How to build a website without paying for a builder

WordPress is the usual way to build a site without a paid builder. The software is free, but you still need hosting and a domain, and those cost extra. Ghost works the same way for blogs and newsletters.

The quick answer

"Free" has a catch with every option here. WordPress and Ghost are free software, but you pay for the server they run on. Wix has a free plan, but a custom domain needs a paid one. Squarespace has no free plan at all.

Step 1: decide what the site is for

The right tool depends on the site. A general site with pages, a blog and possibly a store points to WordPress. A blog, newsletter or paid membership points to Ghost. A small business site you want hosted for you points to Wix or Squarespace.

WordPress: free software, separate hosting

WordPress (wordpress.org) is open-source publishing software. You build pages with the Block Editor, start from a theme or a blank canvas, and add stores, analytics and newsletters through plugins. It is released under GPLv2 or later.

The software costs nothing, but you need hosting to run it. The site lists recommended hosts (Pressable, Bluehost and Hostinger) and does not publish hosting prices. Hosting is a separate cost that depends on the provider you pick, and so is your domain.

Some other points to know:

• The server needs PHP and MySQL or MariaDB. WordPress.org recommends PHP 8.3 or greater and MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.11 or greater, and most hosts meet this.
• You set up, update and back up the site yourself, or through your host.
• You keep control of your site and are not locked in to one builder.

This covers the software at wordpress.org, not the hosted service at wordpress.com.

Ghost: free to self-host, built for publishing

Ghost is an open-source platform for publishing a website, sending posts as email newsletters and selling free or paid memberships. The code is under the MIT licence, so you can run your own copy on a server. Server costs, updates and uptime are then yours to handle.

The official hosted option, Ghost(Pro), has no free plan. It starts at $18 a month billed yearly (Starter), then $29 (Publisher) and $199 (Business), all in USD. Plans are priced by audience size. Every paid plan has a try-for-free button, but the pricing page does not state the trial length. The cheapest plan has simple design settings and no custom themes.

Ghost is a good fit for writers and small publishers. It is not the best fit for a general site with a store and bookings.

Wix vs Squarespace: when a hosted builder makes sense

Both are hosted builders. You pick a template or use an AI builder, edit with drag and drop, and the company handles hosting. The cost is less control. You do not own the software, so you cannot move your site to any host.

Wix has a free plan that lets you build and publish on a Wixsite subdomain. A custom domain, ad removal and selling online need a paid Premium plan. Wix's blog lists the Light plan at $17 a month billed yearly, with Core, Business and Business Elite at $29, $39 and $159. Prices vary by location, so check Wix's plans page for yours.

Squarespace has no free plan, only a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. Basic is $19 a month, or $12 a month billed annually. Core is $27 or $17, and Advanced is $36 or $25. Hosting and SSL are included, and annual plans include one year of a free custom domain. Basic charges a 2% fee on online store sales.

When paying for a builder is worth it

A hosted builder is worth paying for if you want one tool for a small business site, shop or portfolio and do not want to manage servers or plugins. Wix suits people who want to start free and upgrade later. Squarespace suits people who want store, bookings and email in one subscription.

It is not worth it if you want to own the software and move your site to any host. That is the case for WordPress and Ghost.

Our pick

For most people building a general site, WordPress is the best fit, as long as you budget for hosting and a domain. Pick Ghost if the site is a blog, newsletter or membership. Pick Wix if you want to start on a free plan, and Squarespace if you want everything in one paid subscription and can do without a free tier.