What are some free websites

1. The mainstream winners: Wix, Weebly and Square Online — easy, familiar, but limited

Wix repeatedly ranks as a top free option because its editor, template library and built‑in SEO guidance give the most functionality without paywalls, though the free plan uses a Wix subdomain and shows branding ^[1]; Weebly (now part of Square) provides an intuitive drag‑and‑drop builder and basic ecommerce tools under a free plan but is positioned toward merchants within Square’s ecosystem ^{[2] [8]}; Square Online stands out as one of the few free builders that allow selling products on a free plan, though transaction fees and feature caps still apply ^[1].

2. Design‑oriented builders: Webflow, Framer and Strikingly — power with upsells

Webflow and Framer appeal to designers who want fine control or CMS features, with Webflow described as a high‑quality CMS that still upsells advanced functionality and Framer adding modern collaboration and publishing updates ^{[6] [3]}; Strikingly offers notably easy site creation and unlimited free sites but lacks the deep template sets of larger rivals, illustrating the tradeoff between simplicity and breadth of options ^[6].

3. Indie and community hosts: Neocities and Webador — creative freedom, fewer gatekeepers

Neocities presents itself as a social network for creators offering free static hosting and tools that emphasize individual creativity and discovery through tags and follows, making it attractive for hobbyists and retro web projects ^[4]; Webador advertises a free website option with responsive templates and basic features though its marketing also highlights paid upgrades and promotional pricing for domains and mailboxes ^[9].

4. The long tail: Jimdo, Webnode, Ucraft and lesser‑known builders — hidden gems with caveats

Review roundups and comparisons list many smaller builders—Jimdo for quick beginner sites, Webnode with easy templates but occasional registration glitches reported in tests, and Ucraft or Mozello as niche alternatives that sometimes appear only on non‑affiliate lists because they don’t pay large commissions to reviewers—each may offer genuinely usable free tiers but also restrict custom domains or advanced features ^{[7] [10]}.

5. Common constraints across free plans — read the fine print

Multiple tests emphasized that free plans are often designed to hook users: ads or platform banners are common, custom domains are usually blocked or conditional, storage and bandwidth limits exist, and critical features like advanced SEO, ecommerce, or mailboxes are gated behind paid tiers—reviewers recommend reading the fine print because builders differ significantly in how intrusive ads are and what features remain free ^{[5] [10] [6]}.

6. How to pick: match platform strengths to realistic needs

For a simple portfolio or personal blog, lightweight builders or Neocities can suffice; for small shops that must take payments, Square Online’s free selling option is a practical choice; for design control and future growth, Framer or Webflow offer stronger toolsets but expect upsells and steeper learning curves—comparison guides tested dozens of builders to surface these distinctions and caution that time invested in a free platform can create switching costs later ^{[1] [3] [5] [6]}.

7. Final note on sourcing and limits of this report

This analysis synthesizes comparative reviews and vendor pages compiled in 2025–2026; specific bandwidth, ad behavior, domain deals and pricing promotions vary by vendor and over time, and readers should consult each provider’s current terms before committing—this piece refrains from asserting details not covered directly in the cited reviews and vendor materials ^{[6] [5] [9]}.