk and to upgrade to a larger hosting package later if needed.

Testing environments & staging

Free hosting can also be useful for technical tests or staging purposes. If you want to try out themes, plugins, or new layouts, many of these tasks can be easily carried out on a free WordPress installation. Since the environment is not intended for live operation, limits such as limited storage or missing backups are hardly relevant here. This allows you to test developments realistically without additional costs.

Students, beginners & developers

For learning purposes, initial WordPress steps or experimental web projects, free WordPress offerings are often a good starting point. Students and beginners can familiarise themselves with the installation, dashboard, and typical CMS workflows without having to spend money upfront. Developers also occasionally utilise such environments to prototype ideas or demonstrate concepts without providing a full hosting environment. The reduced infrastructure is sufficient for many learning and practice scenarios.

Restrictions for commercial use

For business websites, free WordPress hosting is generally only suitable to a limited extent. Missing service level agreements, limited security, lower performance, and restricted customisation options can affect the reliability of the website. Hosting on subdomains also often appears unprofessional in a business context. If you wish to operate a commercial website, you should therefore switch early to a premium plan to benefit from higher stability, better security, and full technical control.

What should you consider with free WordPress hosting?

Free WordPress offers vary greatly in features, so it is important to understand what technical limits and requirements are involved.

• Storage space

The available storage space is one of the most important points in permanently free hosting offers. Many providers only offer a few hundred megabytes or a limited quota for files, themes, and plugins. If you want to use images, larger media files, or additional extensions, this storage can quickly become insufficient. It is therefore sensible to realistically assess your project’s needs and plan for a plan with more capacity if necessary.

• Traffic limits

The available data transfer is also often limited. Some providers cap the monthly traffic volume, while others slow down or trigger an automatic upgrade once exceeded. Especially if you expect higher visitor numbers or use media content, a small traffic limit can quickly become problematic. Check carefully how generous the provider is here and what rules apply in case of exceeding the limit.

• SSL support

An SSL encryption is now standard – even for small websites. However, some free WordPress hosting providers do not offer a free Let’s Encrypt certificate or only allow limited integration of one. Missing SSL support can negatively impact security, privacy, and SEO. Therefore, ensure that HTTPS can be used without additional costs or at least can be easily integrated.

• PHP versions & database access

Providers of free web hosting with PHP and MySQL often restrict the technical possibilities. This includes, among other things, the choice of PHP version and direct access to the database. Current PHP versions are important for security, performance, and compatibility with modern plugins. If you want to make custom adjustments, use more complex themes, or perform manual backups, at least basic database access should be possible.

• Advertising / restrictions

Many free hosting services finance themselves through advertising on your website or in your dashboard. This can impair the presentation or seem unprofessional in a business environment. Technical restrictions such as missing cron jobs, reduced upload limits, or limited plugin usage are also common. Find out in advance exactly what conditions the provider imposes and whether they are acceptable for your project.

• Upgrade options to premium plans

Free plans are often intended as an entry point – with the option to upgrade to a premium plan later. It is important how straightforward this switch is, whether data can be transferred smoothly, and what prices are charged afterwards. Good providers enable a seamless upgrade process without your website going offline or content being lost. This allows you to grow flexibly as your project expands.

When you should opt for affordable premium hosting

Free WordPress hosting can be useful for starting out, but it quickly reaches its limits as your project grows or becomes more professional. In many situations, a low-cost premium plan is the much better choice, offering greater stability, higher performance, and full control. Especially if you want to use your own domain, value fast loading times, or need regular backups, switching is usually unavoidable.

You should consider premium hosting if you are planning a business website, building a portfolio for clients, or running a blog that is experiencing increasing visitor numbers. Even if you want to use plugins for e-commerce, bookings, or member areas, the limited resources of free plans are often insufficient. For private projects, an upgrade can also be sensible if you use many images or need your site to be reliably and quickly accessible in the long term.

An upgrade does not automatically mean high costs. Many hosting providers offer fully equipped WordPress plans for just a few euros per month, including your own domain, backups, and high performance. Compared to the restrictions of free hosting, the price-performance ratio is often significantly better. If you want to run a stable, secure, and expandable website in the long term, a cheap premium hosting plan almost always pays off.

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

Find affordable WordPress web hosting as an alternative here: