How to Host Your Website for Less Than $10 on Google Cloud Platform with CyberPanel
Launching a website can often feel like an expensive endeavour, but thanks to modern cloud platforms and free control panels, itโs possible to host your own website for less than 10 US dollars per month. In this guide, youโll learn how to use Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and CyberPanel to build an affordable, reliable, and scalable web hosting environment โ all while keeping your costs under $10.
Video Credits To: https://www.youtube.com/@Cyber-Panel
Why Choose Google Cloud Platform and CyberPanel?
Google Cloud Platform is a leading cloud services provider known for reliability, global infrastructure, and competitive pricing. While itโs often associated with large enterprises, GCP offers small virtual machines suitable for low-budget projects.
CyberPanel is a free, open-source web hosting control panel powered by OpenLiteSpeed, known for its speed and ease of use. It simplifies managing websites, emails, databases, and security certificates, making it ideal for beginners and professionals alike.
Step 1: Set Up Your Google Cloud Account
Start by signing up for a Google Cloud account at cloud.google.com. New users receive a $300 free credit valid for 90 days, which you can use to explore the platform without any initial payment.
After the trial, Googleโs free tier includes a small VM instance with limited monthly usage, which is often enough for hosting a basic website continuously.
Step 2: Choose the Cheapest Virtual Machine (VM) Instance
To stay under $10 monthly, opt for the f1-micro instance in Google Compute Engine, which falls under Googleโs free tier in many regions:
- f1-micro: This is the smallest VM, offering enough resources for simple websites and testing.
- Location: Choose a data centre near your target audience for best performance.
- Be aware of the free tier limits: If you exceed them, costs may increase slightly.
If your site grows, you can always upgrade to a larger instance.
Step 3: Configure Networking and Access
Once your VM is running:
- Assign a static IP address to keep your server reachable at a fixed address.
- Open firewall ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) to allow web traffic.
- Ensure SSH access is enabled for remote management.
These settings can be managed through the Google Cloud Console.
Step 4: Install CyberPanel on Your VM
Connect to your VM via SSH and run the following commands to install CyberPanel:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y wget
wget http://cyberpanel.net/install.sh
sudo bash install.sh
During installation, select the CyberPanel with OpenLiteSpeed option and set an admin password. Optionally, enable caching services like Memcached for improved performance.
Step 5: Access CyberPanel and Create Your Website
After installation:
- Open your browser and go to
https://<your-server-ip>:8090
- Log in with your admin credentials.
- Use the CyberPanel dashboard to create a new website by entering your domain name and preferred PHP version.
- Upload your website files through CyberPanelโs file manager or via FTP.
Step 6: Secure Your Website with Free SSL
CyberPanel integrates Letโs Encrypt SSL certificates. Secure your website with HTTPS by:
- Navigating to the SSL section in CyberPanel.
- Issuing a free SSL certificate with a single click.
This step is essential for security and helps your site rank better in search engines.
Step 7: Monitor Costs and Optimise Usage
- Monitor your Google Cloud billing dashboard to ensure you stay within budget.
- Stop your VM when not needed to save costs (Google bills only for running time).
- Optimise your website with caching and efficient code.
- Regularly update CyberPanel and your server packages for security.
Summary: How You Keep It Under $10
Cost Element | Estimated Monthly Cost |
---|---|
VM instance (f1-micro) | Free tier or ~$4-5 if exceeded |
Storage (30GB SSD) | ~$1.50 |
Bandwidth | Free within limits, then small fees |
By carefully managing your VM uptime and usage, hosting your website for less than 10 US dollars per month is very achievable.
Final Thoughts
Google Cloud Platform and CyberPanel together provide a flexible, scalable, and affordable way to host your website. While the learning curve might seem steep at first, the control and cost savings you gain are well worth the effort. With this setup, even beginners can launch professional-grade websites without hefty hosting fees.