best free website creation sites
How to pick a free builder and use it to get found on Google — without being a tech expert
Free website builders are a great way for small businesses to get online fast. This guide shows which free platforms work best, their limits, and simple SEO + growth steps you can do today to attract local customers.
Starter cost (free plans)
Typical setup time
Free plan features (ads/subdomain)
SEO impact (with the right steps)
Why choose a free website builder?
Free website builders are designed to remove friction: you get a working website quickly, often using templates and drag-and-drop editors. For many small businesses (sole traders, tradespeople, cafes, consultants), a free plan is enough to get started and start being found by local customers.
Cons: Platform branding or ads, a subdomain (you.myplatform.com), limited SEO tools, and restrictions on e-commerce or advanced features.
Use free plans to validate your idea, collect enquiries, show your work, and start ranking locally. If your site brings customers, you can upgrade later (see "When to upgrade").
Best free website creation platforms (quick comparison)
Below are popular free options that work well for small businesses. Short notes explain strengths and common limits.
| Platform | Best for | Free plan limits | Upgrade triggers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix (free) | Small shops, service pages, visually-rich sites | Wix ads, wixsite.com subdomain, limited storage | When you want a custom domain or remove ads |
| WordPress.com (free) | Content-focused sites, blogs that may scale later | WordPress branding, limited plugins and SEO tools | When you need plugins or full SEO control |
| Weebly (free) | Simple brochure sites and basic stores | Weebly footer, limited ecommerce features | When you want full store features or remove branding |
| Google Sites (free) | Simple informational sites, intranets, event pages | Minimal design/customisation, no plugins | When design or SEO flexibility is needed |
| Carrd (free) | Single-page landing pages, promos, simple contact pages | One-page limit on free plan, no custom domain | When you need multi-page or forms that integrate |
| Strikingly (free) | Simple portfolio and service landing pages | Strikingly subdomain + limited sections | When you need multiple pages or e-commerce |
Quick advice
If you want visual control and templates: try Wix or Strikingly. If you plan to publish lots of content (articles, guides): WordPress.com is a better fit. If you need a fast single-page promo: Carrd is excellent. Google Sites is reliable for simple informational pages but not ideal for marketing or SEO-heavy sites.
How to pick the right free platform (a simple checklist)
- Goal first: Are you collecting leads, selling products, or publishing articles? Pick the platform that fits your main goal.
- Design vs speed: If you need a polished look choose Wix/Strikingly; for super simple pages choose Carrd or Google Sites.
- SEO control: WordPress.com and Wix offer better SEO controls than Google Sites or free Carrd pages.
- Custom domain: Expect to pay if you want your own domain (worth it for trust and SEO).
- Upgrade path: Choose a platform that makes upgrading easy when your business grows.
Step-by-step: Build a useful free website in 30–90 minutes
1. Prepare your content (15–30 mins)
- Short business description: one clear sentence about who you help and what you do.
- 3–5 service items with short bullet points and prices (if relevant).
- Contact info: phone, email, opening hours, address.
- 2–6 good photos of your work or products (use phone photos or free stock).
2. Pick a template and customise (15–30 mins)
- Choose a template close to your industry (plumber, cafe, salon) — this saves design time.
- Replace placeholder text with your prepared content. Keep headings short and benefit-focused (e.g., "Same-day repairs" not "About Our Services").
- Upload your photos and check they look good on mobile.
3. Add essential pages (10–20 mins)
- Home — clear headline + 1–2 CTA buttons (Call / Contact form).
- Services — short descriptions for each service.
- About — who you are, licences, short trust signals.
- Contact — phone, email, address, a simple map/embed if supported.
4. Publish and test (5–10 mins)
- Preview on phone and desktop. Is text readable? Are buttons big enough?
- Test contact links and forms.
- Connect a custom domain when you can — it improves trust and SEO.
SEO basics for non-technical business owners
You don't need to be a developer to make your free website show up on Google. Focus on a few simple things that matter the most.
1. Pick one primary keyword per page
Example: If you're a plumber in Brisbane, your home page primary keyword could be "Brisbane plumber". Use that phrase in your page title, main heading (H1/H2), and in the first 30–50 words naturally.
2. Page title and meta description (what shows in Google)
Most free builders let you edit the page title and meta description. Keep the title under ~60 characters and the description under ~155 characters. Make it clear and include your main location/service.
Example meta: Fast, reliable plumbing across Brisbane. Call for same-day repairs and transparent pricing.
3. Headings & readable content
Use clear headings (H2/H3) for sections (Services, About, Contact). Keep sentences short and scannable — customers and Google both prefer easy-to-read pages.
4. Images: file names and alt text
Rename images before uploading (e.g., brisbane-plumber-van.jpg) and add alt text like "Plumber repairing a hot water system in Brisbane" — this helps search and accessibility.
5. Local SEO basics
Create or claim your Google Business Profile (GBP) and keep your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistent on your website and directory listings. Add your service areas and opening hours on your site.
6. Analytics and verification
Connect Google Search Console and Google Analytics (or similar) if your platform allows it. These give simple insights: which pages get views and what people search for to find you.
7. Keep it fresh
Add a new page or short blog post every few weeks about common customer questions or recent jobs. Fresh, local content helps you rank and gives material to share on social media.
Simple growth strategies using a free website
Local Listings
Add your business to Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, Facebook, and local directories. Make sure your business details match exactly.
Collect Reviews
Ask happy customers for Google or Facebook reviews. Display short testimonials on your site — reviews improve trust and click-throughs from search results.
Share Useful Content
Post short how-to articles, before/after photos, or quick tips. Share them on social media and local community groups to drive visits.
Get one or two local links
Ask local suppliers, community groups, or trade partners for a listing link to your site. A few relevant links help search visibility more than many low-quality ones.
Use small paid campaigns (optional)
If you need bookings fast, a small local ad spend on Facebook or Google can drive traffic to your new site. Make sure the landing page matches the ad message.
Consistency wins
Update your site and local profiles regularly. Respond to enquiries quickly — conversion speed matters as much as traffic.
When a paid plan or a pro service makes sense
Free plans are great to start, but there are clear signs you should upgrade or switch to a managed service:
- You need a custom domain and want to remove platform ads.
- You're getting steady enquiries and need better SEO or faster pages.
- Your site needs booking, payments, or integration with other tools.
- You'd rather spend time on customers while a pro handles updates and growth.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free website good enough for a small local business?
Will free sites rank on Google?
Do I need to pay for a domain?
How often should I update the site?
What if I get stuck with the technical settings?
Ready to get online the right way?
Start with a free site to learn the ropes — or go professional if you want a fast, fully-managed website with built-in local SEO and unlimited updates.
Congero offers a fully-managed, mobile-first website with local SEO, domain & hosting included for a single monthly fee — ideal when your free site starts bringing customers and you want to scale without the tech hassle.
