Top 10 Free Website Builders: Expert Reviews & Best Use Cases

Many brands launch a professional online presence today without spending a fortune, and a free website builder can be the first step toward success. But “free” isn’t always straightforward. What many articles don’t cover in depth are the hidden trade-offs in “free” offerings, how to pick the right model for your ambitions, and how to transition from free to growth-friendly solutions. 

In this blog, we will do the following things: 

• Differentiate types of free website makers

• Walk you through what to consider when selecting a builder 

• Provide a deep expert review of the top 10 free online website builders

• Offer tips to build your own website successfully. 

Let’s dive in.  

What Does A Free Website Builder Mean?

When you hear “free website builder”, it’s easy to think “no cost, full features, custom domain, and high performance”. However, in fact, the term covers different models, each with its own business trade-offs. Below are the three most common flavours that you should take a look at: 

#1. Forever free 

You sign up and keep using the free plan indefinitely (no time limit). Specifically, you can obtain a subset of features, publish and host them for free, and ensure the site remains live for traffic.

However, you may encounter limitations, such as a branded domain/subdomain (e.g., yourbrand.platform.com), restricted storage/bandwidth, or mandatory platform branding/ads. These challenges may prevent you from establishing your brand identity or driving eCommerce sales. Instead, the “forever free” is ideal for testing, personal sites, and low-traffic microsites. 

#2. Free plan (with optional paid upgrades)

These free website builders offer a free “tier” as part of a freemium model. You can use the free plan to start with basic design and customization; later, you may be more likely to upgrade for higher traffic, custom domains, robust eCommerce features, ad removal, and enhanced support.

This is the most common “free” approach you’ll find among website builders. It allows you to get online with zero cost and then scale into paid plans only when you require stronger capabilities. Similar to “forever free” options, the free pricing tier often enforces restrictions on sales features.  

#3. Free trial

You receive full or nearly complete features for a limited time only (typically 3 - 14 days). Then, you will need to pay to continue. Technically, you can build your own website for free initially, but it’s short-term. If you don’t upgrade, your site may be unpublished or revert to limited features. This model is tailored to get online and test quickly before you decide on an official subscription. 

 Shopify offers a “nearly-free” pricing option with $1 per month for the first 3 months

Besides that, we can offer a competitive “nearly-free” plan that Shopify provides to its users. Everyone pays just $1 per month for the first three months to access a comprehensive collection of design and eCommerce functionalities, along with 24/7 support from expert teams. 

What To Consider When Working With Free Website Builders

When evaluating the best free website builder, it’s essential to look beyond the “free” aspect. Many no-cost plans come with limitations that can impact your website’s branding, functionality, and long-term growth potential. Below are the five key considerations that you should consider: 

• Limited features and functionality

Forever-free builders often restrict access to essential functionalities, such as custom domains, advanced design controls, app integration, full eCommerce features, or SEO capabilities. While these limitations may be suitable for a simple starter website, they can hinder your sales growth.  

• Hidden costs

Many merchants admit to encountering unexpected expenses with certain free website builders. You may need to pay for domain connections, additional storage for SKUs, higher bandwidth, or necessary eCommerce add-ons when you want to scale your business. In some cases, these mounting costs become so restrictive that users ultimately choose to migrate their entire stores to a new eCommerce platform that can offer better long-term scalability and transparent pricing.

For example, some sellers who started on WordPress for blogging eventually realized they needed a more robust eCommerce system. This led them to have a WordPress to Shopify migration, shifting from a content-first platform to one built for sales and inventory management. 

• Customer support quality

This is not applicable to all free website builders, but it is nearly true. Free tiers often offer a lower-level support priority, including community-only assistance, slower response times, or limited support channels. This can be a significant disadvantage in handling unexpected issues. 

• Scalability constraints

A free setup may work well in the early stages or startups, but as traffic increases or your website becomes more complex, you may quickly hit storage, bandwidth, or feature limitations. If growth is part of your plan, let’s choose the best website builders with a clear upgrade path. 

Learn more: 

• Building an eCommerce Website from Scratch — a Complete Step-by-Step Guide

• The Best Website Builder For Freelancers: Free & Easy To Use

Top 10 Free Website Makers That You Can Not Miss

#1. Shopify

• Best for: Solo sellers, startups, SMBs, large-sized companies, and enterprises. 

• Highlight: 3-day free trial & 1$/month for the first 3 months (not a fully perpetual free tier but extremely low cost to start for any business looking for a friendly budget option) 

Although Shopify is primarily a paid option, it is consistently ranked among the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses, with over 6.5 million active stores today. This is because Shopify offers a $1 cost for the first 3 months and provides an easy website builder for free for 3 days. 

