Free webhooks, three honest ways Test one now, or run the server for free
Three things at Hook0 are genuinely free, with no hidden paywall. play.hook0.com inspects and tests any webhook, no account. The open-source server (SSPL-1.0) self-hosts unlimited on your own infra. And Hook0 Cloud has a free tier: 100 events/day, no credit card, no feature gating. Pick what you actually need.
No account to test · Unlimited self-host · Free cloud tier, no credit card
Receive or send? Pick your free path
"Free webhook" covers two different jobs. The diagram shows which one you need. Both are free.
I just need to test a webhook
Generate a public URL, inspect the payloads a service sends you, replay them. In your browser, nothing to install, no signup.
Open play.hook0.com →Free forever. Public tool, open-source.
I need webhook infra for my product
Sign, retry, fan-out and monitor the webhooks you send to your own users. Self-host the open-source server, or start on the cloud free tier.
Open-source unlimited, or 100 events/day on Cloud.
Three ways to run Hook0 free, and where each stops
No surprise paywall. Here is exactly what is free and where each option stops.
Playground
Free forever · no account
Receive, inspect, debug and replay webhook payloads in the browser. The fastest way to see what a service is actually sending.
Best for: debugging an integration right now.
Open the playground →Self-hosted (open-source)
Free forever · unlimited volume
Run the full Hook0 server on your own infra under SSPL-1.0. Same codebase as the cloud, all delivery features, your data stays with you. No license cost, no volume cap from Hook0.
Best for: production with full control and no metering.
Self-hosting guide →Cloud free tier
Free forever · no credit card
Managed by us, nothing to run. 1 application, 10 event types, 10 subscriptions, up to 100 events/day, 7 days retention. All features included. Extra events above 100/day are blocked.
Best for: side-projects and a serious trial, no infra to own.
Start free on Cloud →How "free" compares across webhook tools
Most "free" webhook offers stop at a metered cloud tier. Hook0 is the only one of these you can self-host for free, unlimited.
| Criteria | Hook0 | Svix | Hookdeck | webhook.site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free cloud tier | Yes, no credit card | Yes | Yes | Yes (tester only) |
| Self-host for free, unlimited | Yes (SSPL) | Partial (open-core model) | No | No |
| Send webhooks to your users | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (receive only) |
| Free tool to test webhooks | Yes (play.hook0.com) | Yes | Console | Yes |
| Full source available | Yes, 100% (GitHub & GitLab) | Core only | No | No |
| EU data residency / GDPR | Yes, EU-hosted, GDPR-ready | US cloud | US cloud | Varies |
Comparison of publicly documented offers, June 2026. Check each vendor's current plans before deciding.
Where "free" ends
Being upfront beats a hidden paywall. Here is exactly when you pay:
- Self-hosted stays free forever: no license cost, no volume cap. You only pay for your own infrastructure.
- Cloud paid plans (Startup at €59/mo excl. VAT, then Pro) unlock higher volume, more applications and dedicated support. No feature is locked behind them; the free tier already has HMAC signing, retries, logs and the portal.
- Scale and support are what you pay for. If you need more than 100 events/day on the cloud, or a managed SLA, that is the paid line.
Free webhook questions
Is Hook0 really free?
Yes, in three honest ways. play.hook0.com is a free tool to test and inspect webhooks in your browser, no account needed. The open-source server is free forever to self-host with no volume cap imposed by Hook0 (SSPL-1.0). And Hook0 Cloud has a free Developer tier: 100 events/day, no credit card, no feature gating. No bait-and-switch.
Is there a free open-source webhook server?
Yes. Hook0 is a free, open-source webhook server under SSPL-1.0, published on GitHub and GitLab. It ships with Docker Compose and Kubernetes manifests and runs on PostgreSQL. Self-hosting is free with no license cost and no volume cap from Hook0. It is the same codebase as the cloud, with the same features.
What are the free tier limits on Hook0 Cloud?
The free Developer tier includes 1 developer, 1 application, 10 event types, 10 subscriptions, up to 100 events/day, and 7 days of data retention. All delivery features are included: HMAC signing, retries, delivery logs and the subscriber portal. No credit card is required and the tier is free forever for side-projects.
Can I test a webhook for free without an account?
Yes. play.hook0.com gives you a public URL to receive, inspect and replay webhook payloads directly in your browser. There is nothing to install and no signup. It is free and itself open-source.
Is self-hosting Hook0 free?
Yes. There is no license cost and no volume cap imposed by Hook0 when you self-host. You provide the infrastructure (Docker or Kubernetes plus PostgreSQL) and get community support on Discord. Managed scaling, an uptime SLA and managed updates are the things you take on yourself when self-hosting.
What is the difference between play.hook0.com and Hook0 Cloud?
play.hook0.com is a free tool to receive, inspect and debug webhooks that other services send you. Hook0 Cloud is the infrastructure to send signed webhooks to your own users in production, with retries, a dead letter queue and a subscriber portal. Use Play to debug, use Cloud or self-hosted to ship.
Does the free cloud tier expire or require a credit card?
No. The free Developer tier has no time limit and requires no credit card. It is free forever for side-projects.
What happens when I exceed the free cloud tier?
Events beyond 100/day on the free tier are blocked until the next day. To send more, you upgrade to a paid plan (Startup at €59/mo excl. VAT, or Pro). Paid plans only unlock higher volume and support; no feature is locked behind them. If you want no volume cap at all, self-host the open-source server for free.
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