PHP hosting is a web hosting solution that supports the PHP programming language. PHP hosting typically comes at a cost, but there are plenty of free PHP hosting options to choose from. These options allow developers to publish their websites and applications on the internet without investing too much money.
However, not all free PHP hosting plans are worth the time. To help you choose the best option, we compiled this list of the best free PHP hosting providers. You can also check out their paid plans if you want features unavailable on the free plans.
Here Are the Top 5 Free PHP Hosting
- A2 Hosting – Best Free PHP Hosting Overall
- Kamatera – Best Free Trial PHP Hosting Overall
- IONOS – Best Free PHP Hosting for Extended Support
- FastComet – Best Free Managed PHP Hosting
- Cloudways – Best Free PHP Hosting for Agencies
The Best Free PHP Hosting Services of 2023 (Bought and Tested)
A2 Hosting is our top recommendation because it supports all the latest and older versions of PHP. This support is available for all hosting plans, ranging from its shared plans to its cloud hosting plans. Aside from this universal support, the web host allows users to change PHP settings from the control panel. This feature allows website owners to decide what version of PHP they want to implement and how they implement it.
- Overall score – 5
- Features – 5.0
- Support – 4.8
- User-friendly – 5.0
- Pricing – 5.0
- Reliability – 5.0
Features – 5.0: We give A2 Hosting a full score for features due to the wide range of supported PHP versions. You can go back as far as version 4.4 or use the latest version (8.1 at the time of writing). Using the user-friendly PHP version switcher in cPanel, you can seamlessly switch between versions. Other noteworthy features include support for MySQL, MariaDB, and phpMyAdmin, free SSL security and SSH access.
Support – 4.8: You get 24/7 customer support as part of your hosting package. The primary channel for communication is via chat. However, you can also contact the web host via email and phone. Aside from human support, A2 Hosting offers PHP guides and other helpful articles. This level of support is sufficient for both beginners and advanced users, so we award 4.8 to the web host.
User-friendly – 5.0: A2 Hosting offers a simple-to-use hosting environment. However, the degree of user-friendliness you will experience will depend on whether you use a managed or unmanaged service. The managed service takes all server-side configuration and maintenance issues off your hands. The unmanaged services require users to understand system administration, which might be unfriendly to non-tech users.
Pricing – 5.0: Although A2 Hosting doesn’t offer a free plan, we include the company because you don’t have to pay extra for PHP hosting. The shared web hosting starts at as low as $2.99 monthly (yearly plan) and offers ample resources for web hosting. If you are looking for WordPress-specific hosting, you can try the managed WordPress plans starting at $11.99 (3-year plan). These plans offer turbo server, NVMe storage and full server management.
Reliability – 5.0: A2 Hosting offers reliable web hosting services in addition to its 99.9% uptime guarantee. However, we recommend getting any of the higher-tiered plans to benefit from their turbo servers. These servers promise better SEO rankings, lower bounce rates and higher conversion rates.
Additional Parameter – Developer Friendly: Developers often look for PHP hosting so they can customize the website theme and appearance with ease. A2 Hosting offers PHP support and customization on all its plans, including its shared hosting plans. PHP developers will also appreciate the bonus features such as free site transfer, 24/7 live support, and unlimited bandwidth (for higher plans).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 20X Turbo servers for faster performance
- 24/7 phone, live chat and email support
- Free account migration for all plans
- Money-back guarantee for shared, cloud, and VPS plans
- 99.9% uptime commitment
- PHP support on all hosting plans
Cons
- Turbo server is not available on low-tier plans
Looking for something else? See our list of the best hosting providers.
Kamatera is a top-tier cloud hosting provider that provides enterprise hosting solutions. These solutions are adaptable to both personal, business, and large-scale uses. The underlying model of Kamatera hosting plans is to offer as much customization and adaptability as possible. However, we add Kamatera to this list specifically because it allows you to use its hosting infrastructure for free (within a 30-day trial period)
- Overall score – 4.9
- Features – 5.0
- Support – 5.0
- User-friendly – 4.5
- Pricing – 5.0
- Reliability – 5.0
Features – 5.0: The range of features you get with Kamatera is virtually limitless. On the basic level, you get ample RAM, powerful virtual CPUs, a wide range of operating systems and 13 data centers to choose from. You can also choose from six versions of cPanel or Plesk and a load of extras such as extra storage, OS add-ons, extended daily backup, and fully managed service.
Support – 5.0: 24/7 technical support is available to all customers via email, phone, and live chat. The support team is staffed with cloud hosting engineers who can help you resolve any PHP hosting issues. If you require specialized support, you can request it from the web host for an extra fee.
