Best Free Website Builders 2026: Start for $0

Each builder has its own merits apart from just being free, but free plans can come with a lot of drawbacks too, such as ads. I’ll review each builder thoroughly below, starting with a helpful comparison table of their key features:

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BEST PICK
Wix	GoDaddy	Pagecloud	Square Online
Overall Rating 4.9	Overall Rating 4.3	Overall Rating 3.7	Overall Rating 3.1
Cheapest plan $17 $15.30 with code “TAKE10”	Cheapest plan $10.99	Cheapest plan $22	Cheapest plan $49
Number of free templates 2000+	Number of free templates 200+	Number of free templates 50+	Number of free templates 5
Storage space on free plan 500MB	Storage space on free plan Unlimited	Storage space on free plan Unlimited	Storage space on free plan 500MB
On-site ad on free plan Sticky top banner	On-site ad on free plan Top banner	On-site ad on free plan Footer disclaimer	On-site ad on free plan Bottom banner
Start for Free	Start for Free	Read Review	Start for Free

If you’re still not sure which free website builder to choose, check out the video below, where we go through the key considerations:

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Wix is the best free website builder from our 2025 research. Not only is it our top-rated platform overall, but Wix’s intuitive editor offers impressive flexibility that puts its free plan head and shoulders above the competition.

What’s Included With Wix’s Free Plan?

Here’s what you can expect from Wix’s free plan:

How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade Wix?

Wix’s pricing begins with the Light plan for $17 per month (billed annually). This plan removes any ads from your site, lets you use a custom domain, and increases your storage to 2GB. If you’re looking to sell, you’ll need to upgrade to the Core plan, which begins at $29 per month.

These plans are slightly more expensive than others on this list, but with Wix, you get a lot of bang for your buck, making it one of the best for pricing. You can also use the code “TAKE10” to get 10% off your Wix plan at checkout.

Should You Use Wix?

Wix’s free plan is a great starting point for small business owners and personal sites, thanks to its impressive range of features and templates, plus its user-friendly editor. It caters to a lot of industries and users, no matter your skill level.

And, when you’re ready to upgrade, you have four premium plans to choose from to grow your business further.

When should you upgrade?

You won’t need to upgrade from Wix’s free plan if you’re using it for a simple or temporary site, like a school project, since it has a lot of features on offer. But because of its limited storage space and absence of sales tools, businesses should only use the free plan to get familiar with the platform, which shouldn’t take more than a week or two. Once you’re ready to publish your site, upgrade to a premium plan to remove the unprofessional-looking ads.

Emma Ryan Lead Writer

GoDaddy ranks as our easiest free website builder as a result of its speed and user-friendly onboarding experience.

GoDaddy rivals Wix’s feature set, offering over 200 templates and integrated marketing tools on its free plan. GoDaddy also offers an AI builder, and suggested I use it to set up my website.

What’s Included With GoDaddy’s Free Plan?

Here’s what you’ll get with GoDaddy’s free plan:

How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade GoDaddy?

GoDaddy’s pricing begins with the Basic plan for $10.99 per month (billed annually), making it the cheapest builder to upgrade on following the free plan. The Basic plan gives you access to a custom domain, no ads, plus improved marketing capabilities, like the ability to send 100 emails per month.

If you want to start selling online, you’ll need GoDaddy’s dedicated Commerce plan, which costs $23.99 per month (billed annually).

Should You Use GoDaddy?

GoDaddy is a great free option if you want to experiment with website building before starting to sell online. Unfortunately, GoDaddy lacks any advanced features and is really let down by its limited customization options. So, if you want to get creative, Wix is a better option.

When should you upgrade?

You won’t need more than a week or two to test things out on GoDaddy’s free plan. GoDaddy’s premium plans are incredibly affordable and great value for money, so you won’t have a big leap to take from the free plan. And, due to GoDaddy limiting your access to its full range of features, it’s best to upgrade as soon as possible to test out GoDaddy’s true capabilities.

Emma Ryan Lead Writer

Pagecloud is a top choice for one-page websites, offering extensive customization within a single-page limit.

Pagecloud limits free users to a single landing page, making it best suited for portfolios or event flyers. Its editor and dashboard are really intuitive to navigate, but it isn’t as user-friendly as other builders, such as Wix.

