best free site builders
A clear, practical comparison of the top free site builders — strengths, limits and what that means for your business.
Free site builders are an excellent low-cost starting point. But each one trades off flexibility, branding, SEO and ownership differently. This guide walks through Wix, WordPress.com, Google Sites, Webflow and Carrd — so you choose the right tool, and know when a managed, SEO-driven solution may be better for growth.
Quick comparison: top free site builders
This table focuses on the free plans you can start with today. Features and limits change often — check the provider for current details.
| Builder | Free plan highlights | Main limitations | Best if you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Drag-and-drop, templates, app market | Platform branding, no custom domain, bandwidth/storage capped | Highly visual, quick prototype sites |
| WordPress.com | Blogging tools, themes, large community | Limited plugins, WordPress.com ads/branding on free plan | Content-first sites and blogs |
| Google Sites | Simple builder, fast to launch, free with Google account | Very basic layout options, limited SEO control | Internal pages, quick info pages or prototypes |
| Webflow (free workspace) | Visual CSS-level control, clean output, staging sites | Publishing to custom domain requires paid plan; steeper learning curve | Design-focused landing pages and prototypes |
| Carrd | Ultra-simple one-page sites, clean templates | Single-page focus, limited built-in forms and integrations on free tier | Simple lead pages and one-page portfolios |
Quick notes
Free plans help you validate ideas and get an online presence fast. They usually trade off: custom domain, removal of platform ads, advanced SEO tools, ecommerce and ownership flexibility. If you're building long-term visibility and lead generation, those trade-offs matter.
Wix — flexible visual builder
Pros
- Powerful drag-and-drop editor with many templates
- Large app marketplace for extra features
- Good for quick, visually-rich sites
Cons
- Free plan shows Wix branding and platform ads
- Cannot use custom domain on free plan
- Export/migrate is difficult — moving away can be time-consuming
When to choose Wix: you want a pixel-perfect visual layout quickly and are comfortable staying on the Wix ecosystem. If you plan to grow SEO-driven organic traffic or need deep control over page speed, be aware you'll likely need a paid plan or an alternative solution later.
WordPress.com — blogging and content strength
Pros
- Best-in-class content and blogging tools
- Huge theme ecosystem and community resources
- Easy to publish and manage content at scale
Cons
- Free plan includes WordPress.com branding and limited monetisation
- Plugin access restricted to paid plans — limits advanced SEO or tracking tools
- Hosting and performance vary depending on plan
When to choose WordPress.com: if your business relies on articles, guides, or content marketing and you value a familiar editing experience. For advanced local SEO, schema markup and conversion tracking you'll likely need plugins or a managed service to reach best-practice levels.
Google Sites — fast and free for simple pages
Pros
- Totally free with a Google account; easy internal sharing
- Simple editor with fast publishing
- Good for intranets, documentation or quick portfolios
Cons
- Very limited design flexibility and SEO controls
- No advanced analytics integrations out of the box
- Not ideal for customer-facing lead generation or ecommerce
When to choose Google Sites: internal pages, event microsites or extremely simple public pages. Avoid for customer acquisition where SEO, structured content and analytics matter.
Webflow — design control, higher learning curve
Pros
- Visual control down to CSS and responsive breakpoints
- Clean HTML/CSS output and hosted staging
- Good for designers who want refined visual outcomes
Cons
- Free workspace only for staging — publishing to a custom domain requires paid hosting plan
- Steeper learning curve than drag-and-drop builders
- Less plug-and-play integrations compared with major builders
When to choose Webflow: when visual fidelity and clean code output matter, and you have design resource time. For rapid lead generation or local SEO, pairing Webflow with an SEO specialist helps maximise exposure.
Carrd — fast one-page sites
Pros
- Extremely simple and affordable for single-page projects
- Beautiful minimal templates and quick setup
- Perfect for landing pages, link-in-bio pages
Cons
- Not intended for multi-page sites or complex SEO
- Limited built-in analytics and integrations on free tier
- Scaling beyond one page requires a different tool
When to choose Carrd: quick campaigns, a personal landing page, or a temporary promotional page where a one-pager does the job.
