Free VPS hosting can be a lifesaver for startups, developers and small businesses who want powerful server resources without the price tag.
Free VPS hosting is a great way to test platforms, run small projects or learn server management without the financial commitment.
In this article, we will look at 11 of the best free VPS hosting providers so you can find one that fits your needs.
11 Best Free VPS Hosting Providers
1. ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting is a VPS hosting company that focuses on security, performance and innovation.
Their SPanel is a user friendly interface with many features to make server management easier.
ScalaHosting also has SShield, which is an advanced security system that provides real time protection against threats.
Their hosting solutions are scalable, so you can grow without worrying about server limits.
With multiple data centers and 24/7 customer support, ScalaHosting ensures reliability and fast service.
Pros
- Innovative SPanel
- SShield Security
- Free Migration
- 24/7 Support
- Scalability
Cons
- Limited Free Plan
2. Cloudways
Cloudways is a cloud hosting company that combines simplicity and flexibility with performance.
By integrating with leading cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud and DigitalOcean,
Cloudways lets you choose your own infrastructure.
Their platform has advanced caching, one click application deployments and pay as you go pricing.
Cloudways also has robust security and automatic backups, so it’s a good choice for all hosting needs.
Pros
- Easy Management
- Flexible Pricing
- High Performance
- Cloud Integration
- Free Trial
Cons
- Complex Pricing
3. Kamatera
Kamatera is known for its customizable and scalable VPS hosting.
With data centers around the world, Kamatera offers low latency and high availability.
Their platform lets you configure your VPS with exactly what you need so you can save cost.
Kamatera has 24/7 customer support and 30 days free trial so you can test their infrastructure without any upfront cost.
Pros
- Customizable Plans
- Global Data Centers
- Scalability
- 24/7 Support
- Flexible Billing
Cons
- No Free Tier
4. WPX
WPX is managed WordPress hosting with high performance and great support.
Their plans include automatic backups, free SSL and site migrations.
WPX infrastructure is optimized for WordPress, so you get fast load times and reliable performance.
Pros
- High-Speed Performance
- Managed Services
- Expert Support
- Daily Backups
- Free Migration
Cons
- WordPress-Only
5. Vultr
Vultr is a high performance VPS hosting provider that’s simple and fast.
They have a range of plans with SSD storage and flexible billing options, including hourly billing.
Vultr’s global data centers mean low latency and high availability.
Their platform has one click app deployments and a powerful API so it’s perfect for developers and businesses that need reliable and scalable hosting.
Pros
- High-Performance SSD
- Flexible Plans
- One-Click Deployments
- Global Infrastructure
- Powerful API
Cons
- Limited Support
6. Pressable
Pressable offers managed WordPress hosting with a focus on performance and security.
They have auto updates, extra security features and free site migrations.
Pressable’s infrastructure is WordPress optimized so it’s fast and reliable.
They have 24/7 support from WordPress experts, so it’s great for WordPress users looking for hassle free hosting.
Pros
- Managed WordPress Hosting
- Free Migrations
- Daily Backups
- Expert Support
- Optimized Performance
Cons
- Higher Cost
7. InterServer
InterServer has a range of affordable VPS hosting plans with lots of features.
They have free site migrations and 24/7 support, and they are highly available.
InterServer’s customisation options let you configure your VPS with the resources you need.
Their infrastructure is reliable, so there is minimal downtime and consistent performance.
Pros
- Affordable Plans
- Free Migrations
- 24/7 Support
- High Availability
- Flexible Customization
Cons
- Complex Interface
8. AccuWebHosting
AccuWebHosting has a range of VPS hosting options, including free plans for students.
They are known for their performance and features, including SSD storage, multiple OS choices and 24/7 support.
AccuWebHosting’s security and backups are robust, so your data is protected and reliable.
Pros
- Free Student Plans
- SSD Storage
- Choice of OS
- 24/7 Support
- Robust Security
Cons
- Limited Free Plans
9. Hostinger
Hostinger is a well known hosting provider that offers affordable VPS hosting with great performance and easy to use management tools.
Their plans have full root access, dedicated IP and 24/7 support.
Hostinger’s control panel is user friendly so it’s perfect for beginners and advanced users.
Pros
- Affordable Pricing
- Full Root Access
- User-Friendly Interface
- Dedicated IP
- 24/7 Support
Cons
- Limited Resources
10. Bluehost
Bluehost is a popular web hosting provider that offers VPS hosting.
They have enhanced cPanel, multi-server management and 24/7 support.
Bluehost is reliable and fast, so it’s a trusted choice for many.
They also include a free domain for the first year with their VPS plans.
Pros
- Enhanced cPanel
- Multi-Server Management
- 24/7 Support
- High Reliability
- Free Domain
Cons
- Higher Renewal Rates
11. DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean is a simple and fast cloud infrastructure provider.
Their VPS hosting is flexible and scalable with one click app deployments, floating IPs and a powerful API.
They have great documentation and community support, so you can get started and manage your servers.
Pros
- One-Click Apps
- Floating IPs
- Powerful API
- Extensive Documentation
- Scalability
Cons
- No Free Tier
Things to Consider When Choosing a VPS Hosting Provider
Choosing the right VPS hosting provider is key to your website’s performance, security and scalability.
Here are the key things to consider:
Performance and Uptime
Uptime Guarantee: Make sure they offer an uptime guarantee, 99.9% or higher, to minimise downtime and keep your site live.
Reliable providers have uptime monitoring and provide transparent reports on their performance.
Hardware: The hardware used by the provider can make a big difference to your VPS performance.
