What "free" actually means when you build a website
A free website builder lets you design and publish a site without paying for hosting or a domain name upfront. The builder provides the space where your site lives, the tools to design it, and a web address you can share — all at no cost. The trade-off is that free plans come with limits: your site will have the builder's branding on it, you get less storage for images and files, you cannot use your own custom domain name (like yourname.com), and you may see ads.
Free does not mean you own the site the way you would own a house. The builder owns the platform, and they can change the rules, shut down your account, or delete your site if you violate their terms. For a personal blog, portfolio, or small business site, this is usually fine. For something you depend on for income, you should understand the risk.
Key Takeaways
- Free website builders like Wix, Squarespace, Google Sites, and Carrd give you a working site with no upfront cost, but they add their branding and limit storage and features.
- Your free site will have a web address like yourname.wixsite.com instead of yourname.com, and you cannot change that without paying for a custom domain.
- Free plans work best for portfolios, resumes, small blogs, and hobby projects — not for sites where you need to look established or take payments.
- If you outgrow the free plan, you can usually upgrade to a paid plan on the same builder without rebuilding your site from scratch.
- Read the builder's terms about what happens to your site if you stop paying or if the service shuts down.
The biggest free website builders and what each one is built for
Google Sites is the simplest option. It is designed for quick, text-heavy sites — team pages, project documentation, event announcements. The editor is straightforward: you add text, images, and embedded content (like YouTube videos or Google Docs) to a page. There is no design learning curve. You get a free Google account, and your site lives at sites.google.com/site/yourname. Storage is tied to your Google Drive account, so you have 15 GB free before you hit limits. Google Sites does not let you add custom code or sell products, and the design options are basic.
Wix is built for small businesses and portfolios. It has a drag-and-drop editor where you can move elements around freely, hundreds of templates, and built-in tools for contact forms, image galleries, and basic e-commerce. The free plan includes a Wix subdomain (yourname.wixsite.com), 500 MB of storage, and Wix branding at the bottom of every page. You can upgrade to remove the branding and get a custom domain, but that costs money. Wix is more flexible than Google Sites but also more complex to learn.
Squarespace focuses on design-first sites. Templates are polished and modern, and the editor is visual — you see what the site looks like as you build it. Squarespace does not have a true free plan, but it offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. After that, you pay. If you want a free option with Squarespace's design philosophy, Carrd (below) is closer.
Carrd is designed for one-page sites: portfolios, landing pages, resumes, link collections. It is simpler than Wix or Squarespace because you are building one page, not multiple pages. The free plan includes a Carrd subdomain, basic templates, and enough storage for most single-page projects. The paid plan adds a custom domain and more features. Carrd is good if you just need a straightforward online presence.
Weebly (owned by Square) is similar to Wix — drag-and-drop editor, templates, basic e-commerce. The free plan includes a Weebly subdomain, 500 MB storage, and Weebly branding. It is less popular than Wix but works the same way.
What you can and cannot do on a free plan
Free plans let you build a site, add pages, upload images, and publish it to the web. You can usually add a contact form so visitors can email you. Most builders let you embed external content like YouTube videos, Google Maps, or social media feeds.
What you cannot do: you cannot use a custom domain name (yourname.com) without paying. You cannot remove the builder's branding or ads. You cannot add custom code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) unless you pay for a premium plan. You cannot sell products or take payments on most free plans — Wix and Weebly have limited e-commerce on free plans, but you pay transaction fees. You cannot use advanced features like email marketing, SEO tools, or analytics beyond basic page views.
Storage limits vary. Google Sites gives you 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Drive). Wix and Weebly give 500 MB. Carrd gives 1 GB. If you are uploading lots of high-resolution images or video, you will hit these limits quickly.
How to choose between free builders
Start by asking what your site needs to do. If you need a straightforward one-page resume or portfolio, Carrd or Google Sites is enough. If you need multiple pages and a polished look, Wix or Weebly works better. If you are building a team or project site with mostly text and embedded documents, Google Sites is fastest.
