Django has become one of the most trusted and popular Python frameworks for building secure, scalable, high-performance web applications. It has a built-in admin panel, ORM, and clean architecture, making deployment fast. Whether you’re a student trying to build a portfolio, testing APIs, or a startup founder launching an MVP, Django caters to every need with its wide set of tools. This helps users to build robust web apps with minimal overhead. But once you’ve written the code and your project is ready to deploy, the next big question remains. Where should I host my Django Project? This is where the quest for free Django hosting comes to developers.
While many hosting services are available on the market, not everyone is willing to spend money to get their first app online. That’s why free Django hosting is a trending topic among developers in 2025. For users learning, testing, or launching a side project, everyone is seeking ways to deploy their Django app for free without sacrificing quality.
What is Django?
Django is a high-level, open-source Python framework for rapid development and clean, realistic design. Django was initially developed by experienced news developers, and it excels at building database-driven websites and backend services with less code and enhanced security. In 2025, as the AI trends continue to grow, Python is continuously increasing, and more developers are turning to Django. With Django, developers can power portfolios, REST APIs, dashboards, and full-featured web applications.
As demand for Django apps grows, so does the need for a reliable, fast, and free hosting platform for developers who are on a budget. In 2025, developers are seeking free hosting platforms and platforms that come with features like Git-based deployments, PostgreSQL support, HTTPS, CI/CD, and scalability.
The good news is that developers can host their Django project for free on certain platforms without compromising quality. These free Django hosting platforms are perfect for small apps, student projects, or MVPs. This guide will explore the best free Django hosting platforms for 2025, comparing each one’s strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases. And if you’re ready to move past free-tier limitations, we’ll also show you one of the most affordable and developer-friendly paid options available today.
The Amazon Web Services Free Tier is a powerful entry point for Django developers who want full control over their hosting environment. With 750 free hours per month on a t2.micro instance (enough for continuous use), 30 GB of SSD storage, and free-tier access to RDS databases, AWS Free Tier is ideal for deploying production-level Django applications at no cost for the first 12 months.
While AWS offers a very generous free plan, you’ll need to set up everything manually, including Linux, PostgreSQL, NGINX, Gunicorn, SSL, and security groups, which can be a bit complex for beginners. But for individuals serious about learning DevOps or building scalable web apps, AWS is perfect for giving you a hands-on experience with professional-grade infrastructure. But there’s a catch: once the free tier ends, the usage becomes paid, so have a backup plan before the free tier expires. AWS Free Tier best suits those with DevOps experience and long-term hosting goals.
Pros:
- Full flexibility (run full-stack Django)
- Can scale when ready
- Rich ecosystem (S3, SES, Route 53, etc.)
Cons:
- Complex setup for beginners
- Free tier expires after 12 months
- Overages may incur charges
For users open to using multiple services for different components of your stack, this modular setup gives you everything needed for a Django app at zero cost. While this stack requires extensive setup and collaboration across all four platforms, you can get a basic platform to run your Django application for free if done correctly. The stack works as follows:
- Supabase handles your PostgreSQL database, user authentication, and real-time subscriptions.
- Cloudinary manages image storage and delivery with free monthly limits.
- Vercel hosts the frontend (ideal for React/Next.js).
- Render hosts your Django backend with 750 free monthly hours.
This modern JAMstack approach is getting increasingly popular among indie developers and Reddit communities, who are discussing free Python hosting for Django. While it may require more effort to wire everything together, you can benefit greatly from advanced tooling and scalability with minimal cost. Hosting your Django project with JAMstack approach is a composable setup for side projects, startups, and MVPs
Pros:
- Free and scalable for small/medium apps
- AI integrations and intelligent dev workflows
- Vercel/Render offers easy Git-based deployment
Cons:
- Slight learning curve to integrate all services
- Cold start delays on the Render free tier
Google Cloud offers a free tier with $300 credits for new users that are valid for 90 days. These credits can be used to test App Engine, Cloud Run, or Compute Engine for free Python Django hosting. Google Cloud’s free tier offers an always-free f1-micro VM, 20GB of persistent disk, and bandwidth, all suitable for deploying a basic Django site.
Compared to the AWS free plan, GCP is slightly more beginner-friendly with its extensive documentation. It is well-known for seamless integration with Google’s AI services, which is handy when building ML-based applications. You can deploy App Engine or Compute Engine for more manual control over your applications for easy scaling.
While the learning curve is moderate, it is still doable with tutorials and guides. But after your credits expire, you’ll need to manage costs carefully. Google Cloud Platform is suitable for developers wanting a long term flexibility, cloud native deployments and a seamless integration with Google’s other services.
