Are you ready to deploy your Django web application but don’t want to break the bank? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

In this article, I’m going to share with you the top cheap Django hosting options that won’t leave you penniless for the rest of the month. 

While several web hosting providers offer affordable plans for Django, it’s important to choose one that meets your specific needs in terms of pricing, reliability, security, customer support, and features. 

Some affordable Django hosting options include PythonAnyWhere, Heroku, DigitalOcean, Linode (Akamai), DreamHost, Hostinger and GreenGreeks.

With these budget-friendly choices, you can focus on building and growing your website without sacrificing performance or reliability.

But be sure to carefully evaluate each provider’s offerings before making a decision.

This article is meant to help you do just that.

But first, a brief overview of Django:

What is Django?

Django is a free and open-source Python web framework that was created to help developers build complex web applications more quickly and efficiently.

Its primary goal is to make web development easier and more efficient by providing a clean and pragmatic design that allows developers to quickly develop and deploy web applications.

Django is used by many companies and organizations, including Instagram, Mozilla, Pinterest, and National Geographic. 

It is known for its robustness, scalability, and security, and is a popular choice for building web applications of all sizes and types.

Django uses the model-template-view (MTV) architectural pattern.

The Model-Template-View (MTV) pattern is commonly used in web application development.

It is a variation of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern which is used in traditional desktop application development. 

Django features include URL routing, Object-Relational Mapping (ORM), a template system for dynamic HTML pages, a powerful built-in admin interface, and security features out of the box.

It is highly scalable, supports caching, and load balancing, and has a large ecosystem of third-party libraries and extensions. 

Django features:

Some of the features of Django include:

Object-relational mapping (ORM) – Django provides a high-level API for interacting with databases, which makes it easier to work with databases without needing to write raw SQL queries.

URL routing – Django allows developers to define URL patterns for different views, which makes it easier to map requests to the appropriate code.

Templating engine – Django provides a built-in templating engine that allows developers to create reusable templates for displaying data.

Authentication and authorization – Django provides a secure and flexible authentication and authorization system, which makes it easier to manage user accounts and permissions.

Admin interface – Django includes a built-in admin interface that allows developers to manage application data through a web interface.

Tips on how to find cheap Django hosting

1. Find hosting companies that provide shared hosting plans.
   
   Because you share server resources with other websites, shared hosting is typically the most affordable choice.

2. Look for deals and special offers. Keep an eye out for any special offers that hosting companies may occasionally give for brand-new clients.

3. For hosting, look for companies that provide a free trial or a money-back guarantee.
   
   As a result, you can evaluate the hosting provider before deciding on a long-term strategy.

4. Check for open-source Django hosting solutions such as Heroku, PythonAnywhere, or DigitalOcean; as I’ll share with you in more detail in the next section.

5. A cloud-based hosting service is something to think about.
   
   You just pay for the resources you use with cloud hosting, making it a more cost-effective choice.

Tip: It’s important to note that price is not the only factor to consider when choosing a hosting provider.

You should also take into account factors such as server reliability, customer support, and performance.

What is the cheapest hosting for Django?

Several companies offer affordable Django web hosting packages. You can take into account the following options:

1. PythonAnywhere

PythonAnywhere; a cloud-based platform, is a popular choice for hosting Django web applications because it offers a simple and affordable way to deploy and manage web applications.

PythonAnywhere offers a free plan that allows you to host and run a limited number of web applications, and you can upgrade to a paid plan for additional features and resources starting at $5 per month. 

PythonAnywhere hosting plans come with a pre-installed Django environment and offer features such as SSH access and Git integration.

Steps to use PythonAnywhere with Django:

• Create a PythonAnywhere account if you don’t already have one.
  
• Create a virtual environment for your Django application on PythonAnywhere.
  
• Upload Django application code to PythonAnywhere using the web-based console or an FTP client.
  
• Install any required Python packages and libraries using pip or another package manager.
  
• Configure your Django application settings, including the database configuration, static files, and media files.
  
• Create a WSGI file to serve your Django application using PythonAnywhere’s web server.
  
• Restart the PythonAnywhere web server to apply the changes.
  

Also Read: 6 Best NVMe Reseller Hosting Platforms

2. Heroku

Heroku, also a cloud-based platform, allows users to host and deploy web applications in various programming languages, including Python. 

