Top 5 Free Website Builders in 2025: Pros & Cons

Remember when making a website required a costly developer and weeks of anticipation? Yeah, those days are over. These days, you can put together a site yourself in an afternoon. Even if the most technical thing you've done recently is to reboot your wi-fi router.

Whether you're a writer who requires a minimal portfolio, a designer looking to flaunt your talent, or a small business owner who simply needs to go online, there's a free website builder for you. We've tried the best of them, and here's what you really need to know.

The Best Free Website Builders

• ● WePage - Perfect if you're looking for something simple and professional
• ● Wix - Fantastic when you want tons of options to play with
• ● Google Sites - Best for approaching projects at a fundamental level (think school presentations or team pages)
• ● Webflow - For people in the know about design stuff
• ● Canva Websites - Ideal if you're big into visuals and photos

What Really Defines a Good Free Website Builder

Before we get started, let's address what's important. Easy to use, that is, a good website builder should be. I mean, even your mom would be able to suss it out. You should be able to drag stuff around with your mouse. And your site better be pretty on phones because come on, that's where the world's looking.

Well, here's the rub with "free." And there's always a catch, correct?

Free plans typically include when the company name appears on your site. Like a label on your shirt. You can't upload loads of photos or videos. Your domain is yourname.wix.com, not yourname.com. And you don't get all the hoity-toity features.

It's like test-driving a car. They let you experience how it functions, but if you want the real deal, you'll ultimately have to pay something.

1. WePage: The Obvious Solution That Just Works

Best for: Folks who just want to get online, fast — without the headache

WePage is going to grab some serious attention as it breaks into the US market, and you know what? It's pretty refreshing. We're not trying to inundate you with a bazillion choices. You simply select a design you love, customize it with your own stuff, and you're done!

• What's Good:
• ● Super simple to use: If you can use Microsoft Word, you can use this
• ● Helps people find you on Google: Built-in tools to make your site appear in searches
• ● Works everywhere: Build your site from anywhere in the world
• ● Loads fast: Your site won't keep visitors waiting
• ● Looks modern: Clean designs that don't look old
• ● Works on phones: Automatically sizes for smaller screens
• ● No tech skills needed: Really, none

• What's Not So Good:
• ● Fairly new: May not have as many users or help articles yet
• ● Free version is basic: Displays WePage's name on your site

WePage is awesome for you if you're a freelancer, artist, or small biz owner who just wants a nice-looking site, without wasting days trying to figure out some complicated tool.

2. Wix: When You Crave ALL the Choices

Best for: Those who love options

Wix has been around forever. In internet years, anyway. They have more than 800 designs to choose from and a lot of add-ons. That's like going into a Home Depot. Sometimes you crave all those choices; other times, it's simply paralyzing.

• What's Good:
• ● Tons of designs: More than 800 templates to pick from
• ● Lots of add-ons: Fancy adding a booking system? A store? There's likely an app for it
• ● Place things anywhere: Drag things precisely where you want them
• ● Works for multiple businesses: From restaurants to contractors

• What's Not So Good:
• ● Can't switch designs later: Pick a template and publish, you're stuck with it
• ● May feel overwhelming: So many options, it will make your head spin
• ● Can be slow: Sometimes sites are a bit slow to load

Wix is great if you're not in a rush and like to browse all the options. It's a big hit with restaurants and construction companies, and anyone who needs particular capabilities.

3. Google Sites: Keep It Simple

Best for: Simple projects and Google stuff addicts

If website builders were cars, Google Sites would be your neighbor's trusty 10-year-old Honda. Not fancy. But it works every time.

A few folks suggest you seek out something more potent, but truly. Other times, simple is just what you need.

• ● Absolutely free: No ads, no gimmicks, just free
• ● Works with Google stuff: Convenient if you already use Gmail and Google Docs
• ● Lightning fast deployment: No, really, you could have something up in 10 minutes
• ● Collaborative: Your entire team can edit at the same time
• ● Mobile compatible: Auto-adjusts to look fine on phones

• What's Not So Good:
• ● Very basic: Don't expect fancy designs
• ● Can't do much: Forget about selling things online
• ● Looks pretty generic: Your site will look similar to other Google Sites
• ● Limited Google search help: Basic optimization only

Google Sites is ideal for internal company stuff, school projects, or basic information pages. It’s not the right pick if you need your site to really pop or perform snazzy functions.

4. Webflow: For the Design Savvy Crowd

Best for: Design-savvy folks who want complete control

Webflow is powerful, but let's be real. It's not for beginners. It’s like going to a professional camera after you’ve only ever used your phone. Of course you can do incredible things with it. But there's a learning curve.

