There are 16 Best Free VPS Hosting Providers (2026), Which Are Enough for a Lifetime

Oracle Cloud is the best-known free VPS forever option in this comparison. Its Always Free allowance does not have a fixed end date, but registration, regional capacity and idle-resource rules can prevent or interrupt deployment. For a short test, Google Cloud offers new users $300 for 90 days. AWS offers new customers up to $200 in credits with a free account plan lasting up to six months, while Azure provides $200 for 30 days.

A "free VPS" can mean an ongoing monthly allowance, temporary cloud credit, a student benefit or a community server that needs manual renewal. These offers are not interchangeable. Check the time limit, payment verification, supported regions and what happens when the credit expires before creating a server.

Last verified: August 3, 2026. Cloud offers change without notice. The provider's linked offer page and checkout terms take priority over this comparison.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. VPS SOS may receive a commission at no extra cost to the reader. This does not change the eligibility notes or billing warnings below.

Free VPS hosting comparison

Provider	Free offer	Duration	Payment verification	Best fit
Vultr	Campaign-specific promotional credit	Campaign dependent	Usually required	Testing regional VPS locations
Google Cloud	$300 welcome credit plus monthly Free Tier	90-day trial	Required	Beginners and cloud labs
LightNode	Discount or gift-code offer, not always free	Promotion dependent	Usually required	Low-cost regional VPS testing
AWS	$100 on signup and up to $100 more	Free plan up to 6 months	Account verification required	EC2 and AWS practice
Microsoft Azure	$200 credit plus selected free services	Credit for 30 days	Card or debit card required	Windows and Azure testing
IBM LinuxONE	Time-limited Linux server program	Availability dependent	Often no card	IBM Z and Linux experiments
Civo	New-account trial credit when offered	Campaign dependent	Usually required	Kubernetes and cloud-native labs
Oracle Cloud	Always Free compute plus $300 trial credit	Ongoing allowance; trial up to 30 days	Usually required	Free VPS forever within limits
Akamai Cloud	$100 promotional credit	Limited trial period	Required	Linux VPS trial
Hax and similar community hosts	Small IPv6 VPS where available	Manual renewal or project rules	Often no card	Disposable hobby tests
DigitalOcean	New-account promotional credit	Campaign dependent	Card or PayPal	Simple Droplet deployment
Alibaba Cloud	Eligible-product free trials	Region and account dependent	Usually required	Testing workloads in Asian regions
Kamatera	Cloud server trial when offered	Usually time limited	Required	Testing custom VM configurations
Yandex Cloud	Trial grant for eligible new accounts	Region dependent	Usually required	CIS-region cloud testing
Evolution Host	Sponsorship in exchange for qualifying promotion	Subject to approval	No standard card trial	Established websites and communities
EUserv	IPv6 VPS offer may require an activation payment	Offer dependent	Check current terms	IPv6 experiments only

What "free VPS" actually means

• Always Free: an ongoing monthly resource allowance. It remains free only while the account and resources comply with the provider's rules.
• Free trial credit: a temporary balance. Services may stop or become billable when the balance or trial period ends.
• Student or project credit: access depends on student verification, an open-source project or a sponsorship application.
• Community VPS: usually small, unsupported and sometimes IPv6 only. Availability and renewal are less predictable than commercial cloud services.

The safest choice for learning is an account that stops resources instead of charging automatically. For production websites, use a paid plan with backups and a clear support policy.

1. Vultr

Vultr uses campaign-specific promotional credits rather than an always-free VPS plan. The amount, eligibility and expiry date can differ by landing page. Check the offer shown during signup and assume normal hourly billing starts after the credit expires.

Free type: Promotional credit
Payment verification: Usually required
Best for: Testing a VPS in a specific Vultr region

website: https://www.vultr.com/

2. Google Cloud

New Google Cloud users receive a $300 welcome credit valid for 90 days. Google also has a monthly Free Tier for selected products, including limited Compute Engine use in eligible regions. Google says the trial does not create automatic charges unless the account is upgraded to paid billing.

Free type: $300 trial credit plus monthly Free Tier
Duration: 90 days for the trial
Best for: Compute Engine practice and temporary projects

Website： https://cloud.google.com/

Note:

Identity and payment verification are normally required. Free Tier limits vary by product and region, so select a VM marked as eligible and monitor billing usage.

3. LightNode

Free time: The 5-month VPS costs only $10.

Permanent 95% off registration link：

https://www.lightnode.com/

LightNode 40+ Datacenters Speed test

GiftCode: LightNodeGiftCode2026

VPS starts at $7.71, and you can get five months of VPS for $40

Server Location：

Asia:

Asia VPS : Hong Kong, Taiwan-Taipei, South Korea-Seoul, Thailand-Bangkok, Vietnam-Hanoi, Vietnam-Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, Cambodia-Phnom Penh, Philippines-Manila, Bangladesh-Dhaka, Malaysia-Kuala Lumpur, Japan-Tokyo, Nepal-kathmandu, United Arab Emirates-Dubai,  Saudi Arabia-Riyadh Jeddah, Bahrain, Oman-Muscat, Kuwait, Doha

North America: USA-Silicon Valley, USA-Washington DC, Mexico

South America: Brazil-Sao Paulo, Argentina-Buenos Aires, Chile-Santiago, Colombia-Bogota,Lima, Peru

Europe: Germany-frankfurt, Greece-Athens, Turkey-Istanbul, United Kingdom-London, Russia-Moscow, Bulgaria-Sofia, France-Marseille, Russia-Moscow

Africa: South Africa-Johannesburg, Egypt-Cairo

4. AWS Free Tier

AWS changed its Free Tier for accounts created after July 15, 2025. New customers receive $100 in credits after signup and can earn up to another $100 through selected activities. The free account plan lasts for up to six months or until the credits run out. It does not charge until the user upgrades to a paid plan.

