Create a free website: 11 best website creation platforms

The need for people and companies to invest a small budget in creating websites has opened up countless prospects for the emergence of website builders. Using them, you can build a website from typical template blocks in a visual editor without any fundamental programming knowledge. Today it is even possible to create a free website in a way that is very close to a professional website.

With these tools, you usually have to register and pay for hosting at the most. Some of them offer their services completely free of charge in exchange for showing your ads on the customer's page. 

With the development of this tool and growing demand, its functionality and resources have become richer. Several features compete in the options available and the variety of plugins and extensions offered to customers. This has raised an important question: Which website builder is best suited to each specific case? 

On the other hand, for more complex projects or those that require a higher level of customization, hiring a software house can be the best choice. These specialized companies offer the development of tailor-made solutions, meeting specific needs and integrating advanced functionalities that are often not feasible with ordinary website builders.

We've decided to help users and have put together a comprehensive overview of the most popular website builders for constructing your own web page. 

Tools to create a free website

The main idea behind website builders is to enable people with no technical knowledge of layout, design and web resource management to create professional websites. They aim to ensure that creating a website is as simple as publishing a post on social media: just edit the text and media elements by dragging them into a user-friendly visual editor. 

Modern website builders have reached the stage where they already look like mini CMSs that allow you to edit the design and text separately. This means you don't have to worry about a part of the layout slipping or a client wanting to change the text, add a new slogan to the homepage or expand the client comments section. 

This technical separation has also been met with a nod of approval from the search engines. This simplifies the indexing process and therefore the page will reach the top faster. 

Types of tools 

There are two main types of website creation tools: online website builders and website builder software.

Online website builders work directly in browsers and store all the data on their own servers. Generally, these services operate on a subscription basis, where the user pays for storage and may face limitations on the data plans offered. However, these builders offer convenience, with ready-to-publish solutions and simplified maintenance.

Website builder software, on the other hand, is installed locally on your computer and works in a similar way to a graphics editor. With these programs, you create the pages of the site and, as a result, you get files that can be uploaded to any hosting service of your choice. This gives you more freedom and control, allowing you to choose your own server and domain for publishing.

Most popular tools for creating free websites

Little by little, we've come to an overview of the functionality of modern website builders. Below you will find general information about the most renowned website building software. These tools are not ranked. We have done this intentionally to allow you to choose the most suitable application on your own, based on your needs and not on our ranking. 

WordPress - Create Free Website

It would be a crime to forget this Internet veteran. According to statistics, 33% of websites are created in WordPress: if not based on its powerful CMS, then at least using the WordPress.com online builder. We mention both resources for a reason, as they are different things. You can learn more about the WordPress CMS on the wordpress.org portal, but here we'll talk about the website creation service. 

Over the years of its existence, the WordPress brand has gathered a huge community of fans. As a result, its users can find many templates, themes and instructions on how to create a personal page, website or portfolio for free. 

Do you want to connect an online store or transfer your resource to a stable CMS structure? No problem. If the forums or YouTube don't have the tutorial you need, the support service will help you. 

All three plans allow you to change a subdomain and disable WordPress.com advertising. Starting with the first paid packages, users already receive some extra hosting space and priority email support. After switching to the Premium plan, you can contact support via chat. The business plan opens up the advanced tools for a website design editor, space to upload media content and the opportunity to monetize the resource. 

Users of the free package will have to accept WordPress advertising, which will appear in different places. You can't track how it appears, so all efforts to hide it somehow are futile. 

Sendpulse - Create Free Website

SendPulse offers creating landing pages, Everything is done within the platform, without needing the help of a designer or programmer. The whole process is very simple, just drag and drop elements, change sizes and colors, without worrying about the technical side.

On this platform, you create a unique, responsive website design that adapts to any device, and you can accept payments directly on the site, add product galleries, descriptions, shipping options and payment buttons. You can track the entire sales process using the platform's own CRM.

In addition, SendPulse also allows you to monitor your SEO performance and analysis, add multi-channel subscription forms such as email, SMS or chatbots. In other words, you can bring all your marketing activities together in one place.

