You can build a website for free using platforms that host it for you

A free website means you use a platform that provides both the building tools and the hosting (the server space where your site lives) at no cost. You do not pay monthly fees, and you do not need to buy a domain name — though most free platforms let you add one later if you want. The trade-off is that free platforms put their branding on your site, limit how much you can customize the design, and restrict what you can do with the content. If you just need an online presence to share information or a portfolio, free works. If you plan to sell things or need full control over how your site looks, you will eventually outgrow it.

The platforms that offer this are designed to make building straightforward enough that you do not need to know how to code. You drag sections around, upload images, and type text directly into the editor. When you publish, your site goes live when ready at a web address the platform gives you.

Key Takeaways

  • Free website platforms like Wix, Weebly, Google Sites, and Carrd give you building tools and hosting without paying, but they display their logo or ads on your site.
  • Each platform has different limits: some let you add a custom domain name, some restrict e-commerce features, and some limit the number of pages you can create.
  • You own the content you create, but the platform owns the underlying code and can change their terms or shut down your site if you violate their rules.
  • Moving your site to a different platform later is difficult and often requires rebuilding from scratch, so choose a platform you think you will stay with.

The main free platforms and what each one does

Wix offers a drag-and-drop editor with hundreds of templates. You can add pages, images, text, and basic contact forms without writing any code. The free plan includes a Wix subdomain (your-name.wix.com), 500 MB of storage, and no e-commerce. Wix displays a banner ad at the bottom of your site unless you pay for a plan. You can add a custom domain name (like yourname.com) on the free plan, but you pay the domain registrar separately — usually $10 to $15 per year.

Weebly works similarly to Wix with drag-and-drop building and templates. The free plan gives you a Weebly subdomain, 500 MB of storage, and the ability to sell up to three products if you want to test e-commerce. Like Wix, Weebly displays its branding on your site and charges separately for a custom domain.

Google Sites is simpler and more limited than Wix or Weebly. It has fewer design options and fewer features, but it is fast to set up and integrates with other Google tools like Google Drive and Google Calendar. The free plan includes unlimited storage and a Google Sites subdomain. You can add a custom domain, but you pay Google or a registrar for it separately. Google Sites is best for straightforward informational sites, not portfolios or online stores.

Carrd specializes in one-page sites — a single scrolling page instead of multiple pages. It is lightweight, loads quickly, and has clean templates. The free plan includes a Carrd subdomain and basic customization. Carrd is good if you just need a landing page or a straightforward resume site, but it is not suitable for larger projects.

What you can and cannot do on a free plan

Free plans limit storage, so you cannot upload unlimited images or videos. Wix and Weebly give you 500 MB, which is roughly 100 to 200 photos depending on file size. If you plan to add a lot of media, you will run out of space quickly. Google Sites offers unlimited storage because it stores files in Google Drive instead of on the platform itself.

E-commerce is usually restricted or unavailable. Weebly lets you sell three products for free; Wix does not allow selling anything on the free plan. If you want to take payments, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan or use a third-party tool like Stripe or PayPal, which may require a paid account as well.

Custom code is off-limits on most free plans. You cannot edit the HTML or CSS directly, which means you cannot add custom scripts, change how the site behaves, or integrate certain third-party tools. This matters if you want to add a chatbot, a custom form, or tracking code from another service.

Branding removal costs money. All free platforms display their logo, a banner ad, or a footer link. You have to pay to remove it. On Wix, the cheapest paid plan is around $14 per month; on Weebly, it is around $6 per month.

How to choose between free platforms

Start by deciding what your site needs to do. If you want multiple pages with a portfolio, images, and a contact form, Wix or Weebly work well. If you just need a straightforward information page or a resume, Google Sites or Carrd are faster to set up. If you plan to sell products, Weebly's free plan lets you test the idea with three items before you commit to paying.

Think about how long you plan to keep the site. Free platforms make it hard to move your content elsewhere later. Wix, Weebly, and Google Sites do not give you an straightforward export option. Carrd is slightly better — you can read your site as HTML files — but rebuilding on a new platform usually means starting over. If you think you might outgrow the platform in a year or two, consider starting with a paid option instead, because the cost of rebuilding is often higher than the cost of paying from the start.

