Not every “free AI website builder” works the same way.
Some platforms let you publish a website indefinitely but limit storage or bandwidth. Others restrict pages or features. Some measure AI usage with credits, while others only let you build and preview a website before requiring a paid plan to publish it.
That difference matters if you're a beginner. A builder can be advertised as free but still become unsuitable once you need more pages, AI generations, a custom domain, forms, ecommerce, or more storage.
This guide compares six AI website builders — Wix, SITE123, Canva, Durable, Hostinger, and Volnyn — based on how their free or trial options actually work. The goal isn't simply to find the cheapest option. It's to help you understand what you can do at $0, where the limits appear, and which type of free plan fits your project.
Last updated: September 2026
How we compared them: We reviewed each platform's current official pricing, product, and help documentation, focusing on free-plan availability, publishing, storage, bandwidth, AI usage, domains, features, and upgrade requirements. Because pricing and product limits can change, check the provider's current plan page before making a purchase.
If you're completely new to AI website building, you can also start with our guide to how AI website builders work and then follow our practical guide on how to build a website with AI.
The Four Types of “Free” AI Website Builders
Before comparing individual platforms, it helps to understand what “free” can mean.
Some builders let you keep a website online for free but limit how much content you can store or how much traffic the site can handle.
For example, Wix currently gives free sites up to 500 MB of storage and 1 GB of bandwidth.
SITE123's free plan provides 250 MB of storage and 250 MB of bandwidth, along with a free subdomain.
This type of plan can work well for a small website, but image-heavy sites can reach storage limits sooner.
Some platforms don't make storage the main restriction. Instead, they limit the number of pages or certain website features available on the free or lower-cost plan.
This matters if you're planning a larger business website rather than a simple portfolio or landing page.
A newer model is to offer the website builder for free and charge for usage through AI credits.
Volnyn follows this approach. Its current pricing page lists 5 credits per chat message, 50 credits per AI-generated image, and 100 credits per AI-generated video on the free plan.
The advantage is that your main limitation is AI usage rather than a simple storage quota. The trade-off is that frequent regeneration can consume your allowance faster.
A free trial lets you experiment with the builder, but it shouldn't be confused with a permanent free website plan.
Hostinger currently offers a free AI Builder trial, but its official documentation states that websites created during the trial cannot be published until you upgrade. The trial currently lasts seven days.
So if your goal is to keep a website live without paying, a free trial doesn't meet the same requirement as a permanent free plan.
| Builder | Free option | Main free limitation | Free publishing | Custom domain on free option | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Permanent free plan | 500 MB storage + 1 GB bandwidth | Yes, with Wix subdomain/branding | No | Small sites and beginners testing a full website builder |
| SITE123 | Permanent free plan | 250 MB storage + 250 MB bandwidth | Yes, with SITE123 subdomain | No | Small, simple websites |
| Canva | Permanent free website option | More feature/design focused than traditional business builders | Yes, on Canva domain | Existing custom domain requires upgrade | Portfolios, resumes, event and visual pages |
| Durable | Free option/trial availability can vary | Plan-based feature/page restrictions | Check current plan | Depends on plan | Fast AI-generated business drafts |
| Hostinger | Free trial | Trial is for testing; publishing requires a paid plan | No during trial | Paid plan required | Users planning to pay for hosting |
| Volnyn | Permanent free plan | AI usage is credit-metered | Available under its free setup | Paid plan for custom-domain features | Beginners who want AI website creation plus other tools |
Important: Free-plan features and pricing can change. Always verify the current provider documentation before upgrading.
Wix is a familiar option for beginners who want a visual website builder with AI-assisted creation, templates, editing tools, and built-in website features.
Its free websites currently include up to 500 MB of storage and 1 GB of bandwidth. Wix also explains that users can upgrade when their site needs more storage or bandwidth.
That makes the free plan useful for learning, testing an idea, or building a relatively small website.
The main issue is what happens when your project becomes more media-heavy. A website containing many high-resolution images, downloadable files, or significant traffic can use the available allowance faster than a simple text-based site.
Wix can make sense if you:
Want to experiment with a full website builder.
Need a visual editor and templates.
Are building a relatively small website.
Don't mind using a platform subdomain and branding on the free option.
If you're comparing Wix with AI-first website builders, our AI website builder vs traditional website builder comparison explains the broader differences.
SITE123 takes a more guided approach to website creation. Its current free plan is $0/month and includes 250 MB of storage, 250 MB of bandwidth, and a SITE123 subdomain. The company says its free websites can remain free indefinitely.
The smaller storage and bandwidth allowance means the free plan is better suited to relatively small websites.
