best free website builder review
Which truly free website builders are worth your time in 2025 — and where free plans fall short
Free website builders are tempting — no upfront cost, simple editors and instant hosting. This in-depth review compares the most popular free options (Wix, WordPress.com, Weebly, Google Sites, Webflow, Carrd), explains limits and hidden costs, and helps you choose the right path for your business.
Why try a free website builder?
Free website builders are great for experimenting, learning how site editors work, building simple personal pages, or launching a quick temporary landing page. They remove the biggest barrier — upfront cost — so you can test an idea without a credit card.
Best uses for free plans
- Personal portfolios, hobby projects, or event pages
- Proof-of-concept landing pages to validate demand
- Learning the editor before committing money
- Short-term promos or one-off announcements
What free plans typically block
- Custom domain connection (or charge to connect)
- No removal of platform ads or branding
- Limited storage, bandwidth and e‑commerce
- Restricted SEO and analytics tools
Quick feature comparison — free plans
Features below describe what the builders include on their free tiers in 2025; vendors change plans frequently — always verify current limits.
| Platform | Free plan highlights | Custom domain | Ads / Branding | Storage / Bandwidth | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Drag-and-drop editor, templates, basic SEO, app market (limited) | No (requires paid plan) | Yes — Wix ads and footer branding | Limited (varies); storage caps on free | Small portfolios & test sites |
| WordPress.com | Block editor, themes, community support, built-in hosting | No (paid upgrade) | Yes — WordPress.com ads/branding | Limited; often shared hosting quotas | Blogs, content-driven projects |
| Weebly | Simple site builder, eCommerce limited, SSL included | No (paid plan) | Yes — Weebly branding | Modest limits; good for small brochures | Small businesses wanting easy setup |
| Google Sites | Totally free, simple editor, integrates with Google Workspace | No (you can map a domain via DNS but features limited) | No visible ads, but limited branding control | Storage governed by your Google account | Internal pages, docs, quick team sites |
| Webflow | Designer-level control, CMS on paid plans, free staging subdomain | No (paid plan required to connect domain) | No platform ads, but free sites are on webflow.io subdomain | Project limits on free workspace | Design-first builders and prototyping |
| Carrd | Fast one-page sites, minimal learning curve, lightweight | Paid plan required to use custom domains | No ads; free subdomain only | Small pages ideal for landing pages | Simple landing pages & link-in-bio sites |
Short verdict: free plans are useful for experiments and simple pages. They usually trade flexibility, branding control, SEO features and portability for zero cost.
Platform deep-dive — strengths and limitations
Wix — easiest visual editor
Why it stands out: a powerful drag-and-drop with lots of templates and apps. Good for visual sites without coding.
Pros
- Very flexible page layouts
- Large template library and app marketplace
- Beginner-friendly editor
Cons
- Free plan displays Wix ads and subdomain
- SEO features good but advanced tools require paid tier
- Site code and export are limited — portability concerns
WordPress.com — content-first with community
Why it stands out: excellent blogging tools and content management. The free tier is good for starting a blog quickly.
Pros
- Robust editor and publishing workflow
- Large theme ecosystem and community support
- Good basic SEO out of the box
Cons
- Ads and branding on free plan
- Custom plugins and advanced features need paid tiers
- Performance varies with heavy themes on free hosting
Weebly — simple commerce options
Why it stands out: quick setup and basic eCommerce on higher tiers; free plan sufficient for a brochure site.
Pros
- Very straightforward site builder
- SSL included even on free plan
- Built-in store on paid plans
Cons
- Branding and limited features on free
- Fewer templates and integrations than competitors
Google Sites — free and reliable for internal use
Why it stands out: completely free with no paid tier required for hosting — great for intranets and internal documentation.
Pros
- No ads and very simple publishing
- Excellent integration with Google Workspace
- Fast, stable hosting via Google
Cons
- Very limited design flexibility
- Not suitable for marketing-heavy sites or SEO-first projects
Webflow — professional design control (steeper curve)
Why it stands out: near-complete design freedom and a modern visual CMS. Free tier suitable for staging and prototypes.
Pros
- Pixel-precise design control
- Modern, fast front-end output
- Good for designers and agencies
Cons
- Learning curve and higher upgrade costs
- Free sites live on webflow.io subdomain
Carrd — best for fast single-page sites
Why it stands out: extremely quick to use for landing pages, link-in-bio and simple promos; minimal overhead.
