Website guide
Free website builders in Australia
Compare Cockatoo, Wix, WordPress.com, Carrd and Squarespace: ongoing free plans, trial limits, custom domains, branding and contact forms.
An ongoing free website plan is different from a free trial. Start by checking whether you can keep the published site online without paying, which web address it uses, and what your customers can do there.
Published by Cockatoo, which is included in this comparison. This is a comparison of providers’ documented features, checked on 31 October 2026, rather than an independent hands-on ranking.
Free plan or free trial?
| Builder | Ongoing free publication | Your own domain | Main distinction to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cockatoo | One-page site on a Cockatoo address | Pro; registration is separate | Free includes hosting, a contact form and enquiry inbox, with a Cockatoo footer |
| Wix | Yes, on a Wix address | Paid plan | The free site carries Wix branding; check the paid plan needed for your features |
| WordPress.com | Yes, on a WordPress.com address | Paid plan | Free sites display WordPress.com advertising |
| Carrd | Yes, for one-page sites | Pro Standard or higher | Forms also require an appropriate Pro plan |
| Squarespace | No ongoing free plan; a free trial is available | Check the paid subscription and domain terms | The trial is for evaluating the service before subscribing |
Sources: Cockatoo plans, Wix’s free website guide, WordPress.com Free, Carrd’s plan comparison and Squarespace’s pricing FAQ.
What do you need the website to do?
A local service business may need a clear description of its work, service area, opening hours and a reliable enquiry route. A business taking payments, managing bookings or maintaining a large publishing archive has additional requirements. Write those down before comparing plans.
A one-page site can put the essentials in one place. Separate pages can help when services need detailed explanations. The relevant question is whether customers can find and complete their task, rather than how many pages a builder advertises.
Check the address and ongoing costs
A platform-provided address and a domain you register yourself are different things. Check whether the website subscription includes connecting your domain, whether registration is included temporarily, and what renews later. Business email may be another service again.
For paid plans, compare billing currency, the full billing period, taxes, renewal prices and any transaction or application charges. A monthly equivalent can still mean paying a year or several years upfront. This guide avoids comparing headline prices across different currencies and billing periods.
Test the enquiry route before choosing
Confirm whether the plan includes a native form, where enquiries arrive and how you find them later. Test a real submission on your own site after publishing. A form visible in an editor is not proof that you can receive a customer's message.
Cockatoo’s Free plan includes a contact form and enquiry inbox. For the other builders, check the exact plan, form limits and delivery arrangements in their current documentation.
When a free plan is enough
An ongoing free plan can be a practical starting point when its address, branding and features fit your needs. Upgrade when you need a specific capability, such as your own domain or additional pages. Do not assume that a paid subscription automatically improves your search ranking.
See Cockatoo’s website features, compare Free and Pro, or use the business website launch checklist before you publish.