good websites to make a website for free
A practical guide to the best free website builders in 2025 — which ones are actually worth using, how to launch fast, SEO tips for free sites, and when to switch to a managed solution.
Want a free website that actually brings customers? This guide compares the leading free website builders (Wix, WordPress.com, Weebly, Google Sites, Carrd, Webflow Starter, GitHub Pages and Squarespace trial approaches), explains what to expect, and gives step-by-step tips to make your free site professional and discoverable.
What "free website" actually means in 2025
Free website plans let you publish a website at no monthly cost, but they typically come with trade-offs: platform branding or ads, limited storage/bandwidth, subdomains (yourname.platform.com), restricted SEO controls, and limited custom integrations. Free is great for testing, portfolios, and hobby projects — but less reliable for businesses that depend on search and leads.
When free is a good choice
- Personal portfolio or CV
- Event page or simple promo landing
- Proof-of-concept while testing business ideas
When free is not enough
- Local trades and services that need strong local SEO
- Businesses that require custom forms, appointments, or payments
- Sites that must appear professional without platform ads or subdomains
Best websites to make a website for free (2025)
Each option below is useful for different needs — read the quick summary, pros, cons and best use case.
Wix (Free plan)
Drag-and-drop editor, lots of templates. Easy for beginners.
Pros: Visual editor, many templates, built-in widgets.
Cons: Wix ads on free plan, limited SEO controls, subdomain only.
Best for: Creatives and simple business landing pages that prioritise ease-of-use.
WordPress.com (Free)
Powerful CMS with themes. Good for content-first sites.
Pros: Blogging and SEO-friendly, large plugin ecosystem on paid tiers.
Cons: Free plan limits plugins and customisation; WordPress.com ads and subdomain.
Best for: Blogs and publishers starting small and planning to scale later.
Google Sites
Ultra-simple, reliable, and free with a Google account.
Pros: Fast, no ads, great for internal sites or event pages.
Cons: Limited design flexibility and SEO features.
Best for: Internal business pages, simple informational sites, or quick promos.
Carrd
Minimal one-page sites with beautiful templates; free plan available.
Pros: Lightweight, fast load times, great for single-page portfolios.
Cons: Limited to single-page; advanced features behind paid plans.
Best for: Simple landing pages, personal links and small funnels.
Weebly (by Square)
Beginner-friendly with ecommerce on paid plans.
Pros: Simple editor, reasonable free features.
Cons: Platform branding on free plan and limited advanced SEO.
Best for: Small businesses testing a presence before investing.
Webflow (Starter)
Professional design control; free starter sites exist but with limitations.
Pros: Pixel-perfect design, CMS options on paid tiers.
Cons: Higher learning curve; free sites use webflow.io subdomain.
Best for: Designers and agencies prototyping polished layouts.
GitHub Pages
Free static site hosting using Jekyll or static generators.
Pros: No ads, full control, free custom domain support via DNS.
Cons: Requires technical comfort with Git and static site tools.
Best for: Developers and technical founders comfortable with version control.
Launch a free website in 6 steps (quick guide)
Follow these steps to get a usable, SEO-friendly free site online today.
Step 1 — Pick the right free platform
Choose based on your needs: Carrd for single-page promo, WordPress.com for blogging, GitHub Pages for tech control, Wix for simple drag-and-drop.
Step 2 — Use a clean, mobile-first template
Pick a template with clear calls-to-action and mobile responsiveness to maximise conversions from search traffic.
Step 3 — Add clear contact points
Show phone, email and a simple contact form (or WhatsApp link). For trades, list service areas prominently for local SEO.
Step 4 — Optimise SEO basics
Write a focused H1, 50–160 character meta description, compress images, add descriptive ALT text, and create a services page per main keyword.
Step 5 — Connect a custom domain (if possible)
Free platforms sometimes let you connect your own domain on paid tiers; consider registering a domain even if you start free — it improves trust & SEO.
Step 6 — Track performance
Add Google Analytics and Google Search Console where the platform allows. Monitor impressions and clicks, then iterate on titles and content.
SEO tips that work even on free plans
Free platforms limit some advanced SEO features — but you can still rank with the right approach.
Local keywords
Use geo-modified keywords (suburb + trade) in page titles, service descriptions and H2s to target "near me" searches.
Fast images
Resize and compress images (under 300KB where possible) and add descriptive ALT text with keywords.
Structured content
Use clear headings (H1 for page title, H2 for sections), short paragraphs, bullet lists and FAQ schema where supported.
Consistent NAP
Display your business name, address and phone number consistently across the site and local directories.
Google Business Profile
Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile — it's often more important for local visibility than your free site alone.
Quality content
Publish useful content about your services, FAQs and pricing. Helpful content gets clicks and builds trust.
When to upgrade from free and what managed options give you
If your website is a lead source for your business, the minimal cost of a managed site can pay for itself quickly.
Signs you should upgrade
- You're losing enquiries because your contact info or booking options are hard to find
- Your site never ranks for local searches despite content improvements
- You need faster updates but don't have the time or technical skills
- You want payments, appointments or integrations that free plans don't support
Managed option example — why Congero helps
Congero is an Australian AI-powered web design agency that builds professional, mobile-responsive websites quickly and manages everything for a flat monthly fee. For $49/month you get domain registration (or bring your own), secure hosting, SSL, built-in local SEO, unlimited text-in updates, and monthly analytics — with zero lock-in.
- Live fast: AI-driven site previews in under 60 seconds and easy setup via WhatsApp.
- Unlimited edits: Text updates and visual tweaks included — no extra fees.
- Local SEO: Automatic meta tags, schema and on-page optimisation to improve "near me" visibility.
Real use cases — free site examples
What free builders are best for — quick gallery of common scenarios.
Photographer portfolio (Carrd)
Single-page, fast-loading gallery and contact link.
Local trades landing page (Wix)
Good for showing services and local areas quickly.
Documentation or project site (GitHub Pages)
No ads, full control, free hosting for static sites.
Common free-site problems & quick fixes
Simple fixes you can apply without upgrading.
Site is slow — optimise images
Resize and compress images before upload. Use modern formats (WebP) if the platform supports them.
Can't connect custom domain on free plan
Use a redirect from a domain provider or consider low-cost hosting/domain combos, or upgrade the plan for domain support.
Platform ads hurt conversions
Minimise the number of CTAs on pages, place a prominent phone number and social proof to counteract branding impact, and track conversions to measure uplift if you upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about free website builders and free vs managed trade-offs.
No — a free website can rank if the content is helpful, pages are optimised and you use local listings. However, platform limitations (subdomains, slow loading or inability to add schema) can make ranking harder.
Usually yes — you can copy content and images and migrate to another host. Some platforms limit exports; GitHub Pages and static sites are the easiest to move.
Managed options vary. Congero provides a fully managed, AI-built site with domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO and unlimited edits for a flat $49/month — often cheaper than the time and lost leads from DIY solutions.
For service businesses that want speed and design ease, Wix or Weebly are good starting points. For blogs and content, WordPress.com is strong. If you need strong local SEO and ongoing edits, consider upgrading to a managed provider like Congero.
