Is owning a website free?
23rd May 2025
posted 23rd May 2025
Many people wonder if they can create a website for free, but is it truly free? In this blog post, we’ll explore the costs of running a website and explain why free websites, despite the low costs, come with significant drawbacks.
What are the costs of making a website?
When making a website, there are many costs involved in its creation. Depending on your business needs, these costs can vary. Below are the essentials you will need to get your website online:
1. You’ll need a domain name
For someone to find your website, you would need a domain name. A domain name is like a personalised address for your business so people can find you online. Domain names need to be purchased from a provider and are renewed yearly. This would be an ongoing cost for your website for as long as it exists.
2. You’ll need to host your website on a server.
All websites need to be hosted somewhere. Hosting is essentially a space that you rent on a server so that your website can always be seen online. Without this, your website wouldn’t exist on the internet for people to find. This would be an ongoing cost for your website for as long as it’s required online.
3. You’ll need to have a website designed.
With the online space being competitive, a professionally designed website is the best way to make a good first impression on potential customers. Hiring a website designer is the best way to achieve a unique and standout design that represents your business. This is usually a one-off fee to cover the costs of building your website.
4. You’ll need an SSL certificate.
SSL certificates are essential in keeping your website secure. This provides a secure connection between your website and the user, keeping your data safe and secure. SSL certificates are renewed yearly and will be an ongoing cost to your website.
5. Your website will need to be maintained.
By choosing a professional website design company, you’ll have benefits such as support, backups of your website, and regular system updates. This is essential for maintaining a good, functional website. This is usually an ongoing monthly fee for as long as you have the services with them.
Why are free websites not the best option?
Having low costs sounds great, but like most things that are free, there are limitations. These websites aren’t entirely free, and you will usually need to pay for a custom domain name and potentially a premium plan to remove the limitations that they have on the free plan. Below are some of the limitations of free websites:
1. The customisation is limited
Free websites are typically build-your-own services. Free-to-use website builders offer limited template designs and restricted colour choices. The downside to this is that the website isn’t designed around your messaging or brand. The design isn’t unique to you, and there are other businesses with the same look. The design of your website shouldn’t be something that’s considered an afterthought. It’s used to enhance your messaging and showcase your brand to its full potential.
2. You’ll have poor SEO (search engine optimisation) & online visibility
Free websites don’t rank well on Google due to limited SEO tools. Subdomains are less trusted by search engines. If you use a free website builder, it’s common for them to provide you with a free subdomain option. This means you use that company's website address with your business name. Using our domain name as an example, webfactory.co.uk, your subdomain would be yourwebsite.webfactory.co.uk. They also aren’t great for SEO; search engines prioritise top-level domains over subdomains in their rankings.
3. They are seen as unprofessional & less credible
Free websites usually come without custom domain names. Meaning you will have a subdomain of the builder you choose to use. Having a custom domain looks more professional than a websitebuilder.com domain name. Visitors may not trust a free website domain name for business purposes. These sites are also likely to come without an SSL certificate, making your website less secure and vulnerable. It can also change how visitors will perceive you. It’s a common perception due to various ad campaigns that websites without an SSL are scam websites or not legitimate companies.
4. You’re at risk of losing your website
Free website providers can suspend or delete your site without notice. You don’t fully own a free website; the provider does. If they change policies, limit features, or shut down, you could lose your site. You may also have difficulty moving from a free subdomain to a custom one. You may lose SEO rankings when switching to a new URL.
Conclusion
While free websites exist, they come with major limitations. Investing in a custom domain and hosting provides more control, security, and credibility. If you’re serious about having a website, free isn’t always the best choice. Investing in a good website company can go a long way!