The 13 Best Free Website Builders of 2023: Their Pros & Cons
Building a website has never been more accessible than ever. Numerous free website builders out there mean that you can quickly turn your idea into reality without spending money.
One of the issues with making your web page on a budget is that not all free options can create a quality product.
Even so, that doesn’t mean that free options are a lost cause. With some digging, we’ve found some of the best choices for those who want to make a webpage for free. These platforms have numerous benefits, and we’ve evaluated them on several factors.
While these providers do a lot well, they also have their drawbacks. Since these website builders are free, they can have issues like restricted storage or unappealing advertising. We also reviewed the best premium builders if you want to check them out.
We give their pros and cons, so you can make the most informed decision possible.
With that in mind, let’s get down to the products.
13 Best Free Website Builders
Here’s our quick list:
- Wix – variety in design
- Webnode – Simple and quick setup
- Ucraft – best custom domain name offer
- Weebly – Excellent Fit for Small Businesses
- WordPress.com – Best Blogging Option
- Webstarts – Best Free Storage Limit
- Carrd – Best One Page Website Creator
- SITE123 – Least Overwhelming Setup
- Webflow – Best for CMS Use
- Jimdo – Best for Site Editing on the Go
- Strikingly – Allows for Template Updates After Launch
- SimpleSite – Great Fit for Self-Service Promotion
- Mozello – Free Access to a Multilingual Site
Our goal is to help you better understand the pros and cons of these different free website makers so you can fully understand what you can get out of them and what you’ll lose out on by not paying for the service.
Wix – Variety in Design
Wix has plenty of advantages when it comes to being free, and a lot of those pros are in the realm of what it allows in terms of design. Wix provides many templates to work with, and none of them are behind a paywall.
Combining this aspect with the drag-and-drop design setup makes it simple to build and create a design you enjoy.
While Wix does provide upgrade plans, its free options still give you plenty to use. You’re also free to stick with your free site forever, though moving to a paid plan can enhance your storage and bandwidth and open up options like selling products.
These plans are also reasonably priced, with the lowest costing $13 per month, but you can still get plenty of use from the free option if you want to stick with that.
For all its customizable options, you’re stuck with the template you selected after your site has gone live. The free plan also has restrictions like ads on your website, which can be very intrusive.
The free plan domain names are also very clunky and look like https://sitename.wixsite.com/sitename, which isn’t very convenient.
What We Like
- Numerous features on its free plan
- A wide variety of templates
- Drag and drop functionality is easy to use
- Allows for extensive customization
What We Don’t Like
- It doesn’t allow for template updates after the site goes live
- Free plan ads are very noticeable
- Free plan domain names are very clunky
Webnode – Simple and Quick Setup
Webnode provides another simple-to-use website builder that gives you some flexibility to utilize. Overall, the provided templates are simple to adjust to your liking and stylish enough to help make your website look slick from the outset.
Updating the site and improving features is also very intuitive.
Webnode’s design allows for SEO settings adjustment across all pages on your site, which will help make it into Google and search engine rankings.
There is also no limit on the number of pages you can set up, letting you create a great site if necessary. The lowest level paid upgrade is the $3.95 per month “Limited” plan, which gives you benefits like premium customer support and the use of your domain name.
While Webnode doesn’t impose a hard limit on the number of pages you create, the low storage limit will ultimately become an issue. You’ll also have to stick with your chosen template after your site goes live.
There isn’t an ecommerce option, and the blog features are minimal at best, meaning you should pick another option if you want these types of sites.
What We Like
- Free plan ads are unintrusive
- No page limit
- Allows for SEO setting adjustment
- Templates are responsive and stylish
What We Don’t Like
- The storage limit is low, even for a free plan
- It does not have any extensive blog or ecommerce features
- It doesn’t allow for template updates after the site goes live
Ucraft – Best Custom Domain Name Offer
One of Ucraft’s most notable features is its allowance of a custom domain name on its free plan. You’ll still need to pay the cost of owning a domain name in the first place, but not adding a fee to your website creation budget has its perks.
Even without this expense, the subdomain name (https://sitename.ucraft.net) isn’t too bad. Since this builder is one of the only ones allowing free custom domain name usage, it stands out among the other choices.
This free plan is another one that allows for unlimited pages. Additionally, it’s compatible with Google Analytics, enabling you to receive valuable information pertinent to helping your site grow. SSL security protocols are also part of the free website plan.
