Writer: Laura Bernheim
Editor: Lillian Castro
Reviewer: Christina Lewis
Key Takeaways
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Beware of free hosting and scams. It is not so uncommon for companies to collect your contact information to sell to other companies — all while “processing your request.”
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Paid hosting providers often have fast and stable VPS packages with ample resources, priced less than a cup of coffee a month.
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Try your hand at VPS hosting with Kamatera. Though technical knowledge is required, its web hosting plan offers the best service and includes a 30-day free trial.
The Beatles may have had it right when they sang about how “the best things in life are free” — but they probably didn’t know they’d be harmonizing about web developers’ quest for free VPS hosting.
A virtual private server (VPS) offers a middle ground between shared hosting and a dedicated server, combining computing resources and control with affordability and convenience. However, the price tag for a top VPS plan can seem a little steep to site owners who want to test a new idea or application.
A free VPS is often less powerful than those from top hosts, but it can be useful for getting a taste of server configuration and management. Steer clear of scams by looking at our list of best deals on VPS hosting — ranging from completely free and free trials to plans with lengthy money-back guarantees.
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Free VPS Hosting Services
Although you can find a fair number of free web hosting services at the shared server level, site owners can have a harder time looking for a free cloud server or VPS solution. That’s because operating virtual private servers comes at a higher price.
Occasionally, legit hosts will dangle a free VPS hosting service offer in the hopes of generating leads for premium services. Usually, though, you get what you pay for — a whole lot of nothing.
As a result, your free server resources may be limited. But a free, unmanaged VPS can give you plenty of time to figure out the platform and get a feel for what might work best for your website or application long term.
In addition to a few options in the list below, cloud computing products, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and DigitalOcean, offer surprisingly good free options.
Whichever route you choose, be especially cautious with sharing your personal data or payment information. Even though you can strike gold, free VPS hosting is largely considered a scam. We’ve done our best to verify the hosts listed below are legit, though, so good luck on your quest!
1. x10Hosting
Although the free services from x10Hosting remove some of the control and performance features of virtual private servers, the company’s cloud-based platform affords users unlimited storage and bandwidth to freely scale your website or application.
More experienced users will likely miss root access and some of the fine-grain controls, but beginners will appreciate the familiarity of the cPanel interface, one-click software installations, and flexible resources.
Powered by SingleHop architecture, x10Hosting prioritizes speed and simplicity, with rapid deployments and no pressure to upgrade your account (though doing so may support the company’s affiliate program). The company has been around for more than 15 years, making it a mainstay of the free hosting industry.
Pros
- Forever-free web hosting
- DirectAdmin control panel
- WordPress installation
- Unmetered bandwidth
Cons
- Low disk space and RAM (500 MB)
- Only OS choice is Linux
- Zero customer support
Behind 100% SSD hardware, x10Hosting serves more than 12 million pages a month and hosts upward of 122 million files.
2. GigaRocket
Following a post-to-host business model, GigaRocket provides server space to users who join and participate in the company’s community forums. Besides offering a reference list to other free VPS providers, GigaRocket gives out free hosting to a select number of users.
To receive a free virtual server account, site owners will join more than 90,000 members on the online message board and submit 25 posts before applying for the service. GigaRocket asks that users continue to post regularly, requiring 15 posts each month to maintain the free service.
The physical server specs are a little low when compared with those of competitors, and the limited availability may mean you have to wait a bit longer for your free VPS, but we appreciate the range of Linux operating systems available.
Pros
- Multiple OS choices
- Full root access
- 25GB disk space
- At least 1 IP address
Cons
- Limited availability and access
- No customer support
GigaRocket aims to support students and developers with opportunities to enhance their skills in Linux VPS management, and the company provides one of the more trustworthy options.
3. InstaFree
A well-known brand in the realm of free hosting, InstaFree has been providing a no-cost shared, reseller, and VPS hosting plan since 2010. We certainly respect the company’s longevity and its inclusion of cPanel and a 99.9% uptime guarantee, but InstaFree allocates very tiny server partitions to free VPS hosting customers.
The environments will provide a great trial run of VPS hosting for experienced developers, but don’t expect to stay on the free hosting plan for long if you aspire for growth. Beginners or first-time VPS customers should be aware that InstaFree does not support or manage the environments, leaving you completely on your own. InstaFree only troubleshoots network or server outages, leaving customer support to the community forums.
The company’s servers are located in Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York. To sign up, customers must first join the forums and submit an application.