For example, a basic personal page, simple service website, or small informational site may fit comfortably within the free allowance. A website containing lots of large images or attracting heavier traffic may need an upgrade sooner.
SITE123 is worth considering if you:
Want a guided website-building experience.
Are creating a relatively small website.
Don't need a custom domain immediately.
Want to experiment without entering payment details.
Canva takes a different approach from traditional website builders. Its website tools are heavily focused on visual design, templates, graphics, and simple website publishing.
The important correction from older comparisons is that Canva does support forms. Canva currently lists forms among its website features and says users can create and publish websites for free under a Canva domain. Free users can have up to five live websites on the free Canva domain.
Canva also supports multi-page websites and AI-powered website creation. Connecting an existing domain requires an upgrade to Canva Pro.
The bigger consideration is not simply storage. Canva is particularly attractive when visual presentation is the main priority. If you need a complex business website, advanced ecommerce functionality, or deeper website-management controls, compare its capabilities carefully with dedicated website platforms.
Canva can be useful for:
Portfolios
Resumes
Event pages
Creator pages
Visual landing pages
Simple multipage websites
Projects where design is a major priority
Durable focuses heavily on speed. Its AI-powered approach is designed to generate a business website quickly from basic information about the business.
Instead of spending a long time selecting every section manually, you can start with a business description and then refine the generated site.
The important point for beginners is that Durable's available features and limits depend on the current subscription structure. Rather than assuming a fixed page limit, check the current Durable plan details before treating a particular page allowance as permanent.
Durable may fit users who:
Want to generate a business website quickly.
Need an initial AI-generated draft.
Prefer speed over extensive manual design work.
Are evaluating an AI website concept before investing more time.
If you want to understand the wider AI website-builder market rather than focus on one platform, see our best AI website builders comparison.
Hostinger is an important example of why the word “free” needs context.
Hostinger currently lets users try its AI Builder for free. Its official documentation says the trial lasts seven days, and websites created during the trial cannot be published. The trial project remains saved as a draft until the user upgrades.
Hostinger's current website-builder information also makes clear that its website builder itself isn't a permanently free service; paid plans are required for a live website.
So Hostinger can be useful if you want to test the builder before paying, but it shouldn't be presented as equivalent to a permanent $0 website plan.
Hostinger makes more sense if you:
Want to test an AI website builder before paying.
Need hosting and website creation together.
Expect to upgrade after building.
Want ecommerce and other paid website features.
If your requirement is specifically “I need my website to stay live without paying,” focus on platforms with a genuine permanent free option instead of a trial.
Volnyn takes a different approach from storage-based free website builders.
Its current free plan is based on the platform's credit system. According to Volnyn's current pricing page:
5 credits per chat message
50 credits per AI-generated image
100 credits per AI-generated video
The Pro plan is currently listed at $9/month, with a yearly-billing option shown at $7.47/month, and includes 5,000 credits per month at the listed Pro level.
This means the key limitation isn't simply “how many megabytes can I upload?” Instead, beginners need to consider how frequently they'll use AI generation.
For example, someone who generates a website once and makes a few edits may use the free allowance differently from someone who repeatedly regenerates copy, creates many images, or experiments heavily with AI video.
Another difference is that the website builder exists alongside other tools and services within the same Volnyn ecosystem.
That can be useful for someone who expects their needs to expand beyond a website. For example, a business might start with a website and later need ecommerce functionality, other AI tools, or additional online services.
However, the credit model should still be considered before choosing it. If you plan to generate a large amount of AI content, calculate how often you'll use the AI features rather than looking only at the word “free.”
You can also browse Volnyn's AI website builder options or learn more about building a website with AI.
Volnyn can be a practical fit for beginners who:
Want an AI-assisted website-building workflow.
Prefer a free plan rather than only a short trial.
Expect to use AI generation rather than only manual editing.
May eventually need other digital tools in the same ecosystem.
Want to explore website creation before committing to a paid plan.
There isn't one free plan that fits every website.
Instead, match the limitation to what you're actually building.
Look closely at platforms with permanent free plans and manageable storage or bandwidth limits.
Wix and SITE123 both provide permanent free options, but their storage and bandwidth allowances differ.
Canva is worth considering because its website tools are built around templates, visual elements, responsive websites, forms, and simple publishing.
Hostinger's free trial lets you build and preview a project before upgrading, but remember that publishing requires a paid plan.
A credit-based model such as Volnyn's gives you a different way to manage free usage. The key is to understand how many credits different AI actions consume.
Don't compare builders only by their free price.
