[FAQ]

G’day everyone,

I’m looking to get a website up and running but trying to keep costs down, ideally starting for free if that’s actually a thing. I’ve seen a heap of ads for “free websites,” but I’m a bit suss on what the limitations or hidden costs might be.

Are there decent platforms out there that let you build a site for free? And what are the typical trade-offs? I’m thinking of things like having their ads on your site, not getting your own domain name, or limited features.

Would a free site be okay for a small personal project, a blog, or maybe a basic portfolio? Keen to hear what experiences you’ve had or if you have any recommendations for 2025.

[Jeff Bullas]

Good question, and the short answer is yes, you absolutely can make a website for free these days. Heaps of platforms offer a free starting point, but as you guessed, there are usually a few catches or limitations.

Here are some popular options for a free site in 2025:

WordPress.com: (Not to be confused with the self-hosted WordPress.org). Good for blogs and simpler sites. Their free plan is pretty decent to get started.

Google Sites: Dead simple to use, especially if you’re already using Google Drive. Good for basic informational sites, school projects, or a straightforward portfolio.

Canva: If you use Canva for design stuff, they now offer free one-page websites. Great for visual landing pages or online resumes.
Wix, Weebly, Squarespace (Free Tiers): These often have free plans that let you use their drag-and-drop builders. They’re quite user-friendly for design.

GitHub Pages: If you’re a bit more tech-savvy, you can host static websites for free here.

Now, for “the catch” – what you usually get with a free plan:

Subdomain: Your website address will likely be something like yourname.wordpress.com or yourname.wixsite.com/your site. A custom domain (e.g., yourname.com.au or yourname.com) will almost always cost you extra.

Platform Ads: The provider might display their own advertising on your free site. To remove these, you’ll need to upgrade.

Limited Storage & Bandwidth: You’ll get a certain amount of space for your files and limits on how much data can be transferred (traffic).

Fewer Features: Advanced design customisation, e-commerce capabilities (like selling online), a wider range of plugins or apps, and detailed analytics are often reserved for paid plans.

Branding: You’ll likely have the platform’s branding visible on your site.

What are free sites good for?

They’re grouse for personal blogs, online portfolios to showcase your work, simple sites for a hobby or community group, or just to test out an idea without spending any dosh.

When would you need to pay?
If you need a professional look with your own custom domain, want to sell products online, need more grunt (storage/bandwidth), want to get rid of their ads, or need more advanced features, you’ll likely need to look at a paid plan.

So, starting free is a top way to get your foot in the door. Just be aware of what comes with it, and you can always upgrade later if your site takes off or your needs change.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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