Before you start

• A working Flask app (even a very small one)
• A free GitHub account
• A free account on a hosting service such as Render

Free plans change over time and have limits (for example, a free app may go to sleep after a period without visitors), so check the current terms on the hosting site.

Step 1: Prepare your project

Your project folder should look like this:

my-app/
  app.py
  requirements.txt
  templates/
  static/

Here is a minimal app.py:

from flask import Flask

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route("/")
def home():
    return "Hello from my Flask app!"

Step 2: List your dependencies

Create a file called requirements.txt that names every package your app needs. At minimum:

flask
gunicorn

Gunicorn is the production server that will run your app online. Flask's built-in server is only for testing on your computer.

Step 3: Upload your project to GitHub

1. Create a new repository on GitHub.
2. Upload your project files to it (you can drag and drop them in the browser).
3. Do not upload passwords or secret keys. Keep those out of your code.

Step 4: Create the service on Render

1. Sign up on Render and connect your GitHub account.
2. Choose New, then Web Service, and select your repository.
3. Set the Build Command to pip install -r requirements.txt
4. Set the Start Command to gunicorn app:app
5. Pick the free instance type and click deploy.

The part app:app means: the file app.py, and the variable named app inside it. If your file or variable has another name, change it here.

Step 5: Open your app

After a few minutes, Render shows a public link for your app. Open it in your browser and share it with a friend.

Common problems

• Build fails: a package is missing from requirements.txt. Add it and redeploy.
• "Application error" on the page: check the logs on Render. The start command is often the cause.
• App is slow on the first visit: free apps often sleep when unused and wake up on the next visit.
• Data disappears: free hosting usually does not keep files you save on the server. Use a proper database for anything important.

A free alternative

PythonAnywhere also offers a free plan that is friendly to beginners and made for Python web apps. It is a good option if you prefer a simple control panel to a GitHub-based setup.

Final thoughts

Deploying your first app feels hard until you do it once. Start with a tiny project, get it online, and improve it from there.

Originally published at sahelescale.com. For more beginner-friendly guides on building websites and apps, visit Sahel Escale.

What you need

• A computer (or even a phone) with internet access
• A free email account
• About one hour

Step 1: Decide what your website is for

Before touching any tool, write one sentence: "My website helps [who] to [do what]."

Examples: a portfolio, a small business page, a blog, an online CV. A clear goal keeps you from wasting time.

Step 2: Choose a free way to build it

There are two beginner-friendly paths:

Option A: No-code builder. Tools like Systeme.io or Google Sites let you drag and drop blocks. No programming needed. Best if you want results fast.

Option B: Simple HTML page. If you want to learn, a basic website is just one file called index.html. It's more flexible and teaches you real skills.

For this guide, we'll use Option B because it's completely free and you own everything.

Step 3: Create your first page

Open any text editor (Notepad works) and paste this:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My First Website</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
  <p>This is my website, built from scratch.</p>
</body>
</html>

Save the file as index.html. Double-click it: you'll see your page in the browser.

Step 4: Put it online for free

Your page only exists on your computer for now. To make it public, use a free hosting service:

1. Create a free account on Netlify or Cloudflare Pages.
2. Choose the option to deploy by dragging and dropping a folder.
3. Put your index.html in a folder and drop it in.
4. In seconds, you get a public link like yoursite.netlify.app.

Share the link with a friend. Your website is live.

Step 5: Make it look good

Add colors and style with a bit of CSS, or use a free template. Keep it simple: a clear title, short text, and one call to action (contact button, email, or sign-up).

Step 6: Get your own domain (optional, later)

A free address like yoursite.netlify.app is fine to start. When you're ready to look professional, buy your own domain (for example yourname.com) from a registrar such as Namecheap, then connect it in your hosting settings. A domain usually costs about 10 to 15 dollars a year.

Step 7: Upgrade only when you need to

Free hosting is perfect for learning and small projects. If your site grows and you need more speed, email addresses, or WordPress, a paid host like Hostinger is an affordable next step.

Final thoughts

Building a website is not reserved for experts. Start small, publish early, and improve step by step. Your first version doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to exist.

Have a question? Leave a comment and I'll help.

Disclosure: some links in this article are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I think are useful.