There is no genuinely good permanent free host for a real site, so we ranked the next best thing: hosts with a real free trial or refund window, broad support for open source apps, and the freedom to leave without a long contract. Here are the six that fit best.
Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MAY 2026·How we vet
Tools compared6
Criteria weighted5
Last reviewedJune 2026
Paid placements0
How we ranked the field
Scored on our five hosting criteria, then reweighted for builders on a budget: a real free trial or refund window, broad open source app support, and the freedom to leave without penalty. See the full rubric →
Free trial or entry cost30%
Open source app support25%
No lock in and flexibility20%
Value15%
Support10%
01
RANK
★ Editor’s Choice
Cloudways
Best for free trial
The closest thing here to free to start: a trial lets you spin up a server before paying, billing is month to month, and you can run WordPress or almost any open source app on managed cloud. The tradeoff is a little more setup than a one click host.
A long time friend of open source projects, with month to month plans and a generous money back window. The clean dashboard and one click installs suit a builder who wants to own their stack and walk away anytime.
The cheapest way to get an open source CMS online, with one click installs and a beginner friendly panel. It is not free, but the entry price is low and the 30 day refund makes it nearly risk free to try.
Premium managed hosting for the open source stack most builders actually use, WordPress. There is no free tier, but free migrations and a refund window let you test it on a real site before committing.
Fast, LiteSpeed powered shared hosting with one click installers for dozens of open source apps and free migration. A solid home for a self hosted project that needs speed without managed cloud pricing.
An easy on ramp to the open source web for first timers, built around WordPress with a guided setup. Cheap to start; budget for the renewal and expect to outgrow the entry plan.