create free websites
Practical, no-nonsense advice for launching a working website with zero upfront cost — plus the smart upgrades to make it actually work for your business.
What does it mean to "create free websites"?
"Free website" usually means you can publish a site without paying money up front. In practice, free options trade off: you may get a subdomain (yourname.platform.com), platform branding or ads, limited storage/bandwidth, poor SEO, and no custom email. This guide shows realistic free paths, their limits, and when a low-cost managed option like Congero ($49/month) is a smarter business choice.
Common free website routes
- Hosted builders with free plans (subdomain + platform ads)
- Open-source CMS self-hosted on free hosting tiers (requires tech setup)
- Social pages & business profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Google Business Profile)
- Free previews and trials from providers (preview your site before paying)
Quick reality check
A "free" website can work for hobbies, experiments or one-off events. For trades and service businesses that need leads and reliable local visibility, the limitations of free plans often cost you more in missed enquiries and time.
Pro tip:
Use a free website to test messaging and images, then upgrade to a managed, SEO-optimised site when you're ready to get real enquiries.
Free website vs a professional managed site
Key differences that affect visibility, credibility and leads.
Free Builders
Quick to start, zero upfront cost, ideal for prototypes.
- Subdomain & platform ads
- Limited SEO controls
- Often no custom email
Self-hosted CMS
Powerful & customisable, but needs time and technical skills.
- Full control & plugins
- Hosting and security responsibility
- Potential hidden costs
Managed (Congero)
Fast, optimised, includes updates & local SEO for $49/month.
- Live in ~60 seconds via free demo
- Unlimited text-in updates
- Domain, hosting, SSL & analytics included
How to create a free website — 6 easy steps
Follow these steps to publish a basic website today. Time to live: 10–60 minutes depending on content readiness.
Define your goal
Decide whether the site is a simple business card, portfolio, booking page or online store. Keep it focused — one clear call-to-action converts best.
Choose a free platform
Pick a hosted free plan for speed (subdomain) or use a free hosting tier with a CMS if you’re technical. For instant previews, try Congero’s free 60s demo to see a real site without commitment.
Pick a template & branding
Use a clean template and upload your logo, a strong headline, 3 primary services, and 3 photos of your work. Aim for clarity over quantity.
Add crucial content
Include NAP (name, address, phone), a short services section, trust signals (reviews or years in business) and a clear CTA (call, SMS or booking link).
Publish & test
Publish to a subdomain for free. Test on mobile, check page speed, and make sure contact details and click-to-call work correctly.
Promote & measure
List your business on Google Business Profile, add local keywords to your home page, and track visits. If you get traction, consider upgrading to a managed site to capture more leads.
See a working version of your site for free — then decide.
Free websites: the hidden trade-offs
Free plans are tempting, but these common issues hurt business owners trying to get leads.
Subdomain & Branding
Using yourname.platform.com looks less professional and can confuse customers. Platform ads can also distract visitors.
Limited SEO Tools
Free plans often block advanced meta tags, schema and analytics — all essential for local search performance.
No Ownership & Export Limits
Some builders make it hard to export your content or migrate away. That can lock you into a platform or force a full rebuild later.
Security & Backups
Free hosting tiers may lack regular backups, DDoS protection and fast SSL support — all risks for customer trust and uptime.
Slow Performance
Shared free hosting often means slow load times, which hurts conversions and search rankings.
Support Constraints
Free users typically have limited or forum-only support — not ideal when your business depends on the site working.
When you should upgrade from a free site
Upgrade when the website starts costing you more in missed leads than the monthly fee.
- You're getting calls and need reliability — a managed site ensures uptime, fast pages and SSL.
- You need local search visibility — upgrades unlock schema, stronger SEO and analytics to grow traffic.
- You want ongoing edits without chaos — Congero offers unlimited text-in updates for simple maintenance.
- You want predictable cost — Congero is a flat $49/month including domain, hosting, SSL and analytics (no lock-in).
SEO checklist to make any free site findable
Even on free plans, these basics help your site rank and convert better.
Use your own domain
Whenever possible, swap the platform subdomain for a custom domain — it improves trust and SEO. If domain cost is a barrier, prioritize it once you have enquiries.
Mobile-first design
Most visitors are on phones. Ensure headings, click-to-call, and content load quickly and look great on small screens.
Local keywords & NAP
Include your suburb or service areas in page titles, meta descriptions and the visible business address to rank in "near me" searches.
Fast images
Compress photos and add descriptive ALT text. Slow pages kill conversions and rankings.
Structured data
Add localBusiness schema or service schema where possible — this helps search engines understand your offering.
Analytics
Install analytics to track where enquiries come from. Data guides whether to keep a free plan or upgrade to grow.
Frequently asked questions about free websites
Clear, practical answers so you know what to expect.
Can I really get a website for free?
Yes — you can publish a site using free plans or platform previews. Expect limitations like subdomains, ads, limited SEO, and restricted support.
Is a free site good enough for my trade or service business?
It can be a starting point, but most trades need reliable local SEO, fast pages and credibility — things free plans don’t always provide. A managed solution like Congero (from $49/month) often delivers more leads and less maintenance time.
What's the fastest way to have a real website live now?
Use a hosted builder free plan or a Congero free preview to see a real working site in under 60 seconds. If the preview converts, you can choose to upgrade for added features and a custom domain.
How much does a better website cost?
Managed plans that include domain, hosting, SEO and updates typically start around $49/month (Congero). That predictable cost often pays for itself with higher enquiry rates and less time spent maintaining the site.
Want a professional site without the headaches?
See a tailor-made website for your business in under 60 seconds — free preview, no card required. If you love it, Congero provides hosting, domain options and unlimited updates for a flat $49/month with no lock-in.
TRY THE FREE PREVIEW