The first level free plan costs $10 per month, allowing for creating a multilingual site.
Free plan Ucraft users will have to put up with a full-width ad, though it does at least only display at the bottom of the page. Other useful features, like ecommerce capability, aren’t accessible on the free options, either.
While you can create appealing site designs, putting the pieces into place isn’t as simple as some of our other recommended website builders.
What We Like
- The free plan allows for custom domain names
- Connects well to Google Analytics
- SSL included in the free plan
- Allows for unlimited pages
What We Don’t Like
- Full-width ad at the bottom of pages
- The editor isn’t the most intuitive
- The free plan restricts some helpful features
Weebly – Excellent Fit for Small Businesses
Weebly’s drag and drop design features make it simple to set up your website design within a few hours. While other free website builders have more templates to choose from, there’s still plenty of variety to consider.
Whatever option you decide on with Weebly, know that your design will display well on both desktop and mobile browsers, which can be essential.
The provided free plan domain name is rather simple (https://sitename.weebly.com), even if it isn’t as good as having a fully customizable choice. Weebly even provides SEO checklists and recommendations to help your site rank better.
These features are excellent, and they’re also part of what makes this free website builder a reliable choice for small business websites. The first upgrade plan can cost $9 per month a la carte or $6 a month if you select that annual billing plan.
The free plan does display a popup ad on your website’s corner, which can be visually distracting. The free plan’s provided features are somewhat limited, including creative restrictions that can hinder your vision.
A paid plan can alleviate this, which is worthwhile for a small business to consider, but you’ll have to deal with these limitations otherwise.
Related content: Weebly Pricing 9 Important Things To Know
What We Like
- Intuitive to use
- Helpful SEO features
- Sites display well on desktop or mobile browsers
- A good fit for small businesses
- Simple free plan domain name
What We Don’t Like
- Has some creative restrictions
- Popup ad in the corner
- A limited array of free features
WordPress.com – Best Blogging Option
If you aim to create a blog, then WordPress.com brings everything you want. While making other web pages through it is technically possible, you’ll struggle more that way than with other site builders.
The variety of available templates and potential customization capability allow for a unique setup when it comes down to it.
WordPress.com provides plenty of support, and its popularity means that you can also count on the extensive community. The free plan domain name has the potential to not include “WordPress” in it at all.
Instead of providing a piece connected to your site’s focus, such as http://sitename.food.blog, which is an excellent addition without needing to pay to use a domain name. Upgrading to a paid plan starts at the cost of $4 per month.
WordPress.com isn’t as suitable for other types of websites because the included templates focus so heavily on blogging. To get the most out of this site, you’ll also need some coding knowledge to get all the benefits of WordPress.com.
It’s also notable that WordPress.com provides different pros and cons from WordPress.org, a different content management system. WordPress.org does require knowledge of coding and website design to use, so it isn’t as convenient to use or as cost-effective.
What We Like
- Ideal blog setup
- Simple free plan domain name format
- Wide variety of templates
What We Don’t Like
- Focus on blogging limits other uses
- Need some coding knowledge to get the most out of it
Webstarts – Best Free Storage Limit
For those interested in building a serviceable ecommerce site for free, Webstarts is notable in that its free plan lets you set up the sale of ten products.
The variety of free plan features also extends into blog compatibility, and setting up your website is intuitive, letting you customize as you like. However, the number of templates is on the lower side, even for a free plan.
Another strong aspect of Webstarts is that it provides 1 GB of free storage space without paying for it, which is much higher than the average.
You’ll also have plenty of SEO settings control for working with individual pages. While this free plan does require you to have an ad displayed on your web pages, it runs as a bottom banner, and visitors to your site can quickly close out of it. Paid plan pricing starts at $7.16 per month.
For all that Webstarts does give you, the lack of a mobile-optimized site on its free plan hinders your ability to make a design that works for people who aren’t viewing your site on a computer—which is often the majority.
There’s also missing SSL encryption, which can pose a security risk, and some of the backend features could stand to use upgrade.
What We Like
- The free online store allows for ten products
- SEO settings control
- Footer advertisement is closable to visitors
- 1 GB of storage space
What We Don’t Like
- The free plan doesn’t allow for a mobile-optimized view
- Website control and building feel somewhat outdated
- No SSL encryption
Carrd – Best One Page Website Creator
While many websites employ multiple pages, sometimes you need one page to get your point across. If this is the type of site you want, then Carrd is your choice for this approach.
