Informative Blog

### Ultimate Guide to Building a Free WordPress Website

### **Step 1: Understanding WordPress**

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Betty is a freelance content writer and contributor to Newsweek with expertise in personal finance, including credit cards, budgeting & savings, bank accounts and loans. She has a B.A. In Media Studies & Communication and a Certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin. In pursuit of financial literacy, Betty started crafting informative and compelling articles in the personal finance industry. She grew up in a mediocre community and witnessed how people struggled to understand how finances work. So, Betty developed a passion for helping people manage their debt, develop a greater understanding of their finances, and become financially better off.

Her passion is not just about numbers but the stories they tell. With every word, she strives to interpret finance, turning it from a daunting mystery into a relatable piece that resonates with everyone.

Betty is currently based in Alpharetta, GA

The Best Website Builders For WordPress In 2024

Best website builder: Jump menu

Finding the right WordPress website builder in 2024 can be overwhelming. That's why we put all the top options to the test, evaluating their ease of use, features, and value. 

Our top pick overall? Bluehost, thanks to its exceptional drag-and-drop editor and low price. 

But there are a lot of different choices that might suit you even better. Keep reading for our full breakdown of the best website builders for WordPress sites.

Eager to find the best website builder for WordPress without diving deep into the details? Here’s a concise overview of the top website builders, highlighting their standout features. For a more in-depth look, follow the links to the full reviews.

Best overall

The best website builder for WordPress

Bluehost’s WordPress website builder seamlessly combines the platform’s best features with its user-friendly block builder. It offers over 300 themes, WooCommerce integrations, and a drag-and-drop editor perfect for beginners.

Read more below

Best value

The best value website builder plugin for WordPress

Elementor stands out with its vast selection of editing tools and flexibility in design. Catering to beginners and developers, it offers a drag-and-drop builder with instant editing and many templates.

Read more below

Best budget

The best budget WordPress builder

Beaver Builder is renowned for its clean code and user-friendly interface. With a vast template selection and responsive editing, it ensures your site looks great on all devices. 

Read more below

Best all-in-one theme

The best multipurpose WordPress theme

Divi offers a real-time advanced visual builder, allowing users to see their site as they design. It has over 2,000 pre-made layouts and extensive customization options.

Read more below

Best for landing pages

The best website builder for WordPress landing pages

Tailored for high-conversion landing pages, SeedProd offers a powerful builder with 150 templates, email marketing integrations, and a versatile drag-and-drop page builder. It’s a top choice for landing pages. 

Read more below

Best free builder

The best free website builder for WordPress

Visual Composer offers a beginner-friendly approach with its “tree view” organization. While the free version provides a taste of its capabilities, the premium plans unlock more templates and advanced tools. 

Read more below

Best for themes

The best website builder for WordPress themes

Themify has been a favorite since 2010, offering slick themes and plugins. With 60 preset layouts and customizable animation effects, it provides a unique touch to WordPress sites.

Read more below

Best for developers

8. WP Page Builder (Themeum)

The best website builder for WordPress developers

Launched by Themeum, WP Page Builder is lightweight and offers a range of add-ons. It’s simple enough for beginners but also provides custom CSS options for advanced users.

Read more belowBest for ecommerce

The best WordPress website builder for ecommerce

Oxygen stands out with its lifetime support and one-off payment plans. Its drag-and-drop builder is beginner-friendly but it also offers advanced tools for seasoned developers.

Read more below

The best website builder for WordPress overall

Entry price: $1.99 a month

Free version: No

Number of templates: 300+

Includes WordPress hosting

Wide selection of content blocks

Email marketing tools included

Limited flexibility to arrange content

WordPress has a learning curve

Bluehost's WordPress website builder was launched in August 2021 and brings the web host's experience to site building. It balances WordPress’s best features with its own, easy-to-use, block builder. Plans include features such as WooCommerce online sales integrations, over 300 themes to choose from, and much more.

Its drag-and-drop editor is ideal for beginners, and each of the premium packages has managed WordPress hosting from Bluehost at no extra cost, covering unlimited sites. With this, installations and plugins are kept updated, and users also get a free domain for a year, alongside a free SSL certificate.

There's no free version of WordPress website builder. Four plans - Basic, Choice Plus, Online Store, and Pro - start at $1.99 a month and range up to $20.99 a month. You sign up for 12 or 36 months, with your first term available at up to 75% off the regular price. 

As you navigate Bluehost's website builder, you'll appreciate the seamless integration with WordPress, allowing you to switch between Bluehost's intuitive drag-and-drop interface and the more extensive WordPress platform with ease. This flexibility is especially valuable if you're already acquainted with WordPress and wish to leverage its wide array of plugins and themes. 

However, this comes with the trade-off that some WordPress plugins aren't compatible with Bluehost's builder, necessitating a workaround. In such cases, builders like Wix and Squarespace offer in-house features that are less reliant on external plugins, possibly providing a smoother experience for those seeking an all-in-one solution.

Bluehost's builder offers an array of templates and stock photos, streamlining the design process, but it also places a cap on creativity by limiting customization compared to standalone website builders. For instance, the base plan doesn't include ecommerce capabilities, which are standard with platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, making those builders a better option if your primary goal is to set up an online store without needing to upgrade plans.

Bluehost combines WordPress, hosting, and an easy-to-use interface for competitive prices. The only negative is that the builder is less flexible with site layout, but the huge range of content options ensures it ranks at the top when it comes to website builders for WordPress.

Read our Bluehost WordPress website builder review.Read our Bluehost hosting review.

The best value website builder plugin for WordPress

Entry price: $59 a year

Free version: Yes

Number of templates: 300+

Top selection of editing tools built-in

Impressively flexible with designs

Competitively priced plans

Confusing for beginners

Quite basic free plan

With millions of installations, Elementor is popular and reliable, and available in free and paid versions, with the latter offering increased customization and more. Catering to beginners and developers at both ends of the competency scale, the basic free plan enables you to test the platform out before you spend.

Among key features are a drag-and-drop builder with instantaneous editing, revision history, a finder function, a builder for creating advanced marketing popups, and desktop and mobile site settings. All paid plans also come packaged with premium customer support if you need help.

The $59 Essential plan gives you access to a widget catalog, over 300 site templates and full template kits, and the WooCommerce builder for those who want an online store. This supports one site and offers full access to the editor. The Expert plan ($199 a year) supports three sites, while the Agency plan ($399 a year) grows this to 1000.

Unlike some website builders that restrict you to a backend interface, Elementor allows you to see your changes in real time. This means that as you adjust text, swap out images, or experiment with different layouts, you can immediately see the impact of your edits without switching back and forth between editing and preview modes. 

You can enhance the user experience on your site with interactive elements like motion effects and image carousels, which are not as robust or easy to implement in builders like Squarespace or Wix. However, keep in mind that the most intriguing widgets and features are reserved for the Pro version, which comes at an additional cost. 

