Web hosting is like finding a home for your website on the internet. It means putting your website's files and data on servers connected to the internet. This way, people can visit and use your website anytime. Web hosting is really important for running a website, and there are different types and levels of service. Getting a place on the internet for your website is important, especially for new businesses. Some places offer this service at a low cost, but some people want to know how to do it for free.

Free website hosting often means sharing space with other sites. This can restrict what you're able to do on your own site.

The good thing is that many free hosting services give you enough resources to run a small online store. Some even have cool features for beginners who want to learn how to build a website.

This article shows you, step by step, how to make and host a website for free. It also talks about the best eight companies that offer free hosting and six things to keep in mind when using free hosting.

Web hosting comes in various types, each made for different needs. Here are a few common ones:

a) Shared Hosting

Shared hosting means many websites live on one server and share things like CPU, RAM, and storage. It saves money but might limit how well your site works or how much you can change it. If other sites get busy, it could slow yours down too.

b) VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server)

VPS hosting uses special tech to make separate virtual servers on one physical server. Each VPS gets its own resources, which means you get better performance and more control than with shared hosting.

c) Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting means you have a whole server just for your website. It gives you the best performance, control, and safety but costs more.

d) Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting connects many servers to host websites. It's flexible and can grow with you, changing resources as needed.

e) Managed Hosting

With managed hosting, the provider handles server upkeep, security, and tech help. This lets website owners concentrate on their content and business.

f) Reseller Hosting

Reseller hosting lets people or companies sell hosting services for another provider. Resellers can host websites for their clients using the resources given to them.

Here are some top sites for free web hosting:

Vercel:-

Vercel provides a free Hobby plan for personal, non-commercial use. This plan is suitable for hobbies, personal domains, or learning purposes.

Benefits of Using Vercel:

• Streamlined process of building and deploying web apps
• No need for additional configuration
• Provides necessary tools, workflows, and infrastructure
• Easy deployment of web apps built with popular frontend frameworks
• Globally distributed and secure infrastructure
• Optimal speeds by serving content from data centers near users
• Real-time collaboration features during development
• Automatic preview and production environments
• Ability to leave comments on preview deployments

Vercel Pricing Plan

Vercel offers three pricing tiers: Hobby, Pro, and Enterprise. The Hobby tier is free and perfect for personal projects. It includes unlimited deployments and websites. The Pro tier costs $20 per month and is designed for professional use. It comes with additional features like team collaboration and priority support. The Enterprise tier is custom-priced and offers advanced features tailored to large businesses. This includes SLA, personalized onboarding, and dedicated support. Remember, the right plan depends on your specific needs and budget.

Vercel seamlessly integrates with React.js and Next.js projects, offering a smooth deployment process and automatic CI/CD. To deploy your Next.js project on Vercel:

Step 1: Download and Install the Vercel CLI Globally

Firstly, download and install the Vercel CLI, a Command Line Interface for Vercel. This tool allows interaction with the Vercel platform from your command line.

The installation is easy using npm (Node Package Manager), which comes with Node.js. If Node.js isn't installed on your system, get it first as it's necessary for this step.

To install Vercel CLI globally on your machine, run a specific command in your terminal or command prompt. A global installation means the CLI can be accessed from any directory within your terminal, improving its accessibility and convenience.

npm install -g vercel (FOR Npm)
yarn global add vercel (FOR yarn)
pnpm i -g vercel (FOR pnpm)

Step 2: Log in to your Vercel account.

The second step in the guide is logging into your Vercel account to access its features and set up projects.

Begin by visiting the Vercel login page and entering your username/email and password. If not registered, there's an option to do so on the login page. Logging in grants access to functionalities like deploying, managing teams, integrating services, etc.

After logging in, you'll navigate a user-friendly dashboard to manage projects, monitor status, adjust settings, etc. Ensure to log out after use for secure information.

vercel login

Step 3: Deploy Your Project to Production

You're now ready to deploy your project. This important phase transitions your project from a concept or prototype to a usable product in a production environment.

