You can now create a website without coding and without an upfront investment. I compared six options that are practical for beginners, bloggers, small shops, schools and internal projects.
This guide covers classic website builders, a blogging platform, two options for a small online store and a simple tool for schools. For each service, I explain what you get for free, the main limitations and when upgrading makes sense.
Quick summary
For most beginners, I recommend Webnode. It is easy to use, available in multiple languages and lets you expand the site later. Wix offers more design freedom, WordPress.com is best suited to blogging, and Shoptet Free is useful for testing a small store aimed at Central European customers. Mozello combines a simple website with limited e-commerce.
Best options at a glance
These services are designed for different users. Webnode is the most balanced option, Wix stands out for its editor, WordPress.com for publishing, and Shoptet for selling in Central Europe. Mozello combines a basic site with a small store, while Google Sites works best for schools and internal pages.
| Rank | Service | Best for | Main free-plan limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Webnode | Beginners and simple business websites | Subdomain and Webnode branding |
| 2. | Wix | Design-led sites and portfolios | Wix URL, ads and limited bandwidth |
| 3. | WordPress.com | Blogs and content projects | Ads, subdomain and limited extensions |
| 4. | Shoptet Free | A small Central European test store | Maximum 10 products |
| 5. | Mozello | A simple site or very small store | Subdomain, branding and 0.5 GB storage |
| 6. | Google Sites | Schools, teams and internal pages | Limited design and marketing features |
Can you really create a website for free?
Yes, you can create and publish a working website without paying. In most cases, however, you will not receive a custom domain such as yourcompany.com. The site will use the provider’s address and may display its logo or advertising. A free plan is therefore best for learning, validating an idea or launching a small personal project.
I only classify a service as free when it lets you publish a website without entering card details and without a time-limited trial. That is why this comparison excludes tools that only offer a short testing period.
As the project grows, you will probably need:
- a custom domain,
- removal of ads or platform branding,
- more storage and bandwidth,
- advanced SEO and analytics tools,
- online payments, bookings or a larger store.
How I compared the services
I considered more than the number of free features. The ranking also reflects ease of use, editor quality, the ability to grow, the type of website each platform suits and how practical the service is for its target market. The highest-ranked options let you start quickly without forcing you to rebuild the entire site after the first upgrade.
- Ease of use: how quickly a beginner can understand the editor.
- Free plan: what you can genuinely publish without paying.
- Design: template quality and editing freedom.
- SEO: control over titles, descriptions, URLs and indexing.
- Scalability: domains, extra features and paid upgrades.
- Market fit: language support and suitability for the intended audience.
1. Webnode – best free choice for beginners
Webnode is my first choice for users who want a simple website without dealing with technical setup. You can build a presentation site, personal website or blog for free. The editor is straightforward, and the project can later be expanded with a custom domain and premium features.
You can start from a template or use the AI website generator. Describe the project, choose a proposal and then edit the text, images and sections. Hosting is included, so there is no content management system to install and no server to configure.
The free website remains on a Webnode project subdomain. A paid package is required for a custom domain, removal of platform branding, backups and more advanced features.
- Advantages: simple controls, modern templates, included hosting, multiple languages and fast setup.
- Disadvantages: no custom domain on the free plan, platform branding and less freedom than self-hosted WordPress.
- Recommended for: freelancers, local services, small businesses, personal projects and complete beginners.
Read my detailed Webnode review for features, limitations and premium options.
2. Wix – best free visual editor
I recommend Wix to users who want extensive control over a page’s appearance without writing code. Its editor lets you move elements around the canvas, adjust the layout and choose from many templates. The free version works particularly well for a portfolio, personal website or design experiment.
Wix’s free plan currently offers up to 500 MB of storage and up to 1 GB of bandwidth. The site uses a Wix-branded address and displays Wix branding. A custom domain, ad removal and advanced business features require a paid plan.
The editor offers more freedom than Webnode, but it can also feel less clear to a complete beginner. With extensive manual editing, check the mobile layout and visual consistency carefully.
- Advantages: flexible editor, many templates, extensive design elements and easy publishing.
- Disadvantages: Wix ads, a branded URL, limited resources and a more difficult move to another platform.
- Recommended for: portfolios, creatives, photographers and small presentation sites.
See my Wix review for a closer look at the editor, templates and premium plans.
3. WordPress.com – best free website for a blog
WordPress.com is the strongest option in this comparison for publishing articles regularly. The free plan includes hosting, unlimited pages and posts, responsive themes and 1 GB of media storage.
It suits a personal blog, school project or simple content website that does not need independent hosting management.
Free sites use a WordPress.com address and display platform ads. Connecting a custom domain requires a paid plan. Higher plans add storage, design controls, ad removal and, depending on the plan, plugin installation.
Do not confuse WordPress.com with WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a hosted service that handles technical operations. WordPress.org is free software, but you need a domain and web hosting. I explain the differences in WordPress.org vs WordPress.com.
- Advantages: strong publishing tools, included hosting and updates, revision history and a clear path to a larger content site.
- Disadvantages: ads on the free plan, a subdomain, limited storage and paid advanced extensions.
- Recommended for: bloggers, writers, school magazines, charities and content projects.
Current features, plans and my verdict are covered in the full WordPress.com review.
4. Shoptet Free – best free store for Central Europe
Shoptet Free is worth considering when you want to start selling rather than build only a presentation website. The free plan costs nothing per month and supports up to 10 products. It includes 29 additional features, one store administrator and basic support.
