website builders free
How to choose and use free website builders to boost visibility, attract customers, and start getting leads today
Free website builders are an excellent way for small businesses to get online quickly. This guide walks you through selecting the right free platform, building a high-converting site, and applying practical SEO and marketing tactics to turn visitors into customers.
Starter plans available
Average setup time
Essential for conversions
With the right setup
How to choose the right free website builder (5 simple steps)
Free website builders are tempting, but not all are appropriate for every small business. Follow these five steps to pick the one that gives you the best chance of being found and converting visitors.
- Identify your primary goal. Is the website for lead capture, online bookings, an online shop, or a simple brochure? Your goal determines required features (contact forms, booking widgets, e-commerce).
- Check SEO basics in the free plan. Make sure the free tier lets you edit page titles, meta descriptions, headings (H1/H2), and image alt text. If it hides these behind a paywall, it’s a red flag.
- Assess branding limitations. Many free plans add platform branding or a subdomain (yourname.platform.com). Decide whether that’s acceptable for your business image now or if a small upgrade is needed.
- Confirm mobile experience and templates. Preview templates on mobile. Good free builders offer mobile-optimized templates and let you tweak layouts per device.
- Look for easy upgrade paths. Start free, but choose a builder that lets you move to a paid plan (custom domain, remove ads, e-commerce) without rebuilding the site from scratch.
Quick decision checklist
Build best practices: Make your free site look and perform like a pro
Free builders simplify the design work, but you still need to follow conversion-focused best practices. These steps help visitors become customers.
Clear value proposition
Your homepage headline should tell visitors what you do and who you serve in one short sentence. Add a single prominent call-to-action (call, book, or get a quote).
Contact visibility
Place phone number and contact button at the top. If the free builder limits forms, use a clear "Call Now" button and a visible email link.
High-quality images
Use clean, authentic photos of your work. If you don't have originals, use reputable stock images and customize them to match your brand colors.
Fast and simple navigation
Limit menu items to 4–6. Each page should have a single purpose and a single primary action (call, book, buy).
Page essentials
- Home — clear headline, benefits, trust signals
- Services — short descriptions and prices (if possible)
- About — brief story & credentials
- Contact — phone, email, and form or booking widget
- Testimonials / gallery — social proof
SEO essentials for free website builders
Even free websites can rank if you focus on the basics. Here’s a practical, no-fluff checklist.
Optimize titles & meta descriptions
Each page needs a unique title (50–60 characters) and meta description (120–160 characters) that include your target keywords and a clear call to action.
Use headings correctly
Your page should have one H1 and clear H2/H3 subheadings. Use keywords naturally in headings — don't stuff.
Image alt text & filenames
Rename image files to descriptive names and add alt text. This helps accessibility and gives extra signals to search engines.
Submit sitemap & enable analytics
Connect Google Search Console and submit your sitemap (most builders create one automatically). Add Google Analytics (or comparable) to track visitors.
Low-cost marketing tactics to drive traffic and leads
Leverage social platforms
Share your best work and link to specific pages (services, gallery). Use consistent descriptions and the same phone number/contact info as on your site.
- Post short project videos — they perform well.
- Add link to site in profile bios.
- Pin or feature your best post with a direct call-to-action.
Email & reviews
Collect emails and past-customer reviews. Reviews improve trust and local search visibility.
- Send a simple monthly newsletter with offers or project highlights.
- Ask happy customers for Google/Platform reviews with an easy link.
Targeted paid ads (small budgets)
Even $5–10/day can bring leads if you target the right keywords and landing pages (service + location). Keep the ad pointing to a single focused page on your site.
Local partnerships & referrals
Partner with nearby businesses that serve the same customers. A short partner page and mutual links can increase local traffic.
Free platform comparison — pros, limits and when they're right
| Platform | Free plan notes | SEO access | Best for | When to upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix (free) | Drag & drop, subdomain, platform ads | Good — can edit titles, meta, alt text | Service pages, portfolios | Remove branding, custom domain, e‑commerce |
| WordPress.com (free) | Subdomain, limited plugins, basic themes | Basic SEO editable | Blogs, content-first sites | Custom plugins and full control |
| Weebly (free) | Simple builder, subdomain, small ads | Good for small sites | Small brochure sites, shops | E-commerce and remove ads |
| Google Sites (free) | Very basic, no ads, fast setup | Limited SEO controls | Temporary pages, internal info | When you need marketing features |
| Carrd (free) | Single-page sites, clean templates | Basic — titles & meta | Landing pages and promos | Multiple pages, custom domain |
| Developer options (GitHub Pages) | Free hosting for static sites; requires HTML/CSS knowledge | Full control if you build it | Developers or tech-savvy users | When you need CMS features |
| Modern subscription alternative | Not free, but $30–49/mo gives full site, hosting, domain & updates | Full SEO setup included | Busy owners who want results fast | When you prefer done-for-you updates and analytics |
When free isn't enough — sensible upgrade paths
A free builder is a starting point. Upgrade when you need features that directly increase revenue or credibility.
- Custom domain: Move from a subdomain to your own domain as soon as you take the site seriously — it improves trust and SEO.
- Remove ads & branding: If platform branding is on your site, upgrade to build a credible, professional impression.
- Analytics & SEO tools: Paid plans often add advanced SEO features and analytics integration — useful once you’ve got traffic.
- Professional support: Consider managed services that include regular updates, backups and SEO help if you don’t want to maintain the site yourself.
Quick 60–90 minute checklist: Launch a free site that gets results
Before you start
- One-sentence business description
- Top 3 services or products
- Phone, email, and opening hours
- 2–4 good photos of work
Launch steps
- Pick template & set headline
- Fill service pages with short descriptions & CTAs
- Add images with alt text
- Set page titles & meta descriptions
- Publish & test on phone
- Connect analytics & submit sitemap
Testing different headlines and photos for a week will quickly show what gets clicks — iterate often.
Frequently asked questions
Are free website builders good for small businesses?
Will a free site rank on Google?
What’s the biggest limitation of free plans?
Should I hire someone or do it myself?
How do I measure success on a free site?
Start small. Test fast. Grow faster.
Free website builders let you get online with no cost. If you want a faster path to a professional, SEO-optimised site with ongoing updates and analytics, consider a managed subscription — it can save time and improve leads.
Pro tip: Start with a free plan to validate your offering. Once you have traffic and enquiries, invest in a custom domain and SEO to convert visitors into customers.
