design free websites
Step-by-step guide to designing a free website that actually works — tools, templates, SEO tips, pitfalls to avoid and when to move to a managed solution.
Should you design a free website in 2025?
Free website builders let you launch quickly at zero upfront cost — ideal for testing ideas or getting an online presence fast. This guide shows the best free options, real limitations you’ll face (SEO, branding, speed, ownership), and practical steps to launch a site that brings leads.
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Zero upfront cost — great for landing a web presence fast.
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Mobile-ready templates — many builders include responsive themes by default.
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Limited customisation — most free plans restrict CSS, scripts and integrations.
Best free website builders in 2025
Quick comparison of the leading free platforms — ideal for different use cases.
Wix (Free)
Excellent templates and drag-and-drop design. Free sites include Wix ads and a wixsite.com subdomain.
Best for: small portfolios, creatives testing ideas.
WordPress.com (Free)
Powerful blogging features and growth options. Free plan limits themes, plugins and includes WordPress branding.
Best for: bloggers and content-heavy sites.
Google Sites (Free)
Extremely simple, integrates with Google Workspace. Very limited design flexibility and no custom domain on free plan.
Best for: internal pages or basic info sites.
How to design a free website (practical steps)
Follow these steps to launch a usable free website and avoid common beginner mistakes.
01 — Choose the right platform
Match features to your goals: portfolio, bookings or blog.
02 — Pick a clean template
Start with a simple, mobile-first template for faster load times.
03 — Add clear content
Use a concise headline, 3 main services, contact details and one strong CTA.
04 — Publish & test
Test on mobile, measure page speed and add Google Analytics if supported.
Quick checklist before launch
- Visible phone number and click-to-call on mobile
- Service locations and an address (for local SEO)
- One or two genuine customer testimonials or photos
- Page titles and meta descriptions with your main keyword + location
Why free websites can hold your business back
Free plans are great for prototypes, but businesses that need leads and growth often outgrow them quickly.
Branded subdomains & ads
Free sites often sit on a subdomain (yoursite.provider.com) and display the builder’s ads — which undermines trust and local credibility.
SEO & analytics limits
Many free plans restrict meta controls, slow page speeds and block advanced analytics — making it hard to rank locally or track leads.
No ownership & export limits
You may not be able to connect a custom domain, export code, or move content easily if you outgrow the platform.
When to upgrade from free to managed
If you want real enquiries, local search visibility, and a website that grows with your business, consider an affordable managed plan that includes hosting, SEO, and unlimited updates.
SEE A PROFESSIONAL DEMOSEO best practices — even on a free plan
Follow these practical SEO steps you can implement on most free platforms to improve discoverability.
Local keywords + pages
Use region-specific keywords (e.g., plumber Sydney CBD) and create a Services page listing suburbs you serve.
Fast images
Compress images, add descriptive ALT text and keep photos under ~300 KB where possible.
Readable headings
One H1 per page, clear H2s, and short paragraphs for better crawlability and reader experience.
Free vs Congero — when to pay $49/month
Free is fine for testing. Congero is for businesses that need leads and predictable performance without the technical hassle.
Free builders
- Platform ads and subdomains
- Limited SEO & analytics
- No unlimited support or rapid edits
Congero ($49/month)
- Custom domain & premium hosting
- Local SEO, schema and analytics included
- Unlimited updates via text — no technical skills required
- Zero lock-in: cancel anytime
Less than $2/day for a fully managed, lead-ready site with ongoing optimisation.
Top 7 mistakes when designing a free website
- Using a platform subdomain — reduces credibility and local SEO impact.
- Ignoring page speed — large images and animations kill conversions.
- Not adding contact info above the fold — missed leads on mobile.
- Generic stock photos — customers want examples of your actual work.
- No analytics — you can’t measure what you can’t track.
- Overloading the homepage — keep a single clear CTA per page.
- Failing to list local service areas — misses “near me” queries.
Need a site that actually gets you customers?
Try Congero’s AI demo — preview a fully-built, SEO-optimised website for your business in under 60 seconds. No credit card required.
START FREE DEMOFrequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common concerns about free websites and when to upgrade.
