Need a free, no‑code website builder for 2025? Start with Wix, WordPress.com, Webflow, Google Sites, Carrd, Weebly, Strikingly, Tilda, Dorik, or Site123. Each offers drag‑and‑drop editors, responsive templates, and built‑in hosting—perfect for portfolios, blogs, landing pages, or small stores without spending a BAM.
We re‑tested every platform in July 2025 and followed Blogteq’s SEO listicle template, so you get the freshest limits, perks, and hidden gotchas.
1. Wix Free Plan — Design Freedom for Any Niche
Best for: visually‑driven sites (portfolios, restaurants, agencies)
- 900+ mobile‑responsive templates with AI‑powered Smart Sections
- App Market now has 300+ free widgets (chat, bookings, Instagram feeds)
- SEO Wizard auto‑generates meta tags and schema
Trade‑offs: Wix branding banner on every page; 500 MB storage; 1 GB bandwidth—fine for ~1 000 visits.
2025 update: the new “Flex” container lets you mimic Webflow‑style layouts without code, smoothing breakpoints for foldable phones.
2. WordPress.com Free — Blogging Powerhouse
Best for: content‑heavy blogs, personal journals, newsletters
- Block Theme Editor + 30 free block themes give near‑FSE control
- Jetpack Lite (now bundled) covers backups, stats, and CDN
- Monetize with paid subscriptions via Stripe even on free tier
Limitations: WordPress.com ads display unless you upgrade; 1 GB storage; custom plugins still Pro‑only.
Pro tip: pair WordPress.com with the Gutenberg “Patterns” library to spin up repeatable sections faster than Wix.
3. Webflow Starter — Designer’s No‑Code Canvas
Best for: advanced animations, agency prototypes
- CSS grid & flexbox visual controls, Lottie integration, native CMS (up to 50 items free)
- Code export if you outgrow the free plan
- Audit panel flags accessibility & SEO issues in‑editor
Watch out: 2 static pages + 50 CMS items may feel tight; “webflow.io” sub‑domain only—custom domains require Site plan.
Still, for learning modern front‑end structure risk‑free, Starter beats most drag‑and‑drop rivals.
4. Google Sites — Fast, Ad‑Free Collaboration
Best for: internal project hubs, educator pages, quick docs
- 100% free—no upsell tiers, no ads
- Real‑time co‑editing (like Google Docs)
- Uses your Google Drive storage; basically unlimited for most
Drawbacks: Limited fonts and styling; feels corporate. No built‑in SEO controls beyond page title/description.
Pair it with a custom domain via Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains) for a polished look.
5. Carrd — One‑Page Sites in Minutes
Best for: personal landing pages, link‑in‑bio hubs
- Start from 80+ stylish templates; edit on phone
- New 2025 Sections feature allows up to 3 pages even on free tier
- Native integrations: Mailchimp, Gumroad, Typeform embed
Limits: 100 MB total assets; Carrd footer credit stays.
Upgrade to Pro Standard (USD 19/yr) for custom domains and forms—but free works for most resumes.
6. Weebly Free — E‑commerce Starter Kit
Best for: small shops testing the waters
- Square Online integration—sell unlimited physical items (2 % fee)
- Inventory, coupons, and basic shipping calculator included
- Automatic tax calculator for US/EU; manual rates for others
Cons: Storage only 500 MB; checkout on “square.site” sub‑domain with Weebly ad strip.
A friction‑free on‑ramp if you’ll eventually migrate to Square’s paid tier.
7. Strikingly Free — Mobile‑First Single‑Page Builder
Best for: event pages, simple product launches
- Instant sections straight from AI prompts (“Add FAQ”, “Add Pricing”)
- 24/7 chat even for free users—rare in this list
- Collect 50 contacts via built‑in form/CRM
Caveats: 5 GB monthly bandwidth; 500 MB storage. Only one product in store on free plan.
Good choice when speed to publish trumps multi‑page depth.
8. Tilda Free — Storytelling Blocks & Animations
Best for: long‑scroll narratives, digital magazines
- 550+ pre‑built “Zero Blocks” with scroll effects; Figma import plugin (beta)
- Free account now lets you publish up to 50 pages on one site
- Built‑in “T‑Store Lite” sells 10 products without fees
Snags: 1 GB storage; “tilda.ws” domain and footer badge. The Google Core Web Vitals‑friendly code helps you rank despite heavy visuals.
9. Dorik Community Plan — Lightweight & Privacy‑Friendly
Best for: privacy‑focused portfolios, indie hackers
- No third‑party trackers; GDPR‑safe
- Elegant Tailwind‑inspired templates
- Markdown & custom CSS allowed even on free
Minuses: 50 pages max, 25 blog posts; “dorik.io” sub‑domain + badge.
If you love clean code and ethical analytics, Dorik is your friend.
10. Site123 Free — Guided Setup for Absolute Beginners
Best for: first‑time site owners who fear design tools
- Wizard asks 4 questions → auto‑generates site with lorem content
- Multilingual toggle supports 180+ languages free
- Free logo maker & icon library
Downsides: 250 MB storage, 250 MB bandwidth; prominent floating banner ad.
Great for grandparents’ hobby pages or students’ class projects—speed over flair.
Quick Feature Matrix
Builder | Custom Domain? | Free Storage | Built‑in Shop | Ads/Branding |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wix | No | 500 MB | Up to 5 items | Yes banner |
WordPress.com | No | 1 GB | Paid upgrades | Yes ads |
Webflow | No | 1 GB | E‑commerce paid | Small badge |
Google Sites | Yes (external) | Drive quota | None | None |
Carrd | No | 100 MB | Embed only | Small footer |
Weebly | No | 500 MB | Unlimited items | Banner + Square |
Strikingly | No | 500 MB | 1 item | Footer credit |
Tilda | No | 1 GB | 10 items | Footer badge |
Dorik | No | 1 GB | 10 products | Footer badge |
Site123 | No | 250 MB | 10 items | Floating bar |
How to Choose the Right Builder in 2025
- Match features to intent. Portfolios need design freedom (Wix, Tilda); stores need checkout (Weebly).
- Check upgrade math. Many “free forever” tiers add ads—budget 5–10 €/mo for custom domains as you grow.
- Mind performance. Google’s 2025 Core Web Vitals refresh penalizes CLS over 0.1; lean themes (Dorik, Carrd) load fastest.
- Plan portability. If you’ll migrate later, favor builders with code export (Webflow) or easy content export (WordPress.com).
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
Free website builders in 2025 are powerful enough to validate an idea, land a client, or host course notes—no code, no credit card. Pick one that fits your growth roadmap, lock a custom domain early, and focus on content consistency.
Enjoyed this roundup? Read our Blogspot vs WordPress 2025 comparison next, or get a bespoke automation audit for your new site—contact the HVTEQ team for a free consult.
📬 Contact
For help, questions, or custom setup: Contact me at HVTEQ