When I started learning web design in 2019 I had no budget, no laptop at times, and a lot of impatience. I tried building too many sites and lost most of them because I didn’t plan properly. But I learned fast — mostly from YouTube — and today I still build and manage websites using my phone when I need to. If I had known then what I know now, I would have saved time and money.
So if you’re asking how to create your own website for free, I’ll give you my exact, practical step-by-step process that works today for beginners in Nigeria — using either a phone or a desktop. I’ll show the platforms you can use, the real limitations, and how to get the most value with zero cash.
How Can I Create My Own Website for Free?
Yes—you can create your own website for free by using a free website builder (WordPress.com, Wix, Google Sites), a free hosting platform (GitHub Pages, Netlify), or by using Google Business’ free website feature. Each option gives you a working site with a free subdomain; the best choice depends on your goals (portfolio, blog, small business, or learning).
Now let’s walk through the options, the exact steps, and practical tips so you get a site that looks professional even when it costs nothing.
Pick the Right Free Option for Your Goal
Not all “free” websites are the same. Choose based on what you want to do:
- Simple business listing or contact page: Google Business Website (fast and easy)
- Blog or content site without technical setup: WordPress.com (free plan)
- Visual portfolio or small business site: Wix free plan or Carrd
- Static site / developer-friendly site: GitHub Pages or Netlify (free hosting for static sites)
- Learning and experimentation (no coding): Google Sites
Step-by-step: Create a Free Website with WordPress.com (Beginner Friendly)
WordPress powers a large part of the web and the free WordPress.com plan is the easiest place to start if you want something that can grow later.
Sign up
- Open your phone browser or desktop and go to wordpress.com.
- Create a free account with email.
Choose a free subdomain
WordPress will offer a free address like yourname.wordpress.com. Accept that for now — you can add a custom domain later.
Pick a free theme and customize
Choose a simple free theme, upload your logo (or just text), add an About page, Contact page, and a homepage that explains what you do. The WordPress editor works well on phones.
Publish content
Add a blog post or services page — something useful for your visitors. Even short helpful content will do.
Limitations
- You’ll have a WordPress subdomain
- Limited monetization and plugin support on free plan
But this gives you a credible, clean site for zero cost — perfect if you’re starting and want to learn.
Step-by-step: Create a Free Website with Wix (Drag-and-drop)
Wix’s free plan gives you an easy drag-and-drop editor and a free subdomain like username.wixsite.com/sitename.
- Sign up at wix.com
- Pick a free template
- Customize with images and text (Wix app works on phones)
- Publish — your site is live
Wix is great for portfolios and service pages, but the free version shows Wix ads and limits SEO options.
Step-by-step: Create a Free Static Site on GitHub Pages (Best for Simple Sites)
If you want a fast, ad-free site and are okay with a little learning, GitHub Pages is an excellent free option. It requires committing files to a repository, but platforms like Jekyll or static site templates make this easy. Netlify also provides drag-and-drop deploy and continuous deployment from a Git repo.
This option is perfect for portfolios and documentation sites and it gives you a free username.github.io or custom domain mapping later.
Step-by-step: Google Sites (Fast & Simple — Good for Schools/Small Projects)
Google Sites is very straightforward:
- Go to sites.google.com
- Create a new site from templates
- Add pages, images, and embed forms
- Publish — you get a free Google subdomain
Google Sites is limited in design but extremely easy — ideal for event pages, portfolios, or small informational sites.
Step-by-step: Use Google Business’ Free Website (Quick Local Presence)
If you only need a simple contact page and map listing, register or claim your Google Business Profile and use the built-in free website feature. It takes minutes and is great for local shops that want to appear on Google Maps quickly. Read more about limits in our article Is Google Business Website Really Free?.
How to Create a Free Website Using Only Your Phone
Yes—you can build any of the above from your phone. I still do a lot of edits from my phone using the WordPress app. Here’s a quick mobile workflow I use:
- Open the builder app (WordPress, Wix, Google Sites)
- Choose a template
- Upload compressed images (use Canva to design and export smaller sizes)
- Edit text and pages
- Publish and test on multiple devices
For a full mobile-first guide, see How to Create a Website With Your Phone.
Free vs Paid: When You Should Upgrade
Free is great to start, but consider upgrading when:
- You need your own domain (professional look)
- You need e-commerce (payments)
- You want better SEO and analytics
- You want to remove platform ads
Buying a domain and affordable hosting isn’t expensive — many Nigerian providers offer yearly packages that cost less than a monthly data plan. A custom domain makes your brand trustworthy.
Practical Tips to Make a Free Website Look Professional
- Use a simple, clean template: Avoid heavy animations on free plans.
- Compress images: Use 1200px max width for hero images and export as JPEG/WebP.
- Write clear copy: One sentence that explains what you do is better than paragraphs of fluff.
- Show contact methods: Add WhatsApp click-to-chat, email, and business hours.
- Test on mobile: Over 70% of Nigerian users browse via phones — make sure it looks perfect on small screens.
- Get a free SSL: Most builders include SSL automatically — ensure your site uses HTTPS.
SEO Basics You Can Do for Free
Even with a free site, you can improve searchability:
- Use a clear page title and description
- Write helpful content that answers real questions
- Use headings (H1, H2) correctly
- Share your site on social media and local directories
- Claim your Google Business Profile for local visibility
Common Mistakes People Make When Building Free Websites
- Using huge images that slow the page
- Not testing contact forms
- Leaving default template text
- Hiring someone to “build” and losing admin access
- Relying only on social media without owning a site
Free Tools to Help You Build a Better Website
- Canva — design & compress images
- Google Analytics / Search Console — monitor basic traffic
- UptimeRobot — free uptime checks
- GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights — speed testing
When Free Isn’t Enough
If your business model depends on payments, bookings, subscriptions, or heavy traffic — you should invest in paid hosting and a custom domain. Free platforms can limit growth and control. If you want a simple, credible starting point though, free options are excellent.
My Exact Recommendation for Beginners in Nigeria
Start free to prove your idea:
- Claim your Google Business Profile (free)
- Create a WordPress.com free site or a Wix free site as a basic online presence
- Use the mobile apps to update content and test on real devices
- When you start getting customers, buy a custom domain and move to affordable hosting (WordPress.org or managed hosting)
External Resource to Learn More
For a deeper explanation of WordPress hosting and the differences between free and self-hosted WordPress, read this helpful guide from WordPress.org: About Choosing Web Hosting (WordPress.org).
Further Reading on Taculia Designs
- How to Create a Website With Your Phone
- Can You Host a Website on Your Phone?
- Is Google Business Website Really Free?
- The Best Website for Small Businesses
Final Thoughts — Start Free, Plan to Own
Creating your own website for free is absolutely possible and a smart move to validate your idea. Use the free options to launch, learn, and test. But plan from day one to own your brand — a custom domain and affordable hosting will give you credibility and long-term control when you’re ready to scale.
If you want me to review your free site and show quick improvements you can do right now (from your phone), send the link and I’ll give practical tips you can implement today.