Guide
How to host an HTML file online for free
Updated · Dropsite
Short answer: Drag the .html file onto Dropsite and you get a public link in seconds, free and without an account. For a page with separate CSS, JavaScript or images, zip the folder with index.html at the top and drop the ZIP. GitHub Pages and Netlify also work, but need an account and a few minutes of setup.
You have an .html file on your computer and you want a link you can send to someone. Here is the fastest way, how it compares to the developer tools, and what to check if the page breaks.
The fastest way: drop it on Dropsite
- Open the Dropsite home page.
- Drag your .html file onto the dropzone (or click it and choose the file).
- Copy the link. That's it. It works on phones and computers, and nobody needs an account to view it.
If your page uses separate CSS, JavaScript or image files, put them in a folder with the HTML file, name the main page index.html, zip the folder contents and upload the ZIP instead.
Dropsite vs GitHub Pages vs Netlify and Vercel
| Dropsite | GitHub Pages | Netlify / Vercel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account needed | No | Yes | Yes (Netlify Drop works without one for a short time) |
| Time to a live link | Seconds | Minutes (repo, settings, wait for build) | A minute or two |
| Git knowledge | Not needed | Helpful | Optional |
| Update the page | Replace the file (Pro) | Commit and push | Redeploy |
| Custom domain | Subdomain on Pro; own domain coming with Studio | Yes | Yes |
| Builds (npm, frameworks) | No — upload the built files | Via GitHub Actions | Yes |
| Best for | Sharing one page or prototype right now | Docs and project sites that live in a repo | Real web apps with builds, previews and serverless functions |
Common reasons hosted pages break
Paths that point at your computer
src="C:\Users\me\Desktop\logo.png" or file:///Users/me/... only works on your machine. Use relative paths like src="logo.png" or src="images/logo.png" and upload those files in the ZIP.
Leading slashes
/assets/app.js points at the root of the domain. On Dropsite every site has its own subdomain, so this usually works, but ./assets/app.js is safer everywhere.
Wrong capitalisation
Windows and macOS ignore case, web servers do not. Logo.PNG and logo.png are different files online.
The main file is not called index.html
In a ZIP, the home page must be index.html at the top level (or inside a single folder). Single HTML uploads are renamed for you.
Mixed content and blocked APIs
Hosted pages load over https. Scripts or APIs loaded over plain http are blocked by browsers, and some APIs only accept requests from domains you have allowed.
Which option should you choose?
- You want to share a page right now: Dropsite. Drop, copy, send.
- The page lives next to code in a GitHub repo: GitHub Pages.
- You are building an app with a framework, previews and serverless functions: Netlify or Vercel.
Try it now
Drop your HTML, ZIP or PDF and get a live link in seconds. No account needed.
Go to the dropzoneFrequently asked questions
Can I host an HTML file for free?
Yes. Dropsite hosts a single HTML file (or a zipped static site) for free for seven days with no account. GitHub Pages, Netlify and Vercel also have free tiers but need an account and a repository or a deploy step.
Why does my page look broken after uploading?
Usually because CSS, images or scripts are referenced with absolute paths from your computer (C:\Users\... or /Users/...). Use relative paths, or inline everything into one file.
Does the file have to be called index.html?
A single HTML upload is always served as the home page. Inside a ZIP, the main page must be index.html at the top level.