Best free host for phpbb3

Short answer: for a phpBB3 board with a 130+ MB database, free hosts are usually a dead end unless you accept slow performance, tight per-database caps, and sudden account suspension. @JonathanD and @johnxflynn are right to push the paid-host route — many free plans impose hard limits on database size and other resources while paid shared plans or a small VPS publish explicit limits and give room to grow. (000webhost.llc)

Before you pick a host, run this checklist against any candidate and don’t take marketing claims at face value: confirm the PHP and MySQL/MariaDB versions required by your phpBB release; check the per-database size and import limits; verify .htaccess/mod_rewrite support (friendly URLs); ensure phpMyAdmin/SSH access for maintenance and large imports; confirm where attachments are stored and how much filesystem space you get; check backups, cron/cronjob support, and upload size limits. phpBB’s server requirements differ by version, so match the host to the phpBB release you’ll run. (cmgm-new.stanford.edu)

If you must fit an already-large board onto a limited plan, follow these concrete steps: make a full backup first; prune old private messages and admin/moderator logs; remove or rebuild large search indexes; delete orphaned attachments and unused files; run Repair/Optimize on big tables (or use phpMyAdmin/OPTIMIZE TABLE); and consider moving heavy binary attachments off the database to filesystem/object storage or a CDN. These AC P maintenance tools and pruning options are built into phpBB — use them before you try importing to a restrictive host. (fossies.org)

If budget permits, choose a paid shared plan that states per‑DB sizes (or a small VPS) and test a full restore there before switching DNS. Migration checklist: backup files + DB, restore to a staging location, update config.php paths and DB creds, test everything (attachments, avatars, posting), then flip DNS with a low TTL. For long‑term reliability and growth, a VPS/dedicated box is the safer path. (phpbbhs.com)