build free websites online

Q: Is a free site good for getting customers?

A well-optimised free site can attract customers locally, but for sustained growth a custom domain and managed SEO often help.

Q: What's the fastest way to go from free to a professional site?

Connect a custom domain, remove branding and add local SEO. Managed services like Congero combine those steps and provide unlimited updates.

WHAT IS "FREE"

What "free website online" actually covers in 2025

"Free" usually means you can publish a website at no monetary cost, but it often comes with trade-offs: platform branding, limited storage or bandwidth, a platform subdomain (example.platform.com), restricted SEO features, and fewer customization options. This guide shows the best truly free routes and the practical limits you should expect.

Quick set-up — publish in minutes
No hosting or credit card required for free tiers
Expect platform ads, subdomains and limited SEO controls
Upgrade often required to connect a custom domain, remove branding or unlock advanced features

TOP FREE OPTIONS

Best ways to build free websites online (pros & cons)

Choose a free route that fits your skill level, audience and future growth plans.

Website Builders (Wix, Weebly, Carrd)

Drag-and-drop builders give fast results with little technical skill. Ideal for simple portfolios or landing pages.

Pros: Very easy, templates, hosting included.
Cons: Subdomain, platform ads, limited SEO in free tier.

WordPress.com Free Plan

Good for blogs and content-heavy sites. Offers a structured editor and many free themes.

Pros: Blogging features, community, upgrade path.
Cons: Subdomain, limited plugins and monetisation on free tier.

GitHub Pages / Netlify (Static)

Developer-friendly: host static sites for free, connect custom domain and use modern workflows.

Pros: No ads, custom domain allowed, fast CDNs.
Cons: Technical setup (Git, static site generators) required for non-technical users.

FOLLOW THE FREE QUICK-START

QUICK START

How to build a simple free website in 10–30 minutes

Follow these steps for a professional-looking free site using a website builder or WordPress.com.

Step 1 — Plan your one‑page content

Write a short headline, 3–5 service points, a contact method (phone, email), and 4–6 images. Keep content customer-focused and localised (add your suburb or city).

Step 2 — Choose a free platform & template

Sign up for a free account on your chosen builder (Wix, WordPress.com, Carrd). Pick a template that matches your industry and mobile layout.

Step 3 — Add visuals & contact details

Upload your logo and 3–6 photos of your work. Use descriptive ALT text (e.g., "Melbourne plumber fixing leaking sink"). Ensure phone number is clickable on mobile.

Step 4 — Optimise for local search

Include location keywords in your headline, meta description, and first paragraph. Add your address or service area and link to your Google Business Profile.

Step 5 — Test and publish

Preview on mobile and desktop, test contact links, and publish. Share the link on social profiles and ask 2–3 customers to test and give feedback.

LEARN FREE SEO TACTICS

LIMITS & UPGRADE

Limitations of free websites — and when a paid managed site makes sense

Free is great to start, but many small businesses quickly need professional features, reliability and local SEO that free tiers don't provide.

Common free-tier problems

Platform ads and branding
No custom email or advanced analytics
Slow support and limited backups

Signs you should upgrade

You're not showing up in local search
You need a custom domain & professional email
Your site must support bookings, payments, or heavy traffic

Affordable managed alternative

Congero offers a managed website solution for $49/month with unlimited updates, domain, hosting and built‑in local SEO — a cost-effective next step when free tiers hold your business back.

TRY CONGERO FREE DEMO

Free demo via WhatsApp — no credit card. See a live site in under 60 seconds.

SEO BASICS

SEO tips to make your free site work harder

Free platforms vary in SEO capability — apply these best practices to improve visibility.

Meta titles & descriptions

Use a clear title with your main service and location (e.g., "Plumber Melbourne — Emergency Repairs"). Keep title ≈ 50–60 characters and description ≈ 120–160 chars.

Local signals

Add NAP (name, address, phone) consistently, embed a Google Map and link to your Google Business Profile for "near me" visibility.

Page speed

Compress images, avoid heavy widgets, and use the platform's built-in caching. Fast pages rank and convert better.

Need professional SEO without the hassle?

Congero automatically implements local SEO, schema and analytics from day one — ideal when you want more than a basic free site.

SEE THE SEO DEMO

Free Website Checklist

Make sure your free site looks professional and converts visitors into leads.

Clear headline with primary service + location
Prominent click-to-call phone on every page
3–6 customer-focused images with ALT text
Short service descriptions with pricing or starting prices
Working map and address for local trust
Basic analytics (install if platform allows)

GET A MANAGED SITE DEMO

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I really have a website with zero cost?

Yes — many platforms let you publish on a subdomain at no cost. Expect platform branding, limited features and no custom email unless you upgrade.

Is a free site good for getting customers?

It can be—if you optimise for local search, provide clear contact details and look professional. For growth and trust, many businesses upgrade quickly to a custom domain and managed hosting.

What's the fastest way to go from free to a professional site?

Connect a custom domain, remove platform branding, add structured data for local SEO and switch to managed hosting. Congero provides these features with unlimited text-in updates for $49/month.

Want a fast, professional site without the free-tier limitations?

Try Congero's free demo — see a tailored, mobile-ready website in under 60 seconds via WhatsApp. No credit card, no setup fee. If you love the result, our all-inclusive managed plan is $49/month with unlimited updates and built-in local SEO.

SEE YOUR FREE DEMO NOW

No lock-in contracts • Domain & hosting included on upgrade

A practical, step‑by‑step 2025 guide to creating a professional-looking website without spending a cent — plus when to consider paid, managed options.