User-friendly – 4.5: Although we gave Kamatera full points for support and features, we are awarding only 4.5 for user-friendliness. This lower score doesn’t mean the web host services are hard to use. It only means that users without a basic understanding of how to use a VPS or cloud server might have issues setting up and managing their PHP hosting environments. Thankfully, the web host offers a fully managed service for such users.
Pricing – 5.0: You can use Kamatera web hosting service for free within a 30-day trial period. During this period, you are allowed to use a server that costs up to $100/month. This server will also include 5000 GB of free traffic. Although this trial requires a valid credit card to start, you will not be billed for any service discussed within the trial period. In terms of cost, the lowest server configuration costs $4/month.
Reliability – 5.0: Kamatera’s hosting solutions are designed to handle all kinds of hosting requirements. So you can rest assured that your PHP website will perform as fast as a breeze. Of course, getting the right configuration is a must if you are interested in getting the best website experience.
Additional Parameter – Limitless Scalability: Kamatera is the king of scalability. You can upgrade or downgrade your web hosting resources in an instant and watch the server implement those changes within a minute. Couple this with its hourly payment model, and you have a PHP hosting option that allows you to only spend on the resources you need.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 99.95% uptime guarantee
- Powered by enterprise-grade infrastructure
- Unlimited downward and upward scaling
- Monthly and hourly pricing models
- 24/7 phone, live chat, and email support
- 30-day free trial period with no hidden fees
Cons
- Beginners may have a hard time configuring their servers
Want more cloud hosting providers? See our list of the best cloud hosting providers.
IONOS is a full web hosting provider that offers domain registration, web hosting, and storage servers on the same platform. This means all clients will enjoy fast website performance and streamlined website management. The web host also offers the most extensive PHP support we have seen from a top-rated web hosting provider. With IONOS, you can choose to use older PHP versions as far back as version 4.0 or upgrade to the latest version, 8.2.
- Overall score – 4.9
- Features – 5.0
- Support – 5.0
- User-friendly – 5.0
- Pricing – 4.5
- Reliability – 5.0
Features – 4.9: We give IONOS 5.0 because of its wide range of supported PHP versions. If you use an older PHP version and want to maintain it while migrating to IONOS, just choose PHP Extended Support when purchasing your plan. Other features include a free SSL certificate, daily backup and recovery, and free professional email.
Support – 5.0: IONOS offers 24/7 expert support on all web hosting plans. These experts have the skill and patience to help you set up and manage your PHP projects. They are also on the ground to answer any questions you may have. In addition, the web host assigns a personal consultant to each client to help them get all the advice they need.
User-friendly – 5.0: We recommend IONOS PHP hosting plans for everyone. Beginners will enjoy the ease of use and the comprehensive hosting services offered by the web host. Advanced users will appreciate the performance features such as the latest version of PHP (version 8.2), JIT compiler, and a 768 MB memory limit.
Pricing – 4.5: Pricing is where we have a little issue with IONOS. On the surface, the cheapest plan is the “Plus” plan, which begins at $1/month. However, after the first 6 months, the price reverts to $12/month. This plan offers unlimited websites, storage, databases, and enhanced CPU and MEM resources. If you want a long-term affordable plan, then the Essential plan is a better choice. It starts at $4/month for the first ten months and continues at $6/month. This plan supports only one website and includes 10 GB storage, 10 databases, and basic CPU and MEM resources.
Reliability – 5.0: With IONOS PHP hosting, your web storage and servers are located on the same platform. This translates to faster website performance. IONOS also allows you to scale up your memory instantly. Other performance features include HTTP/2 protocol for faster page load times and Cloudflare CDN so visitors can access your content from anywhere in the world.
Additional Parameter – Geo-redundancy: One outstanding feature of IONOS PHP servers is Geo-redundancy. This feature ensures that your website data are secured and the maximum uptime of your site is guaranteed. The web host does this by storing copies of your website content in two independent data centers. If one center goes offline, the other center will take over to ensure your website remains accessible to visitors.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dual platform technology for faster performance
- Instant scaling for memory, RAM, or parallel processing capabilities
- HTTP/2 network protocol for SSL-encrypted traffic
- Distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection
- Automatic backup and restore
- Free wildcard SSL and site scan
Cons
- Higher renewal prices
You can also see our list of the cheapest web hosting providers.
FastComet is an innovative web hosting provider and domain registrar. The company currently hosts hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide. The web host offers exciting features, such as its free domain for life. It also supports PHP hosting across all its web hosting plans. However, we are including FastComet in this list because of its managed PHP hosting plan. This plan is perfect for developers who want to host PHP projects without having to deal with server maintenance.
- Overall score – 4.9
- Features – 5.0
- Support – 5.0
- User-friendly – 5.0
- Pricing – 4.5
- Reliability – 5.0
Features – 5.0: The Managed PHP hosting plan is optimized out of the box for PHP hosting. The features include a PHP web application firewall, the latest and fastest PHP/MySQL versions, one-click PHP installation, free PHP transfer, and round-the-clock PHP resource monitoring. Other features include account and website monitoring, daily backups, complete account isolation, and up to 30 free daily backups.