Shopify is a widely used website builder with robust design and eCommerce features

Its ecosystem is built for growth, combining enterprise-level security, a powerful checkout system, and a vast app store that supports everything from marketing automation to inventory. Notably, Shopify makes your storefront design more straightforward thanks to recent updates in Shopify Editions Summer '25 and seamless compatibility with reliable landing page builders like GemPages, where you can visually create website pages using AI and a drag-and-drop builder. 

Outstanding features

• Hosted SaaS eCommerce infrastructure: hosting, security, performance, and updates. 

• Multi-channel selling: online store, social commerce, marketplaces, and POS systems. 

• An extensive Shopify app store of 8,000+ apps to add features and integrations. 

• Enterprise-grade tools for analytics, fulfilment, multichannel inventory management, SEO, and global commerce capabilities (via Shopify Plus) for scaling businesses. 

• AI-powered features for store design and customization (e.g., Shopify Sidekick). 

Pros 

• Easy to use with an intuitive, simple dashboard

• Wide selection of responsive, mobile-friendly website templates 

• Dedicated customer service: 24/7 and phone support

• Don’t charge third-party transactional fees when using Shopify Payments options

• Abandoned cart saving is available on every pricing plan

• Easy to upgrade Shopify store performance with third-party app or API integration

Cons

• Limited customization function and selection of free Shopify themes

• No email hosting and basic blogging features

• Basic blogging features

Pro Tip: If you pair your store with GemPages Shopify Landing Page Builder, you can overcome limitations around theme flexibility and customization, giving yourself complete control. This tool stands out for its superior design freedom, true no-code building, and a library of 200+ professionally designed templates to help you launch a high-converting website effortlessly.  Notably, AI-powered Layout-to-Image lets you generate the structure of your desired page in seconds. You can also ultilize visual and sales elements to maximize conversion rates. For data-driven growth, don’t forget to integrate with Gem X, a robust Shopify A/B testing app, to test page layouts and messages, ensuring every change you make is backed by real insights.

#2. Hostinger

• Best for: Beginners, small businesses, and freelancers 

• Highlight: 7-day free trial & free domain for the first year (on selected plans)

Although not a completely free website builder, Hostinger’s trial period and low-cost plans make it one of the most accessible entry points for many new online merchants and small businesses. It also offers AI-assisted store setups, allowing you to create a personalized website layout tailored to your niche instantly by answering just three simple questions. Another standout point is that you can receive a free first-year domain, helping to offset some of your upfront expenses.

Hostinger’s AI builder creates personalized website layouts based on simple prompts.

Outstanding features

• AI website layout creation based on your answers

• A drag-and-drop editor to make it easier to place and modify elements in seconds

• AI SEO, heatmaps, and built-in optimization options

• Free email addresses - each with 1GB storage, included in specific plans. 

Pros 

• Highly intuitive interface suitable for first-time website creators

• AI website builder accelerates the setup process

• Fast customer support via chat

• Hosting and a domain are bundled together for convenience. 

Cons

• No phone-based customer support

• Best features require upgrading to Premium or Business plans

• Less suitable for complex eCommerce features. 

Learn more: 

• Shopify Website Design: Complete Guide to Building High-Converting Stores with GemPages

• Top 20+ A/B Testing Ideas You Should Try [2025]

#3. Wix

• Best for: Creative businesses/ marketers wanting to build their simple websites

• Highlight: Forever-free plans (You can publish your site for free indefinitely.)

Wix is renowned for making website creation simple and accessible: choose a template (or answer a few questions via Wix ADI), then drag and drop elements to establish your website. This platform is also known as a partially free website builder and domain solution, offering you free hosting and a Wix-branded subdomain; however, custom domains require an upgrade. 

Wix ADI quickly creates a starter layout, making it one of the easiest free website builders for beginners.

However, its forever-free plan still remains one of the most popular free online website builder options for beginners who want to publish immediately without technical setup or any payment. 

Outstanding features

• AI-driven site creation (Wix ADI) and a robust editor for design control

• App Marketplace for adding functionality

• Secure hosting and SSL included in the forever-free plan

• Built-in SEO tools, blog features, and basic eCommerce (in paid tiers)

• 2000+ templates across industries. 

Pros 

• Strong design flexibility (especially for non-coders)

• The free plan gets you online quickly

• Good community, tutorials, and support resources

• Mobile-responsive by default and hosting bundled in, reducing overhead.

Cons

• Cannot connect a custom domain on the Forever Free plan

• Storage (500 MB) and bandwidth (up to 1 GB) are very limited on the free tier

• Once published, changing the template can be a cumbersome process. 

