You can build a working website for free using platforms that handle hosting and design for you
A free website means using a service that provides both the building tools and the server space where your site lives. You do not buy a domain name, pay a hosting company, or install software on your own computer. Instead, you pick a platform — Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com, Google Sites, or Webflow — create an account, and build directly in your browser. The platform stores your pages, handles the technical parts, and makes your site visible to anyone with the link.
The trade-off is that free plans come with limits. You get a subdomain (like yourname.wix.com instead of yourname.com), ads on your pages, less storage, and fewer design options. Most free plans also restrict what you can sell or how you can earn money from the site. If you outgrow those limits, you pay to upgrade — but you can start with nothing and decide later whether the site is worth money to you.
Key Takeaways
- Free website builders like Wix, WordPress.com, and Google Sites let you create and publish a site in your browser without installing anything or paying upfront.
- Free plans include a subdomain address (yourname.wix.com), limited storage, and platform ads, but are enough to test whether you need a website at all.
- Google Sites is the fastest route if you want a straightforward informational site up in under an hour with almost no learning curve.
- Wix and WordPress.com offer more design control and are better if you plan to grow the site or eventually pay to upgrade.
- You can always move your content to a paid plan or a different platform later, though some builders make this harder than others.
Google Sites for the fastest start
Google Sites is the simplest free option if you want a basic informational site — a resume page, a small business description, a portfolio of a few projects, or a landing page. You sign in with a Google account, pick a template, and start typing. The interface is drag-and-drop: click where you want text or an image, and it appears. No code, no design decisions to paralyze you.
The limitation is that Google Sites is not built for anything complex. You cannot run a store, set up a membership system, or add custom code. The design templates are plain and do not change much between sites. But if you need something live in an hour that looks professional enough and does not require a custom domain name, Google Sites gets you there.
To start: go to sites.google.com, click the plus sign to create a new site, pick a template, give it a name, and begin adding pages. You can share the link when ready or keep it private. If you later want a custom domain or more control, you will need to move to a different platform.
Wix for design control and growth
Wix is built for people who want their site to look polished and are willing to spend time on design. The free plan includes hundreds of templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and the ability to add basic features like contact forms, image galleries, and embedded video. You get 500 MB of storage, which is enough for a portfolio or small business site with text and a few dozen images.
Wix's free subdomain is yourname.wix.com, and Wix displays a small banner ad at the bottom of your pages. You cannot use your own domain name or remove the ads unless you upgrade. The free plan also limits what you can sell — you can add a store, but Wix takes a cut of each transaction and you cannot use your own payment processor.
The advantage of Wix is that upgrading is straightforward. If you decide the site matters, you can pay to add a custom domain, remove ads, and unlock more storage and features. Your site stays where it is; you just unlock more of what the platform offers.
WordPress.com for blogs and content sites
WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress — the same software that powers roughly 40 percent of the web. The free plan lets you create a blog or content site with a subdomain (yourname.wordpress.com), 3 GB of storage, and a choice of basic themes. If you write regularly or want to build an audience, WordPress.com is built for that.
The free plan includes ads that WordPress controls, not you. You cannot install plugins (add-ons that extend what WordPress can do), use a custom domain, or monetize the site through ads or memberships. If you want to remove ads or add features, you upgrade to a paid plan.
WordPress.com is worth choosing if you plan to write a lot and think you might eventually want to monetize through subscriptions or sponsorships. The upgrade path is clear, and the platform is built around content creators. If you just want a straightforward site that does not change much, Google Sites or Wix is faster.
Webflow for learning design while you build
Webflow is different from the other options because it teaches you how websites actually work while you build. Instead of dragging pre-made blocks around, you design by controlling the actual code underneath — but Webflow shows you the code and explains it as you go. The free plan includes hosting, a subdomain, and enough features to build a real portfolio or small business site.
Webflow is steeper to learn than Wix or Google Sites. You will spend time understanding how layouts work, how to position elements, and how CSS (the language that controls how things look) functions. But if you arrived here from the developer tools article and want to understand how websites are actually built, Webflow teaches you that while you create something real.
The free plan limits you to one site and does not include a custom domain. If you upgrade, you unlock more sites, a custom domain, and advanced features. Webflow is best if you have time to learn and want to understand the mechanics, not just publish something quickly.
What you cannot do on a free plan
Free plans do not let you use your own domain name (yourname.com). You get a subdomain on the platform's domain instead. If a custom domain matters to you — because you are building a business or want the site to look professional — you will need to upgrade or move to a paid host.
You also cannot remove the platform's ads or branding from the free tier. Wix, WordPress.com, and most others display their logo or an ad banner. Google Sites and Webflow are cleaner in this regard, but you still cannot customize everything.
Monetization is restricted. You cannot place your own ads on the site, run a membership program, or use most affiliate links. If you want to earn money from the site, you need a paid plan.
Moving your site later if you outgrow free
You can move a site you built on a free plan to a paid plan on the same platform, or export your content and move it elsewhere. The ease depends on the platform. WordPress.com makes it relatively straightforward to export your posts and move to self-hosted WordPress. Wix and Webflow let you upgrade in place, keeping everything where it is. Google Sites is harder to move — you would need to manually copy your content to a new platform.
If you think you might outgrow the platform eventually, WordPress.com or Webflow are safer choices because they make migration less painful. But for most people starting out, this is not a real concern. You can always decide later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own domain name on a free plan?
No. Free plans give you a subdomain on the platform's domain (like yourname.wix.com). To use your own domain (yourname.com), you need to upgrade to a paid plan. Some platforms let you buy a domain separately and point it to your free site, but this usually requires a paid plan to actually connect it.
Will my free website have ads on it?
Most free plans include ads or branding from the platform. Wix and WordPress.com display ads or banners. Google Sites and Webflow are cleaner. Upgrading to a paid plan usually removes the ads, though you pay a monthly fee to do so.
How much storage do I get on a free plan?
It varies. Google Sites and Webflow do not publish a storage limit for free sites. Wix gives you 500 MB, which is enough for text and dozens of images. WordPress.com gives you 3 GB. If you plan to host many large images or video files, you will hit these limits quickly and need to upgrade.
Can I sell things on a free website?
You can add a basic store to Wix for free, but Wix takes a percentage of each sale and you cannot use your own payment processor. WordPress.com does not allow a store on the free plan. If selling is your goal, you will need to upgrade or use a different platform built for e-commerce.
What happens to my site if I stop paying?
If you upgrade and then stop paying, your site stays live on the free plan with the free plan's limits restored. You lose the custom domain and premium features, but your content does not disappear. If you stop using the platform entirely and do not log in for a very long time, some platforms may delete inactive sites, but this takes months or years.