In my half-decade as an SEO content marketer, I\u2019ve spent a good chunk of my time either testing or working with any number of free website builders: Content Hub, WordPress.com, WordPress.org, Wix, Weebly, Webflow, you name it.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n These website builder tools have been essential for me to publish content, either for my current employer or for my side projects. I\u2019ve, therefore, become well acquainted with their capabilities over time.<\/p>\n But if you\u2019re new to the website builder game, you might be confused about where to start. What is the best choice if you don\u2019t know how to code<\/a>? And which is budget-friendly? I\u2019m going to cover that and more. First, let\u2019s go over the basics.<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/p>\n What is a website builder?<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been considering building a website<\/a> for some time, you\u2019re likely familiar with your options. The most common method is buying a web hosting<\/a> plan and domain name<\/a> and installing your preferred CMS<\/a>, such as WordPress.org or Joomla, on your website.<\/p>\n From my experience, the problem with this option is that when you install WordPress or Joomla out of the box, it doesn\u2019t come with a handbook or page content.<\/p>\n With this method, my websites started as blank pages, which meant that unless I hired a developer or spent a lot of time building it, the result would look unfinished and unprofessional.<\/p>\n When testing out free website builders such as Content Hub or WordPress.com, I could considerably shorten my workflow. For instance, the themes came with placeholder text and images, making my website feel more complete than if I had started with an out-of-the-box CMS.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Workflow was the most important factor when finding the best website builders for this post. Is it easy to set up a website from the start, or do you need extensive time and experience?<\/p>\n Chances are, if you\u2019re looking for a free website builder, you\u2019d like the setup to be painless and seamless. For that reason, I chose tools that had:<\/p>\n The standard required features: placeholder content, blogging tools, SEO tools, mobile-optimized and responsive, and templates and themes With that, let\u2019s go over the absolute best website builders I\u2019ve used and tested before.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Includes web hosting<\/a><\/p>\n Personalization (thanks to HubSpot\u2019s CRM) The free version displays HubSpot’s branding <\/a><\/p>\n Get started with HubSpot’s free drag-and-drop builder!<\/a><\/p>\n I use HubSpot\u2019s drag-and-drop website builder (inside Content Hub) as a content marketer on the HubSpot blog team and have used it for two of my side website projects.<\/p>\n Hands down, this is one of the best website builders available for free \u2014 not only because of the ease of signing up but also because it includes built-in tools for a handful of other functions, such as marketing and sales.<\/p>\n The website creation process is so easy, anyone could do it \u2014 mainly because the setup dashboard includes an interactive checklist for you to build your site step-by-step.<\/p>\n I loved this signup workflow when I was building a few side projects. It\u2019s one of the best in terms of user- and beginner-friendliness.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Once you install a free theme, you start customizing the site immediately with your preferred colors and fonts.<\/p>\n The bar at the top of the page shows you where you are on the setup workflow, which is useful for skipping between tasks. Note that this is only active during the onboarding phase.<\/p>\n\n After you\u2019re finished, you\u2019re taken right back to the user guide, where you can begin exploring HubSpot\u2019s suite of tools for business. You also have the option of connecting a custom domain, which is free.<\/p>\n You can buy a domain through a domain registrar<\/a> such as GoDaddy and then proceed through the domain connection process.<\/p>\n This might be the most difficult part of signup due to the verification step. But you can always move forward with a free HubSpot domain name, which looks like this:<\/p>\n [randomly generated token].hs-sites.com<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s not beautiful and is my least favorite feature, so I\u2019d recommend moving forward with a custom-branded domain.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s time to edit our site. The website editing process is a little more compartmentalized than in other tools.<\/p>\n Others might take you to the page editor right away. Still, HubSpot takes you to the entirety of its suite dashboard, allowing you to access its marketing, sales, and service tools in addition to its website tools (located under the \u201cMarketing\u201d menu).<\/p>\n To access it, simply go to Marketing<\/strong> > Website<\/strong> > Website Pages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Then, click Create<\/strong>. I loved the option to create either a website page or a landing page<\/a>. This makes HubSpot a great fit if you\u2019re using your site to drive leads in any capacity.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The process is easy and familiar after you create your first page. You can choose a template, but be sure to install a theme first (which is part of the setup workflow).