Support – 5.0: You get good support as a FastComet client. However, with the managed PHP plan, you get better support for your PHP project. The web host has PHP experts who are available 24/7 to help you build and launch your PHP website. Other support features include free PHP services, themes and plugin installation, free PHP transfer and performance, and resource monitoring. The web host also offers step-by-step tutorials and knowledge base.
User-friendly – 5.0: Using FastComet hosting service is typically a breeze regardless of your experience level. You can deploy, optimize, and control your PHP hosting service in just a few clicks on any device with Smart Control. With the Observer Monitoring Dashboard, you can also monitor all your hosting services and PHP websites in one place.
Pricing – 4.5: FastComet offers PHP hosting and all its features for free. However, you need a hosting plan to enjoy these features. The FastCloud Basic plan starts at $2.19/month and renews at $10.95/month. This plan comes with support for one website, 15 GB SSD storage, a 45-day money guarantee, a performance boost, WordPress cache and LiteSpeed.
Reliability – 5.0: Thanks to the out-of-the-box PHP speed optimization, you can expect fast loading speed and top website performance. Other performance features include the RocketBooster PHP Optimization based on Varnish Cachewall, LiteSpeed LSPHP Technology, free CloudFlare CDN, and LiteSpeed LSPHP Technology.
Additional Parameter – Full PHP Support: FastComet is a recommended PHP hosting provider on many levels. The web host offers a modern, blazing-fast platform equipped with performance features for fast page loading times. However, its standout feature is its comprehensive PHP support. With the managed PHP hosting plan, you can get assistance with app installations, site optimization, configurations, custom software setups, and more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free domain transfer (includes free domain for one year)
- FastComet SSD-only cloud server
- Free Cloudflare CDN
- Easy to use cPanel
- Daily and weekly backups
- Free 24/7 PHP expert support
Cons
- Higher renewal prices
Find out the best cloud web hosting providers.
Cloudways is a web hosting reseller. This means it doesn’t own the underlying infrastructure. Instead, the web host takes web hosting services from leading cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services and Google and adds managed web services to them. As such, when you purchase a web hosting plan from Cloudways, you are getting a reliable web hosting solution with full-service server management.
- Overall score – 4.8
- Features – 5.0
- Support – 4.5
- User-friendly – 5.0
- Pricing – 4.5
- Reliability – 5.0
Features – 5.0: All Cloudways hosting comes with security features such as HTTP/2, security patches, SSH access, and free features such as object cache pro, SSL, and website migration. Other features include unlimited application installation, dedicated firewalls, a staging environment, automated backups, and a Cloudflare Add-on.
Support – 4.5: A general level of support is available to all customers called “regular” support. This regular support includes 24/7 live support and access to a vast knowledge base. There is a paid advanced support add-on that offers faster response time and more hands-on support. At the highest tier is the premium support add-on that offers direct phone support, a private Slack channel, and even quicker response times. All support levels also include access to an active community and a ticketing system.
User-friendly – 5.0: Cloudways is as friendly as a web host can be. However, don’t let the simplicity fool you. The web host packs a lot of features that would impress both agencies and developers. Some of these features include top-notch cloud providers, extra server storage space, seamless vertical scaling, 1-click solutions, multiple PHP versions, and unlimited PHP workers.
Pricing – 4.5: You can use any of Cloudways plans for free thanks to its 3-day free trial. The best part is that you don’t need a credit card to use this free trial. When it is time to sign up for a plan, you can begin with plans from DigitalOcean. The entry plan costs $14/month and includes 1GB RAM, 1 processor core, 25GB storage, and 1TB bandwidth.
Reliability – 5.0: With the stack of performance features that Cloudways offers, you won’t have to worry about performance. These features include dedicated IP addresses, SSD-based hosting, and advanced cache technologies such as Memcached, Varnish, and Redis. Others include support for multiple PHP versions and an optimized stack that includes Apache and NGINX as web servers, PHP-FPM, and MySQL/MariaDB as databases.
Additional Parameter – Full PHP Control: The standout feature that gives Cloudway an edge is the administration console. This control allows users to deploy cloud and web applications with ease. You can use the console to install SSL certificates, perform critical services for your optimized stack, and use it for domain name pointing. Its key features include a lightweight DB Manager, a publicly available API, real-time cloud insights, and automatic backups.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dedicated IP addresses
- SSD-based PHP hosting
- Advanced built-in cache technologies
- Support for multiple PHP versions
- Cloudflare Enterprise for reduced latency
Cons
- It doesn’t support PHP versions older than version 7.4
Read more on the best VPS hosting providers.
