Are free website building sites really free?

Many offer free tiers but essential features like custom domains, analytics and removing branding typically require paid upgrades.

Can I move from a free plan to a paid plan later?

Yes for the same platform, but migrating between different platforms may be difficult due to export limitations.

Is paid always better than free?

Not always. Free can be fine for simple projects; businesses that need leads and local visibility usually benefit from paid managed options.

What does Congero offer compared to free builders?

Congero provides AI-built, mobile-first websites in under 60 seconds, local SEO, hosting, domain, SSL and unlimited text-in updates for $49/month with no lock-in.

FREE WEBSITE BUILDERS

website making sites free

A complete 2025 guide to the best free site builders, what they include, their limits, and how to move from a free plan to a professional website that actually converts.

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OVERVIEW

What do we mean by "free" website making sites?

"Free" website builders are platforms that let you create and host a website without an upfront fee. They provide templates, drag-and-drop editors or simple guided flows, and a hosted subdomain (for example: yourname.wixsite.com). But free doesn't always mean complete — many free plans limit features, branding, analytics, SEO controls and remove custom domain support.

Who they're for

Hobby projects, portfolios, or proof-of-concept sites
People testing an idea before investing in a paid website
Small side projects that won't rely on search traffic or bookings

Common limitations

Platform ads and branding on your site
No custom domain (or pay to connect one)
Limited SEO controls, schema and analytics
Poor export options — often locked into the platform

TOP PICKS

Best free website making sites (2025)

Options ranked by ease-of-use, custom domain support, SEO controls and real-world suitability for small businesses.

Wix (free plan)

Excellent templates and a friendly editor. Free plan includes Wix branding and a Wix subdomain. SEO Wiz and apps available on paid plans.

Good for portfolios and small sites — limited for local businesses relying on search.

WordPress.com (free)

Powerful content management with a learning curve. Free plan uses wordpress.com subdomain and shows ads. Upgrading unlocks plugins and themes.

Great for blogs and content-heavy sites but not ideal for quick local-business lead generation on the free plan.

Google Sites

Truly free, simple and reliable. Works well for internal pages, events and small informational sites. Very limited design flexibility and SEO features.

Best for free, no-friction pages where advanced functionality is not required.

Carrd

Minimal, affordable one-page sites. Free plan lets you publish simple landing pages on a carrd.co subdomain. Quick and clean for landing pages and personal profiles.

Perfect for single-page promos, but not full service catalogs or booking pages without upgrades.

GitHub Pages / Netlify

Free hosting for static sites. Great performance and no branding, but requires technical setup or static-site generators.

Ideal if you or a dev can manage builds — not the best for text-based, phone-first updates.

Thinking long-term?

Free builders are useful for testing ideas, but small businesses that need leads, local SEO and easy updates usually outgrow them fast. Congero offers an alternative: professional, mobile-first websites built by AI and managed for $49/month — includes domain, hosting, local SEO and unlimited text-in updates (no dev skills needed).

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PROS & CONS

Are free website making sites worth it?

Benefits

Zero upfront cost — start immediately
Fast to publish a basic online presence
Lower maintenance overhead if site is static
Good for learning and prototyping

Drawbacks

Platform ads and forced branding reduce trust
Hidden costs for domain, forms, ecommerce or SEO tools
Limited SEO / schema — hard to rank for local searches
Export restrictions and vendor lock-in

DECISION GUIDE

When to choose a free website maker — and when to upgrade

Use a free builder if:

You're testing a personal project, need a quick portfolio, or want a simple informational page with minimal traffic expectations.
Upgrade when:

You need a custom domain, bookings/payments, professional local SEO, analytics, lead capture or brand trust — these are essential for service businesses and trades by 2025.
Consider a managed paid option when:

You want a site that ranks locally, can be updated by sending a text message, includes hosting, SSL, domain management, and monthly analytics without hiring developers. Congero provides all of this for a flat monthly fee with no lock-in contracts.

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GET STARTED

How to make a website for free — step-by-step

Follow these steps to publish a useful free site that still respects SEO and conversion basics.

1. Pick the right builder

Choose based on your goal: Carrd for landing pages, WordPress for content, GitHub/Netlify for static sites.

2. Use clear contact details

Add phone, email and service area – consistent NAP boosts local trust and citations.

3. Optimize for search

Add keyword-focused headings, meta title/description and a short location-based service page.

4. Track performance

Connect Google Analytics and Search Console (where possible) to monitor traffic and fix issues early.

Pro tip

Even on a free plan, you can build credibility by adding genuine customer testimonials, before/after photos, and a clear call-to-action (call now or WhatsApp). These small additions increase conversions dramatically.

SEO

SEO tips that actually work for free websites

Meta & Headings

Write a concise meta title (under 60 chars) and description (under 155 chars). Use H1 for your main keyword and H2/H3 to structure services.

Local Signals

Add suburb/city names to service pages, keep NAP consistent and create a Google Business Profile for local visibility.

Images & Speed

Compress images, add descriptive alt text and choose lazy-loading where supported to keep pages fast on mobile.

Schema

If possible, add structured data (LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ). Many free builders have limited schema — a reason to consider paid solutions if local search matters.

Mobile First

Google indexes mobile versions first. Test on a real phone, ensure buttons are easy to tap and contact info is prominent.

Measure & Improve

Monitor queries and pages that drive traffic and refine content monthly. Even small content updates can move rankings for local keywords.

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TROUBLESHOOTING

Common problems with free website builders — and how to fix them

My site looks unprofessional because of builder branding

Solution: Move critical information above the fold (phone, services, testimonials) to build trust despite the branding. Consider a low-cost domain purchase to hide the platform subdomain.

I can't connect a custom domain

Solution: Check the builder's paid plan requirements. If domain connection is essential, compare monthly costs vs managed solutions. Congero includes domain registration and connection as part of the managed package.

My site isn't appearing in Google

Solution: Verify Search Console ownership, submit a sitemap, ensure robots.txt isn't blocking crawling and add at least a few service pages with local keywords.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about free website makers and when to upgrade.

Many offer a usable free tier, but essential features (custom domain, remove branding, advanced SEO, forms, ecommerce) usually require paid upgrades. Also consider ongoing opportunity cost if the free site doesn't attract leads.

Usually yes. Most builders let you upgrade and connect a custom domain, remove ads and unlock features. Moving between platforms can be harder — export options are limited, especially for drag-and-drop builders.

Not always. If your needs are simple (single-page portfolio) and you don’t need leads or local search visibility, free can be fine. For businesses that depend on discoverability and bookings, paid managed options save time and improve results.

Congero builds professional, SEO-optimised websites instantly and manages hosting, domain, SSL and monthly analytics for a flat $49/month. Unlike free plans, Congero includes local SEO, unlimited text-in updates, and no lock-in contracts — designed for trades and service businesses that need reliable leads.