Weebly - Create Free Website

Weebly has been used to create more than 40 million websites. It is the second most popular website builder after WIX. 

The Weebly team positions its application as the best website builder for small businesses, as it has everything you need to create a functional business page. 

The collection of templates offered by Weebly can boast a wide range of useful widgets, including an event planner. You can also set a timer for promotional offers, and the system will publish them automatically. 

Weebly is the best site-building application for a blog, website or online store. Unlike WIX, here you can switch between themes directly in the editor. Another peculiar advantage of Weebly is a drag-and-drop interface, which sets it apart from its older, more experienced competitors. 

Hostinger - Create Free Website

Another tool for create websites offers everything a website creator needs, from help building your site to high-quality hosting options, ensuring your site is well-balanced.

Some highlights of this tool:

• Good hosting along with your domain registration
• Several responsive and very professional templates, and best of all already optimized for mobile
• AI to help you create your website

Webnode - Create a Free Website

Users would like to build websites as easily as they create documents in Word. This probably inspired the Webnode team to make the interface of their website builder similar to that of Microsoft Office. 

As well as a user-friendly dashboard, there are several other features and functions worth highlighting, including the automatic creation of a mobile version. A user creates a desktop version and the system simultaneously generates the mobile version. 

In 2020, Webnode gained more than 30 million users. They have a big bonus: the familiar toolbar is complemented by a fully-featured drag-and-drop editor. If you have basic programming skills, you can switch the free website builder to HTML code mode. This makes sense, as the excessive minimalism and default look of the basic website builder templates is one of Webnode's drawbacks. 

Jimdo - Create a Free Website

Let's take a look at Jimdo, the website builder that has already helped 20 million users create their own website. 

It's absolutely simple and clear. Each main step is described on the main page. If you want to evaluate how easy the tool is to use, you can try a free version. Even in this partially limited option, you can choose between the Creator (the Lego-Like principle, a site is created from separate blocks) or Dolphin modes (the WYSIWYG interface). 

Newcomers can count on the help of AI: just fill in the form and get the options for the perfect website for your business. As a result, the client receives an editable website that is optimized for search engines by default. 

The application has a mobile site builder that allows you to manage and edit content anywhere, straight from your smartphone. 

Anyone wishing to set up an online store based on the Jimdo platform should take into account the fact that payment is processed in euros. 

Webflow - Create a Free Website

If all you can do online is be an average user, but you want to have your own website without too much effort and investment, Webflow is exactly what you need. No, you won't find a ready-made web page there. However, you can easily create one with an extremely simple website builder. 

A free subscription allows you to start two simple functional services. 

Of course, they won't have sophisticated solutions or a mobile version, and you'll only be able to upload up to 50 elements, but the site itself will exist. 

In this drag-and-drop website builder, you can customize the appearance and content of a page with a few simple actions. 

Webflow also offers: 

• A convenient design grid that preserves the template when you add new elements; 
• Fully visual customization, even without the use of access codes; 
• An extensive animation library; 
• 100 hours of video instructions on the configuration process. 

Shopify - Create a Free Website

If you're looking for an online site builder for a web store, Shopify is exactly what you need. Shopify is considered a leader in this field, as the system has all the extensions and widgets needed for e-commerce. Using the app's drag-and-drop technology, you can customize the look of a website and quickly connect the necessary functionalities in a day. The integrated SEO tools make site promotion really convenient. 

For users who have decided to build a web store with an online site builder, Shopify has over a hundred attractive ready-made themes that can be adjusted in a WYSIWYG editor («What you see is what you get»). The integrated templates adapt to all types of screens. 

SquareSpace - Create a Free Website

This application can be considered the best online site builder for creating your own web resource for several reasons: 

• The most beautiful and convenient integrated models; 
• Intuitive navigation on the sites created; 
• Free domain registration; 
• Advanced tools for uploading images and photos; 
• Easy site transfer to your own host. 

However, nothing can be perfect, so the service also has some flaws: 

Drag and drop failures. Sometimes it's easier to fix a layout manually than to waste time trying to fix the visual editor's bugs. 

24-hour support only receives requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Answers are sent with a long delay, several questions at a time. 

