Building a Free Website with Google
Google Sites lets you create a free website from google without writing code. It is a structured wiki and page-creation tool inside Google Workspace that allows individuals, small teams, and classrooms to publish simple sites quickly. You get a free google.com subdomain, drag-and-drop editing, and seamless integration with Google Drive, Calendar, Maps, and YouTube. The platform is best suited for internal company hubs, project portals, class pages, event sites, and personal portfolios that do not need custom code or e-commerce functionality.
More from this site
Keep reading the latest coverage
Google Sites is not a full-featured web builder like WordPress.com or Wix. It trades flexibility for simplicity. If your goal is a clean, fast-loading site with minimal upkeep and no hosting fees, it is a strong option. If you need advanced design control, SEO tools, or online sales, you will outgrow it quickly.
How to Start a Free Site on Google Sites
Go to sites.google.com and sign in with a Google account. Click the blank template or choose a prebuilt layout, then use the drag-and-drop editor to add text boxes, images, embedded docs, and other elements. You can set page-level permissions, choose a theme, and preview the site before publishing. When ready, click Publish and pick a URL under your google.com domain. The site goes live immediately, and you can update it anytime from the editor.
Step-by-step setup
- Sign in to your Google account at sites.google.com.
- Choose a template or start from blank.
- Drag content blocks onto the page and edit text and media.
- Adjust the site theme, navigation, and footer.
- Set who can view or edit the site.
- Click Publish and assign a google.com subdomain URL.
What You Get for Free
The free tier of Google Sites includes hosting, a google.com subdomain, basic templates, and integration with core Google apps. You can embed Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar events, and Google Maps. Storage comes from your Google Drive allocation. There are no monthly fees, no transaction charges, and no ads placed on your site by Google.
What Is Not Included
The free version has clear limitations. You cannot connect a custom domain without Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), which is a paid product. There is no built-in e-commerce, no advanced SEO settings, no version history for site content beyond basic edits, and limited analytics beyond what Google provides indirectly through Drive usage. The editor is also more rigid than WordPress or Webflow, making custom layouts difficult without HTML and CSS knowledge.
| Feature | Free Google Sites | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Custom domain | Not available | Requires Google Workspace or a third-party service |
| E-commerce | Not available | Use Google Forms or link to an external store |
| SEO tools | Basic only | No meta-tag editor or structured data controls |
| Analytics | None built in | Use Google Analytics separately if needed |
| Storage | From Google Drive | 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos |
| Ads | None | Google does not place ads on free Sites |
Who Should Use Google Sites
Google Sites works well for teachers building class portals, small teams managing internal wikis, clubs sharing event information, and individuals who want a simple online presence without a learning curve. It is not ideal for businesses that need branded domains, online stores, advanced search optimization, or complex page interactions.
Google Sites vs. Other Free Website Builders
WordPress.com offers more design control and plugins but adds limitations on the free tier, including ads and a wordpress.com subdomain. Wix and Canva websites provide visual editing tools but often push you toward paid plans for custom domains and extra storage. Google Sites is simpler, ad-free, and backed by Google infrastructure, but it gives up flexibility in return.
Moving Beyond the Free Tier
If your site grows, you can connect a custom domain through a Google Workspace subscription or export content and migrate to another host. Google Sites data can be downloaded, and pages can be rebuilt on other platforms. For most users who stay within the original scope of a simple, informational site, the free plan is enough to publish and maintain a site without spending money.