best free website builders 2025 wix vs wordpress vs google sites
A practical comparison of the free tiers: what you get, what you give up, and which choice suits your goals.
Free plans are great for experiments and portfolios, but they differ on customization, branding, SEO and long-term ownership. Below you'll find clear pros and cons for Wix Free, WordPress.com Free, and Google Sites — plus practical recommendations.
Quick comparison: free plans at a glance
| Feature | Wix (Free) | WordPress.com (Free) | Google Sites (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom domain | No (subdomain wixsite.com) | No (subdomain wordpress.com) | No (sites.google.com) |
| Provider branding | Yes — Wix ads/branding | Yes — WordPress.com footer | Minimal Google header/footer |
| Templates & drag‑drop | Full visual editor, many templates | Block editor; templates but limited drag layout | Simple blocks; limited templates |
| Storage / media | Limited (images/video quotas) | Limited (media weights enforced) | Modest — integrates with Google Drive |
| SEO tools | Basic SEO settings (limited on free) | Basic SEO; upgrades add sitemaps/advanced tools | Minimal SEO controls |
| Plugins / extensions | Paid apps only | Plugins not available on free (WordPress.org vs .com difference) | None — integrated Google features only |
| Best for | Visual quick prototypes, portfolios | Simple blogs or content-first sites | Internal sites, quick info pages, education |
Wix — Free plan
Wix free gives a generous visual editor and many templates. It's easy to build pixel-accurate pages using drag-and-drop, which is ideal for users who want quick visual control without coding.
Pros
- Powerful visual editor and template library
- Simple to create attractive pages quickly
- Built‑in media tools and animations
Cons
- Wix branding and ads on free sites
- No custom domain on free plan
- Advanced SEO and apps require paid plan
Best when you prioritise visual design and want a fast, polished prototype. Upgrade needed for professional features like a custom domain and no ads.
WordPress.com — Free plan
WordPress.com free is content-focused and familiar to many. It uses a block editor (Gutenberg) that works well for blogs and simple business pages.
Pros
- Strong content and blogging features
- Reliable hosting and broad community support
- Simple path to upgrade for more features
Cons
- No plugins or advanced customisation on free
- WordPress.com branding and subdomain
- Somewhat steeper learning curve than drag-and-drop builders
Good if content publishing is your primary goal. For custom features or full control you’ll need a paid plan or self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org).
Google Sites — Free
Google Sites focuses on simplicity and collaboration. It’s tightly integrated with Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets) and is useful for internal pages, portfolios, and basic info sites.
Pros
- Extremely simple and fast to publish
- Integrates with Google Drive and Docs
- Reliable, minimal maintenance
Cons
- Very limited design and SEO controls
- No plugins or ecommerce options
- Not ideal for public-facing businesses that need discovery
Best for internal projects, quick documentation sites, or people already invested in Google Workspace who need near-zero maintenance.
What matters most: SEO, ownership and scale
Free builders are useful, but three areas commonly limit long-term results: search visibility, domain ownership, and ability to grow. Below is a concise summary to help you plan.
SEO
Wix offers basic SEO tools (improved on paid plans). WordPress.com has good content structure for blogs, but advanced SEO is behind paid tiers. Google Sites gives minimal SEO controls — fine for internal or small info pages, not ideal for discovery-driven businesses.
Ownership
Free plans use provider subdomains. If owning a custom domain is important, plan to upgrade or register/point your domain elsewhere. Always export and back up your content where possible.
Scalability
If you expect growth (ecommerce, bookings, higher traffic), free tiers are temporary. WordPress (self-hosted) and premium Wix/WordPress plans scale better. Google Sites is not designed for scaling public business websites.
Which free builder should you pick?
- Choose Wix Free if design control and visual polish matter most and you’re prototyping a portfolio or single-page promo.
- Choose WordPress.com Free if you plan to publish articles or long-form content and may upgrade later to more advanced features.
- Choose Google Sites if you need a fast, collaborative internal site or a basic public info page with minimal maintenance.
All three have legitimate uses. The right choice depends on your priorities: appearance, content publishing, or simplicity.
Beyond free: an alternative to consider
Free builders are useful short-term, but many small businesses find a managed subscription approach easier and more predictable. Typical advantages of a managed service (vs staying on a free plan) include:
- Custom domain and removal of provider branding from day one
- Built-for-mobile professional design without the DIY time cost
- Basic local SEO, hosting, SSL and ongoing updates included under one monthly fee
- Predictable pricing and less time spent on maintenance or technical issues
If you value ease, reliable results, and cost predictability over tinkering with a free plan, a managed subscription can pay for itself quickly — especially for trades and local service businesses that need a site that converts.
Frequently asked questions
Are free websites indexed by Google?
Can I move from a free builder to another platform later?
Is a managed service worth the cost?
Ready to move beyond the limits of free plans?
Try a demo to see how a managed site compares in speed, SEO and brand control. Free builders are great to start — managed services make growth simpler.