Pros:
- Stable infrastructure
- Extensive AI/ML tools
- Good documentation
Cons:
- More complex than platforms like Render
- Free-tier VM has limited CPU power
- Watch out for post-credit charges
Vultr is another popular option that offers promotional credits (usually $100) for new users, which can be enough to host a normal Django website for up to 3 months if managed carefully. Their cheapest instances cost around $2.50/month, and they come with root access to configure your Django with PostgreSQL, NGINX, and Gunicorn.
Vultr is ideal for developers trying to learn real-world server setup or trying to test deployment pipelines in a controlled environment. Although it’s not “always free”, the initial credit is generous enough to build, test, and launch an MVP.
But as the credit expires, you’ll either need to switch platforms or pay out of pocket. Vultr provides exceptional performance, and the UI is intuitive and straightforward compared to AWS or GCP, making it a solid intermediate option. Consider Vultr if you want to try a fast VPS temporarily or test deployment scripts.
Tip: Vultr constantly offers promo codes, so check out their latest offer for free credits up to $300.
Pros:
- Root access
- Great performance at low prices
- Ideal for performance testing
Cons:
- No always-free plan
- Manual Django setup required
- Trial ends quickly
For true beginners or educational purposes, PythonAnywhere is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly platforms for free Python hosting with Django. The free plan comes with Python 3 environments, a web-based code editor, a Bash console, WSGI support, and the ability to run small Django sites.
But PythonAnywhere does come with its own set of domains, the major one being that you can’t use your custom domains on the free plan. Moreover, internet access for web scraping or external APIs is limited, making it not ideal for production apps, but perfect for learning, building simple CRUD-based apps, or showcasing your portfolio.
For users looking up “free Django hosting Reddit” or “Django hosting without server setup”, PythonAnywhere often comes up as a top recommendation. It is best for students, teachers, and beginners aiming for prototyping, or learning Django without technical overhead.
PythonAnywhere offers a forever-free tier tailored for Django learners:
- Host small Django apps via the web UI
- Bash console access for code and DB
- Built-in Python environment
Pros:
- Extremely easy to use
- No DevOps knowledge required
- Fast setup and simple deployment
Cons:
- No custom domain on the free plan
- Limited internet access (e.g., no API calls)
- CPU and memory quotas are restrictive
Hetzner is a European cloud provider that offers occasional promotional cloud credits of €20 to new users. With their inexpensive pricing (VCPU CX plan at €3.49/month), you can run a Django site for 5–6 months for free.
This free plan best suits intermediate to advanced users who are comfortable with Linux. You can configure everything manually, as Hetzner gives you complete control over performance, security, and deployment. Hetzner’s reputation for stable infrastructure and high-speed servers makes it an excellent choice for production testing or staging.
While it doesn’t offer a permanent free tier, the extended credit period can sustain your Django app for about 5 months if used mindfully. Hetzner is ideal for developers who want raw power, high flexibility and are comfortable managing a VPS.
Pros:
- Excellent value for performance
- Full root access (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)
- Stable and developer-centric
Cons:
- Manual setup (NGINX, Gunicorn, etc.)
- Not truly free unless using credit
As we look into the six ways of free web hosting, we know nothing is free; every free plan has limitations. Thus, StableCluster comes in with cost-effective solutions starting at just $4.4/month with 30 30-day money-back guarantee. While for people looking to test their Django application for free, these free platforms work just fine. However, for those seeking long-term stability and control, a cost-effective solution like StableCluster is the perfect choice for hosting Django.
Designed for modern developers, it combines robust cloud infrastructure with AI-enhanced tools for deployment, scaling, and security. StableCluster Python hosting remains affordable and ideal for freelancers, agencies, or small businesses wanting scalability and better performance for their Django applications. People who seek to host their Django applications for free expect high performance, but this cannot happen. The only way out is StableCluster’s cost-effective plan. StableCluster is perfect for developers seeking a modern user friendly solution with build in speed and scalability without any limitations.
Pros:
- AI-enhanced tools (e.g., domain name suggestions)
- Free SSL, backups, and DDoS protection included
- Fast performance + 24/7 support
- Transparent pricing (no hidden renewals)
Seeking free Django hosting that keeps you satisfied in every corner is not possible, but for small deployments, testing, and staging, there are plenty of options in the market. While each free platform comes with its own set of limitations, these platforms cater to different needs, and you can use them as:
- For learning and fast setup → PythonAnywhere or StableCluster
- For real-world cloud experience → AWS or Google Cloud
- For composable apps → Supabase + Render + Vercel
- For short term use → Vultr or Hetzner
- For a friendly option → StableCluster
Even though the platforms mentioned in this article come with limitations, they offer real value for anyone wondering how to host a Django website for free in 2025 when used with precaution. You can pick the stack that fits your needs, deploy your app, and start building for free. And if you want a hassle-free, beginner-friendly, and cost-effective option with no limitations, give StableCluster a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