Pros
- No ads on user websites
- DDoS protection
- 1 IPv6 address
- 1 Gbps port speed
Cons
- Low disk space and RAM (5GB and 256MB)
- Only community support
Orders are manually reviewed, typically within 24 to 48 hours, but you are at the company’s mercy as to when you can get started. InstaFree refuses to give hosting to more than 45 countries, citing past abuse.
4. WoomHost
Whether you’re looking for shared, cloud, WordPress, or VPS hosting, WoomHost offers a seemingly unlimited number of free hosting accounts.
The VPS packages come with two CPU cores, a free domain registration, and live chat support, as well as ample storage and bandwidth. WoomHost allocates a little more disk space and data transfer for the resource-intensive Windows plans, which we appreciate.
Pros
- Free website builder
- 120GB disk space
- Live chat support
- Choice of Linux or Windows
Cons
- Service delays
- Poor customer reviews
Although signing up for services was simple and relatively painless, potential customers may want to look out for a few warning signs. WoomHost’s poor customer reviews and complaints about service delays make us a little skeptical.
Best Free Trials for VPS Hosting
While the idea of a free VPS plan may seem impossible to pass up, a paid hosting plan is, more often than not, the better choice. Think of free hosting as a sketchy car listing. The price is right, and the specs may look good enough at first glance. But once you hop inside, the car barely accelerates, has worn seating, and can’t brake well.
Paid hosting, on the other hand, is the listing you can trust. It provides better features, support, and security all around. Thankfully, there are many reputable hosts that offer VPS hosting at budget prices.
Don’t worry about breaking the bank. If you’re still unsure about VPS hosting, your best bet is to look for a free VPS trial with a reputable provider. We’ve gone through customer reviews, hardware specs, and core performance tests to choose the best VPS free trials we think are worth a shot. Check out our picks below.
5. Kamatera — 30-Day Free Trial
Although we tend to be wary of free website hosting plans at the shared hosting level, low-cost cloud VPS hosting doesn’t get much better than Kamatera.
Those looking to make the jump to cloud hosting can enjoy free VPS hosting on a virtualized server built to your exact specifications. Kamatera gives customers dozens of options for operating systems, control panels, storage configurations, and other resources.
Kamatera.com
Monthly Starting Price $0.00
- Customize your cloud environment for FREE
- Work with a dedicated account manager
- Dozens of Windows & Linux OS choices
- Complimentary live chat support open 24/7
- Launch in less than 60 seconds
- Get started on Kamatera now.
That’s right, Kamatera gives new customers FREE access to high-quality VPS hosting for 30 days. Upgrade your bargain-basement shared hosting to a cloud server configured to your exact specifications for no cost. Go to full review »
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day FREE trial | 20 GB SSD – 4 TB SSD | New or Transfer | 3 minutes |
With Kamatera’s VPS hosting solutions, you’ll have nearly limitless resources at your disposal. Website owners get essentially $100 worth of configurations for their free VPS plan — with no commitment and no hidden fees.
Pros
- Uses the latest CPU models
- 24/7 technical support
- Customizable server configurations
- 1TB of cloud block storage
- Flexible pricing (monthly or hourly)
Cons
- Extra cost for daily backups
- Self-service can be difficult to navigate
Even better, each free VPS server hosting environment comes equipped with modern solid-state drives, a simple management console, and 24/7 support. Add in the capacity for free Windows VPS hosting, and Kamatera is full of rare finds when it comes to free web hosting.
Kamatera operates in 24 data centers spread across four continents and promises an above-average 99.95% uptime guarantee.
6. Cloudways — 3-Day Free Trial, No Credit Card Required
Cloudways is unlike any other hosts on this list. How? Well, it offers VPS hosting with managed services. In other words, you receive all the customization and control of a virtual private server with the hands-off server management of shared hosting.
Cloudways.com
Monthly Starting Price $0.00
- Try managed cloud hosting for FREE for 3 days
- Optimize costs with custom server configurations
- Scale server resources up and down as needed
- FREE SSL certificates, site migrations, and CDN
- Use code HOSTINGADVICE for 25% OFF
- Get started on Cloudways now.
