How to Create a Website for Free (That Doesn’t Load Like a Brick)

If you’re searching how to create a website for free or create a website for free, you’re likely trying to get a real site live with minimal risk.

The problem is that “free” can come with hidden costs:

slow pages (performance)
platform branding
limited ownership

This guide shows you the most practical options and how to pick the right one.

Option 1: Free hosted website builders

You can publish quickly, but expect limitations.

Good for:

simple personal sites
“I need something online today”

Not ideal for:

SEO growth
performance-first experiences

Option 2: Free by deploying your own code

If you can generate or build a site and deploy it yourself, you get:

ownership
better performance potential
freedom to evolve

This is where “website generator” and “AI website builder” tools can help — as long as they export clean code.

A simple, performance-first approach

Start with a proven layout
Keep scripts minimal
Optimize images
Add internal links and a sitemap

If you want the cloning workflow: AI Website Cloning: From Idea to Production.

A note on comparisons

You’ll see lots of “X vs Y” articles online. The only comparison that matters is the one that matches your goal.

If your goal is performance and ownership, you’ll often prefer a workflow that doesn’t depend on a massive plugin ecosystem.

Start cloning with Kloner

Want to ship faster? Create an account or jump into the dashboard to clone from a URL or start from a prompt.