#4. Site123 

• Best for: Users who want ultra-fast setup and minimal design work 

• Highlight: A free plan with a quick categories-based setup

Site123 offers a set of categories to choose from, then instantly generates a ready-made layout based on your selection. If you don’t need pixel-perfect customization and prefer a guided experience, this free website builder is a top-of-mind solution to get your website online quickly. 

Site123 offers a fast, guided setup where users can generate a website layout

One of Site123’s biggest strengths is its customer support. Many users highlight its responsive live chat and detailed tutorials, making it a strong contender for those who need hands-on help.

Outstanding features

• Pre-built layouts for categories (business, blog, portfolio)

• Mobile-responsive designs included

• Free plan provides storage/bandwidth (500 MB/1 GB) per review.

Pros 

• Extremely easy to use with almost no learning curve

• One of the best customer support experiences among free builders

• Clean, responsive templates optimized for both desktop and mobile

• Fastest setup for users who want a guided, hands-off design experience.

Cons

• Design flexibility is limited, and fewer customization options

• The free plan is still subject to subdomain/branding restrictions

• Not ideal for advanced eCommerce or rich functionality.

#5. Weebly 

• Best for: Small businesses and personal websites that want strong built-in SEO tools

• Highlight: Free plans with free SSL, SEO tools, and site analytics included 

What sets Weebly apart from other free website builders is its built-in SEO functionality. Even on the free plan, users can access SEO tools, including page titles, meta descriptions, alt-text editing, and structured templates, which makes it ideal for brands prioritizing search visibility. This platform also offers a clean interface and a shallow learning curve, perfect for beginners. 

Weebly’s beginner-friendly editor includes built-in SEO tools, even on the free plan.

Outstanding features

• Robust built-in SEO hosting packages

• Easy drag-and-drop interface suitable for non-technical users

• Free SSL certificate, 500 MB storage, and Weebly-branded domain

• Built-in lead capture tools, including contact forms and email capture blocks. 

Pros 

• More affordable paid plans than other website builders

• Customer support is prompt and competent

• Scalability with full eCommerce features with Square

• Access to the community forum and support articles. 

Cons

• Weebly’s number of apps is small

• Don’t truly get the optimal performance for mobile devices

• The number of templates is limited (around 50 options)

#6. Webflow

• Best for: Designers, developers, and advanced users who want complete control 

• Highlight: Free plans are available for testing, prototypes, and one-to two-page sites.

Webflow stands out by offering professional-grade design control, allowing you to build an interactive website design easily. Instead of relying solely on templates or pre-built blocks, Webflow provides access to a visual interface powered by real HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Truly, the free plan is intentionally limited to encourage users to upgrade. While restrictive, it is known as a test environment for building portfolios, small web pages, or wireframe prototypes.

Webflow provides pixel-perfect design control ideal for advanced developers.

Outstanding features

• Advanced visual designer for full control over layout, spacing, flexbox, and grids

• Developer-level customization with real code 

• Workflow automation for form submissions, CRM updates, and lead nurturing

• Powerful content collections to build blogs, directories, and dynamic pages

• Advanced animations, scroll effects, and micro-interactions. 

Pros 

• Produces clean, exportable front-end code

• Highly flexible for complex layouts and creative animations

• Strong CMS and eCommerce capabilities (paid tiers)

• Integrates easily with automation tools for end-to-end workflows

Cons

• Steep learning curve; not suitable for beginners

• The free plan allows only two pages, making it impractical for full websites

• No built-in AI builder. 

#7. WordPress

• Best for: Bloggers, writers, personal brands, and content-heavy websites. 

• Highlight: Forever-free plan with 3 GB of storage and access to WooCommerce. 

WordPress.com is the beginner-friendly version of WordPress, different from WordPress.org, which requires your own hosting. As one of the most popular platforms for content creators, it offers built-in blogging features that surpass those of most free website maker alternatives. They include comment systems, RSS feeds, analytics, post-management tools, and other features.

WordPress remains a top choice for bloggers with its powerful CMS 

Moreover, if you want to grow your site into an online store, a WordPress + WooCommerce setup offers everything you need: product listings, shipping tools, secure checkout flows, and integrations with major payment providers. This pairing provides the flexibility of WordPress with the powerful eCommerce engine, removing the need for custom development or complex setup.

Outstanding features

• Huge ecosystem of themes, plugins (on paid tiers)

• Excellent blogging and content management capabilities

• Diversified community support: tutorials, forums, and a knowledge base. 

Pros 

• Ideal for content-driven websites and blogs

• Scalability (you can move to WordPress.org or higher tiers)

• Strong SEO On-Page if you optimise websites properly

• Seamless integration with WooCommerce to unlock full eCommerce features. 

