Is Google Sites Free? Yes, Including a Custom Domain (2026)

Google Sites is one of the simplest ways to get a basic website live. It's not a full website builder in the way Wix or Squarespace are, but for a one-page business site, an event page or an internal team hub, it costs nothing and you can have it published in an afternoon.

What's included free

• Templates to start a new site, chosen under "Start a new site"
• Publishing your site with one Publish button
• Connecting a custom domain to a published site
• Space for up to 15 million characters per page and 40 million characters per site

Google Sites at a glance

	Google Sites (free)	What to know
Cost	Free with a Google Account	No paid tier needed to publish
Custom domain	Yes	Buy the domain from a registrar; only the site owner can connect it
Page size	Up to 15 million characters per page	Google says limits can change
Site size	Up to 40 million characters per site
Work or school accounts	Yes	Ask your administrator to connect a custom domain

The catch: the domain isn't free, and only the owner can connect it

Google Sites itself is free, but a custom domain isn't part of it. Google's help says you can use a custom domain for a site published on Google Sites, and it walks you through connecting it with a third-party domain registrar. That means you buy and renew the domain separately. If you need one, my guide to the best domain registrars will help.

Google also says only the owner of a site can connect it to a domain. If a freelancer or colleague built your site in their account, you'll need ownership transferred to you first, which is worth sorting out before it goes live. And if you're using a work or school account, Google says to contact your administrator to use a custom domain.

One more limit: Google says Google Accounts managed by parents can't use Google Sites, though they can see and edit existing sites.

How to build a free site with Google Sites

1. Sign in to your Google Account and open Google Sites.
2. Under "Start a new site", choose a template or a blank site.
3. Add your text, images and contact details. Keep it to the pages a customer needs.
4. Click Publish at the top right and choose your web address.
5. If you have a domain, connect it in the site's settings and follow the on-screen steps for your registrar.
6. Check your site on a phone before you share the link.

When you'll outgrow Google Sites

• You want a blog, online shop or booking system built in.
• You need detailed SEO controls for each page.
• You want a design that doesn't look like a template.

At that point, look at Google Sites alternatives or my list of free website builders for small business.

What a free Google Sites website is good for

• A simple one-page site for a new business while you plan a bigger website
• An event, workshop or launch page you only need for a few weeks
• An internal hub for your team with links, documents and processes
• A portfolio or resource page that links out to your Google Docs and Slides

Its strength is speed and simplicity: you pick a template, add your content and click Publish. Its weakness is flexibility. If customers will judge your business by your website, or you want to rank in Google for competitive searches, you'll usually get further with a dedicated website builder.

Before you rely on a free Google Sites site: a quick checklist

• Build the site in your own Google Account, because only the owner can connect a domain.
• Register your domain in your own name with a registrar you trust.
• If a freelancer builds it, ask them to transfer ownership to you before launch.
• Keep your content within the page and site limits, and remember Google says limits can change.
• Check whether a work or school account needs your administrator to connect the domain.

Google Sites also fits neatly with the rest of Google's free tools. If your team already works in Google Docs, Sheets and Forms, a Google Site can pull those together in one place for staff or clients, which is often more useful than a public marketing site.

One more consideration is what your customers see. A site on a long Google address works for an internal hub, but for anything public I'd always connect a domain, because it's the difference between looking like a test page and looking like a business. Since only the domain costs you anything, it's the best value upgrade you can make to a Google Site.

An AI route to a website is explained in our ChatGPT Sites guide.

My advice

Google Sites is a good free starting point if you need something simple online quickly, and connecting your own domain makes it look far more professional than a long Google address. Make sure the site is owned by your account from day one, keep the domain registered in your name, and move to a full website builder when you need a shop, a blog or serious SEO.

Want your own address? See our guide to getting a free domain name.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Google Workspace to use Google Sites?

No. You can build and publish a site with a personal Google Account. Work or school accounts should ask their administrator about custom domains.

Can I transfer a Google Site to a new owner?

Yes. Google's help points you to how to change the site owner, which matters because only the owner can connect a custom domain.

Is Google Sites free?

Yes. You can create and publish a website with Google Sites for free using a Google Account.

Can I use my own domain with Google Sites?

Yes. Google says you can use a custom domain for a site published on Google Sites by connecting it through a third-party domain registrar. Only the site owner can connect it.

Does a custom domain for Google Sites cost extra?

Yes, if you want a custom domain. Google Sites is free, but you buy and renew the domain from a registrar.

How big can a Google Sites website be?

Google lists limits of up to 15 million characters per page and 40 million characters per site, and says limits are subject to change.

Who can't use Google Sites?

Google says Google Accounts managed by parents can't use Google Sites, although they can see and edit sites that already exist.