Best Free Website Builders for 2024: A Practical Guide

Affordable Online Presence: Free Website Builders for Small Businesses

In today's digital world, having a website is essential for being found online. However, many small businesses can't afford to hire a professional developer. That's where free website builders become invaluable. These platforms enable you to create a website without spending a dime. You won’t need to understand coding languages like CSS or HTML—these tools handle the technical aspects for you. With advancements like AI, creating a website has become even faster and simpler. After testing various free website builders, I've identified the top class and best website builders that stand out for their ease of use and functionality.

Top Free Website Builders: Customised for Different Needs

• Google Sites: Ideal for basic websites, especially when SEO isn't a priority.
• Yola: Perfect for creating straightforward, hassle-free websites.
• GetResponse: Best suited for businesses that focus heavily on email marketing.
• Wix: A versatile website builder that caters to a wide range of needs.
• Dorik: Designed for creators with a bit more experience in website development.
• HubSpot CMS: A great choice for businesses that are in the growth phase.
• Webflow: The go-to option for advanced designers looking for more control.
• Webnode: Offers top-notch AI features for easy and intuitive website creation.

How I Chose the Best Free Website Builders: A Hands-On Approach

There are countless lists of top free website builders, so why is this one different? Instead of relying solely on customer reviews or marketing materials, I dedicated dozens of hours to researching and testing the most loved free site builders. Having built websites with WordPress and Squarespace in the past, I was curious to see how these other tools compared. For each platform, I signed up and created a site using one of their templates or AI-driven builders. I added pages, edited content, explored SEO features, uploaded images, and experimented with various design elements. To ensure this list only included truly free options, I excluded any website builders that required purchasing hosting (like Bluehost, Hostinger, or GoDaddy) since they aren't technically free. I also eliminated builders that were too complicated or offered limited value in their free plans. After thorough testing, I selected the best options based on ease of use, customization, and overall functionality. Some builders are perfect for creating simple sites without any design experience, while others are better suited for commercial websites, though they might have a steeper learning curve. Some include AI features, which was a bonus in my evaluations.

During testing, I focused on the following criteria:

• Ease of Use: How intuitive is the builder? Can a beginner easily add forms and customize the site? I noted which builders are best for beginners and which are more suited for those with some design experience. None require coding skills, though some do offer access to the code for those who want it.
• Customization Options: How flexible is the builder? Does it allow more than just a basic one-page site? I assessed the variety of templates, availability of drag-and-drop features, and the ability to customize styles, colors, and elements. If there was a trade-off between ease of use and customization, I made sure to highlight that.
• SEO Tools: Building a site is only the first step—getting it to rank on search engines is equally important. I reviewed the SEO tools each builder provides, such as editing page titles and meta descriptions, adding alt tags, and uploading a sitemap.
• Value of Free Plans: Is the free plan genuinely free, or does the builder push for upgrades with every change? I focused on builders that allow you to launch a site without hidden costs. While some advanced features may require upgrading, all these tools enable you to create a functional website at no cost.
• Primary Focus on Website Building: Some tools are part of a broader suite but include website-building capabilities. I only included tools that can function independently as website builders.

One note on domains: Most free website builders provide a default, often unattractive, domain (e.g., wedowebapps.hubspotpagebuilder.com) but offer the option to purchase or connect a custom domain. From my experience, it's usually better to buy a domain separately through a service like Namecheap. This gives you more control if you decide to switch platforms later—for example, moving from Wix to Webflow could be smoother if your domain isn't tied to the builder.

