The following free hosting provider claims to support .htaccess, php, and mysql database: http://hosting.gig4free.com/freewebhosting.php I had a free website hosting account there, and PHP worked okay, but I didn't test mysql and .htacess. My account is deleted now though , probably for inactivity since I never used it again (most free hosts have 30 or 60-day inactivity limits, but occasionally even less). The following free hosting directory page lists (currently) 78 free hosts that support mysql databases (and PHP) : http://www.free-webhosts.com/free-mysql-database.php If the description given in the review page also lists "Custom error pages" or "Password-protected files" or "Cpanel", then it probably supports .htacess files also. The problem is most free web hosting sites do not list their features very well, so seldom list ".htacess" even if it is supported.
Free hosts are still useful for people who may not be able to afford their own hosting or are too young to be able to pay with a debit or credit card, as is usually required. The problem is that free hosts are very often unstable, and usually the ones that offer you the most are the ones that disappear the fastest. I posted on the forums of http://www.freewebspace.net/ for a while, and it wasn't uncommon for hosts to randomly disappear, including all the files that the people had uploaded. For this reason, it's usually worthwhile going with an established free hosting service, that has had at least a couple of years of service at the least.