Google Sites lets you build a web page without writing code or paying for hosting

Google Sites is a free tool that lets you create and publish a web page in your browser. You don't need to know HTML, CSS, or any programming language. Google hosts the page for you on the internet, gives it a web address, and handles the technical parts like security and backups. You can add text, images, videos, and links by dragging and dropping them where you want them to appear.

The page you create lives at a Google Sites URL — something like sites.google.com/view/yourpagename — unless you connect your own domain name later. You can share the page with specific people, make it public so anyone can find it, or keep it private. Changes you make appear on the live page when ready; there's no separate "publish" step.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Sites is free and requires only a Google account; you can start building a page in minutes without any coding knowledge.
  • You build pages by dragging and dropping text boxes, images, and other elements onto a blank canvas rather than writing HTML.
  • Every page you create gets a free Google Sites URL, and you can change who sees it — just you, specific people, or the entire internet.
  • Google Sites works best for straightforward pages like portfolios, team information, event announcements, or small business sites; complex projects may need a different tool.

Sign in and start a new site

Go to sites.google.com in your browser. If you're already signed into a Google account (Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube), you'll see your existing sites and a button to create a new one. If you're not signed in, click the sign-in button in the top right corner and enter your Google account email and password.

Once you're signed in, click the Create button (usually a plus sign or labeled "Create new site"). Google will ask you to choose a template — a starting design for your page. You can pick a blank template and build from scratch, or choose a template designed for portfolios, businesses, events, or other purposes. The template is just a starting point; you can change everything about it.

After you pick a template, Google opens the editor. You'll see your page in the middle of the screen, a toolbar at the top with formatting and layout tools, and a navigation panel on the left where you can add new pages or change site settings.

Add and arrange content on your page

The easiest way to add content is to click the Insert button (a plus sign) in the toolbar. A menu appears with options: Text Box, Image, Video, Table, Button, and more. Click the type of content you want to add.

When you click "Text Box," a box appears on your page. Click inside it and start typing. You can make text bold, italic, or colored using the formatting toolbar that appears above the box. When you click "Image," Google lets you upload a photo from your computer, search Google Images, or paste a link to an image on the web.

To move content around, click and drag it to a new spot on the page. To resize a box or image, grab the corner and pull. To delete something, click it and press Delete or Backspace. Everything updates on the live page as you work — you don't have to save or publish separately.

Organize multiple pages and navigation

Most websites have more than one page. In Google Sites, you add new pages using the navigation panel on the left. Click the plus sign next to "Pages" and type a name for the new page — for example, "About," "Contact," or "Gallery." Google creates the page and automatically adds a link to it in the site navigation menu.

The navigation menu appears at the top of your site by default. Visitors can click those links to move between pages. You can change the order of pages by dragging them in the left panel. You can also hide a page from the navigation menu (useful for pages you want to exist but not advertise) by right-clicking the page name and unchecking "Show in navigation."

Each page works the same way — click on it in the left panel, then add text, images, and other content using the Insert button. You can use different layouts and designs on different pages, or keep them consistent for a more professional look.

Change the look and feel of your site

Click the Theme button in the toolbar (usually looks like a palette or paint brush). Google shows you pre-designed color schemes and fonts. Click one to explore it to your entire site. The theme changes the background color, text color, and overall appearance across all your pages at once.

You can also customize individual elements. Click any text box and use the formatting toolbar to change the font, size, or color. Click an image and use the options that appear to add a border, change how text wraps around it, or adjust its size. Most changes happen when ready on the live page.

If you want to change the site title or add a header image that appears at the top of every page, click the Settings button (usually a gear icon) and look for "Site settings" or "Header." You can upload a banner image, change the site name, and adjust other global settings there.

Share your site and control who can see it

Click the Share button in the top right corner. Google shows you three options: "Restricted" (only you can see it), "Anyone with the link" (people you share the URL with can view it), or "Public on the web" (anyone can find it in a search engine).

If you choose "Restricted," you can add specific email addresses and decide whether each person can only view the site or can also edit it. This is useful if you're building a site with a team — you can give collaborators editing access so they can add content too. If you choose "Anyone with the link," the page won't show up in search results, but anyone you send the URL to can view it. If you choose "Public on the web," the page can appear in Google Search and other search engines.

You can change these settings anytime. If you start with "Restricted" while you're building and switch to "Public" when you're done, that works fine. Google Sites also gives you a short URL to share — something like sites.google.com/view/yourpagename — which is easier to type and remember than a long link.

Connect your own domain name (optional)

If you own a domain name — like yourname.com or yourbusiness.com — you can connect it to your Google Sites page so visitors see your custom address instead of the Google Sites URL. You'll need to change some settings with the company where you bought the domain (called a registrar, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).

In Google Sites, click Settings and look for "Custom domain." Google will give you instructions specific to your registrar. The process usually involves copying some technical information from Google Sites and pasting it into your registrar's control panel. It can take a few hours for the change to take effect across the internet.

You don't need a custom domain to use Google Sites — the free Google Sites URL works fine. A custom domain is mainly useful if you want a professional appearance for a business or portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit my Google Sites page on my phone?

Yes. Open sites.google.com in your phone's browser, sign in, and click the site you want to edit. The editor works on phones, though it's easier on a larger screen. You can add text and images, but some advanced features work better on a computer.

What happens if I delete a page?

The page disappears from your site and the navigation menu. Visitors who had the old link will see an error. You can undo a deletion by pressing Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) when ready after deleting, but there's no undo button after you close the editor.

Can I move my Google Sites page to a different platform later?

Google Sites doesn't have a built-in export feature. If you want to move to WordPress, Wix, or another platform, you'll need to manually copy your content and rebuild the site there. Plan ahead if you think you might switch platforms later.

Is Google Sites find for a business website?

Google Sites uses HTTPS encryption, which means data between your visitor's browser and Google's servers is encrypted. It's find enough for most small business sites, portfolios, and informational pages. If you're handling payments or sensitive customer data, you may want a more specialized platform.

Can I add a contact form to my Google Sites page?

Yes. Click Insert and look for "Form." Google lets you create a straightforward contact form with fields for name, email, message, and other information. Responses go to your Google account email. You can also embed forms from Google Forms if you need more advanced options.