free website design sites
Compare the best free website builders, learn their limitations, and discover when a managed solution like Congero is the smarter choice.
This guide explains pros, cons, SEO tips and upgrade paths so you make the right choice for your business in 2025.
What are free website design sites (aka free website builders)?
Free website design sites let you create a basic website without paying up-front. Most provide drag-and-drop editors, pre-built templates, hosting and a free subdomain (yourname.provider.com). They’re perfect for hobby projects, MVPs or temporary landing pages — but they come with trade-offs for businesses that rely on leads and local search visibility.
Common features
- Free subdomain and basic hosting
- Template library and simple page editor
- Limited storage, bandwidth and SEO tools
- Built-in analytics (often limited)
- Optional paid upgrades for a custom domain, ads removal or eCommerce
What they don’t usually include
- Full ownership of code and complete exportability
- Advanced local SEO setup (schema, GBP integration) by default
- Unlimited content updates handled by a support team
- Professional performance optimisation or ongoing analytics insights
Top free website design sites in 2025 — quick overview
Popular free builders offer a fast way to get online. Below is a short summary so you can compare at a glance.
Wix (Free plan)
Large template library and easy editor. Free plan shows ads and uses a Wix subdomain. Many apps require paid plans.
- Great for design flexibility
- Limited SEO features on free plan
WordPress.com (Free)
Powerful CMS with blogging tools. Free plan uses WordPress.com subdomain and restricts plugins. Good for content-first sites.
- Strong content management
- Plugins & advanced SEO need paid plans
Google Sites
Free, simple, and reliable. Excellent for internal pages or simple portfolios, but very limited for SEO and customisation.
- Totally free and ad-free
- Not designed for local business lead generation
Carrd
Best for single-page landing pages. Super lightweight and affordable to upgrade, but limited for multi-service businesses.
- Fast, minimal and cheap upgrades
- No built-in local SEO features
Strikingly / Zyro (free tiers)
Quick templates aimed at solo entrepreneurs. Free plans often include branding and limit ecommerce and analytics.
- Very quick to launch
- Scaling limitations
Weebly
Easy editor with ecommerce on paid plans. Free plan shows provider ads and subdomain.
- Beginner-friendly
- Ads and limited SEO
Quick takeaway
Free builders are ideal to test an idea or publish a simple portfolio. If your goal is to generate consistent local leads (plumbing, electrician, cleaning, beauty, trades), free plans usually fall short. Read on for the exact limitations and how to choose the right path.
Hidden costs & limitations you won’t see on the pricing page
Free doesn't always mean cheaper. Below are the most common issues businesses discover only after launch.
Ads & Branding
Free plans often display the builder’s ads and footer credits — which undermines brand trust for professional businesses.
Subdomain vs Custom Domain
Using a provider subdomain hurts brand recall and local SEO. Custom domains typically require a paid plan or separate purchase.
SEO & Local Visibility
Limited control over meta tags, schema, and technical SEO can prevent you from ranking for “near me” searches in your area.
Storage & Bandwidth
Media limits mean you may need to compress images or pay for upgrades — which adds to ongoing costs.
Ecommerce Fees
Selling products usually requires a premium plan plus transaction fees, making “free” not viable for stores.
Lock-in & Exportability
Many builders don’t let you export your full site easily. If you outgrow the platform, migration can be time-consuming and costly.
When should you use a free website design site — and when to choose a managed paid solution?
Use this quick checklist to match your needs to the right option.
Use a free builder if...
- You need a one-page portfolio, simple event page or proof-of-concept
- You’re testing a side project with zero budget
- Branding and SEO are not critical for immediate growth
Choose a managed solution like Congero if...
- Your business relies on phone or web leads (trades, services, local shops)
- You want a custom domain, professional local SEO and analytics included
- You prefer unlimited updates handled for you (no tech skills required)
- You value fast turnaround, ownership and predictable monthly costs
Why many businesses upgrade from free plans
Small trade businesses typically get more calls and bookings after switching to a managed site that includes local SEO, a custom domain and fast support — all for a single predictable monthly fee.
