How to Build a Website for Free: Step-by-Step Guide

Build a free website with step-by-step guidance on top platforms like Wix, Weebly, and WordPress. Compare features, customization options, and limitations for informed decisions.

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

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Have a quick question? I answered nearly 1500 FAQs.

Introduction

There are some excellent choices for free and simple website builders if you’re thinking about how to build a website for free or if you’re testing out an innovative idea for a company and want to launch it online without paying any money. Creating and launching a website can be simple and cost-free. Continue reading to find out how to build a website for free.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a website for free, but bear in mind that for professional use, paid website builders may be a better choice because they don’t have restrictions like showing third-party advertisements, having a non-customizable URL, or having a finite amount of web pages.

If you have an idea for a website and want to develop it without obligations, this article discusses the fastest and easiest ways to construct a website for free. If you’re still exploring how to build a website for free, there are plenty of options out there. Additionally, upgrading is always an option.

1. Selecting a CMS (Content Management System)

A content management system streamlines the development and maintenance of content for your website without requiring technical knowledge. Our top selections for free-of-charge user-friendly website builders with content management systems (CMS) that let you launch your website fast are as follows:

Wix: Wix.com is a distinguished zero-code website builder. Wix stands apart from rivals thanks to its drag-and-drop functionality. This feature gives users more control over their website customization experience by allowing them to rearrange the location of ad components, including text and images, on a page according to their preferred layout. This makes web page customization much simpler and ideal for non-programmers. If you’re looking into how to build a website for free, Wix is a great option to get started.

If you decide to use Wix to create a free website, Wix will appear as a subdomain in your domain name (e.g., www.youcompany.wix.com). Upgrade to a premium plan if you desire a custom domain (such as www.yourcompany.com). Wix’s free edition is an excellent place to get started, and you can easily upgrade later, even though your personalized domain appears more professional.

Weebly: Similar services to Wix are provided by Weebly, a website builder that can be used for free without demanding a custom domain and may be upgraded to a more expensive custom domain with a subscription plan. Because Weebly uses an organized editor, you organize your web pages with rows and columns rather than a drag-and-drop feature. For a basic bespoke website, an organized editor is frequently more than sufficient, even though it may offer less freedom. For those looking to learn how to build a website for free, Weebly is also a good platform to explore.

WordPress: Since WordPress is an open-source platform, you may use it for free to create and publish a website and install plenty of plugins. But remember the fact that you will have to shell out money for hosting services or locate a free website hosting company (which usually has inferior performance, less security, or displays advertisements). When learning how to build a website for free, WordPress provides flexibility but comes with certain limitations on free hosting.

There are two primary components to building a website: your website builder, which lets you create a website without knowing any code, and your domain name (e.g., www.yourcompany.com). Website builders like Wix, WordPress, and Weebly provide a subdomain along with their free services. Furthermore, users of Wix & WordPress’ paid versions get no advertisements, greater storage, faster bandwidth, and features that enhance the overall experience of users. Wix and WordPress’ free website builders may however have limitations.

You will still have to pay, though, if you choose a personalized domain. Usually, this comes with a yearly cost of $12 to $60.

2. Establish and Configure an Account

The next steps after selecting a website builder are simple. Initially, you will create an account with Facebook, Google, or your email. It’s possible that you’ll be asked what type of website you’re making—a personal blog or an online store, for example.

Registering for a Wix Account

A number of questions, such as the type of website you’re developing and whether you’ve made one previously, will be asked if you decide to use Wix. The next step will give you the option to construct your website using a template or Wix artificial design intelligence (ADI). The Wix ADI path is less personalized and faster. It will construct a full website for you using your own text and unique graphics after you reply to a few questions. Although you may still customize the template to your own, it still gives you a lot of framework for your website.

Registering for a Weebly Account

After registering, a question about whether you wish to build a website for personal or professional usage will appear. A free website can only be made on Weebly for personal use. You’ll have to choose a design when you decide on a personal website.

Various themes, such as personal, event, business portfolio, and blog, are available on Weebly based on the objective of your website. You will be taken to Weebly’s site editor after completing the registration process. Here is where you will construct your webpage, including the photos and text. The headers and fonts, for example, will usually stay the same regardless of the theme you select, but every other part of the website will be fully configurable.

Ultimately, you will choose your domain name and click “publish” if you are satisfied with the site and ready to make it public. If your suggested domain name is already occupied, Weebly will suggest paid variants to you. The free version will have Weebly in the web address (e.g., www.mycompany.weebly.com).

Registering for a WordPress Account

Your name, username, and email address will be required when you create an account on WordPress. You will then be required to locate a domain. In the same example, when you search for “mycompanyname,” WordPress will show you various options to purchase.

The website www.mycompanyname698973.wordpress.com will represent the entirely free version. Obviously, this isn’t really appealing or easy to recall, which is something to be mindful of and could make Wix or Weebly a better option.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does WordPress come with a free version?

A content management system available under open source is WordPress. Just remember that premium plugins, custom domain names, and some templates are not free. Or, using WordPress subdomains (a domain name that has WordPress within its URL), you can register for a free domain.

2. Which is preferable, Wix or WordPress?

For larger websites requiring greater flexibility or for builders with technical skills, WordPress is typically a superior option. If you’re looking for a drag-and-drop editor and a no-code website builder, Wix is a solid option. Having said that, WordPress templates allow you to create basic websites. More about their comparisons can be found here.

3. What is the price of a website upgrade?

The cost of upgrading a website varies depending on the company. In general, a domain name will cost you money. On websites like GoDaddy, they may be bought for anywhere from $12 to $60 a year. Your expectation of a domain name’s cost will increase with its simplicity and ease of recall. When switching to Weebly, a Professional account will cost $16 a month (or twelve dollars if paid annually), while upgrading to Wix would cost $23 a month (charged annually).

4. Do website builders come with SEO tools?

To increase your website’s search engine visibility, a lot of top services provide tools. An infrastructure that facilitates search engines finding information is built into most builders. In order to facilitate the sharing of your information between platforms, many platforms also include data markup automation, customizable meta-description tools, and simple social media integration.

5. What is the most affordable option for creating a website?

The least expensive approach to acquiring a website, apart from the free options, is to install WordPress, obtain a complimentary theme, and construct the website yourself. Finding the finest inexpensive site hosting, which costs between $1 and $10 per month, and registering a domain will still be necessary. Domain registration costs approximately $15 per year.

Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

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