The application has difficulty translating into other languages. 

Despite the disadvantages, more than a million users have created sites based on SquareSpace, which is the best evaluation of this service. 

Duda - Create a Free Website

For those looking for the best website builder to create a multilingual website, Duda is the perfect choice. Its target audience is representatives of small businesses, communities and international web projects. 

The simplicity and intuitiveness of Duda's interface appeal to beginners. At the same time, the site's high speed, integrated tools for collecting statistics and SEO analysis, with no limits on the number of sites and the size of pages, make it an ideal option for small businesses. 

What's more, you can manage graphics manually without using a password, thanks to a drag-and-drop editor. Everything can be done via a mobile app: you create projects and edit them directly from your smartphone. 

Instructions on how to set up and use the application are available on blogs or you can ask a question on a developer forum. In addition, there are webinars and regular meetings organized for users. 

Despite the benefits of the service, users may be repelled by the lack of widgets. The paid plans aren't the cheapest either. However, you can use a free 30-day trial version. It includes the same functions as the team plan (the second in terms of price). 

WIX

WIX is one of the leading online services for creating independent websites. The tool was developed in 2006 and is mainly chosen for building online stores, blogs and portfolios. This service has been used to launch more than 175 million websites. 

In the application, users can choose a design with ready-made functionality from over 500 website builder templates. The website builder works on the basis of drag-and-drop technology. 

Its basic website templates automatically adapt to the size of a screen on different types of devices, including desktops, tablets and smartphones. For more in-depth customization of the mobile version of a website, WIX has some automated features built in. One of these is tap to call: users just need to tap a phone number on the screen to make a call.

In addition, there is a large selection of marketing options. As with Google Analytics, you can track which type of device a visitor browses your site from, which pages are popular and which need improvement. 

The main page of the application includes a description of the new functions and the Support section provides detailed guides on how to use WIX. 

The benefits of free website creation tools for small businesses

When entrepreneurs, ready to invest in a large portal from the outset, decide to develop a website, they turn to professional web agencies. For those who want to create an online page on their own, website builders are the perfect solution. The main advantage of such applications is that you will initially spend much less than if you hired a team of developers. To get started, all you have to do is create an appealing and informative web page for your company. 

Overview of free website building tools for blogs

Ever since blogs stopped being limited to text notes and photo sharing, bloggers started looking for a convenient platform for their resources. They needed a system that had two mutually exclusive parameters: it had to be simple and functional at the same time. 

Website builders efficiently handle such a complex task. Most services even intentionally select a particular niche. For example, they build a convenient platform for blogging and continue to improve it. The reason is that a blog is a website with a very simple structure. The main requirements are easy publication of news, the ability to set the timing of publications and monetization of the created resource. 

As you've seen, there are many different website tools out there. The most popular option after some research is Wix. They have become a fairly dominant force in the website building business. But that doesn't mean that their competitors are necessarily worse options. It really depends on your use case.

Analyze what you're going to use your website for and choose the best website creation tool that meets your needs. It will certainly be on this great list that we've put together to help our readers.

If you want to hire a professional company to create an optimized website, get a quote from us right now by clicking the button below!

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Lucas Pelisari

Lucas Pelisari has been an SEO and content specialist at UpSites for over 6 years, working on the creation and optimization of digital strategies focused on lead generation and organic growth.With experience in website development projects, on-page SEO and link building, he works directly on structuring content and pages aimed at positioning on Google and acquiring qualified traffic.Throughout his career, he has worked on projects for companies such as Kommo, Aldanth, Physical Care, In4, Design.com, Adaptive, Clipto and YeSim, as well as several other clients served by UpSites.He works on projects in different niches, including technology, SaaS, services and local businesses, with a focus on performance, conversion and scalability.Her work is directly linked to lead growth and increased organic visibility, with projects that have seen consistent traffic gains after implementing SEO and content strategies.His content covers topics such as professional website creation, SEO, page structure, performance, user experience and digital growth strategies, always with a practical approach based on real market scenarios.Professional networks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-widmar-pelisari-78920033/Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucaswidmar

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