"Free website" usually means a site you can build without an upfront payment. But free often comes with trade-offs: platform ads, subdomains (yourname.platform.com), restricted SEO features, limited bandwidth, and few or no advanced integrations.
These platforms let you launch a site for free, but read the limitations — the cheapest option isn't always the best for your business.
Easy drag-and-drop editor, many templates. Free plan shows Wix ads and uses a Wix subdomain.
Good for: portfolios, hobby projects.
Powerful blogging tools, large plugin ecosystem only on paid plans. Free includes WordPress ads & subdomain.
Good for: bloggers and content-heavy sites that can upgrade later.
Super simple, integrates with Google Workspace. Very limited design and SEO features.
Good for: internal pages, simple information sites.
Minimal one-page sites, simple pricing to upgrade. Free plan includes Carrd branding and limited forms.
Good for: landing pages, simple single-service sites.
Simple store and site builder. Free plan shows Weebly ads and offers limited ecommerce features.
Good for: small hobby shops just starting out.
Truly free hosting if you can manage code. No GUI editor; requires technical skills.
Good for: developers or tinkerers who own technical setup.
A free website may save money today but reduce credibility, leads and search visibility — which costs you more in the long run.
Many features you need — a custom domain, removal of platform ads, extra storage, ecommerce — are behind paid plans. You may end up spending more than a low-cost managed solution.
Free plans often limit meta controls, structured data (schema) and technical performance — all critical for ranking in local searches and getting leads.
A business website on a subdomain with platform ads looks less professional. For trades and services, trust and clarity of contact info are everything.
A no-frills path to get online quickly — keep in mind the limitations listed earlier.
Pick a free plan (Wix, WordPress.com, Google Sites, Carrd).
Write clear service descriptions, phone number and service area (NAP consistency matters).
Set page title, meta description and alt text. Use location keywords for local search.
Publish, test on mobile, and check that contact links and maps work.
Even on free plans, some actions materially improve your chances of being found in local searches.
Include suburb and service keywords in headings and the first paragraph (e.g., "Brisbane plumber — blocked drains").
Display your business Name, Address and Phone number consistently. Use a click-to-call link for mobile visitors.
Write concise meta titles/descriptions. Compress images and avoid large hero files to keep page speed fast on mobile.
For trades and local services that need leads, a managed website often produces better ROI than a free site because it removes friction, improves SEO, and builds trust.
Congero builds a professional, mobile-first site in 60 seconds and manages everything for $49/month — domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO and unlimited updates via WhatsApp. No lock-in contracts and clear analytics make it a low-risk way to get more enquiries.
Answers to common questions about free websites and managed alternatives.
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