- Website builders at a glance
- Ten website builders to consider instead of Google Sites
- The custom domain detail in Google Sites
- What to look for in a Google Sites replacement
- Moving from Google Sites in five steps
- Mistakes when replacing Google Sites
- My plain advice on leaving Google Sites
- Frequently asked questions
A good Google Sites alternative gives you more design control, a fuller blog or shop, and easier custom domains, while staying simple to edit. Most small business owners move for one of those three reasons. This page lists ten website builders in no particular order, then shows how to pick one and move your content.
Google Sites is lovely for an internal wiki or a quick project page. The trouble starts when that quick page becomes your business website, and you want a blog, a booking form, better design or search features it was never built for.
Below are ten website builders in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from small indie builders to established names. Each description comes from the builder's own website, re-checked today. If you're mainly after a single page that converts, my round-up of landing page builders may suit you better.
It's also worth deciding who'll edit the site. A builder that's simple enough for your team to update every week will serve you better than a clever one only you can use.
Website builders at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the builder's own site describes a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free plans usually use the builder's own subdomain.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorik | No-code website builder | Simple business and AI sites | Yes |
| Jimdo | Small business website builder | Sole traders needing bookings | Yes |
| Mobirise | Offline website builder | Building sites on your computer | Yes |
| Strikingly | One-page website builder | Quick one-page sites | No |
| Super | Notion-based website builder | Turning Notion pages into sites | Yes |
| Tilda | Block-based website builder | Design-led landing pages | Yes |
| Ucraft | Website and store builder | Small shops and brand sites | Yes |
| Webnode | AI-assisted website builder | Multilingual small business sites | Yes |
| Yola | Free website builder | A free site with hosting | Yes |
| Zoho Sites | Business website builder | Teams already using Zoho apps | Trial only |
Ten website builders to consider instead of Google Sites
Dorik
Best for: Small businesses that want a no-code builder with templates and AI help to get a site live quickly.
Jimdo
Best for: Sole traders who want a simple site with booking, shop and invoicing tools in one place.
Mobirise
Best for: People who want to design a site offline on their own computer and publish it wherever they like.
Strikingly
Best for: People who want a polished one-page site or simple store live in an afternoon.
Super
Best for: Notion users who want to turn their pages into a fast website with a custom domain.
Tilda
Best for: Designers and marketers who want ready-made blocks for good-looking pages without code.
Ucraft
Best for: Small businesses that want a site builder with a logo maker and store features included.
Webnode
Best for: Small businesses that want a free starter site with an AI start and multilingual options.
Yola
Best for: Beginners who want to build and publish a simple site with hosting included on a free plan.
Zoho Sites
Best for: Businesses already on Zoho apps that want a website builder that connects with their CRM and forms.
The custom domain detail in Google Sites
If you're staying a little longer, it helps to know how domains work there. Google's Sites help page says changes to your domain can take up to 48 hours to become visible on the internet, and that you can buy a new domain for Google Sites through a Google Workspace plan.
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That's why many people's first domain sits inside a Workspace account. Before you move, check where the domain is registered, because you'll need access to its DNS settings to point it at a new builder.
What to look for in a Google Sites replacement
- Blogging: a built-in blog with categories and search-friendly settings.
- Forms and bookings: ways for customers to contact you or book.
- SEO settings: page titles, descriptions and clean URLs you can edit.
- Domains: easy custom domain setup with free security certificates.
- Design: templates that look like a business, not a document.
Moving from Google Sites in five steps
- List every page and copy your text into a document.
- Download your images in their original size.
- Build the new site and recreate each page.
- Point your domain's DNS at the new builder.
- Unpublish the old site once the new one is live.
Mistakes when replacing Google Sites
- Rebuilding everything at once. Start with the pages customers use most.
- Losing access to the domain. Check who controls DNS first.
- Ignoring mobile. Preview every page on a phone.
- Skipping page titles. Set them before you go live.
If you like editing visually, my guide to WYSIWYG website builders explains how these editors differ.
Do you make website builders? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on leaving Google Sites
Pick the builder that matches what the site has to do next, and test the editor on your phone as well as your laptop. If you need bookings, choose one with bookings built in. If you need a blog, make sure the blog is more than an afterthought.
And keep the move simple. Copy your best pages across first, go live, then improve the design once customers can find you. A finished simple site beats a beautiful half-built one every time, and you can keep refining it week by week.
Frequently asked questions
Is there something better than Google Sites for a business?
Yes. Most dedicated website builders offer better design, blogging, forms and SEO settings.
Can I use my own domain with Google Sites?
Yes. Google's help page explains how, and notes domain changes can take up to 48 hours to show.
Is there a free alternative to Google Sites?
Several builders have free plans, usually with their own subdomain and a small badge.
Can I export my Google Sites content?
There's no one-click export to other builders, so most people copy text and images across by hand.
Which builder is easiest for beginners?
Builders with templates and drag-and-drop editing are easiest. Try two free plans before you commit.
Will my Google rankings change when I move?
Keep page names and URLs similar where you can, and set up redirects if your domain allows it.
Can I keep Google Sites for internal pages?
Yes. Many businesses keep it for internal wikis and team pages while their public site lives on a dedicated builder.
Do website builders include hosting?
Yes. Every builder here hosts the site for you, so there's no separate hosting account to manage.
How long does a move from Google Sites take?
A small site can usually be rebuilt in a day or two, depending on how many pages you have.