Legacy accounts may still have the older 12-month EC2 allowance. Check the Free Tier page inside the AWS Billing console because eligibility depends on the account creation date.

website: https://aws.amazon.com/

5. Microsoft Azure

Azure gives new customers a $200 credit for 30 days, selected services free for 12 months and monthly allowances for some always-free services. The free account has spending protection. Microsoft says the card will not be charged unless the account owner moves to pay-as-you-go pricing.

A phone number and a non-prepaid credit or debit card are normally required for verification. After 30 days or after the credit is used, the account must move to pay as you go to keep running services.

website: https://azure.microsoft.com/

6. LinuxONE

free time: 120 days Free

Email registration is required, and credit card verification is not required.

Note:

It is easy to trigger risk control.

website: https://linuxone.cloud.marist.edu/

7. CIVO

Free UK VPS for one month

Local Netflix service can be used by IP.

Note:

Credit card verification is required

website: https://www.civo.com

8. Oracle Cloud VPS

Free time: Always Free allowance with no fixed expiry

Free Server Size: 1CPU 1GB Ram、4CPU 24GB Ram

Website: Oracle Cloud Free Tier

Note:

Oracle documents Always Free AMD and Arm compute, storage and other services. Compute resources must be created in the account's home region. Capacity can be unavailable, and Oracle may reclaim idle Always Free compute instances under its service rules.

The free trial adds $300 of credit for up to 30 days. When that trial ends, eligible Always Free resources can continue without upgrading to a paid account.

9. Linode

The current Akamai Cloud landing page advertises a $100 credit for eligible new customers. A valid payment method is required. Unused credit expires at the end of the specified trial period, and usage beyond the credit is charged at standard rates.

website: https://www.linode.com/

10. Hax and community VPS hosts

Theory is free

Pure ipv6, the panel can easily add ipv4 configuration 1H512M.

Only one Telegram account is required to register, and no credit card is required.

Note:

Community offers change often and may close registration without notice. Treat them as disposable test servers, not permanent hosting. Never store the only copy of important data on one.

11. DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean uses promotional credits for eligible new accounts rather than an always-free Droplet. The credit amount and expiry depend on the active campaign.

A credit card or PayPal is normally required.

Note:

To activate the free 100 dollars, you need to have credit card verification.

GitHub Student Package: https://education.github.com/

There are also many other free student-exclusive benefits, including domain names.

website: https://www.digitalocean.com/

12. Alibaba Cloud International Edition

Credit card required, free trial for 12 months 1H1G or 3 months 2H2G

link: https://www.alibabacloud.com/

13. Kamatera

One month free.

Optional configuration,free one month,$100 Free Trial Credit,trial code:1MONTH300

Note:

The binding card deducts $2 verification, supporting +86 mobile phone and google voice verification

Configuration Selection:

Up to 40-core dedicated CPU, 512G memory, 4TB SSD, 5T traffic (1T Hong Kong), 1G bandwidth

Regional selection:

Optional United States (New York, Dallas, Santa Clara), Canada (Toronto), Europe (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London), Israel (Pitcher). Tikva, Roche. Hein 1/2, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, China (Hong Kong), and other regions

website: https://www.kamatera.com/

14. Yandex Cloud

60 days free

Newly registered users of Yandex Cloud give away 4000 rubles (approximately 350 RMB).

1000 rubles are for cloud hosts and 3,000 for other cloud computing services.

website： https://cloud.yandex.com/en/

Note:

You need to fill in the bank card, and the bank card must support 3D security verification.

You can use the index. money virtual card and the country recommends Russia.

15. Evolution Host

Advertising Replacement

You need a blog to apply, and then put their ads on the home page of the blog.

website: https://evolution-host.com/

16. Euserv

German pure ipv6 VPS, no credit card required, long review time

The configuration of 1H1G is average. In addition, newly registered users now need 10 euros to startup, which is not worth it!

Website: https://euserv.com/

How we checked these offers

We reviewed each provider's public offer page and separated ongoing resource allowances from temporary credits. We did not treat a coupon, refundable verification charge or low-cost paid VPS as "free forever." Trial eligibility can still vary by country, payment method and account history.

Primary sources for the major offers:

• Oracle Cloud Free Tier documentation
• Google Cloud Free Program documentation
• AWS Free Tier documentation
• Microsoft Azure account comparison
• Akamai Cloud promotional credit page

Free VPS FAQ

What is a VPS?

