Free Static Website Hosting: 10 Options Compared (2026)

Updated September 22, 2026 · 12 min read

Free static website hosting compared: 10 hosts, their real free limits, custom domains, commercial-use rules and the catches to know. Checked Sept 2026.

Short answer: For most people, the best free static website hosting in 2026 is Cloudflare Pages. It offers unlimited requests and bandwidth, plus 100 custom domains per project (Cloudflare, checked September 2026). Netlify and GitHub Pages come next. Vercel Hobby is free but non-commercial only. If you want drag-and-drop with no Git, look at Netlify Drop, Tiiny Host, Static.app or sofast.

In this guide

What “free static website hosting” actually means
Free static website hosting compared: the table
The 10 best free static hosting options, reviewed
The hidden catches of “free” static hosting
Which free static host fits your situation?
How to get a custom domain on free static website hosting
Where sofast fits
The bottom line
Frequently asked questions

What “free static website hosting” actually means

Free static website hosting means a company stores your HTML, CSS, JavaScript and image files and serves them to visitors at no cost. Nothing runs on a server for each visit. MDN, the Mozilla developer reference, says a static web server “sends its hosted files as-is to your browser.” That simplicity is why so many hosts offer a free plan: a static site costs very little to serve.

In plain terms: A static site is a folder of finished files. The host hands those files to visitors exactly as you uploaded them.

This matters if you built your site with an AI tool. Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini usually hand you an index.html file, a stylesheet and some images. That output is a static site, with no database to publish. If you are unsure which kind of site you have, our guide on static vs dynamic websites explains the difference in five minutes.

The word “free” hides real differences, though. Some free plans forbid commercial use, some pause your site past a quota, and one caps uploads at 3 MB. This guide compares ten options on the same five criteria.

Free static website hosting compared: the table

Every figure below comes from the host’s own pricing page or documentation (checked September 2026). “Commercial use” means a site that sells something or is built for a paying client. “No restriction stated” means we found no ban on the official pricing or plan page.

Host	Free plan limits	Custom domain on free?	How you deploy	Commercial use on free?	Paid from
Cloudflare Pages	Unlimited requests and bandwidth; 500 builds/month; 20,000 files, 25 MiB per file	Yes, 100 per project	Git, CLI, or dashboard drag-and-drop (1,000 files max)	No restriction stated	Workers Paid $5/month per account
Netlify	300 credits/month (hard limit)	Yes, with SSL	Git, CLI, API, or Netlify Drop	Yes (Netlify blog)	Personal $9/month
GitHub Pages	1 GB site; 100 GB/month soft bandwidth	Yes	Git, or browser upload to the repository	No for online business, e-commerce or SaaS	A paid GitHub plan (for private repositories)
Vercel	Hobby: 100 GB Fast Data Transfer, 1M Edge Requests	Yes, 50 per project	Git, CLI, or Vercel Drop (account needed)	No (Hobby is non-commercial)	Pro $20/month
Firebase Hosting	10 GB storage, 360 MB/day transfer	Yes, with SSL	CLI	No restriction stated	Blaze: $0.026/GB stored, $0.15/GB transferred
Render	5 GB bandwidth/month, 500 build minutes	Yes, with TLS	Git	No restriction stated	$0.15/GB beyond included bandwidth
Neocities	1 GB storage, 200 GB bandwidth	No	Browser dashboard or CLI	No restriction stated	Supporter $5/month
Surge	Unlimited publishing, basic SSL	Yes	CLI	No restriction stated	Professional $30/month
Tiiny Host	1 project, 3 MB upload, 5,000 visits, 5 GB/month	No	Drag-and-drop	No restriction stated (Tiiny branding shown)	Tiny $9/month or $60/year
Static.app	1 site, 50 MB, labelled “7-Day Trial”	No	Drag-and-drop	No restriction stated	Starter $60/year
sofast	1 site, 50 MB, sofast subdomain	No	Drag-and-drop	Yes	Starter $5/month (billed annually)

sofast is our own product, so it sits last; its limits are covered in “Where sofast fits” below.

The 10 best free static hosting options, reviewed

1. Cloudflare Pages: the most generous free static site hosting

Cloudflare Pages states that “all plans come with unlimited sites, seats, requests, and bandwidth” (cloudflare.com, checked September 2026). The free plan allows 500 builds per month, 20,000 files per site and 25 MiB per file. Each project accepts 100 custom domains. No other free plan here gives as much headroom. Our explainer on what Cloudflare Pages is and how it works covers the setup in detail.

