10 Best Free Website Builders In Canada

With nearly five years of experience in the website-building industry, we have tested more than 100 free and paid website builders. Here are our selections of the top 10 free website builders in Canada.

Top 10 Free Website Builders In Canada To Visit In 2024

Drawing from years of collective experience in website design and digital marketing, this guide offers a nuanced perspective informed by actual users’ successes and challenges. 

Ucraft

Highlights

• Online Product Showcasing and Sales: Enables easy creation of online catalogs and e-commerce platforms for product display and sales.

• Drag-and-Drop Builder: Simplifies the website creation process with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality.
• Responsive Design Templates: Offers a range of customizable templates that automatically adjust for optimal viewing on various devices.
• Accessibility for Non-Tech-Savvy Users: Designed with a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for sellers with limited technical knowledge.

→ Case study:
“Maple Delights,” a Canadian online store specializing in authentic maple syrup products, successfully utilized Ucraft to build their e-commerce platform. Their Ucraft-built website showcases a range of maple-infused goods, from syrups to gourmet treats, emphasizing a user-friendly shopping experience. 

Embracing Ucraft’s intuitive design tools, “Maple Delights” has created an aesthetically pleasing and efficient online store that resonates with their brand’s natural, Canadian roots.

Pros

• Free Domain Use.
• Affordable Blogging.
• Modern Template.
• Printful Integration.

Cons

• Limited E-commerce Features.
• No Blogging with Free Plan.

Best for?

• Small Business Owners: Ideal for those looking to create a professional online presence with minimal technical expertise.
• Creative Professionals: Suitable for artists, photographers, and designers who want to showcase their portfolio in a visually appealing way.
• E-commerce Startups: Perfect for new businesses venturing into online sales, offering easy-to-use tools for product showcasing and transactions.
• Personal Brand Builders: Great for individuals building personal brands, such as bloggers, consultants, and freelancers, who need a simple yet effective website.

SITE123

Highlights

• Design Assistance: SITE123’s design assistance feature simplifies creating an appealing website, making it suitable for sellers with minimal technical expertise.

• Drag-and-Drop Editor: The platform offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, providing sellers with an easy way to customize their websites and showcase products.

• Email Plans: SITE123 includes email plans, which can be crucial for businesses to communicate with customers effectively.

Pros

• Simple Interface.
• Drag-and-Drop Editing.
• Free Templates.
• Responsive Design.

Cons

• Basic Design Options.
• Limited Customization.
• Fewer Advanced Features.
• Generic Aesthetics.

Best for?

• Beginners in Website Building: Ideal for those with little to no experience in web design, thanks to its straightforward and easy-to-use interface.
• Small Business Owners: Suitable for small business owners who need a simple online presence without complex functionalities.
• Personal Use and Hobbyists: Perfect for individuals creating websites for personal use, blogs, or as a hobby.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Beneficial for non-profits and small community groups looking for an easy way to create a basic website with minimal resources.

Mailchimp

Highlights

• Mailchimp has evolved from a well-known email marketing tool to a comprehensive business solution.

• Transformation that caters to sellers with various marketing needs.

Pros

• E-commerce Integration.
• User-Friendly Website Builder.
• Customization Options.

Cons

• Domain Purchase Requirement.
• Sellers must acquire a domain from a third party.

Best for?

• Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs: Ideal for those who need an integrated marketing and website platform to launch their business online.
• Email Marketers: Perfect for users already utilizing Mailchimp for email marketing, seeking to create a consistent online presence.
• Startups and Solopreneurs: Suitable for startups and individual entrepreneurs needing a simple, yet effective online platform to establish their brand.
• Bloggers and Content Creators: Great for bloggers and content creators who want to leverage Mailchimp’s marketing tools alongside their website.

Weebly

Highlights

• Evolution from email marketing to comprehensive business solution

• Addresses diverse needs of sellers

→ Case study: 

“Northern Apparel,” a Canadian online clothing store, leveraged Weebly’s website builder to create their online retail platform. Their Weebly-designed website features a wide range of outdoor and casual wear, with an emphasis on ease of navigation and secure checkout processes. 

Using Weebly’s e-commerce tools, “Northern Apparel” has efficiently showcased their products, offering customers a seamless shopping experience.

Pros

• User-Friendly Interface: Drag-and-Drop. 
• Responsive Design Templates.
• Basic SEO Tools.
• E-commerce Capabilities.