Quick Overview: Top Free Website Builders in 2024

Here's a brief look at some of the best free website builders, highlighting their ideal use cases, standout features, and the value they offer with their free plans:

Website Builder	Best For	Standout Feature	Free Plan Value
Google Sites	Basic websites (without SEO)	As simple to use as Google Docs	Limited features, ideal for beginners who don't need SEO
Yola	Simple, no-fuss websites	Large and relevant block library	Decent value, though removing ads and branding is worth the upgrade
GetResponse	Email-centric businesses	Wide range of templates	Great value; allows custom domains and up to 1,000 newsletter contacts for free
Wix	Versatile site building	User-friendly AI builder	Excellent value; offers most features on the free plan
Dorik	Experienced creators	Built-in AI image generator	Outstanding value; unlimited page views, premium templates, SSL, global CDN, SEO settings, and more
HubSpot CMS	Growing businesses	Guided setup process	Good value, but upgrading to remove HubSpot branding and use a custom domain is recommended
Webflow	Advanced designers	Deep customization options	Excellent value; includes all features, up to 50 CMS items, 1 GB of bandwidth, and a Webflow domain
Webnode	AI-powered website creation	Strong blend of AI and customization	Great value; offers 150+ templates and AI tools, though upgrading to remove branding is advisable

This table offers a quick snapshot of what each platform excels at and the value their free plans bring to the table, helping you choose the right builder for your needs.

Best Free Website Builder for Simple Sites (No SEO Required): Google Sites

Google Sites Pros:

• Extremely user-friendly (similar to Google Docs)
• Excellent for collaborative projects

Google Sites Cons:

• Lacks any SEO tools

Google Sites is a straightforward site builder with limited customization options and no SEO capabilities. It's a good choice if you're new to website creation or just want to create a basic site without worrying about search engine rankings. It's also a viable alternative for those needing to replace the now-retired Google Business Profile websites. You can start with one of a dozen templates or a blank canvas. From there, you can customize the style, color, and fonts using one of six available themes, or create your own. However, the customization options are somewhat restrictive. For instance, if you want to change the color of a button, you'll need to adjust the entire theme color, which may affect other elements on the site. Button sizes and other design elements are predefined, and bypassing these restrictions requires creating a custom theme. Despite these limitations, Google Sites is incredibly easy to use. It's much like working in Google Docs—your site is automatically saved to Google Drive, and you can easily share it with others for collaboration. The lack of SEO settings is a downside, though you can set custom URLs for each page. While Google may handle some SEO behind the scenes, it’s still a notable omission.

1. Google Sites Pricing: Completely free; no paid plans available.
2. Ease of Use: Very easy, comparable to using Google Docs.
3. Customization Options: Limited. You can choose from 12 templates and 6 themes. It's ideal for those without much web design experience.
4. SEO Tools: None, which is surprising.
5. Value of Free Plan: Basic. Good for beginners, hobbyists, or those dabbling in website creation, but lacks the depth of Yola or Wix.

Best Free Website Builder for Simple, Hassle-Free Websites: Yola

Yola Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Rich library of useful content blocks

Yola Cons:

• Limited SEO customization options

Yola stands out as the top choice for those seeking a straightforward, no-hassle website builder. The setup process is smooth, guiding you through selecting the type of site you need—whether personal, business, store, or community—and then presenting a variety of templates to choose from. A key advantage is that you can change your template later without losing any content, which is particularly helpful when you're unsure which design will suit your site best. The business templates I tried were well-designed, featuring all the essential elements you'd expect from a professional website. For instance, the marketing agency template includes a prominent header, client logos, a list of services, testimonials, an about us section, and a call to action before the footer. Yola's block editor is straightforward and easy to use. You can add, remove, or rearrange blocks with ease. Unlike some other website builders, Yola offers a wide selection of content blocks, including sections for services, a logo wall, FAQs, and calls to action. While customization is somewhat limited—for example, changing a button color requires altering the entire color palette—this constraint helps maintain a cohesive and polished design. The color palettes, fonts, and button styles are carefully coordinated to ensure your site looks professional. With 70 palette options, you can quickly preview and select the one that best suits your brand. On the free plan, your site will display Yola ads and use a Yola domain, which is common among free website builders. However, their premium plans are reasonably priced: you can connect a custom domain for $6/month and remove Yola branding for $14/month. If you find Yola's features too limited, it might be worth considering one of the other tools on this list.