Two caveats apply. First, dashboard drag-and-drop (“Direct Upload”) is capped at 1,000 files per deploy. Beyond that, you need the Wrangler CLI (command-line interface). Second, Cloudflare’s docs now say: “Start new projects with Workers.” Pages is still supported, but Cloudflare focuses new development on Workers (developers.cloudflare.com, checked September 2026). On Workers, requests to static assets are free and unlimited.

2. Netlify: free static hosting with drag-and-drop built in

Netlify’s Free plan gives you 300 credits per month as a hard limit (Netlify docs, checked September 2026). A production deploy costs 15 credits and each GB of bandwidth costs 20 credits. As an estimate, 20 deploys a month would use all 300 credits with zero bandwidth left. Ten deploys leave about 7.5 GB of bandwidth. Custom domains and automatic SSL are included on Free.

Netlify also allows commercial projects on Free, according to its November 2024 blog post. Netlify Drop lets you drag a folder onto app.netlify.com/drop with no account. That drop is temporary and expires unless you claim it with an account. For the full credit math, see our breakdown of Netlify pricing and credits.

3. GitHub Pages: free static site hosting for public projects

GitHub Pages hosts a published site of up to 1 GB (GitHub docs, checked September 2026). Bandwidth has a soft limit of 100 GB per month. It is free with public repositories on GitHub Free. A paid GitHub plan adds private repositories, but the site itself stays public.

The big catch is the usage rule. GitHub Pages is not “allowed to be used as a free web-hosting service to run your online business, e-commerce site,” or SaaS (software as a service). A portfolio is fine; a shop is not. You do not strictly need Git: GitHub lets you drag up to 100 files into the browser, at 25 MiB per file. Our step-by-step guide to host a website on GitHub Pages walks through both methods.

4. Vercel: great tooling, but Hobby is non-commercial

Vercel Hobby costs $0 and includes 100 GB of Fast Data Transfer and 1,000,000 Edge Requests per month (Vercel docs, checked September 2026). Vercel’s docs allow 50 custom domains per project on Hobby, with automatic SSL. If you pass a limit, you usually wait 30 days to use the feature again, with no surprise bill.

Hobby is for “non-commercial personal use only.” Vercel counts a site you are paid to create or host as commercial. That rules out client work for freelancers. Pro costs $20 per month, with one deploying seat and $20 of usage credit. Vercel Drop (launched June 2026) accepts a dragged folder, but requires an account and creates a new project on every drop. See our guides to Vercel pricing and whether Vercel is really free.

5. Firebase Hosting: fine for developers, tight daily transfer

Firebase Hosting on the no-cost Spark plan includes 10 GB of storage and 360 MB of data transfer per day (Firebase pricing, checked September 2026). Custom domains and SSL are included. You deploy with the Firebase CLI. As an estimate, a page that weighs 3 MB with its images uses the daily 360 MB after 120 full visits. Beyond Spark, the Blaze plan bills $0.026 per GB stored and $0.15 per GB transferred.

6. Render: free static hosting tied to Git

Render says static sites are “always free to deploy” (Render pricing, checked September 2026). The Hobby workspace includes 5 GB of outbound bandwidth per month, then $0.15 per GB, plus 500 build minutes. Custom domains and TLS (Transport Layer Security, the protocol behind HTTPS) are included. Render deploys from a Git repository, so it suits people who already use Git.

7. Neocities: generous storage, no custom domain on free

Neocities gives free accounts 1 GB of storage and 200 GB of bandwidth (neocities.org, checked September 2026). You manage files in a browser dashboard, with a CLI for advanced users. The free plan has no custom domain. The Supporter plan costs $5 per month and adds 50 GB of storage, 3,000 GB of bandwidth, custom domains and SSL certificates.

8. Surge: fast CLI publishing with a custom domain

Surge’s free plan includes “Unlimited publishing, Custom domain, Basic SSL” (surge.sh, checked September 2026). You publish from a terminal. Forced HTTPS, custom SSL and password protection require the Professional plan at $30 per month. Surge is quick for developers but hard for non-technical users.

9. Tiiny Host: simple drag-and-drop, very small free limit

Tiiny Host lets you “drag & drop your zip file to upload” (tiiny.host, checked September 2026). The free plan allows 1 project, a 3 MB upload, 5,000 visits and 5 GB per month, with Tiiny branding and no custom domain. You must log in once every 3 months to keep free links live. Custom domains start on the Solo plan, at $18 per month or $156 per year.

