000webhost Alternatives in 2026: Best Free and Cheap Hosting for Your Website
If you’re searching for 000webhost alternatives, here is the short version: the free hosting service run by Hostinger is gone. Hostinger announced the closure of 000webhost in July 2024, after 17 years of operation, and pointed its users to paid Hostinger plans. That does not mean free hosting is dead. This guide shows where to host your site now, depending on whether you want to stay free, pay as little as possible, or build something more reliable.
Quick answer: which alternative should you choose?
- Want to stay free and run PHP or WordPress: InfinityFree.
- Only need a simple HTML/CSS site: free static hosting such as GitHub Pages, Netlify or Cloudflare Pages.
- Want a basic blog with zero server work: the free plan at WordPress.com (with limits).
- Want a stable, professional site: a low-cost paid plan, such as Hostinger or another provider from our best shared hosting list.
What happened to 000webhost?
000webhost was one of the best-known free web hosts on the internet. Founded in 2007, it let beginners publish PHP and MySQL sites without paying. In 2024, Hostinger stopped accepting new users and began shutting the platform down, telling customers to back up their sites or move to a paid plan. The old domain now redirects to Hostinger, and the free product no longer exists.
If you still have files or a database backup from a site that lived there, you can move it to any of the hosts below. We explain the process in the migration section further down.
The best 000webhost alternatives in 2026
1. InfinityFree: the closest free alternative
InfinityFree is the free host most people land on after leaving 000webhost. According to the reviews we consulted, the plan includes roughly 5 GB of storage, free SSL certificates, PHP and MySQL support, a one-click installer (Softaculous) and no ads injected into your site. Read our full InfinityFree review for more detail.
Pros
- Truly free, no credit card required.
- Runs WordPress and other PHP applications.
- Supports your own custom domain.
Cons
- Per-account limits on CPU usage, daily hits and file counts, so it is not meant for busy sites.
- Performance can be inconsistent at peak times.
- Support is limited to a forum and a knowledge base.
Best for: learning, portfolios, test sites and small personal projects. For a business, the risk of downtime usually outweighs the savings.
2. AwardSpace and other traditional free hosts
AwardSpace offers a free plan with about 1 GB of storage, a small monthly bandwidth allowance and a WordPress installer. It works for experiments, but the limits are tight. Before you commit to any free host of this type, check which PHP version it runs: outdated versions no longer get security patches and can break modern WordPress plugins.
The same advice applies to other free providers such as FreeHosting.com: read the terms, confirm whether SSL is included and find out what kind of support you can expect.
3. Free static hosting: GitHub Pages, Netlify and Cloudflare Pages
If your site is built only with HTML, CSS and JavaScript (a portfolio, a landing page, a link page), you do not need PHP or a database. In that case, static hosting platforms are usually faster and more dependable than any traditional free host.
- GitHub Pages: simple and free, ideal for portfolios and documentation.
- Netlify and Cloudflare Pages: automatic deploys from your Git repository, with a CDN and SSL included.
Limitation: they cannot run WordPress or PHP.
4. WordPress.com free plan
If you just want to start a blog without managing a server, WordPress.com has a free plan. It uses a yoursite.wordpress.com address, offers limited storage, does not allow custom plugins or themes, and shows WordPress.com ads on your site.
It is a fine starting point, but remember that WordPress.com is not the same as WordPress.org, the open-source software you install on your own hosting. To understand the difference and build a full site, read our guide on how to create a WordPress website.
5. Hostinger: the official successor
Because Hostinger owned 000webhost, it is the easiest move for anyone who already had a site there. Plans start at a low entry price (the company advertises roughly $2 to $3 per month on promotional terms, but renewal rates are higher) and include its hPanel control panel, SSL, backups and free site migration. See our Hostinger review for pricing, performance and support details.
Tip: always check the renewal price, not just the first-term promotion.
6. Other cheap paid hosting providers
You are not limited to Hostinger. Many providers offer entry-level plans at a similar price, and the right one depends on your project. We compare them in these rankings:
- Best shared hosting for small sites and blogs
- Best WordPress hosting for sites that need speed and updates handled for you
- Best VPS hosting for growing sites that have outgrown shared plans
If you are not sure how to compare providers, start with our guide on how to choose the best web hosting provider.
Comparison table
| Option | Price | Runs WordPress? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| InfinityFree | Free | Yes | Testing and personal sites |
| AwardSpace | Free (limited) | Yes | Experiments |
| GitHub Pages / Netlify / Cloudflare Pages | Free | No (static sites only) | Portfolios and landing pages |
| WordPress.com (free) | Free | Limited version | Simple blogs |
| Hostinger | Paid (low entry price) | Yes | Professional sites and easy migration |
| Other cheap paid hosts | Paid | Yes | Businesses and growing sites |
Free or paid hosting: which is worth it?
Free hosting is great for learning and testing. But if your site represents a business, a store or a source of income, the risks add up: downtime, usage limits, little or no support and, in some cases, accounts suspended without warning. A low-cost paid plan solves most of those problems for the price of a coffee or two per month.
When you compare options, look at five things: uptime and speed, backups, the location of the data center relative to your visitors, the PHP version offered, and the renewal price. For a deeper look at the trade-offs, read is free hosting worth it for your website, free web hosting vs cheap web hosting services and what is free website hosting. You can also browse our ranking of the best free web hosting providers.
How to migrate your site from 000webhost
- Find your backup. If you have your files and database saved, you are ready to go. If not, check old emails and any archived copies, or contact Hostinger support, which offered migration help to former users.
- Choose your new host based on your site type (WordPress, PHP or static).
- Upload your files via FTP or the file manager in the new control panel.
- Import your database with phpMyAdmin and update the connection details in your configuration file (in WordPress,
wp-config.php). - Point your domain to the new host by updating the DNS records at your domain registrar.
- Install SSL and test the site before you switch off the old one.
Is your site built with WordPress? Read our complete guide: how to migrate a WordPress site, with four step-by-step methods to change hosts without losing data.
Frequently asked questions
Does 000webhost still exist?
No. Hostinger shut down the free 000webhost service in 2024.
What is the best free alternative to 000webhost?
For PHP and WordPress sites, InfinityFree is one of the most commonly recommended options. For static sites, GitHub Pages, Netlify and Cloudflare Pages are better choices.
Is there free hosting without ads?
Yes. Some hosts, InfinityFree among them, do not place ads on your site, but they usually come with usage limits and limited support.
Can I use my own domain on free hosting?
In most cases, yes, but check each provider’s terms first.
Should I switch to paid hosting?
If your site is for a business, a store or a blog you want to grow, yes. Stability, support and SSL are worth the small monthly cost.
Conclusion
The end of 000webhost is not the end of free hosting, but it is a good reminder that free services can disappear. For testing ideas and learning, free alternatives work well. For a site that matters, invest in a low-cost paid plan with real support. See how providers rank in our list of the best web hosting sites and pick the one that fits your project.