After all, Carrd’s design and functionality specifically focus on creating one-page websites that work with both desktop and mobile devices. Pulling together the resources for these pages is more intuitive than making the same in some other free website creators.
The free plan has an ad integrated into it, but the intrusion on your website overall is minimal. While you have a lot of creative freedom with the free plan, the paid upgrades are also inexpensive, starting at $9 per month.
The available subdomain is simple (https://sitename.carrd.co). With the variety of themes available, you’ll have no issue creating an appealing design.
With all that said, you won’t be able to create anything more than a one-page design with Carrd, so it does have limits. You also won’t be able to build a blog or ecommerce page with this product. For a one-page website, it is the best choice.
What We Like
- Optimal functions for one-page websites
- Minimal ad intrusion
- Cheap upgrade plans
- Simple free subdomain
What We Don’t Like
- Is only usable for one-page websites
- No blog or ecommerce functionality
SITE123 – Best for Least Overwhelming Setup
While having creative control over your website can allow you to make a fully customizable design, it can also be overwhelming for some. If you don’t want to go through that process, then SITE123 will give you a recommended template to use. This advantage can also help you quickly put together a site without much hassle.
SITE123 helps users out further by providing excellent customer service. Their 24/7 live chat service means that you can get help whenever you need it, no matter what time you’re working on pulling your webpage together.
The free plan requires the display of an ad on your site, but it’s small, and it only displays after a visitor starts to scroll down, making it as little of a distraction as possible. The lowest level of the paid plan costs $10.80 per month.
While SITE123 will make it as simple as possible to pick out a template, the available designs could use some upgrades. This simplicity is also a double-edged sword, as you can only make minimal customizations, so you’ll want a different free website provider if you want more creative control.
The free domain name uses “.me” instead of “.com,” though it’s not the worst possible alternative.
What We Like
- The site will select a template for you
- Reliable customer service available 24/7
- A small ad banner only appears after you start to scroll
What We Don’t Like
- Website template designs are somewhat dated
- Creative restrictions
- The free domain uses “.me” instead of “.com”
Webflow – Best for CMS Use
Webflow has a lot of powerful features if you’re willing to learn how to use them. While the designer doesn’t require you to code, you can still take advantage of the flexibility involved with some knowledge.
If you don’t want to feel restricted by templates and have a clear idea of how you want your web design to look, Webflow makes that more than possible.
Webflow’s free plan also gives you access to a content management system (CMS). This feature enables collections, which can help you present consistently formatted content with ease. The free plan does have an ad on it, but it’s small and scrolls smoothly with your site. Webflow has two types of plans: the essential site plan costs $12 per month, and the Lite version of the paid account plan is $16 per month.
While Webflow has near unparalleled flexibility in terms of design, this free website builder has a steep learning curve in comparison to the others noted on this list. Navigating their plans can also be a bit confusing to navigate. For the free option, you’ll want to set up your site with the “Starter” Account plan.
What We Like
- Extensive flexibility
- The free plan includes CMS
- Nonintrusive ad
What We Don’t Like
- The substantial learning curve in comparison to other website builders
- Somewhat confusing plans layout
Jimdo – Best for Site Editing on the Go
Jimbo has another reliable free website builder with some excellent benefits. All of the available templates are compatible with mobile devices, but you can also work on your website on the go, as its editor has mobile functions as well. The free plan doesn’t have any page limitations, and the 500 MB storage capacity allows you to take full advantage of this feature.
On the free plan, you’ll also receive SSL encryption for your website, which helps with security. Jimdo’s features also allow you to set up blog functionality. Ecommerce settings are available for up to five items available in your store. The free plan ad is small so that it won’t get in the way of your design too much. The cheapest upgrade plan is available for $10 per month.
Jimdo’s biggest drawback is its array of templates, which are on the limited side. While you can customize these templates well, having the same structures in your site as another doesn’t help things stand out. This issue could have a relatively simple fix on Jimdo’s end, but, for now, it does provide a downside.