10. Static.app: drag-and-drop, but the free tier is a trial

Static.app accepts a dragged archive and publishes it on a subdomain (static.app, checked September 2026). Its free tier offers 1 site and 50 MB. The pricing page labels it “7-Day Trial.” Paid plans are billed annually: Starter costs $60 per year (500 MB, 2 sites), Medium $120 and Large $180. Custom domains and SSL come with paid plans. Check what happens after the trial before you share a link widely. For more drag-and-drop tools, read our guide to free HTML hosting.

The hidden catches of “free” static hosting

Free plans rarely fail on price. They fail on a rule you missed. Here is the catch that matters most for each host (official sources, checked September 2026).

Host	The catch	What happens
Vercel Hobby	Non-commercial use only	Client or business sites need Pro at $20/month
GitHub Pages	No online business, e-commerce or SaaS	A shop or paid product breaks the usage rules
Netlify Free	300 credits, hard limit	When credits run out, all your sites are paused until the next cycle
Tiiny Host	3 MB upload, 5,000 visits	A site with photos can exceed 3 MB fast
Static.app	Free tier labelled “7-Day Trial”	Plan on paying if the site must stay up
Firebase Spark	360 MB transfer per day	A popular day can hit the cap

The Netlify rule deserves a closer look. Netlify’s docs say that when Free credits run out, “all of your web projects (sites/apps) are paused.” Visitors see a “Site not available” page until the next billing cycle. One busy site can take your other sites offline too.

In plain terms: A “build” is an automatic step that turns source code into final files. AI-generated HTML sites are already final, so they need no build at all.

Which free static host fits your situation?

Use this decision tree. Start at step 1 and stop at the first “yes.”

Is the site for a client, a shop or your business? Rule out Vercel Hobby and GitHub Pages. Choose Netlify, which allows commercial use on free, or Cloudflare Pages, which states no ban.
Do you refuse to touch Git or a terminal? Choose a drag-and-drop host: Cloudflare Pages Direct Upload, Netlify Drop, Tiiny Host, Static.app or sofast.
Do you need a custom domain without paying for hosting? Choose Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, GitHub Pages or Render. Tiiny Host, Static.app, Neocities and sofast Free do not include one.
Do you only need a link for a few days? Netlify Drop works without an account, as long as you accept that unclaimed drops expire.
Do you expect heavy traffic? Choose Cloudflare Pages for unlimited bandwidth. Avoid Firebase Spark and its daily cap.
Are you a developer who likes Git workflows? Choose Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel or Render. Our Vercel vs Netlify vs Cloudflare Pages comparison settles the tie.

For a small agency with several client sites, steps 1 and 3 usually decide everything.

How to get a custom domain on free static website hosting

A custom domain like yourstudio.com looks more professional than a shared subdomain. Connecting one is free on Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, GitHub Pages, Render, Firebase, Surge and Vercel Hobby (non-commercial). The domain name itself is never free: you rent it yearly from a registrar.

In plain terms: DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet’s address book. It tells browsers which server holds the site behind a domain name.

The steps are nearly identical on every host:

Buy the domain from a registrar. Vercel, for example, sells domains “at registrar cost” (Vercel changelog).
Add the domain in your host’s dashboard. On GitHub Pages, go to Settings > Pages > Custom domain.
Create the DNS records your host shows. For an apex domain on GitHub Pages, that means four A records pointing to 185.199.108.153 through 185.199.111.153 (GitHub docs, checked September 2026).
Wait for DNS propagation. GitHub and Cloudflare both say changes can take up to 24 hours.
Turn on HTTPS. Most hosts issue and renew a free Let’s Encrypt certificate automatically. These certificates last 90 days today, with a 45-day default planned from February 2028 (Let’s Encrypt). On GitHub Pages, the “Enforce HTTPS” option can take up to 24 hours to appear.

Never create wildcard DNS records such as *.example.com for GitHub Pages. GitHub warns they create an “immediate risk of domain takeovers.” Our guide to setting up a GitHub Pages custom domain covers verification and common errors.

In plain terms: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates turn http:// into https:// and show the padlock in the browser.

Where sofast fits

sofast hosts static HTML sites by drag-and-drop upload: no Git, no command line, automatic SSL, and a free plan with 50 MB and a sofast subdomain, not listed on Google. It is built for people who generated a site with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Lovable and got stuck at “how do I put this online?” You drag a folder or a ZIP file into the browser. sofast says a typical upload is live in about 15 seconds.

sofast is built on Cloudflare’s global network, which Cloudflare says spans 348 cities. The Free plan costs $0, with 1 site, 50 MB and no credit card. Commercial use is allowed on Free, unlike Vercel Hobby. Custom domains start on Starter at $5 per month, billed annually ($6 monthly). Pro costs $10 and Large $20 per month. See the sofast pricing page for current plan details.