Next, think about whether you might pay later. All of these builders let you upgrade from free to paid without rebuilding. If you start on Wix free and later want a custom domain and no branding, you can upgrade. The same is true for Carrd, Weebly, and Google Sites (though Google Sites does not have a paid plan — you just get more storage through Google One). This means you can start free and upgrade only if you need to.
Finally, test the editor. Most builders let you start a free site and explore the editor before you commit. Spend 10 minutes dragging elements around, adding a page, uploading an image. If the editor feels clunky or confusing, try another builder. You are looking for something that feels natural to you, not the one with the most features.
The hidden costs of free: what you trade away
The builder's branding appears on your site — usually a small logo or link at the bottom. This makes your site look less professional, especially if you are trying to attract clients or employers. Removing it requires a paid plan.
Your site is slower than a paid site because free sites share server resources with thousands of others. This matters less for a portfolio than for a business site where speed affects how people experience your work.
You have less control. You cannot install plugins, add custom code, or change how the site works under the hood. If the builder changes their editor or shuts down a feature you rely on, you have no say.
Your data is not fully yours. The builder owns the platform and can change their terms. If you stop paying (or if you are on a free plan), they can delete your account after a period of inactivity. Read the builder's terms of service to understand what happens to your site if you abandon it.
When to upgrade from free to paid
Upgrade when the free plan no longer does what you need. This usually happens when you want a custom domain name (yourname.com instead of yourname.wixsite.com), when you need to remove the builder's branding, when you run out of storage, or when you want to sell products or take payments.
A custom domain costs $10 to $15 per year through most registrars, and most builders charge $5 to $15 per month for a plan that includes one. If you are using the site for work or business, a custom domain is worth it because it looks more established. If it is a hobby or personal project, the free subdomain is fine.
Before you upgrade, make sure the paid plan actually includes what you need. Some builders charge extra for e-commerce, email marketing, or advanced analytics on top of the base plan. Read the pricing page carefully.
Alternatives if free builders do not fit
If you need more control and do not mind learning, WordPress.com offers a free plan with a WordPress.com subdomain, basic templates, and 3 GB storage. WordPress is more powerful than Wix or Carrd, but the editor is less intuitive. You can upgrade to a custom domain and more features.
If you are comfortable with code, GitHub Pages lets you host a static site (text and images, no database) for free using GitHub's servers. You write the code yourself or use a template, and GitHub publishes it. This is free forever, but it requires technical knowledge.
If you want to sell products, free plans usually do not work well because they limit e-commerce or charge high transaction fees. You would need to upgrade or use a different service like Shopify (which has a 14-day free trial but then charges).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move my free site to a different builder later?
It depends on the builder. Wix, Weebly, and Carrd let you export your content, but you will need to rebuild the design on the new platform — the layout and formatting do not transfer automatically. Google Sites does not have an export option, so moving is harder. Before you choose a builder, ask yourself whether you might want to switch later, and pick one with an export option if that matters to you.
What happens to my site if I stop using it?
Most builders delete inactive accounts after 12 months or longer. Check the builder's terms to see their policy. If you want to keep your site but are not updating it, log in occasionally to show activity, or upgrade to a paid plan (which usually has no inactivity deletion).
Can I use a free site for a business?
Yes, but with limits. A free site works for a small service business, freelancer, or consultant who just needs a place to show their work and let people contact them. It does not work well if you need to take payments, run email campaigns, or look highly professional. For a business, a custom domain and paid plan are usually worth the cost.
Do free websites show up in Google search results?
Yes, but it takes longer. Search engines index free sites the same way they index paid sites, but free sites often rank lower because they are slower and have less authority. If you want people to find your site through search, you will need to do basic SEO work (write clear page titles, use keywords in your text, add descriptions). A custom domain helps a little, but good content helps more.
Is there a completely free option with no limits at all?
No. Every free builder has limits — either a subdomain instead of a custom domain, storage limits, branding, or missing features. The trade-off is always there. If you want no limits, you pay for hosting and a domain separately, which costs money but gives you full control.