What We Like
- Mobile editing available
- Small ad
- 500 MB in storage and no page limit
- Blog and ecommerce capable
- SSL encryption
What We Don’t Like
- Needs more template variety
Strikingly – Allows for Template Updates After Launch
Another option for creating one-page websites comes in the form of Strikingly. Building sites on this free website builder is simple, and it’s possible to set up everything very quickly and head into launch. While some other options on this list lock you into the template that you select whenever you go live, Strikingly allows you to change this later on, as many times as you like.
Strikingly provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, giving you easy access to assistance if you need it. The free plan ads that display only appear after a visitor has started to scroll; the screen space they take up is minimal. You can sell one product on your site on the free plan, and if you want to make multiple sites, Strikingly also allows this. Upgrading to the limited plan costs $8 a month.
Like Carrd, Strikingly only can create one-page sites. The free plan also doesn’t include an SSL certificate, which is a drawback for your security, especially if you plan to utilize the ecommerce features. If you’re still drawn to it, though, you’ll find yourself spending money eventually.
What We Like
- Live chat support is available 24/7
- Some ecommerce functionality
- The small ad appears after you start to scroll
- Allows for change of template after you go live
- Capability to make multiple free websites
What We Don’t Like
- Limited to one-page websites
- No SSL certificate on the free plan
SimpleSite – Great Fit for Self-Service Promotion
SimpleSite is a suitable pick for people trying to promote a self-service, though it has other uses as well. The free plan is also rather extensive in terms of features, so you can get a lot of customization out of them without having to delve into the paid plans. If you do want to upgrade, the lowest available paid plan costs $9.99 per month.
The free plan does require an ad displayed on your web pages, but it’s small and out of the way. When it comes down to how you edit your site, mobile editing is also powerful, letting you adjust your website while on the go. Overall, SimpleSite has been around for a while, and its setup works well for users who have a lot on their plate.
Despite its well-done mobile editing, the desktop editor doesn’t let you adjust the mobile version of your site, limiting your workflow. This flaw is easily one of the most frustrating, and it starts to take away from the mobile editing potential. The free plan also doesn’t include an SSL certificate for security, and SimpleSite’s customer support does leave some things to be desired.
What We Like
- Mobile editing available
- The free plan has an extensive number of features
- Suitable for promoting self-service
- Small free plan ad
What We Don’t Like
- No SSL certificate included
- Some limited desktop editing
- Could have better customer support
Mozello – Free Access to a Multilingual Site
If you plan to create a multilingual website, then Mozello allows you to do so while remaining on a free plan. Not everyone will need this feature, but you can take advantage of this to greater spread your content online. The free plan domain name is also clean-cut (http://sitename.mozello.com), so it won’t get too in the way.
The free plan advertising only takes the form of a subtle text bar in the corner, which means it doesn’t stand out. The functionality allows for plenty of options, like ecommerce for five items and blogging features. You can also work with some of the SEO features to help enhance your site, and the 500 MB storage limit has plenty of space. You can upgrade to their Premium plan for $7 a month.
While you can create different websites with Mozello, the customization and design features are more on the limited side. SSL security certificates are also missing from the free plan, which removes the free plan ecommerce capability. There’s even some missing security from the site editor, which makes it concerning to use overall.
What We Like
- The free plan allows the creation of multilingual sites
- Subtle advertising
- The free plan allows for ecommerce settings
- Allows for blogging
What We Don’t Like
- No SSL security
- Lacking customization and features
Is it Worth Upgrading to a Paid Plan?
While all these free website builders mean you can make a site without any monetary investment, they also provide additional features on paid plans. Depending on the service, these plans tend not to be very expensive. You can enhance your site’s features for a little extra cash. Many basic options are available for as little as five dollars a month, which is readily affordable.
Of course, whether you need to upgrade depends on what type of site you have and your plans for it. The different benefits to a paid plan will vary depending on the service, but here are some areas that you may consider paying to have.
Ad Control
Free websites can have advertisements on them, whether in the form of popups or banners. Depending on the image you want to have on your site, this may not be what you want for your brand. Many plan upgrades will let you remove the ads from your pages, keeping your website free of additional distractions.
Since free plans will include an ad in some form, it’s also essential to understand what kind of ad you’ll be getting. Some have distracting pop-ups, while others only take up a small space on your website’s screen. If you’re going to have an ad, it should be one that won’t impact your visitors’ experiences when on your site.
Custom Domains
Your domain name is a simple but essential aspect of your website. Free website builders will let you control your domain, but they’ll also have other elements, such as www.yoursite.simplesite.com. The result is that your domain name is more prolonged, making it harder for visitors to remember it.
