best completely free website builders 2025 no credit card
Which builders let you start and publish a site in 2025 without handing over payment details? Honest pros and cons to help you decide.
If you want a free site today (no credit card) this guide compares the top options: who they suit, what they limit, and how they stack up on mobile, SEO, branding and support. If you value speed and simplicity, read the recommendation near the end.
Start for free, no credit card—what that really means
“Completely free” plans let you create and publish a working website without entering payment details. Expect limitations: platform branding, no custom domain, storage or feature caps, and often restricted SEO or ecommerce tools.
Good for: testing an idea, creating a portfolio, or a temporary landing page. Not ideal for businesses relying on discoverability or bookings long-term.
Quick comparison — free plans that require no credit card (2025)
| Platform | Custom domain | Platform branding | SEO tools | E‑commerce | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix (Free) | No | Yes (banner + Wix subdomain) | Basic (limited sitemaps on free) | Not on free | Email/help centre |
| WordPress.com (Free) | No | Yes (WordPress.com subdomain) | Good (post SEO tools for blogs) | Not on free | Community + docs |
| Google Sites | No (but easy GCP/domain connect with paid) | No visible ads but subdomain used | Minimal | No | Google help centre |
| Carrd (Free) | No (pro required) | No overt ads; Carrd subdomain | Minimal (landing page focus) | No | Docs + community |
| Weebly (Free) | No | Yes (Weebly subdomain + footer) | Basic | Limited (pay to enable) | Email + docs |
| GitHub Pages (Free) | Yes (custom domain supported) | No branding | Depends on implementation | No (developer-focused) | Community / docs |
Notes: all entries allow signup and site publishing without entering credit card details in 2025. Feature availability can change—always verify before relying on a free plan for business-critical sites.
Wix (Free)
One of the most popular drag-&-drop builders. Easy visual editor and many templates, publish immediately on a wixsite.com subdomain.
Pros
- Powerful visual editor — pixel control for layouts
- Large template library for many industries
- Free plan publishes instantly, no CC required
Cons
- Wix branding and ads on free plan reduce trust
- No custom domain on free plan
- Some SEO and speed features reserved for paid tiers
Best if you want maximum design control without code and are okay with the platform branding while you evaluate the product.
WordPress.com (Free)
A quick way to start a content-driven site. The free plan is great for blogs and simple informational sites using a wordpress.com subdomain.
Pros
- Strong blogging and publishing tools
- Good basic SEO for posts
- Huge plugin/theme ecosystem (paid tiers)
Cons
- WordPress.com branding on free plan
- Limited customization without upgrading
- Not ideal for booking/ecommerce on free plan
Best for publishers or anyone who wants to experiment with a blog before committing to a paid hosting or custom WordPress build.
Google Sites
Extremely simple site builder integrated with Google Workspace. Publish basic pages quickly; ideal for internal pages, portfolios or event microsites.
Pros
- No ads and immediate publish on google.com subdomain
- Excellent for embedding Docs, Sheets, Slides and Maps
- Very low learning curve
Cons
- Almost no SEO controls or advanced settings
- Design is very basic — not for marketing-led sites
- No ecommerce or advanced integrations
Best for quick internal pages, documentation, or a free basic presence with minimal fuss.
Carrd (Free)
Simple, high-polish landing pages. Carrd focuses on single-page sites and is great for a one-off landing page or link-in-bio site.
Pros
- Beautiful, minimal templates designed for conversion
- Extremely fast to set up
- No intrusive platform ads on free plan
Cons
- Single-page focus — not for multi-page business sites
- Custom domain and form integrations require Pro
- Limited for SEO-heavy content
Best if you need a fast, attractive single-page site (portfolio, simple landing page or link-in-bio).
Weebly (Free)
A long-standing drag & drop builder, often bundled with Square. The free plan works for simple brochure sites and basic stores (paid upgrade needed for full ecommerce).
Pros
- Simple editor and basic ecommerce options
- Good starter templates
- Free publishing, no CC
Cons
- Weebly branding on free sites
- Limited SEO controls on free tier
- Advanced commerce requires paid Square plans
Best for small brochure sites or testing an online presence before investing in an ecommerce plan.
Developer options: GitHub Pages & static hosts
If you or a developer can build with HTML/CSS, GitHub Pages (or Netlify free tier) can publish a site with a custom domain without ads and no credit card required.
Pros
- Full control, no platform branding
- Custom domain support free
- Excellent performance and SEO potential
Cons
- Requires coding or developer time
- No visual editor (unless you add one)
- Support is community-based
Best for tech-savvy users who want ownership and control without platform limits, and who don't mind the technical overhead.
Key limitations common to free plans (so you don't get surprised)
- Platform branding: Many free plans add a banner or footer credit which can lower trust for business visitors.
- No custom domain: You're limited to a platform subdomain unless you upgrade.
- Feature locks: Forms, analytics, SEO tools and ecommerce are often paywalled.
- Storage & bandwidth caps: Media-heavy sites may hit limits fast.
- Support level: Free users mostly get documentation and community support, not hands-on help.
- SEO & schema: Advanced on-page SEO and structured data are commonly restricted on free tiers.
Which free option should you pick in 2025?
If you need a free site just to be online for a short time, any of the above will do. But if you're building a business presence that must be found on Google, take bookings, or accept payments — a completely free plan will quickly become limiting.
A practical alternative to free plans (when growth matters)
Free plans are great to start. For a business that needs discoverability and fast updates, many owners move from free builders to an all-in subscription that includes domain, hosting, SEO, and real support. That approach avoids hidden costs and saves time—time you can spend on customers, not tinkering with a website.
How an all-inclusive service differs from free builders
You might be fine on a free plan — but many small business owners find they want three things quickly:
- Simplicity: A live website fast, without wrestling with editors or upgrades.
- Visibility: Built-in local SEO so customers searching nearby find you.
- Clear support: Real help and unlimited content updates when things change.
At Congero we build sites in minutes and include domain, hosting, local SEO and unlimited updates for a flat monthly fee. That removes the usual upgrade treadmill you hit after testing a free plan — no credit card for the demo, and you keep control of your domain.
Not a sales pitch: If you only need a temporary page or prototype, stick with a free builder. If you want a reliable business website that attracts local customers and requires minimal effort to keep current, an all-in approach often saves time and money in the first year.
Frequently asked questions
Do these free plans really require no credit card?
Can a free plan rank on Google?
What’s the fastest way to move from a free plan to a business-ready site?
Want to try an alternative without a credit card?
You can try Congero's demo without a credit card and see a working, mobile-optimised site created in under a minute. If you prefer to test a free plan first, the options above are the fastest route.
If you decide to stay on a free platform, keep an eye on branding and SEO limits. If your site needs customers, support and reliable updates, an all-in solution can be more effective than "free" in the long run.
