Making your first website as a non-coder can seem like a lot of work, but WordPress makes it easier. Even if it has some limits, its Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Free WordPress Website is a simple way to get started. WordPress.org and Divi are the best tools for making a professional, scalable website. They allow you endless options for customization and flexibility.
Are you ready to begin? This post will show you how to make a free website on WordPress and explain why you should consider upgrading to a self-hosted site. You might be curious.
Is it Possible to create a WordPress Site for Free?
Yes, you can create a free website using WordPress.com, but it comes with limitations that impact your site’s customization and functionality:
- Fewer Customization Options:
While the free plan lets you get started, it doesn’t allow complete control over your site’s design or layout.
- Annoying Banner & Upgrade Prompts:
Your site will have a WordPress promo banner at the top. Some advanced features are locked behind paywalls, and popups will often prompt you to upgrade. Upgrading to the cheapest plan ($4/month) will fix this.
- Limited Flexibility:
With a free plan, you can’t install plugins and are limited to the free themes they offer. You’ll need to upgrade if you want better designs and more flexibility.
- Less Storage:
Your free site only has 1GB of storage. Typically, sites require at least 3-5 GB, especially if they have a lot of images or videos.
That said, you can create and host a free WordPress site on WordPress.com for all the world to see. But before we get into how to do that, let’s clear up the confusion between the different “types” of WordPress.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com: What’s the Difference?
There are differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com that can confuse those unfamiliar with WordPress. So, before you start building a free site, let’s explore those:
WordPress.com is an all-in-one website builder platform. It’s beginner-friendly, as hosting, updates, and security are managed for you. You can start for free, but sticking with the free plan comes with significant limitations:
- Your site will display WordPress ads unless you upgrade.
- Customization is restricted, and you’ll be prompted to pay to access most features/styling options.
- You can’t install additional plugins unless you upgrade to a Business plan.
- A custom domain (without ‘wordpress.com’) is only available with paid plans.
WordPress.org is a content management system (CMS), which is different from a website builder. It is the open-source version of Free WordPress Website that is not part of the .com website builder platform. It gives you greater freedom and control. You can download it for free, but you’ll need to buy web hosting and a custom name to get your site live. WordPress is used to build around 43% of all websites around the globe.
And since it’s not controlled by WordPress.com, there are no limits on it. You may add WordPress plugins, use premium themes, and improve the style and functionalities of your site. It takes some time to master, but it’s perfect for serious website builders who want full control. Note: You may also make a website for free with WordPress CMS if you host it on your computer. This is normally useful for testing or development, but to make it live, you’ll need a name and a hosting provider.
Which One Should You Use?
If you’re experimenting or creating a personal blog, a Free WordPress Website is a simple way to get started. But if your goal is to create a professional, scalable website, WordPress.org offers greater flexibility and control. Pair it with Divi and Siteground, and you can create a visually stunning, feature-rich site that reflects your brand, perfect for long-term growth.
Is a Free WordPress Site Worth It?
Just really. A free WordPress Website is a great place to start if you want to make a personal blog or just play about with it. But it’s not for people who want a bespoke or professional site. Give it some thought. A free website’s advertisements, lack of customization, and lack of a custom domain might undermine your trust because it’s often the first thing customers see about your business. But if you upgrade to a paid plan on WordPress.com, you may get the extra features you need to make your online presence look professional and trustworthy. But WordPress.org still has a lot more to offer than this.
WordPress.org is a better investment because you’ll have to pay for the features you want later. Yes, a WordPress site does cost money. But it’s worth paying if you want a quality site that can grow with your needs without any problems. This post will show you how to make a website with WordPress.org, Divi, and SiteGround. If you want to keep making a free site on WordPress.com, keep reading.
Steps to Create a Free Website on WordPress:
You don’t need technical skills to create a website on WordPress. Just follow this process:
1. Create a WordPress.com Account.
Go to Free WordPress. org Website and click on Get Started. Now, sign up using your preferred method.
2. Choose Your Domain
Once you sign up successfully, Free WordPress Website will ask you to choose a domain, which is the online address that people will enter in search to find your website.
You get a free custom domain (without ‘wordpress.com’) for one year, but only if you start with one of WordPress.com’s annual plans.
To access it, you’ll need to upgrade to a premium plan or higher. Since we’re creating a free site, choose the free option that contains ‘wordpress.com’ after the domain name. If you’re not sure about the name of your website, select Choose a Domain Later. You only see this option after selecting a domain name (I selected the free domain.)
To choose the free plan, click Start with Free.
WordPress will ask you about the purpose of your site and give you personalized recommendations. Why are you creating your site? Choose it and click Next. Free WordPress Website
Here, you’ll pick a Theme, which determines your website’s overall design and layout. A theme controls how your site looks, including colors, fonts, menus, and its structure. For now, choose anyone; we’ll select the right theme later. But make sure it’s free because if you choose a theme with the Available on Personal tag, you’ll be prompted to select a WordPress premium plan.
Your site’s first look is ready. Next, choose the Default style since the others are available only with the premium plans.
You’ll see the Launch Your Site screen, which includes a step-by-step checklist before launching your site. Click Skip for Now to follow our process.
3. Add Pages
You’ll publish pages and blog posts to build your website’s structure and content. Pages are ideal for timeless content like an About page, Contact details, or Services, while blog posts are perfect for regularly sharing updates, articles, or news. I’ll show you how to create a blog post later. Go to Pages > Add New on your Free WordPress Website dashboard to create a page.
