Only builder subdomains (e.g. wix.com/your-name) with ads are truly free. For your own domain and full control you need to plan at least 10 to 15 euros per month. Long-term professional appearance requires your own domain and a clean technical foundation.
You want a website but spend as little as possible on it? Completely understandable: especially at the start you have to manage the budget. The good news: there are indeed ways to build your own website completely for free. The less-good news: "free" always has a catch. In this article I'll show you honestly which options exist, what they can do, and where the limits are.
The three major free website builders
There are dozens of builder providers, but three stand out for German-speaking users:
1. Jimdo (Made in Germany)
Jimdo comes from Hamburg and is particularly popular among German freelancers. The AI assistant "Jimdo Dolphin" creates a basic site for you in minutes.
- Free plan: yes, with Jimdo subdomain (yourname.jimdosite.com)
- Pros: very easy to use, German interface, integrated GDPR tools, good mobile editor
- Cons: Jimdo ads on your site, no own domain, limited storage (500 MB), restricted design customisation
- Upgrade cost: from about 11 euros/month for own domain and ad-free
2. Wix (the all-rounder)
Wix is one of the largest website builder providers worldwide and offers the most design options on the free plan.
- Free plan: yes, with Wix subdomain (yourname.wixsite.com/sitename)
- Pros: huge template selection, drag-and-drop editor, many apps and extensions, also for shops
- Cons: Wix ad banner, no own domain, pages sometimes load slowly (lots of JavaScript), limited SEO options
- Upgrade cost: from about 13 euros/month for own domain and ad-free
3. WordPress.com (not to be confused with WordPress.org)
WordPress.com offers a free hosting plan with the familiar WordPress interface. Important: it's not the same as WordPress.org (the self-hosted version).
- Free plan: yes, with WordPress subdomain (yourname.wordpress.com)
- Pros: powerful editor, good blog area, solid SEO basics, large community
- Cons: WordPress ads, no own domain, no plugin access, restricted themes, no custom CSS
- Upgrade cost: from about 4 euros/month (Personal plan) for own domain
What all free plans have in common
Whichever provider you choose, in the free plan you'll always live with these limitations:
- No own domain: instead of www.your-business.com you get a subdomain like yourname.wixsite.com. It looks unprofessional and is bad for SEO
- Provider ads: ads for the builder are shown on your site, not exactly trust-building for customers
- Limited storage: usually 500 MB to 1 GB, enough for a small site but quickly tight
- Limited SEO: advanced SEO functions like custom meta tags or schema markup are often only in paid plans
- No email mailbox: a professional email like info@your-business.com only comes with an own domain
The hidden costs of "free"
Before you go for the free option, do the honest math:
Your time is money
A builder promises "website in 30 minutes". Reality: you'll need 10–20 hours until everything looks and works as you imagine. Writing texts, finding and editing images, adapting design, checking mobile view, setting up privacy, it adds up fast.
Example calculation: if you value your time at 50 euros per hour and need 15 hours, you've "invested" 750 euros, not in money but in time you couldn't put into your core business.
Upgrade pressure
Free plans are deliberately limited so you have to upgrade eventually. As soon as you want your own domain (and you need one) you pay monthly. Over 2–3 years that adds up to 300–500 euros, for a builder system with limitations.
Domain cost
Even if the website builder stays “free": your own .de domain costs about 8 to 15 euros per year. Without your own domain you are not a business partner people take seriously.
When is a free website enough?
Honest answer: in these cases a free website can be enough:
- You're a hobby blogger or have a personal project
- You want to first test whether your business idea works (MVP)
- You only need a temporary site for an event
- You literally have zero budget and need any online presence at all
When do you need more?
If one or more of these statements apply to you, you won't be happy with a free website:
- You want to be found via Google (SEO)
- You need a professional email address
- Your competition has professional websites
- You offer services where trust matters
- You want contact forms, booking systems or a small shop
- You want to win customers via the internet long-term
Tips: getting the best out of the free version
If you still go for the free start, at least do it right:
Tip 1: less is more
Create at most 3–5 pages: home, about, services, contact. Better few pages with good content than many empty ones.
Tip 2: text matters more than design
Invest your time in good text. Write clearly what you offer, for whom and why someone should choose you. No marketing blabla: talk the way you'd talk to a customer in the shop.
Tip 3: own photos instead of stock
A real photo of you, your shop or your work is worth a thousand times more than a generic stock photo. Modern smartphones take good pictures: you don't need a photographer.
Tip 4: don't forget imprint and privacy
In Germany an imprint is legally required as soon as you run a commercial website. A privacy policy is also mandatory. Use free generators like e-Recht24's or that of the Siebert Lexow firm.
Tip 5: Google Business Profile as a complement
Whether you have a website or not: set up a Google Business Profile in any case. It is completely free and gives you visibility in local searches. You can find out how in my Google Business setup guide.
Tip 6: buy your own domain separately
You can buy a .de domain from providers such as IONOS, Strato or Namecheap for about 8 to 12 euros per year and connect it to your website builder site. Some providers allow this even on the free plan, and it immediately makes a more professional impression.
Alternative: self-host WordPress.org
If you're a bit more tech-savvy, there's the option of installing WordPress.org (the open-source version) on cheap web hosting yourself:
- Cost: about 3–5 euros/month for shared hosting at All-Inkl, Strato or Netcup
- Pros: full control, thousands of free plugins and themes, no ads, unlimited customisation, professional SEO possible
- Cons: basic technical understanding needed, you're responsible for updates and security yourself
For many small businesses this is the best middle ground between "completely free" and "have it built professionally".
My honest conclusion
Yes, you can build a website for free. But "free" doesn't mean "for nothing", you pay with your time, with limitations and often with a less professional public image.
For the very first start, to try out an idea or as a temporary solution, free builders are totally fine. As soon as you seriously want to win customers, you'll have to invest either in a paid subscription or in a professional website.
If you're unsure which path is right for you, just get in touch. A short conversation can save you weeks of trial and error.
Stefanos Svarnas, Knusperholz in Ludwigsburg. I build websites and make sure businesses get found on Google. Personally, without agency detours.
