Hosted builder or free site software
There are two ways to get a website without paying for the tool:
| Kind | Examples | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted builder, free plan | Wix, Framer, Notion Sites, SITE123, Mozello, Weebly, Tilda | Editor and hosting in one, usually on the builder's own address |
| Desktop builder | Mobirise, Publii | An app on your computer that builds the site, then publishes it |
| Open source software | WordPress, Hugo, Elementor's free plugin on WordPress | Full control, but you need your own hosting and domain |
Hosted free plans need no setup. Software you host yourself is not tied to a builder's plan, but you pay for hosting and keep it updated. Our list of free website hosting covers free hosts, including the WordPress.com free plan and Carrd.
Free plan limits compared
These are the limits we found on the official pages:
| Builder | Address on the free plan | Other limits |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | Wix URL like username.wixsite.com/sitename | Wix branding; payments start with the Core plan |
| Framer | Free Framer domain | 1 GB bandwidth, 1,000 pages, 10 CMS collections, 5 MB uploads |
| Notion Sites | A notion.site domain | Custom domain US$8 a month per domain, billed annually |
| SITE123 | Subdomain | 250 MB storage, 250 MB bandwidth |
| Mozello | yourname.mozellosite.com | 0.5 GB storage, 5 products |
| Mobirise | 3 sites on mobirisesite.com | Small Mobirise credit on free sites |
A missing number does not mean "unlimited". It means the page we checked does not state it.
Your own domain
A custom domain is the most common reason to upgrade. Wix, Framer and SITE123 all list connecting your own domain for paid plans only, and Weebly lists it from its Personal plan. Notion lets you connect a domain for a fee per domain, which also removes Notion branding.
If you plan to move up later, pick the name now with the domain name generator and register it yourself, so it stays yours if you change builders. The website cost calculator adds up domain, hosting and plan costs for the first year.
Free trial is not a free plan
Some well-known builders only offer a trial. Squarespace says it doesn't offer a free plan, and every site starts with a 14-day free trial. That is fine for testing. Before you build something you need to keep, check what the builder says happens when the trial ends.
Finishing touches
- Favicon generator: the small icon in the browser tab.
- Meta tag generator: the title and description search engines show.
- XML sitemap generator: a sitemap for builders that do not make one.
We opened each builder's official page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. "Not stated" or an empty cell means the page does not say it. Want to know who visits? See free web analytics tools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my own domain with a free website builder?
Usually not on the free plan. Wix, Framer and SITE123 list custom domains for paid plans only. Notion Sites lets you connect a custom domain for a fee per domain. With free software like WordPress, Hugo or Publii you use your own hosting and domain anyway.
Which free website builder lets me sell products?
Weebly's free plan lists basic store features such as a shopping cart and unlimited items, and Mozello's free plan includes 5 products. On Wix, accepting payments starts with the Core plan.
Does Squarespace have a free plan?
No. Squarespace says it doesn't offer a free plan, but every site starts with a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Is there a free website builder that works offline?
Mobirise is a desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux that works offline for editing and previewing, and it is free for personal and commercial sites. Publii is a free, open source CMS that runs on your computer and publishes a static site to hosts like GitHub Pages or Netlify.
Will a free website show the builder’s branding?
Often, yes. Wix says a Premium plan removes Wix branding, Mobirise shows a small credit on free sites, and Notion removes its branding when you connect a custom domain. Tilda lets you remove its label on an annual paid plan.