Best Free Website Builders Of 2024

Editor

Updated: Apr 22, 2024, 1:29pm

Kevin Pratt
Editor

Reviewed By

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The fact your business needs a website is pretty much non-negotiable. That might cause chills for some small business owners, but it doesn’t have to. With the help of one of the many great website builders on the market today, you can get your business online in less than an hour without it even costing.

In this review, we’ll look at the best free website builders for small businesses, based on the features and factors that matter most to small businesses, such as ease of use, price and selling tools.


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Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Small Business

The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

We analysed website builders using a detailed methodology to help you find the 10 best free website builders for small businesses. Since offering their services as part of an entry-level plan for free was a given, we looked at what a website builder’s starting price was for its paid plans as well as key features that included drag-and-drop functionality and being mobile-responsive. We also considered how real users of the web builders felt about the tools and amenities that were available to come up with a final analysis by our panel of experts. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.


Best Free Website Builders 2024


BEST FOR EMAIL MARKETING

GoDaddy

GoDaddy
4.4
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; paid-for plans starting at £3.99 per month

Displays ads

No

Key features

Beginner-friendly site editor and good e-commerce functionality

GoDaddy
Start For Free

On GoDaddy's Website

Starting price

Free; paid-for plans starting at £3.99 per month

Displays ads

No

Key features

Beginner-friendly site editor and good e-commerce functionality

Why We Picked It

GoDaddy is a go-to for many online entrepreneurs buying domains for brands they may or may not build someday. Its website builder lets you take the next step to get your online brand up and running.

With a free plan, you can set up a website using the drag-and-drop editor and built-in themes.

You can also set up an online store, accepting payments from major credit and debit cards as well as Apple and Google Pay, but this costs £9.99 per month.

A free site comes with a yoursite.godaddysites.com domain and, if you upgrade to a paid account starting at £3.99 a year, you’ll get a custom domain included.

A free site comes with on-platform email and social media marketing and limited website templates and images through GoDaddy Studio.

Pros & Cons
  • Email marketing and SEO tools included
  • Website chatbot included
  • Doesn’t display ads on your site
  • Free plan uses a subdomain
  • E-commerce option costs £9.99 per month

BEST FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Wix

Wix
4.3
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; £9 per month to connect your own domain

Displays ads

Yes, free plans display Wix ads

Key features

More than 800 templates and an ultra-easy drag-and-drop editor

Wix
Start For Free

On Wix's Website

Starting price

Free; £9 per month to connect your own domain

Displays ads

Yes, free plans display Wix ads

Key features

More than 800 templates and an ultra-easy drag-and-drop editor

Why We Picked It

Wix offers a free website builder plus several paid tiers you can upgrade to for more features as your business grows.

The free builder comes with a similar experience to the paid versions. You get access to customisable drag-and-drop site templates, free stock images, web hosting and mobile responsive design. Email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) tools and client management tools are built in.

With a free account, you’ll use an assigned address, which is a little clunky compared with competitors: accountname.wixsite.com/siteaddress. You get up to 500 MB of storage and 500 MB of bandwidth. Like many free builders, Wix shows ads on your site and it’ll show the Wix favicon next to the URL rather than your logo.

Pros & Cons
  • Ultra-customisable drag-and-drop editor
  • More than 900 free pre-built templates
  • Built-in email marketing, SEO and client management tools
  • Displays ads on your site
  • Premium plans are more expensive than its competitors
  • Must upgrade to a paid plan to sell online

BEST FOR ONLINE STORES WITH SQUARE

Weebly

Weebly
4.1
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; from £9 per month

Displays ads

Yes

Key features

User-friendly site editor and design for selling online

Weebly

Starting price

Free; from £9 per month

Displays ads

Yes

Key features

User-friendly site editor and design for selling online

Why We Picked It

Weebly has long been a popular choice for e-commerce, so it’s no surprise that the payment processing company Square, Inc., acquired it in 2018.

Weebly’s free website builder includes SSL Security, 500MB of storage, SEO tools, lead capture and chat support.

The website builder also offers robust e-commerce tools for selling physical products, but setting up an online store comes with a £9 monthly fee.

If you sign up, you’ll be able to list unlimited items, use item badges and options, access inventory management tools, and offer coupons and Square gift cards.

