WordPress.org says a host should offer PHP 8.3 or newer and MariaDB 10.11 or newer, or MySQL 8.4 or newer. Check these before you pay for a WordPress plan.
How to host a website for free
You can host a static website for free on GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages or Netlify. A static site is made of fixed files such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and images.
| Free host | Limits from its own page | Watch out for |
|---|
| GitHub Pages | 1 GB site size, soft limit of 100 GB per month of traffic, soft limit of 10 builds per hour | It is not meant to run an online business |
| Cloudflare Pages (Free plan) | 500 builds per month, 20,000 files per site, 25 MiB per file | Cloudflare says Workers supports most Pages use cases and advises new projects to start with Workers |
| Netlify (Free plan) | 300 credits, with bandwidth at 20 credits per GB and each production deploy at 15 credits | Traffic and deploys draw from one pool of credits |
Sources: GitHub Docs, Cloudflare Developers and Netlify pricing (2026). At Netlify's rates, 300 credits cover about 15 GB of traffic if you do nothing else. That is our math.
How to host a website on GitHub
You can host a website on GitHub for free with GitHub Pages. You need a GitHub account and your site files. Follow these steps from GitHub's quickstart.
- Create a repository named username.github.io, using your own GitHub username.
- Add your site files, such as index.html, to the repository.
- Open Settings, then Pages.
- Under Build and deployment, set Source to Deploy from a branch, then pick your branch.
- Visit username.github.io. Changes can take up to 10 minutes to show (GitHub Docs, 2026).
GitHub says Pages is not allowed as free hosting to run your online business. It also says not to use it for passwords or card numbers. Use it for a portfolio, docs or a project page.
How to host a website on Cloudflare
Cloudflare Pages offers three setup methods: a command-line tool, Direct Upload and Git integration. Direct Upload suits a folder of finished files. Cloudflare's own page says Workers covers most Pages use cases and suggests new projects start there, so read both options first.
How to host a React website for free
Build your React app first. The build step turns it into static files. Then upload that output to GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages or Netlify. If your app needs server code or a database, a free static host is not enough.
How to host a website for free with a domain name
Free hosts give you a free web address. For your own domain, you pay for the domain, add it in the host's settings and update your DNS records. Netlify lists custom domains with SSL on its Free plan.
How to host a website on your own computer
You can host a website on your own computer, but it is a poor choice for a real site. Use it to learn.
Self hosting means you run the server yourself. Web hosting means a company runs it for you. Here are the problems with a home computer.
- The computer must stay on all day.
- Most home internet plans change your address from time to time.
- You handle every update, attack and backup.
A VPS is the middle path. You rent a small server and run it yourself. You get a fixed address and a steady connection. Our VPS guide lists plans from $4 a month.
Hostinger shared hosting plans and prices
Hostinger is one option for shared and WordPress hosting. It fits you if you want a low first price and can pay for a long term. Its page lists three plans, and all three need a 48-month term (Hostinger, 2026).
| Plan | Price per month, 48-month term | Paid up front | Renewal price per month | Sites | Storage |
|---|
| Premium | $1.99 | $95.52 | $10.99 | 3 | 20 GB SSD |
| Unlimited | $2.79 | $133.92 | $16.99 | Unlimited | 50 GB NVMe |
| Cloud Startup | $7.99 | $383.52 | $25.99 | Unlimited | 100 GB NVMe |
Source: Hostinger web hosting and WordPress hosting pages (2026). Hostinger notes the Premium price is a promotional rate. All three plans list a free domain for one year, free SSL and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Backups are weekly on Premium and daily on the other two. Check the renewal price before you buy.
The same three plans appear on Hostinger's WordPress hosting page. For a small site, compare Premium first.
Hosting option for this guide
Disclosure: this link is an affiliate link. Tutorsbot may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Who should not choose shared hosting from Hostinger
Skip it if you do not want to pay 48 months at once. The prices above need that term.
Other hosts can be a better fit. Bluehost Starter lists a $9.99 renewal price for 10 sites, which is lower than Hostinger Premium at $10.99 (Bluehost and Hostinger, 2026). SiteGround lists a 12-month term, so you commit for less time. Its renewal price is $17.99 for StartUp, so the total is higher over time. If you only need a static page, free hosting costs nothing and you should use that.
| If you want | Pick |
|---|
| A portfolio, docs or a React build | Free static hosting (GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages or Netlify) |
| One small WordPress site at a low price | Shared or WordPress hosting, after you check the renewal price |
| Full control and your own software | A VPS |
| A site you design without code | A website builder |
The short version
For a plain site, use free static hosting and pay only for a domain. For WordPress, compare shared plans by renewal price and billing term, not by the first month. A VPS fits you only if you can manage a server. Never rely on your home computer for a live site.
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Fazlur Rahman