Look for providers that use modern, high performance hardware, SSD storage and high speed processors to give you fast and reliable performance.
Network: A fast network with low latency and high speed connections is key to fast load times and a better user experience.
Check if the provider has data centers near your target audience to reduce latency.
Scalability
Resource Allocation: Choose a provider that lets you upgrade or downgrade resources like CPU, RAM and storage as your needs change.
Scalability means your server can grow with your business without having to migrate completely.
Flexible Plans: Providers with flexible plans let you start with minimal resources and scale up as your traffic and resource usage grows.
This helps with cost management and performance.
Security Features
Data Protection: Robust security features like backups, firewalls, DDoS protection and secure data centers are a must.
Make sure the provider has all the security measures in place to protect your data and apps.
Compliance: Make sure the provider complies with relevant security standards and regulations like GDPR for data protection.
Compliance with these standards means they are committed to a secure hosting environment.
Management and Support
Managed vs Unmanaged VPS: Do you need a managed VPS (where the provider takes care of server management) or an unmanaged VPS (where you do everything yourself).
Managed VPS can save you time and effort, especially if you’re not tech savvy.
Support Availability: 24/7 support via multiple channels (live chat, phone, email) is a must for quick issue resolution.
Look for providers with a good reputation for responsive and knowledgeable support.
Pricing and Value
Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees, and clear pricing is a must.
Some providers offer promotional rates that skyrocket upon renewal, so make sure to check the long term cost.
Value for Money: Compare the cost to the features and performance.
Sometimes paying a bit more can get you a much better service and reliability and better value in the long run.
Ease of Use
Control Panel: A user friendly control panel (cPanel, Plesk or a custom one) can make server and website management easier.
A good control panel will have easy to use tools to manage your server, websites and applications.
One-Click Installations: Features like one-click installations for popular applications (e.g. WordPress, Joomla) can save you time, simplify the setup process and get your website up and running faster.
Geographic Location
Data Center Locations: Choose a provider with data centers near your audience to reduce latency and load times.
Providers with data centers worldwide can offer better performance for a global audience.
Global Reach: If you have a global audience, look for providers with data centers in multiple regions to get consistent performance across different locations.
Reputation and Reviews
Customer Feedback: Check the provider’s reputation by reading reviews and testimonials from existing and past customers.
Look for consistent good feedback on performance, support and reliability.
Industry Recognition: Awards and recognition from reputable sources can be an indicator of a provider’s credibility and service quality.
Look for hosting providers that have won awards for their services.
Technical Details
Operating System: Make sure the provider supports the operating system you need, whether it’s Linux, Windows or another.
Having the right OS is key for your applications and workflows.
Customizability: Look for the ability to customize server configurations to meet specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There Free VPS Hosting?
Yes, there are free VPS hosting options.Â
Some providers offer free trials or limited time free plans so you can try their services with no commitment.Â
For example, DigitalOcean and Cloudways offer free trials, while AccuWebHosting offers free VPS plans for students.Â
These are great for testing and learning purposes but often come with limitations compared to paid plans.
Do Free VPS Work?
Free VPS hosting can work for small projects, testing or learning environments.Â
These plans have enough resources for low traffic websites or development purposes.Â
But free VPS plans often come with limitations like reduced CPU, RAM and storage and might not have some advanced features and support that paid plans have.Â
For more intense applications or business critical websites, you usually need to upgrade to paid plan to ensure performance and reliability.
Which VPS Hosting Is the Best?
The best VPS hosting depends on your specific needs.Â
Here are some top providers :
• ScalaHosting: Known for its innovative SPanel and robust security features.
• Cloudways: Offers flexibility and integrates with major cloud providers.
• Kamatera: Provides highly customizable and scalable plans.
• WPX: Specializes in managed WordPress hosting with excellent performance.
• Vultr: Offers high-performance SSD storage and flexible billing.
• Pressable: Premium managed WordPress hosting with strong support.
• InterServer: Affordable and customizable plans with good support.
• AccuWebHosting: Reliable performance with free plans for students.
• Hostinger: Budget-friendly with a user-friendly interface.
• Bluehost: Reliable service with enhanced cPanel and 24/7 support.
• DigitalOcean: Known for simplicity, scalability, and robust API.
How to Create a VPS Server for Free?
To create a free VPS, follow these steps:
1. Choose a Provider: Select a provider that offers free VPS plan or trial, like
DigitalOcean, Cloudways or Kamatera.
2. Sign Up: Create an account on the provider’s website.
Select Free Plan/Trial: Choose the free plan or start a free trial.
3. Configure VPS: Customize your VPS by selecting the OS, resources (CPU, RAM, storage) and data center.
4. Deploy VPS: Deploy your VPS by following the provider’s instructions. This usually involves clicking a button to create the server.
5. Access and Manage: Once deployed, you can access and manage your VPS through the provider’s control panel or via SSH.
Conclusion
Choosing the best free VPS hosting provider is key to your online success and reliability.
From my own experience, I can tell you it’s very important to do your research.
When I first started my web development business, I chose a free VPS hosting provider to save on costs.
After researching and testing several, I found ScalaHosting and Cloudways had great features and performance, even in their free trials.
You need to evaluate each provider based on performance, scalability, security, support and features.
Providers like Cloudways and Kamatera had flexible and customizable plans so I could scale resources as my business grew.
WPX and Pressable managed WordPress hosting well, so I could focus on content and marketing without worrying about technical details.
In the end, the best free VPS hosting providers offer options for everyone, whether you’re a startup, small business or individual developer.