Pros & Cons
  • Robust e-commerce tools
  • Sell and accept Square gift cards for your business
  • Unlimited store items
  • Low-cost premium plans for as you grow (from £9 per month)
  • Displays ads on your site
  • No e-commerce in free version

BEST FOR SOLE TRADERS & SMALL BUSINESS

Mailchimp

Mailchimp
4.1
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; £8.13 per month

Displays ads

No

Key features

Appointment scheduling and e-commerce included in free plan

Mailchimp

Starting price

Free; £8.13 per month

Displays ads

No

Key features

Appointment scheduling and e-commerce included in free plan

Why We Picked It

Best known for email marketing tools, Mailchimp has grown to cover all your marketing needs.

Mailchimp’s free website builder includes a drag-and-drop editor with the same user experience (UX) as its email management service. You get access to free themes and designed colour palettes, and you can set up your own colour palette to match your brand.

Mailchimp’s builder doesn’t include a domain, so you can’t start 100% free. You’ll have to buy a domain from a third party, which usually costs about £15 for the first year and follow the instructions to point it at your Mailchimp site.

As you grow, you can upgrade to paid plans for more features, including paid email marketing plans if your list grows beyond 1,500.

With its free e-commerce (2% transaction fees apply) and appointment scheduling features, a Mailchimp website is a good fit for small businesses.

Pros & Cons
  • Email marketing and SEO tools included
  • No ads on your site
  • E-commerce-enabled free plan
  • Appointment scheduling included
  • No domain included
  • Email features can get pricey
  • Web design is fairly basic

BEST FOR DEVELOPERS AND BLOGGERS

WordPress

WordPress
3.9
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; web hosting from £3 per month

Displays ads

Yes

Key features

Fully customizable and low-cost plans to connect your domain

WordPress

Starting price

Free; web hosting from £3 per month

Displays ads

Yes

Key features

Fully customizable and low-cost plans to connect your domain

Why We Picked It

WordPress has been the dominant force in free website development for years as its WordPress.com service was among the first professional online website builders to give you the domain, hosting and design you need to get going totally free.

With a free site using the cloud-based WordPress.com builder, you get a drag-and-drop editor with dozens of themes, a yoursite.wordpress.com domain and hosting.

WordPress displays ads on your free site, and you can’t access e-commerce tools without upgrading to a paid account. WordPress’s Commerce plan costs £36 per month when billed annually.

If you want a more customisable site with access to the open source plugins WordPress is known for, you can build a self-managed WordPress site using the software from WordPress.org.

WordPress.org is better known for its paid website builders, but it’s possible to use the software for free. You need to find free or cheap web hosting, and you can download free WordPress themes to use the drag-and-drop editor and CMS. This requires more tech know-how than a cloud-based option, so you might need to hire a WordPress developer to set up the site for you.

WordPress is designed for blogs and includes one of the most robust content management systems broadly available. That functionality could be unnecessary or overwhelming unless content is central to your business, so WordPress is best suited for content-based businesses, such as blogs, magazines, news sites and other online publications.

Pros & Cons
  • World’s leading CMS
  • Limited themes available with free version
  • Option for self-hosted, customisable builder for more involved developers
  • Displays ads on your site
  • Not the most beginner-friendly
  • Features rely on third-party plug-ins

BEST FOR STARTUPS WITH MINIMAL CONTENT PUBLISHING

Webflow

Webflow
3.8
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; $14 a month to connect your own domain

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop page designer, CMS and e-commerce

Webflow

Starting price

Free; $14 a month to connect your own domain

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop page designer, CMS and e-commerce

Why We Picked It

Webflow is a no-code drag-and-drop website editor that offers more design customization than many others. The builder is intuitive and easy for nearly anyone on your team to adopt, with an editor reminiscent of word processors that most will be familiar with.

The builder supports website animations and scroll-based parallax for a modern interface and dynamic design.

The back end is intuitive and uncomplicated. Webflow includes a built-in CMS to manage a blog or other site content, including SEO features, but its options aren’t as robust for content-based sites as a builder like WordPress.

Webflow is a growing favorite among emerging tech startups. It offers modern design options that help you keep up with competitors — without putting all of your resources into website design and maintenance.

There’s an e-commerce functionality too, but this costs $29 per month (you will be charged in Sterling, but your provider may charge foreign transaction fees).

