Strikingly
Best all in one free platform
Strikingly’s free plan allows you to build an unlimited number of websites. You also get to try out different features and access its entire collection of web templates. What makes Strikingly stand out as a site builder is the ability to provide ecommerce functionality even to free websites. You can sell one product per free website. Its free web server hosting also comes with 5GB monthly bandwidth and the use of a free domain in an SEO-friendly format - yourname.mystrikingly.com. You can upgrade to a Pro plan once your site starts growing. If you haven’t decided what kind of website to create and you want to try different designs and features, this platform is for you.
Wix
A good choice for beginners
Under Wix’s free plan, you get access to a wide variety of templates and an easy to use drag and drop website builder. This platform is great for those who do not have coding experience but do not necessarily shy away from the challenge of designing their own site. You get a variety of customization options as well although you will need to upgrade to a paid account to access ecommerce functionality. The free domain that comes with this free web server hosting and site building platform is not exactly the best - yourname.wixsite.com/yourwebsite - but you can remedy that by upgrading to a paid subscription and obtaining your own personalized domain later on.
Jimdo
Good sound start for a basic website for a future ecommerce store
Jimdo is a good web server hosting and site building service that is ideal for users who already have an existing online store through a different platform like Facebook Store or Etsy. It provides all the basic ingredients you need to get a website up but not much else. You can use it as a backdrop for your existing online shop and, once you decide to create your very own ecommerce store, Jimdo offers a cheaper ecommerce plan to get you started.
Weebly
Ideal for small businesses
Weebly is another good platform geared towards beginners. It features a drag-and-drop website builder and decent SEO tools, making it easy for small businesses to create their own optimized websites. The free domain that it offers along with the free web server comes in a reasonably optimized format - yoursite.weebly.com - so it is easy to remember. It may not have as much flexibility in terms of customization as other website builders but it does provide a good selection of modern website templates to get you started with your project.
SITE123
Fuss-free web server hosting and website building solution
Most of the website builders on this list provide decent room for customizations for those who want to try their hand at being creatives. If you can’t be bothered with design and you want a no-fuss basic website, SITE123 is a sound platform for you. It starts off with a design assistant that identifies the kind of website you want to build and from there, it serves you with a template that you can work with. The only drawback is that some templates tend to be dated but you don’t have the freedom to switch to different ones.
Check out our blog for tips on how to build beautiful websites.
