Comparisons
Best free static site hosting in 2026, compared
10 August 2026 · 3 min read
A static site (no database, no server-side code) is the cheapest thing on the internet to host, which is exactly why there are so many “free hosting” options that all sound the same. The real differences show up in what each free tier includes: whether you need Git, whether a custom domain is really free or a paid add-on, and whether password protection exists at all. Here's what each option is built for.
What matters for a static site
Deploy method is the first fork in the road: some hosts expect a Git repository and run a build on every push; others just want a folder or a ZIP. Neither is “better” in the abstract — it depends on whether you already have a Git workflow or just have finished files sitting on your computer.
Beyond that, the features worth checking before you commit to one are: whether a custom domain is included or a paid upgrade, whether password protection exists at all, how you roll back a bad update, and what currency you're billed in if you do pay for something later.
If you're not a developer
Skip anything that starts with “connect a Git repository.” MakeMySiteLive and Tiiny.host both work the same way: upload a ZIP (or a single HTML file) from a dashboard, and the site is live — no repo, no build config, no command line.
If you're already living in Git
Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages, and Render all deploy from a repository, and each has a different specialty worth knowing: Vercel is tuned for Next.js and framework apps; Cloudflare Pages and Netlify both add serverless/edge functions if you outgrow “just static”; GitHub Pages is the simplest and free with no billing at all, but has no password protection and manual custom-domain setup; Render is really a full backend cloud (databases, cron jobs) that happens to host static sites too.
What free tiers don't always tell you upfront
Password protection is the feature most often missing entirely or locked behind a paid plan — worth checking specifically if you need to share a site privately before launch. Custom domains are usually free to connect, but not always: some free tiers include DNS + SSL, others reserve it for paid plans. And “version history” means different things — immutable, one-click rollback (MakeMySiteLive) is a different guarantee than re-uploading over the previous files, or relying on Git history to manually revert.
Quick-glance comparison
| Host | Deploy method | Custom domain | Password protection | Billed in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MakeMySiteLive | Upload a ZIP — no Git | On Pro sites, auto-SSL | Built-in on Pro sites | INR or USD |
| Netlify | Git-connected build | Included, auto-SSL | On paid plans | USD |
| Vercel | Git-connected build | Included, auto-SSL | Enterprise / Pro add-on | USD |
| GitHub Pages | Push to a repository | Manual setup | Not available | N/A — free |
| Cloudflare Pages | Git push or Wrangler CLI | Included, auto-SSL | Via Cloudflare Access | USD |
| Tiiny.host | Upload a ZIP/files | On paid plans | On paid plans | USD |
| Render | Git-connected build | Included, auto-SSL | Not native | USD |
Key takeaways
- ✓Git-based hosts (Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages, Render) assume you already deploy from a repository; upload-based hosts (MakeMySiteLive, Tiiny.host) skip that entirely.
- ✓“Free” means something different everywhere — check specifically whether a custom domain and password protection are included or paid add-ons.
- ✓GitHub Pages is free with no billing at all, but has no password protection and needs manual custom-domain setup.
- ✓Only a couple of these price in INR for Indian customers — most bill in USD regardless of where you are.
Frequently asked questions
Is free static hosting actually free, or is there a catch?
The hosting itself is free on all of these for a basic site. The catches, when they exist, are usually in what's excluded from the free tier: custom domains, password protection, or usage limits that push you to a paid plan as the site grows.
Do I need to know Git to use any of these?
Not for all of them. Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages, and Render are built around Git deploys. MakeMySiteLive and Tiiny.host work from a plain file upload instead — no repository required.
Which of these have built-in password protection?
MakeMySiteLive includes it on Pro sites. Netlify includes basic password protection on Pro; Vercel requires Enterprise or the paid Advanced Deployment Protection add-on for Pro. Cloudflare Pages requires setting up Cloudflare Access separately. GitHub Pages and Render don't offer it natively.
Do any of these bill in INR?
MakeMySiteLive does — India gets its own INR price book rather than a currency conversion. The others bill in USD regardless of where you're located.