1. Yola Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $6/month (billed annually).
2. Ease of Use: Very intuitive, with a user-friendly editor.
3. Customization Options: Choose a template and easily edit elements with clear, on-screen instructions to see changes instantly.
4. SEO Tools: Basic but functional. You can add standard meta descriptions and titles, though custom code requires an upgrade.
5. Value of Free Plan: Good. Upgrading allows you to remove Yola branding and fully personalize your site.

Best Free Website Builder for Email-Centric Businesses: GetResponse

GetResponse Pros:

• Integrates seamlessly with email marketing efforts
• Offers a wide range of templates and customization features

GetResponse Cons:

• The AI builder isn’t as advanced as some competitors

While many free website builders are standalone platforms, GetResponse stands out as a broader marketing tool with a solid focus on email, offering a surprisingly robust free website builder. Most free site builders on the market fall short, offering minimal features and limited scalability. In contrast, GetResponse allows you to create a site that not only looks good but also grows with your business. When you start, you can choose to build your site using a template or their AI-powered builder. I first tried a pre-designed business template, finding it easy to customize everything from fonts and images to adding new sections like testimonials. You can tweak details such as button shapes, sizes, and alignments, and even dive into advanced settings like shadows, borders, and colors. One click allows you to hide certain elements on mobile devices, which is a handy feature. The customization process is straightforward, with everything you need just a click away, making the experience smooth and unintimidating. However, the AI functionality, while decent, isn’t on par with other AI-powered builders like Webnode. Though it offers plenty of options—such as choosing features, color schemes, and importing styles from an existing site—the end results and AI-generated content were less impressive. On the marketing front, GetResponse is somewhat basic. It offers solid mobile optimization tools but has limited SEO capabilities. You can adjust meta titles and descriptions and insert custom code, but that’s about it. Despite these limitations, GetResponse is an excellent choice if you’re already using it for email marketing or planning to focus heavily on email marketing. For those looking to extend GetResponse’s functionality, it can be connected to WEDOWEBAPPS, enabling automatic lead or customer additions to your email list, among other possibilities.

1. GetResponse Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $18/month.
2. Ease of Use: Highly intuitive, especially given the range of customization options.
3. Customization Options: Hundreds of templates available with easy drag-and-drop editing.
4. SEO Tools: Basic but functional. You can edit meta tags and optimize for mobile devices.
5. Value of Free Plan: Excellent. You can build and launch a site, connect your own domain, and manage up to 1,000 newsletter contacts at no cost.

Best Free Website Builder for Experienced Creators: Dorik

Dorik Pros:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop editor with vast customization options
• Quick and effective AI builder

Dorik Cons:

• Beginners might find it overwhelming, but detailed documentation is available

Dorik is an excellent choice for those who want to build a fully functional website or a single landing page for free, with the option to add premium features like blogs or paid memberships. Having used various WordPress page builders, I found Dorik’s interface both intuitive and refreshing. While it might be a bit complex for beginners, the comprehensive online documentation is easy to access and extremely helpful. You can start from scratch, import a JSON file, use the AI builder, or choose from over 80 pre-designed templates. The AI builder is straightforward—you just provide a site name and a brief description of what you’re aiming for. If you’re not satisfied with the initial design, you can easily regenerate specific blocks or adjust overall site settings like colors. Dorik even allows you to generate images based on your prompts, adding a personalized touch to your site. The AI functionality is particularly impressive, offering a solid foundation with well-structured layouts that align with your brief, often better than some competitors like Wix. When you begin editing, Dorik guides you through the settings. The visual drag-and-drop editor allows you to build your site using over 250 UI blocks (rows and columns) and more than 20 elements (text, buttons, icons, etc.). You can position the control panel on either side of the screen, depending on your preference. Dorik offers a few standout editing features. For instance, it uses color-coded lines to differentiate what you’re editing—rows are highlighted in purple, and columns in pink—making it easier to keep track of your changes. Additionally, the Navigation Tree helps you precisely locate and edit the correct rows, minimizing mistakes that are common with other site builders. Dorik’s SEO tools are comprehensive and accessible, allowing you to configure settings for each page, from basic titles and descriptions to advanced options like FAQ schema and analytics. You can also design your site for desktop, tablet, and mobile screen sizes, ensuring a responsive layout across all devices.

