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PHP Hosting
Without Shared Servers

Run modern PHP applications on a Docker-based platform. Includes PostgreSQL or MySQL, persistent volumes, and isolated runtime. No cPanel. No shared hosting.

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# docker-compose.yml
services:
  app:
    image: my-php-app
    environment:
      - APP_ENV=production
      - DATABASE_URL=${DATABASE_URL}
  db:
    image: mysql:8
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/mysql
650+apps deployed
290+developers building
170+services running now
Oct 2025in production since

What “PHP hosting” means today

PHP hosting no longer means uploading files to a shared server via FTP. Modern PHP applications run as isolated services with explicit dependencies, background workers, and dedicated databases.

Frameworks like Laravel or Symfony expect full control over the runtime, environment variables, and filesystem — requirements that shared hosting was never designed to support.

How PHP apps are typically hosted

  • Containers: PHP runs in a Docker container with a fixed PHP version and extensions.
  • Dedicated Database: MySQL or PostgreSQL runs as a separate service.
  • Environment Variables: Secrets and config are injected at runtime.
  • Persistent Storage: Uploads and cache directories live on volumes.

PHP hosting on Hostim.dev

A container-based platform that matches modern PHP architecture.

Docker or Git Deploy

Deploy a Docker image or connect a Git repository. Builds and restarts are handled automatically.

Built-in Databases

Attach MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Redis without external services.

Persistent Volumes

Keep uploads and application data across deployments.

EU Hosting

Hosted in Germany for low latency and GDPR compliance.

Is there free PHP hosting?

Free PHP hosting usually means shared resources, disabled extensions, strict execution limits, and no persistent storage.

Hostim.dev provides a preview tier for testing, but focuses on stable, production-grade PHP hosting with predictable pricing.

PHP web hosting vs app hosting

Shared web hosting targets simple PHP scripts and CMS installs. App hosting is designed for full PHP applications with queues, workers, and controlled environments.

Who it is for

  • Modern PHP applications (Laravel, Symfony, custom apps)
  • Projects needing isolated runtime and databases
  • Teams that want EU-based hosting

Who it is not for

  • Shared hosting or cPanel users
  • One-click WordPress installs
  • Manual VPS administration

How to host a PHP app

The practical workflow on a container-based platform.

  • Create a project: A project is an isolated environment where your PHP app, databases, and storage live together.
  • Add managed services: Create a MySQL or PostgreSQL database and any persistent volumes needed for uploads or generated files.
  • Prepare your container: Build a Docker image with the required PHP version and extensions, or connect a Git repository that contains a Dockerfile. Hostim builds the image if needed.
  • Create the app: Create an app from the image or repo, then attach the database and volumes to it.
  • Configure environment variables: Define database credentials and framework-specific settings (for example application keys or environment mode) in the dashboard.
  • Deploy and update: Hostim starts the container and keeps it running. Updates are done by redeploying or rebuilding the app, either manually or via CI.

Ready to deploy?

Run your PHP application on a modern platform.

Deploy your PHP app

The numbers

PHP on Hostim: container hosting with a managed MySQL or PostgreSQL attached.

€2.50/month

Small production stack

One app plan (sa-1-1) plus a free-tier managed database. The database only starts costing money at 1 GB (€1/month).

€0

Managed database free tier

PostgreSQL 256 MB, MySQL 256 MB, Redis 128 MB, volume 1 GB. No cap on how many free instances you create.

Included on every plan

Database high availability

PostgreSQL and MySQL run as a primary plus hot standby with automatic failover, shared plans included.

1 today (Falkenstein, Germany)

Regions

Bare metal, EU only, with more regions planned. No AWS, GCP or Azure underneath.

“A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.”

— PHP.net

Sources

  1. Hostim.dev price list — Hostim.dev (checked 2026-08-06)
  2. Managed PostgreSQL — high availability and failover — Hostim.dev docs (checked 2026-08-06)
  3. PHP documentation — PHP (checked 2026-08-06)
  4. Pricing model — plan-based billing, no metering — Hostim.dev docs (checked 2026-08-06)

Frequently asked questions

Can I host a PHP app on Hostim?

Yes. Any PHP framework that runs in Docker — Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, plain PHP — deploys as a long-lived container with TLS, logs and metrics included.

Which PHP versions does Hostim support?

Whatever your image uses (php:8.3-fpm, php:8.2-apache, etc.). Hostim does not enforce a PHP version.

How much does PHP hosting cost on Hostim?

A typical PHP deployment on Hostim is one app container plus one managed database. The app starts at €2.50/month and the database is free on the included tier, so a small production stack runs from €2.50/month.

Which database options does Hostim offer for PHP apps?

Managed MySQL, PostgreSQL and Redis. Credentials inject as environment variables; PDO and the framework configs read them directly.

Where is my PHP app hosted?

In Germany. Hostim apps and databases run on bare-metal servers in Falkenstein, with no AWS, GCP or Azure dependency — so data stays in the EU and GDPR compliance stays simple.