- Rebecca Tomasis
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
Being able to to host a website for free is a perfect way to test a new idea, build a website of any kind or start a small business project without financial risk. This guide will show you exactly how to find a reliable home for your website without spending anything.
With a website builder like Wix, you get secure, reliable cloud hosting included automatically. This means you can focus on building your brand and connecting with your audience, while the hosting and security is taken care of for you.
TL;DR: How to host a website for free
For anyone learning how to build a website, free web hosting removes the barrier to entry. It allows you to publish content instantly without dealing with complex server configurations or monthly fees.
To get started, you just need to choose a website builder like Wix that bundles hosting with its site builder. This approach saves you from having to connect a domain name to a separate server manually as well.
Still not sure what is web hosting? Our guide explains it all in more detail.
Step | Action |
01. Choose an all-in-one platform | Pick a builder that includes free hosting by default. |
02. Sign up and pick a template | Create your account and choose a design foundation. |
03. Customize your site | Add your own text, images, and pages. |
04. Connect a domain | Use the platform's free subdomain to get online instantly. |
05. Publish your site with the hosting taken care of | Push your site live to the web with a single click. |
How to host a website for free in 5 steps
When it comes to understanding how to host a website for free you don't need to know anything about servers, bandwidth or FTP clients. Follow these easy steps to get your site live on the web for free.
01. Choose an all in one website builder
The easiest way to host a site for free is to use a website builder. Unlike traditional hosting companies that just give you server space, a robust website builder like Wix gives you the design tools and the hosting in one place. When you create a site on Wix, it’s hosted on their secure, global servers automatically.
This hosting for free with your website builder is great because it handles all the maintenance for you. You don't have to worry about security patches, server updates or downtime. You just sign up and your website infrastructure is ready to go. This is a huge advantage over self-hosted solutions where you are responsible for keeping the server running smoothly.
02. Sign up and choose a website template
Once you've chosen your website builder, create a free account. Most will ask you a few questions about what kind of site you want to build. Based on your answers, they'll suggest website templates that match your needs.
Browse through the options and pick one that fits your style. Whether you need a blog, a online portfolio or a simple landing page, starting with a template gives you a professional structure. Don't worry if it's not perfect right away—you can change almost everything later. The important thing is to get a solid foundation.
You can also use an AI website builder which means just telling it, via a chat interface, what type of website you want to build, how it should look and why — and the builder will create it for you, often in minutes.
03. Customize your site
Now comes the fun part, use your website builder's drag and drop editor to make the site your own. Swap out the stock photos for your own images, rewrite the text to tell your story and adjust the colors to match your brand.
Because your hosting is integrated, every change you make is saved to the cloud instantly. You don't need to upload files to a server. You can work on your site from any computer with an internet connection. As you build, keep your user in mind and make sure your navigation is clear and your pages load quickly by not overloading them with massive video files.
04. Connect a free domain
To visit your site, people need a web address to enter or search for. When you host a website for free, you typically get a free subdomain. This usually looks like username.wixsite.com/siteaddress. It’s a fully functional web address that works just like any other URL.
Using a free subdomain is perfect for personal projects or starting out because it requires zero setup and costs nothing.
The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain→
If you later decide you want a custom domain (like mycoolsite.com), you can usually upgrade to a premium plan to connect one. However, with Wix as a domain registrar, you pay for your customized domain, your website is still hosted for free.
05. Publish your site with the hosting taken care of
Once you're happy with how your site looks, look for the Publish button in your editor. Clicking this pushes your website from the editor to the live server.
Within seconds, your site is live and accessible and you've hosted a website for free. From here, you can share your link on social media, add it to your bio and start driving traffic to it.
Learn more: Best hosting platforms
How to host a website for free FAQ
Is free hosting safe?
Yes, if you choose a reputable platform. Major website builders, like Wix, invest heavily in security to protect the millions of sites they host. They provide SSL certificates (that little lock icon in the browser bar) automatically, which encrypts data and keeps your visitors safe.
What are the limitations of free hosting?
Free hosting usually comes with some limits compared to paid plans. You will typically have a storage limit (how much content you can upload) and a bandwidth limit (how many visitors you can handle at once). You also usually have to use a subdomain rather than a custom domain name and the platform may display a small banner or logo on your site. For most new sites, these limits are perfectly manageable.