It provides an easy and scalable way to deploy and manage web applications.

Heroku also offers a free plan and paid plans starting at $5 per month.

They offer an easy-to-use interface and a Heroku CLI for deploying Django applications.

Steps to use Heroku with Django:

• Create a Heroku account and log in.
• Install the Heroku Command Line Interface (CLI) on your local machine.
• Use the Heroku CLI to create a new app on Heroku.
• Create a requirements.txt file that lists all the required Python packages and libraries for your Django application.
• Create a Profile that specifies the command to run your Django application on Heroku.
• Set up a PostgreSQL database on Heroku to store your Django application’s data.
• Configure your Django application’s settings to use the PostgreSQL database and Heroku environment variables.
• Use the Heroku CLI to push your code to Heroku.
• Scale your application to handle traffic by adding more dynos (Heroku’s units of computation).

3. DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean is a famous choice for hosting Django web applications because it offers a flexible and scalable infrastructure such as virtual private servers (VPS) that can be customized to meet the needs of your Django web application.

DigitalOcean offers a variety of pricing plans based on the resources you need.

You can choose from a range of Droplet configurations and add additional resources like storage, bandwidth, and CPU.

Its hosting plans include a $5 per month plan, with a simple way to deploy Django applications using one-click installers.

Steps to use DigitalOcean with Django:

• Sign up for a DigitalOcean account if you don’t already have one.
• Create a new Droplet (a Droplet is DigitalOcean’s term for a virtual private server).
• Choose the operating system and configuration that meets your needs. You can choose from a variety of operating systems, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian.
• Connect to your Droplet using SSH (Secure Shell) from your local machine. You can connect to your Droplet via a terminal application like PuTTY (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux).
• Install the required packages and dependencies for your Django application on your Droplet using a package manager like apt or yum.
• Create a virtual environment for your Django application to isolate it from other applications and the system Python installation.
• Upload your Django application code to your Droplet using FTP or SCP.
• Configure your Django application settings, including the database configuration, static files, and media files.
•  Install and configure a web server like Nginx or Apache to serve your Django application.
• Restart the webserver to apply the changes.

Also Read: 8 Best Web Hosts For Freelancers

4. Linode now Akamai

Linode can be a great option for hosting Django applications because it provides a high-performance and reliable hosting environment with flexible pricing and great 24/7 customer support.

Note: Linode was acquired by Akamai and is now operating as Akamai. Furthermore, Linode will continue to operate as always as the acquisition is to propel Linode further.

Linode offers a variety of hosting plans, including a $5 per month plan.

They offer a one-click installer for Django and provide SSH access to your server.

Steps to set up Django on Linode:

• Sign up for a Linode account and create a new server instance. Choose a server plan that fits your needs and select your preferred operating system.
• Connect to your server via SSH and update the system packages.
• Install Python, pip, and other required dependencies.
• Create a new virtual environment for your Django project.
• Activate the virtual environment.
• Install Django and other required packages using pip.
• Create a new Django project
• Configure your Django project by updating the settings file with your database connection details and other settings.
• Run the Django development server to test your project.
• Install and configure Gunicorn as your production web server. You can create a system service to manage Gunicorn and ensure that it runs automatically on server boot.
• Finally, configure your web server (such as Nginx) to proxy requests to your Gunicorn server.

These steps should help you set up Django on Linode and get your application up and running.

Remember to also consider other factors such as security, backups, and scalability when setting up your production environment.

5. DreamHost 

DreamHost offers shared hosting plans starting at $2.59 per month and VPS hosting plans starting at $10 per month.

They provide a one-click installer for Django and offer features such as SSH access and daily backups.

Steps to set up Django on DreamHost

• Sign up for a DreamHost account and log in to your account dashboard.

• Create a new domain or subdomain to host your Django application. This can be done from the “Domains” section of the dashboard.

• Install Python on your DreamHost server. This can be done using the “SSH Access” option in the dashboard or by contacting DreamHost support.

• Install and configure a virtual environment for your Django project. This will allow you to install the required Python packages without affecting the global Python installation on the server.

• Install Django and any other required packages in the virtual environment using pip. You can do this using the terminal or SSH connection to your DreamHost server.

