- PHP 8.58.1–8.4 selectable
- 1MySQL database
- FTPand a file manager
- SSLLet's Encrypt
What you get to run
The free plan is a normal PHP hosting account on the same server software as the paid plans. Nothing is a cut-down version.
| Item | Free plan |
|---|---|
| PHP | 8.5 by default; 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4 selectable per site in the panel |
| How PHP runs | PHP-FPM behind the web server, the same handler as the paid plans |
| Database | One MySQL database with its own user, managed with phpMyAdmin from the panel |
| Uploads | One FTP/SFTP account, plus the browser file manager in the panel |
| HTTPS | A Let's Encrypt certificate for the hosted.hostna.com name and for your own domain |
| Installer | One-click WordPress from the panel; other PHP applications you upload yourself |
| Not on the plan | Cron jobs, shell access, Composer over SSH, Node.js or Python processes |
Storage is 500 MB for files, database and mail together, and traffic is 10 GB a month. The limits page translates both into pages and visitors.
From a folder on your computer to a live PHP site
Every free account is switched on by a person, not a script. You get an email when it is live.
- 1
Get the panel login
After a person has activated the plan you receive the Plesk login by email. The site's document root is the httpdocs folder.
- 2
Create the database
Databases → Add database. Note the name, user and password; the host is localhost. Import an existing dump with phpMyAdmin.
- 3
Upload the code
Connect by SFTP with the FTP account, or drag the files into the file manager. Put the config file with the database details next to the code, outside anything you commit publicly.
- 4
Pick the PHP version
PHP Settings → version. Leave 8.5 unless a library needs older; every version from 8.1 up is a click away.
If the application needs a scheduled task, a queue worker or a long-running process, it does not fit the free plan by design; a VPS from €4.80 a month is where that belongs.
Questions about Free PHP and MySQL Hosting
Which PHP versions are available?
8.5 by default, and 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 can be selected per site from the panel. Versions before 8.1 are not offered on the free plan.
Can I use Composer or Laravel?
You can upload an application whose dependencies are already installed — run Composer on your computer and upload the vendor folder. There is no shell on the free plan, so Composer cannot be run on the server itself.
Can I send email from PHP?
Send through the plan's mailbox over SMTP with authentication, which is what any modern mail library does. Outgoing mail on every shared plan is rate-limited, and the free plan is not a place for bulk mail.
Is there a database size limit?
The database shares the 500 MB with your files and mail; there is no separate cap. A typical small application uses a few megabytes.
Can I connect to the database from outside?
Use phpMyAdmin in the panel for administration. Remote database access is not part of the free plan.
More about the free plan
- Free HostingThe plan, the limits, the way in.
- Free Hosting Limits, ExplainedEvery number, what it means, and what happens at the edge.
- Free Hosting ComparedStorage, traffic, ads and cards, side by side, with sources.
- Host an HTML Website for FreeStatic site online in four steps, own domain optional.
- Free WordPress HostingOne-click install and what fits in 500 MB.
- Free Hosting With EmailOne mailbox, IMAP and SMTP, on your own domain.
- Free Hosting for StudentsPortfolio, coursework, first client site — no card, no student ID.
- Free Hosting for Nonprofits and ClubsA club site with its own mailbox, no ads, GDPR-safe.
- Free Hosting in EuropeServer in Germany, GDPR by default, available across the EU.