Many builders advertise “free” but attach limits: platform ads, subdomains, restricted SEO, storage caps, limited e‑commerce, or paid plugins. This guide accelerates your decision by focusing on real-world needs: SEO, lead capture, local visibility and long-term ownership.
Most free builders are fast to set up. If you need a live site in minutes for a job card or promotion they're ideal.
Free plans often limit meta control, schema and performance. That impacts local “near me” searches — critical for trades and local services.
Free can be free forever — until you need a custom domain, remove ads, or add e‑commerce. Upgrades quickly equal paid plans.
Short pros & cons for each free option and who should pick it.
Drag-and-drop builder, generous templates, app market. Free plan includes Wix branding and a wixsite.com subdomain.
Powerful blogging and content tools. Free plan has wordpress.com subdomain, limited plugins and customization.
Ultra-simple single-page sites with great speed. Free plan limited on forms and custom domains.
Very basic builder, extremely simple for teams who use Google Workspace. No advanced SEO or e‑commerce.
Design-first platform giving high-fidelity control. Free workspace allows development but publishing has limits.
Host static sites from a GitHub repo. No UI builder, but great for developers and total ownership.
Understand these trade-offs before committing your business' online presence to a free plan.
If your website needs to generate regular leads, rank in local searches, or be updated frequently without delays, a managed solution can save time and increase revenue.
No credit card required • Real demo via WhatsApp
Trades (plumbers, electricians, landscapers), cleaners, therapists and local service businesses who need reliable lead flow, clear local visibility and no time for DIY website edits.
Answer these to decide between free, paid or managed options.
Is it a one-page promo or a lead-generating business site? Landing pages -> free builders are fine. Lead-gen, bookings or e‑commerce -> think paid/managed.
Do you rely on local search traffic? If so, you need proper meta control, schema and fast hosting — often absent from free plans.
How often will you change content? If frequent updates are required, unlimited managed updates (like Congero’s text-in edits) save time and costs.
Not always — but limitations (subdomain, ads, restricted meta control, slower hosting) can make ranking locally and converting visitors harder. For local businesses, investing in proper SEO pays off quickly.
Yes, but migrating content, SEO value and links takes planning. Some platforms make exports easier than others. A managed provider like Congero can migrate and optimise your site to preserve search rankings.
Most major builders provide secure hosting even on free plans, but advanced security, backups and performance monitoring are often part of paid tiers. For mission-critical business sites, managed hosting is recommended.
If you need a live, lead-ready site with local SEO today and simple edits via text, try a managed AI-driven option like Congero — sites can appear in under 60 seconds and include domain, hosting, and local SEO for a predictable monthly fee.
Get a fully functional, mobile-responsive website live in 60 seconds with Congero's AI-powered process. Learn how it wor...
Read MoreLearn how to select, collaborate with, and maximise ROI from a design agency. This step-by-step guide covers definitions...
Read MoreDiscover affordable small business website design services that deliver professional, mobile-responsive sites with local...
Read MoreLearn how to get an affordable small business website that looks professional, ranks locally and costs just $49/month. S...
Read MoreEnter your name and number and we'll get you started immediately. Get your demo in 60 seconds.