• Configure your Django application by creating a settings file and adding your database credentials, static file paths, and other application settings.

• Set up a web server, such as Apache or Nginx, to serve your Django application. You can do this using the “Web” section of the DreamHost dashboard.

• Configure your web server to serve your Django application using WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface). This will allow the webserver to communicate with your Django application and serve dynamic content.

• Test your Django application by accessing the domain or subdomain you created in Step 2.
  
  If everything is set up correctly, you should see your Django application running in the web browser.

These are the general steps to set up Django on DreamHost, but the specifics may vary depending on your specific application requirements and DreamHost plan. 

DreamHost also provides documentation and support to help you set up your Django application, so be sure to check their resources if you encounter any issues.

6. Hostinger

Hostinger offers a variety of budget-friendly web hosting plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting, all of which can be used for hosting Django applications. 

They offer a single shared hosting plan that starts at $0.99 per month and comes with a free domain name, unlimited bandwidth, and 100 GB of storage.

However, their cheapest plan has limited resources and may not be suitable for larger applications.

Steps to host a Django website on Hostinger:

• Create an account with Hostinger and select the hosting package that best fits your requirements.
• Create a new website in your Hostinger account and configure the domain name and DNS settings.
• Install Django on your Hostinger account, either manually or using a one-click installer like Softaculous.
• Create a new Django project and configure it to work with your Hostinger account, including the database settings and web server configuration.
• Upload your Django project files to your Hostinger account, either using FTP or through a web-based file manager.
• Test your Django website to make sure it’s working correctly.
• Hostinger provides a comprehensive knowledge base with detailed tutorials and guides to help you set up and manage your Django website on its hosting platform.

7. GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks is a web hosting provider that offers a range of hosting solutions, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. 

They support Python and Django and offer a variety of tools and features that are designed explicitly for Django hosting.

GreenGeeks’s hosting plans start at $2.95 per month.

Some of the features GreenGeeks brings to the table for Django include:

• GreenGeeks offers a one-click installation process for Django, which makes it easy to get started with a Django project.
• They support multiple versions of Python, so you can choose the version that is best suited for your project.
• GreenGeeks uses SSD storage, which provides faster performance than traditional hard drives.
• If you’re currently hosted elsewhere, GreenGeeks offers you a free website migration service to help you move your site to their platform.
• 24/7 support: GreenGeeks offers 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email, so you can get help whenever you need it.

Steps to host Django on GreenGeeks

• Sign up for a GreenGeeks account.
• GreenGeeks offers a range of hosting plans, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. Choose the plan that best suits your needs.
• Once you’ve signed up for an account and chosen your hosting plan, you’ll need to set up your server. GreenGeeks provides cPanel access which makes server setup easier.
• Install Django: GreenGeeks provides a one-click Django installation option through Softaculous or cPanel’s application installer. You can use this option to install Django and set up your database.
• Once Django is installed, you’ll need to configure your settings.py file to match the server environment. You’ll need to specify your database settings and other configurations specific to your application.
• Upload your Django project to the server using FTP, SFTP, or SSH. You can create a virtual environment on the server and install the project dependencies via pip.
• Configure your web server (Apache or NGINX) to serve your Django application. This includes setting up a virtual host, configuring static files, and routing traffic to your application.
• Once your Django application is up and running, test it to ensure everything is working properly.
• If you have a domain name registered elsewhere, you’ll need to point it to your GreenGeeks server. You can do this by updating the DNS records of your domain.

Overall, GreenGeeks can be a good option for Django hosting, especially if you’re looking for a provider that specializes in Django hosting and offers a range of features and tools to support it.

Tip: Keep in mind that while the above options may be affordable, they may not be the most reliable or performant.

If you’re running a mission-critical Django application, you may want to consider investing in a more robust hosting solution.

Also Read: Cheapest Kubernetes Hosting Engines

FAQs

Conclusion

Hosting your Django website on a budget doesn’t have to mean sacrificing performance or features.

Using the tips outlined in this post, you can find the best Django hosting provider which is also reliable and affordable.

Remember to compare pricing, features, customer support, and customer reviews to make an informed decision.

With the right hosting provider, you can ensure that your Django website runs smoothly and efficiently, without breaking the bank.