best free website builders 2025 wix wordpress google sites github pages
Honest, practical breakdown of the strengths and trade-offs of the most popular free builders — plus what to expect when you scale.
Choosing a free builder can save money up front — but cost, customization, SEO and maintenance vary widely. Use this guide to pick the right option for your goals.
At a glance: free builders compared
| Platform | Free Tier Pros | Key Limitations | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Drag-and-drop, hundreds of templates, built-in apps | Wix branding on free plan, limited SEO on some templates, slower at scale | Small businesses wanting fast visual control |
| WordPress.com (Free) | Familiar CMS, many themes, strong blogging tools | Limited plugins on free tier, WordPress ads/branding, customisation restricted | Bloggers and content-first sites that may scale later |
| Google Sites | Extremely simple, integrates with Google Workspace, reliable hosting | Very limited design/customisation, no plugins, weak SEO controls | Internal docs, simple brochure pages, low-tech users |
| GitHub Pages | Free static hosting, full control via code, great for developers | Requires coding/CLI; no hosted CMS; manual SEO setup | Developers, portfolios, documentation sites |
Note: "Free" often means trade-offs — ads, platform branding, or restricted features. If you plan to grow, expect some paid upgrades.
Wix — visual builder with easy editing
Wix gives non-technical users a powerful drag-and-drop editor, lots of templates, and an app market. It's designed for speed and visual control.
Pros
- Fast visual editing
- Built-in SEO tools (basic)
- Large template library
Cons
- Free plan shows Wix ads and URL
- Hard to fully migrate if you outgrow the platform
- Performance can lag on complex pages
When to pick Wix: you need a quick, visual site and prefer editing without code. Expect to upgrade for a custom domain, remove ads, and access advanced SEO features.
WordPress.com (Free) — content-first, familiar CMS
WordPress powers a huge portion of the web. The hosted free tier gives a familiar editor and blogging tools, but significant plugin and theme restrictions compared to self-hosted WordPress.
Pros
- Excellent content & blog features
- Huge ecosystem if you upgrade
- Strong editorial workflows
Cons
- Free tier restricts plugins and monetisation
- WordPress branding and ads on free plan
- Migrations to custom setups can be complex
When to pick WordPress.com: you're content-focused and may later upgrade to self-hosted WordPress for full plugin support and advanced SEO. For websites that need custom integrations, free WordPress.com is a starting point — not the final platform.
Google Sites — simplicity and reliability
Google Sites is intentionally basic: it offers a drag-and-drop layout and works seamlessly with Google Workspace. It's fast to set up and exceptionally reliable, but not built for marketing flexibility.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- No hosting or maintenance concerns
- Great for internal sites and quick brochures
Cons
- Poor SEO tooling and limited meta control
- No plugin ecosystem
- Design options are basic and repetitive
When to pick Google Sites: you need a simple internal site, a minimal brochure page, or strong Google Workspace integration — not a marketing-first website that needs conversions and advanced SEO.
GitHub Pages — free static hosting for developers
GitHub Pages provides free hosting for static sites. With tools like Jekyll, Hugo or static site generators, you get complete control and performance without hosting fees — if you can handle the developer workflow.
Pros
- Free, fast, and reliable hosting
- Full control over HTML/CSS/SEO
- Great for developers and tech portfolios
Cons
- No hosted CMS — content updates need a dev workflow
- Not suitable for non-technical owners
- SEO is manual (but precise) — you control everything
When to pick GitHub Pages: you or your team can manage code and want free, near-instant global hosting with fine-grained control over performance and SEO.
When free is enough — and when you should upgrade
Free tiers are great for prototypes, personal projects, or simple brochure pages. But most small businesses hit limits quickly. Here are common upgrade triggers:
- Need a custom domain and remove platform ads
- Require advanced SEO, schema, or analytics
- Want frequent content updates without developer time
- Need e-commerce, bookings or third-party integrations
Costs to scale — a realistic view
Moving from free to a business-ready site typically involves:
The real cost often comes from time and lost opportunity — if updates are slow or SEO is missing, you won't get the leads you need.
SEO & migration: what matters when you move off a free plan
Search visibility depends on technical SEO, content quality, and performance — not the price tag. However, free platforms can limit your ability to implement best-practice SEO.
Common SEO limitations on free builders
- Restricted title/meta editing or automatic branding in titles
- No control over advanced schema and structured data
- Slower page speed due to shared resources or heavy templates
- Harder to implement server-side redirects and canonical rules
- Limited ability to add analytics and tracking scripts
Migration risks to plan for
- URL changes causing 404s and traffic loss
- Missing metadata or altered page structure harming rankings
- Broken forms or integrations after move
- Potential downtime during DNS or hosting changes
Pro tip: If SEO and leads matter, plan migrations carefully (301 redirects, sitemap updates, analytics continuity). That work typically requires technical time — or a provider who handles it for you.
How to choose the right free builder for your project
- Define outcomes: Lead generation, portfolio, blog, internal docs — each has different needs.
- Estimate update frequency: If you change content weekly, you need a workflow that doesn't rely on a developer.
- Check SEO controls: Can you edit title tags, meta descriptions, and schema on the free plan?
- Plan for growth: Where will you be in 6–12 months? Pick a route that's migratable without huge rebuilds.
Quick recommendation
- Choose Wix if you prioritise visual editing and speed to market.
- Choose WordPress.com if content & blogging are central, with plans to upgrade later.
- Choose Google Sites for very simple pages or internal docs.
- Choose GitHub Pages if you have developer resources and want maximum control and performance.
If you're unsure, start small but plan for an easy upgrade path. Getting the basics right now (fast pages, good meta tags, forms that work) saves lots of traffic and leads later.
Where a managed web design & SEO service helps
Free builders can be a great starting point — but many small businesses trade time and performance for low cost. A managed service removes technical friction and focuses on measurable outcomes:
Faster results
Launch with professional design and copy that converts — without investing weeks of your time.
Fewer technical headaches
Domain setup, redirects, analytics and schema handled for you — reducing risk during growth or migration.
Better SEO outcomes
Active optimisation of meta data, local SEO and speed improvements that free tiers often lack.
Managed services typically remove the friction of updates, reduce hidden costs, and free you to run the business instead of maintaining a website. If your goal is leads and conversions, this often delivers better ROI than endlessly upgrading free plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free site good enough for a business?
Will a free builder hurt my SEO?
How hard is it to move off a free builder later?
What's the best free option for non-technical users?
Which should you choose?
For hobby or rapid prototypes: free tiers work well. For businesses that depend on leads, local visibility, and predictable growth, the hidden costs of "free" add up — in time, lost traffic, and missed enquiries.
If you value results over DIY effort
Consider a managed approach that includes professional design, performance optimisation and continuous SEO — many businesses find the monthly cost pays for itself in weeks through more enquiries.
Want help choosing? We review your current site (or your goals) and recommend the fastest, lowest-risk path — from free builders to a conversion-focused managed site.
