Free website for your small business: what it really costs
Yes, you can get a free website. But "free" often means an address that is not yours, another brand's ads, and hours of your time. Here is what free offers really give you, when they are enough, and when paying is worth it.
What free offers really give you
Wix, free plan
- Wix ads on every page of your site
- An address like "myname.wixsite.com/mysite", without your own domain name
- No online selling
- The full design tool, to try things out
To remove the ads and connect your domain, Wix's paid plans start at about US$17 a month, paid yearly. Wix or a turnkey website?
Google Sites
- Truly free, with no ads
- You can connect your own domain name, which you pay for separately
- Very simple templates and little control over the design
- No online selling, and few tools for search ranking
The hidden costs of "free"
Your time
Choosing a template, writing the text, preparing the photos, adjusting everything for mobile: for a business owner, that is often whole evenings, then every update after.
Your credibility
A "wixsite.com" address and another brand's ads make it look like a trial site. Your customers compare you with your competitors.
Moving to paid
As soon as you want your own domain, no ads or online selling, you need a paid plan. Free is often just a trial.
When free is enough, and when paying is worth it
Free is enough if…
- you are testing an idea, before you even have customers
- it is a personal project or a one-off activity
- you have time and like tinkering (Google Sites is then a good option)
Paying is worth it if…
- you run a real business, with customers looking for you on Google
- you want your own domain name and a professional image
- you want a bilingual site, or to sell online
- your time is worth more than a few dollars a month
Almost free, but professional: $25 a month
- Your own .com or .ca domain name, included
- No other brand's ads
- A template designed for your trade
- A bilingual, mobile-friendly site
- Editable by you, without code
- Live the same day, with no setup fees
Prices in CAD, plus applicable taxes. Cancel anytime. See the demos · Compare plans in detail
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free website bad for my search ranking?
Not necessarily, but an address like "myname.wixsite.com" inspires less trust and is hard to remember. A domain name of your own is a better start.
Can I use my own domain name on a free website?
With the Wix free plan, no. With Google Sites, yes, but you pay for the domain separately, and connecting it is technical.
Can I sell online with a free website?
Not with the Wix free plan or Google Sites. Selling online requires a paid plan, whatever the platform.
What does your Standard plan add to a free website?
Your own domain name included, no other brand's ads, a template designed for your trade, a bilingual site, and email support. From $25 a month.
Sources: Wix, "Is Wix free?", Network Solutions, Website Planet, Wix plans page (viewed September 27, 2026).