free web designer
Considering a "free web designer"? Read this guide first — discover hidden costs, common pitfalls, when free options make sense, and why small trades choose Congero for reliable, SEO-ready websites.
What people mean by "free web designer"
"Free web designer" can mean different things: a free DIY template, a volunteer designer, a promotional offer, or a company that builds a basic site at no upfront charge but expects you to pay later for hosting, customisation or maintenance. Understanding the differences helps you choose the safest path for your business.
Common types
- DIY builders with free plans (Wix, Weebly starter tiers)
- Promotional offers from agencies (free if you buy other services)
- Students or volunteers building a site for experience
- Freemium templates with paid add-ons
Hidden costs and common pitfalls of "free" web design
A free price tag doesn’t always mean free in the long run. Here’s what to watch for.
Limited Functionality
Free plans often lock advanced features (booking, payments, forms) behind paid tiers.
Unexpected Fees
Domain costs, premium plugins, or priority support frequently add up after launch.
Limited Control or Lock-in
Some free platforms make it hard to export your site or switch providers later.
Poor SEO Setup
Free templates may lack proper meta tags, schema and performance optimisation — crucial for local trades.
Generic Design & Stock Images
A "free" design can look templated, making your business blend in rather than stand out.
Slow or No Support
Free options typically deprioritise support — risky when your site is your lead generator.
When a free web designer can be a good choice
Free options are fine in a few scenarios — but they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution for local businesses that need leads.
Testing an Idea
If you’re just testing demand and have zero budget, a free landing page can validate an idea quickly.
Hobby Projects
Non-commercial, low-stakes sites (a personal blog or portfolio) may be fine on a free plan.
Short-term Promotions
Temporary campaign pages or one-off events where SEO and exports aren’t important.
Why many small businesses skip "free" and pick Congero
Congero combines speed, predictable pricing and local SEO to deliver a website that works — month after month.
Live in 60 seconds
Get a fully functional, mobile-responsive site instantly via WhatsApp or demo — perfect for trades who need leads now.
Unlimited updates
Text edits anytime — we push updates in minutes. No extra costs for small changes.
Built-in local SEO
Auto-generated meta tags, schema and local signals help you rank for "near me" searches.
Domain, hosting & SSL
$49/month covers everything — secure hosting, free domain registration or transfer, and automated backups.
Actionable analytics
Monthly dashboards show which services get enquiries and where to focus growth efforts.
No lock-in contracts
Cancel anytime — you own your content and can export your site if you leave.
All features included for $49/month — predictable pricing beats surprise bills from "free" deals.
How to choose: free web designer vs a managed $49/month site
Follow these steps to evaluate the safest, most cost-effective path for your business website.
If you're considering a free web designer
- Confirm exportability — can you move your site off the platform?
- Ask about ongoing hosting, domain and maintenance costs.
- Check SEO basics: editable meta title, meta description and page speed.
- Request reference sites and support SLAs (response times).
- Keep a backup of all original content and images.
If you're considering Congero
- Request the 60-second demo — get a preview instantly via WhatsApp.
- Check included features: domain, SSL, hosting, local SEO, analytics.
- Test updates by texting a quick change — see live edits within minutes.
- Compare total monthly cost vs expected hidden fees from free options.
- Decide knowing you can cancel any time and export your content.
Quick SEO checklist if you pick a free web designer
Even on a free plan, these changes can move the needle for local search results.
Local keywords
Include your suburb and service in the page title and H1 (e.g. "Plumber Sydney North Shore").
Meta tags
Write a unique meta title (≤60 chars) and description (≤155 chars) for each page.
NAP consistency
Ensure the business name, address and phone match across your site and Google Business Profile.
Fast images
Compress images, add descriptive ALT text and use modern formats where possible.
Mobile-first
Test your site on phones — most customers search and call from mobile devices.
Reviews & schema
Collect reviews and add structured data to increase trust and click-throughs.
Frequently asked questions about free web designers
Not necessarily. Free sites can rack up costs for domains, premium plugins, priority support, and migration. Calculate total cost over 12–24 months to compare fairly.
No. Google values helpful, original content. Whether built with AI or by hand, content that serves users performs well. Ensure the site is unique, accurate and useful.
If the platform doesn’t allow exports, you may need to manually copy content and rebuild on another platform. That’s why portability is a key checklist item.
Everything you need: domain registration or transfer, secure hosting, SSL, unlimited text-in edits, built-in local SEO, monthly analytics and support — all with no lock-in contract.