Best Free PHP Hosting Services: Final Recommendations
Congratulations! You now have the basic information needed to choose the best free PHP web hosting provider. As you may have noticed, although none of the web hosts charge for PHP posting, they still require you to purchase a web hosting plan. Our top recommendation is A2 Hosting. A2 Hosting offers PHP hosting on all its plans. Its plans are also affordable and offer a lot of great features.
However, if you are keen on using a PHP hosting service without paying a dime, then you have two options: Kamatera and Cloudways. Kamatera allows you to use its service for free, thanks to its 30-day free trial offer. The catch is that you have to sign up with a valid credit card, and if you don’t cancel by the end of the 30, you get charged. Cloudways’ free trial lasts only three days, but you can use it without registering a credit card.
How Do We Rank, and How Should You Choose Your Free Php Hosting?
- Price to Value Ratio10%
- Ease of Use and Customer Support15%
- Features20%
- Uptime, Speed, and Performance25%
- Brand Reputation30%
There are hundreds of web hosting companies advertising free PHP hosting. At HostAdvice, we look beyond the flashy advertisements and see if the offerings live up to the hype. We then compare the offerings with those offered by other web hosting companies. Based on our findings, we then draw up a list of the best free PHP providers. For this review, we touched on five key areas: features, pricing, support, ease of use and reliability. However, for our internal review, we considered other factors.
Here is a brief rundown of the factors we look out for when ranking web hosting providers and how important they are (based on a percentage score).
- Price to Value Ratio (10%): Since the focus is on “free” PHP hosting, the first thing we consider is the price. We are typically impressed when a provider claims their hosting is completely free. But we also look at the kind of services they offer and the potential cost. From our findings, web hosts that promise completely free hosting services can expose your website to vulnerabilities in the long run. For this reason, we focus on reliable web hosting providers with affordable fees.
- Ease of Use and Customer Support (15%): After pricing, we considered two other actors: ease of use and customer support. Although PHP hosting is popular among developers, some beginners are brave enough to take on PHP projects on their own. We try to ensure that the recommended web hosts are simple to use for most users while still powerful enough for developers. We also ensure that the web host offers responsive and helpful customer support.
- Features (20%): Our focus here is primarily on PHP hosting features. The core issue here is multi-version support and PHP customization. Each provider is different, but we ensure that all our recommendations keep up with the latest PHP versions and offer backward compatibility with at least version 7.4. When a web host satisfies this requirement, we then consider other essential web hosting features such as storage type, security tools, RAM size, number of supported websites, and control panel.
- Uptime, Speed, and Performance (25%): Website speed and performance are a top priority, so we also review how reliable the web host services are. We consider three key things: the uptime guarantee, the web host previous uptime records, and performance features. These three give us a clear outlook on how we can expect the web host to behave in the future.
- Brand Reputation (30%): We assign a lot of weight to brand reputation for one reason: how people view the web host gives us a clear idea of how they performed in the past and how they are still performing. Generally speaking, web hosts with overall good reviews tend to offer reliable services compared to those with bad reviews. We consider the accounts of users shared on our platform and the conclusions drawn by our in-house web hosting experts.
How to Choose a Free PHP Hosting Plan
Obviously, the focus when choosing a free Hosting plan is the quality of service and not the price (or absence of a price). Here are some tips to help you choose a reliable PHP provider.
- Reliability: The first thing you should consider is uptime. Every web host gives you an uptime guarantee. However, this is only a promise to compensate you if your uptime falls below the uptime guarantee. Your focus should be the web host’s previous uptime, as that would give you a clue about the web host’s future performance.
- Support: Equally important is customer support. Some web hosts offer all clients the same level of support, while others offer tiered support. Your focus here should be to get the support you need. If the support is on as an add-on, evaluate if you can choose to pay for it for the long term.
- Pricing: Keep an eye on the fine print to ensure you only pay for what you use. If you use a paid service, check the renewal price to prevent unpleasant surprises. You should also note that tax and other levies may be applied to your fee, which may increase your total payment.
- Trials and money-back guarantee: The best web hosts offer money-back guarantees or free trials. They do this because they are assured of the quality of their hosting services. However, this isn’t a fast rule. Just ensure you have ample time to check the web hosting platform without unnecessary cost to yourself.
What Is PHP Hosting, and Who Is It For?
PHP hosting refers to web hosting services that support PHP, a popular server-side scripting language used to build dynamic websites and web applications. PHP hosting is not a specific type of hosting on its own. Most web hosts offer it as part of their web hosting package. However, the degree to which providers support PHP hosting differs.
For instance, some providers offer extensive support that goes back as far as version 4.0. Others offer limited support for previous versions but support the most recent version.
PHP hosting is mostly for PHP developers looking for an optimized environment for hosting PHP projects. However, anyone can take advantage of PHP projects provided that they have the needed resources.