The collaboration tools in Elementor are a significant advantage if you're working with a team. Sharing your progress and receiving feedback is streamlined, saving you valuable time and ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page. This feature is especially valuable compared to platforms like Squarespace, where team collaboration isn't as straightforward or seamlessly integrated.

For those with more experience, you can add custom CSS or HTML code, while integrated landing page and form creation tools offer additional marketing features. One downside is the basic free version's limitations, as you don't get access to any of these advanced tools. The builder's user interface can also be confusing and take time to get adjusted to using.

The best budget WordPress builder

Entry price: $99 a year

Free version: Yes

Number of templates: 300+

Flexible design and customization

Provides clean code generation

Easy-to-use and beginner-friendly

Tools selection limited

Many features require plan upgrade

Beaver Builder has been a leading option for WordPress for a while, and has a reputation for clean code, meaning fine-tuning sites is simpler. Its free version acts as a brilliant introduction to the software beyond its helpful live demo online.

The free plan, while quite limited, offers six editing modules, namely text, HTML, video, audio, images, and sidebar. Across all three paid options, you get responsive editing, so you can toggle between different views of your site to make sure it works on desktop as well as it does on a mobile device.

Paid packages start at $99 a year with the Standard plan, with 29 additional modules, optional WooCommerce integration, and dozens of customizable templates for pages including landing, about, and services pages. You get unlimited site connections, premium support for your first year, and can access the 300+ premium templates and design elements.

The three two more expensive plans - Pro ($199 a year), Agency ($399 a year), and Ultimate ($546 a year) add more features, including white labeling capability, multi-site network settings, and more. 

The level of intuitive design control Beaver Builder offers isn't found in every WordPress page builder. However, you might find the selection of modules limited compared to Elementor or Divi, which offer a wider range of elements for your pages. 

You can modify the layout based on your design preferences, such as opting for a fixed sidebar, which enhances the overall design experience.

Performance is another area where Beaver Builder shines. It's a lighter option compared to other popular builders, contributing to faster page loading times—a critical factor for both user experience and SEO. 

The best multipurpose WordPress theme

Entry price: $89 a year

Free version: No

Number of templates: 2000+

Editor is visual and attractive

Content modules and site elements are customizable

Ideal for all skill levels

Expensive compared to competitors

No free version or trial available

Divi operates on the front end of your site in real time, and its advanced visual builder allows you to see exactly what your site will look like once published. Released in 2015, the builder can be used with any WordPress theme for custom, advanced sites.

Aimed at newcomers to web design and experienced pros, Divi allows for the editing of shapes, fonts, colors, and more across 40 content elements. These range from audio to images, and blogs to portfolios, with options for making sweeping sitewide changes. There are over 2,000 premade website layouts packaged in Divi from which to choose.

Divi Pro is an additional set of features that adds AI tools, cloud storage, and premium support. 

Divi is now available as a one-off purchase at $249. Or, you can pay yearly for a Divi subscription, the cheapest of which is $89 a year for a recurring subscription, and the most expensive is $665 a year for Divi Pro. One negative here is that there's no free trial or free plan, there there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. All plans include a range of advanced features, themes, and plugins covering email and social networking.

Unlike some other builders, Divi allows you to create and apply different layouts very granularly across your website. This level of detail extends to all types of content, whether it be pages, categories, or posts, granting you a powerful suite of tools for site customization. However, this control comes with complexity; the visual editor can be particularly challenging for users who are not developers, with a steeper learning curve and a more clunky interface than competitors like Elementor.

The builder boasts an elegant aesthetic, with neat icons and a clean admin interface. You'll also discover shortcuts and time-savers that can speed up your workflow, a feature that developers may find particularly useful. However, one notable downside is Divi's reliance on shortcodes, which makes it a less flexible option if you ever decide to switch themes, as your content may be left with unusable code. 

The drag-and-drop editor utilizes a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) style, so site elements can be placed exactly where intended. More experienced users can add custom CSS code, but all of this means plans are quite expensive and some advanced tools are too complex for novice users.

The best website builder for WordPress landing pages

Entry price: $31.60 a year

Free version: No

Number of templates: 150+

Pre-designed templates are excellent

Third-party integrations available

Very customizable and versatile

Not great for general site building

No free version available

SeedProd is aimed at users who want to create landing pages on WordPress sites for high conversions, meaning it sits apart from the remainder of this guide. Nevertheless, it's one of the most powerful and cheapest builders available, with all plans including 150 templates, email marketing integrations, subscriber management, and full access to its drag-and-drop page builder.

With four plans ranging from $31.60 a year up to $239.60 a year, SeedProd's builder includes a range of landing page templates covering sales, leads, webinars, 404 errors, and much more. The cheapest Basic plan includes 100 templates and 20 page blocks, while the more advanced plans add photo library access, WooCommerce support, domain mapping, and priority support on the top Elite plan.

While there's no free version, all paid plans have a 14-day money-back guarantee, and the editor is mobile responsive, so all sites created with it are optimized. 

Accessibility and control are standout features with SeedProd. With access controls, you can easily manage who can view your in-progress pages, which is particularly handy for staging environments or client previews. However, one potential downside is the learning curve associated with these features, especially if you're new to website management.

Seamless integration with marketing tools like Campaign Monitor, Mailchimp, and Sendy means that despite not being able to create a whole site, SeedProd is top-level for landing pages.

The best free website builder for WordPress

Entry price: $49 a year

Free version: Yes

Number of templates: 300+

Competitively priced, and free plan

Excellent option for beginners

Top-notch range of additional tools

Editor's interface is simplistic

Single-pages only on free version

Visual Composer offers a beginner-friendly, easy-to-use website builder for WordPress sites, allowing you to customize individual pages or site-wide headers and footers with functionality. It utilizes a "tree view" akin to Photoshop, for extra organization and flexibility, while it offers free-forever and paid versions.

The free version is ideal for testing out the platform, and while it's limited to 30 elements and 10 templates, without a series of global design tools, it's a top free option. Its basic drag-and-drop editor is simple to use, and across five premium plans, you can gain access to hundreds of premium templates and add-ons.

Shared features of all the premium plans include the Visual Composer Hub, a cloud library of elements updated every week with new content including templates, extensions, and blocks. A pop-up builder is also included, so you can tailor promotional pop-ups to conversion goals.

Visual Composer's unique offering includes a wide range of elements and templates that cater to various niches. The addition of premium elements and the ability to integrate with WooCommerce make Visual Composer particularly appealing if you're aiming to create a comprehensive e-commerce platform. But if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option with robust e-commerce features, you might consider checking out builders like Divi, which offers lifetime access for a one-time fee.

The theme builder feature in Visual Composer is a standout, granting you the flexibility to customize headers, footers, and other dynamic areas of your site. Such extensive theme customization is not always available in other builders like Gutenberg. 

