Best Free Website Builders in 2024

Need a website, but don't want to pay for it? You've got quite a few options — but they all come with certain limitations. We'll introduce you to the best free website-building platforms and explain the restrictions you might face if you choose not to pay for premium plans.

Professional websites always come with certain costs — such as hosting, a domain, or the tools used to design it. Website builders typically bundle these into a monthly subscription fee.

However, some platforms offer free versions, adhering to a “build for free, pay for hosting” model. This often means you get a free builder and domain, but your site will live on the provider's subdomain and may face other restrictions, such as limited storage and visible provider branding (more on that later).

If you can accept these limitations, maybe because you're just using your website for personal purposes or a trial run anyway, here are some great free options:

Wix stands out as our top choice because it seamlessly combines a wide range of features, ease of use, and a vast app marketplace into a highly successful package. With over 800 design templates and numerous configurable elements, your creativity isn't as limited as with other providers.

Wix offers two editors: the regular drag-and-drop editor, which allows for extensive customization but is a bit more complex, and the streamlined ADI editor, perfect for beginners seeking visually consistent results.

Choosing Wix’s free plan means accepting a Wix URL and ads, along with limited storage (500 MB) and bandwidth (1 GB). Google Analytics isn't available, and you can't accept payments, making e-commerce impossible on the free plan.

Webflow is a hybrid solution that blends the capabilities of a website builder with those of a content management system (CMS), providing a robust platform for more complex websites. As a result, it's not as beginner-friendly as Wix, but overall more powerful.

Webflow's visual design interface organizes content in containers that can be dragged, dropped, and arranged without doing any actual coding — but an understanding of foundational web design concepts is still a plus. This approach offers flexibility and extensive design possibilities.CMS-website builder hybrid

Webflow's free plan is quite restrictive, limiting you to two pages, 50 CMS items, 1,000 visitors, and 1 GB of bandwidth. You cannot password-protect your site, transfer projects to other Webflow accounts, or export code.

Weebly offers versatile e-commerce tools and a handy smartphone app for those who want to work on their websites on the go.

Even non-paying customers can operate a basic shop — though the free tier only supports the sale of physical items, not digital products.

Weebly's free plan includes a Weebly URL and branding. You’ll miss out on advanced features like password-protected pages, site analytics, digital product sales, and phone support. Storage is capped at 500 MB.

SITE123 aims for simplicity, making it easy for beginners to create a unique website with just a few clicks. While it limits your design freedom, it offers a sleek, easy-to-use editor and excellent customer support.

In SITE123's editor, you can't freely drag and drop elements like with Wix & Co. Instead, you rely on limited options to personalize pre-made pages and sections, such as team pages, galleries, and contact forms.

SITE123’s free plan includes branding and a limited storage space of 250 MB. E-commerce features are inaccessible for free users.

Jimdo offers two editors: a basic one for complete beginners (formerly called Jimdo Dolphin) that streamlines design with AI, and a more complex Creator editor “for pros” that allows user-defined code. The former seems to be Jimdo's primary focus these days.

Customization options in Jimdo's simple editor are quite limited. As a result, even beginners should be able to create a professional-looking website in no time. Unfortunately, it lacks quite a few basic features — blogging tools, for example (which are currently only offered in the Creator editor).

Jimdo's free plan limits storage to 500 MB and bandwidth to 2 GB. Completely free websites can only have five subpages, and advanced features like SEO tools, site analytics, or legal text assistance are not included.

Strikingly is a stripped-down, easy-to-use website builder that specializes in single-page websites. With a nice selection of templates and solid blogging and ecommerce features, it's a decent choice for beginners who prefer simplicity over complexity.

Strikingly's free plan is ideal for simple websites with up to five pages. Bandwidth is capped at 5 GB per month, and storage space is limited to 500 MB. It's suitable for mini-shops, but there's a 5% transaction fee.

Webnode emphasizes accessibility with its intuitive editor that’s easy for beginners to master. It offers a solid selection of design templates, all of which can be quickly personalized with unique content, making website creation hassle-free.

While Webnode doesn’t provide unlimited drag-and-drop freedom, you can move elements around like puzzle pieces. This approach simplifies the design process but could benefit from more elements and enhanced e-commerce features.

Webnode's free plan limits your storage space to 100 MB and bandwidth to 1 GB. To open an online store, you’ll need to purchase a premium subscription.

Webador is best for simple projects like online boutiques, personal blogs, or small business websites. Its user-friendly editor makes it easy for beginners to get started. The platform covers all key web design aspects, from navigation to content editing, ensuring a straightforward experience.

Webador is suited for simple and small website projects but has limited features: digital sales are not possible (or only indirectly), design templates can’t be fully customized, and there’s no app market. These limitations make Webador less suitable for larger and more complex projects.

Webador’s free plan lacks advanced features: you can’t run a multilingual website, add a search bar, or create custom forms. Opening an online store also isn’t possible.

GoDaddy guides you through the creation of your website with its block-based design approach, where you fill pre-designed sections with your content. This paint-by-number method makes web design almost foolproof but restricts creativity and the uniqueness of your site.

GoDaddy’s website builder is best for simple projects and users who prefer not to worry about design and layout.

With GoDaddy's free plan, you get a free website builder and domain, but can't open an online store. Once you choose a paid plan, it isn't possible to switch back to the free version.

Creating a completely free website is a straightforward process, although the exact steps can vary depending on the provider. Here are the essential steps you'll need to follow:

Each website builder has its nuances, so refer to detailed step-by-step tutorials for specific platforms like Wix:

While free website builders are great for personal or small projects, they do come with significant drawbacks compared to premium subscriptions:

Of course, you can always upgrade to a premium plan for a unique domain and enhanced features.

Can you create a website for free? Absolutely, but be aware of the limitations. Without a subscription, you'll have to live with an ugly subdomain, ads, as well as limits when it comes to storage and bandwidth, which can restrict your site's growth. Free websites with these limitations also tend not to do well in search engines.

That's why free website builders are only suitable for basic projects, personal blogs, or trial periods. If you want to create a professional website, there's no way around paying a bit of money for it.

For detailed reviews of 12 leading website builders, check out our rundown of the best website builders.