DEV Community

Sh Raj
Sh Raj

Posted on

15+ Free VPS and Online Linux Terminals You Can Use in 2025

🧠 15+ Free VPS and Online Linux Terminals You Can Use in 2025

Looking to host your app, test Linux commands, or just explore the cloud? Here’s a complete list of free VPS providers and online Linux environmentsβ€”some permanent, some temporaryβ€”ranging from cloud providers to browser-based terminals.


βœ… Always Free VPS Options

1. Oracle Cloud Free Tier

  • Type: Cloud VPS
  • Specs: 2 ARM instances, 1 GB RAM each
  • Extras: 10 GB object storage, databases, monitoring
  • Use Case: Lightweight deployments
  • 🌐 Link

2. Google Cloud Free Tier

  • Type: Cloud VPS
  • Specs: 1 f1-micro VM (USA-only)
  • Extras: Free egress, 30 GB storage
  • Use Case: Personal servers or dev use
  • 🌐 Link

3. IBM Cloud Free Tier

  • Type: Cloud platform
  • Specs: Free Lite plans (Kubernetes, Functions)
  • Use Case: API testing, serverless exploration
  • 🌐 Link

4. Google Cloud Shell

  • Type: Ephemeral Linux VM
  • Specs: Debian-based, with preinstalled tools
  • Persistence: 5 GB
  • Use Case: DevOps, CLI usage, deploy GCP apps
  • 🌐 Link

5. GitHub Codespaces

  • Type: Dev container/VPS
  • Specs: 2-core, 4 GB RAM (free quota)
  • Use Case: Full-featured cloud IDE
  • 🌐 Link

6. Google Project IDX

  • Type: Cloud IDE with terminal
  • Specs: Supports Linux terminals, Google auth
  • Use Case: Full-stack dev with integrated terminal
  • 🌐 Link

⏳ Time-Limited Free VPS Trials

7. AWS Free Tier

  • Duration: 12 months
  • Specs: t2.micro/t3.micro, 750 hrs/month
  • 🌐 Link

8. Azure for Students

  • Specs: \$100 credit without card
  • Duration: 12 months
  • 🌐 Link

9. Vultr


10. Kamatera

  • Specs: \$100 credit, full access VPS
  • Duration: 30 days
  • 🌐 Link

πŸ§ͺ Free Online Linux Terminals

These environments don't offer full VPS but let you run Linux terminals in your browserβ€”no login required.

11. LinuxContainers Incus Try-It

  • Specs: Container-based full terminal
  • Use Case: Test LXC environments
  • 🌐 Link

12. LabEx Linux Playground

  • Specs: Web-based terminal with tutorials
  • Use Case: Learn Linux step-by-step
  • 🌐 Link

13. JSLinux

  • Specs: Emulated Linux in browser (x86, ARM)
  • Use Case: Learning, demos
  • 🌐 Link

14. Copy.sh


15. CB.VU Unix Terminal


16. Webminal

  • Specs: Web Linux terminal + learning tutorials
  • Use Case: Teaching, exercises
  • 🌐 Link

17. PaizaCloud IDE / Terminal

  • Specs: Linux terminal + IDE
  • Use Case: Coding in Linux, Node.js, Python
  • 🌐 Link

18. Katacoda (Now GitPod/Pulumi Playground)

  • Specs: Interactive containers + CLI guides
  • 🌐 Link (Redirected to new platforms)

19. repl.it Shell

  • Specs: Online code editor with shell
  • Use Case: Coding + terminal mix
  • 🌐 Link

20. OnWorks

  • Specs: Run Linux distros in-browser
  • Use Case: Try Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora in VM
  • 🌐 Link

πŸ“‹ Final Thoughts

Whether you're learning Linux, testing software, or hosting appsβ€”this list gives you free tools to do so without spending a rupee. For serious workloads, consider VPS options like Oracle or GCP. For quick experiments or command-line training, try web terminals like LabEx, JSLinux, or Google Cloud Shell.


🧾 Quick Comparison

Platform Type Persistent Login Needed Use Case
Oracle Cloud VPS βœ… βœ… Hosting
GitHub Codespaces Dev Env βœ… βœ… Dev/Terminal
Google Cloud Shell Terminal βœ… (5GB) βœ… CLI management
JSLinux Emulator ❌ ❌ Education/Demo
LabEx Playground ❌ βœ… Linux learning
Vultr/Kamatera VPS Trial βœ… βœ… Short-term VPS

More :- ItsFOSS, Medium

Top comments (0)