For a single-website license, the $49 a year Single option is best, while there are plans covering five sites (Plus at $99 a year), 20 sites (Accelerate at $149 a year), and 1,000 sites (Agency at $349 a year). Other specialized features include WooCommerce blocks for online stores, while the only negatives are the simplistic editor and the drawbacks of the free version.

The best website builder for WordPress themes

Entry price: $59 a year

Free version: No

Number of templates: 42

Affordable pricing plans

Impressive selection of templates

High quality premium features

Reported issues with support

Builder less intuitive than competitors

Themify's themes and plugins have been available since 2010, and continue to be downloaded by thousands of WordPress users. It makes sense then that Themify's website builder is one of the slickest around.

With 60 preset layouts including customizable animation effects, templates are sorted by theme and include designs for business, sports, education, fashion, music, and weddings.

In addition to the existing features, Themify offers builder add-on modules that provide further functionality to the page builder. This includes a WooCommerce builder, mosaic tile layouts, and parallax infinite scrolling capabilities. 

When it comes to price, this is done by themes, with the Single Themes plan costing $59 a year. For $89 a year, the Master Club subscription offers 42 themes, 11 plugins, 25 add-ons and much more, with one year's support. Finally, the Lifetime Club plan, for a one-off $249 payment, gives access to all themes, plugins, and add-ons.

Unique to Themify is the ability to create and manage Global Styles, a feature that ensures design consistency while saving time on repetitive tasks, an edge over builders that lack this centralized style management. However, if you're a power user seeking an extensive suite of tools for complex interactions or data handling, you might find Elementor Pro a more robust alternative.

One standout feature of Themify is the ability to show or hide content based on device type, which not all builders offer. This capability allows you to tailor user experiences, ensuring your site remains efficient and visually appealing on mobile platforms. While the drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, creating intricate responsive designs might require a learning curve. Users looking for more granular control over responsive settings may consider Divi, which offers more detailed responsive editing options.

The best website builder for WordPress developers

Entry price: $39 a year

Free version: No

Number of templates: 83+

Simple design interface for site building

Free version and appealing price plans

Great range of content and features

Might be too basic for some

Site editing limited

Released by Themeum in 2018, WP Page Builder is a lightweight and slick tool. Simply select one of the template layouts to act as your starting base, then tweak according to your preference using handy functions, including column and row manual resizing, unlimited undo/redo options, and the show and hide option. 

This latter feature allows you to restrict particular elements from showing on specific devices. WP Page Builder has over 30 add-ons including flip box, testimonial carousel and image hover, and while this page builder is simple enough for users without coding knowledge or experience to use, there is a custom CSS option for coders keen to implement sophisticated design tweaks. 

Across three paid plans, WP Page Builder offers site plans for Individuals, Freelancers, and Agencies. Individuals covers one site for one year for $39, offering updates for one year alongside priority email support; Freelancers offers the same features but for five sites for $59 a year; and Agencies for unlimited sites for $99 a year. All add-ons are included across all three paid plans.

The best WordPress website builder for ecommerce

Entry price: $129 (one-off payment)

Free version: No

Number of templates: None

Lifetime support and affordable licences

Tools for advanced developer code access

Visual editing interface is attractive

Complicated for beginners

No free version or trial

Lifetime support and updates with unlimited websites put Oxygen ahead of many rivals. What's more, its four plans, ranging from the entry-level $129 Basic license up to Ultimate at $179, are not annual subscriptions, but one-off payments. All four also come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

The three more expensive licenses add in WooCommerce integrations, Gutenberg block builders, and other specialized tools. Though it doesn't offer a traditional list of website templates from which to choose, its versatile drag-and-drop builder is ideal for beginners and experts, with integrated developer tools and the ability to add custom CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and PHP code snippets for adding advanced custom elements.

Extensive online and video tutorials include guides and how-tos covering, for example, creating exit intent popups and custom animated buttons. If there are any negatives, its slight complication when it comes to installation can be an issue, while beginners may struggle to familiarize themselves with the user interface due to the number of features available. The lack of a free plan or trial also makes it a little difficult to test before buying.

Using Oxygen Builder for WordPress provides a high level of control and flexibility when designing your website. Unlike many conventional page builders, Oxygen allows you to manipulate virtually every aspect of the site's design through its interface, which is especially appealing to developers comfortable with code. 

The integration with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) stands out, enabling you to create bespoke layouts with dynamic content that's tailored to your unique needs. Oxygen Builder also shines with its capability to centrally store templates, ensuring design consistency and efficiency across multiple pages and projects.

Despite its complexities, Oxygen Builder's ability to output cleaner code can be a significant advantage, potentially leading to faster load times and a more streamlined user experience. These functionalities underscore the oxygen Builder's suitability for users who want comprehensive design control and have the technical skill to leverage it, all at a competitive one-time pricing model that can be a cost-effective choice in the long run.

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Both WordPress itself (the native website builder for WordPress.Com users is a separate product) and its many builder plugins, as well as website builders in general, can design, make, and publish sites. There are as many differences as there are similarities.

Website builders provide site creation, alongside technical management, web hosting, security tools, and a web domain. For users, the only thing to worry about is maintenance and design, with most platforms not requiring any coding knowledge. For this reason, builders are designed to be used by beginners with even limited technical experience.

On the other hand, WordPress is unable to be used without a third-party web host, due to being an open-source CMS. This does mean however that it offers increased technical freedom, and you effectively have control over every aspect of your site, though the levels of complexity often mean common website mistakes are made.

Generally speaking, beginners should use a website builder if thinking about putting together a site; but the best website builders for WordPress bridge the gap, offering beginner-friendly site creation via the CMS.

The best website builders for WordPress are easy to use. A user-friendly interface, intuitive design elements, and clear instructions go a long way to making site creation simple. 

You want a website builder that allows you to customize your website to meet your specific needs. This includes the ability to add and edit pages, change the layout and design of your site, and add plugins and widgets.

Choose a website builder that is fully integrated with WordPress, so you can easily manage your website content using one system. The best builders also ensure that pages load quickly for users.

Select a WordPress website builder with good support and documentation so troubleshooting any issue is straightforward. Finally, ensure you choose a builder with robust security features that protect your website from hacking threats.

Website builder comparisons

When we review website builders for WordPress, we analyze each service's WordPress-specific features and tools, as well as study the installation process and the webpage editor's ease of use. To do this, we create a custom site with the plugin or builder: we can only review the builder adequately for you by building a website ourselves.

When we create a website on WordPress from scratch, we can also judge how simple or complex it is for different user experience levels. Some builders and plugins are designed for beginners, while others require more advanced WordPress experience.

As WordPress can often require web hosting (specifically WordPress sites created via plugins), we sign up for a basic shared hosting service separately and then undertake the site creation process. After doing this, we then monitor and record the site's uptime and server response times over a two-week period, because your site's performance is integral, and you could lose business and money if it's offline.

