How to Host an HTML Website Online for Free

 So far, you’ve learned HTML basics and even created your first simple webpage. But there’s one exciting step left that makes your project feel realputting your website online so anyone can open it using a link.

In this blog, I’ll show you how to host an HTML website online for free, step by step. No payment, no server knowledge, and no advanced tools required. This is perfect for beginners deploying their first real project.


What Does “Hosting a Website” Mean?

Hosting means storing your website files (HTML, CSS, images) on a server that is connected to the internet 24/7.
Once hosted, your website gets a public URL that anyone can open in their browser.

For beginners, we’ll use free hosting platforms that handle everything for you.


What You Need Before Hosting

Before you start, make sure you have:

  • An index.html file

  • Optional: style.css and images

  • A folder containing all your website files

  • A working internet connection

Important: Your main file must be named index.html — most hosts look for this by default.

Method 1: Host Using GitHub Pages (Best for Beginners)

GitHub Pages is one of the most popular free hosting options for HTML websites.

Step 1: Create a GitHub Account

Go to GitHub and sign up if you don’t already have an account.

Step 2: Create a New Repository

  • Click New Repository

  • Name it anything (example: my-first-website)

  • Set it to Public

  • Click Create Repository

Step 3: Upload Your Website Files

  • Click Add file → Upload files

  • Upload index.html, CSS, and images

  • Click Commit changes

Step 4: Enable GitHub Pages

  • Go to Settings

  • Open Pages

  • Under Source, select:

    • Branch: main

    • Folder: /root

  • Click Save

Step 5: Get Your Website Link 

After a few seconds, GitHub will give you a link like:

https://yourusername.github.io/repository-name/

Your website is now live on the internet!


Method 2: Host Using Netlify (No Coding Skills Needed)

Netlify is extremely beginner-friendly and doesn’t require GitHub knowledge.

Steps:

  1. Go to Netlify and sign up

  2. Drag and drop your website folder

  3. Wait a few seconds

  4. Get a live URL instantly

That’s it. No configuration needed.


Method 3: Host Using Firebase Hosting (Optional)

Firebase is a Google service that also offers free hosting.

Best for:

  • Students

  • Google ecosystem users

  • Future web app projects

It requires a bit of setup using the command line, so it’s better once you’re comfortable with basics.


Which Free Hosting Is Best?

PlatformDifficultyBest For
GitHub PagesEasyStudents & portfolios
NetlifyVery EasyInstant deployment
FirebaseMediumFuture scalable apps

Recommendation: Start with GitHub Pages or Netlify.


Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting to name the file index.html

  • Uploading files outside the main folder

  • Broken image paths

  • Expecting backend features (HTML hosting is frontend-only)


Why Hosting Your First Website Matters

  • Builds confidence

  • Looks great on resumes

  • Helps with internships

  • Shows real-world skills

  • Prepares you for CSS & JavaScript projects

This is a huge milestone for every beginner developer.


Conclusion

Hosting your HTML website online is easier than it sounds. With free platforms like GitHub Pages and Netlify, you can turn your local project into a live website in minutes.

If you’ve already built an HTML page, don’t stop there — deploy it. Seeing your work live on the internet is one of the most motivating moments in your coding journey.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Numbers & Numeric Operations in C++: Data Types & cmath Functions

Introduction to C++: Your First Program & Hello World

Intro to C++ for Beginners

User Input in C++: Reading Data from Keyboard with cin & getline()

Mad Libs Game in C++: Build Your First Interactive Program

Strings in C++: Basics, Methods & Examples

Variables & Data Types in C++: Basics with Examples

Printing Patterns in C++: Shape Output with Loops & Logic

Return Statement in C++: Syntax, Purpose & Examples

Functions in C++: Syntax, Use & Examples