Pros & Cons
  • No-code drag-and-drop designer
  • Supports animations and parallax design
  • Built-in e-commerce features available
  • Minimum $29 per month for e-commerce
  • Complex (but customizable) pricing plans

BEST FOR USING YOUR OWN DOMAIN

Ucraft

Ucraft
3.8
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; from $10 per month to include blogging tools

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop builder, CMS, and e-commerce

Ucraft

Starting price

Free; from $10 per month to include blogging tools

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop builder, CMS, and e-commerce

Why We Picked It

Ucraft is a free website builder with a drag-and-drop editor, hosting, CMS and e-commerce functions. You can build and publish a website for free and connect it to your own domain — a function that’s unusual for totally free site builders.

The platform also offers a blogging platform and basic e-commerce functionalities in its entry-level $10 per month paid-for plan (you will be charged in your local currency, but your provider may apply foreign transaction fees).

Ucraft is a free alternative to Squarespace and could be a better option for small business owners who need a no-frills static website to establish an online presence for a low cost.

Pros & Cons
  • Use your own domain for free
  • Add a blog to your site
  • Modern template designs that rival Squarespace’s
  • Printful integration
  • Limited e-commerce features compared to Wix or Weebly

BEST FOR QUICK AND EASY SETUP

SITE123

SITE123
3.6
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; $12.80 per month to include a free domain

You will be charged in your local currency. Your provider may charge a foreign transaction fee

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop editor, email plans, website templates

SITE123

Starting price

Free; $12.80 per month to include a free domain

You will be charged in your local currency. Your provider may charge a foreign transaction fee

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop editor, email plans, website templates

Why We Picked It

SITE123 is a basic, easy-to-use site builder that offers packages tailored to small businesses, e-commerce, bloggers and more. You can get a site operational for free with a subdomain under site123.com or upgrade to a premium plan to get additional features and a free custom domain for a year.

SITE123 offers website templates, as well, so you don’t have to start your design from scratch. However, the templates feature simplistic, outdated designs that don’t keep up with the modern design trends some competitors support.

SITE123 might be a simple and affordable option for a small business or project that needs a quick and easy online presence.

Pros & Cons
  • First-year domain registration free with paid plans.
  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
  • Free website templates
  • Limited template selection
  • Paid plan isn’t the most affordable

BEST FOR FEE-FREE E-COMMERCE

Jimdo

Jimdo
3.5
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; £18 per month basic e-commerce plan

Displays ads

Yes

Key features

Modern design, fee-free e-commerce

Jimdo
Learn More

On Jimdo's Secure Website

Starting price

Free; £18 per month basic e-commerce plan

Displays ads

Yes

Key features

Modern design, fee-free e-commerce

Why We Picked It

Jimdo is a free website builder designed to help small businesses get online quickly and easily. You can create beautiful mobile-optimised page designs. Customising is easy with an editor that offers flexibility without complexity. Do note that a free site is published at a subdomain of jimdosite.com and displays ads.

Jimdo is a simple and affordable platform for  online retail businesses. If you’re moving a brick-and-mortar shop online, or starting an e-commerce business from scratch, it could be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to do it.

Pros & Cons
  • No transaction fees for online purchases
  • Mobile-optimised design
  • Highly customisable pages without too much complexity
  • Free logo creator
  • Ads displayed on free version
  • Templates often look dated

BEST FOR A FREE ONLINE STORE

Strikingly

Strikingly
3.3
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

Free; paid-for plans from $8

You will be charged in your local currency. Foreign transaction fees may apply

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop builder, live chat, and memberships

Strikingly

Starting price

Free; paid-for plans from $8

You will be charged in your local currency. Foreign transaction fees may apply

Displays ads

No

Key features

Drag-and-drop builder, live chat, and memberships

Why We Picked It

Strikingly is a straightforward website builder with simple, mobile-friendly designs for landing pages, e-commerce and blogs. You can add an e-commerce store with its Simple Store featur e— you can even sell up to one product with a free account.

Strikingly offers everything a simple business needs to get online, but its design options aren’t particularly striking. You can build a simple page, but the platform lacks modern design features like animation and more complex layouts.

Strikingly is a good fit for a small business that needs a simple online presence and doesn’t have design resources.

Pros & Cons
  • Free plans do not display ads
  • Invite collaborators with free plan
  • Add a store to a free site (limited to one product)
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Free site limited to five pages
  • Outdated page styles

*Webflow, Ucraft, Site123, and Strikingly list their pricing in US dollars. Use our currency calculator to convert to pound sterling.