A VPS, which stands for Virtual Private Server, refers to a technique whereby a single physical server is partitioned into several separate, self-contained virtual servers. Each of these virtual servers operates with its own distinct public IP address and an autonomous operating system. This setup enables the allocation of individual disk space, CPU capabilities, memory, and system configurations to each virtual server, ensuring that the resources of one do not interfere with the others. Leveraging virtualization technology, users experience the functionality and flexibility of managing their virtual server as though it were a dedicated physical server, including the ability to tailor installations according to specific requirements.

How can I create a free VPS?

Getting a free VPS (Virtual Private Server) usually involves the following ways:

Educational resources: certain educational institutions or programs offer free VPS resources for students and researchers. For example, the GitHub Student Developer Pack includes some VPS-related offers.

Open source project support: if you are a contributor or maintainer of an open source project, some cloud providers may offer free VPS support to promote the development and adoption of the technology.

Trial periods: Many VPS providers offer free trial periods of limited duration to give users a chance to test their services. These trial periods usually range from a few days to a month, but it's important to note that some providers may require you to provide your credit card information in order to automatically renew your subscription at the end of the trial period.

Free but limited plans: Some cloud service providers offer ongoing free usage plans, but these are usually strictly limited in terms of resources (e.g., CPU time, memory, and storage space).

Contests and events: Participation in specific technical contests or events can sometimes lead to free VPS resources as a reward or support tool.

When choosing a free VPS service, it is important to read the service agreement carefully to understand any possible limitations or fees. Free programs, while appealing, usually come with limitations such as lower resource quotas, slower internet connection speeds, or fewer customer support services. Also, always make sure that the provider's security and privacy policies match your needs.

Can I get a free VPS without a credit card?

Sometimes, but the choice is much smaller. Student programs, community IPv6 hosts and sponsorship offers may accept applicants without a card. They often require student verification, a Telegram account, a qualifying website or manual renewal. Major cloud providers normally ask for a card or another payment method to verify identity.

Do not use an unverified community VPS for passwords, customer data or the only copy of a project. The provider may suspend it without the support and recovery options included with a paid service.

What is the best free VPS for beginners?

Google Cloud is a practical first trial for beginners who want clear documentation and 90 days to test Compute Engine. Oracle Cloud is a better match when the goal is an ongoing free allowance, but signup approval and regional capacity can be harder. AWS makes sense when learning EC2 is the main objective.

How do I get a free VPS from AWS?

Create a new AWS account and choose the Free account plan during signup. AWS gives eligible new customers $100 in credits and lets them earn up to $100 more. In the EC2 console, select an instance type marked "Free tier eligible," then configure the disk, network and security group. The free plan ends after six months or when the credits are used, whichever happens first.

Accounts created before July 15, 2025 may follow the legacy 12-month rules. The Billing console shows which offer applies to the account.

How do I get a free Google VPS?

To get a free VPS on Google Cloud, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for Google Cloud: Go to cloud.google.com and create an account.
2. Activate the Free Tier: Google offers a $300 free credit valid for 90 days.
3. Use the monthly Free Tier: Google Cloud includes limited Compute Engine usage in eligible US regions.
4. Launch an eligible VM: In Compute Engine, choose a machine and region marked as covered by the Free Tier. Google currently documents an e2-micro allowance, subject to monthly limits.

Note: Always Free usage is subject to monthly limitations. Monitor your usage to avoid charges.

Can I use my laptop as a VPS?

Technically, yes. Here's how:

1. Install a server OS: Use Linux distributions like Ubuntu Server.
2. Configure remote access: Set up SSH or RDP for remote management.
3. Forward ports on your router: Ensure your router allows incoming traffic to your laptop.
4. Use Dynamic DNS: If you don’t have a static IP, use DDNS services to maintain a fixed hostname.

However, this is not ideal for 24/7 hosting. Laptops aren't designed for long-term uptime, and your ISP might block server ports.

Is Oracle VPS free forever?

Oracle Cloud offers a "Free Tier" with two always-free AMD or Arm-based compute instances:

• Up to 4 OCPUs and 24GB memory (Arm)
• 1 OCPU and 1GB memory (AMD)

These are always free, as long as you follow the usage rules and terms. However:

• You must stay active: Oracle may reclaim resources if the account is inactive.
• Quota is limited: Additional resources will be charged.

So yes, Oracle VPS can be free "forever," within limits and under fair usage.

More FAQ

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More Locations VPS hosting providers

Asia VPS | Japan VPS | Singapore VPS | South Korea VPS | Hong Kong VPS | Vietnam VPS | Cambodia VPS | Philippines VPS ｜ Taiwan VPS | Thailand VPS | Bangladesh VPS | Malaysia VPS | Nepal VPS

Middle East VPS | United Arab Emirates VPS | Saudi Arabia VPS | Bahrain VPS | Qatar VPS

Europe VPS | Germany VPS | Greece VPS | Bulgaria VPS | Turkey VPS

North America VPS | United States VPS | Canada VPS

Latin America VPS | Brazil VPS | Mexico VPS

Africa VPS | South Africa VPS | Egypt VPS