Free Website Builder for Small Business: Free Plans Compared

If you've decided to start with a free website, the real question is which free plan gives you the most for your situation. This comparison looks only at what each builder includes for $0: custom domains, selling, ads and branding, and storage or page limits. Details are as of October 2026.

Short version: Google Sites is the standout if you want your own domain without a paid plan, Square Online is the one to pick if you need to sell, and Wix is the most flexible all-rounder for a general business site.

Free plans side by side

Square's pricing page lists custom domains among its features but doesn't clearly say which plan includes them, so confirm before you rely on it.

Best free plan for each need

Best for your own domain: Google Sites

Most free plans tie you to the builder's web address. Because Google Sites accepts a registrar-bought domain, you can use yourbusiness.com without paying for a website plan. You can connect up to five custom domains to one site.

Its limits are design and features. There's no store or booking system, and layouts are fairly plain. For an information site with your services, hours and contact details, that's often enough.

Best for selling: Square Online

Square Online is the only option here that lets you sell on its free plan. There's no monthly fee; you pay 3.3% + 30¢ on each online card payment. It suits restaurants, food trucks and local shops, especially those already using Square at the counter.

Design options are more limited than Wix's, but for a business that mainly needs a working order button, that rarely matters.

Best all-rounder: Wix

Wix's free plan gives you the most design freedom and a large template library. It's a good place to build and refine a business site before deciding whether to pay.

The free plan shows a Wix banner ad, uses a Wix web address, caps storage at 500 MB and doesn't allow ecommerce. If you'll eventually want to sell, Wix requires its Core plan for that.

Best for content: WordPress.com

WordPress.com's free plan has no expiration date and 1 GB of storage, and it's built for publishing articles. Free sites show WordPress.com ads and can't install plugins. Upgrading to its Personal plan removes the ads and, on yearly billing, bundles a domain at no charge for year one.

Best for design control: Webflow

Webflow's free Starter plan is meant for exploring the platform. It allows two static pages, 1 GB of monthly bandwidth and 50 form submissions, on a webflow.io address with a Webflow badge. It's great for learning or a tiny portfolio, but most businesses will outgrow it quickly.

Best for a one-page site: Carrd

Carrd lets you build simple one-page sites on a free account at a carrd.co address. Connecting your own domain and adding forms requires its Pro Standard plan, which costs $19 a year.

How to choose between them

Ask three questions:

1. Do I need to sell online right away? If yes, start with Square Online.
2. Do I need my own domain without a paid plan? If yes, Google Sites.
3. Do I mostly need a flexible, good-looking business site? Go with Wix, or WordPress.com if articles are central to your plans.

Whichever you pick, you're not locked in for life. Upgrading within the same builder usually keeps your pages. Switching builders later generally means rebuilding, so it's worth choosing one you can grow into.

The bottom line

No free plan does everything. Each builder gives away a different piece for free, whether that's your domain, a store or design freedom, and holds back the rest for paid plans. Match the free piece to your most important need, and you'll get a lot of value for $0.