best free hosting + free domain (or subdomain) options for students in 2024:


1. GitHub Pages (Best for Static Sites)

  • Hosting: Free
  • Domain: yourusername.github.io (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Jekyll
    ✅ No ads, great for portfolios & project demos
    ✅ Easy setup with GitHub
    🔗 https://pages.github.com

2. Netlify (Best for Frontend & JAMstack)

  • Hosting: Free
  • Domain: yoursite.netlify.app (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Auto-deploy from GitHub/GitLab
    ✅ Free SSL, forms, and serverless functions
    ✅ Supports React, Vue, Next.js, etc.
    🔗 https://www.netlify.com

3. Vercel (Best for Next.js & React)

  • Hosting: Free
  • Domain: yourproject.vercel.app (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Blazing fast for Next.js & static sites
    ✅ Easy Git integration
    ✅ Free SSL & edge functions
    🔗 https://vercel.com

4. Render (Best for Full-Stack Apps)

  • Hosting: Free (with limits)
  • Domain: yoursite.onrender.com (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Supports Node.js, Python, PHP, PostgreSQL
    ✅ Free SSL & custom domains
    ✅ Good for backend APIs
    🔗 https://render.com

5. InfinityFree (Best for PHP/MySQL)

  • Hosting: Free
  • Domain: yoursite.epizy.com (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Supports PHP & MySQL (good for WordPress)
    ✅ No forced ads
    ✅ 400 MySQL databases
    🔗 https://infinityfree.net

6. Firebase Hosting (Best for Web Apps)

  • Hosting: Free (10GB bandwidth/month)
  • Domain: yoursite.web.app (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Fast CDN & free SSL
    ✅ Works with Firebase backend
    🔗 https://firebase.google.com

7. Glitch (Best for Node.js & Live Coding)

  • Hosting: Free
  • Domain: yourproject.glitch.me (free subdomain)
  • Features:
    ✅ Live code editor
    ✅ Supports Node.js, Python, WebSockets
    🔗 https://glitch.com

How to Get a Free Custom Domain?

Most free hosting services provide subdomains, but if you want a real custom domain (like yourname.com) for free:

  1. Freenom (.tk, .ml, etc.) – Currently not issuing new domains.
  2. Dot TK – Free .tk domains (but may show ads).
  3. GitHub Student Developer Pack – Offers free domain deals (e.g., Namecheap 1-year free domain).

Best Choice?

  • For static sites (portfolio, resume): GitHub Pages / Netlify
  • For React/Next.js: Vercel
  • For PHP/WordPress: InfinityFree
  • For full-stack apps: Render / Firebase

Would you like a step-by-step guide for any of these? 😊

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *