If you’re planning to start a blog, portfolio, or online business in 2025, you don’t need to learn how to code or hire a web developer. Thanks to modern drag-and-drop platforms, anyone can build a beautiful and fully functional website — for free.
But with so many options available, which free website builder should you choose?
In this article, we’ll break down the top 5 free website builders in 2025 that require zero coding skills, and compare their features, limitations, and best use cases so you can launch your site with confidence.
What to Look For in a Free Website Builder
Before diving in, here are key features to evaluate:
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Ease of Use (Drag-and-Drop Editor)
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Free Plan Limitations (ads, bandwidth, storage)
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Templates and Design Flexibility
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SEO Tools and Mobile Responsiveness
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Ability to Upgrade to Paid Plans Later
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Support for Custom Domain
Let’s explore the top contenders.
1. Wix – Best All-Around Website Builder
🌐 Website: wix.com
Wix remains a top choice in 2025 due to its easy drag-and-drop interface, hundreds of stunning templates, and robust customization options.
👍 Pros:
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Extremely intuitive for beginners
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Over 800 design templates
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Built-in SEO tools
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Free plan includes hosting
👎 Cons:
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Displays Wix ads on free plan
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Can’t connect a custom domain unless you upgrade
💼 Best For: Small businesses, bloggers, photographers, freelancers
2. WordPress.com – Best for Blogging & Content Sites
🌐 Website: wordpress.com
WordPress.com is perfect for bloggers or creators who plan to publish content regularly. It’s built on the WordPress CMS but handles hosting and updates for you.
👍 Pros:
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Built-in blog functionality
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Tons of free themes
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Access to the WordPress editor
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Free plan is stable and reliable
👎 Cons:
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Slight learning curve
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Free plan has limited plugin access
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Ads appear unless you upgrade
💼 Best For: Bloggers, journalists, writers, nonprofit sites
3. Webflow – Best for Design Control
🌐 Website: webflow.com
Webflow blends visual design tools with CMS functionality — no coding required, but still gives you advanced customization power.
👍 Pros:
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Pixel-perfect design control
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CMS capabilities on free plan
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Clean code and SEO-friendly structure
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Great for portfolios and agency-style websites
👎 Cons:
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Steeper learning curve
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Free plan does not allow custom domain
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Limited CMS items unless upgraded
💼 Best For: Designers, creatives, advanced users who want control
4. Carrd – Best for One-Page Sites
🌐 Website: carrd.co
If you need a clean, modern landing page or one-page site, Carrd is fast, simple, and surprisingly powerful.
👍 Pros:
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Extremely fast setup
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Gorgeous minimalist templates
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Works great for resumes, portfolios, or link pages
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Free forever with minimal branding
👎 Cons:
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Limited to one-page sites
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Few integrations compared to others
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Some features (forms, analytics) require Pro
💼 Best For: Personal landing pages, simple portfolios, link-in-bio sites
5. SITE123 – Easiest for Beginners
🌐 Website: site123.com
SITE123 is one of the easiest website builders on the market. It removes complexity and walks you through setup step-by-step.
👍 Pros:
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Guided setup process
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Mobile-friendly templates
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No coding needed at all
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Free plan includes 500MB storage
👎 Cons:
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Limited design flexibility
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Displays SITE123 branding
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Basic compared to competitors
💼 Best For: Non-tech-savvy users, small business owners, local service sites
Quick Comparison Table
| Platform | Best For | Free Plan Limitations | Custom Domain | Ads on Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | General use | Wix ads, no domain | ❌ | ✅ |
| WordPress.com | Blogging | No plugins on free plan | ❌ | ✅ |
| Webflow | Designers | No custom domain, CMS limits | ❌ | ❌ (Webflow branding) |
| Carrd | One-page sites | No forms on free plan | ❌ | ❌ (small footer) |
| SITE123 | Non-tech users | Limited templates, branding | ❌ | ✅ |
—
Should You Stick With a Free Plan?
Free website builders are ideal for:
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Testing your niche
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Launching a simple online presence
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Building MVP (minimum viable product) websites
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Learning web design basics
But if you want:
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A custom domain (like yoursite.com)
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No ads or branding
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Advanced SEO and analytics
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Email forms and integrations
…then upgrading to a paid plan is usually worth the small monthly investment.
Final Thoughts
Launching a website has never been easier. Whether you’re starting a blog, online store, or personal portfolio, one of these free tools will help you build it without any coding knowledge.
Start free, validate your idea, and upgrade only when you’re ready to scale.