best sites to build a website for free
Which free website builders make sense in 2025 — and when a managed, SEO-first approach is the smarter choice.
Free plans can be excellent for testing ideas or creating a simple page quickly. But they come with limits that matter if you want customers to find you and contact you reliably. This guide compares the most popular free builders, shows practical trade-offs, and outlines when a tailored web design + SEO service gives better results.
Who should consider a free website builder?
Free builders are ideal in specific scenarios: testing an idea, a simple portfolio or one-page resume, a short-term event page, or learning basics of site editing. They're not always the best choice for businesses that need predictable lead flow, consistent local search visibility, or advanced customisation.
Good candidates
- Hobby sites, quick landing pages, test projects
- Non-critical single-page brochures
- Someone learning site editing
Not ideal for
- Local trades who rely on Google search & phone leads
- Businesses needing custom integrations or advanced SEO
- Sites where brand control and ownership are critical
Direct comparison — free plans (practical view)
The table below focuses on what you actually get on a free plan in 2025: storage, domain, branding, SEO tools and typical limitations.
| Platform | What free includes | Main limits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix (Free) | Drag-and-drop editor, templates, Wix subdomain, basic hosting, limited storage | Wix adverts, no custom domain, SEO apps behind paid plans, slower removes | Creative small projects & testing layouts |
| WordPress.com (Free) | Hosted WP on subdomain, blogging tools, basic themes, community support | Strict theme/plugin limits, WordPress.com ads, no custom plugins, limited SEO control | Simple blogs, content-first experiments |
| Google Sites | WYSIWYG editor, Google account integration, fast simple pages, free hosting on sites.google.com | Very limited design flexibility, weak SEO controls, no plugins | Internal docs, team pages, event pages |
| Carrd (Free) | One-page sites, extremely fast builder, simple responsive templates | Single page only on free plan, Carrd branding, limited forms & integrations | Landing pages, link-in-bio sites |
| Weebly (Free) | Simple e‑commerce start, subdomain, editor and templates | Weebly branding, reduced e‑commerce features, limited analytics | Small stores testing products, simple business pages |
| Managed, SEO-first service (example) | Custom domain, professional design, local SEO, hosting, analytics, unlimited updates | Monthly fee — but predictable, includes maintenance & support | Businesses that need reliable leads and local visibility |
Quick takeaways
- Free plans are a trade-off: zero monthly cost now, but restrictions that can block growth later.
- Common limits: platform branding, no custom domain, capped storage, limited SEO tools, and no advanced integrations.
- If your goal is discoverability and steady enquiries, predictable small monthly investments often deliver better ROI than a free site that never gets found.
Wix (free plan): strong design tools, noticeable limits
Wix offers one of the most user-friendly drag-and-drop editors. The free plan is generous for experimentation, with many templates and easy visual edits.
When to choose Wix
Choose Wix free if you need to mock up a visually-rich page fast or learn a site editor. Avoid relying on it long-term if you need a custom domain, ad-free experience, or advanced SEO.
WordPress.com (free): content-first but constrained
The WordPress.com free plan is attractive for blogs and content creators. It provides a familiar editing experience but restricts themes, plugins and monetisation on the free tier.
When to choose WordPress.com
Good for content experiments or hobby blogs. If you need advanced SEO, custom plugins, or a professional storefront, self-hosted WordPress or a managed service is usually a better long-term choice.
Google Sites: speed and simplicity, limited customisation
Google Sites is reliable and extremely simple to use. It integrates with Google Workspace and is a good choice for internal or temporary pages—but design and SEO controls are minimal.
When to choose Google Sites
Use for intranets, quick event pages or internal documentation. For public-facing business sites meant to attract local customers, Google Sites rarely provides the required SEO signals.
Carrd: brilliant for single-page simplicity
Carrd is focused on single-page landing sites. Its free tier lets you build a fast, responsive one‑pager quickly. It's not intended for multi-page business sites.
When to choose Carrd
Ideal for a focused landing page or "link in bio" site. If you need multiple pages, local SEO, or structural content for search, you’ll quickly outgrow the free plan.
Weebly: easy store beginnings with caveats
Weebly's free tier lets you place a basic storefront or business page quickly. It’s useful for small product tests, but transaction fees and feature caps apply on non-paid plans.
When to choose Weebly
Good for testing a small store concept. For growing online sales or advanced marketing integrations you’ll likely need a paid plan or dedicated e‑commerce platform.
Common limitations of free plans that affect visibility
Many free plans are fine visually, but lack features that affect how Google and customers find and use your site. Below are the practical limitations to consider.
SEO & discoverability
- Many free plans limit meta tag control, structured data (schema), and sitemap submission.
- Subdomains and platform branding can reduce trust and click-through rates from search results.
Technical & integrations
- Limited access to analytics, tag managers and third-party integrations on free plans.
- Performance and hosting priority can be lower than paid customers.
How a tailored web design + SEO service differs
Free builders minimise cost at the expense of control, ownership and advanced SEO. A managed, tailored service trades a small monthly fee for predictable outcomes: faster local rankings, conversion-focused pages, and ongoing updates handled by professionals.
Customisation
Design that matches your brand, custom layouts, and bespoke conversion elements tailored to your customers — not a template compromise.
Local SEO
Proper schema, meta tags, Google Business integration and on-page signals optimised to appear in local "near me" searches.
Ongoing support
Regular performance checks, analytics, and content updates—so your website keeps delivering leads without you wrestling with the editor.
For example, many small trades and service businesses that launched on free plans later moved to a managed service because they needed:
- Custom local SEO to show up on Google Maps and local packs
- Faster page loads and fewer form failures
- Unlimited small edits without hourly fees
A fair cost comparison
While free is attractive, consider total cost of ownership: lost leads from poor visibility, time spent managing a site, or paying multiple add-ons to reach feature parity. Many businesses find a predictable monthly plan (often under $100/mo) that includes hosting, updates and SEO is more cost-effective over 12 months than the hidden losses of a free site.
Deciding which route is right for you
If you need a quick, no-cost page to test an idea, free builders are a legitimate choice. If your priority is consistent enquiries, local search visibility, or a site built to convert customers, a tailored and SEO‑focused service provides measurable advantages.
Want to see a different approach?
Some businesses choose a managed option because it eliminates the technical overhead and delivers predictable results—professional design, reliable hosting, built-in SEO and unlimited updates for a simple monthly fee.
No judgement: choose the tool that fits your immediate needs. If you want predictable local leads, consider a managed, SEO-first service as a long-term investment.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free site bad for SEO?
Can I move from a free plan to a paid or managed service later?
What’s the one question to ask before picking free vs paid?
Ready to compare live?
Try a free plan to learn — or see how a managed, SEO-first approach can deliver reliable local leads with minimal effort.
See How It WorksNo pressure — just clear options so you can choose what’s right for your business.