Deployment involves key steps:

To deploy your project on Vercel, use the following command:

vercel --prod
vercel //Deploy

Netlify:-

Netlify is a popular web development platform. It helps developers build, deploy, and manage their websites more efficiently. The platform offers many features that make it easier to create high-quality websites.

Netlify offers several benefits:

Netlify Pricing Plan

Netlify offers three pricing plans: the Free plan for basic needs, the Pro plan at $19/month for professional developers and small teams, and the Business plan tailored to larger businesses with negotiable pricing.

Certainly, here is a simple guide on how to deploy your website on Netlify:

Step 1: Add Your New Site

Creating a new site on Netlify is easy. Once you log in, you'll go straight to https://app.netlify.com. If you're just starting out, simply click the Add A New Project button.

Step 2: Link to Your GitHub

Click on "Add A New Project" to see this screen:

Make sure to upload your repo to GitHub. Then, all we have to do is connect Netlify with GitHub. Click the GitHub button as illustrated in the screenshot above.

Step 3: Authorize Netlify

To enable communication between Netlify and GitHub, simply click the "Authorize Application" button. As shown in the image below, rest assured that Netlify does not store your GitHub access token on our servers. For more information on the permissions requested by Netlify and their purpose, please refer to our documentation on Git provider permissions at this link.

Step 4: Select Your Repo

After linking Netlify with GitHub, you'll see your Git repositories. Pick the one you want to deploy from this list.

Step 5: Configure Your Settings

Configure your options here. Make sure the publish directory points to where your site's public files go after the build, like "dist". Also, make sure your build command is set to the command you use to build the site (e.g. "npm run build"). Finally, click the "Deploy site" button to proceed.

Step 6: Build Your Site

Step 7: All Done

After the build finishes, your site is now live. Go to the overview section to find the URL of your newly published site.

Netlify automatically generates a name for your site. Let's update that by visiting the settings tab and clicking "Change site name":

Netlify will now automatically build and deploy your website whenever changes are pushed to your GitHub repository.

In summary, Netlify is a powerful web development tool that simplifies the process of creating impressive websites, making it suitable for both professionals and beginners.

Firebase:-

Firebase is a comprehensive backend platform that provides developers with a wide range of tools and services to build high-quality web and mobile applications. It offers numerous benefits and simplifies the development process by handling complex tasks such as data storage, user authentication, and real-time database synchronization.

Firebase Hosting offers several benefits for developers :

• Quick deployment using Firebase CLI.
• Global CDN for fast content delivery.
• Automatic SSL certificate management for secure connections.
• Scalability without manual intervention.
• Seamless integration with Firebase services.
• Content versioning and rollback options.
• Easy configuration of custom domains.
• Continuous deployment with version control integration.
• Free hosting plan for small projects.
• Efficient project management with Firebase CLI.

Firebase Pricing Plan

Firebase offers a variety of pricing plans to fit your needs, including a free tier for beginners and scalable paid options for larger projects.

f you're just starting out with Firebase, the free tier is a great option. It allows you to explore and experiment with the platform without any cost. However, as your project grows and requires more resources, Firebase offers scalable paid options that can accommodate your needs. These paid plans provide additional features and support to help you manage larger projects effectively. Whether you're a beginner or working on a large-scale project, Firebase has pricing plans that can cater to your requirements.

How to Use Firebase:

Step 1: Installation of the Firebase CLI

Go to the Firebase CLI documentation to learn how to install the CLI or update it to the latest version.

Step 2: Project Initialization

Link your local project to Firebase by running this command in the root directory:

firebase init hosting

Follow these steps during initialization through Firebase CLI prompts:

Upon completion, Firebase will automatically create and add two files to your local app directory's root:

Step 3: Deployment to your site

To deploy your site, run the following command from the root of your local project directory:

firebase deploy --only hosting

image source

By leveraging the power of Firebase, developers can focus on building innovative features and delivering exceptional user experiences without worrying about backend infrastructure complexities.

