Free PHP Hosting with PHP 8.x, cPanel & MySQL
Run real PHP applications for free. cpanelfree gives you selectable PHP 8.x, MySQL databases with phpMyAdmin, FTP, cron jobs, and free SSL inside a full cPanel — everything WordPress, Laravel, or a custom PHP project needs. No forced ads, no credit card, and the free plan never expires.
PHP 8.x
Version Selectable
MySQL
+ phpMyAdmin
Free SSL
Auto HTTPS
No Ads
No Credit Card
What Free PHP Hosting Includes
A complete PHP environment — not a stripped-down sandbox. Here is what you get on the free plan.
Selectable PHP 8.x
Switch PHP versions per domain with MultiPHP Manager and tune memory limit, upload size, and extensions.
MySQL + phpMyAdmin
Create databases and manage them visually. Full details on the free MySQL hosting page.
FTP & File Manager
Upload your PHP files over FTP or directly in cPanel's File Manager.
Cron jobs
Schedule PHP scripts to run automatically for queues, imports, and maintenance tasks.
Free SSL
Let's Encrypt certificates are provisioned automatically so your app runs on HTTPS.
Composer-friendly
Build locally and upload your vendor/ folder, then run your framework on the server.
PHP Apps You Can Run for Free
Because this is real PHP + MySQL shared hosting, the apps you already know just work:
- WordPress — one-click install with Softaculous, plus thousands of themes and plugins. See how to install WordPress free.
- Laravel & other frameworks — point the document root at
/publicand upload your build. - Custom PHP scripts — contact forms, dashboards, APIs, and learning projects.
- Popular CMS & tools — Joomla, Drupal, and 400+ scripts via the installer.
Free PHP Stack at a Glance
| Feature | Included on the free plan |
|---|---|
| PHP version | PHP 8.x, selectable via MultiPHP Manager |
| Database | MySQL with phpMyAdmin |
| Control panel | Full cPanel |
| SSL | Free Let's Encrypt, auto-renewing |
| File access | FTP + File Manager |
| Cron jobs | Yes |
| One-click installer | Softaculous (400+ apps) |
| Forced ads / credit card | None / not required |
Deploy a PHP App in 5 Steps
Create your free account — no card.
Upload code via File Manager or FTP.
Create a MySQL database in cPanel.
Set the PHP version in MultiPHP.
Go live with free SSL on HTTPS.
New to the control panel? The cPanel tutorial for beginners and how to host a website for free cover every screen in detail.
Free Shared PHP Hosting vs Platform-as-a-Service
Serverless platforms are great for some workloads, but classic PHP applications — WordPress, Laravel, and most CMS sites — were designed for a PHP + MySQL server with persistent files. That is exactly what shared cPanel hosting provides, which is why it remains the simplest way to run them for free.
You get a familiar control panel, real MySQL, automatic SSL, and a one-click installer, with no build pipeline to configure. Compare it against the field on our best free web hosting roundup.
Who Free PHP Hosting Is For
Students & new devs
Practice PHP and MySQL on a real server with cPanel and phpMyAdmin — no local setup needed.
Hobby & side projects
Ship a custom PHP app, a contact form, or a small API without paying for hosting.
WordPress & CMS sites
Run WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal with one-click Softaculous installs and free SSL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PHP hosting really free?+
Yes. cpanelfree offers a genuinely free plan with PHP, MySQL, cPanel, FTP, and free SSL at no cost and with no forced ads. You can run a real PHP website without a credit card or a trial that expires.
Which PHP versions are supported?+
The platform runs modern PHP 8.x. Through the MultiPHP Manager in cPanel you can choose the PHP version for your site, which is useful when an application needs a specific release.
Can I change the PHP version myself?+
Yes. Open MultiPHP Manager in cPanel, select your domain, and pick the PHP version you need. You can also adjust common PHP settings such as memory limit and upload size from the PHP options screen.
Does free PHP hosting include MySQL?+
Yes. Every account includes MySQL databases with phpMyAdmin so your PHP application can store and query data. See the free MySQL hosting page for database details.
Can I run WordPress or Laravel?+
Yes. WordPress installs in one click through Softaculous. Laravel and other custom PHP apps run too — upload your code through the File Manager or FTP, create a MySQL database, point the document root, and set the PHP version.
Do I need a credit card?+
No. The free PHP hosting plan needs no credit card and no payment details. Create an account and your site can be live within minutes.
Ship Your PHP Project Today
PHP 8.x, MySQL, free SSL, and Softaculous — everything your PHP app needs, free. No forced ads, no credit card.