<\/p>\n The free themes and templates are perfect, and the HubSpot marketplace<\/a> offers many options.<\/p>\n Most themes are business-oriented; if you\u2019d like to build an artsy or eclectic website, other website builders include more \u201cfun\u201d designs.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n I loved that you can switch between themes and mix and match them. Other tools don\u2019t allow you to use different themes on the same site, so Content Hub is an excellent choice for limited design options.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve chosen your template, you\u2019re ready to begin editing. Content Hub pulls in demo content so you can see your page’s look when you\u2019re finished.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve used a template on WordPress only to get a fully blank page with the \u201cHello World!\u201d heading. The demo content is a definite plus.<\/p>\n Finally, the drag-and-drop page builder is nothing to scoff at. It works based on modules, which you drag onto the page.<\/p>\n It then creates a live element you can edit directly, allowing you to see your changes in real-time instead of having to open a preview tab.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Another thing I loved is that it\u2019s easy enough for a beginner to use but also gives developers the ability to create advanced custom modules and tinker with the site\u2019s source code.<\/p>\n For instance, you can upload a custom CSS stylesheet in your settings.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the impressive part: Because of its simplicity and user-friendliness, HubSpot\u2019s website builder is more than equipped to handle business-level demands, with marketing<\/a>, sales<\/a>, and service software<\/a> already built-in.<\/p>\n Most of those are free to use at the basic tier, allowing you to send an email monthly, for example, and use HubSpot CRM<\/a> without paying a single cent.<\/p>\n Of course, it comes with everything you need to build a website, including content management system (CMS)<\/a> tools, themes and templates, security features, and a built-in content delivery network (CDN) to ensure pages load quickly.<\/p>\n Overall, I can\u2019t recommend this tool enough for any type of business that wants more than a basic website builder.<\/p>\n Content Marketing Software<\/a> tools Ability to connect to a custom domain<\/a><\/p>\n A limited free plan is available. The premium CMS plans with additional features start at $23 a month when billed annually.<\/p>\n Botkeeper<\/a> Customizable The free version displays ads I can\u2019t count the number of WordPress.com sites I\u2019ve built for fun. It\u2019s easy to sign up, it\u2019s free, and its included domain name is not as ugly (and more recognizable) than others on this list. \u201cBrandname.wordpress.com\u201d has a nice ring to it, right?<\/p>\n First, though, I\u2019d like to point out that WordPress.comis different from WordPress.org<\/a>. WordPress.com is a free, fully-hosted website-building service, whereas WordPress.org is a content management system you can install on your website.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a simple, free website builder, WordPress.com is the way to go. But if you have a little bit of website development knowledge<\/a> and are willing to learn the ins and outs of WordPress hosting<\/a>, WordPress.org is a great choice.<\/p>\n For this list, though, I recommend WordPress.com. Why? It\u2019s an all-in-one option that doesn\u2019t require you to buy separate WordPress hosting<\/a> or test out different WordPress page builders<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not as customizable as WordPress.org, but it\u2019s more than sufficient for beginners, bloggers, and hobbyists. Due to the free tier\u2019s limitations on bandwidth and lack of CDN<\/a>, business owners should probably consider another tool.<\/p>\n Just like Content Hub, setting up your website on WordPress.com is very easy. As it guides you through the setup process, WordPress will ask you about your goals and immediately prompt you to choose a free theme for your website.<\/p>\n\n The themes are modern and mobile-optimized \u2014 I was surprised to find that I liked quite a few of the designs. When I\u2019ve used WordPress in the past, I found the themes lackluster, but it seems to have updated its library.<\/p>\n From there, WordPress will take you to an abbreviated checklist that\u2019s similar to HubSpot\u2019s. By the time you\u2019ve picked your theme, you\u2019ve already completed the first three steps.<\/p>\n All you have to do is publish your first blog post, edit the website\u2019s design, and launch your site.<\/p>\n\n Keep in mind that the site is still in the bare minimum stages \u2014 you still need to go into the dashboard and add pages and content.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, on the free version, you can\u2019t install plugins, including the HubSpot WordPress marketing plugin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s talk about the drag-and-drop page builder. WordPress.com is much more minimal than other options on this list, and that\u2019s because it primarily includes plain content formats such as paragraphs, headings, lists, and tables.<\/p>\n A drawback for me is that it\u2019s not a live editor, so you can\u2019t see your changes on the page without previewing it on another tab.