GitHub Hosting Guide: How to Host Websites and Projects with GitHub Pages

GitHub is not just a place to save code, it also offers a free and easy way to host websites and project documentation. Using GitHub Pages, you can publish static websites directly from a GitHub repository with just a few clicks. Whether you are building a portfolio for yourself, documenting a site, or product landing page, GitHub makes hosting super simple without a separate web hosting provider. 

In this guide, you will learn how GitHub hosting works, how to set up and deploy a site using GitHub pages and how to customize your domain. Whether you are a developer, designer, or tech enthusiast, this article will walk you through everything. 

What Are GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages are a free static site hosting service that is provided by GitHub. It allows you to publish HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files from the repository to the web. Unlike traditional web hosting, GitHub pages do not support server-side languages, like PHP or Node.js, but they are a good choice for portfolios, documentation, and single page sites. 

You just need a GitHub repository and some static files. GitHub takes care of the rest, serving your content over HTTPS from a fast and global CDN, usually stored in: 

https://<username>.github.io/<repository-name>

GitHub Pages are deeply integrated with the GitHub workflows, which makes it useful for developers who want version-controlled content and automated development. 

Types of GitHub Hosting (User, Organization, and Project Pages)

GitHub Pages offer three main types of GitHub hosting, depending on the use case:

1. User Pages

These are tied to a GitHub account and hosted at:

https://<username>.github.io

One user page is allowed per account. The source is set in the repository named as: <username>.github.io.

2. Organization Pages

Organization pages are pretty much the same as GitHub organizations. They use: 

https://<orgname>.github.io

Only one organization page is allowed per GitHub organization.

3. Project Pages

These Project pages are used to host websites for specific repositories, which are great for projects with their own landing page or documentation. 

https://<username>.github.io/<repository-name>

You can have multiple project pages across different repos. 

Learning these types of GitHub hosting pages helps you choose the right structure for your content and domain. 

Hosting Static Websites with GitHub Pages

Hosting a static site on GitHub Pages is super simple, pretty much like pushing your HTML file to a branch. Here is how it works: 

1. Create a Repository: Start a new repository or use an existing one to create a user or organization site, and name it <username>.github.io.
2. Add Your Static Files: Include files like index.html, style.css, and any assets (images, scripts, etc.).
3. Enable GitHub Pages: Go to Settings > Pages in the repository. Choose the branch and folder (usually /root or /docs) you want to publish.
4. Visit Your Site: GitHub then provides a public URL and the site would go live in seconds. 

GitHub hosting pages supports custom domain names, HTTPS, and also a Jekyll for static site generation, which is perfect for blog pages. 

How to Create and Deploy a GitHub Page

Creating a GitHub hosting Page is pretty simple and hasslefree. Here is how you can get started: 

Step 1: Create a Repository

• For a personal project: name it yourusername.github.io.
• For a project site: use any repo name.

Step 2: Add Your Website Files

Include an index.html, along with CSS, JS, and any assets.

Step 3: Enable GitHub Pages

• Go to your repo’s Settings > Pages > Source, and select the right branch and folder. (usually main and /root or /docs).
• GitHub will generate a URL for your site (e.g., https://yourusername.github.io/projectname/).

Step 4: Access Your Site

Now save and wait a few seconds for the generated URL to see your website live. 

Custom Domain Setup with GitHub Pages

GitHub Hosting Pages allows custom domains, which means you do not have to use the .github.io URL all the time. 

Step 1: Configure DNS Records

Add a CNAME record pointing to your domain to yourusername.github.io.

Step 2: Add Domain in GitHub

• Go to Settings > Pages in your repository.
• Enter your custom domain name.
• GitHub will automatically generate and serve the site with HTTPS. 

Step 3: Verify

Verify using DNS tools after some time. 

GitHub Hosting for Documentation

GitHub is also an excellent source to host project documentation using the: 

• Markdown (.md) files rendered directly in the repo. 
• GitHub Pages + Jekyll, a static site generator that works natively with GitHub.
• Third party generators like Docusaurus, Docsify, or MkDocs that publish to GitHub Pages.

GitHub Actions for Automated Deployments

You can automate your GitHub Pages deployment using GitHub Actions, GitHub’s native CI/CD platform.

Example: Deploy a React App Automatically

name: Deploy to GitHub Pages

on:

  push:

    branches: [main]

jobs:

  build:

    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:

    – uses: actions/checkout@v2

    – run: npm install && npm run build

    – uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3

      with:

        github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

        publish_dir: ./build

Related Article: GitLab vs GitHub: Which is Better for Developers & DevOps?

Limitations of GitHub Hosting

Even though GitHub Hosting Pages is a powerful and free solution, it does have a couple of limitations. 

1. GitHub Hosting Pages only support static pages and do not support server-side processing like databases.
2. It has a limit for bandwidth and API requests and high-traffic websites might hit those thresholds easily.
3. You must use CNAME for full HTTPS support. 
4. GitHub only supports Jekyll natively, so for other sites, you need to use GitHub Actions. 

However, even after these limitations, GitHub Hosting Pages are still an ideal choice for fast-loading sites. 

Alternatives to GitHub Hosting Pages

If you need features beyond what GitHub Pages offers, consider these popular alternatives:

Platform	Best For	Key Features
Netlify	Static site hosting with CI/CD	Easy Git integration, branch previews, form handling
Vercel	React/Next.js projects	Real-time previews, serverless functions, fast CDN
Cloudflare Pages	Jamstack apps	Git-based deploys, free unlimited bandwidth, durable objects
Firebase Hosting	Dynamic apps & SPAs	Backend integration, authentication, custom functions
Render	Full-stack apps	Web services, cron jobs, private services, databases

Conclusion: Is GitHub Hosting Right for Your Project?

GitHub Hosting Pages is an excellent hosting option for developers who would want to publish static websites. It is fast, secure, and integrates smoothly with developer workflows. However, if you need dynamic functionality or advanced deployment features, this might not be the best for you!

FAQs