As free static website hosting, sofast has real limits. It has no Git workflow, no build step and no server-side functions. The free 50 MB is smaller than Cloudflare Pages or GitHub Pages. A custom domain needs a paid plan, while Cloudflare Pages and Netlify include one free. sofast is also a new, pre-launch service. If you are comfortable with Git, Cloudflare Pages is the stronger free choice. If you are not, see our Cloudflare Pages alternative for non-developers.

The bottom line

Every option above is real free static website hosting. The right one depends on your use case:

Choose Cloudflare Pages if you want the most generous free plan and a free custom domain.
Choose Netlify if you want commercial use on free plus forms and drag-and-drop, and can stay under 300 credits.
Choose GitHub Pages if your site is a personal or open-source project and you already use GitHub.
Choose Vercel if the project is non-commercial, or you will pay $20 per month for Pro.
Choose Tiiny Host or Static.app if you need a quick drag-and-drop link for a small site.
Choose sofast if you want drag-and-drop with no technical steps and 50 MB is enough.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a completely free way to host a website?

Yes. Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, GitHub Pages, Render and Firebase Hosting all host static websites for $0, and several include a free custom domain. Cloudflare Pages states unlimited requests and bandwidth on all plans (checked September 2026). The only unavoidable cost is the domain name, if you want one. A free subdomain, such as a github.io or netlify.app address, costs nothing at all.

What is the cheapest way to host a static website?

The cheapest way is a free plan: Cloudflare Pages, Netlify or GitHub Pages cost $0 and include custom domains. If you need a paid drag-and-drop host, Neocities Supporter costs $5 per month, sofast Starter costs $5 per month billed annually, and Static.app Starter costs $60 per year (official pricing pages, checked September 2026). Add the yearly cost of your domain name.

Is there a free way to host a temporary website?

Yes. Netlify Drop lets you drag a folder onto app.netlify.com/drop without an account. Netlify says an unsigned drop is protected with a temporary password until you claim it, and unclaimed drops expire. Tiiny Host also offers a free drag-and-drop link, with a 3 MB upload limit and 5,000 visits (checked September 2026). Both suit short previews for a client or a teammate.

Can I use a custom domain with free static hosting?

Yes, on several hosts. Cloudflare Pages allows 100 custom domains per project on free, Vercel Hobby allows 50 per project, and Netlify, GitHub Pages, Render, Firebase and Surge include custom domains with SSL (official docs, checked September 2026). Tiiny Host, Static.app, Neocities and sofast Free do not. You still pay a registrar for the domain name itself.

Which is better for free, Vercel or Netlify?

For most free sites, Netlify, because its Free plan allows commercial projects. Vercel Hobby is limited to non-commercial personal use, so client work needs Pro at $20 per month. Vercel Hobby has a clearer bandwidth allowance (100 GB of Fast Data Transfer), while Netlify’s 300 monthly credits pause all sites when used up (official docs, checked September 2026).

Is 000webhost still free?

No. 000webhost has closed. Its owner, Hostinger, announced on July 8, 2024 that 000webhost no longer accepted new users, with a full shutdown scheduled for October 14, 2024 (Hostinger blog). If you had a site there, move it to a free static host such as Cloudflare Pages, Netlify or GitHub Pages, or to a drag-and-drop host if you prefer no Git.

Can I use free static hosting for a business website?

It depends on the host. Netlify’s Free plan explicitly allows commercial projects. Vercel Hobby forbids commercial use, and GitHub Pages bans online businesses, e-commerce and SaaS (official docs, checked September 2026). Cloudflare Pages states no commercial ban on its plan pages. sofast Free also allows commercial use, on a sofast subdomain only. For a client site, check the host’s terms before you share the link.

Do I need Git to use free static website hosting?

No. Cloudflare Pages accepts dashboard drag-and-drop uploads of up to 1,000 files. Netlify Drop, Tiiny Host, Static.app and sofast work by drag-and-drop too. GitHub also lets you upload up to 100 files through the browser (official docs, checked September 2026). Git becomes useful when you update a site often or work in a team.

Sources

Written by the sofast team.

Start free — no credit card required → Create your free site

Written by sofast Team.

Best Free Static Website Hosting in 2026: 10 Options Compared