<\/p>\n If you want live changes and previews, I\u2019d recommend looking into a free website builder with a WYSIWYG editor like Webflow<\/a> (discussed further below).<\/p>\n That said, its simplicity makes it a great option for beginners just starting to build their first website \u2014 no need to fiddle with complicated modules.<\/p>\n\n If you are looking for more built-out modules \u2014 such as banners, headers, pre-built sections, and more \u2014 you\u2019d be better off with a website builder that offers these options on the free tier, such as HubSpot\u2019s Content Hub or Webflow.<\/p>\n Large collection of themes A limited free plan is available. Premium plans start at $4 a month when billed annually.<\/p>\n Anytime Fitness Australia<\/a> Helpful SEO resource tools Limited choice of themes Weebly is a classic website builder that offers a unique bundle of web hosting, domain registration, web design<\/a>, and built-in <\/a>e-commerce functions.<\/p>\n This last feature is of note because, with other tools on this list, like WordPress, you\u2019d have to install an e-commerce plugin<\/a> to start a shop, and even on Content Hub, you\u2019d need a third-party integration.<\/p>\n On Weebly, you can open a store as part of the sign-up process. Because of this, I highly recommend it if you\u2019d like to build an ecommerce website<\/a>. This website builder already integrates with Square, a popular online payment gateway<\/a>.<\/p>\n As part of my test, I created a website for an online store. What I liked about this part of Weebly\u2019s setup is that it\u2019s so simple \u2014 you don\u2019t have to go on and on about your goals or the type of website you\u2019d like to build.<\/p>\n During the next few phases, you\u2019ll choose a name for your store and designate the type of products you\u2019ll be sell. I\u2019m not sure what this step is for \u2014 it must be for metadata or for Wix\u2019s tracking purposes, but it\u2019s good to fill out either way.<\/p>\n\n As with Content Hub and WordPress.com, you\u2019ll be prompted to choose a theme. If you\u2019re setting up an e-commerce website, Weebly will automatically sort the themes so that you get storefront options first \u2014 there is no need to go hunting for them.<\/p>\n I found the theme selection a little less diverse than other options on this list, but the options are reasonable free e-commerce site builders.<\/p>\n\n While testing this website builder, I also found that it offers a nifty product listing tool that allows you to set up your inventory for sale immediately.<\/p>\n I loved how easy and simple this was, and it’s a great fit for someone who\u2019s trying out e-commerce for the first time.<\/p>\n\n And, great news: Weebly, like the previous tools, includes a checklist to work through to set up your store correctly.<\/p>\n\n I\u2019ve used Weebly before but have abandoned it due to its laggy page editor.<\/p>\n During my test this time, I found that the drag-and-drop editor is still somewhat laggy but more serviceable than when I was using Weebly for fun.<\/p>\n\n It includes the standard text, image, and rich content modules, with more variety and complexity than WordPress.com\u2019s options.<\/p>\n It also features helpful SEO tools and resources to get you started with an SEO strategy, which is a crucial and unavoidable part of having a website because, without it, people might never know your page exists.<\/p>\n Drag-and-drop editor A limited free plan is available. Premium plans start at $6 a month when billed annually.<\/p>\n Caribbean Coffee and Chocolate<\/a><\/p>\n Kerlin BBQ<\/a> Offers complete control over your site\u2019s design After building a website on Webflow, you need to transfer it to a content management system. Webflow is a fantastic free website builder for those with more coding experience and who\u2019d like a more customizable website builder tool.<\/p>\n Because of its ability to include multiple workspaces and multiple websites for clients, I especially recommend it for freelance web developers and agencies.<\/p>\n (And if you happen to be a fan of Adobe Creative Cloud, you\u2019ll find that Webflow has a similar UX \u2014 another plus.)<\/p>\n Webflow is a winner when it comes to the setup workflow. Straightaway, you\u2019ll have the option to build a website for your company, your clients, or yourself. I chose \u201cClients\u201d to test its capabilities for freelancers and agencies.<\/p>\n\n Next, you\u2019ll be asked to identify the type of website you\u2019re building. Blog websites are an option, but if you\u2019re planning to start a blog, I recommend Content Hub or WordPress.com instead.<\/p>\n Both of those offer powerful blogging options and a much more beginner-friendly interface.<\/p>\n I was surprised to see that Webflow includes different workspaces, something I didn\u2019t run across in other tools (except Content Hub, which allows you to have access to different portals).<\/p>\n This makes Webflow an excellent choice for large teams where you might have different workspaces depending on permissions or job functions.<\/p>\n\n The free theme selection in Webflow is, though limited, very good. I told the tool I wanted to create a portfolio website, and it automatically suggested a portfolio theme for me to try.<\/p>\n\n After you choose a theme, you\u2019ll be taken straight away to the website builder. Webflow\u2019s page builder is complicated, and the learning curve is steep. While the tool includes a setup checklist, it\u2019s not as simple as others on this list.