Should the WordPress builder or plugin offer ecommerce tools, we'd examine its store creation processes and features: if not, we'll look at platform-specific elements in detail. We'll also undertake an in-depth analysis of pricing plans, and trial the service's customer support responsiveness and knowledge.

With site creation, you'll need to choose a domain name and register your domain. Once your site has been built, make sure you implement website security.

In terms of your site's look, feel, and resources, you might want to find free website content, and you'll certainly want to make your site accessible and understand web SEO. 

I also suggest that you undertake website audits, and if you're considering writing or adding blog content, we offer guidance on how to start a blog.

For more tips on building sites on WordPress, see the differences when comparing web hosting vs WordPress vs website builders.

The Best Free Website Builder Of 2024

Finding the best free website builder is no easy task. After all, each option comes with a unique mix of tools and features, all of which must be considered if you want to find a solution that perfectly meets your needs. 

Most free website builders also come with limitations, such as an inability to connect a custom domain and restricted bandwidth and storage. However, for those looking to test a business idea without a major investment or who want to start a website for a hobby, the free plans we list in this guide offer you everything you need to get online without spending a dime. 

We have fully tested and reviewed 70+ website builders, spending thousands of hours getting hands-on with some of the best website builders on the market. Now, we have shortlisted the very best free website builders, creating this guide to help you find the one that perfectly meets your needs. 

Wix tops our list with a generous free plan that includes some powerful website building and AI tools. Plus, with an extensive app marketplace with plenty of free apps, you can extend your website's functionality easily. 

So, is there really no such thing as a free lunch? Or are the best things in life truly free?

Let’s find out. 

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Owain has spent over 7 months with TechRadar, leading on all website builder content. With a background in business and marketing, he has over 7 years of experience in testing website builders, building his own websites, and writing about business and marketing topics. He has also started several successful businesses including ecommerce stores and a marketing agency. 

Below I list my top 3 picks for the title of best free website builder. Although not all of these are free (for life), they do each offer an outstanding free option that is well worth considering. 

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

I have reviewed the content included in this guide to ensure it is still accurate, this has led to some small feature updates across the board. The 'How we test free website builders' section has been expanded to give readers a better insight into how we test and choose the best free website builders included in this guide. 

Excellent overall performance

Very user-friendly ADI editor

But experts can tweak everything

Powerful and well-featured

Supports third party apps

Cannot change templates without starting from scratch

Ads on every page 

Limited storage (500MB)

No custom domain

Wix is a big-name website builder with one of the most impressive website editors in the business, and, surprisingly, a completely free plan.

Features

Wix's Artificial Design Intelligence mode is the simplest way to create a new site. The editor asked us questions about our business, the pages we needed, and our design preferences, then automatically creates a website in seconds. We found the site was basic, with few customizations, but the process was straightforward and very fast.

Those who want to get more hands on can step up to the full Wix editor, where a strong set of powerful editing tools allow you to hone your website and get it looking just as you want. 

Alternatively, you may use Wix's new AI website builder. This takes the WIX ADI to the next level. When using the tool you will start by being asked several questions by an AI driven chatbot. It will then use the information you present in your answers to build a bespoke website including the template, written content, and images/videos. Unlike the ADI tool, the new AI website builder will also automatically install business tools such as scheduling, eCommerce, and event management into your website. 

If you go the manual route, a range of attractive templates are provided, too, though be careful: we noticed that, once you've chosen your favorite, you can't switch later. If you decide your site needs a new look, all you can do is start again from scratch: hardly convenient.

Limitations

Free Wix sites have some issues and limits. There's only 500MB storage, you'll find Wix ads on every page, and not only is there no support for custom domains, but your free Wix URL will be longer than most (youraccountname.Wixsite.Com/yoursitename.)

If you are looking to sell online, you won't be able to do this on the Wix free plan. In fact, not even Wix's entry level plan offers ecommerce functionality. You will need to sign up for the more expensive Core plan at $29/mo to be able to sell online. 

Competition & Alternatives 

Square Online is a dedicated ecommerce website that allows you to sell online with its free plan.

Weebly is also a great alternative to Wix. Although it lacks some of the features you get with Wix, it provides everything you need to build a great website and is super simple to use. 

You can read our full comparison of Wix and Weebly in our Wix vs Weebly study.

Finally, if you want to connect a custom domain, HubSpot is one of the few free website builders that allows you to do this. 

Verdict

On balance, though, Wix is still a great website builder. The templates are excellent, we loved the intuitive editor, and genuinely helpful support is available, even on the free plan. 

Powerful blogging functionality rounds things off nicely, and you’re getting a truly high quality offering with this website builder.

Owain Williams

Wix is the best option for most people, in most situations. Its combination of easy-to-use interface, extensive range of website building and marketing tools, and affordable pricing make it an easy decision for most. However, those looking for something more specialist may want to opt for another free website builder on this list. Like the majority of other free website builders, Wix's free plan also lacks the ability to connect a custom domain - if this is an issue for you, look elsewhere.  ★★★★½

Read more: Wix review

For simple integration with a host of other marketing tools

Integrates easily with HubSpot CRM and other tools

Great option for microsites 

Unlimited storage and bandwidth 

The free version contains HubSpot branding 

The free version offers a limited number of webpages and subdomains 

Support only via forum on free plan

HubSpot may be best known for its CRM and marketing tools, but the brand also has a powerful free website builder that is well worth considering.

Features

The HubSpot website builder aims to simplify the experience for business owners, with no coding knowledge required. HubSpot also handles the hosting, so you don’t need to worry about dealing with the backend. Everything is drag-and-drop, so you can pick exactly where things go. We were able to choose from hundreds of themes and templates and customize them with our own logo, typography, and content.

We linked our website to HubSpot CRM right out of the gate, so tracking our customer interactions was incredibly easy. Also, we used HubSpot’s free chatbots, forms, and live chat to help automate our customer service. We created email newsletters, a company logo, and a landing page, all from our HubSpot account.

You also get security features like SSL and two-factor authentication. HubSpot allows you to try almost everything on its “forever free” plan, but there are some limitations. 

The CRM giants also have an impressive app store, with over 1,000 different integrations available. You can extend your site with SEO tools, email, ads, messaging integrations, and more.

Limitations

You must purchase its CMS Suite Starter plan for $20 per month to remove branding. The Professional plan is priced at $360 per month — quite the jump. 

Just note that while some built-in features are gated behind specific plans, it doesn’t mean you can’t access similar functionalities in lower plan tiers. For instance, HubSpot’s SEO analytics are only included in the Professional plan. But you can still access SEO analytics with the Free and Starter plans if you integrate a Google Search Console or Schema account with HubSpot.

HubSpot’s customer support includes email, chat, and phone support — although some support is only available for premium plans. But if you want quick answers, you can search through HubSpot's extensive blog and resource center with thousands of articles and how-tos. 

