.png)
Can I Make My Own Website for Free?
- Louisa Tile
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
If you're a small business owner, you might be asking: Can I make my own website for free? The quick answer is yes. But is it the right answer for your business?
In this blog, we'll walk you through:
Whether you can create a website for free
Free website builder options and what they offer
The real costs behind “free”
Hosting, custom domain names, and SEO tools
Time commitments, pros and cons
And why some tradespeople opt for a professionally built site from Websites for Trades, starting at just £750
Can I Make My Own Website For Free: Is It Really Possible?
Yes, you can absolutely build a website for free, and if you're interested in building websites, these platforms make it easy, using platforms like:
Wix
Weebly
Strikingly
Google Sites
These platforms allow you to create a free website with no coding required.
These free website builders offer drag and drop editors, website templates, free themes (with many available for easy installation and customization), and free hosting, allowing you to launch a personal website or business site with little upfront cost. But that “free” comes with a few limitations…
Which Website Builder Is Totally Free?
If you’re wondering which website builder is totally free, the most notable are:
Google Sites: 100% free, no ads, but extremely basic (offers a free subdomain)
Wix: Free plan includes hosting and templates, but with ads (includes a free subdomain like yoursite.wixsite.com)
Weebly: Decent free tier, but capped on features (provides a free subdomain)
WordPress.com: Offers a free plan with branding limitations (includes a free subdomain)
Most of these platforms offer free plans that let you build a website at no initial cost, typically including a free subdomain (such as yoursite.wixsite.com) but not a free custom domain. The best website builder for you depends on your needs—if you want a free domain, advanced features, or more control, you may need to upgrade to a paid plan. Free plans are great for getting started, but they often come with limitations like platform branding, limited templates, and restricted storage.
The Hidden Costs of “Free”
Here’s a breakdown of what you may end up paying even with a free website:
Feature | Approximate Cost |
Custom Domain Name (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk) | £10–£20/year (may only cover the initial purchase or first year) |
Paid Hosting (if you outgrow the free plan) | £3–£10/month |
Remove Ads | £5–£10/month |
SEO Tools or Google Analytics access | Usually part of paid plans (features like meta descriptions and advanced search engine optimization are often limited or require upgrades) |
Online Store (for selling services/products) | £10–£30/month |
Design upgrades or templates | £20–£100 one-off or monthly |
Total “Not-Free” Costs | £100–£300/year |
Domain names are essential for branding, professionalism, and establishing trust online. When all is said and done, a free website can turn into a recurring cost with limited return unless well executed.
Time Cost: What Does DIY Website Creation Take?
Task | Time Estimate |
Learn the site builder interface for site creation | 3–6 hours |
Customize a website template (including web design choices) | 2–4 hours |
Write page content for your web pages | 3–5 hours |
Upload own images (or use custom images for a unique look) and adjust layout | 2–3 hours |
Setup contact forms | 1 hour |
Test mobile and desktop versions | 1–2 hours |
Configure Google Search Console and analytics | 2–3 hours |
Total DIY Time Investment | 14–24 hours+ |
It could take you five to six full days to build a site that still doesn’t quite reflect your business properly, especially considering web design, site creation steps, and possible limits on the number of web pages you can create on free plans. That’s time you could be spending on the tools, serving clients.
Benefits of Free Website Builders
You can get online quickly
No need for coding knowledge (they’re code free)
Some offer built-in marketing tools
Many free website builders are mobile friendly and can be managed directly from a mobile device, making it easy to create and update your site on the go.
Choose from pre-designed templates
Some platforms offer built in SEO tools to help your site get found on search engines.
Great for a simple business online presence
You can test both mobile and desktop versions of your site to ensure compatibility with various mobile devices and provide a seamless user experience.
Limitations of Free Website Builders
Free websites often come with significant limitations:
No custom domain name unless you pay
Limited seo tools and integrations
Free websites may struggle to rank in organic search due to limited SEO features and lack of integrations like Google Search Console
Ads that you don’t control
Little ability to scale or add advanced functionality
Restricted design freedom, pages, and bandwidth—making it difficult to achieve a professional looking site with free builders
Your site’s visibility in search engines may suffer
Is There Such a Thing as Free Website Hosting?
Yes. Several platforms offer free hosting as part of their free plan:
Wix, Weebly, WordPress.com, and Google Sites all include free hosting and provide a free subdomain (such as yourbusiness.wixsite.com or sites.google.com/yourbusiness) as part of their free domain offering.
Many of these platforms now feature an AI website builder to help you quickly create a site, even if you have no technical experience.
Most free plans include a drag and drop editor for easy customization and features like a photo gallery to showcase your images.
But remember: free hosting usually lacks the speed, security, and support of paid hosting. If your website for free starts gaining traffic or needs custom emails and tools, you’ll likely have to upgrade.
