How to put a website online for free

Before you start

You need a folder with an index.html file in it. That file becomes your home page. Open it in your browser first to check it looks right. If you don't have a site yet, the free Launch template works for this.

Option 1: Netlify Drop (about 2 minutes)

1. Go to app.netlify.com/drop.
2. Drag your whole site folder onto the page.
3. Netlify gives you a live address straight away, ending in .netlify.app.
4. Create a free Netlify account when it asks, so the site is kept and you can update it.
5. To change the site later, open it in your Netlify dashboard, go to Deploys and drag the updated folder in again.

Option 2: GitHub Pages (about 5 minutes)

1. Make a free account at github.com.
2. Create a new public repository. Its name becomes part of your address.
3. Click uploading an existing file, drag in all your site files (not the folder itself, the files inside it, with index.html at the top level) and click Commit changes.
4. Go to Settings → Pages. Under "Build and deployment", choose Deploy from a branch, pick main and / (root), then Save.
5. After a minute or two your site is live at yourname.github.io/repository-name. The address is shown at the top of the Pages settings.

Using your own domain name

Both hosts let you use a domain you own, such as yourbusiness.com. Domains cost roughly $10 to $15 a year from any registrar.

• Netlify: Site configuration → Domain management → Add a domain, then follow the DNS steps it shows.
• GitHub Pages: Settings → Pages → Custom domain. At your registrar, add four A records for @ pointing to 185.199.108.153, 185.199.109.153, 185.199.110.153 and 185.199.111.153, and a CNAME record for www pointing to yourname.github.io. Then tick Enforce HTTPS once it is available.

DNS changes can take from a few minutes to a few hours to work.

Questions

Is it really free? Yes. Both have free plans that are plenty for a small business or personal site. You only pay if you buy a domain.

Can I use a contact form? Netlify has free built-in forms. On GitHub Pages, use a mailto link or a free form service.

Do I need WordPress? No. A static page loads fast, needs no updates or plugins, and can't be hacked through a login page because it has none.