Users can make simple websites with Google Sites, but it only has 14 themes in a small number of categories.The available customization options are limited in comparison to the top no-code website builders, making it tough to create a site that reflects your vision or business.

Yet, creating a Google site doesn't cost anything and takes very little time. After a week of using Google's products, I'm still not completely convinced. While the offered layouts are basic, they do give helpful text samples and stock images. They integrate well with other Google products.

There were seven standouts for different sorts of websites, and I can confidently suggest any one of them. Check them out to see if any are a suitable match, or keep reading for my top picks among the best free (or free-to-try) alternatives to the most popular website builders.

A quick caveat! You may use any of these Google Sites templates to create a fully functional website, but you won't have many design options. The free plan on Wix gives you a domain name, hosting, and access to hundreds of gorgeous website templates to work with.

1. Picture Portfolio: photographers should make use of a digital gallery known as a "photo portfolio."

With Picture Portfolio, your work will get all the attention it deserves thanks to the minimal layout. The site itself, as well as the gallery of finished work, is clean and easy on the eyes. Each photo may be seen without difficulty because of the abundance of white space.

The layout is intuitive, and the same can be said about the interface. The menu is discretely placed in the corner, making it an excellent choice for an image-heavy portfolio. Users may navigate the site by selecting the "Work" tab and then browsing by subject matter such as portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, or interiors. If they click on the captions, they'll be sent to a gallery of further, similar photographs.

Unfortunately, you can't use Google Sites to set up an online gallery and sell your paintings and other creations. But you may invite site visitors to sign up for a newsletter by including your contact information in the page footer. Add a widget to your website using simple HTML or JavaScript code, and you'll be able to connect your Facebook and Instagram accounts.

2. Restaurant : The Versatile Café and Restaurant Decor (Dine-In Only)

Despite not having the sleek look of a Squarespace site, Restaurant manages to strike all the right notes: there are many photos, sections devoted to the chef and the food, and reservation buttons placed thoughtfully across the site.

The layout is easily customizable to fit the style of your restaurant. It's possible to add video tours and photo galleries to offer them a taste of the ambiance and menu. You can easily adjust the size, color, and brightness of your photos, as well as add borders and other effects, with Google Slides.
To facilitate online bookings, I recommend integrating the Open Table or Resy apps into your website.
Customers may learn about the positive experiences other people have had with your company by including a Yelp widget on your site.

3. Salon : Hip Interior Design, Premium Cosmetics, and Wellness Services

The full-page cover photo and bold font give Salon a contemporary feel. There are dedicated areas and pages for each of your services, prices, team members, and customer testimonials. The provided text and image examples make it easy to create a fully functional website for a spa or salon.
One good way to get people to visit your website is to put big announcements about sales and new events on the navigation bar.
Appointment scheduling is boosted with inviting call-to-action buttons.

On the Contact page, you can find all of your contact information, such as your business hours, location, phone number, and email address.The user may also use the built-in Google map functionality for navigation.

4. Class: Made with Teachers and Schools in Mind

Everything teachers need to work well together and share information about class goals, homework, and extracurricular activities with students, parents, and staff is given.You can limit who can use the site by changing the settings. This makes it a great choice for an educational portal.
All of your files, videos, presentations, and lessons will be accepted since they are compatible with Google's free tools.
Your group may use it to share completed assignments and review class notes.

Google Calendar is a great tool for communicating due dates and office hours to students. Worse still, neither Google Classroom nor Google Workspace for Education can be integrated with a teacher's own domain.

5. Portfolio: An Adaptable Resumé/Portfolio Format

Portfolio is the perfect template for professionals who want to quickly set up an online profile to show off their skills and get the attention of potential employers and clients.
The site's header briefly describes your expertise and displays some of your finest work.
Your project page is where curious onlookers may find in-depth demonstrations of your skills in the form of text, images, and video.
The "About" area is where you may detail your work experience. Your online presence isn't complete without a LinkedIn connection and a downloadable resume in portable document format (PDF).

6. Event: Formal Attire for Business Meetings and Other Formal Occasions

The clean and simple event design makes it simple to establish a website for any kind of business event. It's perfect for companies and groups that need to contact busy professionals and get them to confirm their attendance at an event quickly.
Just by scanning the homepage, potential attendees may get a sense of the event's focus, main attractions, and location. A schedule, speaker biographies, transportation options, and a Google map to the venue are all conveniently compiled for attendees.
With a custom domain name, your Google Sites website will seem more professional. Choose and buy a new domain from Google Domains, or use one you already own from Google or another provider.

7. Club: Best for smaller community groups and nonprofits

Club is the best option if your local charity or mission-driven group needs a good website fast. It works well as a means of communication for your running, gardening, reading, or other group.

Club has features that make it simple to document your group's mission, beliefs, and history so that newcomers and long-time participants may quickly get up to speed.

All the parts needed to upload a YouTube video or Google Slides presentation are already set up, so all it takes is one click. Information about upcoming and past events may be shared on the Events page through a Google calendar in addition to thumbnail images and text.