Facebook Dev: Free webhosting for your App

If you're a student and want to learn Facebook App development, or just need a free webhost for your app, you can apply for free webhosting from numerous free webhosting providers.

If you are developing your Facebook App in ASP.NET, check out the list of free webhosts that support ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server:

• Free webhosting for ASP.NET

Since there are few licenses related to setting up a webserver running Linux, it is much easier to find a free webhost if your Facebook application does not require a Windows server.

1. 0000cost (1.5 GB storage, 15 GB bandwidth)
2. Free domain site (1 GB storage, unlimited bandwidth)
3. Bammz (unlimited storage and bandwidth)
4. HelioHost (500 MB, unlimted bandwidth)
5. Somee (150 MB storage, 5 GB transfer)
6. No Fee Host (100 MB storage)
7. 7 Host (50 MB storage)
8. Brinkster (30 MB storage, 2 TB bandwidth) 
9. 10k Host (unknown storage and bandwidth)
10. Millenium Systems (only for webdesigners)

Please notice that the webhosts running Windows servers and ASP.NET normally also provide support for PHP and MySQL databases.


You can also get free SSL certificates for your webserver (which is required from October 1st for all Facebook Apps):

•  Free SSL Certificates

Facebook Dev: Free SSL Certificates

Since the announcement of the new Facebook requirement regarding the support of secure canvas for both Facebook Apps and Facebook Pages (from October 1st 2011), numerous articles have been written to explain how you can set up your webserver using either costly SSL certificates or free shared SSL certificates.

Interested readers may refer to the following articles for more information:

• Facebook Pages SSL Deadline Approaches
• How to make your Facebook Fan Page SSL Secure – For Free (Hostgator)

Free SSL certificates from StartCom
One option they have left out is the installation of free SSL certificates on your webserver to comply with the new requirements. Various certificate providers offer free for a year certificates, limited certificates, and even totally free SSL certificates to you. The catch is that some of the free certificates are only trusted in new web browsers or they only cover the lowest level of security. For more advanced features you still have to pay. However, for new Facebook Apps the free SSL certificates might very well cover your needs in your production environment, or simply as work as temporary developer certificates.

Back in 2009 Microsoft included StartCom Ltd. in their trusted root certificates. StartCom offers free digital certificates which you can install on your webserver.

For instructions on how to configure your Apache server, check out the good guide by Jason Weathered:

• A free SSL certificate for your web server

Free webhosting
If you are not familiar with chained certificates or the Apache webserver (or any other webserver) you should consider finding a webhost for your website. For students or test-applications it is also worth cheking out the free webhosting offered for ASP.NET and PHP applications:

• Free webhosting for your Facebook App