How to Host a Static Website on GitHub Pages

You built a small website.
Maybe a portfolio. Maybe a blog.
Now you want to put it online.

Then reality hits.

Hosting companies ask for your card.
They talk about servers, plans, and limits.
All you want is a live website.

Here’s the good news.
You can host your website for free using web hosting on GitHub Pages.

GitHub Pages lets you turn simple files like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into a real website. No servers. 

No monthly bills. You upload your files, and your site goes live at an address like:

yourname.github.io

This guide shows you how to do it step by step.
You do not need to be an expert.
If you can create files and click buttons, you can finish this.

By the end, you will know how to:

• Set things up the right way
• Build your site on your computer
• Push it online
• Make it fast, clean, and easy to grow
• Fix common problems when things break

Let’s get your site online.

What Is GitHub Pages 

GitHub Pages is a free website hosting tool built into GitHub.

GitHub is where developers store their code.
GitHub Pages takes that code and turns it into a website.

What “Static Website” Really Means

A static website is simple.
It shows the same content to everyone.

It uses:

• HTML for structure
• CSS for design
• JavaScript for small actions

There is no database.
No login system.
No server code running in the background.

That is why it loads fast and costs nothing.

Why People Love Web Hosting on GitHub

GitHub Pages works because it removes friction.

Here’s what you get:

• Free hosting for public sites
• HTTPS security turned on by default
• Fast loading from anywhere in the world
• Easy updates by pushing files
• Full version history of every change

You change a file.
You push it.
Your website updates.

That’s it.

“GitHub Pages makes sharing work feel effortless.”

Who This Is For

GitHub Pages is perfect if:

• You are learning web development
• You want a personal portfolio
• You write documentation
• You run a small project page
• You want zero hosting bills

You do not need deep tech skills.
You just need curiosity.

What GitHub Pages Cannot Do

GitHub Pages only works with static files.

That means:

• No databases
• No server-side forms
• No login systems

There are limits to keep things fair:

• 1GB per site
• About 100GB bandwidth per month

For most personal sites, this is more than enough.

Read also: How To Build A Website For Business in South Africa 

What You Need Before You Start

A little prep saves a lot of stress later.

Create a GitHub Account

Go to github.com and sign up.

Turn on two-factor login.
It adds a code from your phone and keeps your account safe.

Public sites are free.
Private sites need a paid plan.

Set Up Your Computer

Install Git from git-scm.com.
Git moves files between your computer and GitHub.

Use VS Code as your editor.
It’s free and easy to use.

Add the Live Server extension.
It lets you see your website in a browser while you work.

Know These Basic Git Ideas

You do not need mastery.
Just the basics.

• A commit saves your work
• A branch is a version path
• A remote connects to GitHub

Knowing this avoids panic later.

Plan Your File Layout

A clean structure keeps your site easy to manage.

Think of it like organizing a desk.
Mess slows you down.

Create Your GitHub Website Repository

This is where your site lives online.

Make a New Repository

Log in to GitHub.
Click New Repository.

Name it:
yourusername.github.io

Make it public.
Click Create.

This name is important.
It tells GitHub to treat it as a website.

Personal Site vs Project Site

• Personal site uses your username
• Project sites can have any name

Keep names simple.
Lowercase. No spaces.

Keep It Secure

You can invite teammates later.
Only admins can publish changes.

Public repositories stay free.

Read also: Email Marketing For Online Businesses In South Africa

Build Your Website on Your Computer

Now the fun part.

Copy the Repo to Your Computer

Open your terminal.

Run:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/yourusername.github.io.git

Move into the folder:

cd yourusername.github.io

You now have your website locally.

Create Your First Page

Create a file called index.html.

Add this:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>My Site</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
</body>
</html>

Open it in Live Server.
You just built a webpage.

That small win matters.

Add Style and Life

Create a CSS file inside assets.

Link it in your HTML.
Change colors. Fonts. Spacing.

Add JavaScript if you want small actions.

Check how it looks on your phone too.
Many visitors will use one.

Save Your Work Properly

Every change should be saved and pushed.

Run:

git add .
git commit -m "Add homepage"
git push

Your files are now online-ready.

Publish Your Website with GitHub Pages

This is where your site goes live.

Turn On GitHub Pages

Open your repository.
Go to Settings.
Click Pages.

Choose:

• Branch: main
• Folder: root

Save.

This is how it will look:

Your Website Address

Your site will appear at:
https://yourusername.github.io

It is secure by default.
No setup needed.

Use Your Own Domain (Optional)

You can connect a custom domain.

Buy one from a domain seller.
Point it to GitHub using a CNAME record.

GitHub handles SSL for you.

Wait Time

Publishing can take a few minutes.
Sometimes up to 10.

Check the Actions tab if it feels stuck.

This is an example:

Make Your Site Faster and Easier to Find

A slow site pushes people away.

Speed Basics

• Compress images
• Use simple fonts
• Avoid huge files

Add loading=”lazy” to images.
They load only when needed.

Stop Unwanted Processing

If you are not using Jekyll, add a file named:
.nojekyll

This keeps your files untouched.

Help Search Engines Understand Your Site

Add a description tag:

<meta name="description" content="My personal website">

Add sharing tags for social media.

Track visitors with Google Analytics.

Grow and Maintain Your Website

Websites grow over time.

Add More Pages

Create folders like:
/about/index.html

Your link becomes:
yoursite.github.io/about

Markdown files also work.
GitHub turns them into pages.

Work With Others

GitHub makes teamwork safe.

1. Invite a collaborator
2. They suggest changes
3. You approve before publishing

This avoids mistakes.

Use Themes

GitHub has free themes.

Copy one into your repo.
Edit text and colors.

Your site looks polished fast.

Keep Backups

Download your repo once a month.
For bigger needs, connect Netlify later.

Your GitHub site stays as a backup.

Fix Common Problems Fast

Things break. That’s normal.

Site Not Updating

Wait a few minutes.
Refresh hard or use incognito mode.

Build Errors

Check the Actions tab.
File paths are often the issue.

Static means static.
No server code allowed.

Access Issues

You need admin rights to push.
Verify your email on GitHub.

File Limits

Large videos eat space fast.
Compress or host them elsewhere.

Advanced Uses When You’re Ready

Once you feel confident, you can do more.

Automate Tasks

Use GitHub Actions.

They can:

• Check errors
• Compress files
• Deploy automatically

Add Dynamic Feel

Use JavaScript to pull data from APIs.
Add comments with third-party tools.

Your site stays static but feels alive.

Team and Business Use

Paid plans allow private sites.
Teams can add single sign-on.

Follow data rules for sensitive content.

Read also: Digital Garage from Google: Learn Free Digital Skills in South Africa

Final Words

You started with nothing.
Now you have a live website.

Web hosting on GitHub Pages removes fear and cost.
You stay in control.

Keep improving.
Change colors.
Add pages.
Break things and fix them.

That’s how real learning happens.

Build something small today.
Share the link.
Help someone else start too.

Your website is live.