Ever wonder how those really nice websites were built. Odds are it was Webflow.

• What's Good:
• ● Professional-level design: Create truly unique websites
• ● Cool animations: Make things move and interact
• ● Manage lots of content: Great for blogs or portfolios
• ● Total creative freedom: No limits on what you can design

• What's Not So Good:
• ● Hard to learn: Not beginner-friendly at all
• ● Limited free version: Only 2 pages
• ● Need to know design: Works best if you have some background
• ● Takes time: Creating a site is a hell of a lot more time consuming than the easy stuff

Webflow is for designers, agencies, or businesses that require something fully custom. If you’re just beginning it’s likely overkill. But if you want your website to be a showpiece. This is your tool.

5. Canva Websites: For the Visual People

Best for: Creatives, photographers, and visual enterprises

You probably know Canva for making graphics and social media posts. Well, they’ve got a site maker as well. And it’s nice if you’re a visual guy. It’s ideal for creators that need their work to sparkle.

• What's Good:
• ● Works with Canva: Use graphics you've already made
• ● Beautiful designs: Really eye catching templates
• ● Easy to create content: Built in tools for graphics and videos
• ● Everything matches: Keep the same look across all your materials
• ● Great for portfolios: Perfect for showing off your work

• What's Not So Good:
• ● Limited features: More about looking good than doing fancy stuff
• ● Basic Google search tools: Not the best for getting found online
• ● Newer to websites: Doesn't have all the features other builders do
• ● Less flexible: Can't customize as much as you might want

Canva Websites is great for creatives like artists, photographers, consultants, and generally anyone who prioritizes aesthetics. Kind of like an online portfolio which is a website.

Fast comparison: which one should you choose?

How do I choose the right one?

Here's our simple guide::

Go with WePage if: You want something clean and professional without the fuss. Awesome for freelancers and small businesses.

Go with Wix if: You want lots of features and customization, and you don't mind spending time learning.

Go with Google Sites if: You want something super simple, totally free, and you already use Google stuff.

Go with Webflow if: You already know design and want complete control over every detail.

Go with Canva Websites if: You're a visual creator who wants to easily integrate with design tools.

The Reality Check: What “Free” Means

Let’s get real about what you’re buying (and not buying) with free plans.

Their Logo on Your Site: Most free plans put the builder's name on your site. It’s similar to donning someone else’s corporate t-shirt. Not great for looking professional.

Storage Limits: You can't upload unlimited photos and videos. There's a cap.

Basic Google Search Help: You'll get some tools to help people find you, but not the advanced stuff.

Weird Web Addresses: Instead of coolbusiness.com, you'll get coolbusiness.wix.com. It does, but it’s not as slick.

Missing Features: Want to sell things online or get detailed visitor stats? You'll probably need to upgrade.

If you need particular things such as build a real estate site for free or find an old builder like Yola, just realize that most free plans will tell you to upgrade to get professional features.

Heads Up: "Free" means trade offs. Most free plans display the builder’s branding, restrict your upload space, and don’t support advanced features. If you want a truly professional site, expect to upgrade eventually.

Advice for Maximizing Your Free Builder

Here's what actually works.

Know what you’re going to say first. Don’t begin constructing until you know your material. Make it work on phones first since that’s where most people will see your site. Keep it simple. Don’t attempt to stuff it all on to one page!

Use good photos. Blurry or bad photos make even great designs look amateur. Plan in advance how you’ll deal with additional traffic or material down the road.

What’s Next for Website Builders

Website builders keep getting better. They’re still adding smart features that suggest designs, getting better at mobile viewing and interfacing with more tools. Others are targeting certain kinds of companies. Like some made just for artists or just for contractors.

The key is choosing something that fits you today but can grow with you tomorrow. Whether you want something that’s a bit like Wix, or something totally different, you’ve got fantastic choices.

Your Questions Answered

Ready to Build Your Website?

Creating a website in 2025 isn’t the terror it once was. So with these five free website builders, you can build something professional that showcases your work and resonates with clients. Without having to be a tech wizard.

Here's the thing. The greatest web site builder is what you’ll USE! Don’t bog yourself down in searching for the ideal with every bell and whistle. Select what you require at the present time and pick something that makes it fun, not irritating..

Whether you’re an artist ready to strut your portfolio, a contractor hunting for new business or a freelancer crafting your brand there’s an option on this list that’ll do the trick.

Ready to start? Sign up for your free WePage account today and join thousands of people who've discovered that building a beautiful, professional website is way easier than they thought. No credit card, no code. Just your thoughts and a couple of minutes.