A customizable domain will take out this issue. You’ll still need to go through obtaining a domain name, which will cost money, but paying for the ability to change your web address as well can be well worth it for your traffic.
Online Stores and Accepting Payments
How free website builders handle online stores can vary. Some will need upgrades to expand your available stock, while others will require paid plans to accept payments directly. Other providers won’t even allow you to set up an online shop without investing some cash.
If you plan to run an ecommerce site, you will need to spend at least some money for better features. Your website builder will determine whether that time will come sooner or later.
Upgraded Storage and Bandwidth
Another common drawback of free websites is that they have data caps on bandwidth and storage, impacting your site’s capability and performance. This factor isn’t much of an issue for a starting website, but these restrictions can hinder you as you start to see growth.
If you know that you want to use a lot of media, like photos and videos, you should prioritize the available storage levels. Bandwidth is just as important, and having too little can limit how many people are able to access your site.
Thankfully, most website builders provide multiple tiers, so you can steadily increase your caps as you need them. Some providers will even allow you to receive unlimited storage and bandwidth.
Marketing Tools
Free website plans often have some essential marketing capabilities, such as emailing features. If you want more advanced tools like site statistic analysis and automated abandoned cart updates. If you’re serious about spearheading your site’s growth, these upgrades will let you better understand what areas on your website to improve and the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
Given the inexpensive cost of some basic plans, it’s easy to see how upgrading your free website could benefit you. For online stores in particular, some of these features are essential to success. Take some time to look at the potential upgrades and price points before you upgrade, and slowly scale yourself up as your website grows.
FAQs
How do free website builders make money?
Most free website builders have premium plans which give additional features to their users. Depending on the product’s structure, free users may display advertisements on their webpage until they upgrade. Other website builders will also use the premium members’ payments to sustain the free users.
Can I upgrade my website in the future?
One of the most significant benefits of free website builders is that their paid plans let you enhance your website. These offerings also come in tiers, which means that you can improve as your website’s needs change over time.
What’s the easiest free website builder to use?
When it comes to simple access, Wix is easily one of the simplest to use, even if you don’t have any previous tech experience on your hands. The level of customization is also impressive, allowing you to make a personalized site that stands out. Aside from the few recommendations on our list that integrate coding knowledge, our mentioned products are overall intuitive to help you get started.
Which free website builder is best for ecommerce?
Ecommerce sites are challenging to run on free plans, as they mostly limited in terms of how much product you can sell and how you can receive payment. Mozello stands out in terms of starting product availability and multiple language capacity, though the design options are rather sparse. Strikingly works in contrast, as it gives you more design options and allows for one product in stock on its basic level.
Which free website builder is best for blogging?
WordPress.com easily comes out on top in this category. While other website builders will allow you to create a blog, WordPress.com has the most advanced features in this area thanks to its built-in blogging tools. You also have features like RSS feeds and social bookmarking to help connect to visitors.
Best Free Website Builders: Conclusion
With everything we’ve gone over, you should have a strong grasp on your options for free website builders. We’ve also delved into the advantages of upgrading to a paid plan and answering plenty of other common questions. You should have all the information you need to pick out a free website builder to suit your needs.
Wix has some of the strongest accessibility features, and it’s simple for beginner website builder users. Additionally, Weebly is a great fit for small business owners hoping for a place to promote themselves, while WordPress.com gives some of the best blogging features. Smaller-scale, one-page websites will benefit the most from the use of Carrd.
While all these free website builders will serve you well without any financial investment, a free plan can only go so far. Each builder will give different features and levels, each of them coming in at multiple price points. If nothing else, it’s worthwhile to know the cost of moving up to the first tier of a paid plan and which levels you’ll need to reach to get the features likely most important to you.
Now that, eventually, a free plan won’t sustain you in the long run. Even so, the financial investment is well worth it in the end, as it can greatly benefit your website in the long run. Even so, it’s well worth considering what upgrading your site on your chosen website builder will look like in the future. Free trials can help you understand what the paid experience will look like!
Of course, nothing is stopping you from changing which website builder you work with later on, but it’s worth it to take the time to make a solid decision from the start. One of the most significant benefits of free website builders is that you can try out different ones to find which ones you like to work with the best without any monetary cost.