Competition & Alternaties 

The HubSpot website builder is best suited to those who are using (or want to use) other HubSpot tools such as its CRM. If you are looking for a standalone website builder with greater flexibility, Wix is well worth considering. 

Verdict

With unlimited bandwidth, storage, and the ability to connect a custom domain, the HubSpot free website builder plan offers a lot that others on this list don't. All-in-all its free website builder plan should certainly be on your shortlist.

Owain Williams

HubSpot is a relatively new player in the free website builder space, but it already packs a punch. Most notably, HubSpot beats others in this guide due to its ability to link a custom domain. It also offers unlimited bandwidth and storage. On the downside, support is forum only and you may find yourself limited on added functionality if you don't want to use the wider HubSpot offering of business tools. ★★★½

Read more: HubSpot website builder review

A simple option for ambitious small businesses

Powerful free solution

Automatic website building for novices

Tons of stylish templates

Ecommerce support

Free SSL security 

Less customization options than some

No phone support

No custom domain 

Unable to remove ads 

Weebly's free website builder plan is a worthy competitor to Wix and, unlike most others on this list, will let you sell online. 

Features

Weebly's website creation tools start, a little like Wix, with a very simple automated builder. This guides you through a series of questions, then automatically creates your site in a few seconds. There isn't much scope for customization, but it's very easy to use - making it ideal for small businesses.

The standard editor gives you more fine-tuned control of your site design (though not quite as much as the best of the competition), but is still fairly simple to operate. We were amazed by the hundreds of stylish templates - and, yes, they are genuinely impressive – which we were able to tailor to our needs using a WYSIWYG editor. 

Weebly scores highly for its advanced tools. We were able to extend our site with all kinds of content types via its capable editor. Weebly is great for online stores, offering basic ecommerce functionality, unlimited items, and inventory management on the free plan - not something you will find on most free website builder plans. 

Limitations 

As usual with a free website builder, Weebly didn't allow us to use our own domain. Instead, you're offered a free Weebly subdomain (yourname.Weebly.Com.) That's short, but not exactly professional, and not a good look for a business or serious site.

The free plan also limits your support to live chat and a community forum (phone support is reserved for some of the premium plans.) That could be an issue if your website is down and you're looking for immediate assistance, but it's still better than some free services, which don't include support at all.

Competition & Alternatives 

With its AI website builder, Wix's offering is a little more advanced (although it doesn't allow you to sell online unless you upgrade to a paid plan). 

Like most others on this list, Weebly's bandwidth and storage are both limited (up to 500MB). If this is a concern, you may opt for the likes of Webflow which offers unlimited storage and a more generous 1GB of bandwidth on its free plan.

Want to connect a custom domain for free? HubSpot is your best option. 

Verdict

Weebly is a great option for small businesses. Not only does it offer a great free plan, but as your business grows and you need more from your website, Weebly's paid plans are also incredibly affordable. Overall, its power and flexibility make Weebly a good, free website builder to consider. 

Read our full Weebly review.

Owain Williams

If you want to keep things simple, Weebly is a great option to consider. This website builder is the perfect option for small businesses that have limited time and budget. One huge benefit to Weebly's free plan is the ability to sell online - this is rare amongst its competitors. Although, of course, transaction fees apply. ★★★

Read more: Weebly review 

Customize and create super-detailed websites

Advanced design customization

User friendly CMS

Variety of templates

Wide range of SEO options

Unlimited storage and generous bandwidth 

Steep learning curve compared to competitors

No phone support or live chat

Highly dependent on third-party integrations and user-generated features

Webflow is a popular website builder that excels in its design customization, especially for those who have a decent amount of web design knowledge. 

Features

Webflow’s interface is based on the ‘box model’, and needs basic HTML and CSS knowledge for maximum utilization.

You can choose from over 49 free templates available on the platform. Although, you can’t change the template of your site once you’ve selected it. The only way to do so is to build a new website from scratch.

Webflow offers automatic backups and a free SSL certification to make sure your website is safe and secure. While setting up, Webflow lets you create an entry-level site with 2 pages, 50 CMS tools, localization, and up to 50 form submissions. It even offers 1 GB bandwidth and up to one thousand visitors with its free plan. Basically, it offers everything you need to build a website for free without running into any bottlenecks.   

Limitations

While setting up a site, we found Webflow’s interface quite complex and tricky compared to other options like Wix or Site123. Unsurprisingly, Webflow doesn’t offer any custom domains or CMS support on its free plan. This means that if you build a free website, you’ll have to stick with a .Webflow subdomain.

Competition & Alternatives

If you have no or little coding knowledge (or a desire to learn it), Webflow probably isn't the best fit for you. Luckily, there are plenty of decent, simpler alternatives including Wix and Weebly, both of which are known for offering a user friendly interface.

Verdict 

Overall, if you want to build a basic website without having any knowledge about website building or design, Webflow might not be the best option for you. However, if you want a super customized site that comes with unique designs and detailed features, this platform can stand out as a strong contender in this list.

Owain Williams

Those with some design knowledge and skill may get frustrated with the design limits of the majority of free website builders on this list. Weflow offers a more flexible alternative, offering those with HTML and CSS knowledge a more suitable platform for website design. This flexibility makes Webflow a good option for freelancers and agencies alike, although website professionals will almost certainly want to opt for a paid plan to unlock custom domains and more pages - the free plan is a good first step to understanding if Webflow is right for you.  ★★★★½

Read more: Webflow website builder review

Create your free website in minutes

Beginner-friendly interface

Instant website setup

Easy editor

Basic customizations

Generic design templates

Very limited features in the free plan

Site123 is a simple and super easy website builder that lets even a complete beginner create a brand new website all by themselves - making it ideal for those looking to launch an affiliate marketing site quickly. 

Features

As you sign up on the platform, the builder asks for basic information regarding your site, and within moments, the first layout of your website is ready. Surprisingly, we found that it did a pretty good job with the initial layout. Even the images were quite good and accurate to the website's niche. 

Site123 offers a very neat and easy-to-use editor. Users can easily click on any element and simply edit it, although your options for doing so are limited. 

Ultimately, the Site123 free plan is super simple, which could be either a blessing or a curse, depending on your goals. It is ideal for those who want a simple platform to promote affiliate content, but don't want the hassle of a complex website set up process.

Limitations 

You don’t get many customization options with the Site123 free plan. This means that you can only get your hands on all the editing tools for your website by subscribing to their paid plans. In fact, small edits, like using custom color schemes or accessing the full font library also need a paid plan to work. This limits your capabilities of building a detailed or unique website for free. 

Site123 also doesn’t offer any custom domains with its free plan, and you’ll have to settle with a subdomain that is quite long. This can make your site look a bit unprofessional. 

Competition & Alternatives

With plenty of features locked behind a paywall and a pretty stingy 250MB of bandwidth and storage, although the Site123 plan is a great way to test the platform, it is unlikely to be suitable for long.