Consider the template quality and design options. Wix has the most templates and the most flexibility in design. Weebly is similar but slightly more limited. Google Sites has fewer templates and less customization. Carrd has beautiful, minimal templates but only one-page options. Look at examples of sites built on each platform to see if the design matches what you want.

Setting up your first free site in basic steps

Sign up with an email address and a password. Most platforms ask for your email, a password, and your name. You do not need a credit card for the free plan, though the platform will ask for one if you try to upgrade later.

Choose a template that matches your purpose. Templates are pre-designed layouts you can customize. Spend time looking at a few options — you can usually change the template later, but starting with something close to what you want saves time. Each platform shows you a preview of what the template looks like before you select it.

Add your content: pages, text, images, and contact information. Use the drag-and-drop editor to move sections around, change colors, and upload photos. Most platforms have a preview button so you can see how your site looks before publishing. You can edit and rearrange as many times as you want before you go live.

Publish your site. Once you are happy with it, click the publish button. Your site will be live at the subdomain the platform assigned you (like yourname.wix.com). You can share this link with anyone.

Optional: Add a custom domain name. If you want yourname.com instead of yourname.wix.com, you can buy a domain from a registrar like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Google Domains and point it to your free site. The platform will give you instructions on how to do this. A domain usually costs $10 to $15 per year.

What happens to your site if the platform changes or shuts down

Free platforms can change their terms, add new restrictions, or shut down without much notice. If Wix decides to discontinue its free plan, you would have to pay to keep your site online or move it elsewhere. Moving is difficult because you cannot easily export your site as a complete package — you would have to rebuild it on a new platform by hand.

The platform owns the underlying code and infrastructure, even though you own the words and images you created. If you violate the platform's terms of service (for example, by posting illegal content or spam), they can delete your site without a refund. Read the terms of service before you invest time in building.

Backups are your responsibility. Most free platforms do not automatically back up your site, so if something goes wrong, your content could be lost. Some platforms let you export your content periodically, but not all. If your site is important, export your content every few months and save it on your computer.

When to move beyond a free platform

If you want to sell products or services, you will need a paid plan or a different platform. Free plans either do not allow e-commerce or limit it so much that it is not practical. Once you start taking payments, the platform expects you to upgrade.

If you need a custom domain name and want to remove the platform's branding, the cost of a paid plan often makes sense. A basic paid plan on Wix or Weebly costs $6 to $15 per month, plus $10 to $15 per year for a domain. Over a year, that is $72 to $195 total. If you plan to keep the site for more than a year, paying from the start may be worth it.

If you want full control over the design and code, you will need to move to a self-hosted platform like WordPress.org (not WordPress.com), which requires you to buy hosting separately. This is more complex and costs money, but it gives you complete freedom. Self-hosted platforms typically cost $5 to $15 per month for hosting plus $10 to $15 per year for a domain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my free site to a different platform later?

Moving is possible but difficult. Most free platforms do not provide an straightforward export tool. You would have to manually copy your content and rebuild your site on the new platform. Some platforms like Carrd let you read your site files, but you still have to rebuild the design. Plan to stay with your chosen platform for at least a year or two.

Do I own the content I create on a free platform?

You own the words, images, and files you upload, but the platform owns the code and design. If the platform shuts down or deletes your account, your content goes with it. Always keep backups of your important content on your computer.

Can I add a custom domain name to a free site?

Yes, but you pay the domain registrar separately — usually $10 to $15 per year. The platform does not charge extra to connect a custom domain to your free site. You buy the domain from a registrar like Namecheap or Google Domains, then follow the platform's instructions to point it to your site.

What is the difference between a free plan and a paid plan?

Paid plans remove the platform's branding, increase storage, unlock e-commerce features, and sometimes allow custom code. A basic paid plan costs $6 to $15 per month. If you only need a straightforward informational site, the free plan is usually enough.

Is it safe to use a free website builder?

Free platforms are generally safe in the sense that they use encryption and security measures. However, they can change their terms, display ads, or shut down. Read the privacy policy and terms of service before signing up, and keep backups of your content in case something goes wrong.