1. Dorik Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $15/month.
2. Ease of Use: Intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Beginners may find it challenging, but the online documentation is excellent.
3. Customization Options: Extensive. Choose from 39 templates, 250+ UI blocks, and 20+ elements to craft your site.
4. SEO Tools: Comprehensive, including page titles, descriptions, no-index/no-follow meta settings, canonical URLs, schema, and custom header/footer code.
5. Value of Free Plan: Outstanding. Includes unlimited page views, storage, premium templates and blocks, free SSL (HTTPS) certificate, global CDN, image optimization, SEO settings, and various integrations.

Best and Free All-Around Website Builder: Wix

Wix Pros:

• Well-established builder with numerous integrations
• User-friendly AI builder for quick setup

Wix Cons:

• Can be slow to load, especially at first

Wix is one of the most popular drag-and-drop website builders available, but does it live up to its reputation? If you’re looking to create a simple website with a few features without getting bogged down in too many decisions, Wix is an excellent option. If you choose to set up your site manually without using AI, you’ll start by telling Wix the type of site you want and any additional features you need, like a blog, chat function, forms, or an online store. From there, you can select a template from over 900 designs, organized by category. These templates look professional and are easily customizable to suit your specific needs. The initial template load time might be slow, taking around 10 seconds, as it populates the necessary information. However, once loaded, you’ll understand why—Wix offers a highly robust editor for a free website builder. You can customize your site extensively by changing fonts, adding headings, creating lists, and dragging and dropping sections, all without needing to code or navigate through multiple tabs. I found the editor intuitive, although those new to website building might feel a bit overwhelmed at first. Alternatively, you can opt to have Wix build your site using AI. This option walks you through a series of questions in a ChatGPT-like interface, gathering information to generate a site with personalized tools, images, and text. Although this process takes a bit longer due to the detailed questions, the final design is often modern and visually appealing. If you’re not satisfied with the results, you can easily regenerate the design. Wix shines with its vast array of integrations, including email marketing tools, allowing you to launch campaigns directly from your dashboard. The range of features available for free is impressive. While you can use free images from Wix and Unsplash, some images from Shutterstock require payment. For those who struggle with writing website copy, Wix offers a helpful AI Text Creator. Simply provide some details about what you want to convey, and it will suggest well-crafted text. Wix also provides comprehensive SEO features to help you improve your site’s visibility on Google. While it won't replace the expertise of a professional SEO, it offers a strong foundation. You can also create a marketing calendar and manage ads within Wix, making it ideal for business owners who need an all-in-one solution without having to juggle multiple platforms. Once you’ve customized your site with pages, text, and other features, you’re ready to go live. With the free plan, your domain will include “.wixsite.com” (e.g., wedo.wixsite.com), and your site will feature a Wix logo—standard for most free builders. If you have your own domain, you can easily connect it.

1. Wix Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/month.
2. Ease of Use: User-friendly drag-and-drop editor. Intuitive, though beginners might find it a bit overwhelming; the free AI builder option is a great alternative.
3. Customization Options: Highly customizable—you can add forms, blogs, eCommerce features, and even create custom videos.
4. SEO Features: Comprehensive. Wix provides clear explanations for each feature and guides you through the process, including off-site tools like Google Analytics.
5. Value of Free Plan: Excellent. Unlike some builders that constantly push for upgrades, Wix offers most features to some degree on the free plan.

