Disadvantages of Free Website Builders

Topic: Web Design | 2 min read

Are web builders really free?

There is a saying that if it's too good to be true, it probably isn't...

What I generally dislike about web builders is it's restricted features. If you are planning to build a basic and simple starter website then by all means, go ahead and start one.

My only concern is that if you are considering a long-term website investment, then you should probably veer away from free web builders and hire a trusted and reliable web design service provider instead.

Reasons that I want you to understand before you make a decision

  1. Limited to basic services

    Basic, meaning, limited number of pages, templated design, limited storage, and restricted features.

    If you need a few pages of informational content pretty much a web builder can satisfy you with that already. However, in most cases, when you are already growing your business. There will come a point in time where the basic features won't cut it anymore. Eventually, your website will need more pages, your website will require a bigger storage/bandwidth capacity, and your website will require more features. When that time comes, you will realize that additional subscription and payment is needed for you to scale.

  2. Limited customizability

    Free plans are framed and not customized to meet your business specific needs. Yes, there is a content management system provided to you but almost always limited on what you can adjust and amend.

  3. Advertisements

    Free website builders show advertisements in your web pages which you have no control of. Note that some advertisements are very annoying to some customers which can lead to high bounce rates.

  4. Limited migration capability

    Sooner or later, when you decide to upgrade your website, you'll realize that it's not easy to move and migrate your content to a new platform. So, as early as now, you need to review and consider these mentioned disadvantages of web builders.

Conclusion

I'm not saying that a free website builder is bad. In fact, it can save you some amount of money if used wisely. However, in general, I recommend that you hire a professional web designer to guide you with best practices and to help you meet your custom business requirements.