Joomla is one of today’s most popular content management systems (CMS). It is a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly platform for building websites, blogs, or even online stores. Whether you’re a beginner looking to launch your first website or a seasoned developer, Joomla can meet your needs. But, as with any website, one of the first things you’ll need is a reliable hosting service.
There are numerous hosting options out there, both paid and free. In this blog, we will look at the best free Joomla hosting services to host a website and compare the advantages and disadvantages they have to over to help you determine the best choice for your Joomla website.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Free Joomla Hosting
When looking for a free hosting service, it’s important to keep in mind that not all free services are created equal. Free hosting usually comes with limitations, so it’s crucial to be clear on what your website needs and what compromises you’re willing to make. Here are some factors to consider:
- Storage and Bandwidth Limits: Free services often cap how much data you can store and how many visitors your site can handle.
- Speed and Performance: Some free hosting platforms are slower than paid services, which can affect your site’s loading time.
- Support for Joomla: Ensure the host supports Joomla installations and allows for easy CMS management.
- Advertisements: Some free hosts place ads on your site to cover costs.
- Customer Support: Free services usually offer limited or no customer support.
Top Free Joomla Hosting Services in 2024
1. 000WebHost
When it comes to free hosting, 000WebHost is often the first name that comes to mind. They’ve been around for a while and offer a decent array of features that cater well to Joomla users.
Advantages:
- Free SSL: Ensures your Joomla site is secure.
- 1-click Joomla installation: Makes setting up your website easy.
- No ads: Even on the free plan, your visitors won’t be bombarded by unwanted ads.
Disadvantages:
- Limited bandwidth: You only get 3GB of bandwidth, which may not be enough for larger projects.
- Slow servers: Since free users share server resources, the speed can sometimes suffer.
- No support for custom domains: If you want to use your own domain, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
2. InfinityFree
InfinityFree is another great free Joomla hosting service, boasting unlimited disk space and bandwidth. However, it’s important to understand the fine print.
Advantages:
- Unlimited disk space: Ideal for Joomla sites with lots of content.
- No ads: Like 000WebHost, InfinityFree keeps your site ad-free.
- Free SSL on all sites: Secure your Joomla website at no extra cost.
Disadvantages:
- Limited support: Free users don’t have access to professional support, which can be a dealbreaker for some.
- Hidden bandwidth limitations: While they claim “unlimited” bandwidth, they have a fair usage policy that can throttle your site.
- Longer wait times for database access: Especially when compared to premium services, which can be frustrating for Joomla developers.
3. x10Hosting
x10Hosting is a solid option for free Joomla hosting, especially if you’re looking for features that are close to what you would get with paid hosting services.
Advantages:
- No ads: Your Joomla site stays clean.
- 1-click Joomla installer: Quick setup for Joomla with Softaculous.
- Unlimited storage: Ideal for growing Joomla sites.
Disadvantages:
- No custom domain support: You need to use their subdomain unless you upgrade.
- Frequent downtime: Free users report occasional server downtime, which can affect site reliability.
- Limited email support: Only a handful of email addresses are available on the free plan.
4. Byet.Host
Byet.Host is another name that frequently appears in the list of free hosting services. They offer an extensive set of features, but as always, there are trade-offs.
Advantages:
- Advanced control panel: Gives Joomla users more control over site management.
- No forced ads: Keeps your Joomla site looking professional.
- Good storage: Offers 5GB of storage, which is decent for free hosting.
Disadvantages:
- Bandwidth cap: Only 250MB/day, which can be limiting for more traffic-heavy sites.
- Limited support: You’re on your own unless you pay for premium service.
- Complex setup: Not as user-friendly as other hosting providers, especially for beginners.
5. AwardSpace
AwardSpace offers a free hosting plan that works well for small Joomla sites. It’s known for its easy setup process, but there are some notable limitations.
Advantages:
- Ad-free: Even on the free plan, your Joomla site won’t have ads.