SEE HOW CONGERO WORKSChecklist — how to pick the best free website design site
Answer these questions before you commit to a free builder.
1. Do you need a custom domain?
If yes, check upgrade price and whether the domain is included or additional.
2. Are ads acceptable on your site?
Free plans frequently show provider branding — this harms conversions for professional services.
3. Do you need local SEO features?
Check for meta control, schema support and Google Business Profile integration.
4. Can you manage updates yourself?
If not, look for a provider with managed updates or affordable maintenance.
5. How easy is migration later?
Confirm whether you can export site content or move to another platform without losing SEO value.
6. What are the long-term costs?
Compare free vs paid plan pricing, transaction fees, and any add-ons you’ll need for growth.
If free builders aren’t enough — why businesses choose Congero
Congero blends AI speed with managed service. Instead of juggling free plan limits and hidden costs, here’s what you get for a predictable monthly price.
Live in 60 seconds
Start with a free demo and get a fully-built, mobile-responsive website via WhatsApp in under a minute.
All-inclusive $49/month
Custom domain (or bring your own), premium hosting, SSL, and unlimited text-in updates — no surprise fees.
Built-in local SEO & analytics
Automatic meta tags, schema and monthly analytics dashboards that show which pages and services drive enquiries.
Unlimited updates by text
No tech skills needed — text changes to your site and see them live within minutes at no extra cost.
No lock-in
Cancel anytime and export your content. You keep control without penalties.
Actionable support
Real people and AI combined — fast edits, performance monitoring and help optimising for search.
Free demo — no credit card required • Live in under 60 seconds
Step-by-step: start free, upgrade without breaking your site
A low-risk path: test with a free builder, then migrate or upgrade to a managed site when ready for growth.
- Launch a simple page — choose a free builder to validate demand, keep content concise and track form or phone leads.
- Measure performance — check Google Search Console, page speed and how many enquiries you get from the free site over 2–4 weeks.
- Decide based on leads — if you need more enquiries, better local SEO, or ownership, plan migration to a paid or managed solution.
- Prepare exportables — copy essential content (text, images, URLs). If the builder allows export, download it; otherwise keep a content backup.
- Choose migration path — either upgrade plan with the same provider (for continuity) or move to a managed provider like Congero to gain local SEO and unlimited updates.
- Go live & optimise — connect your custom domain, set up local schema and request optimisation from support to boost visibility.
Quick SEO checklist for free website design sites
Even on free plans, you can improve visibility with a few targeted actions.
Meta titles & descriptions
Ensure each page has a unique title (under 60 chars) and description (under 155 chars) including your main service and location.
Use descriptive images & ALT text
Compress images for speed and add descriptive ALT text with keywords and location (e.g., "Sydney plumber repairing burst pipe").
Local citations & GBP
Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile. Ensure NAP (name, address, phone) is consistent across the site and directories.
Mobile performance
Test on mobile, remove heavy widgets and enable any built-in CDN or image lazy-loading available in the builder.
Structured data
If the builder allows, add LocalBusiness schema and service schema to help search engines understand your offering.
Track conversions
Install analytics (even basic) and track phone clicks and form submissions. Data helps you decide when to upgrade.
Common problems with free builders — and quick fixes
Problem: Provider ads reduce trust
Fix: Upgrade to a paid plan or add a small budget for a custom domain — this often removes ads and increases conversions substantially.
Problem: No advanced SEO controls
Fix: Use whatever meta controls the builder offers, post local service pages, and claim your Google Business Profile. If performance stagnates, consider migrating to a platform with full SEO control.
Problem: Slow mobile pages
Fix: Compress images, remove unnecessary widgets, and prioritise above-the-fold content. Test with PageSpeed Insights to identify quick wins.