Top Free Website Builder for Expanding Businesses: HubSpot CMS Hub

HubSpot Advantages:

• Guided setup with clear steps
• User-friendly AI-powered site creation

HubSpot Drawbacks:

• Default URL is unattractive; a custom domain is necessary for a polished look

HubSpot, known for its comprehensive tools for marketing, sales, and customer service, extends its expertise with a free website builder that’s ideal for growing businesses. What sets it apart is the guided approach, walking you through each step of building your site, complete with progress indicators. Begin by selecting a theme that aligns with your brand’s identity. HubSpot offers a marketplace with a variety of themes—both free and premium. I selected the Growth Theme, which provided a strong starting point for customization. Alternatively, HubSpot’s AI builder can create a site based on your inputs, such as your preferred design style (modern, vibrant, or minimalistic). The AI quickly produced a site that was well-organized and visually appealing, complete with relevant content and imagery. After choosing your theme, you can easily customize it to reflect your brand’s colors, fonts, and layout preferences. Whether you’re fine-tuning an existing palette or creating a new one, the process is straightforward. From there, you can set up essential pages like Home, About, and Contact, and choose from standard header and footer options. HubSpot’s drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and a full tutorial is available to guide you through using its 47 different modules, including headers, text blocks, images, and calls to action. HubSpot CMS is particularly well-suited for business websites, thanks to its strong focus on blogging and search engine optimization (SEO). The platform includes a step-by-step process to set up your blog’s title, URL, and description, ensuring it’s optimized for search engines before you publish any posts. HubSpot also offers a comprehensive set of SEO tools, including options for meta titles, descriptions, URLs, and custom code snippets. As you build your site, HubSpot provides real-time SEO recommendations to help improve your visibility on search engines. Given HubSpot’s roots in inbound marketing, it’s clear that this builder is designed to help your business grow online. However, you’ll want to replace the default HubSpot URL (yoursite.hubspotpagebuilder.com) with a custom domain to present a more professional image.

1. HubSpot CMS Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans begins at $15/month.
2. Ease of Use: Smooth and intuitive, with guided prompts to help you at every stage.
3. Customization Options: A wide range of free and premium templates and 47 modules allow you to create a site that matches your brand perfectly.
4. SEO Tools: Comprehensive SEO support, including meta tags, custom URLs, and real-time suggestions to improve your site’s visibility.
5. Value of Free Plan: An excellent starting point for growing businesses, though upgrading to a paid plan to remove branding and use a custom domain is advisable for a more professional look.

Top Free WordPress Alternative for Experienced Designers: Webflow

Webflow Advantages:

• Deep customization capabilities
• Expandable with a variety of integrations and widgets

Webflow Disadvantages:

• Lacks an AI builder for easier setup

Unlike other website builders that emphasize simplicity and ease of use, Webflow is geared towards users who want complete control over their site’s design. Upon signing up, Webflow prompts you to identify your role (such as marketer or web designer) and your familiarity with CSS/HTML. While this customization should make the platform more intuitive, the onboarding process doesn't change much, even for those who indicate they have no coding experience. Webflow offers a selection of free templates and premium options you can purchase to make the site-building process more manageable—similar to the way WordPress themes work. The platform also includes an optional guided tour and email tutorials, which can be quite useful. If you’re accustomed to using WordPress, especially with tools like Elementor, you’ll find Webflow’s interface somewhat familiar. However, newcomers may find the learning curve steep. The platform’s complexity is due to its extensive feature set and customization options. Webflow allows you to modify every aspect of your site—from container dimensions and font styles to button placement and layout configurations. You can stack elements, adjust alignment, and create detailed layouts with precision. For SEO-savvy users, Webflow offers all the necessary tools, including title tags and meta descriptions, but these are not immediately visible. For example, adding a meta description requires navigating through several layers—starting from the main page panel, selecting the page, going into settings, and then accessing the SEO options. One of Webflow’s standout features, making it a strong alternative to WordPress, is its support for integrations and widgets that can extend your site’s functionality. Whether you need tools for customer engagement, CRM management, or spam control, Webflow has you covered. While it may not be the easiest platform to use, it offers powerful capabilities for those willing to invest the time to learn it.

