What free website builders actually give you
A free website builder lets you create and publish a working website without paying for hosting, a domain name, or design software. The builder supplies the server space, the design templates, and the editing tools all in one place. You log in, pick a template, add your content, and your site goes live on their domain — something like yourname.wix.com or yourname.weebly.com.
The trade-off is that free plans come with limits. Most restrict how many pages you can create, show ads on your site, limit storage space for images and files, or prevent you from using a custom domain name (like yourname.com). Some disable features like email contact forms or e-commerce tools unless you pay. Understanding these limits before you start matters because switching builders later means rebuilding your whole site.
Free builders work best for small projects: a portfolio to show your work, a resume site, a small business card online, or a hobby blog. They do not work well for sites that need heavy traffic, custom code, or professional email addresses tied to your own domain.
Key Takeaways
- Free website builders include hosting and templates in one tool, so you do not buy anything separately or install software on your computer.
- Free plans usually limit you to a subdomain (yourname.wix.com), show ads, or restrict pages and storage, so read the limits before choosing.
- The biggest free builders are Wix, Weebly, Google Sites, and Carrd, each with different strengths depending on what you are building.
- Switching builders after you publish means rebuilding your site from scratch, so pick one that matches what you actually need now, not what you might need later.
- If you need a custom domain name or want to remove ads, you will eventually need to pay, but you can start free and upgrade only if you decide to keep the site.
Comparing the main free builders
Wix is the largest free builder and works for almost any project type. The free plan gives you unlimited pages, a Wix subdomain, and basic e-commerce (you can sell up to 100 items). Wix shows ads at the bottom of your site unless you pay. The editor is drag-and-drop, meaning you click and drag elements around the page, and it works on both desktop and mobile. Most people find it intuitive, though the interface has a lot of buttons and options.
Weebly is simpler than Wix and better if you want a faster start. The free plan includes unlimited pages, a Weebly subdomain, and basic e-commerce. Weebly also shows ads. The editor is more streamlined than Wix — fewer options means fewer things to learn, but also less flexibility if you want to customize heavily.
Google Sites is the lightest option and best if you just need a straightforward informational site. It is free with no ads, unlimited pages, and a Google subdomain. The templates are minimal and the editor is very basic, but that also means there is almost nothing to learn. Google Sites works well for team documentation, project pages, or a straightforward business card site. It does not support e-commerce or a blog.
Carrd is designed for single-page sites — one long scrolling page instead of multiple pages. The free plan includes one site, a Carrd subdomain, and no ads. Carrd is good for a resume, a portfolio, or a landing page for a small business or freelancer. If you need multiple pages, Carrd is not the right choice.
Step-by-step: Starting your first site
Pick a builder based on what you are making. If you need multiple pages and are not sure what you want yet, start with Wix or Weebly. If you just need one page, use Carrd. If you are building something for a team or organization, try Google Sites.
Go to the builder's website and click the button to create a new site. You will be asked to sign up with an email address and password. Use an email you check regularly — this is how the builder contacts you about your account. Do not use a temporary email address.
Choose a template that matches your project type. Most builders show templates organized by category: portfolio, business, blog, resume, and so on. Pick one that looks close to what you want. You can change colors, fonts, and layout later, so do not spend time finding the perfect template — pick one that is roughly right and move on.
Replace the sample text and images with your own. Click on any text block to edit it. Click on any image to upload your own photo. Delete sections you do not need. Add new sections by clicking an add button or dragging from a menu. Save your work frequently — most builders save automatically, but do not assume.
Preview your site on mobile before you publish. Click the preview or mobile button to see how your site looks on a phone. Many visitors will use phones, so if it looks broken on mobile, fix it before going live. Most modern builders handle this automatically, but check anyway.
Publish your site when you are ready. Click the publish or go live button. Your site is now on the internet at the subdomain the builder assigned you. Share the link with people. You can edit it anytime by logging back in.
Understanding the limits of free plans
Free plans show ads on your site. These are ads the builder places there, not ads you control. Visitors see them, and you do not get paid. Upgrading to a paid plan removes them.
Free plans usually restrict storage. Wix and Weebly give you enough for a small site with dozens of images, but if you plan to upload hundreds of photos or large video files, you will hit the limit. Google Sites and Carrd have more generous storage because they are simpler.
Free plans use a subdomain, not a custom domain. Your site is yourname.wix.com, not yourname.com. This is fine for a portfolio or hobby project, but it looks less professional for a business. Upgrading to a paid plan lets you use your own domain name, though you usually have to buy the domain separately (around $10 to $15 per year).
Free plans disable some features. Most builders lock e-commerce, advanced analytics, custom code, or email integration behind a paywall. Before you start, check whether the features you need are available on the free plan. If a critical feature is locked, that builder is not the right choice.
When you should pay for an upgrade
You do not have to pay anything to build and publish a site. But if your site starts getting real use, you may want to upgrade. The most common reason is removing ads — if you are using the site for a business or portfolio, ads look unprofessional. The second reason is a custom domain name — yourname.com looks better than yourname.wix.com on a business card or resume.
Paid plans usually start at $5 to $15 per month, depending on the builder and what features you add. Before you pay, make sure you are actually using the site and that it is worth the cost. Many people build a site, publish it, and never update it again. If that is you, the free plan is fine forever.
If you do decide to upgrade, you can usually do it from inside your account settings. The builder will ask you to choose a plan and enter a payment method. Your site stays exactly the same — upgrading just removes limits and ads.
Moving your site later if you need to
If you outgrow your free builder, you can move to a more powerful platform like WordPress. But moving is not straightforward — you cannot just export your site and import it somewhere else. You have to rebuild it on the new platform, which means recreating pages, re-uploading images, and rewriting content.
Because of this, do not worry too much about picking the perfect builder at the start. Pick one that works for what you need now. If you need something different later, you can rebuild then. Most people never outgrow a free builder, so this is a problem you may never face.
If you do decide to move, export any content you can from your old site before you delete it. Most builders let you read a backup or export your pages as files. Keep these files in case you need to reference them while rebuilding on the new platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own domain name on a free plan?
No. Free plans use a subdomain owned by the builder. To use your own domain (yourname.com), you need to upgrade to a paid plan. You buy the domain separately for about $10 to $15 per year, then connect it in your builder's settings.
Will my free site disappear if I stop using it?
Most builders will delete inactive sites after a long period of no login — usually six months to a year. If you build a site and never touch it again, check your builder's policy. If you want to keep it, log in occasionally or set a calendar reminder to check on it.
Can I sell things on a free website?
Wix and Weebly allow basic e-commerce on free plans, usually up to 100 products. You can list items and take payments, though transaction fees explore. Google Sites and Carrd do not support e-commerce at all. If you plan to run a real store, a free plan is not enough — you will need a paid plan or a dedicated e-commerce platform.
What if I want to use my own email address in my site's contact form?
Free plans usually allow contact forms, but they may limit where the messages go or add the builder's branding. Check your builder's documentation. Some builders require a paid plan to send form submissions to your own email. If this matters for your site, verify it works before you publish.
Can I add a blog to my free website?
Wix and Weebly include blogging tools on free plans. Google Sites does not have a dedicated blog feature, though you can create a page that functions like one. Carrd is not designed for blogs. If blogging is important, use Wix or Weebly.