Comparison 2025
best free website builders 2025 wix vs wordpress.com vs google sites vs github pages
Quick, practical comparison to help you pick the right free builder for your project.
$0
Free tier available
Beginner → Pro
Scales with effort
SEO & Speed
Varies by platform
Ownership
Domain & code control differ
At-a-glance: quick snapshot
| Platform | Free tier limits | Best for | Ownership / export |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Drag‑and‑drop builder, Wix branding, subdomain | Small businesses wanting visual control w/out code | Limited export; domain transfer possible on paid plan |
| WordPress.com | Classic CMS experience, limited themes, ads on free | Blogs and content sites that may later scale | Export via XML; move to self‑hosted WP for full control |
| Google Sites | Simple page builder, no plugins, free with Google account | Internal docs, small team pages, simple brochure sites | Export limited; data stays in Google ecosystem |
| GitHub Pages | Free static sites from repo, full control with code | Developers, documentation, portfolios, JAMstack sites | Full ownership of code and content (Git) |
Wix — visual, beginner-friendly
Wix remains the easiest visual builder for non-technical users. The editor is WYSIWYG and feature-rich, but free plans display Wix ads and use a Wix subdomain.
Pros
- Very easy drag‑and‑drop editor with many templates.
- Built‑in apps (forms, bookings, basic stores) without code.
- Quick site launch for marketing and small business pages.
- Free plan has prominent Wix branding and limited SEO controls.
- Hard to move full site off Wix; limited exportability.
- Performance can lag if overloaded with apps/templates.
Best if: you want a polished site quickly with visual control and no coding. Consider upgrading if you need a custom domain, remove ads, or advanced SEO.
WordPress.com — CMS-first, content-focused
WordPress.com provides the WordPress experience with managed hosting. Free plan is solid for blogs and content, but plugins and advanced themes require paid tiers.
Pros
- Strong content management and SEO basics out of the box.
- Easy to scale: export content, migrate to self‑hosted WordPress for plugins and full control.
- Large ecosystem, familiar UI for many users.
- Free tier shows WordPress branding and has limited monetisation.
- Full flexibility (plugins, custom themes) needs paid or self‑hosted setup.
- Can be overkill for a simple brochure page.
Best if: you prioritise content, blogging, or expect to scale to a more powerful site later. Export path is clear if you outgrow the managed plan.
Google Sites — ultra-simple, Google ecosystem
Google Sites is aimed at speed and simplicity — good for internal pages, team sites, or an uncomplicated online presence. It’s not built for complex SEO or commerce.
Pros
- Free with a Google account, intuitive block editor and collaboration.
- Tight integration with Google Drive, Calendar, Maps.
- Fast to set up simple pages or intranet content.
- Very limited design flexibility and no plugin ecosystem.
- Poorer SEO controls and rigid URL structure unless paired with a custom domain.
- Not ideal for growth into an SEO-driven business site.
Best if: you need a fast internal site, a simple brochure page, or close Google integration without cost.
GitHub Pages — code-first, full control
GitHub Pages hosts static sites directly from repositories. It’s ideal for developers or anyone comfortable with Git, Markdown, or static site generators.
Pros
- Free hosting, no branding, and complete control over code and performance.
- Excellent for documentation, portfolios, JAMstack sites; integrates with CI/CD.
- Low hosting overhead; optimised static delivery (speed & security).
- Steep learning curve for non‑developers (Git, CLI, build tools).
- No built‑in CMS or GUI editing unless you add a headless CMS.
- Not suitable for dynamic server‑side features without extra services.
Best if: you want full technical control, maximum speed, and ownership of your code — and you're comfortable with Git workflows.
How to choose — six quick decision points
Technical skill
Non‑technical → Wix / Google Sites. Comfortable with code → GitHub Pages or self‑hosted WP.
SEO & growth
Content-first growth → WordPress.com (or migrate to self‑hosted WP). For advanced SEO control consider self‑hosted + managed services.
Speed & reliability
Static sites (GitHub Pages) win for raw performance; managed builders vary by plan.
Ownership
GitHub Pages = highest code ownership. WordPress.com & Wix = easier, but full export often requires paid tiers or migrations.
Cost to scale
Free is fine to start — expect to pay for custom domain, remove branding, and advanced features when you grow.
Maintenance
Managed builders reduce maintenance work; code-first approaches require updates and build pipelines.
Migration, SEO & real-world tips
- Start with a plan: pick a platform with a clear export path if you expect to grow — WordPress.com has a straightforward export; Wix is more restrictive.
- Domain early: register a custom domain once you’re ready to appear professional — moving a domain later is usually straightforward.
- SEO basics: ensure title tags, meta descriptions, mobile friendliness, and a sitemap are available on the plan you choose. Free plans sometimes limit these controls.
- Backups: keep copies of content (Markdown, XML, or HTML) so you can migrate without losing content if needed.
- Performance: optimise images and use CDN where possible. Static hosting (GitHub Pages) avoids common dynamic slowdowns.
Which one should you pick?
If you want the fastest no‑code route to a clean, professional site and prefer not to manage technical details, Wix or WordPress.com are sensible starting choices. For internal or very simple pages, Google Sites is quickest. If you or someone on your team knows Git, GitHub Pages gives unbeatable control and performance.
If you value a balanced middle ground — quick launch, strong local SEO, predictable cost, and low maintenance — many businesses choose a managed subscription that combines a professional design with easy updates. (Congero, for example, offers AI-driven quick launches, ongoing SEO, hosting, domain and unlimited updates on a single monthly plan — an option worth considering if you want to avoid the DIY trade-offs.)
Final quick picks:
- Non-technical, visual: Wix
- Content-first, scalable: WordPress.com → migrate to self-hosted later
- Google ecosystem/simple intranet: Google Sites
- Developer, full control: GitHub Pages
Short FAQ
Is a free plan safe to start with?
Yes — free plans are great for testing ideas. For branding, SEO and trust you’ll usually want to upgrade to a paid plan or add a custom domain when ready.
Can I switch platforms later?
Mostly yes — but complexity varies. WordPress.com exports are straightforward; Wix can be more involved. Keep backups of content to ease migration.
Which offers best SEO on free plans?
WordPress.com generally gives the strongest content SEO tools on managed plans; GitHub Pages can be excellent for speed and technical SEO if you configure meta tags and sitemaps yourself.
Ready to pick the right path?
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