InfinityFree:-

InfinityFree is a popular web hosting service that offers free hosting for websites. It provides users with the opportunity to create and host their websites without any cost.

Benefits of InfinityFree:

• Affordability: InfinityFree offers free hosting services, making it a cost-effective choice for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.
• Range of Features: Despite being a free service, InfinityFree provides a variety of features and tools to help users build and manage their websites effectively.
• Support for Popular Website Builders: InfinityFree supports popular website builders such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, allowing users to easily create professional-looking websites without any coding knowledge.
• Easy deployment of web apps built with popular frontend frameworks
• Unlimited Disk Space and Bandwidth: InfinityFree offers unlimited disk space and bandwidth, ensuring that users have enough resources to accommodate their website's needs.
• User-Friendly Control Panel: InfinityFree provides a user-friendly control panel that allows users to efficiently manage their websites, domains, and email accounts.
• Reliable Uptime: InfinityFree strives to provide a stable hosting environment, ensuring that users' websites are accessible to visitors at all times.

InfinityFree Pricing Plan

InfinityFree offers a completely free web hosting plan, perfect for small projects and beginners. For more advanced features, they also provide premium plans at affordable rates.

If you're just starting out with a small project or are new to web hosting, InfinityFree's completely free plan is a great option. It provides all the basic features you need to get your website up and running without any cost. However, if you require more advanced features or additional resources, they also offer premium plans at affordable rates. These premium plans give you access to a wider range of tools and resources to help you take your website to the next level. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, InfinityFree has options to suit your needs.

Steps for Hosting A Website on Infinity Free For Free

Step 1: Create an Account or Login into your account

On the Infinity free home page, click in the upper part, on the right Client area.

On the registration page, enter your data, confirm the Captcha, and create the account. A confirmation will be sent to the entered email address.

Step 2: Create a Hosting Account

To set up your account, click on the "Create Account" button and use the website's name you wish to host, not your personal details.

Step 3: Set Up a Custom Domain or a Subdomain with InfinityFree

Here if you have your custom domain, you can enter it and change your nameservers in your domain providers to point to InfinityFree, if you have a difficult time doing this, check this this article out.

On the registration page, enter your data, confirm the Captcha, and create the account. A confirmation will be sent to the entered email address.

To use a custom domain, click the "Custom Domain" tab. Next, type in your domain name and hit "Search Domain."

To set up a subdomain on infinityfree, navigate to the subdomain tab and input your desired subdomain name.

Step 4: Manage your account

After successful creation of your subdomain or domain, your account will show up with a button to manage it. Click on the manage button.

Step 5: Upload your Files

Access the File Manager from your control panel.

Upload your website files to the htdocs directory.

Make sure your homepage is named index.html or index.php.

Step 6: Set Up Email Accounts (Optional)

• If you need email accounts, go to the Email Accounts section.
• Create new email addresses associated with your domain.

Step 7: Go Live

• Once everything is uploaded and configured, your website should be live.
• Visit your domain to see your website in action.

In conclusion, InfinityFree is a dependable and budget-friendly choice for people and small businesses wanting to host their websites at no cost. It offers a variety of features and an easy-to-use interface, giving users the tools they need to build and run their websites well. Even with some limits, it's still a favored option for those looking for an affordable hosting solution.

In conclusion, launching a website doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor. There are numerous free web hosting platforms available that offer a range of features to help you get started. From Vercel's developer-focused tools and workflows, Netlify's continuous deployment and serverless functions, Firebase's comprehensive backend services, InfinityFree's unlimited disk space and bandwidth, to 000WebHost's user-friendly interface and easy upgrade options - each platform has its unique strengths. However, it's important to remember that while these platforms provide a cost-effective way to launch your website, they may come with certain limitations. Therefore, it's crucial to carefully consider your specific needs and choose the platform that best aligns with them. Happy website building!