How to Build a Free Website for My Business (And When Free Stops Being Free)
Every free website plan has a catch. Here's where the catches live, which free builders are actually worth using, and the moment to upgrade.
You can build a free site. You probably shouldn't keep it free.
Free website builders exist — Wix, Weebly, Google Sites, Carrd's free tier, WordPress.com's free plan. They'll get you a working page in an afternoon. But every free plan trades one of three things: your domain name, your branding, or your ability to be found in search. Know the trade before you make it.
What you actually get on a free plan
A subdomain like `yourbusiness.wixsite.com`. Ads or the platform's badge on every page. Limited or zero analytics. No custom email. Caps on pages, storage, or visitors. Most platforms also throttle SEO features (sitemap, structured data, redirects) on free tiers.
When free is the right call
You're testing whether an idea has demand. You need a one-page placeholder while a real site gets built. You're a hobby, a side project, or a community group with zero revenue at stake. In those cases, ship the free version this week and stop overthinking it.
When free is actively costing you money
You're handing out cards or running ads to a `wixsite.com` URL — that subdomain alone cuts your conversion. You can't be found on Google for your own business name because the free plan blocks search indexing. You're losing leads to competitors with a $20/mo paid plan.
The cheapest credible setup
Domain ($12/yr) + a $10–20/mo paid builder plan + free Google Workspace alternative for email = roughly $200/year all-in. That's the floor for a small-business site you can grow on.
The free tools that DO punch above their weight
Google Business Profile (free, drives 30–50% of local traffic). Canva (free, design assets). Google Search Console (free, the only way to know if you're indexed). Use these regardless of platform.
The honest upgrade trigger
Move off free the day your first customer searches for you by name and can't find you, or the day a lead asks for your website and you hesitate to give them the URL. That's the signal.
Want it done for you instead?
Our Basic tier starts at $49/mo with hosting, SSL, and a real domain handled — no free-plan limits, no badges. See pricing.
Want this done for you?
We build small-business websites in 2–4 weeks with hosting, SSL, and updates handled. Pricing starts at $49/mo.
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