# Free Hosting for Students: Put Your Project Online

> Free hosting for students: put a portfolio, college project or hackathon demo online for $0 with your AI agent. Claim it within 24 hours. Limits explained.

- Page: https://embarko.ai/guides/free-hosting-for-students
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Author: The Embarko team
- All guides: https://embarko.ai/guides/llms.txt
- Embarko for agents: https://embarko.ai/llms.txt

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# Free hosting for students: put your project online for $0

**Students can host a project for free on Embarko's Free plan, which lists unlimited static websites and 1 dynamic app.** You build with an AI tool, paste Embarko's deployment prompt into it, and the agent uploads the project and returns a live link at `your-app-name.embarko.app`. Press **Keep** within 24 hours so the project stays online. There's no GitHub repo and no Dockerfile to deal with.

## Key takeaways

- Hosting means putting your project on a server with a public address. Free options differ in what they run: plain files, small apps or a whole machine.
- The Free plan is $0 a month. It lists unlimited static websites and 1 dynamic app, and Embarko branding stays on. Prices are from [embarko.ai/pricing](https://embarko.ai/pricing) and can change.
- It's the same Free plan for everyone. The pricing page lists no student verification and no separate student plan.
- Your AI agent does the deploy. Paste the deployment prompt from [embarko.ai](https://embarko.ai/) into the tool that built your project.
- Your first link needs no account. Press **Keep** within 24 hours, and do it before your demo or submission.

## What "free hosting" means for a student project

A project on your laptop runs at an address like `localhost:3000`, which only you can open. To show it to a teacher, a recruiter or a hackathon judge, it needs **hosting**: a server that stays on, your project's files copied onto it, and a public address anyone can open.

Student projects usually fall into three groups, and each needs something different from a host:

- **A portfolio or personal site** made of plain files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). It needs somewhere to serve those files.
- **A college project with a backend**, such as an Express, Flask or FastAPI app. It needs a host that runs code.
- **A hackathon demo** that has to be live on a specific day and keep working while judges try it.

## Three kinds of free hosting

"Free hosting" covers different things, so it helps to know which one you're looking for:

| Kind | What it gives you | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| **Static site hosting** | Serves plain files. No server code runs. | A portfolio or a page of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. |
| **App hosting** | Runs your code and serves the result. You upload the app and the platform runs it. | A college project with a backend, or a small AI app. |
| **A free server or VPS** | A machine you log into and manage yourself. | Projects that need a machine you can configure. |

Embarko is app hosting that also publishes plain-file static sites, and your AI tool does the upload.

## Why free hosting gets complicated

Free options can ask for more than you may expect:

1. **A GitHub account and a repository**, plus enough Git to push your project.
2. **A host to sign up for and connect**, each with its own dashboard and vocabulary.
3. **Build and start settings**, and sometimes a Dockerfile your AI tool didn't write.
4. **A server to manage**, if you pick a free VPS, including installing and updating things yourself.
5. **Secret keys kept out of your code** and added as environment variables on the host.

That's fair work for a developer. For a project you built with an AI tool the night before a deadline, it's a lot between "it runs" and "here's the link".

## The usual route compared with Embarko

| The usual route | With Embarko |
|---|---|
| Push the project to a GitHub repository | No repository. Your agent [uploads the folder directly](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy). |
| Sign up for a host and connect it | Your first link needs no account. |
| Configure the build, maybe add a Dockerfile | No Dockerfile. Embarko [detects the language](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy) and builds the app itself. |
| Install and manage a server | You never log in to a server. Embarko runs the app. |

## What the Free plan gives you

| On the Free plan | What it means |
|---|---|
| Unlimited static websites | Plain files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) are static websites. |
| 1 dynamic app | Anything that runs a server, such as Express, Flask or FastAPI, counts as your one dynamic app. |
| Your own Embarko link | Your address is `your-app-name.embarko.app`. |
| Embarko branding | It stays on. |

Using your own domain is listed under the paid Creator plan, not Free. On every plan, an app gets 256MB of memory, which can't be raised.

## What can a student host for free?

Embarko hosts small request-and-response apps: one process, [256MB of memory](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy). Find your project in this table.