Look at:
Forms and lead capture
Mobile responsiveness
SEO controls
Custom domains
Ecommerce
Analytics
AI generation limits
Branding
Storage
Future upgrade costs
You can also read our dedicated guide on AI website builders for small businesses.
A “free” label isn't enough. Check these factors before creating your site.
A permanent free plan and a seven-day trial are completely different.
If your goal is to keep a website online at $0, confirm that the provider actually allows free publishing.
The limit could be:
Storage
Bandwidth
AI credits
Number of pages
Features
Number of websites
Publishing
Domain connection
Find the limitation that is most likely to affect your project.
A free platform domain can be fine for testing.
For a professional business website, however, you may eventually want your own domain. Check whether the platform allows domain connection on the free plan or requires an upgrade.
A builder can look generous until you discover that an important feature is paid-only.
Check for:
Forms
Ecommerce
SEO settings
Analytics
Blog functionality
Custom code
Integrations
AI generation
File storage
If your main goal is selling online, our AI ecommerce website builder guide goes into that use case separately.
Don't just ask what the free plan includes. Ask what happens after you reach the limit.
For an AI-credit model, generation may stop until credits become available or you upgrade.
For a storage or bandwidth model, you may need to reduce usage or upgrade.
For a trial, publishing may require payment.
Understanding this before starting can save you from rebuilding your site later.
Every plan in the table may show “$0,” but that doesn't mean they provide the same amount of usable functionality.
Compare the actual restrictions instead.
A trial is designed to let you test a product. It may not let you publish or keep the website live.
Hostinger is a clear example: its current AI Builder trial allows building and previewing, but publishing requires an upgrade.
If you're choosing a credit-based AI builder, think about how often you'll regenerate content, create images, or produce videos.
A free plan can be enough for light use but restrictive for heavy experimentation.
A portfolio, restaurant website, local service website, online store, blog, and SaaS landing page can have very different requirements.
Decide the website type first, then compare builders.
If you're still learning, a permanent free plan can be useful for understanding how AI website generation works before committing to a paid subscription.
For a deeper explanation of the technology behind these platforms, see how AI website builders work.
There isn't one universally suitable option. The right choice depends on what you need from the free plan.
For example, Wix and SITE123 offer permanent free options with storage and bandwidth limits, Canva emphasizes visual website creation, Hostinger offers a free trial rather than a permanent free website plan, and Volnyn uses AI credits as its primary usage model.
Yes. Wix currently offers free websites with up to 500 MB of storage and 1 GB of bandwidth. Free sites have platform-related limitations, while upgrading increases available resources and features.
SITE123 currently states that its free websites can be used indefinitely. The free plan includes 250 MB storage, 250 MB bandwidth, and a SITE123 subdomain.
Yes. Canva says users can create and publish websites for free under a Canva domain. Free users can have up to five live websites on the free Canva domain. Connecting an existing domain requires Canva Pro.
Yes. Canva currently lists Forms as a website feature, and its form builder is available for free.
No. Hostinger currently offers a free trial for its AI Builder, but the trial website cannot be published. A paid plan is required to publish and keep the website live.
Volnyn currently lists 5 credits per chat message, 50 credits per AI-generated image, and 100 credits per AI-generated video.
Volnyn currently lists a Free plan rather than only a time-limited trial. Its AI features are metered through credits.
This depends on the platform. Free platforms commonly provide a platform-owned subdomain or domain, while connecting your own custom domain may require a paid plan.
For example, Canva allows free publishing on a Canva domain but requires an upgrade to connect an existing domain.
At minimum, compare:
Free publishing
Storage
Bandwidth
AI credits
Page limits
Custom-domain rules
Platform branding
Forms
Ecommerce
SEO controls
Analytics
Upgrade pricing
The most important question isn't simply “Is it free?”
It's:
“Is the free plan enough for the website I actually want to build?”
Free AI website builders can be a good way to start a website without committing to a subscription, but their free models are not interchangeable.
Wix and SITE123 put clear limits on storage and bandwidth. Canva focuses heavily on visual website creation while still offering free publishing and forms. Durable focuses on rapid AI-generated websites, with current plan limits worth checking before you commit. Hostinger is better understood as a free trial rather than a permanent free website service. Volnyn uses a credit-based model, so the amount of AI generation you perform matters more than a simple storage quota.
The best way to choose is therefore not to look for the platform with the biggest “FREE” label.
Instead, identify what your website needs first, then compare the specific limitation that could affect it.
If you're still deciding what type of AI website you want to build, start with our guide to building a website with AI. If you're comparing AI-generated sites with traditional development approaches, see AI website builder vs. traditional website builder and AI website builder vs. WordPress.
