5+1 free website builders 2024

There is hardly any business today that does not need an online presence to succeed in the market. Most people choose to create their own website first, which can seem daunting if you are not familiar with web development. That's why we've gathered the most popular free website builders that can help you create your own website. Before you cast your vote for any solution, however, we draw your attention to some limitations that might make a free tool not necessarily the best long-term choice for you…

About free website builders

Many website building tools offer free packages that are only "free" in theory. In practice, it takes a long time to realise that the free package has a number of confusing or annoying limitations. Unfortunately, most of the time they do not contain the elements we really need to create an eye-catching website. Unsurprisingly, the tools mentioned in this article are available in paid versions, which contain many more useful features that make a website more customisable.

But which one should I choose?

If you've already decided to build your website yourself, with the help of a free website builder, you're probably wondering what the absolute best tool for that might be. but in order to find the answer, there are a few things to consider. It may seem a bit complicated at first, but to help you, we've put together a list of the main pros and cons that will help you decide which website builder tool is the best choice for you.

1. Webnode

Webnode requires no programming skills and can be created in multiple languages. Their website says that you can use more than a hundred carefully designed and easily editable templates and create your own website or webshop in a few hours.

#m1-p#When to choose Webnode?##

• If you want to create your website from ready-made templates.
• You're looking for an easy-to-edit platform.
• You want to edit your website directly from your smartphone or tablet.
• You want detailed and comprehensive instructions on how to create your website and increase its traffic.

The disadvantage of Webnode is that because you can only work from ready-made templates, there is virtually no way to change the layout, so it's not ideal if you want your site to be unique and tailored to your needs.

 The free templates lack a lot of options, but the paid templates are nice and easy to use, which makes things easier for those who prefer to go with a ready-made look. With a paid package, you can easily link your site to Google Analytics or Adsense as well, and display your products in price comparison engines.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace is an easy-to-use content management system that is unique in that it includes unique features not found in other similar applications.

#m1-p#When to choose Squarespace?##

• If you want to create a simple introduction page or a small webshop.
• If you want to spend less time creating your site. 
• If you want to have easy access to a huge image database.
• If you are looking for elaborate, aesthetic custom features (maps, charts, menus, search options).
• If you want to send newsletters to your subscribers.

Among the many advantages of this tool, it should be noted that it is easy to add the option for newsletter sending, which, although a paid feature, is user-friendly and includes many interesting elements and solutions. The Squarespace Getty Images integration can also be beneficial for many, providing access to a vast image library.

However, a drawback of the system is that it is less editable and lacks some fundamental features, such as detailed tutorials. The tools for SEO are somewhat cumbersome. 

However, the live chat and the active forum within the system provide answers to many questions, partially substituting detailed tutorials.

Squarespace can be excellent if you want to create a blog or a portfolio quickly, have limited time, and value access to a large quantity of high-quality visual content.

3. Strikingly 

Unlike many of its competitors, which focus on more traditional, multi-page sites, Strikingly is designed specifically for those who want to create a single-page, mobile-friendly site. It's aimed at individuals and small businesses alike, and promises a quick and easy site-building process that allows users to get their website up and running in less than 30 minutes.

#m1-p#When to choose Strikingly?##

• If you want to create a one-page introduction page.
• If you are looking for a completely free or low budget solution.
• If you want to work fast with a good drag-and-drop editor.
• If a reasonable price is important, as the pricing of the paid versions is also very attractive.

The choice of templates is smaller than its competitors, but Strikingly makes up for it with a well-designed editing interface that is exceptionally easy and customizable. The creators of this tool didn't forget about search engine optimization either: they added many handy features such as an SEO checklist to help position the site in the best possible way for search engines.

A drawback is that the templates are not really customizable and the free version only allows for one page. If you get stuck at work then there is no live chat support option - you will have to make do with tutorials. 

It could be a great system for you if you want to design a one-page website that is quick and easy to build, and you don't want to dig deep into your pockets in the process. 

4. Godaddy

It is not surprising that Godaddy, as a well-known domain registration and hosting service, also includes a website builder tool as a mandatory feature. GoDaddy, like its peers, is an excellent tool for beginners and those with limited or no coding or design skills.

#m1-p#Godaddy advantages##

• Unlimited storage and bandwidth.
• The paid packages include a wide range of features (eg. tools for e-commerce businesses), a marketing package and advanced payment systems.
• Email marketing: paid plans offer easy-to-use newsletter sending options.
• 24-hour customer support to help you if you need to sell or have questions.

However, besides the many advantages, you should also consider that using the Godaddy Website Builder is permanently tied to Godaddy hosting, because you cannot move your site to another hosting provider. The ready-made templates are nice, but they offer limited font and layout options, so they are less customizable.

5. Jimdo

Jimdo is an easy-to-use website builder that focuses primarily on e-commerce. If you're looking to build an online store quickly and easily, Jimdo is an option that will meet all your needs.