Creating an Online Store for Free
Launching an online store doesn’t have to cost a fortune—or require any coding knowledge. Many website builders now offer free options that let you create a professional-looking online store and start selling online in just a few steps. Platforms like Wix, Shopify (with a free trial), and WooCommerce (when used with free WordPress hosting) provide user-friendly tools and customizable templates designed specifically for e-commerce.
Using Google Analytics on a Free Website
Understanding how visitors interact with your free website is key to making it more effective—and that’s where Google Analytics comes in. Even if you’re using a free website builder, you can take advantage of Google Analytics to track your site’s traffic, see which pages are most popular, and learn more about your audience.
Setting Up Your Own Domain Name with Free Builders
A custom domain name instantly makes your free website look more professional and memorable. Many free website builders, including Wix and WordPress, offer the option to connect your own domain name—even if you start with a free plan. Here’s how you can do it:
Register your desired domain name through a domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap.
In your website builder’s dashboard, look for the option to connect a custom domain.
Follow the step-by-step guide to update your DNS settings or use domain forwarding, linking your new domain to your free website.
Some website builders also offer domain name registration services, so you can manage your website and domain in one place. Using your own domain name (like [yourbusiness].com) not only boosts your site’s credibility but also helps improve your visibility in search engines. A custom domain makes it easier for customers to find, remember, and trust your website—giving your business a stronger online presence from day one.
What’s the Cheapest Website Builder?
If you’re looking for affordability, choosing the right website maker is especially important for small businesses. Here’s a comparison of paid plans (all prices approximate), with notes on which platforms are best suited for creating a small business website:
Platform | Entry-Level Paid Plan | Includes Custom Domain? | Best for Small Business Website? |
Wix | From £6/month | Yes | Yes – popular website maker with business templates |
Weebly | From £5/month | Yes | Yes – easy for small businesses and startups |
From £4/month | Yes | Yes – flexible for small business website needs | |
Strikingly | From £7/month | Yes | Good for simple small business sites |
GoDaddy | From £6/month | Yes | Yes – quick setup for small businesses |
Websites for Trades | £750 (one-off) | Yes + Full Setup | Ideal for trades and service-based small businesses |
While £750 might seem like a larger upfront cost, it’s a professional website built for your trade, tailored to generate business—not just to look nice. Even small businesses can benefit from investing in a dedicated small business website to boost their online presence.
What Is the Minimum Cost to Build a Website?
If you’re doing it yourself, here’s a barebones setup:
Custom Domain Name: £10/year
Hosting: £3/month (if not using free tier)
Template or Theme: Free to £30
Basic SEO plugin or tools: Free to £50/year
Your time: 15–25 hours
If your website is focused on a particular subject, such as a portfolio or niche expertise, you may need additional features or pages to showcase more content and context.
So the absolute minimum cost (not including time) is around £50–£100/year, and that’s for a very simple site.
Why Tradespeople Choose Websites for Trades
At Websites for Trades, we build tailor-made websites for just £750, with everything included:
Fully designed website (up to 5 pages)
Custom domain name setup
Paid hosting with speed and security
Optimised for mobile and desktop
Built-in contact forms and own images
Tools for managing in-person events such as ticket sales and RSVPs (if needed)
Google Analytics, SEO setup, and even social media posts if needed
As your business grows, additional features and ongoing support are available
No DIY headaches. No guessing. Just results.
This means you don’t have to worry about platforms, upgrades, or site performance—we handle the full creation process for you.
FAQs
Does free website hosting exist?
Yes. Platforms like Wix, Weebly, and Google Sites offer free hosting, but it's limited in speed, storage, and control.
Are free website builders worth it?
If you just need a temporary or personal website, yes. But for tradespeople serious about online visibility, leads, and growth—it’s often worth investing in something more robust.
What is the cheapest website builder?
WordPress.com and Weebly offer the cheapest starter plans (from £4–£5/month), but they still include platform ads unless upgraded further.
What is the minimum cost to build a website?
For a very basic DIY site: around £50–£100/year, not including your time. For a full, professional build, consider a package like Websites for Trades at £750 all-in.
Which website builder is totally free?
Google Sites is the most “free” of all options—offering no ads, no payments, and no upgrade nudges. But it’s very basic, and not suitable for SEO or business growth.
Final Thoughts: Can You Make a Website for Free?
Yes, you can make your own website for free, and it’s never been easier with today’s free website builder tools. But for a professional website that attracts leads, ranks on search engines, and actually reflects the quality of your work, “free” quickly turns into “frustrating.”
Instead of spending hours trying to DIY with limited results, let Websites for Trades build your site for just £750, complete with custom domain, SEO tools, and all the features you need to grow your small business online.
Comments