For more features on a free plan, Wix is a great alternative that also offers double the bandwidth and storage of Site123. Alternatively, opt for HubSpot if you want to access unlimited bandwidth and storage for your website, as well as the ability to connect a custom domain. 

Verdict 

Overall, Site123’s free plan is a great option for someone who just wants to create a simple website and doesn’t have any past experience or knowledge about website building. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, creating a website is as easy as it could get with this platform.

Owain Williams

Building a site with Site123 is as easy as, well, 1, 2, 3. This makes it an ideal option for those looking to set up a site quickly and start making money from affiliate marketing. Choosing this option will allow you to set up and launch your website in record time, freeing you up to focus on securing the best affiliate deals, reaching new audiences, and optimizing your content for profit.   ★★★

Read more: Site123 review

Start an online store, for free

Perfect for small businesses with big plans

Great online ordering feature for restaurants

Integration with Square POS app

Prebuilt themes only available on paid plans

No automatic AI builder feature

No custom domain on free plans

Square Online offers a powerful website builder, created with ecommerce in mind. Instead of tacking on ecommerce as an extra, everything about the Square experience is based on powerful ecommerce features you won't find on generic builders. Of course, others such as Shopify and BigCommerce are built with ecommerce in mind - but neither of these platforms offer a free plan. 

Features

Square Online offers more than just a web presence. The service includes point of sale tools to sell face-to-face, on social media, and via mobile. All using the same platform. 

To get started you open an account, choose your business details and store name, and select the layout and design elements you want. You can customize all elements, including colors and fonts, and then select your ordering process. The choice of custom elements is nice, and we like that you get to choose an ordering format. You can pick from a menu style for online restaurants or a conventional web store. Both models offer the chance to connect with point of sale elements, as well as more advanced shift and inventory management if you upgrade to a paid plan.

Limitations

The free plan is, perhaps unsurprisingly, limited. But it does come with some good features to note including the ability to sell via social media, built in SEO tools, and the ability to accept multiple payment types. Online processing fees for online sales are 2.9% + $0.30. 

Competition & Alternatives 

If you don't want advanced ecommerce features, Weebly (that owns Square Online) is a great alternative. Most other platforms won't let you sell online on a free plan. 

Verdict 

If you're starting an online store, but don't want to invest in a paid platform straight away, Square Online is likely to be your best option. Not only does it allow you to set up an online store for free, but it also gives you an opportunity to test out one of the best ecommerce platforms on the market. 

Owain Williams

Square is one of the only website builders dedicated to ecommerce that also offers a free plan. Owned by the same company as Weebly, it comes with many of the same free plan features such as 500MB of storage, up to 500MB of bandwidth, and the ability to sell online. Unlike Weebly, it also comes with a host of advanced ecommerce features, making it the perfect choice for dedicated online stores. ★★★½

Read more: Square Online review

An easy to use, but very limited site builder

Google account security applies

It's completely free to use

Integrates with Google Workspace tools

Mobile-friendly templates

Super simple to use

Real-time collaboration option

A handful of generic templates

Limited features and functionality

Severely limited customization and no SEO

Limited storage space for free users

Google Sites is a straightforward and user-friendly site builder offered by Google, making it ideal for students and beginners looking to create a simple online presence. While it lacks advanced features and SEO tools, it's a superb option for those who want to get a basic site up and running in no time. 

Features

Google Sites provides an intuitive and simple-to-use platform for building websites. It comes with a handful of website templates and themes to choose from - 18 themes and 6 templates as we write - allowing you to customize the look and feel of your site. While the customization options are severely limited compared to site builders such as Webflow or WordPress, Google Sites still offers enough flexibility for students to create a personalized website.

One of the standout features of Google Sites is its seamless integration with other Google services, including Google Workspace tools. You can easily embed content from Google Drive, YouTube, Calendar, Maps, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, and Charts directly into your site. This easy integration enhances the functionality of Google Sites and allows you to integrate various multimedia elements into your site without much effort - making it great for organizing and presenting student projects.

Additionally, as a Google product, Google Sites offers a secure website-building experience. By leveraging your Google account's security features like two-step verification, you can boost your site's security for you and your visitors.

Limitations

While Google Sites offers a user-friendly experience, there are limitations you should keep in mind. For starters, unless you're a Google Workspace user, you can only publish sites to a "sites.Google.Com" domain, which may not provide the professional look you desire. So, if you want to invest further in your website's branding, you'll have to purchase the Google Workspace suite.

Additionally, Google Sites is not as feature-rich as other website builders like Wix, so it may lack some advanced functionality, particularly for those looking to create ecommerce sites. It offers limited storage space for free users - 100MB per site - which could be insufficient if you want to upload large amounts of media content.

Competition & Alternatives

In the competitive landscape of free website builders, Google Sites faces fierce rivals in Wix and Webflow. 

Webflow stands out with its advanced customization capabilities, allowing for highly personalized websites. However, mastering its intricate features comes with a steep learning curve.

On the other hand, Wix offers a robust set of features, enabling users to create sites with impressive functionality. Nevertheless, Wix lacks the flexibility to switch templates seamlessly, requiring users to start anew. In contrast, Google Sites allows for template changes without sacrificing existing content, although it lacks any advanced features such as SEO tools, an area where Wix excels.

Verdict

Although Google Sites is a solid choice for students and beginners, those requiring extensive customization or advanced features may find it lacking. However, its simplicity, integration with other Google services, and collaborative options make it a solid option for swift and straightforward site creation.

Owain Williams

When it comes to website building things don't get much simpler than Google Sites. For some, this is a huge positive, for others its limitations are frustrating. One of the biggest benefits of Google Sites is the ability to easily integrate with other Google platforms such as Sheets, Docs, and Slides. This makes it ideal for the likes of students and sports teams looking for a central location to organize and display projects and information. 

An easy pick for blogging

Easy-to-use online editor

Lots of free themes

Hosting is included

Easy way to learn the WordPress basics

Limited range of plugins

Customizing pages can be difficult

Adding plugins and extras can be expensive

10% transaction fee on sales

WordPress is best known for the free CMS which can be automatically installed on just about any web hosting plan. 

Features

WordPress is a super flexible website builder tool that allows you to build blogs, business sites, web stores, and almost anything else you can imagine.

This is a great solution for demanding or business sites, but you'll probably need to part with some cash for the hosting, and the full-strength WordPress interface can be complicated, even for experienced users.

Fortunately, there's a simpler hosted version of WordPress on WordPress.Com.(yes, we know it's confusing). This includes web hosting, so signing up gives you everything you need to build your web presence. There are a number of good-looking templates to choose from, and we were able to create a blog, a photo site, and more.

The free plan allows you to take payments for products, and if you can create really compelling content, there's even the option to sign up paid subscribers. 

Limitations

Beware, although WordPress allows you to take online payments, it also takes 10% of every transaction. If you're hoping to make real money, it may be worth signing up for a paid plan (the $25 a month Business plan doesn't charge any commission at all.)