You can choose a pre-defined layout or Blank Page (if you prefer to build from scratch). Pre-defined layouts come with your theme and are essentially templates with a sample structure of the page’s appearance.
Once you click on a template, it will apply to your page. Then, all you need to do is change the content, such as text and images. To edit text, just highlight it and type with your keyboard.
Similarly, to replace an image, you can click on Replace and upload the photos directly from your computer.
If you want to remove a block (an individual content element paragraph, image, or heading that you can add, customize, and move to design your page or post), click the Settings icon and find the Delete option.
You can add more blocks by clicking the Plus icon at the top left.
Once done, click Publish to share it live on your website.
Similarly, you can create more pages (contact, services, landing pages, etc.) to structure your website. Once you have enough pages, you may want to customize your site to improve its navigation, enhance design, and ensure it aligns with your branding and purpose. This includes setting up menus, adjusting the layout, and adding widgets or plugins for additional functionality. Free WordPress Website
4. Customize Your Website
Let’s start by naming your site. Go to Settings > General and enter your site name in Site Title. You can also configure other settings like adding a logo, tagline, etc. Once done, save settings.
Installing a Theme.
You can also change your theme if you want. To do so, go to Appearance > Themes. Use the search bar and category filters to find a good theme. For example, you can put the Portfolio category if you’re building a portfolio.
Themes with Upgrade are premium themes that prompt you to upgrade. Some of the best free themes to start with include Twenty Twenty Five (WordPress’ default theme) and Blocksy, but if you have a specific theme in mind, type and search for it. When you find your theme, click on it to activate the Design. You can also preview how your site will look.
Once your theme is active, you’ll see the Customize Site option. Click on it to open the Site Editor, or you can go to Appearance > Editor.
Setting up Navigation
Next, set up your site navigation, which is the menu system that helps visitors move quickly between the different pages on your website. You’ll notice that your site menu includes the pages you created; you can modify how it should look. To edit, click on Navigation.
You can switch the positions of elements and delete them if you don’t want to display them.
This option allows you to make limited changes to your navigation. To get more slight options, you can change the Header template.
Updating Header:
Go back to Design > Pattern > Header. Patterns are pre-designed layouts or sections, such as headers or galleries, that you can insert and edit. Multiple Patterns together make a Template (which you imported while creating your WordPress pages).
The header and footer are also Free WordPress Website patterns. You can click the plus icon to add more menu items, update the site title and menu titles, etc.
You can also change the footer of your site. You can put in your business address, links to your social media accounts, contact information, or anything else you like. WordPress.com doesn’t let you change your site to fit your brand very well.
You can’t utilize custom fonts, colors, or sophisticated design features with the free plan, for instance, which makes it harder to make your site look unique and professional. You would also have seen bothersome solicitations to upgrade every time you tried to use sophisticated features, including picking Styles beyond the default settings. This doesn’t provide you with many choices, but if you don’t mind a site that appears simple, it’s not a big deal.
5. Write Your First Blog Post.
Creating a Free WordPress Website blog post is similar to creating a page. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts > Add New Post. Now, you can add blocks, type text, and do more before publishing your first blog post.
The page that shows all of your published content is your current home page. It will be updated there after you make your first post.
If the main aim of your Free WordPress Website is to post blog posts, you can leave it as this. If you’re making a website for your business, though, you should include a main page that talks about your firm or services. If that’s the case, you can make that your home page and keep the list of blog posts separate.
Changing Home Page
Once you have created a different home page, go to Settings > Reading. Now, choose the page you want to display as your home page from the drop-down menu.
Similarly, you’ll create a new page to display the blog post listing page by choosing the Posts template. Then, choose your posts page and Save Settings.
When you review your domain, it points to your new home page. You can add a Blog to the menu item by editing your Navigation to point to your default blog post listing page.
Once you’re satisfied with your site, it’s time to launch it. Go to your home screen to see that you’ve checked all the items off the checklist. The only remaining option is to Launch Your Site. Click.
Congrats! Your WordPress site is live. Click on View Site to view it.
You may also make your site more useful with plugins (add-ons that let you add certain features or functions without having to write any code), but only if you have a premium account. Use this list to find the most important plugins to install when you’re ready to update your site.
Should You Stick With Free or Upgrade?
The Free WordPress Website is a terrific place to start, especially if you want to use it for fun or personal usage. But if you’re making a website for commercial or professional reasons, you can rapidly run into problems with flexibility, control, and personalization. That’s when you need to upgrade to premium tools to get the most out of your website. You have the last say, though.
We made a full comparison of what you get with a free WordPress.com site, what you’ll have to pay for upgraded plans, and how it compares to constructing a professional website with WordPress.org, Divi, and Siteground to help you make your decision:
Take Full Control of Your WordPress Website with Divi
For businesses and professional sites, we recommend building your website with WordPress and our powerful website builder, Divi, to unlock its full potential. This combination allows you to get a new site up in minutes and offers all the customization options and flexibility you need to build any site you want.
Divi, one of the most popular WordPress themes, enhances this experience by offering:
- Premade Starter Sites and Layouts to help generate your entire site in minutes.
- A drag-and-drop visual builder that makes designing intuitive and code-free.
- Unlimited customization options to tailor layouts, colors, animations, and more.
- Professionally designed templates to help you create stunning websites faster.
Free WordPress Website and Divi give you the tools you need to make a professional, scalable website that fits your needs, whether you’re making a blog, a company site, or an online store.
Siteground can take care of everything for you, including your WordPress installation, for a low price. You’ll need a name and a hosting provider. Today is the day to start developing your site with Divi!