| Your project | Fits? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio or personal website (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) | Yes | Published as [static files](https://embarko.ai/docs/static-sites), usually live in the first reply. Listed as unlimited on Free. |
| Mini project in Node.js (Express) or Python (Flask, FastAPI) | Yes | The manifest (`package.json`, `requirements.txt` or `pyproject.toml`) goes at the top of the folder. It runs a server, so it uses your one dynamic app. |
| React or Vite project | Yes, as a server app | Uploaded as source, it needs a build step, so it runs as a [server app](https://embarko.ai/docs/static-sites) and uses your one dynamic app. To keep that slot free, see the tip below. |
| Project with a small database | Yes, with SQLite | Keep a SQLite file under `DATA_DIR`, [the folder that survives redeploys](https://embarko.ai/docs/data). Keep your own copy of important data. |
| Project that needs MySQL, Postgres or MongoDB | Another route | Embarko has [no managed database](https://embarko.ai/docs/data). Use SQLite for small data, or keep that project where its database lives. |
| Chat app or game that needs live updates ([WebSockets](https://embarko.ai/docs/prerequisites)) | Another route | Use regular HTTP polling instead. |
| A bot or job that runs on a schedule | Another route | [Scheduled jobs](https://embarko.ai/docs/prerequisites) and [workers](https://embarko.ai/docs/prerequisites) aren't available. Put the work behind an HTTP route that an outside scheduler calls. |
| Machine learning that needs a GPU or more than 256MB | Another route | Run that part elsewhere. There are [no GPUs](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy), and going over 256MB is an [out-of-memory kill](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy). |

**Delete any Dockerfile** your AI tool added. Embarko builds the app itself and [rejects an upload that includes one](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy).

**Keep a React or Vite project static.** Ask your agent to build it first and upload only the build output folder (`dist` in Vite). It's published as a static site and doesn't use your dynamic app. Test your page links after deploying, because Embarko's docs don't say whether client-side routes work on a static site.

## Is this a free VPS or a free server?

No. A VPS gives you a machine to manage. Embarko gives you hosting: your agent uploads the app, Embarko [detects the language and builds it](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy), runs it as one process and serves it over HTTPS. You don't install or patch a server. If you need a machine you can configure, background workers or arbitrary ports, a VPS is the right tool for that part.

## How to deploy a student project for free, step by step

**Before you start:** your project runs on your computer, and your AI agent can run commands and reach the internet.

### 1. Build the project with your AI tool and run it locally

Use the tool you already work in. Open the project folder and make sure it runs on your computer. That folder is what gets uploaded. Built it in a browser-based tool? Paste the prompt there, and if that tool can't reach Embarko ([see step 4](https://embarko.ai/guides/free-hosting-for-students#step-4)), download the code to your computer and deploy it from there.

### 2. Copy the deployment prompt

Open [embarko.ai](https://embarko.ai/) and click the button that copies the prompt (**Host your app** on the home page, **Copy deployment prompt** on [pricing](https://embarko.ai/pricing)), then paste it into your AI agent. Add one line:

```text
I built a project for college, help me get it live on Embarko
```

### 3. Choose how to sign in

The agent may ask how you want to sign in. Pick **token by email**: give your email and paste the token from your inbox. Or sign in at [embarko.ai/app/tokens](https://embarko.ai/app/tokens), create a token and paste it to your agent.

If you use Claude, you can add the [Embarko connector](https://embarko.ai/docs/connectors). Claude is the only AI tool that has one. Apps it deploys go straight into your account, so there's nothing to keep later. It deploys from a public `.tar.gz` link (a compressed archive of your code that anyone can download), not from a folder on your computer, so for a project on your laptop the token by email is usually simpler. If you skip signing in, the project still goes live for 24 hours. [Authentication: three ways in](https://embarko.ai/docs/claim) explains each option.

### 4. Wait until the status says live

The agent packs the folder, uploads it and checks the status about every 10 seconds. A static site is usually live in the first reply, and a server app builds first. A first reply of "202 Accepted" only means the build has started, so wait for `live`. See [202 Accepted is not live](https://embarko.ai/docs/status). When it says `live`, your agent gives you the link, for example `https://your-app-name.embarko.app`. Open it to check.

If the upload fails with a network error or `403 host_not_allowed`, your tool's sandbox is blocking Embarko and nothing was deployed. Allow `embarko.ai`, `ship.embarko.ai` and `*.embarko.app` in your tool's network settings, or ask your agent for a deploy script and run it in your computer's own terminal. See [what to do when the API is unreachable](https://embarko.ai/docs/connectors).

### 5. Keep it, and keep a copy

If you signed in with a token or the connector in step 3, your project is already kept. Otherwise, a link made without signing in lasts 24 hours with no reminder email, so open the claim link your agent gave you, sign in or sign up, pick a workspace and press **Keep**. If you've lost it, ask your agent to [make it permanent with a token](https://embarko.ai/docs/claim). The address doesn't change, and the page you land on after pressing **Keep** gives you a prompt that carries a token, so paste it to your agent once to update the app later. Then keep your own copy of the code, for example a local Git repository.