Cloudways doesn’t offer a dollars-per-month shared hosting plan. But the company still brings a significant bargain to the table, thanks to a (short) free trial. Go to full review »
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-day FREE trial | 20 GB SSD – 4 TB SSD | New or Transfer | 8 minutes |
Its managed services aren’t the only feature that makes Cloudways unique. The hosting provider also allows users to choose from a selection of five major public cloud platforms, including AWS, DigitalOcean, and Google Cloud, to host their virtual servers. One thing to note: Its free trial is limited to DigitalOcean infrastructure.
Pros
- Strong CPU core performance
- Choice of major cloud provider
- Managed hosting services
- 24/7 support and monitoring
- No long-term contract
Cons
- Pricey compared to other hosts
- No domain registration available
If you want to spend less time managing technical aspects and more time building, Cloudways can be a great hosting partner for your needs. You don’t have to make your choice to commit right away, however.
Cloudways offers a 3-day free trial — no strings attached. The web host doesn’t require credit card information at signup, though you may have to contact its verification department to get registered.
7. IONOS — Risk-Free 30-Day Guarantee
IONOS‘s VPS hosting plan is as close to free as it gets. IONOS lets aspiring site developers try VPS hosting risk-free for 30 days thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you choose to stick around, the hosting provider’s $2.00-per-month price tag is the best in the industry.
IONOS.com
Monthly Starting Price $2.00
- Affordable VPS hosting with no hidden fees
- Try it FREE via 30-day money-back guarantee
- Full root access and API
- 10GB to 640GB SSD, Linux or Windows
- No throttling or traffic restrictions, ever
- Get started on IONOS now.
For an all-star player in the game of web hosting flexibility, look no further than the low-cost options from IONOS. The company’s vServers are a powerful VPS option that includes dedicated resources and unlimited traffic. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 10 GB NVMe – 640 GB NVMe | 1 – 12 cores | 1 GB – 24 GB |
But the low cost doesn’t mean low quality — IONOS virtual servers come equipped with SSD storage, an above-average 99.99% uptime guarantee, root access, and unlimited traffic.
Pros
- Multiple OS choices
- Free Plesk control panel
- Fast NVMe storage
- DDoS protection
- 1 IPv6 and IPv4 address included
Cons
- No free domain name
- Customer complaints about upselling
- Site speeds could be better
The longtime web hosting veterans at IONOS offer a wide range of best-in-class services to more than 8 million customers worldwide.
Site owners can customize their virtualized environments by adding the Plesk control panel or Windows operating system. Optimize your VPS for processor or memory resources, and choose your secure data center location in the U.S., U.K., or Europe.
Affordable VPS Alternatives
You know the saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”? You can apply it to most free web hosting services. At best, you get a tiny bit of space on an outdated server in some overseas data center. At worst, you’ve exposed your personal data or domain name to dangerous people.
We strongly recommend spending a few dollars — just a few, we promise — to unlock a treasure trove of added features, performance boosts, security, and reliability from a highly regarded hosting company.
Even better, invest a fraction more to unlock managed VPS hosting services. Your hosting provider will deploy a team of engineers, system administrators, and hardware experts to maintain your virtual private server’s performance and security.
The hosts listed below offer some of the best, most affordable, virtual private server plans in the industry. Click on our reviews of these hosts below to learn more:
8. A2Hosting.com
Monthly Starting Price $3.99
- Turbo server & cache options for faster page loads
- Well-built plans starting with 25GB SSD
- FREE CDN plus auto-installs with Softaculous
- Multilingual support and up to unlimited databases
- Enhanced security with and daily kernel updates
- Get started on A2 Hosting now.
While A2 Hosting’s turbocharged shared hosting platform gives site owners ample room to grow, the company’s tech prowess is on full display with its portfolio of VPS options. Ranging from unmanaged, bare-metal environments to stress-free, fully managed space, A2 Hosting is sure to have the perfect option for your expanding online presence. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 20 GB SSD – 450 GB SSD | 1 – 10 cores | 1 GB – 32 GB |
9. Hostinger.com
Monthly Starting Price $4.49
- NVMe SSD storage and malware scanner
- Automatic weekly backups and an AI assistant
- FREE dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
- Custom control panel for reboots and OS installs
- 1-click operating system template
- HostingAdvice readers enjoy more than 50% off
- Get started on Hostinger now.
Hostinger’s laser focus on providing affordable hosting solutions shines brightest with the company’s VPS packages. The company provides four different virtual server plans, including one that costs less than $5. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 50 GB NVMe – 400 GB NVMe | 1 – 8 cores | 4 GB – 32 GB |
10. Hostwinds.com
Monthly Starting Price $4.99
- Managed or unmanaged, in Windows or Linux
- Cloud hosting with hourly or monthly billing
- Instant upgrades without downtime
- FREE around-the-clock monitoring
- Automatic nightly backups available
- Get started on Hostwinds now.
