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 real — putting 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.htmlfile -
Optional:
style.cssand images -
A folder containing all your website files
-
A working internet connection
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:
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:
-
Go to Netlify and sign up
-
Drag and drop your website folder
-
Wait a few seconds
-
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?
| Platform | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Pages | Easy | Students & portfolios |
| Netlify | Very Easy | Instant deployment |
| Firebase | Medium | Future 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.
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