Google Sites: Build a Free Site Quickly and See How It Stands Against Wix

If you need a simple website without spending a dime, Google Sites might be the answer. It’s part of Google Workspace, so you already have a Google account, and the editor is straightforward enough for anyone who can drag‑and‑drop a picture. In this guide you’ll see what makes Google Sites tick, when it’s a good fit, and how it compares to Wix – the other popular free‑to‑start builder.

Why Choose Google Sites?

First off, Google Sites is free. There are no hidden fees, no premium plans, and you get unlimited pages as long as you stay within Google Drive storage limits. It integrates seamlessly with other Google tools – embed Docs, Sheets, Slides, or even a YouTube video with a few clicks. The learning curve is tiny; the toolbar shows exactly what each button does, and you can preview on mobile or desktop instantly.

Another perk is security. Since the site lives on Google’s servers, you inherit the same protection Google uses for Gmail. You don’t have to worry about choosing a hosting provider or setting up SSL – it’s all handled automatically.

Google Sites vs. Wix: What’s the Real Difference?

Wix offers a massive template library and more design freedom. If you love tweaking fonts, animations, and custom code, Wix feels richer. However, that flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve and a free plan that slaps Wix branding on your site. Google Sites keeps things bare‑bones but avoids watermarks and keeps your URL clean (yoursite.google.com).

Performance is another point. Google’s infrastructure usually means faster load times, especially for users already on Google services. Wix can be slower if you add too many third‑party apps. For SEO basics – meta titles, descriptions, and mobile friendliness – both platforms do the job, but Google Sites does not let you edit robots.txt or add advanced schema markup.

So, when should you pick one over the other? If you need a quick brochure, a class project, or a simple internal portal, Google Sites wins on speed and cost. If you’re building an online store, a portfolio with custom interactions, or a site that relies heavily on visual storytelling, Wix’s premium features may be worth the upgrade.

Getting started with Google Sites is as simple as opening sites.google.com, clicking "Create", choosing a blank template, and naming your site. Add pages from the side menu, drag in a text box, drop a Google Map, and hit publish. Your site is live in seconds, and you can share editing access with teammates just like a Google Doc.

Remember to give each page a clear title, a concise meta description (found under "Pages > Settings"), and use headings (H1, H2) to structure content – this helps both visitors and search engines understand your site. Add alt text to images, keep URLs short, and link back to your other Google properties for extra credibility.

In short, Google Sites is a no‑frills, reliable way to get online fast. It may lack the flash of Wix, but for many small projects it’s more than enough. Try it out, see how it feels, and only move to a more complex builder if you hit the limits you can’t work around.