Methodology

We evaluated some of the most popular free website builders according to the features they offer customers, including storage, bandwidth, mobile responsiveness, editors and marketing tools. We also factor in third-party ratings from Trustpilot to include customer feedback in our rankings. Finally, we consider these subjective factors:

  • Features: How do the available features compare with competitors?
  • Value for money: Does the price of paid upgrades align well with the additional features?
  • Popularity: How widely is it used?
  • Ease of use: How much of a learning curve does the software require?

How To Choose a Website Builder for Your Business

Which website builder is the best fit for you or your team depends on what your business needs. Consider these factors as you choose the right tool for you:

  • Hosting and domain: Does the free builder come with shared hosting and a free domain? How much traffic can the free version handle?
  • Design: Do the available templates and customisation options fit your brand? Do the free themes and templates include features that serve your needs?
  • CMS: Is the blog and CMS sophisticated enough (or too complicated) for the ways you use content in your business?
  • Ease of use: How easily can you make updates and changes? Do you have to hire a web designer or other specialist to keep the website up to date?
  • Autonomy and customisation: How much control do you have over the look and feel of your website? Do you have to sacrifice functionality? Will your customers see ads for other businesses?
  • Mobile compatibility: Every modern website builder should automatically include mobile responsive design. If you don’t see that, opt for a different builder.

Other Costs To Build a Website

Even with a free website builder, getting your business online might come with a few startup costs, including:

  • Domain: Most – but not all – website builders include a free shared domain such as yoursite.wordpress.com. To use a customised, memorable domain like yoursite.com, you have to buy the domain, which usually costs about £15 to £20.
  • Hosting: All of the website builders in this list include shared hosting for free. If you want to use software like WordPress.org, you’ll have to set up your own hosting, which can vary in cost but can start as low as £1 per month.
  • Web designer: If you don’t have the time or skills to set up the website yourself, you’ll have to hire someone to build it for you. Drag-and-drop builders mean you don’t have to hire a developer, but you might want someone with design or copywriting skills to give your site a professional face.
  • Marketing: As your business grows, you might outgrow the free marketing tools available with most web builders. Email marketing services through web builders could get pricey, so look into alternatives early if you expect to grow beyond the limits of the free tools.
  • Payment processing fees: Even if you can build an online store for free, nearly every e-commerce option you find will charge you small fees for sales. The exact amount depends on the processor, but around 2% plus £0.25 per transaction is common for small businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best website builder for free?

The best website builder depends on your needs. Most free website builders offer the same basic features, but some platforms emphasise one function over another. WordPress.com may be best for new bloggers, while Weebly and GoDaddy could work well for online shops. Mailchimp is a good option for solo entrepreneurs, and Wix is great for local businesses.

Is there a really free website builder?

Yes – WordPress.com, Weebly, Wix and GoDaddy all let you set up a site completely free of charge, with plenty of options to upgrade if you need more features. Mailchimp lets you set up a website for free, but you have to bring your own domain.

What is the simplest free website builder?

Wix and Weebly offer some of the simplest tools for building a website with no knowledge of design or code. Mailchimp and GoDaddy are also strong competitors, although their emphasis on marketing suites might make the tools feel more complex for complete beginners. WordPress is the most robust option and also the most complex because of its sophisticated content management options.

Is web hosting necessary?

Wix and Weebly offer some of the simplest tools for building a website with no knowledge of design or code. Mailchimp and GoDaddy are strong competitors, although their emphasis on marketing suites might make the tools feel more complex for complete beginners. WordPress is the most robust option and also the most complex because of its sophisticated content management options.

How scalable are website builders?

Website builders are highly scalable, and your plan can be easily modified to meet the needs of your growing team. If you outgrow even the top-level package of your service, many vendors offer enterprise-level functionality with customised pricing. It may be worthwhile to get in touch with your system’s customer service team to learn more.

Can I design a website without coding?

Most web design software does not require coding. However, if you want to add more complex features, you might need some coding skills. If you want to try your hand at coding, check out WordPress, as 43% of websites are powered by it. It’s open source software, and there are tons of tutorials. Otherwise, consider a drag-and-drop website editor such as Wix or Weebly.

Are SEO tools included with website builders?

Yes, many leading services offer tools to help you boost your site’s visibility on search engines. Most builders are designed with an infrastructure that helps search engines easily find information. Additionally, many platforms come with tools to customise your site’s meta descriptions, automated data markup and easy social media integration to help share your content across platforms.


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