Given the current economic situation, both in the UK and around the world, companies are constantly looking for ways to save money and reduce expenditure.
As a result, you may be looking to cut IT costs and free up some finances for other purposes. Free web hosting services provide cost-cutting solutions for businesses looking to reign in their spending.
If your website uses MySQL, which chances are it does, then you'll want to be on the lookout for free hosting services that offer benefits like free MySQL databases, unlimited bandwidth, or free domain names.
These can make all the difference in terms of saving money and balancing your books.
In this article, we'll take you through the best free MySQL hosting providers that offer great packages and features for absolutely no money at all.
You'll discover the advantages and downsides of each company, plus what they can offer your website, so you can ultimately come to a decision about which free hosting solution is right for you.
Table of Contents:
What is MySQL? 🤔️
MySQL (pronounced either as MY-ESS-KYOO-EL or "My Sequel") is an open source relational database management system (RDBMS) that operates between servers and clients. It provides the foundation to many coding languages, so it's likely that many of your most visited websites will run using MySQL.
In other words, MySQL is a database that stores and organises data into rows and columns. Every time someone performs a search, clicks on a product, or follows a link, this data is recorded into a MySQL table. Websites may then use this data for several reasons, such as to adjust their business strategies, target specific demographics, and evaluate their products.
Since MySQL is open source, it's available as a free and customisable hosting service. You can modify it in any way you like, provided it complies with the GNU General Public Licence. For more advanced technical support and flexible ownership, a commercially licensed version is also available.
Top-Rated Free MySQL Hosting Providers 🔝️
Without further ado, let's get into the best free MySQL hosting providers. The list below is in no particular order, as it will ultimately depend on your personal requirements and preferences as to which provider is best for you. Whichever provider you pick, you'll receive a high-quality (and, crucially, free) solution for MySQL database hosting.
1. Kamatera
As far as free hosting services go, Kamatera is up there with the best. Its cloud-based servers offer flexibility, scalability, and fast connection speeds for every type of website. With high-powered solid-state drives (SSDs), their servers can host a good deal of MySQL databases. However, these benefits are only permitted for 30 days before your free trial runs out and you have to upgrade to a paid plan. If you're looking for a long-term free MySQL hosting provider, Kamatera may not be right for you.
2. ProFreeHost
A truly 100% free MySQL hosting provider, ProFreeHost gives you a bunch of extensive features at no cost to you or your business. You'll get unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage, and free subdomains, to name just a few of the many benefits. The only deterrent is that there's little customer support, at least no live chat or phone support. A member's forum and a ticketing system are the only forms of IT support available.
3. GoogieHost
GoogieHost offers a range of features that aren't typically found with free MySQL hosting providers. Ad-free websites, 100GB of free bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate are all benefits you can get without paying a single penny. Your website will be SEO-friendly and securely powered, and you'll even get access to 24/7 customer support! If you require a significant amount of space or bandwidth, however, you'll have to upgrade to a paid plan.
4. Infinity Free
The best thing about Infinity Free (other than its zero-cost package) is its power. In terms of MySQL, you can benefit from unlimited bandwidth and storage space, plus receive a whopping 400 databases to use! Infinity Free is really challenging other hosting providers to up their game, as right now it's hard to see who can compete with them. If all this isn't enough, they also guarantee 99.99% uptime for your website.
5. GigaRocket
Excelling in free MySQL database plans, GigaRocket has been a trusted hosting provider for years now. It outperforms a lot of MySQL hosting companies in many categories, such as number of databases (10), bandwidth (50GB), and storage (5GB). The phpMyAdmin tool is also included in the free package to help with your MySQL database management. If you're running small to medium-sized operations, GigaRocket can really work wonders for you.
6. HyperHost
HyperHost is a great MySQL hosting service that offers free plans for your business. With an account, you'll get free MySQL databases, high-speed servers, and 15GB of disc space to host up to 20 websites. What's more, HyperHost offers free 24/7 support for their customers - even the non-paying ones! This level of assistance for their free members just goes to show how progressive and kind their business values are.
The main downside to HyperHost, however, is that their servers are located exclusively in Europe. If you need a remote MySQL server to target customers from other locations around the world, you're better off choosing a different provider.
7. 000Webhost
With some great free MySQL hosting packages, 000Webhost provides some truly advanced features for the non-paying customer to take advantage of. You'll have full control over your MySQL account and databases, but there's a limit on how much data you can store. Once you run out of storage space in your two free MySQL databases, you can upgrade easily to one of their paid plans. With a paid package you'll benefit from unlimited MySQL databases and customer support, as this is unavailable with free accounts.
8. AwardSpace
AwardSpace is great for users with multiple websites, as its free plan allows for up to 4 different websites. The installation process is incredibly simple and quick and you can benefit from up to 5GB of bandwidth. You'll also get access to some nifty tools that help you monitor your website to ensure it doesn't go down. The disadvantage, however, is that there's only 1GB of disc space available, so you won't be able to store excessive amounts of data.
Summary: Choosing a Free MySQL Database Hosting Provider 💡️
In summary, it's easy to see how a free MySQL hosting solution can bring a wealth of benefits to your company. Our list alone contains some highly-rated providers that offer surprisingly comprehensive services without asking for a penny. But choosing the right one for you can be a hassle, so it's worth considering the following points before you make that all-important decision:
- Size: How big is your company? How many websites do you want to run? How many MySQL databases do you need? A smaller business will have vastly different needs than a large-scale organisation, so make sure you choose a provider that best suits the scale of your operations.
- Future plans: Scalability and adaptability are two key factors in determining which provider is right for you. If your growth forecasts are positive or you expect rapid expansion within the next few years, make sure your MySQL hosting provider can adapt to your requirements.
The great thing about free MySQL hosting is that you can chop and change your provider with no financial burdens. If you've outgrown your free provider, you can always change to another or upgrade to a paid plan with little effort.
MySQL Database Hosting FAQs 🗯️
Is MySQL free for everyone? Can I create my own MySQL server? You'll find all the information you need about MySQL below.
Can I host MySQL for free?
While MySQL is a free tool to use, you'll need to find the right web hosting provider if you want to host MySQL websites for free. There are plenty of hosting companies that don't charge for MySQL hosting, meaning you can host websites through their servers for free and utilise MySQL in your site.
Can I host my own MySQL database?
It is possible to install and host your own MySQL database. Doing so is often cheaper than paying a web hosting provider and you'll get full control over the configurations of your server. However, self-hosting requires a lot of technical expertise and is exceptionally difficult without the right knowledge and tools.
Is MySQL Database free?
Yes, MySQL is a free and open-source database that anyone can download and access. You can use and modify it in any way you like, as long as your actions comply with the GNU General Public Licence. If you want to use MySQL for large-scale commercial operations, you'll have to purchase the commercially licensed version.
Is MySQL free for small businesses?
Yes. Since MySQL is an open-source database, it is free to anyone who wants to use it. Larger businesses will often pay for a commercial licence, so they can operate internationally. Smaller businesses, on the other hand, are perfectly capable of functioning with the free model, but may still require a paid web hosting plan from a provider.
