best free website builders 2025 list wix wordpress google sites carrd github pages
Honest, actionable comparisons of the leading free builders — who they suit, hidden costs, SEO trade-offs, and when a managed small-business site is the smarter choice.
Choosing a “free” website builder in 2025 can save money initially — but not all free options are equal. Below we break down Wix, WordPress (com + open-source), Google Sites, Carrd, and GitHub Pages so you know exactly what to expect for speed, SEO, flexibility and long‑term costs.
Wix — Best for drag-and-drop beginners
Wix remains one of the most popular “free” builders thanks to an easy visual editor, many templates, and app integrations. The free plan is generous for a prototype or simple brochure site — but there are trade-offs.
Quick facts
- Free plan: Wix subdomain, Wix branding, basic features
- Paid plans: $16–49+/mo for removal of ads, custom domain, e‑commerce
- Speed & SEO: Good editor control; templates can be heavy — careful optimization needed
- Support: 24/7 help centre & ticketing on paid plans
Pros
- Intuitive visual editor — no coding required
- Large template library and app marketplace
- Quick to launch a simple site
Cons
- Free plan includes Wix ads and subdomain (brand visibility issue)
- Some templates are heavy and slow on mobile if not optimized
- SEO control is limited compared to open platforms unless you upgrade
WordPress — Two paths: WordPress.com (hosted) vs self-hosted WordPress.org
WordPress powers a huge share of the web. In 2025, you can choose the hosted WordPress.com free tier (fast setup) or go self-hosted (maximum flexibility and SEO control) — the trade-off is technical involvement.
WordPress.com (free)
Easiest for non-technical users. Free subdomain and limited plugins. Good for blogs and simple sites.
- Fast setup and hosting included
- Limited plugin/theme support on free tier
- Upgrade required for custom plugins, advanced SEO
Self-hosted WordPress (Git, VPS, managed hosting)
Best choice if you need full control — custom themes, plugins, and advanced SEO. Requires hosting and maintenance.
- Full SEO control: metadata, schema, structured data, caching
- Large ecosystem of plugins and themes
- Requires updates, backups, and occasional debugging
Pros
- Unmatched flexibility and SEO capability (especially self-hosted)
- Huge developer and plugin ecosystem
- Scales from blog to enterprise sites
Cons
- Self-hosted sites need ongoing maintenance and security attention
- Hosted free tier is limited and shows WordPress branding
- Can be overwhelming for non-technical small-business owners
Google Sites — Best for internal pages and ultra-simple public pages
Google Sites is free and integrated with Google Workspace. It’s ideal for team intranets, project pages, or a lightning-fast public page — but it's intentionally simple and not built for sophisticated marketing or SEO.
Quick facts
Pros
- Totally free and reliable (Google infrastructure)
- Excellent for internal documentation or a simple contact page
- Very low maintenance
Cons
- Minimal SEO tools — no easy schema or plugin support
- Design and layout options are limited
- Not ideal for conversion-focused business sites
Carrd — Best for single-page landing pages and portfolios
Carrd is a minimalist builder that excels at single-page sites and microsites. The free tier is generous for one-page projects — and the editor is fast and distraction-free.
When to use Carrd
- Simple one-page landing pages, link-in-bio sites, portfolios
- Prototyping fast launches and simple funnels
Pros
- Extremely lightweight and fast
- Very affordable upgrades and clean output
- Great for non-technical users who want one page only
Cons
- Limited to single-page experiences (not for growing multi-page sites)
- SEO and scaling require workarounds
GitHub Pages — Best for developers and version-controlled static sites
GitHub Pages offers free hosting for static sites from a Git repository. Pair with a static site generator (Jekyll, Hugo, Eleventy) and you get a fast, SEO-friendly site — but it requires code and Git knowledge.
