You've probably heard Pantheon discussed in web development communities and said, "Oh, neat, I can host for free." I used to think so too — until I actually used it. The cold reality is: Pantheon does have a free version in 2025, but it's not the kind of free that you can run your business from.
The free plan is perfect for:
• Testing ideas prior to locking down a project
• Learning new tools without a cost
• Showering a speedy demo on clients
But here's what you don't receive:
• Your own domain name — you'll be stuck with a Pantheon subdomain
• 24/7 uptime — free sites "nap" when idle
• Full production capacity — no speed promises for live traffic
So yeah, it's free… but think more along the lines of a sample scoop at the ice cream shop — enough to try, not enough to satisfy.
• Basic – Around $60/month for small, steady-traffic sites.
• Performance – $160 to $1,000+ for websites that need to perform quickly and can handle sudden spikes in visitors.
• Enterprise – Custom pricing for very large, high-traffic businesses.
Pro tip: If traffic is going to increase rapidly, skip Basic and go directly to the lower Performance level — it skips the hassle of upgrading halfway through launch.
• You're a student learning the ropes
•You’re testing features before launch
•You just want a personal project online temporarily
Free is not enough when:
•You’re selling products
•You need SEO benefits from your own domain
•You want visitors to access your site any time, day or night
Because nothing kills momentum like a "site unavailable" message when people are ready to visit.
How the Free Plan Works
Pantheon still offers free dev sites this year. Spin one up in minutes, WordPress or Drupal install, and play with it.The free plan is perfect for:
• Testing ideas prior to locking down a project
• Learning new tools without a cost
• Showering a speedy demo on clients
But here's what you don't receive:
• Your own domain name — you'll be stuck with a Pantheon subdomain
• 24/7 uptime — free sites "nap" when idle
• Full production capacity — no speed promises for live traffic
So yeah, it's free… but think more along the lines of a sample scoop at the ice cream shop — enough to try, not enough to satisfy.
Pantheon Paid Plans in 2025
If you want to go live and look professional, you'll need a paid plan. Here's the scoop:• Basic – Around $60/month for small, steady-traffic sites.
• Performance – $160 to $1,000+ for websites that need to perform quickly and can handle sudden spikes in visitors.
• Enterprise – Custom pricing for very large, high-traffic businesses.
Pro tip: If traffic is going to increase rapidly, skip Basic and go directly to the lower Performance level — it skips the hassle of upgrading halfway through launch.
When Free Is Enough & When It's Not
Free is sufficient when:• You're a student learning the ropes
•You’re testing features before launch
•You just want a personal project online temporarily
Free is not enough when:
•You’re selling products
•You need SEO benefits from your own domain
•You want visitors to access your site any time, day or night
Why I’d Still Pick Pantheon
My one preference is the workflow — separate dev, test, and live sites keep you from accidentally ruining your real site while you're messing around. The automatic backups have saved me more times than I want to admit. And the speed? The lowest paid plan is quicker than a lot of "budget" hosts I've tested.Final Take
Pantheon in 2025 gives you a free way to play and build, but actual hosting power has a price tag. My advice? Try out the free version first and get some experience, then go large before launching to the public.Because nothing kills momentum like a "site unavailable" message when people are ready to visit.
