Top #5 Best Free Laravel Hosting Service in 2026
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes, 54 seconds
Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks, loved by developers for its elegant syntax, built-in security, and powerful tools like Artisan, Eloquent ORM, and Blade templates. But to unlock Laravel’s full potential, you need the right hosting environment. That’s where Laravel hosting comes in.
For beginners, students, and startups, free Laravel hosting can be a lifesaver. It allows you to test applications, build demo projects, and even launch small websites without spending money upfront. While free hosting does come with limitations, many providers now offer generous free tiers, trials, or credits that work perfectly for Laravel development.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best free Laravel hosting service, explain what Laravel hosting really is, discuss key factors to consider, and break down the pros and cons of free hosting. By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform suits your Laravel project—whether you’re just learning or planning to scale later.
Quick Summary Table
| Provider | Free Trial/Credits | Managed Hosting | SSH Access | Easy Deployment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamatera | ✓ | ✘ | ✓ | Moderate | Full control & scalability |
| GoogieHost | ✓ (free forever) | ✘ | ✘/Limited | Easy | Learning & test projects |
| DigitalOcean | ✓ | ✘ | ✓ | Moderate | Developer control & performance |
| Cloudways | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Easiest | Managed Laravel apps |
Vultr | ✓ | ✘ | ✓ | Moderate | Affordable cloud hosting |
What Is Laravel Hosting?
Laravel hosting is a type of web hosting optimized specifically for running Laravel applications smoothly. It supports modern PHP versions, Composer, database integration, and server configurations required by Laravel.
Unlike basic shared hosting, Laravel hosting often includes SSH access, Git integration, caching tools, and framework-friendly environments. These features ensure faster performance, better security, and easier deployment.
Free Laravel hosting usually comes in the form of free trials, cloud credits, or limited free plans. While not ideal for heavy production apps, they are excellent for development, testing, and small-scale projects.
Top Free Laravel Hosting Platforms
Choosing a free laravel hosting in 2026 isn’t just about price; it’s about latency, hardware architecture (NVMe/DDR5), and localized support. Whether you are a developer, a gamer, or a business owner, this guide breaks down the top 5 players in the Indian market.
1. Kamatera – Overall Best Free Laravel Hosting
Kamatera offers a powerful cloud hosting platform with a 30-day free trial, making it one of the best options for Laravel developers. You get full control over your server environment, allowing you to install Laravel, configure PHP versions, and optimize performance.
Kamatera is ideal for developers who want enterprise-grade infrastructure without upfront costs. Its global data centers ensure low latency, and the platform is highly scalable for future growth.
Key Features:
Plans:
Free 30-day trial, paid plans start on pay-as-you-go pricing after trial.
2. GoogieHost – Best Free Laravel Hosting Provider
GoogieHost is a true free hosting provider suitable for beginners learning Laravel. It offers PHP support, MySQL databases, and decent uptime without any cost.
While it’s not built for large-scale applications, GoogieHost is perfect for practice projects, portfolios, and small Laravel apps. The platform is easy to use and doesn’t require credit card details, making it beginner-friendly.
Key Features:
Plans:
Completely free plan with optional premium upgrades.
3. DigitalOcean – Affordable Free Laravel Hosting Solution
DigitalOcean provides a developer-friendly cloud platform with free credits for new users, making it an excellent choice for Laravel hosting. You can deploy Laravel on Droplets, use pre-configured stacks, and manage servers with full control.
DigitalOcean is highly reliable and ideal for developers who want performance and flexibility during the free credit period.
Key Features:
Plans:
Free trial credits; paid plans start at affordable monthly pricing.
4. Cloudways – Fully Managed Laravel Hosting Provider
Cloudways offers managed Laravel hosting with a free trial, combining ease of use with high performance. It sits on top of cloud providers like DigitalOcean and Vultr, handling server management, security, and updates for you.
This makes Cloudways perfect for developers who want Laravel hosting without dealing with server maintenance.
Key Features:
Plans:
Free trial available; paid plans depend on cloud provider choice.
5. Vultr – Best Free Laravel Hosting Solution
Vultr is a popular cloud hosting provider offering free credits for new users, making it suitable for Laravel projects. With high-performance SSD servers and multiple global locations, Vultr ensures fast application performance.
It’s a great choice for developers who want simple, affordable, and scalable Laravel hosting during the free credit phase.
Key Features:
Plans:
Free credits for new users; pay-as-you-go afterward.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Free Laravel Hosting
Choosing the right free Laravel hosting isn’t just about “zero cost.” Laravel has specific technical requirements, and ignoring them can lead to poor performance, errors, or security issues. Below are the most important factors you should carefully evaluate before selecting a free Laravel hosting provider.
1. PHP Version Compatibility (PHP 8.1+)
Laravel requires modern PHP versions to function correctly and securely. Most recent Laravel releases work best with PHP 8.1 or higher. If a hosting provider only supports older PHP versions, you may face compatibility issues, security vulnerabilities, or limited framework features. Always ensure you can switch or select the required PHP version.
2. Composer & Artisan Support
Composer is essential for managing Laravel dependencies, while Artisan powers Laravel’s command-line operations. A good free Laravel host should provide Composer access and Artisan command execution, usually through SSH. Without these, installing packages, running migrations, or optimizing your app becomes extremely difficult.
3. Database Availability (MySQL/PostgreSQL)
Laravel relies heavily on databases for authentication, sessions, and application data. Your hosting should support MySQL or PostgreSQL, preferably with enough storage and connection limits. Free hosting often restricts database size, so confirm it meets your project’s needs.
4. Server Performance & SSD Storage
Performance matters even for small Laravel apps. Hosting with SSD or NVMe storage ensures faster file access, quicker database queries, and smoother performance. Poor server speed can cause slow page loads and a bad user experience, even during development.
5. Ease of Laravel Deployment
Deploying Laravel should be simple and developer-friendly. Look for hosts that support Git integration, SSH access, or one-click app setups. Easy deployment saves time and reduces configuration errors, especially for beginners working on their first Laravel projects.
6. Security Features & SSL
Security should never be ignored—even on free hosting. Essential features include free SSL certificates, firewall protection, malware scanning, and secure file permissions. SSL is especially important for login pages and forms, helping protect user data and improve SEO rankings.
7. Scalability Options
Your project may start small, but growth can happen quickly. A good free Laravel hosting provider should offer easy scalability, allowing you to upgrade CPU, RAM, storage, or bandwidth without migrating to a new platform. This ensures long-term flexibility.
8. Uptime Reliability
Consistent uptime is critical, even for testing environments. Frequent downtime can disrupt development and make your site inaccessible. Choose providers with a reputation for high uptime (99.9% or higher) to ensure reliability and smooth development workflows.
9. Support & Documentation
Free hosting usually comes with limited support, but clear documentation, tutorials, and community forums can make a huge difference. Reliable knowledge bases help you resolve Laravel-related issues faster without depending on live support.
10. Upgrade Path to Paid Plans
Free hosting should be a stepping stone, not a dead end. Always check whether the provider offers simple and affordable paid plans. A smooth upgrade path lets you move from free to premium hosting without downtime, data loss, or complex migrations.
Also Read: Best Cheap VPS Hosting in India
Conclusion
Free Laravel hosting is an excellent starting point for developers who want to learn, test, or launch small projects without investment. Platforms like Kamatera, GoogieHost, DigitalOcean, Cloudways, and Vultr offer reliable free options through trials or credits. While free hosting has limitations, it’s more than enough for development and experimentation. As your Laravel application grows, you can easily upgrade to paid plans for better performance, security, and scalability.