Does any hosting provider have more virtual private server packages than Hostwinds. The company offers 10 configurations — and that’s just for managed Linux server partitions. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 750 GB SSD | 1 – 16 cores | 1 – 96 GB |
Free hosting is a great option for people with mainly two agendas: student projects and developer experimentation. If your goals don’t fall into these two categories, we recommend considering one of the paid hosting plans we mentioned above. Free VPS hosting comes with its slew of pitfalls, so be mindful when choosing a free host.
What Is VPS Hosting?
VPS hosting, also called a virtual private server, is a type of web hosting setup where you get isolated resources on a shared virtual server. A special software called a hypervisor splits the server up into slices, giving you isolated resources that offer more power and security than shared hosting.
The best part of a VPS is its price tag. You get similar power to that of a dedicated server and only have to pay $5 to $20 a month for a plan.
How Does Free VPS Hosting Work?
Every website needs a web host to provide space on the internet for visitors to access the site. When you purchase a hosting plan, you’re basically paying a service to store your site’s files on its servers and make them available to internet users.
Free VPS hosting is a type of hosting where the web host provides a virtual private server at no cost. However, you’ll usually have to pay for the resources you use, such as bandwidth, storage, and CPU. Most free VPS hosting plans have resource limits, so you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan if you exceed them.
Who Should Use Free VPS Hosting?
Free VPS hosting presents a great path for:
- new project experimentation
- small sites that don’t require a ton of resources
- aspiring developers who simply want to learn about server administration
The primary benefits of free VPS hosting include the lack of contract or vendor lock-in, the creative freedom to tinker with a limited set of server resources, and, of course, the $0 price tag.
Who Should Not Use Free VPS Hosting?
As you can see, free VPS hosting plans typically come with just 1 CPU core and a small amount of storage. Site owners are typically restricted to free and open-source Linux distributions instead of commercial Windows Server licenses.
Your free VPS server will almost assuredly be of the unmanaged variety, meaning you’re entirely in control of configuration, security, backups, updates, patches, and other server maintenance.
This can be treacherous for those looking for a forex VPS solution for algorithm-based currency trading. If you need a reliable and fast solution, seek out a managed VPS hosting plan.
What Are The Disadvantages of Free VPS Hosting?
The biggest disadvantage of free VPS hosting is that you’ll usually end up paying for overages of the resources you use. This can be more expensive than a paid hosting plan, especially if you need a lot of resources. You’ll also have to share the server with other users, which can impact your site’s performance.
Free VPS customers may not have as much control over the server as one would with a paid plan. Without an included control panel — another expense a free VPS hosting provider typically can’t afford — admins must rely on root access and their knowledge of the command line. This is especially troublesome for those coming from a shared hosting account packed with all those user-friendly features.
How Do I Optimize a Virtual Private Server?
Once you purchase a VPS hosting plan, you may have questions about how to optimize it properly. Here are some quick tips to help you get started.
- Ensure your website is optimized: you can optimize your site for faster loading by using image optimization techniques and removing unused or outdated third-party tools, such as old WordPress plugins. You can also use caching tools and remove redundant code.
- Perform regular maintenance and updates: Keep your software updated to prevent performance and security issues. Your ongoing server maintenance plan should include regular security audits and malware protection.
- Have a backup and disaster recovery strategy: Performing regular backups ensures your data is safe in case of a natural disaster or DDoS attack.
- Monitor your VPS: You should use server monitoring tools to track the health of your system. Monitoring tools can track your resource usage and alert you of potential issues.
If you’re new to the world of VPS management, consider purchasing a managed VPS hosting plan. These plans cost a bit more but come with professional, hands-on server management.
Look for Value in a VPS Free Trial When Shopping for Hosting Services
While no-cost or temporary service is a good testing ground for first-time VPS users or promising new projects, free VPS hosting shouldn’t be in your long-term plans.
So, instead of falling into the free VPS hosting trap, you should instead find a trustworthy web host that emphasizes affordability. The small investment will surely pay dividends in the future and usually includes extra perks like a free domain name, automatic backups, and additional security.
Check out our favorite VPS hosts and our collection of hosting deals and coupons to find the provider that meets your technical and budgetary needs.
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