<\/p>\n For instance, you\u2019ll be prompted to change CSS classes<\/a> right away \u2014 which can be daunting if you\u2019re new to web development.<\/p>\n\n The actual page builder, though, is pretty familiar. You can add HTML elements<\/a> such as sections, containers, divs, lists, buttons, headings, and so on.<\/p>\n The tool does include more technical language, so you\u2019ll encounter terms such as \u201cV Flex,\u201d which refers to a vertical flexbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n I can see this being difficult for beginners and even intermediate users, so if you identify as either, you might want to opt for another tool. (Or you can use Webflow to learn web development terms!)<\/p>\n\n One thing I love about Webflow that makes it a good fit for beginners is its inclusion of \u201cLibraries.\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re at all intimidated by the language and the learning curve, you can simply import pre-designed components and sections without needing to tinker excessively with the tool itself.<\/p>\n Webflow includes a free domain for you to use, but it only publishes to a staging environment<\/a> \u2014 another reason this tool is such a great fit for developers.<\/p>\n The only thing you\u2019ll need to purchase when using Webflow is a domain you can publish your site.<\/p>\n\n A drag-and-drop website builder A limited free plan is available. Premium plans start at $12 a month when billed annually.<\/p>\n Michael Kors<\/a> Easy to use The free version displays prominent ads Wix is one of the most popular free website builders and probably one of the first options you thought of when you started researching tools.<\/p>\n The easy-to-use, fully hosted platform offers a drag-and-drop editor, an extensive collection of apps, and professional-looking templates.<\/p>\n I first used Wix from 2010 to 2013, when it was a simple website builder with a reputation for being laggy and poorly optimized. It\u2019s now become one of the most robust options on the market.<\/p>\n Wix\u2019s most noteworthy feature is its focus on providing all the tools necessary for business owners to get their businesses up and running online.<\/p>\n When setting up your site, you can choose your business type.<\/p>\n Unlike other website builders, which use this information for internal cataloging purposes, Wix creates a customized dashboard depending on the type of business you choose.<\/p>\n I set up a blog, an online store, and a brick-and-mortar shop, and all three had different checklists and integrated apps on their dashboards.<\/p>\n\n For this test, I chose to set up a local shop. Instead of taking me to the website builder right away, the Wix setup assistant tried to get as much information about \u201cmy business\u201d as possible.<\/p>\n I was thoroughly impressed by the effort to get my business information in a beginner-friendly questionnaire. The information would later be used for Wix\u2019s Point of Sale tool and on my website.<\/p>\n This makes Wix an especially good fit for local businesses who want to set up a robust online presence but don\u2019t want to mess with different tools to do so.<\/p>\n\n Depending on your answers to some of the questionnaire questions, Wix will include different widgets, tools, and checklist items on your dashboard.<\/p>\n For instance, below, I told the tool I wanted to accept online and in-person payments, send automated emails, and more\u2014<\/p>\n\n \u2014and when I went to my dashboard, Wix created a checklist that helped me through a step-by-step set up process, including signing up on its Point of Sale tool.<\/p>\n This is extremely convenient and seamless for a local business owner, but the list can be overwhelming to look at.<\/p>\n\n I was maybe half an hour into the setup, and Wix had yet to prompt me to start designing my website. The first few steps in the checklist, in fact, all have to do with internal administration and finance.<\/p>\n That tells me that Wix wants to be the one administration portal for business owners to manage their online presence beyond designing a website.<\/p>\n When you finally begin to set up your site, Wix gives you the option of manually choosing a template or using Wix\u2019s creation assistant.<\/p>\n This is a unique feature I\u2019ve yet to run into in my tests, and it can be a game changer for local business owners that are short on time.<\/p>\n\n I chose to have Wix to create a site for me. It then prompted me to pick a theme and begin preparing home page designs based on my preferred aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n Since I chose \u201cFresh\u201d it delivered earthy and clean designs. The selection is limited but good for a local business.<\/p>\n\n Afterward, you can add pages to your site with pre-imported demo content.<\/p>\n\n My least favorite aspect of Wix is the page builder itself. It\u2019s cluttered, difficult to navigate, and overly complicated, which could potentially lengthen the learning curve for this tool.<\/p>\n\n Another aspect I found strange is that inserting a new element doesn\u2019t snap to the grid.<\/p>\n Instead, it stays right where you place it, meaning it might be difficult to reliably use the exact same amount of padding and margin to align elements on your page.<\/p>\n But if you don\u2019t need additional elements beyond the demo content, simply edit what’s already there, and it shouldn\u2019t be much of a problem.<\/p>\n A drag-and-drop editor A limited free plan is available. Premium plans start at $16 a month when billed annually.