best site to build a website free
A practical, balanced guide to the top free website builders — pros, cons, and the real trade-offs for small businesses.
If you want to build a site without paying upfront, there are solid options. Free plans help you test ideas and get online quickly — but they have limits. This guide compares the most popular services and explains when a free builder is a smart short-term choice and when a managed service may save time and money long-term.
How we evaluated free website builders
We compared free plans from popular builders using practical criteria small businesses care about: setup speed, ease of use (non-technical workflow), core features (SSL, custom domain options, SEO basics), storage and bandwidth limits, branding/ads on free plans, upgrade paths, and available support channels. We also tested mobile responsiveness and basic performance on example sites.
Platforms we reviewed
The review focuses on free plans from the following widely used platforms:
Wix
Popular drag-and-drop builder with a large template library.
WordPress.com (Free plan)
Hosted WordPress with a simplified editor and theme options.
Google Sites
Very simple builder integrated with Google Workspace.
Weebly
Ease-of-use focused editor, now part of Square ecosystem.
Webflow (Starter)
Design-focused tool with higher learning curve; free workspace preview available.
Others
Smaller players and no-code builders vary — read their fine print on free plans.
Feature comparison — free plans at a glance
| Feature | Wix (Free) | WordPress.com (Free) | Google Sites | Weebly (Free) | Webflow (Starter) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom domain | Not on free (subdomain only) | Not on free (subdomain only) | Not on free (subdomain only) | Not on free | Not on free |
| Branding / ads | Wix branding on pages | WordPress.com branding | No ads but Google badge | Small Square/Weebly badge | No external ads but Webflow badge |
| SSL (HTTPS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | Limited (media restrictions) | Limited | Modest | Limited | Project preview, limited CMS items |
| SEO basics | Basic editor, metadata on paid | Basic SEO tools | Minimal | Basic | Advanced on paid plans |
| E-commerce | No (paid only) | No (paid only) | No | Limited or paid | Not on free |
| Support | Community & docs | Community & docs | Docs only | Community & docs | Community & docs |
| Good for | Quick test sites, portfolios | Blogging test, content-first | Internal sites, basic info pages | Simple small-business pages | Design experimentation |
Note: Free plans vary over time. Always review the provider's current free plan limits before building your primary business presence.
Pros & cons — platform-by-platform
Wix (Free)
Why people choose it
- Large template library and intuitive drag-and-drop
- Quick to get a basic site live
Limitations on free plan
- Wix ads and subdomain only
- Storage and app features limited
WordPress.com (Free)
Why people choose it
- Familiar CMS for content-heavy sites
- Scales easily when upgrading
Limitations on free plan
- Theme and plugin control restricted on free tier
- Branding and subdomain only
Google Sites
Why people choose it
- Extremely simple and integrated with Google Workspace
- Good for internal docs and quick info pages
Limitations on free plan
- Very limited design control and features
- Not optimized for advanced SEO or marketing
Weebly (Free)
Why people choose it
- Easy to use for simple business pages
- Integrates with Square for commerce on paid tiers
Limitations on free plan
- Branding and limited marketing tools
- Fewer modern templates
Webflow (Starter)
Why people choose it
- Highly design-flexible and performance-focused
- Strong for designers who want control
Limitations on free plan
- Steep learning curve for non-designers
- Free workspace previews, not full live site features
When a free website builder is a good choice
Free builders are useful in several situations:
- Proof of concept: Test an idea or showcase a personal portfolio quickly.
- Internal pages and documentation: Team wikis, simple intranet pages or event information.
- Learning and experimentation: Learn how a builder works before committing.
When free plans may not be enough
For a customer-facing small business that needs reliable local search performance, custom domain, branding control, lead capture, and ongoing updates, the limitations of free plans (subdomains, platform branding, limited SEO tools, and restricted support) can reduce effectiveness. In those cases a managed option that includes domain, hosting, SEO and easy updates may better serve business goals.
How a managed subscription compares to free builders
A managed subscription (monthly fee) and a free builder solve different problems. Free plans reduce initial cost and are great for testing, while managed subscriptions aim to reduce the time and technical overhead for businesses that need a reliable, customer-facing presence.
Free builder (typical)
- Low upfront cost
- Limited customization and support on free tier
- Potential future upgrade costs
Managed subscription (typical)
- Predictable monthly fee that bundles domain, hosting, updates and support
- Faster time-to-live with professional templates or custom design
- Ongoing local SEO and analytics handled for you
For many small service businesses, paying a modest monthly fee can be a trade-off: less DIY time, fewer surprises, and a single point of support when things need changing. If you value speed, ongoing updates, and local search performance, a managed subscription is an option worth considering.
How to choose: a simple decision checklist
- Is this a short-term test or your main business site? Free is fine to test; for a primary site consider paid/managed for reliability.
- How much time can you dedicate? If you prefer hands-off, a managed subscription reduces your workload.
- Do you need local search visibility? Built-in local SEO features can make a difference for service businesses.
- What's your real monthly budget? Factor in domain, removal of branding, and potential paid features when calculating cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free website safe to use for a business?
Can I move from a free plan to a custom domain later?
Will a free plan hurt my SEO?
When should I switch from free to paid or managed?
Which is the best free site to build a website?
There isn't a single "best" free builder — the right choice depends on your goals. For quick tests and basic pages, Google Sites or WordPress.com free plans are simple and fast. For more design control without immediate cost, Wix offers a large template set. For visual design flexibility, Webflow provides powerful tools but has a steeper learning curve.
If your priority is speed and zero-technical effort
Free builders get you online quickly. If you instead want a hands-off, business-ready website with a custom domain, local SEO and unlimited updates handled for you, a predictable managed subscription is another path to consider — it trades a modest monthly fee for time savings and ongoing support.
Want to compare options tailored to your business? Try a quick demo or test drive a managed option to see how it differs from the free builder experience.
Helpful tip: Start small with the free builder if you need to test — but plan the upgrade path (domain, SEO tools, and support) so you don't lose momentum when it's time to grow.
