best free static site hosting with free subdomain 2025
A practical, up-to-date comparison of the most popular free static hosts that give you a free subdomain — what they include, limits to watch, and the best use-cases for each.
If you need a fast, low-cost way to publish a portfolio, demo, or landing page, free static hosting with a free subdomain is an excellent starting point. Below we compare GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages, Firebase Hosting, Surge, and Neocities so you can choose the right fit.
Included by all hosts below
Automatic TLS on most providers
Edge delivery for fast global speed
Repo or CLI driven workflow
In this comparison
GitHub Pages
Classic choice for developers: free hosting from a GitHub repo with a github.io subdomain. Ideal for portfolios, docs, and project pages.
Pros
- Zero cost, robust uptime
- Simple for repo-backed sites
- Good for docs and personal projects
Cons
- Limited build options (Jekyll-first)
- No built-in edge functions or serverless on free tier
- Support is community-based (issues/discussions)
Best if you already use GitHub and want a reliable, no-friction way to publish a static site with a free subdomain. Not the easiest choice for non-developers.
Netlify
Developer-friendly, feature-rich free tier: automatic deploys from Git, global CDN, forms, and functions. Free sitename.netlify.app subdomain.
Pros
- Powerful free features (redirects, forms)
- Easy repo connect + deploy previews
- Good docs and community plugins
Cons
- Free tier has build-minute limits for heavy use
- No guaranteed SLA on free plans
- Support is limited on free tier
Netlify is an excellent general-purpose free host for hobby projects and small sites that may later need serverless features or preview deploys.
Vercel
Focused on frontend frameworks (Next.js in particular) — fast global CDN, automatic HTTPS, and a vercel.app subdomain. Preview URLs for PRs are a standout.
Pros
- Fast deployments & edge caching
- Great for modern frameworks
- Preview URLs for collaboration
Cons
- Free tier has serverless limits and execution quotas
- Can be overkill for very simple static HTML sites
Vercel is ideal if you use Next.js or want tight integration with modern frontend toolchains. For a plain HTML page, it still works but may be more than you need.
Cloudflare Pages
Fast, globally-distributed static hosting on Cloudflare's edge network. Free subdomain and built-in CDN performance are among the best in class.
Pros
- Industry-leading edge CDN
- Great perf for global audiences
- Good free tier features
Cons
- Limited built-in serverless capabilities on free plan
- Docs assume some familiarity with Cloudflare ecosystem
Cloudflare Pages is the top pick for raw global performance and low-latency delivery — a strong choice if your audience is spread across regions.
Firebase Hosting
Google-backed hosting with an easy CLI and free firebaseapp.com subdomain. Good for SPAs and progressive web apps.
Pros
- Simple CLI for quick deploys
- Good for dynamic frontends with other Firebase services
- Automatic TLS and good Google infra
Cons
- Free tier has bandwidth and usage quotas
- Learning curve if you don't use Firebase ecosystem
A solid option if you plan to pair hosting with Firebase functions, authentication, or real-time databases later on.
Surge
Minimal CLI-first static hosting: one-line publish, with a surge.sh subdomain. Great for quick demos and deploys.
Pros
- Fast, minimal workflow — deploys in seconds
- Good for prototypes and presentations
Cons
- Not as feature-rich as Netlify/Vercel
- Limited built-in integrations
Surge is perfect for non-complex demo sites where speed-to-publish is the priority.
Neocities
A community-focused free host with a friendly web UI and a neocities.org subdomain. Geared toward personal pages and experimentation.
Pros
- Simple editor for non-devs
- Community & discovery features
Cons
- Not designed for production business sites
- Limited performance features
Best for hobbyists, retro personal pages, or learning HTML/CSS in a low-friction environment.
Quick comparison: free static hosts with free subdomains
| Provider | Free subdomain | Build/Workflow | Edge/CDN | Free features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Pages | username.github.io | Git push / Jekyll | Basic (GitHub CDN) | Unlimited repos, TLS | Dev portfolios, docs |
| Netlify | yoursite.netlify.app | Git + build plugins | Global CDN | Forms, redirects, previews | Small projects & ecommerce prototypes |
| Vercel | project.vercel.app | Git, Next.js optimised | Edge CDN | Preview URLs, analytics (basic) | Modern frontend apps |
| Cloudflare Pages | project.pages.dev | Git builds | Top-tier edge CDN | Fast global delivery | Global audiences, low-latency sites |
| Firebase Hosting | project.firebaseapp.com | CLI deploy | Google CDN | Integrates with Firebase services | PWAs, SPAs with backend needs |
| Surge | yoursite.surge.sh | CLI publish | Simple CDN | Instant deploys | Demos & rapid prototypes |
| Neocities | yoursite.neocities.org | Web UI / upload | Basic | Editor & community | Hobby / educational pages |
How to pick the right free host (practical checklist)
- Audience location: choose Cloudflare Pages or Vercel for global performance.
- Workflow comfort: pick GitHub Pages if you already use GitHub; Surge if you want a one-line publish.
- Planned features: Netlify adds forms & plugins; Firebase ties into backend services.
- Support level: free tiers often mean community support — expect slower official support unless you upgrade.
- Upgrade path: check paid plans, custom domain support, bandwidth costs, and serverless quotas in case you scale up.
For a simple demo, any free host will do. For a business-facing landing page that must reliably collect leads and stay current, consider whether you prefer the DIY route (manage builds, DNS, and updates yourself) or a managed subscription where updates and support are handled for you.
Recommendations by use-case
Hobby / portfolio
GitHub Pages, Neocities, or Surge — pick the fastest workflow you enjoy. GitHub pages if you already use Git; Neocities for playful, hands-on editing.
Small business landing page
Netlify or Cloudflare Pages — both give CDN performance, easy custom domain setup, and features you’ll need as you grow.
Frontend apps (Next.js, React)
Vercel is optimised for Next.js and offers preview deployments that help collaboration.
Global audience / performance
Cloudflare Pages or Vercel — their edge networks provide the lowest latency worldwide.
Moving from a free subdomain to a custom domain (simple checklist)
- Buy a custom domain from a registrar (or keep your free subdomain while testing).
- Follow provider docs to add DNS records (A, CNAME or TXT) for verification and routing.
- Enable HTTPS — most hosts provide automatic TLS after domain verification.
- Test forms and analytics after migration to confirm nothing broke.
- Set up redirects from old free subdomain to new domain (helps SEO and returning visitors).
Most providers make this straightforward — but if you'd rather avoid DNS or SSL complexity, a managed service that handles domain setup and ongoing updates can save time and reduce mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Are free subdomains reliable for a business site?
Do these free hosts add branding or ads?
What are the most common free-tier limits?
I’m not technical — which option is easiest?
Ready to publish?
Free static hosting with a free subdomain is a great way to start. Choose a provider above based on your workflow and traffic needs. If you prefer a hands-off option that includes domain setup, hosting, unlimited content updates, local SEO and analytics as a managed service, explore managed subscriptions.
Pro tip: Start on a free subdomain to test ideas, then move to a custom domain and more robust plan when you need reliable lead capture and support.
