By Abdulrahman on
Hello everyone.
I am seeking a free hosting service that is capable of hosting drupal 7 (other than Drupalgardens), a reliable, well featured one, if any !
Many of the free hosting services i found are unable to host drupal 7, either for its older php version or for PDO being disabled on it.
Any suggestions ?
Thank you.
Comments
I can only say that I
I can only say that I completely don't recommend this. Drupal, like most CMS systems, needs a decent server / hosting behind it. It makes no sense to try and use a powerful system like Drupal on a cheap (or free) server that will have low resources (and very likely overloaded).
I second that. You can do
I second that. You can do mostly everything with Drupalgardens. If you want to test more, use your PC.
A full feature, free host for Drupal does not exist.
yes, Drupal Gardens seems really bright ..
(to jcisio)
I had already created a free acount with them, but what i want is to build D7 site from the zero. If they support a thing like that, then they will be a good solution for me.
groundless statement
> A full feature, free host for Drupal does not exist.
groundless statement
> A full feature, free host
Yes, it's groundless if you can point out one.
Maybe you're right, to a point ..
(to mikeaja)
I have two notes on this:
- Drupal 6 is less in terms of required resources (especially cpu usage) than 7, which make it a usefull solution even in free or cheap servers as i can guess (i didn't try it yet). So it maybe a strictness to generalize your idea about drupal and free/cheap servers for all drupal versions, but it maybe realy true regarding D7, at least for those days.
- Some free hosting services are really offerring surprising resources levels ! that what made me to believe that i can test D7 on one of them, but they are all missing small things that make it impossible to do it.
You are entitled to your
You are entitled to your opinion. However, this is a subject I know something about. Drupal 6 or 7 doesn't matter. It is also the same with Joomla and other CMS systems.
The thing that many people don't understand what the difference is between good and bad hosting. It has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with the level of resources the hosting company offers. In fact, the best hosting accounts are often the ones that offer more limited resources.
Why? Because most cheap hosting companies oversell. They have an amount of space, and to sell cheaply they sell more space then they have. This means often the server is overloaded and runs slower. More importantly, it means they have to use very limited settings, which are normally no suitable for systems like Drupal.
For example, if I have a server with 100GB on it for hosting. I can either 1) sell 100 accounts with 1GB each for $10 a month, or 2) 250 accounts with 1GB each for $5 a month. Number 2) makes more money, and is the normal strategy for cheap hosting (because most people do not use all the resources all the time), but it is not suitable for any version of Drupal.
So whenever you see a cheap hosting account with says it has a lot of resources available, or unlimited, run away as fast as possible.
Your speech make sense ..
Really your opinion makes sense, thank you for replying, i think i will benefit by it.
In fact there was a sentence in my replay to you that i wanted to close with but i forgot: "Getting the experience is a good judging tool", but also getting an advice from one who live it is a good way.
Thank you again. I will give it a try.
Regarding free hosting: try
Regarding free hosting: try posting a request on the forum at www.FreeWebHostingTalk.com - I've had good luck with them in the past
Drupal is a good opensource
I am suggesting to buy a good server and host on that.. Dont go for free hosting services. There are lot of problem once uploaded
Go with Amazon, they know
Go with Amazon, they know offer 1 year free hosting, it's pretty cool and powerful
As a beginner
I would like a free host so that I can get to know Drupal 7 to see if I can handle it. I would like a free host to practice uploading the site I made on my Mac using MAMP and Drupal 7. Once on the host I want to practice backing up the mysql db and files. I want to import data into Drupal... there are dozens of things to practice to see if Drupal will work for me (better put, if my small brain can understand how to work it) before I go out and purchase hosting space.
Remember what Drupal is.........
Here we have an evident pitfall of Drupal being a free (no-cost) system to download.
It seems that some people this that this means everything for free is possible and / or a good idea. Unfortunately it is definitely not a good idea, not recommended, and I doubt any experienced Drupal user would recommend anything like this.
Drupal, because of what it is, is a big system. Even though it is efficient for what it is, it still needs decent resources. To create a website with Drupal is not supposed to be a free (no-cost) process.
To summarize, if a free / cheap website with free / cheap hosting is what you want, Drupal is definitely not the system you want. Better to go with some free website building service that is designed to be free all the way.
Drupal is a world-class, professional system, designed to be good, not designed to be cheap.
Pay monthly
I was going to suggest using a site like softaculous.com that allows you to try a demo copy of Drupal for free.
But given the scope of the testing you want to do, you'll be using the full features of a host. I suggest finding a host (and there are many) who let you sign up month-on-month. If you don't like Drupal, you've only paid for a month. If you do, and you like the hosting, you can always change to being billed annually and save a bit of money. If you do, but don't like the host, you can always hunt for a new host, safe in the knowledge that at least you and Drupal are going to work.
Presumably, if you aren't going to use Drupal (if you can't "handle it"), then you'd use some other CMS - so you'd still need a host. Sounds like it's time to sign up somewhere!
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Hi,
Hi,
I understand this is an old post but in case someone has the same question. As a beginner to drupal you would need an environment to practice drupal, actually even if you have used drupal for sometime it is always nice to have a test web hosting.
While I don't know if there's any such place where you get free web hosting that does all the things that you would need for hosting a druapl site but I have seen this web hosting offers web hosting without a contract, maybe worth looking into it.
hi , may suggest this site
hi ,
may suggest this site www.podserver.info. you can install your own cms and add modules as you can.
Thank you for your
Thank you for your suggest.
I've already made my site at www.xtreemhost.com.
The service of 000webhost is also very good.
Both of those I mention have the advantage that
their services are ad-free.
Here is a link I would like to share with anybody who
need to find free hosting service(s):
http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/hosting-comparison-guides/30-mus...
Just think how and why free
Just think how and why free hosting exists. Someone is paying for the server, the electricity and bandwidth. Because you see, there are no hardware manufacturers that sell server for nothing. There are no electrical companies that would give out free power. And, there are no data centers that would let you colocate your server for free. So, why are some hosting companies paying for what you use on a free account? Remember, they want to make money, not get rid of it!
The reason is, this advertising method suits their business plan. They get loads of new customers, who open their websites on these free plans. As long as they do not use much, do not have traffic, there is actually not much they spend of the server resources. But the very minute some considerable traffic arrives (and this is what you are building your site for, is it not?), you are offered a paid upgrade.
So, consider a free hosting just an opportunity to build your site, to test it online. If you do not run too resourceful scripts, you can do that. But that's about it. When visitors come, you have to start paying. Then free simply doesn't exist.
Why free hosting? My reasons ..
In fact when I first post this topic, I didn't expect all this amount of replies attacking free hosting services and people who seek them!
It's not about people wanting everything to be free of charge, as some people replies here! It's much simpler, and also much understood for anyone who once established a business.
When I started this thread, I was starting a business, with really low resources.
A free hosting service is a considerable solution for every beginner with low resources, he can start with it, patiently handle all its disadvantages that were mentioned in some replies above in details, and when his business grows up, then he can upgrade (surely he will be happy to do), or even find a dedicated server.
I didn't (ever) mean to stuck at free hosting forever!
We offer free web-hosting
We offer free web-hosting services to non-profit, charitable organizations. If you represent non-profit charitable organization and are looking for a free web-hosting, then please submit your request through our contact form: http://drupion.com/drupal-hosting/free-drupal-hosting
About Drupalgardens ..
Here's a thing I would like to say regarding Drupalgardens, in my question (the start of this thread) I asked for services other than Drupalgardens not because I wasn't satisfied by it, in fact I see it a really nice and interesting service, but what I wanted that days is to use a full version of Drupal cms because I was very attracted to learn more about it, beside I wanted to -myself- control every detail in my site design.
Drupalgardens really deserves a try for those who want to try a free Drupal 7 site, or go further to a full production site.
View from a small business person on a shoestring budget
Hope this saves others some time and money.
I have been testing to setup a prefab small business Drupal model
(a public website + virtual/back office with all the features & basic configuration a business needs)
So, I have been testing free resources for start-ups (for profit/non-profit) where they can begin, and then move/grow.
This is my current evaluation (6 months invested looking/testing for a no fuss, inexpensive Drupal host).
Backed by several years other html/CMS web design hosting experience, and 25+ years implementing/developing computer application solutions for small businesses).
if you are just beginning, using a free host is inexpensive and will teach you some important facts of life:
- what you need and why it is worth paying for!
- how to ask the right questions to insure you get it when you move up to paid hosting to prevent buyers remorse
- if you get side-tracked for a month, or 3 or 6.. no cost
- helps you feel free to make a mess and wipe it out
- if you can export & move anything of value, nothing lost
- you have experience to setup a paid host the way you want/need it right the first time
- check the support/user forums of any host before signing up, search for Drupal 7, you will find out what the site users already know (like it will or will not run D7
drupalgardens
- very cool.. until you move to a host that supports all advanced functions & modules you will want to add
- then many issues w/gardens customizations for which you will have no real understanding of how they are laid in and how to remove them
- WYSIWYG (not really- will not reflect your them unless you jury rig a link to a ckEditor CSS file- then all css changes must be added there also- high maintenance).
- many of their design solutions (requires lots of extra custom java scripting) which are very poor solutions compared to those you can implement when you can add any module that you want.
Examples; JavaScript tabs vs. QuickTabs module, JavaScript to provide DHTML to menus vs. SDHTML menu/nice menu modules
So if you may spend a huge amount to time customizing drupalgardens when it would not be needed if you can install modules you need.
This alone is your $5-15 a month for shared hosting - in development and once you move to production, assuming your time is not free to waste. However, you will learn a lot either way.
-As a quick start, stable public site, to begin a web presence, and use as you develop a full blown site elsewhere- then move content (not design/coding) when ready to put development online for users; then drupalgardens can be a GREAT quick start and takes care of worries re; setup, upgrading & securing a site.
hostgator (not free) - but baby croc-business plans are an inexpensive place to start & options to upgrade to larger shared plans, vps, dedicated
- good support & up time
- shared ssl
- email and all other services, DNS, subdomains etc supplied
- I have used them for a few years now
- only issues I have with development site is attempt to backup + Encrypt + ftp to online ftp server, uses way too much memory and will not work- the AES encryption is experimental, local backups fine.
- check support kbase for Drupal setup issues/fixes for use on hostgator
- will slow down the more load you add
I also tested paid hosts as alternatives to hostgator who offered more server control for development:
- a2hosting and experienced major downtime, server rewind had no backups the one time I attempted to use it
- site5 many issues
stayed with hostgator.
freehostia - free, cpanel, ftp, installer for Drupal 7- and it will run
- no free email; severely limits usefulness but may be OK for development
- limited free disk space 250MB & Bandwidth 6GB, 50000 files
- 128M ; Maximum amount of memory a script may consume (128MB)
- customer reviews indicate free service out performs paid/upgraded service
- php 5.2 & 5.3 & access to edit php.ini
- own basic cpanel type user interface
Zymic - Free- Drupal 6 only & they will NOT turn off safe_mode
- limited cpanel like user interface
- good ftp
- 6GB disk & 50GB bandwidth
Just tried the following - basic account setup to see what they really offer
All seem scammy & glitchy
- a nightmare for inexperienced user who did not know what to expect from host backend/cPanel or how to manage/admin Drupal already.
IMHO- a newbie needs a better host, an experienced geek can make a bad/cheap situation work, but will rarely waste the time to do so.
http://www.podserver.info/free-drupal-host.html
- unless can install Drupal & but not do much with it until you upgrade to paid
-300 MB disk space seems but my cpanel shows 0MB, 15 MB used, and -15MB available,
Drupal status reports showed "Your system or network configuration does not allow Drupal to access web pages, resulting in reduced functionality" & attempt to edit settings.php (with chmod=777 would not save in the online editor)
Submit support ticket was a nightmare, the page kept refreshing as I typed (to bring up new matching kbase info), trying to type message nearly impossible as each refresh took me to top of text, required scroll to bottom, then new refresh as i typed more text.
You will waste time managing/troubleshooting vs. paying for decent starter host like hostgator
http://byethost.com/free-hosting/news
has a Drupal option to install @ account setup
Setup/backend looks the same as podserver
Allows install of D7 @ setup
This cpanel shows 15MB used of 100o- better than podserver
But same issue with outbound connection per D7 Status Report
and same unable to edit settings.php with online tool
perhaps i can download, edit & upload settings php- but the basic web services not working does not bode well; indicated more workarounds, time wasted on flakey 'free" service that eats up time which is money.