<\/p>\n Cotton\u2019s Restaurant<\/a> Very, very easy to use This is a limited tool for any sort of business need Google Sites is Google\u2019s proprietary website builder and is absolutely worth a spot on this list, if only for its ease of use and for the fact that it\u2019s 100% free \u2014 no upgrade required.<\/p>\n You can use it just as you would Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides. Simply go to sites.google.com, choose a template from the list, and start editing.<\/p>\n\n Google Sites offers templates for employees, individuals, and students.<\/p>\n Even though you could use it for a business website, I wouldn\u2019t recommend this website builder for any type of business, whether freelance, local, small, or enterprise, because of the limited features and lack of integrations.<\/p>\n Google Sites is simply too limited for a business\u2019 demanding needs.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to build a website for any other reason, though \u2014 for a project, a personal update, or an FAQ \u2014 Google Sites is a fantastic choice.<\/p>\n For example, it\u2019s a great option for a job seeker looking to create a simple portfolio to attach to job applications. Once you choose a template, you\u2019re taken right to the editor, where you can start editing the demo content.<\/p>\n\n The interface is as seamless and familiar as you\u2019d expect from Google. No overly complicated jargon and no overabundance of options, but still exactly what you need to build a strong site with a mild learning curve.<\/p>\n (In fact, the learning curve is so mild that I would actually not recommend this as a learning tool for those building a site for the first time. To truly learn how to create a website, consider a more robust tool that includes traditional web design elements.)<\/p>\n As with any other Google tool, you can collaborate with others and limit permissions. That makes it a great option if you need to build a team site for any reason.<\/p>\n Once you hit publish, it will be published to a subdirectory of a subdirectory on Google\u2019s domain. For instance, here\u2019s the URL I published my site to when I was doing my test:<\/p>\n https:\/\/sites.google.com\/hubspot.com\/tinasmithphdtest\/about<\/p>\n You can’t connect a custom domain through the Google Sites portal, but you can always purchase a custom domain (I recommend using Google\u2019s own domain buying service, domains.google.com) and setting up a 301 redirect<\/a>.<\/p>\n A drag-and-drop editor Free.<\/p>\n No brands that I know of use Google Sites \u2014 this tool is best for personal projects.<\/p>\n Easy for users without coding or design experience Very few e-commerce features <\/p>\n Dorik is a website builder that boasts users can create excellent websites in just minutes thanks to its myriad of features, including AI tools. Moreover, users don’t need any coding or design experience to design their site, according to Dorik.<\/p>\n I find Dorik\u2018s AI features to be the most impressive and unique compared to other website builders. Dorik\u2019s website says it can generate a complete website in seconds with a single prompt. So, naturally, I put it to the test.<\/p>\n\n After clicking \u201cCreate New Site With AI,\u201d I’m greeted with a pop-up showing I only have to enter the name of my website, type a prompt describing the site, and select the language.<\/p>\n\n This is the landing page Dorik’s AI tool designed for my \u201cJane Doe Marketing\u201d website. I love how the page includes the following tabs in the top left corner.<\/p>\n Home I also appreciate the imagery, which features 3-D figures of social media and entertainment apps.<\/p>\n And though the opening sentence is a bit dry in terms of tone, it includes important marketing keywords and is a strong start to improve upon.<\/p>\n\n I\u2018m blown away by the details of this AI-generated website. As I continue to scroll down, I see a section explaining what Jane Doe Marketing is an how it works. There\u2019s even a \u201cLearn More\u201d button.<\/p>\n\n If I scroll a little further, I’ll find a spot for our location and contact information. Of course, Dorik provides a sidebar complete with tools to customize and edit the site to my liking.<\/p>\n\n Based on the ease of its AI tool alone, I think Dorik is an excellent website builder if you’re a freelancer, content creator, or solopreneur who wants a beautifully designed website with all the fixings without having to design or code.<\/p>\n AI website generator Free features are available. Plans start at $15 per month.<\/p>\n I don’t know of any major brands using Dorik, likely due to its lack of e-commerce features.<\/p>\n Pros:<\/p>\n Free domain Cons:<\/p>\n No free blogging options Ucraft is excellent for organizations that want to use their domains for free and build a website without coding or having to have coding experience. This website builder also includes a logo maker and blogging platform.<\/p>\n My only issue with Ucraft is that there are no free blogging features, though you can add a blog for an extra $10 per month.<\/p>\n\n AI logo generator Free with paid plans available starting at $21 per month<\/p>\n I don’t know of any major brands using Ucraft<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Choosing a website builder tool is easier when you know what you want. Here are the features to look out for.