The demand for careers in web development is projected to increase by approximately 25% in the next decade, indicating that aspiring tech leaders are currently refining their coding skills.
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There are various ways to learn coding, with some students opting for a four-year degree program while others choose online coding boot camps. However, regardless of the learning path, aspiring programmers all share a common need for web hosting.
Even after entering the workforce, programmers must continually learn and adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape. Utilizing a free web hosting service is an excellent way to practice and develop new coding skills.
By using a free hosting plan, developers can experiment with new frameworks and code without incurring monthly fees. Additionally, since test projects typically receive less traffic compared to fully functional websites, there is no need to worry about bandwidth and storage limitations.
Below, we will discuss some of our favorite free web hosting services for developers, as well as affordable alternatives.
Best Nearly Free Hosting
There may come a point when you decide that paying a small price is worthwhile for the additional functionality offered. While a free website can be a good starting point, it may have limitations. If you plan to transform your test project into a fully operational website, it is easier if you don't have to migrate your site from a free host to a new provider.
Don't misunderstand, a free web host does not make your website illegitimate. However, if you expect your site to handle a significant amount of traffic without experiencing slowdowns, you will need something more robust than a free shared hosting plan.
The following providers offer excellent price-to-performance ratios and can provide visitors with fast access to your site.
Hostinger
Hostinger is known for its affordability, with shared hosting plans starting at just $1.99 per month. These plans come with numerous perks, including a free domain name, backups, and a free SSL certificate.
Performance is not compromised with Hostinger's shared plans, as they are optimized for WordPress hosting and offer one-click installations and security protection from BitNinja.
If your site outgrows the resources of a shared hosting plan, Hostinger offers VPS plans at a much lower cost compared to industry standards. While the host's VPS plans provide fewer managed services, experienced developers may not mind dedicating extra time to managing their servers in exchange for a lower price.
Bluehost
Bluehost is well-regarded for its shared and WordPress hosting plans. When you sign up with Bluehost, you can expect user-friendly service and easy access to website management tools through their revamped dashboard.
With plans starting as low as $2.95, Bluehost offers attractive perks even on its cheapest website builder plan, including access to their free site builder, unlimited bandwidth, and a free email account. If you require more resources, Bluehost excels in offering VPS hosting or a dedicated server.
Although Bluehost does not currently provide a free trial, they do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. This gives you the opportunity to request a full refund if you are unsatisfied with your hosting plan, which is similar to a free trial.
HostGator
HostGator is another hosting platform worth considering. Their plans offer a good balance of price, performance, and features, and they provide impressive customer support if you encounter any issues.
Apart from unlimited bandwidth and a free domain included in their Baby plan, HostGator also offers a free SSL certificate, website builder, and email account.
Weebly is a website builder that was founded in 2002 in San Francisco by David, Dan, and Chris. Over the years, it has helped millions of websites and gained support from major investors like Sequoia Capital and Tencent Holdings.
Weebly offers a free hosting plan that stands out with its lack of ads and advanced features such as SEO, form builder, online store builder, and shopping cart. The company also provides excellent support through an active community and contact options like email and live chat.
The free plan includes 500 MB of disk space and bandwidth, along with its own database and control panel. It also offers features like Free SSL, SEO, form builder, and Instagram feed support. Weebly provides website templates and apps to enhance your site building experience.
For those looking to expand their online store, Weebly offers upgrade plans that focus on transactional features, primarily the number of products you can sell simultaneously. However, if you're only interested in hosting plans, Weebly has options at prices ranging from $12 to $26 per month.
While Weebly's free plan is powerful, it does have limitations. It doesn't support server-side scripting like PHP or database integration. Additionally, your domain will be a Weebly subdomain, and connecting your own domain requires a paid plan.
Next is HubSpot, which was launched in 2006 by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah. Although known for its reliable CMS, HubSpot recently introduced a free web hosting solution focused on security and content reliability.
HubSpot's free hosting services provide round-the-clock security and threat detection, SSL, WAF, and a special security group. With built-in CDN and web monitoring functions, hosting a site for free in HubSpot is efficient and secure.
The main features of HubSpot's free hosting include unlimited storage space and bandwidth, an intuitive website builder with drag-and-drop functionality, built-in CDN, and content hosting. It also offers free security features like WAF, SSL, and malware/threat detection. HubSpot integrates seamlessly with their universal CRM platform and provides content optimization and SEO recommendations.
To unlock additional premium tools, you can upgrade from HubSpot's Freemium pricing model. The free tools provided by HubSpot offer lite versions of selected tools, allowing you to try them extensively before upgrading to access their full capabilities.
However, it's worth noting that HubSpot's CMS is relatively basic, and their initial paid plan starts at a higher price of $23 per month.
There are several reputable free web hosting services available for developers. Here are a few options that are often recommended:
1. GitHub Pages: This service is specifically designed for hosting static websites directly from your GitHub repositories. It's easy to set up, supports custom domain names, and provides version control capabilities.
2. Netlify: Netlify offers free hosting for static websites, along with features like continuous deployment, form handling, and built-in CDN (Content Delivery Network) for fast loading times.
3. Vercel (formerly Zeit): Vercel focuses on serverless deployments and offers free hosting for static websites and Next.js applications. It provides seamless integration with popular frameworks and supports automatic deployments from Git repositories.
4. Firebase Hosting: Firebase Hosting is part of the Google Firebase platform and allows you to host static and dynamic content for web applications. It offers free and scalable hosting, SSL support, and CDN integration.
5. Heroku: While primarily known for its platform as a service (PaaS) offerings, Heroku also provides a free hosting plan. It supports various programming languages and frameworks, making it suitable for developers looking to deploy more complex applications.
These services offer reliable hosting environments for developers and often provide additional features like custom domain support, SSL certificates, and easy deployment workflows. However, it's important to note that free hosting plans typically come with limitations, such as storage and bandwidth restrictions. It's advisable to review the specific terms and conditions of each service to ensure they meet your requirements.