Shoptet is especially well known in the Czech and Slovak markets, and its administration reflects local e-commerce requirements. It focuses on products, orders, shipping and payments rather than general-purpose page building.
The main limitation is the 10-product cap. A larger catalogue, additional administrators or more advanced features require a paid tariff or add-ons. Some third-party services may charge separate fees.
- Advantages: a genuine free store, local e-commerce features, order management and a smooth upgrade path.
- Disadvantages: 10-product limit, one administrator, limited support and a strong focus on Central Europe.
- Recommended for: testing a product idea, handmade sellers and small catalogues targeting Czech or Slovak customers.
Read my detailed Shoptet review for the platform’s strengths and limitations.
5. Mozello – suitable for a simple site and basic store
Mozello combines a standard website, blog, multilingual content and a small online store in its free plan. You receive 0.5 GB of storage and a shop with up to five products. It is a practical way to validate a very small project without a monthly fee.
The free site uses an address such as yourcompany.mozello.com and displays Mozello branding. The platform supports responsive design, forms, basic marketing tools and SSL. According to its pricing page, Mozello does not add its own sales commission.
Paid plans add a custom domain, more storage, branding removal and higher product limits. The editor is easy to use, although its templates and design freedom are more limited than Wix.
- Advantages: website, blog and small store in one, multilingual content and no platform sales commission.
- Disadvantages: only 0.5 GB of storage, five products, a subdomain and Mozello branding.
- Recommended for: small multilingual websites, simple services and businesses with a minimal catalogue.
6. Google Sites – best for schools and internal projects
Google Sites is a simple information-sharing tool rather than a full platform for building a brand or online store. It works well for a school project, internal portal, documentation, event page or team hub. You can create the website from a Google account and control who can view it.
Its biggest advantage is integration with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar and other Google services. Several users can edit the site together in a similar way to a file in Google Drive.
You can connect a custom domain that you already own and configure. Design, SEO controls, marketing features and extensibility are significantly more limited than on Webnode, Wix or WordPress.com.
- Advantages: easy collaboration, Google integrations, fast publishing and access controls.
- Disadvantages: limited design, basic SEO and marketing, no conventional store and no extensive add-on ecosystem.
- Recommended for: schools, nonprofits, internal projects, documentation, intranets and simple information pages.
How to choose the right service
Do not choose a platform only by counting features. First decide what the website should achieve during the next year. A simple digital business card needs a different solution from a blog or online store. Also consider how easily you can connect a domain and add paid features later.
- I want the simplest general-purpose website: choose Webnode.
- I want maximum design control: choose Wix.
- I want to publish articles regularly: choose WordPress.com.
- I want to sell in the Czech or Slovak market: choose Shoptet Free.
- I want a site and a very small shop together: consider Mozello.
- I want a school or internal page: use Google Sites.
When a free website is not enough
A free plan is usually not enough for a company that relies on its website to win customers or process a significant number of orders. A custom domain, professional email, ad removal and reliable analytics increase credibility. Consider a paid solution when the platform’s restrictions prevent you from adding content or essential functions.
Starting on a free plan is reasonable. Before printing business cards, running ads or acquiring customers regularly, I recommend connecting your own domain. This builds the brand on an address you control and can continue using if you later switch platforms.
Tip: You can find current coupons and promotions in the deals section.
How to create a website for free
The process is similar on most platforms. Spend more time on the website’s name, content and purpose than on testing every visual detail. A simple site with a clear offer, contact information and readable copy is usually more useful than a complex design with little substance.
- Choose a platform for the type of project.
- Create an account and name the website.
- Select a template or an AI-generated design.
- Prepare the home page, offer, about information and contact details.
- Edit page titles, descriptions and URLs.
- Check the mobile version.
- Publish the site on its free address.
- Connect a custom domain after validating the project.
Verdict: which option do I recommend?
For most beginners, I recommend starting with Webnode. It offers the best balance of simplicity, language support and room to grow. Wix is better for detailed design work, WordPress.com for blogging and Shoptet Free for a small store serving Czech or Slovak customers.
Mozello is useful when you need a multilingual website or a very small store. I would choose Google Sites for school work, team documentation and internal sharing rather than a primary business website.
Treat a free plan as a way to test the platform and validate an idea. When the website needs to bring customers over the long term, invest at least in a custom domain and removal of provider branding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free website builder?
Webnode is the best all-round choice for many beginners because the editor is simple and supports multiple languages. For a blog, choose WordPress.com; for detailed visual design, choose Wix; and for a small store aimed at Central Europe, consider Shoptet Free.
Can I get a custom domain completely free?
Registering a custom domain normally costs money and renews annually. Some paid website-builder plans include the first year. Free plans usually use the provider’s subdomain. Google Sites can connect a domain you already own.
Is WordPress really free?
WordPress.com has a free plan with hosting, a subdomain and 1 GB of storage, but it displays ads and restricts some functions. WordPress.org software is also free, although you need to pay for a domain and hosting.
Can I create an online store for free?
Yes. Shoptet Free supports up to 10 products, while Mozello includes a store with up to five products. Check payment, shipping, domain, support and add-on restrictions before selling. A growing store will usually require a paid plan.
Is a free website suitable for a business?
A free site is suitable for preparing content, testing a service or presenting a small business for the first time. For long-term use, I recommend a custom domain, professional email and a website without provider advertising.