Cons

• Limited Customization in Free Version.
• Basic Design Options.
• Less Advanced Features.
• Generic Template Designs.

Best for?

• Small Business Owners: Ideal for business owners seeking an easy-to-use platform to create a professional online presence.
• E-commerce Startups: Suitable for startups focused on e-commerce, with Weebly’s integrated online store capabilities.
• Educators and Schools: Great for educators and academic institutions needing to create educational websites or portfolios.
• Bloggers and Hobbyists: Perfect for individuals looking to start a blog or a hobby website with minimal technical expertise required.

GoDaddy

Highlights

• User-Friendly: GoDaddy’s website builder is designed to be easy for everyone, especially beginners. You can effortlessly create your website using a drag-and-drop editor.

• E-Commerce Ready: The platform offers e-commerce functionality even in its free plan, allowing sellers to set up online stores easily.

• Flexible Payment Options: While the free plan supports PayPal payments, upgrading provides access to a broader range of payment options, enhancing flexibility for sellers and buyers.
• Custom Domains: Gives a free custom domain for a year, helping establish a professional and memorable online presence.

Pros

• Email Marketing and SEO Tools.
• Website Chatbot.
• Ad-Free Environment.

Cons

• Limited Templates and Images.
• PayPal Dependency.

Best for?

• Online Stores: GoDaddy is well-suited for individuals or businesses looking to set up and manage online stores. Its emphasis on e-commerce features makes it a strong fit for those focused on selling products.
• Entrepreneurs on a Budget: The free plan allows sellers to start their online journey without upfront costs. Upgrading to premium plans provides additional features at a reasonable price, making it accessible for entrepreneurs on a budget.
• Prioritizing User-Friendliness: GoDaddy’s user-friendly interface is ideal for individuals needing advanced technical skills but wanting to establish a professional online presence for their products.

Wix

Highlights

• Easy-To-Use Interface: Wix is designed to be easy to use, making it accessible for sellers without advanced technical skills.

• Automatic Backups: The platform ensures the safety of your content with automatic website backups.
• Help Features: Wix provides many assistance features, offering guidance throughout the website-building process.

Pros

• Great Customer Support.
• Extensive Template Library.
• Drag-and-Drop Customization.
• Advanced Design Features.
• Integrated SEO Tools.

Cons

• Limitations of Third-Party Apps for Scalability.
• Limited E-commerce on Free Plan.
• Complex for Beginners.
• Slower Load Times with Heavy Design.

Best for?

• Online Stores of Any Size: Wix is an ideal platform for sellers looking to establish and manage online stores, catering to small-scale and more extensive operations.
• Users Seeking User-Friendly Options: With its easy-to-use interface and drag-and-drop editor, Wix is suitable for sellers prioritizing simplicity in the website creation.
• Businesses on a Budget: Wix’s free version provides a valuable starting point for sellers without the initial need for financial investment.

Jimdo

Highlights

• Modern Design: Jimdo offers a contemporary design for your online store, ensuring a visually appealing and up-to-date presentation of your products.

• Fee-Free E-Commerce: Jimdo’s e-commerce functionality is provided without transaction fees for online purchases, making it a cost-effective solution for sellers.

→ Case study: 

“Wilderness Gear,” a Canadian outdoor equipment store, utilized Jimdo to design and launch their online retail platform. Their Jimdo-built website effectively displays a diverse range of camping and hiking gear, ensuring a straightforward and engaging user experience. 

The store takes advantage of Jimdo’s e-commerce functionalities for easy product management and secure online transactions.

Pros

• No Transaction Fees.
• Beautiful, Mobile-Optimized Design.
• Highly Customizable Pages Without Complexity.
• Free Logo Creator.

Cons

• Limited Template Selection.
• Basic Customization Options.
• Less Advanced Features.

Best for?

• Start-up Online Retail Businesses: It provides a simple and affordable solution for businesses venturing into online retail, whether transitioning from brick-and-mortar or starting fresh.
• Those Seeking Frugality: If you want a budget-friendly way to establish your online presence without compromising quality, Jimdo offers a cost-effective option.

Strikingly

Highlights

• One-Product Focus: Strikingly is designed for simplicity, allowing sellers to highlight and sell a single product effectively.

• User-Friendly Interface: The platform features a drag-and-drop builder, making it easy for users, even beginners, to create and manage their online store.
• Mobile-Friendly Designs: Strikingly emphasizes mobile-friendly designs, ensuring your product looks appealing and functions well on various devices.