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The above drag-and-drop themes are available in Content Hub \u2014 sign up for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n Website builders should have theme options<\/a> that cater to specific niches so users don’t waste time creating new templates from scratch. For example, the website builders on our list have options for blogs, portfolios, e-commerce websites, and more.<\/p>\n Templates should be easy to customize and include pre-structured and pre-populated images, text, and other elements commonly found on websites. For example, every site needs a home page, an about page, and a contact page. All you need to do is pick one and replace the sample content with your own.<\/p>\n Solely having text on your website can be monotonous, so including different forms of media helps break up text and can help information stick. I suggest filling your website with highly engaging multimedia content and graphics to support vital information and engage users.<\/p>\n You can easily bring your website to life using visual aids and mediums like stock photos, vector images, background images, stock video footage, sound effects, and video editing templates. Many websites provide free media resources for content. <\/a><\/p>\n Freepik<\/a> is a well-known website that provides illustrations and images. Many sites also incorporate icons within the call-to-actions and resources sections. Flaticon<\/a> is a great source of icons.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The best website builder tools make it easy for users to customize their websites with drag-and-drop tools and what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editors<\/a>. It\u2019s great for beginners because you don\u2019t need to learn how to code\u2014simply design your site in a few clicks by dragging and dropping elements onto your page and seeing how it will look.<\/p>\n I also predict that using a WYSIWYG editor will save you a lot of time making changes after you publish your site because you can see how everything will look while you\u2019re designing it. This is an important feature to consider when choosing the best website builder for you, one that meets your needs.<\/p>\n Security is a top consideration when choosing a website builder.<\/p>\n Security features vary depending on the website builder tool you select, but consider it a keeper if it offers malware scanning<\/a>. Automated malware scanning allows you to address threats before they progress into something catastrophic.<\/p>\n WAFs sit between your web server and the internet to protect your website from common attacks.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll be able to avoid SQL injections (where a hacker gets the ability to view your site database and access secure data) and cross-site scripting (XSS) (when a hacker injects malicious code into your site) by filtering, monitoring, and blocking malicious traffic from entering the network.<\/p>\n WAFs can come in the form of software-as-a-service (SaaS), and you can customize them to meet your website\u2019s unique needs. If you create your website with HubSpot, you\u2019ll get access to 24\/7 enterprise-grade security tools like malware scanning<\/a> and WAF<\/a>.<\/p>\n Besides site security, I strongly recommend optimizing for page speed. The amount of time it takes for your site to load significantly impacts customer experience, conversions<\/a>, and revenue, and whether your site is even usable on mobile devices.<\/p>\n There are many ways to improve page speed, and a content delivery network<\/a> (CDN) is one way to do so. CDNs store heavy and static content on distributed servers located worldwide and load the cached content from a location nearest to the user to speed up its delivery.<\/p>\n The best website builders make it convenient to start your websites by offering free web hosting<\/a>. In some cases, you might need to provide your own web hosting for your platform or use something like WordPress hosting<\/a>.<\/p>\n Free website builders offer limited bandwidth and storage just for personal use. You can upgrade to shared, dedicated, or managed hosting for an additional fee.<\/p>\n Web hosting provides two services: bandwidth and disk space (or storage).<\/p>\n Most free website builders offer ample (limited) storage for a beginner site but require you to purchase additional storage should you need it.<\/p>\n Blogs can help your website<\/a> by:<\/p>\n Increasing visibility through SEO. Most free website builders come with basic blogging tools<\/a>, like AI blog writers<\/a> and other content management features.<\/p>\n
\n How I Tested the Best Website Builders<\/a>
\n Best Free Website Builders<\/a>
\n Website Builder Features You Need<\/a> <\/p>\nHow I Tested the Best Website Builders<\/h2>\n
\n An entirely free option with solid capabilities out of the box \u2014 no need to upgrade at every turn
\n A relatively easy workflow from signup to completion <\/p>\n1. Best Free Website Builder for Growing Businesses: HubSpot Drag-and-Drop Website Builder<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Security
\n Responsive themes and templates <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n You\u2019ll need to learn HuBL, HubSpot\u2019s templating language, to build custom modules and templates. <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Themes and templates<\/a>
\n Built-in security features (malware scanning<\/a>, website monitoring<\/a>, and web application firewall<\/a>)