Cons

• Free plan domain is “yoursitename.wordpress.com” and includes WordPress ads.

• Many advanced features (plugins, eCommerce) require a paid plan or migration.

• Slightly steeper learning curve than pure drag-and-drop builders.

#8. Squarespace

• Best for: Design-forward businesses and those seeking a polished, all-in-one solution. 

• Highlight: 14-day free trial for testing the platform thoroughly before committing. 

With over 150 professionally designed templates and the new Fluid Engine drag-and-drop editor, Squarespace combines ease of use with high design fidelity. While it may cost more in the long run compared to other free builders, its design-first approach and integrated tools make it a compelling option for users who want to launch quickly and look premium from day one.

Squarespace templates help create visually polished sites with minimal effort.

Outstanding features

• A range of modern, polished themes built for visual impact

• Hosting, SSL, design, blog, store, and marketing tools are all bundled

• eCommerce capabilities for product variants, subscriptions, checkouts, and payments

• Robust built-in SEO for eCommerce websites

• Unlimited bandwidth and storage on most plans. 

Pros 

• One of the best platforms for delivering a visually striking website without coding.

• Very user-friendly yet doesn’t sacrifice design quality.

• Automatic updates and robust security standards

• Great customizability with an intuitive interface. 

Cons

• Limited add-ons and extensions

• Pricing is higher compared to many free/ ultra-cheap builders

• Switching templates can be more challenging. 

#9. Webnode

• Best for: Personal websites, simple business pages, and multiple sites

• Highlight: Free plan with unlimited pages and unlimited websites

Webnode has undergone significant improvements in recent years, evolving into a modern website builder. One standout advantage of Webnode is that you can create unlimited websites and pages on the free plan, unlike many competitors who restrict this feature. This makes it particularly appealing for hobby sites, portfolios, personal projects, and basic business pages. However, Webnode lacks free eCommerce features, so users need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Webnode lets users build unlimited websites for free using clean, pre-made templates

Outstanding features

• Responsive design templates for mobile devices and desktops

• 100 MB storage for small websites and introductory projects

• SEO settings per page for meta titles, descriptions, and URLs

• Unlimited pages and unlimited websites under one account

• Multilingual website support for paid plans.  

Pros 

• 15-day money-back guarantee for upgraded plans

• Build unlimited pages and unlimited websites on the free tier

• Simple structure ideal for personal branding or small business sites

• Clean editor with a short learning curve. 

Cons

• No free eCommerce features, must upgrade to sell online

• Limited template customisation options

• Cannot switch templates once your site is published

#10. BigCommerce

• Best for: Online stores that expect rapid growth and need enterprise-class 

• Highlight: 15-day free trial - a near-free start but a powerful option for eCommerce sales 

BigCommerce is not your typical free website builder; it’s an enterprise-class platform built for scale, performance, and operational efficiency. While the free trial is limited to 15 days, it provides access to advanced capabilities for a thorough evaluation. BigCommerce excels at managing large catalogs, multi-channel selling, B2B workflows, and complex pricing structures. 

BigCommerce offers enterprise-grade capabilities for brands preparing to scale online.

Outstanding features

• Enterprise-level security and hosting service

• Built-in advanced eCommerce features for product filtering, multi-currency, etc.

• Omnichannel marketing with Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, and other social channels

• B2B functionality for customer groups, tiered pricing, and purchase orders

• API-first flexibility and advanced analytics. 

Pros 

• High growth potential without the need for early platform migration

• Many advanced features are built in natively rather than through paid add-ons

• Excellent for serious eCommerce operations, with large product catalogues

• Strong B2B capabilities, rare among standard website builders

• Supports multi-channel selling and global expansion.

Cons

• Free trial length is limited; you’ll pay soon

• Higher cost thereafter compared to simpler builders

• Not ideal for a small hobby site or a low-budget start. 

Learn more: Shopify vs BigCommerce: Which Is The Better Platform In 2025?

A Head-To-Head Comparison Table Of Free Website Builders

Conclusion

Choosing the right free website builder is a considerable decision; it is not only about cost, but about positioning your brand, building credibility, and enabling growth. Here’s what to take away: 

• Define exactly what “free” means for your use case (trial vs permanent).

• Choose a builder that supports your vision (brand, store, traffic, design).

• Use content and design tools early to establish authority.

• Think ahead about upgrade path and scalability.

• Start lean, but build with growth in mind.

Right now, it’s time to choose wisely, design smartly, and publish boldly for your site or store. Don’t forget to read GemPages blogs to learn more tips and tricks to optimize your website. 

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