I tried every FREE website builder. This is the best

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey to build a free, one-page website for their gardening YouTube channel. After testing seven popular free website builders, they found most to have intrusive ads or limited customization. Wix and WordPress.com were criticized for their ads and URL issues. Jimdo and Ucraft also had ads, while Square had minor design limitations. Canva was close to perfect but had a less desirable URL. Ultimately, the creator chose Carrd for its minimal ad, great design, and customizable URL, achieving a free, professional-looking website without spending a dime.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The speaker is a YouTuber with a gardening channel seeking a free, one-page website.
• 💳 They were previously spending a lot on web hosting and domains but now want to avoid costs.
• 🔍 The speaker researched and tried seven free website building tools.
• 🌐 Wix was the first tool tested but was unsatisfactory due to ads and an undesirable URL.
• 🌐 WordPress.com was also disappointing with limited customization options and ads.
• 🌐 Jimdo and Ucraft were both given low ratings because of intrusive ads.
• 🛒 Square was better, with a smaller ad and more design flexibility, but had some odd limitations.
• 🎨 Canva was a close second, with a good design and a small ad, but had a less desirable URL.
• 🏆 Card was the winner, offering a perfect fit for a one-page website with a small ad and customizable URL.
• 📝 The speaker emphasizes that the 'best' free website builder depends on individual needs and preferences.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the person in the transcript?

The main goal is to create a simple, free, one-page website for their YouTube gardening channel, 'Good Harvest', without spending any money.

Why did the person decide not to use Wix for their free website?

They decided against using Wix because the free plan included an intrusive ad that scrolls with the website, and they were unhappy with the URL, which included an extra part they couldn’t remove.

What was the person's experience with wordpress.com?

The experience with wordpress.com was disappointing because they couldn't change fonts and colors without a Premium plan, and the interface was confusing. Additionally, the free plan also placed a large ad on the site.

What were the main issues the person encountered with Jimdo and Ukraft?

Both Jimdo and Ukraft had large, amateur-looking ads, particularly on mobile versions, which made the websites look unprofessional.

How did Square perform as a free website builder?

Square performed better than some other tools, with a small ad hidden at the bottom of the page, but it had design limitations, such as not allowing a black background or removing the header, which impacted the overall design.

Why did the person rate Canva as a runner-up?

Canva was rated as a runner-up because the design was close to what they wanted, the ad was small and in the footer, but they didn't like the URL and there was a strange white bar on the mobile version.

What made Card the person's favorite free website builder?

Card was their favorite because it allowed them to choose their own URL, had the smallest ad of all the tools, and the design looked great both on desktop and mobile. It met all their needs for a one-page website.

Why did the person emphasize the importance of the URL in their website decision?

The person emphasized the URL because many free website builders automatically assign a URL with extra, unwanted elements, which made the website look less professional. Card allowed them to choose a cleaner, more personalized URL.

What conclusion did the person reach after testing seven different website builders?

The person concluded that there are many free website builders, but each has its own limitations, especially with ads and design restrictions. In the end, Card was the best fit for their specific need of a free, one-page website with minimal ads and good design flexibility.

What lesson does the person share about using free website builders?

The person shares the lesson that while many free website builders are available, it takes effort to find the right one for specific needs, and each comes with compromises, such as ads or limited design options.