- 1-click Joomla installation: Easy setup process for beginners.
- Custom domains supported: You can use your own domain on the free plan.
Disadvantages:
- Very limited storage: You only get 1GB of storage, which can fill up quickly on a Joomla site.
- No email accounts: The free plan doesn’t come with any email hosting.
- Server speed: Free users sometimes report slow load times.
6. FreeHosting.com
FreeHosting.com offers one of the simplest free hosting services for Joomla users, though simplicity comes at a price.
Advantages:
- Ad-free hosting: Keeps your Joomla site looking professional.
- 1-click Joomla installer: Makes setup easy.
- 500MB storage: Sufficient for a basic Joomla site with limited content.
Disadvantages:
- No SSL certificate: Free plans don’t come with SSL, which is a security concern.
- Limited bandwidth: You only get 5GB of bandwidth per month.
- No email hosting: Email accounts are not included in the free plan.
7. GoogieHost
GoogieHost offers a decent free plan for Joomla, with a number of features that rival even some paid hosting options.
Advantages:
- Free SSL certificate: Ensures your Joomla site is secure.
- Decent storage: Offers 1GB of storage on the free plan.
- Custom domains allowed: You can use your own domain name, which is rare for free hosting.
Disadvantages:
- Limited support: Free users don’t have access to 24/7 support.
- No email accounts: You’ll need to set up email hosting separately.
- Pop-ups for the host’s own promotion: While not ads on your site, visitors might see pop-ups.
8. FreeHostingNoAds
As the name suggests, FreeHostingNoAds offers ad-free hosting for Joomla, with a pretty generous free plan.
Advantages:
- No ads: True to its name, your Joomla site remains free of ads.
- Support for PHP and MySQL: Perfect for Joomla users who need database support.
- 1-click Joomla installer: Makes it easy to set up your website.
Disadvantages:
- 1GB storage limit: Not ideal for larger Joomla sites with lots of media files.
- Limited bandwidth: 5GB monthly bandwidth, which can be restrictive for growing sites.
- Basic support: You’ll need to troubleshoot issues on your own.
9. Hostinger Free Hosting (via 000WebHost)
Hostinger’s free hosting option is technically through 000WebHost, which is owned by the same company. However, it’s still worth mentioning because of the added reliability from a more established brand.
Advantages:
- Ad-free: Your Joomla site remains clean and professional.
- Free SSL: Secure your Joomla site at no extra cost.
- Easy Joomla setup: 1-click installation available.
Disadvantages:
- Limited storage: 300MB storage limit, which might be too little for a larger Joomla site.
- Limited support: You’ll need to rely on community support forums for help.
- Server speed: Since it shares infrastructure with 000WebHost, free users experience slower speeds.
10. ProFreeHost
ProFreeHost is another solid option for Joomla users who don’t want to deal with ads but still want access to a decent hosting platform.
Advantages:
- No ads: Your Joomla site remains ad-free.
- Unlimited bandwidth: No cap on traffic, ideal for larger Joomla sites.
- 1-click Joomla installer: Easy setup for beginners.
Disadvantages:
- Limited storage: You only get 1GB of storage, which can be restrictive.
- No professional support: Free users are on their own when it comes to solving issues.
- Occasional slowdowns: As with many free services, server speed can sometimes be an issue.
Comparison Table of the Top 10 Free Joomla Hosting Services
| Hosting Provider | Storage | Bandwidth | SSL | Ads? | Joomla Installer | Custom Domain Support | Email Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000WebHost | 300MB | 3GB | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| InfinityFree | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| x10Hosting | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Byet.Host | 5GB | 250MB/day | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AwardSpace | 1GB | 5GB | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| FreeHosting.com | 500MB | 5GB | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| GoogieHost | 1GB | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| FreeHostingNoAds | 1GB | 5GB | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hostinger (000WebHost) | 300MB | 3GB | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ProFreeHost | 1GB | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |