Best web hosting for students in 2025
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Building a website is a powerful and rewarding step forward for students looking to discover new possibilities or ready to launch their first business. However, finding the right web hosting may be challenging. Numerous affordable options are available, and many providers even offer free web hosting for students.
I've researched and created a list of top web hosting services for students. While compiling it, I focused on providers that offer reasonable prices, resources, features, and performance. Read on to find my top web hosting providers for students.
Best web hosting for students: shortlist
- Hostinger – best overall hosting provider for students
- Bluehost – cheap student hosting provider
- InMotion Hosting – best discount for students
- InterServer – best free web hosting for students
- HostGator – beginner-friendly hosting
- DreamHost – WordPress-focused hosting for students
- SiteGround – easy web hosting solution for students
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test hosting services and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website hosting providers.
Best website hosting for students - a detailed list:
To help you select the best web hosting solution for students, we tested and compared quality web hosting services. I came up with a top 6 list of web hosting providers for students that excel in terms of affordability, resource availability, feature sets, and performance.
1. Hostinger – best overall hosting provider for students
| Freebies: | Free SSL, domain name, automatic backups, email account |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 176ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 30 days |
Hostinger is easy to use, the performance is reliable, and the 24/7 customer support service is impressive. It's a very professional option to go for.
Among many, here are the key reasons why Hostinger is among top affordable hosting choices:
- Usability – the provider developed its very own control panel, called hPanel. It’s similar to cPanel, if you’re familiar with it, but easier to navigate. Plus, the provider makes sure to constantly update it to make it even more intuitive.
- Features – Hostinger’s all plans are equipped with generous storage, email accounts, SSL certificate, and caching among other things. It’s a very well-rounded service with every essential included.
- Excellent customer support – you can ask for help via a 24/7 live chat or email. There is no phone support, but the knowledge base is extensive. Testing live chat, my questions were answered quickly and agents have done their best.
Pricing
Hostinger offers 2 shared and 1 cloud hosting plan. Premium costs $2.32/month, Business is $3.25/month, while Cloud Startup starts at $7.06/month. These are among the lowest rates in the industry, which is why no other student discounts are necessary.
All 3 of Hostinger’s plans include a free custom domain, SSL certificates, 100 email accounts, and automatic backups. Even so, the freebie is only for one year. As for what each plan includes:
- Premium – connect 100 websites, 100GB NVMe storage, 25k monthly visits, and unlimited bandwidth.
- Business – connect 100 websites, 200GB NVMe storage, 2 CPU cores,100k monthly visits, unlimited bandwidth, free CDN, and daily backups.
- Cloud Startup – connect 300 websites, 200GB NVMe storage space, 2CPU cores, 3GB RAM, cache manager, free daily backups, CDN and unlimited bandwidth.
In my opinion, your best choice would be the Premium plan. For just $2.32/month, you get 100GB storage and 25k monthly visits. Plus, you can create multiple email accounts, and the domain is free for one year.
Performance
Hostinger delivers an impressive performance. I conducted the tests over 2 weeks. With an uptime of 100% and an average response time of 176ms, this provider proved to be among the fastest ones on the market.
Excellent performance results are due to its LiteSpeed Web Servers with a built-in cache engine. Moreover, the provider has servers on 4 continents, and you’re free to choose one closest to your target audience.
Overall, Hostinger performed beautifully over the 2-week testing period. The uptime was flawless with 0 downtime, and the response time was well above the industry standard of 600ms.
All in all, Hostinger is the go-to choice. However, with its low pricing and impressive performance, Bluehost tops my personal list. I endorse it for its ability to maintain stellar speeds and stability despite its highly affordable rates.
2. Bluehost –cheap web hosting for students
| Freebies: | Free SSL, domain name, automatic backups, email account |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 154ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 30 days |
Bluehost shared hosting plans will grant you a lot of freebies. You will get a free Bluehost business email and a free domain for 1 year.
Here are the key reasons why I consider Bluehost the best hosting solution for students:
- Affordability – Bluehost’s entry prices are one of the cheapest on the market. If you opt for their cheapest shared hosting plan ($1.99/month), you can get the basics without splurging. This is especially important for those students who are on a budget yet seek an all-in-one hosting solution.
- Ease-of-use – Bluehost offers easy installation and website migration. It combines its custom website management tools with the well-known cPanel, creating a user-friendly experience that stands out. The intuitive interface ensures that even beginners can easily navigate essential features like website setup, domain management, and performance settings. Additionally, Bluehost’s seamless WordPress integration, one-click installations, and clear navigation of settings make it a top pick for those who want a hassle-free hosting experience.
- Security measures – when it comes to security, Bluehost has all the essentials covered for free. This includes SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and firewalls, which are crucial for keeping your site secure right from the start. With these included in every plan, you won’t need to worry about basic protections.
Pricing
Bluehost is among the cheapest hosting solutions on the market, with shared hosting plans starting at an introductory price of $1.99/month. Looking at competitors’ prices, Bluehost’s affordability becomes one of its best assets for students.
Among other shared hosting plans, Bluehost also has Choice Plus ($3.99/month), Online Store ($7.45/month), and Pro ($9.99/month) plans for those requiring more advanced features and tools.
Here’s a breakdown of all Bluehost shared hosting plans and what features they include:
- Basic – connect 10 websites, 10GB NVMe storage, ideal for 40k monthly visits, free SSL and CDN.
- Choice Plus – connect 50 websites, 50GB NVMe storage, ideal for 200k monthly visits, free SSL and CDN.
- Online Store – connect 50 websites, 50GB NVMe storage, ideal for 200k monthly visits, free SSL and CDN, WooCommerce auto-installation.
- Pro – connect 100 websites, 100GB NVMe storage, ideal for 400k monthly visits, free SSL and CDN.
Bluehost has other plans tailored for various requirements. If you need VPS, dedicated or cloud hosting, Bluehost is also the go-to provider at affordable prices. For that, check out our in-depth Bluehost pricing analysis.
Here’s the great news for all students – Bluehost backs all its hosting plans with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can try out its services risk-free. However, there’s a drawback you should bear in mind – Bluehost only refunds hosting-related services. This means that all other services – including domain registration and custom setup – are non-refundable.
I suggest opting for the Basic shared hosting plan, as it provides you with all the necessary tools for web hosting for only $1.99/month. A bargain like no other, if you ask me.
Performance
During 11 days of testing, Bluehost delivered a solid 100% uptime. I’ve experienced very few interruptions, but overall had a great experience in real-time, which is all I was looking for.
Meanwhile, Bluehost's response time was an average of 154ms, which further proves the provider’s reliability and overall performance. Bluehost is one of the best-performing hosting providers and is ideal for those seeking a reliable and fast solution.
The bottom line is that Bluehost is a worthy contender to the title of best web hosting provider for schools and students in general. It offers competitive pricing, a user-friendly interface, and reliable customer support. Most importantly, its performance is outstanding.
3. InMotion Hosting – web hosting for students with a great deal
| Freebies: | Free SSL, domain, email accounts |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 116ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 90 days |
InMotion Hosting is an excellent web hosting match for schools since it has a special 50% discount for students and educators. Otherwise, shared hosting prices start at $2.29/month, hosting and web management is easy, and the customer support service is top-notch.
Here’s why InMotion Hosting made to the list:
- It was designed with beginners in mind – InMotion Hosting is overall easy to use. The provider uses a combination of cPanel and an in-house management tool called AMP (Account Management Panel). These 2 make everything simple to navigate.
- Fast customer support – the provider offers multiple support channels. They include a 24/7 live chat, email, ticketing system, phone support, and even Skype. When I contacted the provider via live chat, the responses were lightning-fast.
Pricing
InMotion Hosting provides 4 shared hosting plans ranging from $2.29 to $10.99/mo. Meanwhile, students and educators receive a 50% discount on all plans.
All plans include an SSL certificate, email accounts, a security suite, and marketing tools. Apart from the entry-level plan, they also include: free domain, unlimited websites, storage, bandwidth, and email addresses.
Here’s what’s different:
- Core – 2 website limit, 100GB storage, and 10 email addresses
- Launch – unlimited storage and email accounts, as well as UltraStack speed optimizations
- Power – increased UltraStack speed and performance + advanced caching
- Pro – increased UltraStack speed and performance, advanced caching, dedicated IP, and Pro Support
As a student, the best deal is to sign up for the premium Power plan using your .edu email account. With a discount, it costs just $3.79/mo.
Performance
InMotion Hosting is a reliable provider. The uptime score settled at 100% over several weeks of monitoring.
Meanwhile the average response time was 115ms which is considered very fast.
One thing worth mentioning here is InMotion Hosting’s UltraStack technology. This advanced layered caching system is designed to increase speed. Meaning that users can enjoy better-performing websites. The technology, however, doesn’t apply to the entry-level plan.
All in all, InMotion Hosting satisfies the industry-standard uptime and response time.
To sum up the whole section, InMotion Hosting is a solid choice for students. It comes with a 50% discount, it’s easy to use, and the customer support is great.
4. InterServer – best free hosting for students provider
| Freebies: | SSL, weekly backups, enhanced security and site recovery service |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 96ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 30 days |
InterServer is committed to the education sector. It uses standard control panel cPanel making it very easy, and the resources are more than generous.
InterServer made to the list for more than 2 reasons, but I just want to mention this:
- Easy to use – InterServer chose to go with cPanel, which is a complete industry standard. The control panel is both functional and easy to navigate. Plus, if you need to use advanced features, you'll find tons of documentation in the knowledge base.
- Generous shared hosting plan – you won’t see many providers that offer unlimited websites, storage, bandwidth, and unlimited MySQL databases in their entry-level plan. InterServer went all in with this one.
Pricing
InterServer offers students one year of free web hosting. This offer is only available to accredited universities in the United States, and sometimes, a special request from a class professor is required.
However, if you don’t have time for requests or don’t study in the US, InterServer is still relatively cheap. It has one plan, and once the year passes, you’ll be charged only $2.50/month. It’s not that much, considering that you get access to many resources.
InterServer’s all-in-one plan comes with a wide range of features and resources. SSL certificates are included, and so is free website migration. You also get unlimited SSD storage and unlimited email accounts. Don’t take that literally because as soon as your project takes up too many resources, you’ll be invited to upgrade.
You’re also provided with access to:
- 461 one-click installs
- SitePad Website Builder
- Global content caching
- Intershield security
- Interinsurance site recovery
As a student, the best thing you can do is to sign up for InterServer’s shared hosting services using your school email address (.edu) and then contact customer support. You’ll get one year of web hosting free of charge.
Performance
InterServer proved to be a reliable hosting service. It provided me with a 100% uptime over a 2-week period and the average response time of 96ms.
The good news is that InterServer takes pride in using servers only at a 50% capacity. Their purpose is to allocate resources in such a way that clients can grow their websites without suffering from a performance point of view. That and the free global content caching ensure reliable performance.
In general, InterServer is a well-performing hosting provider and its uptime and response time were better than guaranteed.
Overall, InterServer qualifies as a good provider of web hosting for students, mainly because it offers a special discount for this category of users. With generally low prices, reliable performance, and enough resources, I’m sure that you’ll find it suitable for whatever project you want to work on.
5. HostGator – beginner-friendly web hosting for students
| Freebies: | Domain, SSL, email accounts, cPanel |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 161ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 30 days |
HostGator is probably one of the first providers most people tend to use – due to its popularity, ease of use, and affordable prices. It includes all essentials in its plans – domain, SSL, and even email accounts. Other than that, support is very helpful and fast with many self-help resources available.
HostGator’s strengths are:
- Straightforward hosting management panel – just like with Hostinger, you’ll find shortcuts to the most commonly used cPanel modules right there and then. Talking of cPanel, it’s fully functional and available in a click from the main dashboard.
- Good performance – HostGator’s performance was great. The site outperformed the promised 99.9% uptime by a long shot with >99.99%. The host proved to be fast and trustworthy. Also, a big traffic surge was handled just fine.
Overall, HostGator really is an excellent provider of web hosting for students. It’s affordable, easy to use, and customer support will give you the help you need in a jiffy.
Pricing
HostGator has 3 well-rounded shared hosting plans. Hatchling is $2.29/month, Baby is $3.09/month, and Business is only $4.59/month. While the student discount is not there, the prices are already affordable.
HostGator’s plans offer quite a package: free SSL certificate, domain for a year, website builder, unlimited storage and bandwidth, and email accounts.
The plans do differ, though:
- Hatchling – you can host up to 10 websites
- Baby – you can connect up to 20 websites
- Business – apart from hosting up to 50 websites, it comes with SEO tools, and a free upgrade to Positive SSL
The best choice for a student is the Baby plan. It’s only 75 cents more than Hatchling, but you can host unlimited websites. I think that’s a great deal. However, if you only need one website, Hatchling is irreplaceable with all the essentials in one cheap package.
Performance
With an uptime of 100% and an average response time of 162ms, HostGator is one of the industry’s most affordable, yet excellent-performing hosting providers.
HostGator has an uptime guarantee of 99.9%, but it exceeded it. The website experienced no downtime in two weeks. Plus, the response time was constant for the most part.
The main takeaway here is that while HostGator charges little money for its services, it delivers excellent performance.
HostGator offers attractive prices for students. Plus, all essentials are included, it’s easy to use and the performance is better than those of more expensive providers.
6. DreamHost – affordable WordPress-oriented hosting for students
| Freebies | SSL, domain, domain privacy, automatic backups |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 239ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 97 days |
DreamHost is WordPress-focused hosting for students that is easy to use. Even though you won’t get any special treatment as a student, the prices are already affordable.
Here are 3 Dreamhost’s key strengths:
- Strong focus on WordPress – for one thing, a WordPress copy is already installed when you set up your domain. Secondly, suppose you already have a WP website. In that case, you can migrate it to DreamHost for free using the automated migration plugin. Lastly, a premium WP website builder is included.
- Low monthly rates – usually, monthly rates are the most expensive. Even Hostinger’s cheapest plan is almost $10 if you pay on a month-to-month basis. Yet, DreamHost’s entry plan monthly price is only $4.95.
- 97-day money-back guarantee – other providers mainly offer 30 days, but DreamHost took things a whole lot further.
Pricing
DreamHost is affordable for everyone. So, not getting a special student discount won’t hurt your wallet. You can choose between 2 shared hosting plans: Starter costs $2.59/month, while Unlimited is $3.95/month.
Both plans come with a free domain and its privacy, SSL certificate, unmetered bandwidth, and daily backups. As for what differs:
- Starter – you can host only one website on generous 50GB SSD storage. Email accounts start at $1.67/month.
- Unlimited – you can connect unlimited websites, the SSD storage is unlimited, and email is included.
To get the lowest monthly price, you have to go for the longest billing period. Nonetheless, DreamHost allows you to choose between monthly, annual, and 3-year subscriptions that are all pretty affordable.
The best possible deal is the Unlimited plan. It’s slightly more expensive than the Starter plan. Still, the unlimited websites and free email make it worth the extra dollar or 2 depending on the billing term you choose.
Performance
DreamHost delivered an uptime of 99.99% and an average response time of 239ms, which is worse than other providers, like Hostinger, but still within the industry standard range.
However, I noticed that DreamHost was consistent instead. During 2 weeks of testing, the results showed no significant ups or downs, meaning the response time was always in the same range.
What’s important to remember is that DreamHost is an affordable WordPress hosting provider. It comes with a crazy long money-back guarantee, and the performance results are great.
7. SiteGround- easy-to-use web hosting for students
| Freebies | Domain, SSL, Email, Email Migrator, Unlimited Databases, CDN |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 56ms |
| Money-back guarantee: | Yes, 30 days |
SiteGround is easy to use and has tools to help you run a fast and reliable site. It also provides cutting-edge technology, like Google Cloud infrastructure and LiteSpeed web servers, which is noticeable in its performance tests.
Here are the reasons why I think it's great for students:
- Ease of use – the SiteGround control panel is modern. It can be accessed directly through the Site Tools and provides everything the user needs. An app installer is also available, making installing additional apps quick and easy.
- Standout features – Siteground has many straightforward security tools to access and manage. It constantly monitors for vulnerabilities in the most popular applications and modules and, whenever possible, develops virtual patches in the form of WAF rules (Web application firewall). It also lets its users monitor traffic, errors, and access logs in the security section of the control panel.
Pricing
Siteground is slightly more expensive than other providers, such as Hostinger. It lets me choose between 3 shared hosting plans, all with a free domain for the first year, unmetered traffic, and free SSL. Take a look at their differences:
- StartUp – you get to host 1 website with 10GB web storage, which will suit for around 10k monthly visits for $2.99/month
- GrowBig – you get unlimited websites and 20GB of web storage, suitable for 100k monthly visits for $4.99/month
- GoGeek – offers unlimited websites, 40GB of web space, and can handle up to 400,000 monthly visits for $7.99/month
SiteGround allows you to choose between monthly, annual, and biennial subscription plans. However, keep in mind that the prices can increase significantly after renewal.
To get the best deal, I purchased GrowBig for one year. It provided me with all the necessary tools for web hosting for only $4.99 per month.
Performance
After 2 weeks of testing, SiteGround gave me an uptime of 100%. I had no interruptions during the test, and response times were consistent within the same efficient range.
Furthermore, it gave me an average response time of 56ms, which is exceptional compared to many other providers.
SiteGround is one of the best web hosting services because of its high uptime guarantee and speed. I also liked that its shared hosting plans include free SSL certificates, email accounts, native CDN, automatic backups, and built-in caching.
Student web hosting: compared list
| Brand | Rating | Price | Review page | Freebies |
| Hostinger | $2.32/month | Hostinger review | Free SSL, domain, Automatic backups, Email account | |
| Bluehost | $1.99/month | Bluehost review | Free SSL, domain, Automatic backups, Email account | |
| InMotion hosting | $2.29/month | InMotion hosting review | Free SSL, domain, Email account | |
| InterServer | $2.50/month | InterServer review | SSL, Weekly backups, Enhanced security, Site recovery service | |
| HostGator | $2.29/month | HostGator review | Domain SSL, Email accounts, cPanel | |
| Dreamhost | $2.59/month | Dreamhost review | SSL, domain, domain privacy, Automatic backups | |
| SiteGround | $2.99/month | SiteGround review | Domain, SSL, Email, Unlimited Databases, CDN |
Top web hosting for student: tested and ranked
At Cybernews, we must ensure that our reviews are precise and detailed. That's why we rely on our hosting testing methodology and team of experts to find the best providers for the reviews. While searching for the best web hosting providers for students, I reviewed 58 hosting services. I selected 7 providers that met my criteria. Here's how I tested these providers further:
- Free features (40%). I compared the features offered for free by each provider. I ensured all my selected providers included at least a free domain, SSL, and security measures.
- Performance (30%). With the help of our research team, I used tools like Pingdom and GTmetrix. My prime focus was on uptime and average response, which are crucial for the website's functionality.
- Pricing and plans (30%). Sometimes, pricing can be the most important part of the deal. That's why I focused on providers that offer special student discounts or well-priced deals.
I ranked these providers from 1 to 7 based on the number of free features they offer, their performance, and pricing to ensure you get the best recommendations for your hosting needs.
How to pick the best student web hosting provider
While there are plenty of great web hosting choices available, you, as a student or educator, might need to evaluate not just the quality of the service but its price among many other factors. Here are a couple of things to consider when choosing a provider for your needs:
- Special discounts – sometimes available for web hosting for schools and students – usually require proof of your educational status. Currently, you can find a special student discount at InMotion Hosting (50% off) and InterServer (one year of free hosting).
- Ease of use – whether you're completely new to web development as a student or you're teaching a course – sticking to standard and convenient tools is the way to go. cPanel control panel or anything that is inspired by it is easy to use and functional. Some providers designed their own control panels, and as long as the user interface is straightforward, you’re all good. At this point, I would choose Hostinger or Bluehost.
- Performance – the 2 factors above are practically irrelevant if you choose a hosting provider that keeps your website down for too long. The same rule applies if it takes forever for your site to load. What you need to look for is a provider that offers an uptime guarantee of at least 99.9%. The response time should be no higher than 600ms, but it’s acceptable for it to go a little bit over. Just don’t choose a provider that gives you 1 second or more. Regarding this requirement, Hostinger and Bluehost show the best results.
- Customer support – questions and minor errors are just bound to arise. Getting quality help quickly is essential. So look for a provider that will give you multiple 24/7 options to get in contact with them – live chat, email, or phone are preferred options. The best support is offered by Bluehost and HostGator.
Best student web hosting: final recommendations
Picking the right web hosting for students is important for creating a professional online presence, which is crucial for your education and future career. When looking at web hosting options, it's important to think about how much it costs, what features it offers, and how well it performs.
After testing different providers, I've found that the best web host for students is Hostinger. It starts at just $2.32/month, making it affordable for students. Hostinger also comes with lots of useful features, an easy-to-use control panel, and it works really well, which is great for students on a budget.
Best web hosting for students FAQs
How much does web hosting cost for students?
Web hosting for students typically costs between $1.99 and $10.00 per month. Some providers offer student discounts or free services, but you may need to verify your student status. I recommend Hostinger. Its prices start at just $2.32/month and it’s the best hosting provider on the market.
Do I need to know coding to use web hosting for a student website?
No, you don't need to know coding to use web hosting for a student website. Many hosting providers, such as Hostinger, offer user-friendly website builders and one-click installations, making it easy to set up and manage your site without any coding experience.
What’s the difference between free and paid web hosting for students?
Free web hosting for students can be unreliable. It often limits its features, has slower speeds, and includes ads. It may also have uptime issues or lack customer support. For a better user experience, I recommend choosing a trustworthy paid hosting instead.
Can I host a website with limited technical skills as a student?
Yes, you can host a website with limited technical skills as a student. Most hosting providers, like Hostinger, offer user-friendly interfaces and tools that simplify the process.
How do students host their website for free?
Students who wish to host their website for free can either opt for a free blogging platform, such as WordPress.com, or seek for a trustworthy web hosting provider.
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