ProFreeHost Review

ProFreeHost launched in 2016 out of Wilmington, Delaware. It runs on iFastNet infrastructure — the same backbone powering InfinityFree — and claims over two million websites hosted. For a permanently free service, that's a real track record.

The homepage says all the right things: 5 GB disk space, unlimited bandwidth, no forced ads, one-click WordPress install. Most of it is true. The parts left unstated are where things get interesting.

We signed up, ran through setup, and pushed WordPress until the edges showed. Here's what the feature page leaves out.

What Does ProFreeHost's Free Plan Actually Include?

In 2026, ProFreeHost's free plan provides 5 GB disk space, unlimited bandwidth (subject to a CPU fair-use cap), 10 MySQL databases, email accounts, cron jobs, PHP 8.2, and zero injected advertisements — specs confirmed on their features page (ProFreeHost, 2026).

That stacks up well against the competition. AwardSpace gives you 1 GB storage and one database. InfinityFree offers 400 databases but caps each at 50 MB. ProFreeHost's 10 databases don't carry a published size limit. The inclusion of email accounts and cron jobs is a real differentiator — InfinityFree has neither.

As of June 2026, ProFreeHost's free tier includes 5 GB storage, unlimited bandwidth, 10 MySQL databases, email accounts with webmail, cron job scheduling, PHP 8.2, and no forced advertisements — all at zero cost with no credit card required, hosted on servers in Newcastle, UK (ProFreeHost features page, June 2026).

Is WordPress Easy to Install on ProFreeHost?

Getting WordPress live is fast — Softaculous handles the install in a few clicks, no FTP required. PHP 8.2 is current. MySQL 5.7 is one generation behind MySQL 8, but it won't break standard WordPress sites or popular plugins.

Then the 10 MB file upload limit shows up.

WordPress doesn't warn you about it. Most premium theme zip files run 15–30 MB. Several popular free themes clear 10 MB too. When the upload fails, the error is a blank screen or a generic "file too large" message — not something that points a beginner toward a fix.

The workaround is installing themes via FTP, which ProFreeHost supports, or using WordPress's "Install from URL" option if the theme is hosted publicly. That works. It's not what "one-click install" implies, and it's a real friction point for anyone who isn't comfortable with FTP clients.

What's the Deal With SSL on Custom Domains?

On the free subdomain (yoursite.profreehost.com), SSL is handled automatically. On a custom domain, it isn't.

ProFreeHost's default for custom domains is a self-signed certificate. Self-signed SSL triggers browser security warnings — the red padlock and "Your connection is not private" message that sends most visitors straight back to Google. To get a real Let's Encrypt certificate on a custom domain, you need to enable Cloudflare on the account first, then manually verify domain ownership through a third-party SSL service (ProFreeHost Forum, 2025).

It works. It takes twenty minutes and several forum tabs the first time. That's borderline manageable for a technically confident user. It isn't what most beginners picture when "SSL support" appears on a feature list.

The CPU Limit Nobody Publishes

ProFreeHost's "unlimited bandwidth" comes with an invisible asterisk. Every account has a daily CPU and hits limit. When you exceed it, the account slows down first. If it keeps running hot, it gets suspended.

The exact limits are, according to ProFreeHost's own documentation, deliberately undisclosed — withheld to prevent users from engineering around them (ProFreeHost Forum, 2025). Their documentation states suspensions can last up to 24 days.

The community forums have a steady stream of posts from users suspended after a fresh WordPress install, a batch import, or a round of plugin updates. Normal tasks. The advice in most threads: wait it out.

This isn't unique to ProFreeHost — InfinityFree has a daily hits cap too. The difference is InfinityFree publishes the number (50,000 hits/day). Not knowing the threshold until you've tripped it is a meaningfully different experience.

Pricing — What Are the Upgrade Options?

ProFreeHost is free forever. No trial period, no expiry, no credit card required. The upgrade path runs through iFastNet: Super Premium at $4.99/mo removes daily hit caps and adds 20 domains and 100 email accounts. Ultimate Premium at $7.90/mo removes bandwidth caps and unlocks unlimited resources across the board.

At those prices, you're in paid shared hosting territory. Hostinger's entry plan typically runs around $2.99/month and includes automatic SSL, US data centers, and responsive support. If you're paying, shop around before committing to iFastNet's upgrade path.

Alternatives Worth Considering

InfinityFree

Best if you need: Automatic Let's Encrypt SSL and a published daily usage cap.
Price: Free. Upgrade via iFastNet from $4.99/mo.
Key difference: Same iFastNet infrastructure and 5 GB storage, but automatic SSL, PHP 8.3, and a published 50,000 daily hits cap. No email accounts or cron jobs.

Read our full InfinityFree review →

AwardSpace

Best if you need: A simpler experience from a host with 23 years of continuous operation.
Price: Free. Paid plans from $2.99/mo.
Key difference: Only 1 GB storage, but documented limits, one email account, and a longer track record. No auto-SSL either, but at least the tradeoffs are upfront.

Read our full AwardSpace review →

Our Verdict on ProFreeHost

ProFreeHost scores 5.5 out of 10. The spec sheet is genuinely competitive — 5 GB storage, email included, cron jobs, no injected ads. In practice, the 10 MB upload ceiling disrupts standard WordPress workflows, SSL on custom domains is a multi-step manual process, and CPU suspensions arrive without warning and can run for days.

It's a workable choice for a static subdomain site, an HTML learning project, or a portfolio page with minimal traffic. For WordPress specifically, InfinityFree handles the most common use cases more transparently.

That said: it costs nothing to try. The worst outcome is a suspended account you migrate somewhere else. If the email-plus-subdomain combination is what you need, give it a shot before paying for anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ProFreeHost completely free?

Yes. No credit card is required, there's no expiry date, and the free plan includes storage, bandwidth, email accounts, and cron jobs at zero cost. Premium upgrades via iFastNet start at $4.99/month but are entirely optional. ProFreeHost has run on this model since 2016.

Does ProFreeHost support custom domains?

You can connect your own domain at no extra charge. SSL on a custom domain is not automatic — it requires enabling Cloudflare and manually installing a Let's Encrypt certificate. The included subdomain (yoursite.profreehost.com) has SSL handled without any extra setup.

Why did my ProFreeHost account get suspended?

ProFreeHost suspends accounts that exceed an undisclosed daily CPU or hits limit. Their own documentation confirms the thresholds are intentionally withheld. Routine WordPress activity — installing plugins, importing content, running theme demos — can trigger the limit. Suspensions can last up to 24 days according to the platform's documentation (ProFreeHost Forum, 2025).

How does ProFreeHost compare to InfinityFree?

Both run on iFastNet infrastructure with 5 GB storage. ProFreeHost includes email accounts and cron jobs; InfinityFree doesn't. InfinityFree publishes its daily hits cap (50,000), provides automatic Let's Encrypt SSL, and runs PHP 8.3. For typical WordPress use, InfinityFree's transparent limits and automatic SSL give it a practical edge. See our InfinityFree review for the full breakdown.

Who should actually use ProFreeHost?

Students learning web development, hobbyists running a low-traffic personal site on the free subdomain, and anyone who specifically needs email hosting bundled in. If you plan to connect a custom domain with proper SSL, expect moderate WordPress traffic, or need to upload standard commercial themes, the friction points on ProFreeHost's free tier will cost you more time than a cheap paid plan would cost in money.

Sources: ProFreeHost Features · CPU Limit Docs — ProFreeHost Forum · SSL Guide — ProFreeHost Forum