#m1-p#Why choose Jimdo?##

• The free version offers quite a wide range of options.
• A good solution if you want to improve your site later.
• The cheapest way to have an ad-free site.
• Optimized for all mobile devices.

Unlike its competitors, Jimdo's free platform truly provides you with enough tools to create a functional website, and you can use the free platform without any time limit. 

It offers a wide range of modern, clean, mobile-optimised templates, although it doesn't offer much in the way of site customisation compared to other website builders. However, it can be advantageous in that it gives you access to HTML and CSS code which gives you more design freedom, although only for advanced users. On the other hand, you may be less impressed by the fact that the customer support is slow, you can wait for days for a response, and SEO features are not always given enough attention.

This website builder has all the e-commerce features you need, so it can definitely be a good choice if you're looking for a tool to build your small or medium-sized business's webshop.

+1 Wix

Last but not least, we should also mention the website builder Wix, since its popularity and user base is growing by the day. 

WIX is the most popular and widely used website builder in the world besides Wordpress, allowing you to create a full-fledged custom website without coding.  It offers over 500 high quality templates for a wide variety of users such as bloggers, business sites and online shops. It successfully combines high functionality, modernity with ease of use and ergonomics.

#m1-p#Wix can be a good solution if:##

• Customizability is important to you, so you can create a custom site without coding or graphics skills.
• You are looking for a clear and understandable menu system that you can certainly handle.
• You want a well thought out interface that is easy to edit. 
• You want to choose the most suitable layout for your site from a wide range of easy-to-use templates.
• You are looking for a system that is stable and regularly updated.

Not only does the huge selection of templates help you create a custom look, but you can also change the position and appearance of each element, so you can easily create the website you've always dreamed of.

 The biggest drawback of the system is that the content and the site you have created with a lot of work is not owned by you, making it very difficult to move your site to another platform. Another major issue is that the sites created with Wix are inferior to their competitors in terms of search engine optimisation.

A big advantage of Wix is that it is easy to implement your own ideas for your website without having to learn the ins and outs of programming.

All this can be done in a user-friendly interface that is easy to follow, making the site a real pleasure to design.

Okay, but which website builder should I choose?

In the table below, we have compared the free or almost free versions of all the website builders listed above, based on a few key aspects. The paid packages, of course, offer much more.

It is not easy to choose from this many options, so here are a few tips.

The primary consideration should be the purpose for which you want to create your own website. If a simple introduction site is the goal, Strikingly may be a good option because of its simplicity. If you need a blog where it's important to update your site regularly and quickly with good quality images, then choose Squrespace. Webnode can be a good choice for creating a more complex site with several pages, especially if you are a beginner and need detailed descriptions and help to create it. Wix is definitely the best for you if you want a unique design and a site that will make everyone's jaw drop. 

It's all down to your needs, and of course your time and budget.

The disadvantages of free apps

Last but not least, to complete the picture, we have collected the main drawbacks of seemingly free tools, which we recommend you to consider before making your final decision on website building.

Limitations of web design templates

Usually, you can only choose from pre-made design templates, which makes editing easier, but can also lead to unpleasant surprises if your website looks exactly like hundreds of others. Before you start, check how much you can customize the template to your specific needs to achieve a more unique look.

Difficult to control loading speed and limited SEO features

A website's loading speed is crucial for its ranking. In most free tools, we have little to no influence on this important aspect. The majority of free website builders only include basic SEO functions. Despite our desire to adhere to Google's specified requirements, it becomes challenging when we can only edit our website in a limited manner, and there are restrictions on where we can host it.

When free is sometimes expensive

For many, it is not news that what is offered for free is not free after all. With website builders, free can easily cost you a lot of money by displaying unsolicited advertising on your site, and consequently causing some noise in your message aimed at hard-to-get visitors. Free packages, while appealing at first glance, provide limited functionality that is unlikely to be enough to create the website you envision without compromise.

Time needed to prepare

While speed is often presented as a selling point for free tools, it's essential not to overlook that creating a sophisticated website always takes time, even with the best website builders. Free packages usually come with obvious limitations, excluding time-saving and user-friendly features that genuinely aid in quick development.

Recommendation

Even though there are numerous free options available, in many cases, businesses need a much more complex website than what they can create with the free versions of website builders. It is enticing that, according to these free tools, we can create a professional website without any web development or programming knowledge, just by investing our time. 

In reality, however, a free but fully satisfying professional website does not exist. Free versions can be great if you just want to get a glimpse into the world of website creation. However, a website is about more than that. If you want to build a money-generating platform or an online store that adequately represents your business and attracts visitors over time, it's advisable to entrust the work to a professional online marketing agency or a web development expert. They understand all aspects of creation and can be a partner in future developments, handling evolving needs effectively.

#promobox#Looking for a custom website or webshop?##