## Hosting a hackathon or college project demo

Before demo day or submission:

- **Make sure the project is in your account.** An unkept app disappears 24 hours after its first deploy, with no reminder email.
- **Open the live link on another device.** If it loads there, other people can open it too.
- **Add API keys as environment variables, after pressing Keep.** Ask your agent to set each key and apply it. A write alone [doesn't reach the running app](https://embarko.ai/docs/env-vars). Never leave keys in your code, because the agent leaves `.env` files out of the upload. Static sites can't have environment variables.
- **List it on Showcase if you want people to find it.** A kept app can be added to the public Showcase gallery with a tagline and your name. See [listing on Showcase](https://embarko.ai/docs/showcase). On your event's own Showcase page, it appears once the organiser approves it, or straight away if the organiser gave you the page's code. [Hackathon organisers](https://embarko.ai/hackathons) can apply for an event page.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A network error, or [`403 host_not_allowed`](https://embarko.ai/docs/connectors) | Your tool's sandbox blocks Embarko. Nothing was deployed. | Allow `embarko.ai`, `ship.embarko.ai` and `*.embarko.app`, or ask your agent for a deploy script and run it in your own terminal. |
| [Exit code 137](https://embarko.ai/docs/deploy) | The project went over 256MB, often because it runs a dev server | Ask your agent to use the production start command, not a dev server. |
| [`422 no_manifest_at_root`](https://embarko.ai/docs/errors) | The manifest is in a subfolder | Repackage so it's at the top of the archive. |
| [`409 app_name_taken`](https://embarko.ai/docs/errors) | Someone else already uses that name | Pick a different name. Don't retry it. |
| [Project gone after a day](https://embarko.ai/docs/claim) | It was never kept | Deploy it again and press **Keep** this time. |
| The link doesn't open, or the status says failed or crashed | The project is listening on the wrong port or only on localhost | Ask your agent: "Make my app read its port from the PORT environment variable and listen on 0.0.0.0, then redeploy." |

Other codes are in the [troubleshooting reference](https://embarko.ai/docs/errors).

## FAQ

### What is free hosting?

Hosting means putting your project on a server that stays online and giving it a public address. Free hosting is a plan that does this for $0, usually with some limits. Plain files, small apps and whole servers are different kinds, so check which one your project needs.

### Is Embarko really free for students?

Yes, within the Free plan: $0 a month for unlimited static websites and 1 dynamic app, with Embarko branding. Paid plans exist (Creator is $9/month billed yearly, Team $23/month billed yearly), and all prices can change, so check [embarko.ai/pricing](https://embarko.ai/pricing).

### Do I need to prove I'm a student?

The pricing page lists no student verification, and the Free plan is the same for everyone. You do need to sign in or sign up to keep your project: without a token it's deleted after 24 hours, unless you keep it with the claim link from your agent's first reply or with a token sent to your email.

### Can I host a college project that uses MySQL or MongoDB?

Not directly. Embarko has [no managed database](https://embarko.ai/docs/data), so there's no MySQL, Postgres or MongoDB to connect to. A project with a small amount of data can use SQLite under `DATA_DIR`. A project that needs MySQL, Postgres or MongoDB should keep that part where its database lives.

### Can I use my own domain on the Free plan?

No. The pricing page lists your own domain under Creator, not Free. On Free your address is `your-app-name.embarko.app`, and Embarko branding stays on. If you need your own domain for a submission, check the Creator plan on the pricing page before you start.

### Will my project stay online after the demo?

Yes, if it's in your account: deployed with a token or the Claude connector, or kept within 24 hours with your agent's claim link or a token. Otherwise it's deleted 24 hours after its first deploy. After you [keep it](https://embarko.ai/docs/claim) the link stays the same. Keep your own copy of the code too.

### Is there a free VPS for students?

Embarko isn't a VPS. Your agent uploads the app, Embarko builds it and serves it over HTTPS, and each app runs as a single process with 256MB of memory. You never log in to a server. That suits small AI-built projects, but not background workers or a machine you configure yourself.

### Is it safe to host my student project online?

Keep secret keys out of your project files. The agent leaves `.env` files out of the archive, and once you've pressed **Keep** you can add keys as [environment variables](https://embarko.ai/docs/env-vars), which Embarko stores encrypted and nobody can read back. Also remember that anyone with your link can open your project, so if it uses your AI key, set a spending limit with your AI provider if they offer one.

## Built something with AI? Ask it to deploy to Embarko.

Copy the prompt, paste it into your agent and get a live link for your project without creating a repo. [Get the deployment prompt →](https://embarko.ai/)

**Keep reading:** [How to deploy an AI app](https://embarko.ai/guides/how-to-deploy-ai-app) · [Deploy an app without GitHub](https://embarko.ai/guides/deploy-app-without-github) · [Deploy a Replit app for free](https://embarko.ai/guides/deploy-replit-app-free) · [Agent quickstart](https://embarko.ai/docs/quickstart) · [Hackathons](https://embarko.ai/hackathons) · [Pricing](https://embarko.ai/pricing)