The real truth about “free” websites

It is tempting to use a free website builder you've seen advertised on TV or social media. Before you spend hours of your valuable time building it yourself, it's worth understanding the trade-offs of building a website for free.

The hidden catches of “freemium” platforms

Most free website tools use a “freemium” model: the basic tool is free, but it is deliberately limited so that you need paid monthly upgrades later.

• No proper web address: free plans usually don't let you use your own domain. Your address looks like yourname.freebuilder.com, which can look less trustworthy to customers.
• Their advertising on your site: free plans typically show the builder's own logo or adverts on your pages.
• Limits and upsells: features such as your own domain, removing adverts or extra pages are often only on paid plans, and those monthly fees add up year after year.

The smart, low-cost alternative

Instead of fighting the limits of a free builder, our static web design package gives you a professional, permanent solution: your own domain name, fast loading and no adverts, for a one-off £350 including the first year of hosting.

Got more questions? See our Website cost & pricing FAQs or the £350 website package.

Last reviewed 2026-10-05 by the Iceworks team.