Opting for the hosted WordPress.Com over the self hosted WordPress.Org also limits the number of plugins and templates you can access. 

Competition & Alternatives

WordPress can be a little trickier to navigate than some of the other website builders on this list. If you want ease-of-use, consider a user friendly builder like Wix or Weebly. 

With a mind boggling 10% fee for transactions on the free plan, if you plan on selling online, but really need a free plan, Square Online is likely a better option.

Verdict

Whether you're creating a static site, or a blog-style site with regularly updated content, the online editor is a joy to use, in our opinion, and allows just about anyone to create an impressive, professional-looking site. The only downside is the limited range of plugins and templates compared with the self-hosted version of WordPress, and other free website builders.

Owain Williams

With over 40% of all websites on the internet being powered by WordPress, it has to have a spot on our list of the best free website builders. Although the free website builder aspect of WordPress has faced some criticism for its clunky design and interface, it has improved more recently and makes it easy to build your website on top of the world's biggest CMS. ★★★

Read more: WordPress review 

Showcase your best work to the world

Free plan has some unusual extras

Good tech support

Well-designed editor

Easy to use

Fewer features than some rivals

Limited tools

Jimdo has been used to create more than 25 million websites since 2007, with its simplicity receiving plenty of praise. Another area of strength is the way that it looks, with a range of clean, flexible templates on offer. 

Features

Jimdo's stylish and modern templates make it a popular website builder for creatives such as designers and photographers - or indeed anyone else who wants to display their portfolio with a stunning website. 

The platform even comes with its own Logo Designer to help make your brand recognizable. When testing Jimdo's free service, we were able to enter our business and select a starting point for our logo design. Then, we customize our icon and layout, choose a color and font, and that’s it! 

Another useful design feature that Jimdo users will appreciate is the way that website colors automatically harmonize with an uploaded logo or image. This means that garish color clashes become a thing of the past – that's great for businesses where looking good is part of the brand.

Furthermore, Jimdo comes with a host of tips and support documents to help you create the right website for you. This includes examples of the best photography websites created using the platform, along with tips to build a successful site.

Limitations

Jimdo has a free plan, but this only supports a Jimdo subdomain (youname.Jimdosite.Com) and inserts ads on your pages. Some Jimdo users have complained about a lack of fancy features.

Plus, if you are looking for support on your site, you won't get that with the Jimdo free plan. 

Competition & Alternatives

If you want more features, Wix's free plan is going to give you what you are looking for. Wix also offers a reasonable level of support on its free plan, which is lacking on the Jimdo plan. 

Verdict

If you want a quick, straightforward way of launching a great-looking site, Jimdo is a great option. 

Owain Williams

Artists, musicians, and other creatives looking to quickly establish an online presence without spending a cent can't go far wrong with Jimdo. This website builder is known for being easy to use, whilst offering some stunning design features, helping you represent your talent in an engaging way.  ★★½

Read more: Jimbo review 

A powerful tool for building landing pages

Simple and easy-to-use

Good editor

No ecommerce transaction fees

Live chat support

Not very many templates

Limited customization options

Limited pages

Most features are on the Pro plan

No custom domain 

Limited storage 

Limited bandwidth 

Strikingly is unusual when ranked against the best website builder platforms, as it has a focus on designing mobile-friendly single-page websites. Before you decide a “single-page” site isn’t for you - it's not as limiting as you might think. 

Features

Surprisingly, Strikingly allows us to add image galleries, a blog, custom forms, and even a simple web store (with no transaction fees). There are also a host of other useful features including responsive templates, social media feed integration, password protection, and much more. 

The free plan comes with some impressive features such as unlimited free sites, 24/7 support, and the ability to invite collaborators. With Strikingly, you can easily build an attractive and functional website that’s complete with a blog. Plus, you can set everything up within just a few minutes. 

Limitation

Like with most free plans, it has its limitations. These include the use of a Strikingly.Com domain, 5GB/mo bandwidth, 500MB total storage, only up to 5 pages per site, and only one product per site. 

Competition & Alternatives

We found that the Strikingly website builder isn't as powerful or customizable as competitors like Wix, Weebly, or HubSpot. These alternatives are well worth considering if you want a multipage website with plenty of features. 

Verdict

If simplicity is key, and a single-page website is what you are looking for, add Strikingly to your shortlist. 

Owain Williams

One page sites don't work for everyone. However, those looking to create a website that makes a big impact without a complex structure and endless content to create, edit, and manage will want to seriously consider Strikingly. This option is ideal for those looking to build high-value pages as part of a wider marketing campaign, or simply those who only want to communicate the absolute essential information. ★★★½

Read more: Strikingly review 

In this guide, we have offered a detailed overview of everything you need to know about the best free website builders on the market.

In this section, we distill this information down into an easy to digest table, highlighting some of the most important factors to consider when picking a website builder such as the ability to connect a custom domain, whether they show onsite ads, how much storage and bandwidth they offer, customer support options, and if they allow you accept online payment. 

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Note: If you want to learn more about what storage and bandwidth limits mean for your website, you can read our guide to web hosting.

With so many website builders on the market, how do you know which one is the right free solution for you? Or, indeed, is a free website builder the best option for meeting your needs? After all, you may find that investing in one of the best small business website builders or the best portfolio website builders gives you the extras you need to really grow your website. 

When choosing a free website builder, you need to consider its limitations. 

Hosting & domain 

Start by looking at the hosting basics. What are the storage and traffic limits? Will that be enough? If the service doesn't support custom domains (and most don't), what sort of URL will you get? The shorter it is, the more memorable it'll be for your visitors. Plus, a platform-given domain can look unprofessional. 

Website design 

Also, think about site design. All free website builders have a range of website templates suitable for general sites, but if you're hoping for something very specific - a site for a jewelry store, a florist - then check for suitable templates before you sign up.

Tools and features

Consider features, too. What will really help or impress your visitors? A top-notch image gallery, integration with social media, something else? Make a list of your priorities and ensure the builder delivers.

Does the platform offer some free SEO tools to help you boost your search engine rankings? Does it have an app marketplace where you can expand your website's capabilities? 

Ecommerce capabilities 

If you're interested in ecommerce and a free plan seems to deliver, check the small print for catches. Some free builders display products but can't take payments online, for instance, and if a site does include payment support, it might ask for a huge transaction fee. Read the plan specs carefully, make sure you're getting what you expect.

Reporting and analytics

Take a look at the reporting and analytics offered on the free plan. Sometimes deeper analytics and insights are only accessible to those on premium plans. This isn't necessarily an issue if you don't need them, but some basic information on who uses your website and how they use it can be really helpful when looking to improve your visitor journey. 

Test them out (they are free after all)

And if you've done your research and can't decide between the top two, hey, they're free, just sign up to both and try them side-by-side. There's nothing like real-world experience to help you find the best option, and 30 minutes of drag-and-dropping might tell you all you need to know.

