best website maker free
A practical, unbiased comparison of popular free website builders — pros, cons, features, and when a paid subscription makes more sense.
Free plans are a great way to try platforms, but they vary widely in limits, branding, SEO, and value. Read this guide to pick the right free website maker for testing, side projects, or launching a small business MVP.
Quick Comparison: Popular Free Website Makers (2025)
Short overview of strengths and limitations. Use the table to match your needs (portfolio, brochure, learning, or fast MVP).
| Platform | Free plan limits | Ease of use | Best for | Notable cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Drag-and-drop editor, Wix subdomain, branded footer, limited storage | Very easy — visual editor, many templates | Small business brochure, creatives | Ads on free plan; performance can suffer with heavy templates |
| WordPress.com | WordPress.com subdomain, basic themes, limited plugins on free plan | Moderate — familiar CMS model, block editor | Blogging, content-first sites | Plugins & advanced SEO reserved for paid tiers |
| Weebly (Square) | Square subdomain, basic e-commerce features, branded footer | Easy — simple editor, good forms | Simple stores, local services | Limited design flexibility vs competitors |
| Google Sites | Free with Google account, no branding, limited templates, no plugins | Extremely easy — block-based, fast setup | Internal docs, microsites, quick portfolios | Not SEO-optimised; limited design & analytics options |
| Webflow (Starter) | Free staging subdomain, two projects, CMS restricted | Steep learning curve — designer-focused | Designers, advanced interactions, prototypes | Not beginner-friendly on free plan; hosting paid |
| Carrd | One-page sites free, Carrd branding, limited integrations | Very easy for single-page landing pages | Personal landing pages, link-in-bio | Single-page only; upgrades needed for forms/custom domains |
Platform by Platform — Pros, Cons, and Use Cases
Wix
Pros
- Drag-and-drop editor with many templates
- Built-in app market for added features
- Fast to launch a visually rich site
Cons
- Free plan adds prominent Wix branding
- Performance can degrade if templates are heavy
- Switching templates later requires rebuild
When to choose: you want a polished brochure site quickly and prefer visual editing. If you need strong SEO or remove branding, expect to upgrade.
WordPress.com
Pros
- Powerful CMS with block editor
- Large theme ecosystem (paid tiers expand options)
- Strong blogging and content tools
Cons
- Free plan restricts plugins and advanced SEO
- Can feel more technical for non-technical users
- Some features require paid plans
When to choose: your focus is publishing and content management. If you plan to scale with plugins or custom code, be prepared to move to paid hosting or a paid WordPress.com plan.
Google Sites
Pros
- Free with Google account, no extra billing
- Extremely easy to assemble pages and embed Docs/Sheets
- No forced external ads or aggressive upsells
Cons
- Basic templates and limited SEO controls
- Not designed for growth-oriented business sites
- No plugin ecosystem or advanced analytics
When to choose: internal pages, quick microsites, or simple portfolios where speed and simplicity beat customisation.
Webflow (Starter)
- Pros: Pixel control, advanced animations
- Cons: Not beginner-friendly; hosting costs beyond free
Carrd
- Pros: Extremely easy, excellent for landing pages
- Cons: Single-page limitation unless upgraded
Summary: Free plans are excellent for testing ideas, learning platforms, or hosting low-stakes pages. But most businesses will hit limits (branding, domain, SEO, or integrations) once they want to be discoverable and convert visitors.
Which Free Website Maker Should You Pick?
If you're experimenting or learning
Choose Google Sites, Carrd, or a Wix free account — fastest feedback with minimal setup.
If you need content or blogging
WordPress.com is the best free starting point; upgrade later for plugins and SEO tools.
If you want a launch-ready business site
Free plans usually leave key features off. For a discoverable, lead-generating site you should expect to remove branding, connect a domain, and add basic SEO — usually via a paid tier or a managed subscription.
If you need advanced design control
Webflow (designer-focused) or paid WordPress hosting gives the control — but free plans are only for prototyping.
When a Paid Subscription or Managed Service Makes More Sense
You should consider upgrading if:
- You want your own domain without platform branding
- You need basic SEO, fast loading, and analytics
- You want ongoing updates without learning a CMS
- You care about conversion (lead forms, booking, local search)
What paid tiers commonly add
- Custom domain & email
- Improved loading & storage
- Remove branding & ads
- Advanced SEO tools, analytics, e-commerce
A managed subscription service (paid) can be especially cost-effective for small businesses: it packages hosting, domain, security, SEO setup, and support into one predictable monthly fee — saving you time and avoiding surprise costs that often come with DIY free-to-paid upgrades.
Example: some modern services offer a done-for-you website, local SEO, and unlimited text-in updates for a single monthly price, which can be cheaper than the value of your time spent on DIY maintenance.
A Note About Managed Website Subscriptions
If you're comparing free builders to managed subscriptions, consider both cost and outcomes. Free plans are useful for prototypes and learning, but businesses that need reliable local search visibility, fast updates, and predictable support often benefit from a managed subscription model.
- Predictable cost: one monthly fee that covers domain, hosting, and updates.
- Faster time-to-live: professional services can publish a conversion-focused site in hours, not weeks.
- Ongoing optimisation: basic SEO, analytics, and unlimited small updates are common inclusions.
For example, modern managed services (including AI-assisted builders) can generate a fully responsive site quickly and handle local SEO and unlimited text-in updates for a flat monthly price — a strong alternative when you value results and time over tinkering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free always better when starting out?
Can free sites rank on Google?
When should I switch off a free plan?
Deciding Between Free and Paid?
Use a free builder to experiment. If you want consistent leads, local search presence, and a site you can update without learning a CMS, consider a managed subscription — it often pays back in saved time and better results.
No single option is universally best — pick the tool that fits your goals, budget, and how much time you want to spend maintaining the site.
