best free website builders 2025 wix wordpress google sites carrd github pages netlify
An impartial guide to the most popular free website builders — pros, cons, features, and which option fits your goals.
Free website builders are a great way to get online quickly, but not all free tiers are equal. This guide breaks down Wix, WordPress (com), Google Sites, Carrd, GitHub Pages and Netlify — what they include for free, where they limit you, and which types of projects each one suits best.
Wix — drag-and-drop with big-brand polish
Wix is a visual, drag-and-drop builder aimed at non-technical users. The free plan gives you a Wix-branded domain and templates; upgrading removes branding and unlocks advanced features.
- Extensive template library and editor freedom
- App Market for added functionality
- Free tier includes Wix ads and a wixsite.com URL
Pros
- Very easy visual editor
- Large template selection
- Built-in apps and payments
Cons
- Free plan shows Wix branding and limited storage
- Editor freedom can create inconsistent mobile layouts
- SEO features are behind paid tiers
WordPress.com — flexible blogging and content-first sites
WordPress.com (hosted) offers a free plan with a wordpress.com subdomain. It's strong for blogs and content management; advanced customisation often requires paid plans or WordPress.org self-hosting.
- Powerful CMS and blogging tools
- Large plugin ecosystem (paid tiers or self-hosted)
- Free plan limited on themes and plugins
Pros
- Industry-standard CMS
- Good content editing and SEO basics
- Easy to scale to paid plans or self-hosting
Cons
- Plugins and advanced themes require paid plans or self-hosting
- Learning curve if you move to WordPress.org
- Free subdomain includes WordPress branding
Google Sites — extremely simple, reliable, and free
Google Sites is intentionally basic: drag-and-drop sections, automatic mobile layout, and tight Google Workspace integration. It’s free but limited for marketing purposes.
- No cost for Google account holders, simple sharing
- Easy collaboration and embed of Docs, Maps, Forms
- Limited templates, poor SEO controls
Pros
- Free and reliable hosting via Google
- Very low learning curve
- Strong Google Workspace embedding
Cons
- Not built for marketing or conversions
- Very limited SEO and analytics options
Carrd — one-page sites with speed and simplicity
Carrd is optimised for single-page sites: personal landing pages, link pages, simple portfolios. The free tier is generous for one-page usage; pro features unlock forms, custom domains and integrations.
- Fast, minimal templates and very affordable pro plan
- Great for lightweight marketing pages
- Not suitable for multi-page sites or stores
Pros
- Extremely fast and lightweight
- Intuitive one-page editor
- Low-cost pro features
Cons
- Not designed for multi-page sites or complex navigation
- Limited built-in SEO analytics on free plan
GitHub Pages — free static hosting for developers
GitHub Pages offers free hosting for static sites from a GitHub repo. It's ideal for developers comfortable with Git and static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo, Eleventy).
- No hosting cost and supports custom domains
- Good for documentation and project sites
- Requires Git knowledge and build tooling
Pros
- Completely free hosting for static content
- Supports custom domains and HTTPS
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly (Git, CLI, build process)
- No built-in CMS — content updates require commits
Netlify — modern hosting with CI/CD and edge features
Netlify provides a generous free tier for hosting static sites with continuous deployment from Git. It includes forms, serverless functions and global CDN — which makes it powerful for JAMstack projects.
- Automatic builds from Git and global CDN
- Free HTTPS and custom domains
- Developer-focused and requires build tooling
Pros
- Robust build and deploy pipeline
- Serverless functions and form handling on free tier
Cons
- Requires Git and build familiarity
- Free tier has bandwidth/build minute limits
At-a-glance feature comparison
| Platform | Free tier caps | Ease of use | Custom domain | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Wix ads, storage limits | Very easy (drag-and-drop) | No on free plan | Small business, creative sites |
| WordPress.com | WordPress branding, limited themes | Moderate (CMS learning) | No on free plan | Blogs, content-heavy sites |
| Google Sites | Very limited templates and SEO | Extremely easy | No (unless paid Workspace) | Internal pages, documentation |
| Carrd | One site, Carrd branding | Very easy (one-page) | No on free plan | Landing pages, personal sites |
| GitHub Pages | Static-only, no server-side | Developer-focused | Yes (custom domain) | Developer docs, project sites |
| Netlify | Build minute & bandwidth limits | Developer-focused | Yes | JAMstack sites, web apps |
Which free builder should you pick?
Where free builders fall short — and where managed subscriptions help
Free plans are excellent for getting online, prototyping or learning. However, for businesses that need leads, reliability and predictable costs, free tiers usually miss key items: removal of platform branding, reliable local SEO, fast support, domain management and ongoing updates.
Common limitations of free tiers
- Platform ads and subdomains
- Limited SEO and schema controls
- Slow support and no content maintenance
What managed subscriptions typically provide
- Custom domain and SSL included
- Ongoing updates and fast support
- Local SEO, analytics, and conversion optimisation
A neutral note: If you’re a hobbyist, student or building a temporary page, free builders are ideal. If you run a trade or service business and rely on your website for enquiries, consider a managed subscription that bundles hosting, domain, analytics and updates into a single predictable fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is the free plan good enough for a business?
Can I move my site later?
Which builder is best for SEO on a free plan?
Need a website that actually generates leads?
Free builders are useful — but if you want a done-for-you website with hosting, domain, local SEO and unlimited updates included, managed subscriptions remove the technical overhead and hidden costs.
Further reading & tools
- Google PageSpeed Insights — test mobile speed
- Google Business Profile — local presence guide
- Exporting & migrating a site — checklist for moving platforms