1. Webflow Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $14/month.
2. Ease of Use: Not ideal for beginners. The platform includes a guided tour and templates, but those looking for a straightforward drag-and-drop builder might find it challenging. Experienced users, particularly those familiar with WordPress builders like Elementor, will likely find it more intuitive.
3. Customization Options: Extremely flexible, allowing you to build your site nearly from scratch.
4. SEO Tools: All the essential SEO features are available, but they can be tricky to locate. Users with a background in SEO will find everything they need, while beginners might struggle.
5. Value of Free Plan: The free plan includes access to all core features, supports up to 50 CMS items, provides 1 GB of bandwidth, and includes a Webflow.io domain.

Best Free AI-Powered Website Builder: Webnode

Webnode Pros:

• AI creates a custom website tailored to your specifications
• Clean, intuitive interface that's easy to navigate

Webnode Cons:

• Limited text formatting options for headings

Webnode is a user-friendly website builder that now features AI integration, making it easier than ever to create a website that fits your needs. The design process is simple and flexible. You start by selecting one of three options—website, online store, or blog—and then choose whether to build your site with the help of AI or by using a template. Both methods are effective, so it really depends on your preference. If you opt for the AI builder, you’ll answer a few questions about your site’s purpose, the pages you need, and your business details. The AI then generates three versions of your website, each tailored to your answers, allowing you to pick the one that best suits your vision. Alternatively, you can choose from over 150 professionally designed templates. Regardless of which route you take, you can fully customize your site. The site settings allow you to adjust the overall color scheme and button designs (including options for rounded corners, shadows, sizes, and borders). You can also use section settings to modify backgrounds with images, photos, or colors, and the drag-and-drop editor to rearrange elements like lines, videos, and forms on your page. The only downside is the limited text formatting options, as the builder doesn’t offer granular control over headings (like H1, H2, H3, etc.). Webnode’s interface is clean and user-friendly, with no cluttered sidebars to distract you. Editing is as simple as clicking on an element and making the changes you want. Plus, each page comes with standard SEO settings, including URL customization, meta titles, and descriptions.

1. Webnode Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $4.50/month to $22.90/month.
2. Ease of Use: The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it user-friendly.
3. Customization Options: Extensive customization at both the site and section level. The drag-and-drop editor allows for flexible placement of elements.
4. SEO Tools: Comprehensive. Each page includes settings for URL, meta titles, descriptions, and the option to add custom header and footer code.
5. Value of Free Plan: A solid free plan with access to 150+ templates and AI-powered site creation. Upgrading to remove Webnode branding and use a custom domain is recommended.

Is a Free Website Builder Right for You?

If you're planning to launch a large-scale eCommerce store with thousands of pages or develop a fully interactive app, hiring a developer or investing in a premium website builder is probably the best route. However, if you're just getting started or need a simple online presence for your business, the free website builders we've covered can meet your needs effectively. Many of these tools now include AI features, which can simplify and speed up the website creation process.< After exploring options like Dorik and HubSpot CMS, I’ve even considered whether it might be time to move away from WordPress. So, which website builder will you choose to bring your vision to life?

Our Thoughts

At WEDOWEBAPPS, we understand the importance of choosing the right website builder to match your business needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to streamline your online presence, free website builders offer an excellent entry point. With advancements in AI and a range of customization options, these tools can help you create a professional website without breaking the bank. As you consider your options, remember that the right platform can set the foundation for your business's online success. Need more guidance? We're here to help you make the best choice for your digital journey.