SEO, ownership and migration — what free plans usually hide
Free plans are useful for speed and cost, but they commonly restrict the features that affect long‑term search visibility and lead generation:
- Custom domain: Most free plans force a platform subdomain (yourname.builder.com). A custom domain improves trust and is necessary for local SEO.
- Platform branding & ads: Builder branding and ads reduce conversions and can harm your professional appearance.
- Limited SEO controls: Some builders restrict canonical tags, meta descriptions, structured data/schema and sitemap control on free tiers.
- Analytics & tracking: Advanced analytics or server-level header control (for tag managers) is often blocked.
- Migration difficulty: Exporting content and preserving URLs is often cumbersome — moving later can cost time and money and may damage SEO if not handled correctly.
Bottom line: free builders are great for testing and launching quickly. But if your goal is predictable local search visibility, consistent lead flow, and measurable ad performance, those technical controls matter.
When a free site builder is enough
- Testing an idea: A free site is ideal to validate demand before investing.
- Internal or temporary pages: Event microsites and internal docs work well on Google Sites or Carrd.
- Personal landing page: If you only need a one-page portfolio or a simple contact card.
- Budget-first projects: When monthly cost is the overriding constraint and you don’t need heavy SEO or ads.
When to upgrade or consider a managed website with SEO & ads
Consider moving off a free plan when these apply:
- Consistent lead goals: You need predictable enquiries from local search.
- Performance & speed targets: You need sub-3s mobile loads and fast UX for conversions.
- Frequent updates: Prices, services or offers change often and you want fast edits without technical barriers.
- Advertising & tracking: You run paid ads and need reliable analytics, conversions and attribution.
What a managed service provides: professional design, hosting, secure domain setup, ongoing technical SEO (meta tags, schema, sitemaps), analytics and support. Managed providers can also connect and optimise paid ad campaigns so traffic converts into leads.
Congero, for example, pairs rapid AI-driven builds with unlimited updates, local SEO setup and monthly analytics — useful if you want low administration and predictable lead growth (we provide this as one example of a managed approach, not an exhaustive list).
Migration checklist: moving off a free builder without losing SEO
- Audit current content and URLs — map every important page and its traffic.
- Export content where possible — blog posts, images and meta data.
- Plan 301 redirects for every old URL to the new site to preserve rankings.
- Install analytics and verify tracking before switching DNS.
- Test forms and conversion paths so leads aren't lost during the transition.
- Submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console after launch.
If you don't want the technical work, a managed provider can handle the migration, redirects and post-launch monitoring so your traffic and enquiries remain steady.
Frequently asked questions
Are free builders bad for SEO?
Can I switch to a paid plan later?
What's the real cost of staying on a free builder?
Do managed services help with ads as well as websites?
Practical recommendations
- Use a free builder to validate ideas — launch fast, collect feedback, and measure demand before investing.
- Don't ignore analytics and forms — even on free plans, confirm you can track conversions and receive form submissions.
- Plan your growth path — if you expect consistent enquiries or paid ads, plan for a site that supports SEO, tracking and a custom domain.
- Consider managed help for long-term growth — a managed website with SEO and ads reduces technical overhead and helps scale enquiries predictably.
If you want to move faster than the DIY route
Managed services combine design, hosting, local SEO and analytics so you can focus on customers. For example, some providers (including Congero) offer rapid, AI-assisted builds, domain and hosting, plus local SEO and monthly reporting — useful when you want low admin and reliable growth without long contracts.
Extra tips for choosing a builder
- Check how easy it is to connect a custom domain later.
- Test page speed on mobile — that predicts user behaviour and SEO.
- Review how forms are delivered (email/webhook) so you actually receive enquiries.
- Confirm export options if you plan to migrate away in future.
Not sure which path is right for your business?
If you just need a simple brochure page, a free builder is a smart start. If your priority is predictable enquiries, local search visibility and measurable ad performance, a managed website + SEO + ads approach reduces risk and saves time.
No pushy sales — just honest options so you can choose fast and confidently.