Quick facts
- Completely free hosting for public repos
- Excellent performance and control over markup for SEO
- Best suited to developers or teams who use Git workflows
Pros
- Full control of HTML, CSS, and structured data
- Blazing fast delivery (static files via CDN)
- Free and excellent for versioned workflows and documentation sites
Cons
- Requires coding and Git knowledge to maintain
- No built-in CMS for non-technical editors (third-party headless CMS needed)
- Support is community-driven rather than commercial
Side-by-side: quick feature comparison
| Feature | Wix | WordPress | Google Sites | Carrd | GitHub Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes (subdomain + ads) | Yes (WordPress.com; self-hosted requires hosting) | Yes (Google subdomain) | Yes | Yes (from public repo) |
| Custom domain on free | No | No (WordPress.com) / Yes if self-hosted | No | No | Yes (configured via DNS) |
| Ads / Branding on free | Yes | Yes (WordPress.com) | No branding, but limited features | No branding, limited features | No |
| SEO control | Moderate (better on paid) | High (self-hosted); moderate on WordPress.com | Low | Low–Moderate | High (full control of markup) |
| Performance | Okay (depends on template) | Depends on hosting | Fast (simple pages) | Very fast | Excellent (static CDN) |
| Ease for non-technical | Excellent | Good (WordPress.com) / Moderate (self-hosted) | Excellent | Excellent | Poor (developer-focused) |
| Recommended for | Small businesses who want visual editing | Blogs, content-heavy sites, businesses that need growth | Internal docs, simple public pages | Landing pages, portfolios | Docs, developer sites, static marketing sites |
Quick takeaway: if you want zero setup and visual editing, Wix or WordPress.com are easy. If you want speed and developer control, GitHub Pages is ideal. Carrd and Google Sites are superb for focused single‑page needs. For business owners who want reliable SEO, ongoing updates, and support without the technical overhead, a managed service is often the most cost-effective path (see "Why Congero" below).
When the free plan stops being enough
- You need a custom domain and to remove platform branding. That’s the most common reason to upgrade.
- Your site needs to convert visitors into customers. Professional SEO, structured data, fast hosting, and A/B testing matter.
- You want ongoing updates without learning new tools. If changes take hours or cost per edit, the monthly fee for managed services often pays for itself.
- Security & backups matter. Small businesses can’t afford downtime or data loss; managed hosting handles that for you.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Paid plan fees to remove ads or enable custom domains
- App/plugin fees (monthly) for features you assumed were free
- Your own time — content updates, SEO and troubleshooting
- Professional help for migrations or complex customizations
Why many small businesses choose a managed solution over "free"
Free builders are great for prototypes, hobbies, and very small projects. But for trades, local services and businesses that rely on predictable leads, the true question is: how quickly can you get a converting, SEO-optimised site live — and how easy is it to keep that site updated?
Speed & Ease
Managed services can launch a professional site in hours (or minutes with AI-driven tooling), remove the guesswork, and take updates by text — no fiddly editors or plugin conflicts.
Built-in SEO
Real local SEO requires proper metadata, schema, sitemap submission and speed tuning. Free plans often leave these as DIY items; managed sites include them as standard.
Support & Updates
When you need a price change, new photo or urgent fix, paying per-edit or wrestling with editors wastes time. Many businesses prefer unlimited updates and an expert support channel.
Predictable Cost
A single monthly fee that covers domain, hosting, SSL, and updates removes billing surprises and makes budgeting simple — especially for busy owners.
Example: Congero delivers fast, mobile-first sites with local SEO and unlimited updates for a flat monthly fee — ideal for trades and service businesses who want results without the technical overhead.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free website builder good enough for my business?
Which option has the best SEO out of the free tiers?
Can I migrate later from a free builder?
Which builder should you choose in 2025?
Short version:
If you value speed to market, SEO that brings local customers, and a support line to handle updates for you, consider a managed subscription. It removes the technical work, bundles domain + hosting + SSL, and often costs less than the time and hidden fees of DIY upgrades.
A note on costs and time
Free builders save money upfront, but when you add paid plans, plugins, performance tuning and the value of your time, a predictable subscription with included updates and local SEO often wins for small businesses that need steady enquiries.
Congero builds mobile-first, SEO-ready sites for service businesses with unlimited text-in updates and analytics — ideal if you prefer to focus on customers rather than site maintenance.
Not sure which path to take?
Try a free demo or test a one-page Carrd/Wix prototype — but if you want reliable SEO, ongoing updates and expert support without the headaches, a managed site is usually faster and cheaper in the long run.