Our experts have undertaken a thorough testing process when selecting the best free website builders in this guide. 

Eligibility (free)

Although many website builders such as Squarespace and Shopify offer free trials, usually ranging anywhere from 7 to 30 days, we don’t count these as free website builders. For a spot on this page a website builder must offer a ‘forever free’ version, where you will never have to pay to upgrade if you don’t want to. 

Research 

We start our testing process by undertaking a research phase. This includes reading through the website builders’ marketing and technical materials to identify some key information such as traffic limits, storage, custom domain support, template options, and specific features aligned to your needs.

During this stage, we will also identify other limitations associated with the free plan such as on-site branding.

Hands-on experience 

We sign up for every free website builder we test. At this stage, we consider how easy it is to create an account and get the ball rolling with launching our website. For example, some website builders let you sign up in just a few clicks with a Facebook or Google account, whereas others can take more time and effort to get started. 

Once signed up we start using the tools and features of the website builder. This typically starts by picking a template or using an AI tool to start building the site. At this stage, we assess how easy it is to start from scratch and end up with a functional, attractive website. If we can connect a custom domain, we also test how to do this. 

When our site is finished and live we look at it from a visitor’s point of view, asking questions such as:

Is the website attractive? 

Is it easy to use and intuitive? 

Is it fast enough? 

Ranking

Our website builder testing process is extensive. By undertaking in-depth reviews of all the best website builders on the market, we can build an industry-leading picture of which free website builders are worthy of a spot in this guide. 

Each entry on this guide is just a summary of the research we have done, you can read our full website builder reviews for a deep dive into each. 

Updates

Our testing process doesn’t stop once we have compiled a guide. Our team of experts are consistently re-testing website builders and keeping an eye out for new tools, features, and updates.  

We update this guide regularly to ensure the information is accurate. You can learn more about how we test websites in our how we test website builders guide. 

In the end, while considering the best free website builder for your needs, there are some no-brainers that you must keep in mind. Factors such as traffic limits, storage, custom domain support, template options, and specific features aligned to your needs are all a must while hunting for your ideal platform. Remember, free website builders often have restrictions when compared to their paid plans, so it's vital to understand these before making a choice.

After testing all of the above website builders on our list, we have picked Wix and Weebly as our top choices. Wix comes out on top for its user-friendly Artificial Design Intelligence mode and some powerful editing tools, making it the right choice for both experts and beginners. Despite some shortcomings like restricted storage and ads on pages, its quality templates and neat interface make it a solid website builder. 

Similarly, Weebly stands out with its simplicity and speed in setting up a website, along with its stylish templates and ecommerce capabilities. In short, it’s best for users who want a fast, straightforward website-building process. 

So, go ahead and try building a website for free to see which one aligns best with your website needs and personal preferences. 

If you’re looking to create a completely free website for your online store, Square Online is your best bet. It's tailor-made for ecommerce and provides all the essential tools you need to start selling online without any upfront costs. 

Unlike other top ecommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, Square Online offers a free plan to get started, making it a superb choice for startups. What makes Square Online truly shine is how smoothly it combines site building with ecommerce features. From selling in-person with point-of-sale tools to reaching customers across social media, Square Online has you covered.

Another solid choice is Weebly. With its easy-to-use interface and tons of stylish templates, Weebly makes it a breeze to create a professional-looking online store. As your business grows, Weebly's reasonably priced paid plans offer superb features to help you succeed.

As you probably know, WordPress is a powerhouse when it comes to building stunning sites, including online stores. However, while it's free to use, you'll need to invest in web hosting and maybe some plugins for ecommerce features.

If you're all for simplicity, check out Strikingly. It's incredibly user-friendly and comes with basic ecommerce features for setting up a simple online store without any transaction fees. While it doesn’t offer many templates, it's super easy to create a good-looking site quickly.

The best free website builder is Wix. It offers a forever-free plan with an impressive site editor. Wix's powerful AI website builder makes creating a new site incredibly simple. By answering a few questions about your business and design preferences, Wix automatically generates a basic site in seconds. If you want more control, the full Wix editor provides powerful editing tools to customize your site exactly as you wish.

On the downside, free Wix sites come with certain limitations, such as 500MB storage, annoying Wix ads on every page, and no support for custom domains. However, with eye-catching templates, an easy-to-use editor, and helpful support, Wix remains a top choice for budget-friendly site-building.

Wix, Weebly, and WordPress are website builder providers that offer their services for free as an option (in addition to a subdomain). Wix has completely free plans as well as paid ones. 

We suggest you compare the benefits of each, weigh out your options in order to decide whether a free website builder is the right fit for your needs.

The answer: it depends.

Free website builders aren't for everyone, but can be suitable for some. 

For example, if you are starting a website to blog about your hobby, you probably won't care too much about massive storage, connecting a custom domain, or having some ads on your site. In these cases, a free website builder would be a good option for you.

Equally, if you are starting a business or testing a business idea and have very little budget, a free website builder can be a great way to get online and get the ball rolling.

However, in most business scenarios, upgrading to a paid option will likely be needed. This is because free plans tend to be limited in functionality and with on site ads and a non-custom domain, they can make your business look a little unprofessional. 

Take for example if you want to launch an online store with thousands of products. A free website builder is unlikely to offer you the tools and features you need to do that. Plus, a non-custom domain and on site ads may discourage visitors from trusting you enough to input their card details.

Yes, there are a handful of free website hosting services out there. However, it's important to keep in mind that free plans often come with some restrictions. Things like customer support, storage space, bandwidth, and extra perks such as free domain names are typically limited in free plans. Despite these limitations, free web hosting can still be a great option for personal sites, blogs, testing projects, and startup ventures.

If you're looking for the best free web hosting, services like InfinityFree, GoogieHost, and Freehostia are worth considering. InfinityFree stands out as a high-quality web hosting service that's completely free. It provides 5GB of disk space, unlimited bandwidth, and the ability to create three separate accounts with an unlimited number of subdomains under each of them.

GoogieHost, on the other hand, offers 1000MB of storage and domain extensions like ".C1.Is" and ".Whf.Bz". However, one downside is that it takes around 24 hours for your site to go live after registering an account.

Meanwhile, Freehostia stands out by offering WordPress pre-installed, ensuring immediate activation upon signup. For those who enjoy working with WordPress to handle their sites, this feature makes life a whole lot easier.

Yes, but finding one that lets you connect a custom domain can be tricky. While many website builders like Wix or Weebly offer free plans, if you want to use your custom domain, you usually need to upgrade to their premium plan, which can be a bit pricey. Otherwise, your site will be hosted under their subdomain, not-so-subtly promoting their brand.

However, there are some rock-solid exceptions to this rule. Platforms like GetResponse, ConvertKit, and Landingi offer the option to connect your own custom domain even on their free plans.