Pros

• Free Plan Advantages.
• Simple Store Feature.
• Ideal for Small Businesses.

Cons

• Limited Design Options.
• Singular Product Emphasis.

Best for?

• Small-to-Medium Businesses: Those looking for a simple and cost-effective way to establish an online presence.
• Individual Sellers: Ideal for individuals or businesses focusing on a single product and seeking a hassle-free way to set up an online store.

WordPress

Highlights

• Free Option: WordPress.com provides a free option that allows sellers to start their online store without initial costs.

• Ease of Use: The platform offers a straightforward website creation process, making it accessible for sellers without extensive technical knowledge.

• Built-in Hosting: WordPress.com hosts the websites for users, simplifying the technical aspects of online selling.

Pros

• Abundance of Tools.
• Basic Design Customization.
• Community Support.

Cons

• Advertising on Free Sites.
• Limited E-commerce Features.

Best for?

• Small Sellers: Those who are just starting and want a cost-effective solution.
• Those Seeking Simplicity: Sellers who prioritize a straightforward and user-friendly platform for setting up and managing their online store.
• Individuals Without Design Resources: Ideal for sellers who may need more extensive design resources but still want a customized and visually appealing online store.

Webflow

Highlights

• User-Friendly Design: Webflow is a user-friendly platform with a no-code drag-and-drop website editor, making it easy for sellers to customize their online store without coding skills. As an adept webflow agency, it empowers sellers with a plethora of modern design options, from glossy animations to rotating parall effects, ensuring their online stores stand out in today’s competitive digital landscape.

• Modern Design Options: It offers modern design features like animations and scroll-based parallax, providing a visually appealing and dynamic interface for the online store.

• Versatile Pricing Plans: Webflow provides various pricing plans, including a free option and affordable monthly plans for connecting their domain.

→ Case study: 

“Arctic Boutique,” a Canadian online fashion store, chose Webflow for its advanced design capabilities to create their sophisticated e-commerce site. Their Webflow-crafted website elegantly displays a curated collection of winter fashion and accessories, offering an immersive and interactive shopping experience. 

Utilizing Webflow’s dynamic and responsive design tools, “Arctic Boutique” has established a unique and stylish online presence in the Canadian market.

Pros

• No-Code Drag-and-Drop Designer.
• Supports Animations and Parallax Design.
• Built-In E-commerce Features.

Cons

• E-commerce Costs.
• Complex Pricing Plans.

Best for?

• Design Enthusiasts: Ideal for users interested in web design and wanting to create visually appealing websites.
• Freelancers in Creative Fields: Perfect for freelancers who need a professional-looking portfolio site to showcase their work.
• Small Business Owners: Suitable for small business owners who want to establish a unique online presence without extensive technical expertise.
• Bloggers and Content Creators: Great for bloggers and content creators looking for a customizable platform to publish and manage their content.

Key features of an excellent free website builder

When selecting a free website builder, it’s essential to consider several key features to ensure you get the best value for your needs. Here are some of the most critical features to look for:

Ease of Use:  

One critical aspect to seek in a free website builder is ease of use. A good builder should be intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those without coding experience. Builders with drag-and-drop editors, customizable templates, and user-friendly interfaces are ideal.

Customization Options:  

Another vital feature to consider is customization options. The best website builders provide a variety of customization choices, allowing you to add your branding, alter fonts and colors, and customize page layouts. Opt for builders offering a broad range of customization options to ensure your site looks unique and professional.

SEO Tools:  

Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for your website’s visibility in search engine results. Look for website builders with built-in SEO tools such as meta tags, alt tags, and sitemaps. These tools assist you in optimizing your site for search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find you online.

Customer Support:  

Another important aspect is customer support. Opt for builders that provide comprehensive customer support, including phone, email, and live chat assistance. This ensures you can quickly get help if you encounter any issues with your site.

Mobile Responsiveness:  

Lastly, mobile responsiveness is a crucial consideration. With an increasing number of people accessing the internet on mobile devices, it’s essential that your site looks great and functions well on smartphones and tablets. Choose builders that offer mobile-responsive templates to ensure your site is optimized for mobile devices.

Considering these key features, you can select a free website builder that meets your needs and helps you create a professional, effective website.

FAQs

Bottom line

Overall, Canada provides a variety of free website builders, each with its strengths. Whether it’s the user-friendly Wix and Weebly or the advanced features of WordPress, there’s an option for everyone.