Pros
- Fast one-page creation
- No ads on free plan (subdomain only)
- Very low complexity
Cons
- Not for multi-page business sites
- Limited integrations on free plan
When a free plan stops being enough
Free plans are a good starting point — but there are clear signals it's time to upgrade:
- You need a professional domain: customers expect yourbusiness.com, not yourbusiness.wixsite.com.
- Branding matters: platform ads reduce trust and conversion.
- Performance & SEO: limited SEO tools and slow shared hosting hurt search rankings.
- Conversions & integrations: you need forms, booking, payments or email marketing connected reliably.
- Support & updates: when you don’t have time to manage content and fixes yourself.
A realistic upgrade path
Upgrading typically adds: custom domain, removal of ads, increased storage, reliable support, advanced SEO tools and better analytics.
For many small businesses, moving from free -> paid builder plan -> managed subscription is the fastest route to sustained results.
SEO, speed and real results — what free plans miss
Google ranks sites on page speed, structured data, mobile experience and relevancy. Many free plans limit what you can control — especially schema, meta tags and performance optimisations.
Common SEO limitations on free plans
- Restricted ability to edit meta tags or add structured data (schema)
- Limited or no server-side caching and CDN options
- No priority support for indexing or technical fixes
- Subdomains and branding reduce click-through rates
What drives real local leads
- Optimised local landing pages and schema for your service + suburb
- Fast mobile load times (target ≤2.5s) and clean UX
- Accurate NAP (name, address, phone) across site and Google Business Profile
- Monthly analytics and conversion tracking to iterate on pages
Subtle note: Some managed website services bundle local SEO, unlimited updates and analytics into one monthly price so your site is both found and converting — something free plans rarely deliver without heavy DIY effort.
The hidden cost of "free"
"Free" often just means you pay in time, limitations and missed revenue. Typical non-monetary costs:
- Time: DIY setup, writing content, and troubleshooting — dozens of hours.
- Lost customers: branding and slow pages reduce conversions.
- Upgrade fees: connecting domain, removing ads and adding features may cost more than a single predictable subscription.
- Migration headaches: moving off a builder can be technical and costly.
If your website converts one additional customer per month worth $200, a quick upgrade that costs $30–50/month is paid back many times over. The math matters.
Portability, backups and future-proofing
One risk with free builders is vendor lock-in: templates, proprietary widgets and platform-specific code can make export difficult. Consider portability early:
- Ask if the platform allows exporting content (HTML, CSV or XML).
- Use a custom domain as soon as possible — domains are portable even if platform content is not.
- Keep copies of images, text and customer form submissions off-platform.
- Plan for migration costs if you foresee needing advanced features later.
If portability is crucial, managed subscriptions or custom builds that provide exportable assets and straightforward ownership are safer long-term choices.
How to choose: checklist for decision-making
- Purpose: personal, portfolio, proof-of-concept or business growth?
- Time vs money: are you willing to spend hours to save dollars?
- Ownership: do you need a custom domain and exportable content?
- SEO & leads: will this site be relied on to generate paying customers?
- Support: do you need fast, expert help when things go wrong?
If you want to stay free
Choose Google Sites for internal use, Carrd for single-page promos, or Webflow for design-first prototypes. Accept trade-offs and plan for an upgrade path.
If you need results
Consider a paid plan or managed subscription that includes hosting, custom domain, SEO, and support — the predictable cost often outperforms a free site in real-world leads and conversions.
Tip: test on a free plan to validate your message, then move to a paid or managed option before you spend marketing budget.
Where managed services fill the gaps free builders leave
Free builders are great for learning and quick tests. For businesses that need reliable leads and predictable performance, managed website services often make more sense. They bundle:
- Custom domain, secure hosting and fast mobile-optimised pages
- Built-in local SEO (meta tags, schema, and on-page signals)
- Unlimited content updates performed by experts
- Monthly analytics and conversion tracking so you can improve what works
In short: if your site must attract paying customers reliably, paying a fair monthly fee for a managed service can be the difference between a site that's online and a site that grows your business.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free website "good enough" for a business?
Which free builder is best for blogs?
Can I move from a free builder to another platform later?
Are free sites indexed by Google?
Deciding between free and paid? Make the choice that grows revenue
If you only need a one-off page, a free builder is fine. If you want leads, local visibility and predictable results, consider a managed option that includes SEO, hosting and unlimited updates.
No matter which route you choose, focus on clear messaging, mobile UX and measuring conversions — those are the things that actually drive business growth.