- no email (use zettahost below for mail & tinker w/this give 1 GB space to play with if you have more time than money?)
1000 MB disk space FTP account Zend encoder supported
50 GB monthly transfer Online file manager Ion Cube support
Free FTP software
10 MB maximum file size
5 addon domains
5 parked domains Email Bandwidth usage stats
5 sub domains Custom MX records CPU time usage stats
Custom CNAME manager
Custom SPF records
MySQL query stats
MySQL Other Features
5 MySQL databases Cron Jobs
PhpMyAdmin Deny IP address manager
Instant activation
Slow MySQL query stats Redirect URL manager
Automatic script installer
Custom error page manager
Support Options Password protected folders
Free setup
Free 24/7 support PHP Config (alter server PHP settings)
Support ticket system
Fast servers
Network tools
Knowledge base
Independently measured fasted free host servers Free for live never expires
Video tutorials
Clustered network
Free sub domain provided
Domain definiation guide
Dedicated MySQL servers
No forum posting required
Multihomed network
VistaPanel Control Panel
http://www.zettahost.com/free-drupal-hosting
- looks like it includes limited email;
- must upgrade to run install script for Drupal - may be able to manually install; but all seems too scammy to me, a site link after install forwarded me to a page that McAfee site Adviser blocked.
- 2MB file size limit
- $12 1 yr personal + free domain
-$24 business 1 yr + free domain
you may find you have to upgrade/add on$ at every turn
http://www.host1free.com/features/
The Host1Free main features include- no ads:
BUT at activation requires download of unwanted software (malware?)
"What will I download to continue the registration?
You will download well known Anti-Virus software called SpyHunter 4 which is developed by Enigma Software Group LLC. The software guarantees you to be protected against any viruses, spyware, malware, trojans and many other dangerous threats. "
are included in the premium hosting plans which are just from $2.95 per month.
Free Web Hosting
Try to use Biz.nf - They offers the best free hosting no ads package i.e. there are no forced adverts on hosted for free web sites - no banner ads, no popup ads, no text link advertising on your totally free website! You can install PHP, MySQL, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and others.
Free Drupal Hosting for DEVELOPERS
Apply for Free Drupal Hosting for Developers.
What you get?
More info on Premium Paid Plans.
Official Drupal.org Hosting Providers
I suggest you check out a few of the PAAS Drupal Hosting Providers here Or a few in Enterprise Drupal Hosting
I know two of them have Free Drupal Hosting Offers.
Or maybe there might be some more in Shared Drupal Hosting here:
At the request of some moderators I need to be a bit less Spamy here: So I'm only posting internal links to Drupal.org and not specifically mentioning company names. Partially with the hope that Google will notice and rank these more relevant Drupal.org pages higher in the Serps for "Free Drupal Hosting"
Hi,
Hi,
you could use www.000webhost.com
We should not be recommending free hosting for Drupal
The best advice we could give this user or any other is, do not use free hosting for Drupal (or any other CMS).
One thing to get right when starting with a CMS is the hosting. Using cheap or non Drupal friendly hosting can easily lead to problems that are hosting related.
There are enough, relatively cheap (if we are talking about non-business sites) and good hosting providers out there that looking for free is such a bad idea.
Just avoid the known bad ones with poor / non-existent support (such as 1and1) and look for recommended hosting providers who specify support for Drupal, and take the cheapest plan.
If you are a business which depends on the website, then you should not be considering this at all. You need decent hosting and you need to pay for it (like any other critical business service).
Good Points
@mikeaja,
Great points. There is Rarely a Free lunch out there.
However when you take a look at the recent business models of Many of the biggest Cloud Hosting providers out there including Amazon EC2, Google App Engine, Heroku, & OpenShift are offering a Free plans targeted at Developers. Yes, of these big players I think only Openshift has a specific plan for Drupal.
For the most part many of the Free hosting solutions are garbage in my opinion, but if you take a closer look at what these big players provide, along with Pantheon, Acquia, and DrupalGardens, who are Drupal Hosting Specific Providers. These plans are sufficient to get started for many small businesses, or for developers testing side projects.