I'm completely new to web hosting and I'm looking to build a website. I want to deploy a backend that I've coded and create my own frontend using XAML since I'm already familiar with it from coding WPF apps. My budget is $0, and I need a place to host my custom software without any experience with Linux. I'm curious if free hosting exists, and if a free domain is possible too. Would GitHub be a viable option if I can't find a better option? I appreciate any help!
4 Answers
While free options are available, I'd recommend considering purchasing a domain and hosting. It's not just about getting your site online; learning how to configure hosting, use cPanel, and set things up correctly will put you ahead of many other developers.
If you’re a student, you should definitely check out the GitHub student plan! You get free GitHub Pro, a couple of free domains from third-party providers, and a $200 credit for Digital Ocean, which can get you pretty decent VPS hosting for about a year. It’s all free stuff!
You can definitely host for free on platforms like Vercel and they’ll give you a subdomain. There are other similar services too. Just keep in mind that for your backend to work on Vercel, it needs to be created with specific frameworks like Nitro or Hono. Their free plan also has some limitations, like a 10-second timeout for serverless functions, so it might not be suitable for heavy backend tasks.
Got it! So, it’s good for basic stuff but not ideal for more complex backend applications.
Netlify is another option worth considering.
Honestly, finding a truly free option that can handle real users is tough. You might get lucky with a friend who has a server they can share, but otherwise, your best bet is probably Google Cloud’s $300 free credit. Just know that it involves a bit of Linux and server setup, and it'll eventually run out.
Yeah, I’ve heard about people using Raspberry Pi for hosting too. Maybe I should look into that!
Yes, I am a student! That sounds perfect.