What’s Included With Pagecloud’s Free Plan?

Here’s what you can expect from Pagecloud’s free plan:

How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade Pagecloud?

Pagecloud’s pricing begins with the Launch plan at $22 per month (billed annually). It comes with 150 pages, redirects, no ads, a custom domain, plus a free Google Workplace account (priced at $72). Ecommerce functionality isn’t included, but it offers ecommerce add-ons for an extra cost on top of your main subscription.

Ecommerce add-ons range from $9 to $59 per month (billed annually), meaning running an online store could cost upwards of $31 per month (billed annually) – a higher price than Wix’s cheapest ecommerce plan.

Should You Use Pagecloud?

Pagecloud is a good choice for niche, personal, or portfolio websites that only require a single homepage – if you can get to grips with its complex editor and advanced creative controls. For example, it would be great for a presentation or school project, since the one-page format works well and your site won’t require a high volume of site traffic.

When should you upgrade?

Pagecloud’s free plan feels more like a free trial; it’s incomplete and geared towards pushing you to upgrade to a paid plan. The limits and restrictions on the free plan will be problematic for most ecommerce and personal sites, so I really recommend upgrading to one of Pagecloud’s premium plans as soon as you know you want to commit to using the builder. 

Emma Ryan Lead Writer

Square Online is the only builder on this list that lets you sell products on its free plan. This is a huge advantage for those who want to create an online store, test out a new business idea, or start a side hustle business without breaking the bank.

What’s Included With Square Online’s Free Plan?

Here’s what you’ll get with Square Online’s free plan:

How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade Square Online?

Square Online’s pricing begins with the Plus plan for $49 per month (billed annually). This starting plan is more expensive than the others on this list because Square Online is primarily an ecommerce website builder, meaning it needs to offer a wider range of features to help businesses sell online.

With Square Online’s $49 Plus plan, you can accept PayPal, schedule product drops, create subscriptions, and personalize ordering – as well as give users custom domains and no ads.

Should You Use Square Online?

Square Online stands out as the clear choice for new ecommerce sellers who don’t want to commit to a paid ecommerce plan. This is because Square Online has the only free plan on this list that you can sell products online with.

When should you upgrade?

You should make the switch to a premium plan once you have a few sales under your belt. Upgrading will help improve your website credibility, as you’ll get your own custom domain and won’t have ads on your site. Plus, you’ll unlock advanced sales features, such as product badges and subscriptions, which can be helpful as your business grows.

That said, if you’re testing out a new business idea, Square Online’s free plan helps you focus on profit instead of spending money on setting up your website. 

Emma Ryan Lead Writer

Free website builders will always be a lesser product than their premium upgrades. But, to help you choose a plan that meets your standards, there are three important questions to ask:

1. Do the limitations outweigh the benefits?
2. Will there be any additional costs to consider?
3. Would you be better off with a paid subscription?

For example, if you want to build a free online store with Square Online, you have to take into account that its customization is weak and you’ll still have to pay transaction fees. In the end, it might be worth spending the money for a full ecommerce builder subscription.

Need help making a final decision? Consider these pointers:

• If you need to sell… Square Online lets you sell products on its free plan, so it’s the best option if you need to build an online store.
• If you need to save money when upgrading… GoDaddy’s paid plans start from $10.99 per month (billed annually), making it the cheapest builder on this list for businesses that want to upgrade further down the line.
• If you want lots of free features… Wix has the most free features on the market, ranging from 2000+ templates to useful SEO recommendations. It’s ideal if you want the most functionality on your website for free.
• If you only need a simple, one-page website… Pagecloud is ideal for personal projects or portfolios that you need to share with a limited number of viewers. The free plan is capped at 1,000 visitors per month.

To bring you the best free website builders for 2025, we’ve spent over 300 hours examining each builder using our expert research methodology. I’ve also carried out hands-on testing with each free plan so I can share my personal experiences and insights with you.

Wix is the best free website builder overall because of its quality features, editing tools, and overall flexibility for users. It’s a great free platform to start with, allowing you to build and experiment with your site until you’re ready to upgrade.

Creating a website for free is viable for personal projects, though professional growth typically requires upgrading to remove ads and branded domains.