Best 000WebHost Alternatives: Features, Pros & Cons, When Upgrade to Paid

On October 1st, 2024, 000Webhost officially closed its doors, leaving many users searching for a new home for their websites. Known for offering free hosting services, 000Webhost served as a starting point for beginners and budget-conscious users. With its services now redirected to Hostinger, users are left wondering what their next step should be.

In this article, we’ll explore the best alternatives to 000Webhost, offering solutions that cater to both free hosting enthusiasts and those looking for budget-friendly premium options.

1. Hostinger

Website: https://www.hostinger.com/

When discussing alternatives to 000WebHost, Hostinger stands out, especially since it is managed by the same team. Hostinger offers affordable hosting plans with a strong focus on performance and ease of use, making it a natural upgrade for those looking to move beyond 000WebHost’s free tier.

Why Use Hostinger Instead of 000WebHost?

Opting for Hostinger provides you with enhanced server features, better performance, and more control over your website, all while remaining budget-friendly. The basic shared hosting plan costs just $2.69/month after our special discount, which is cheapest among all five adult hosting providers we recommended here. The company’s plans offer more resources and flexibility compared to 000WebHost, making it ideal for growing websites.

However, Hostinger’s plans do come at a cost, which may not suit those strictly looking for free hosting. Yet, for those ready to invest in their online presence, Hostinger offers significant value.

Learn more about Hostinger in our full review.

2. WordPress.com

Website: https://www.wordpress.com/

When I think of ‘free,’ WordPress.com often comes to mind. This platform serves as the foundational site for the popular content management system (CMS), providing a live environment for users to engage with it.

Why Use WordPress.com instead of 000WebHost?

Choosing WordPress.com over 000webhost is ideal for beginners. The platform simplifies the setup process, making it user-friendly for those new to web development. Users can experiment freely, building on a robust framework that supports a wide range of designs through themes and plugins.

However, WordPress.com is tailored for long-term WordPress users. It does not offer opportunities to learn how to manage web hosting accounts. All hosting management is automated and handled by the platform itself.

This makes WordPress.com less ideal for those who want to gain deep hosting management skills. Yet, for anyone looking to easily operate a WordPress site or run a WordPress-based online store, WordPress.com offers significant advantages.

3. Weebly

Website: https://www.weebly.com

Weebly is more than just a web hosting platform; it’s primarily designed as an intuitive website builder. This service is intended for users who have little knowledge of web hosting or building websites – that they can do so without the need for a steep learning curve.

Weebly as Alternative to 000WebHost

Weebly stands out as a viable alternative to 000webhost by offering a versatile range of plans suitable for everything from basic websites to large online stores. Its free plan is particularly appealing as it eliminates the initial complexity of website construction, making it accessible even to novices in web development.

Although you can use Weebly to build a basic website, even their free plan allows eCommerce transactions. This means that Weebly is a fantastic option for those who intend to go this route. The concept would be you build and learn for free, and when you’ve got the basics down to pat you can sign up for a paid plan later.

For those interested in Weebly, the focus will be around building your site and adding features, rather than getting stuck learning how to configure the account. The catch is that because you’re relatively insulated form the web hosting portion of the plan, you may have difficulties if you decide to move away from the Weebly platform. 

4. X10hosting

Website: https://x10hosting.com/

X10hosting offers a free web hosting service that emphasizes its ease of use and rich feature set. It provides users with the ability to quickly install popular web applications such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal which can be convenient for launching websites.

X10hosting as 000WebHost Alternative

Like WordPress.com and 000webhost, x10hosting serves as a stepping stone to more advanced, paid services. Users starting with x10hosting’s free service are often encouraged to upgrade to x10premium, which offers additional features and resources.

While x10hosting doesn’t have that great of a reputation, it is a place where newbies can get the full shared web hosting experience. Because of their script installers, you can also experiment with various platforms if you aren’t sure which is the right one for you.

Aside from the basics of web hosting, you’ll be able to gain some hands-on experience with other things as well. Examples of this include setting up and managing email accounts, learning to work with File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or even work with databases and tools.

5. AwardSpace

Website: https://www.awardspace.com/

AwardSpace is a standard web hosting service that also offers free accounts. These accounts come with a robust set of features, although some of AwardSpace’s offerings are somewhat unconventional compared to mainstream providers.

Why Use AwardSpace instead of 000WebHost?

For example, they offer users the use of the Zacky application installer and website builder. This is open source, so doesn’t cost anything to use. Although the interface may be a little different compared to popular ones like Softaculous, the concept remains the same – one-click installation.