\n Free SSL certificate<\/a><\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using HubSpot<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n ProArch<\/a>
\n Eternal Works<\/a> <\/p>\n2. Best Free Website Builder for Beginners: WordPress.com<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Flexible
\n Mobile and desktop apps available <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n More limitations compared to WordPress.org
\n Although intuitive, it\u2019s more difficult to learn than other drag-and-drop builders <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Mobile-friendly and optimized for SEO
\n Managed website hosting and security <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using WordPress.com<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Activity Hero Blog<\/a>
\n Outsource School<\/a> <\/p>\n3. Best Free Website Builder for Ecommerce Websites: Weebly<\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Good selection of paid and free apps in the app center
\n The free plan has e-commerce functionality <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n The free and basic paid plans display ads
\n Limited SEO functionality <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Integrated CMS solution
\n Free SSL certificate
\n SEO tools
\n Analytics and Reporting <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using Weebly<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Argyle Yarn Shop<\/a> <\/p>\n\n4. Best Free Website Builder for Web Developers:<\/strong> Webflow<\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Drag-and-drop what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) builder
\n Responsive interface <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Requires some knowledge of HTML and CSS to access full features
\n It has a complex free and paid plan structure
\n You need to sign up for both a Site and Workspace plan <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Widgets to add features like maps and media
\n Third-party integrations <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using Webflow<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Craft. do<\/a>
\n Hologram.io<\/a> <\/p>\n\n5. Best Free Website Builder for Local Business Owners:<\/strong> Wix<\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Large collection of apps and templates
\n Optimized for mobile <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n The premium plans are pricey when compared to others on this list
\n The only way to change templates is by creating a new site and transferring your premium plan to it <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n A large collection of apps and templates
\n Analytics and Reporting <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using Wix<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Cau Steakhouse<\/a>
\n P.S. & Co.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n6. Best Free Website Builder for No-Fuss, Short-Term Websites:<\/strong> Google Sites<\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Simple to set up for current Google users
\n Optimized for mobile <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n The templates skew toward outdated
\n Custom domains can\u2019t be connected via Google Sites; 301-redirect needed <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n The traditional Google Workspace interface
\n Analytics and reporting (through Google Analytics) <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using Google Sites<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n7. Best Free Website Builder for Solopreneurs:<\/strong> Dorik<\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/h3>\nPros<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Comprehensive and easily customizable AI-generated website
\n Intuitive interface <\/p>\nCons<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n About
\n Blog
\n Contact <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n AI text and Image Generator
\n Robust blog editor with built-in SEO tools
\n Airtable integration <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using Dorik<\/strong><\/h5>\n
8. Best Website Builder for Using Your Own Domain: Ucraft<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Modern and diverse template designs
\n Easy drag-and-drop editor <\/p>\n
\n Limited e-commerce feature <\/p>\nCore Features<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n Easy-to-use templates
\n Free logo maker
\n Visual and content editor <\/p>\nPricing<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Brands Using Ucraft<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Website Builder Features You Need<\/h2>\n
1. Themes and Templates<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Media (Video, Photo, Audio, and Graphics)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. WYSIWYG Editor<\/h3>\n
4. Malware Scanning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n5. <\/strong>Web Application Firewall (WAF)<\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n6. Content Delivery Network (CDN)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Web Hosting<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8. Storage<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. Blogs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Generating new leads.
\n Building trust and loyalty.
\n Creating brand awareness. <\/p>\n10. SEO Capabilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n