We hear this story all the time at ItsProWebsite. People always tell us the thing at ItsProWebsite. The story is really common, at ItsProWebsite.
A small business owner has an idea and needs a website. They search Google for “how to make a website” and see ads from DIY builders like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, or GoDaddy promising a free website with no coding required.
It sounds great. Why pay a professional when you can do it yourself for free?
You sign up and spend your weekend dragging images, adjusting layouts, and trying to make everything look right. Finally, you click Publish. That is when the paywalls appear.
The “free” website quickly becomes expensive. Not just in money, but in lost time and missed revenue while you struggle to make it look professional.
In 2025, the idea of a truly free website simply is not real. Here is what most builders do not clearly tell you.
The first cost is not money. It is your reputation.
Free plans force you to use a subdomain like:
www.yourbusiness.wixsite.com/mysite
You cannot connect your own domain like www.YourBusiness.com unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
This hurts your business because:
You also cannot create a professional email like [email protected]. You are stuck with something like [email protected].
To connect your own domain, you usually pay $16–$25 per month. So “free” is no longer free.
Free websites display builder ads on your site. Large banners often say:
“THIS SITE WAS DESIGNED WITH [BUILDER NAME]. CREATE YOURS TODAY!”
These banners stay visible as people scroll.
Imagine a lawyer in court wearing a suit with the price tag still attached. That is how these ads look to your clients.
Removing ads often requires upgrading to a higher-tier plan costing $20–$30 per month.
Builders use a Freemium model. The basics are free. The features that actually make your business work cost money.
Common paid upgrades include:
When you add essential features, the cost typically reaches $35–$50 per month.
With ItsProWebsite, everything you need is included for $49 per month with no hidden upgrades.
You build your site. Then you need extra functionality:
On platforms like WordPress.com or Wix, these are paid plugins or apps.
Some businesses end up paying over $100 per month in plugins alone.
At ItsProWebsite, these features are built directly into custom code. No plugin marketplace required.
The most dangerous cost is lost customers.
DIY builders use drag-and-drop systems that generate bloated code behind the scenes. A simple text block can create 100 lines of unnecessary code.
Why this matters:
If your website is slow, you lose traffic, leads, and revenue.
ItsProWebsite developers write clean, semantic code for fast loading and better SEO performance.
With many website builders, you do not own the underlying code. You are locked into their platform.
If prices increase or service declines:
You often must rebuild from scratch.
ItsProWebsite uses standard web technologies, giving you more flexibility and long-term control.
What is your hourly rate?
If your time is worth $100 per hour and you spend 20 hours building a site, that “free” website costs you $2,000 in opportunity cost.
Typical DIY time investment:
Your time is better spent running your business.
When you add everything up:
Free builders are not free. They are expensive in ways you do not see immediately.
For $49 per month, ItsProWebsite provides:
Stop wasting time on drag-and-drop tools. Let experts build your online presence so you can focus on growing your business.
Ready to upgrade your website? Check out our Pricing Plans or Contact Us today to get started.
Not completely. While you can start without paying, most free plans require upgrades for custom domains, removing ads, adding storage, improving SEO, and unlocking business features. Over time, these costs add up.
Most free website builders only allow subdomains like yourbusiness.buildername.com. To connect your own domain such as yourbusiness.com, you usually need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Yes, they can. Free plans may limit search engine indexing, restrict SEO tools, and generate bloated code that slows down your website. Slow speed and limited optimization can negatively impact Google rankings.
Website builders display ads on free plans to generate revenue. These banners promote the builder’s brand, not yours. Removing ads typically requires upgrading to a higher paid tier.