The Zacky website builder is a nice touch though. Given how popular website building tools are you may be surprised that some web hosting providers don’t offer the use of one – even some paid platforms. Free accounts on AwardSpace can make use of one of their subdomains, so you won’t even need to register your own to start with.

If you’re planning to move later, AwardSpace has several options for you. They offer a huge range of plans so that your upgrades can be very progressive, starting from their $1 web hosting. From there, you can go up the scale all the way to semi-dedicated servers of their Cloud plans.

6. Freehostia

Website: https://www.freehostia.com/

Freehostia, as a free web hosting platform, throws up some impressive features and specifications. For example, with a free hosting account here you get 250MB of space, can host up to 5 domains, and get 6GB of bandwidth, along with the use of email and databases.

What Makes Freehostia a Good 000WebHost Alternative?

The kicker isn’t just that you get all of this for free, but unlike many other free hosting platforms, they don’t force their branding onto your websites. That means this can be a viable option especially for business users who want a simple web presence without other branding on the site.

Despite their strange predilection for naming their hosting plans rather strangely (Watercircle, Lovebeat, Wildhoney, and Supernatural?), free here really is free and comes with a website builder thrown in. In fact, you can even test their website builder before you sign up for a free account!

Of course, there are certain limitations which is the norm, but these can be overcome by opting for one of their paid plans later. As a sweetener to the deal, Freehostia offers new sign ups to their plans massive discounts such as their $1 per month VPS deals.

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What to Consider When Choosing a 000WebHost Alternative?

Selecting the right alternative to 000WebHost depends on your specific needs, such as performance, scalability, and technical support. Free hosting plans can be a great starting point, but they often come with limitations that might affect your website’s growth.

Understanding what to prioritize ensures you make the best choice for long-term success.

Key Features to Prioritize in Free Hosting Services

When choosing a free hosting service, focus on features that offer value without compromising the basics:

• Reliable Uptime: Look for a free host with a strong uptime guarantee to minimize website downtime.
• Storage and Bandwidth: Ensure sufficient resources to support your website’s files and traffic.
• Ease of Use: Intuitive control panels or website builders are crucial for managing your site.
• Customer Support: Even free plans should offer some level of support, such as community forums or ticket systems.
• Scalability Options: Ensure the host allows easy upgrades to paid plans or migrate your site to another web host when your site grows.

When to Consider Switching to Paid Hosting?

Is Free Hosting Really Free?

While free hosting is a tempting option, it often comes with limitations that can hinder your website’s growth and functionality. Many platforms offer attractive features but impose restrictions that affect performance, customization, or monetization, making it difficult to scale your website effectively.

For instance, Weebly provides excellent drag-and-drop website builders, but users on free plans are required to display the host’s branding. This lack of control can undermine your business’s credibility and professionalism.

Similarly, WordPress.com prohibits free users from monetizing their sites, limiting opportunities for ads, affiliate marketing, or e-commerce. These restrictions reveal the true cost of free hosting: reduced flexibility and potential barriers to growth.

Key Indicators It’s Time to Upgrade

Understanding when to move to a paid hosting solution can save you time, enhance your website’s performance, and support its growth. Below are signs it’s time to switch:

Your Website Outgrows Free Resources

Free hosting plans come with strict caps on bandwidth, storage, or the number of visitors. If your site experiences slow loading times or frequent downtime, upgrading ensures smoother performance with enhanced server capabilities.

You Need Professional Branding

Custom domains and ad-free websites are essential for credibility. Paid plans allow you to remove mandatory host branding and use a personalized domain name that reflects your business or personal brand.

Monetization Goals

Most free plans restrict or disallow monetization methods like Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, or online store plugins. Switching to a paid plan unlocks these options and gives you the tools to grow revenue streams effectively.

Customization and Flexibility

Free hosting often limits advanced functionality, such as installing plugins, adding custom code, or integrating third-party tools. Paid web hosting solutions provide full control, enabling you to design a site tailored to your needs.

Improved Security and Support

Free plans generally lack robust security measures, leaving your site vulnerable to attacks or data loss. Paid plans typically include features like SSL certificates, automated backups, and 24/7 customer support to safeguard your site.

Scalability for Future Growth

As your business or audience grows, your hosting needs will evolve. Paid hosting offers scalable resources, ensuring your site can handle increasing traffic without compromising performance.

Balancing Cost and Value

If you’re considering making the switch, our Cheap Web Hosting Guide highlights budget-friendly options that balance cost and quality, helping you transition seamlessly to a paid solution without breaking the bank.

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