What Google Sites is and what you can build with it
Google Sites is a free website builder from Google that lives inside your Google account. You don't need to know code or pay for hosting — you log in, pick a template or start blank, drag content onto the page, and publish. The site lives at a Google domain (like yourname.sites.google.com) unless you connect your own domain later.
Most people use Google Sites for small projects: a portfolio to show your work, a class page for students, a family newsletter, a small business landing page, or a community group hub. It's not meant for large online stores or sites that need complex features, but for straightforward information that you want online quickly, it works well.
The main trade-off is simplicity for flexibility. Google Sites handles hosting, security, and backups for you. You can't install plugins or write custom code. But you also don't have to manage a server or learn WordPress. If you want a fast, low-maintenance site and don't need advanced features, Google Sites gets you there.
Key Takeaways
- Google Sites is free and requires only a Google account; your site is hosted at a Google domain unless you buy and connect your own.
- You build pages by dragging blocks of text, images, videos, and other content onto a template, with no coding required.
- Google Sites works best for portfolios, class pages, small business sites, and community information — not for large stores or sites needing custom features.
- Your site is private by default; you choose who can view it and who can edit it when you publish.
- You can connect a custom domain (yourcompany.com) if you own one, though Google Sites itself costs nothing.
Starting a new site and choosing a template
Go to sites.google.com and sign in with your Google account. Click the plus icon or "Create" button. Google shows you a gallery of templates — a blank page, a portfolio layout, a business site template, a class page, and others. Pick one that matches what you're building, or choose blank if none fit.
The template gives you a starting structure: a navigation menu, a home page, maybe a footer. You can delete any part of it and add new pages. Don't worry about picking perfectly — you can change the template later or rebuild from scratch if you want. The template is just a starting point.
Name your site when prompted. This becomes part of your Google Sites URL (yourname.sites.google.com). You can change the name later, but the URL stays the same unless you delete and rebuild. Choose something you won't regret in six months.
Adding and arranging content on your pages
Once you're in the editor, you see a blank canvas with a toolbar at the top. Click anywhere on the page to add content. The toolbar has buttons for text, heading, image, video, table, button, and other blocks. Click the button for what you want, and a block appears on the page.
Type directly into text blocks. For images, click the image button, then upload from your computer, search Google Images, or paste a URL. Videos work the same way — paste a YouTube link or upload your own. Drag blocks up and down to reorder them. Click and drag the edges of blocks to resize them.
Google Sites uses a column layout. You can place blocks side by side by dragging one block next to another, or stack them vertically. The layout adjusts automatically on phones and tablets, so don't worry about mobile — it usually just works. If you want to see how your site looks on a phone, click the eye icon in the top right and select "Mobile".
Creating multiple pages and a navigation menu
Your site starts with a home page. To add more pages, look at the left sidebar. You'll see "Pages" at the top with a plus icon next to it. Click the plus to create a new page. Name it (About, Services, Contact, whatever you need), and it appears in your sidebar.
The pages you create automatically show up in the navigation menu at the top of your site. You can reorder them by dragging in the sidebar. You can also hide a page from the menu if you want it to exist but not show up in navigation — right-click the page name and choose "Hide from navigation".
If you want a page that doesn't appear in the main menu (like a thank-you page after someone fills out a form), create it and hide it. You can still link to it from other pages or share the link directly. Visitors just won't see it in the menu.
Adding forms, buttons, and interactive elements
Google Sites includes a form tool. Click the form button in the toolbar, and Google creates a form right on your page. Add questions by clicking inside the form. You can make questions multiple choice, short answer, long answer, checkboxes, or dropdowns. Responses go to a Google Sheet that you can download or view anytime.
You can also add buttons that link to other pages, external websites, or email addresses. Click the button tool, type the button text, then choose what happens when someone clicks it. Buttons are useful for "Learn More", "Contact Us", or "Sign Up" calls to action.
For more complex interactivity — like a shopping cart, membership login, or custom calculations — Google Sites can't do it. You'd need a different platform. But for simple contact forms, embedded videos, and linked buttons, Google Sites handles it.
Publishing your site and controlling who can see it
When you're ready to go live, click "Publish" in the top right. Google asks who can view your site. You can make it public (anyone with the link can see it), restricted to people with a Google account, or limited to specific people you choose. You can also make it so only you can view it while you're still building.
If you choose "Restricted", you can add specific email addresses and decide whether each person can only view the site or can also edit it. This is useful for team projects or class pages where students need to contribute. You can change these permissions anytime.
Your site gets a Google Sites URL automatically. If you own a domain (like yourcompany.com), you can connect it in the settings. This requires changing some DNS records at your domain registrar, but Google walks you through it. The site itself is always free; you only pay if you buy a custom domain.
Customizing the look and feel
Click the paint palette icon in the top toolbar to change colors, fonts, and the overall theme. Google Sites offers preset color schemes and lets you pick custom colors for the background, text, and buttons. You can also upload a custom header image or logo.
The design options are limited compared to platforms like Wix or Squarespace. You can't move the navigation menu to the side or completely redesign the layout. But you can make your site look professional and match your brand colors. Most people find the built-in themes clean and modern enough.
If you want to change the template entirely, click the template icon and pick a different one. Your content stays — Google rearranges it to fit the new template. This sometimes requires you to adjust spacing or reorder blocks, but your text and images don't disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own domain name instead of sites.google.com?
Yes. If you own a domain (purchased from GoDaddy, Namecheap, or another registrar), you can connect it to your Google Sites site. You'll need to change some DNS settings at your registrar, and Google provides step-by-step instructions in the settings. The site itself remains free.
Can I move my Google Sites site to WordPress or another platform later?
Not automatically. Google Sites doesn't have a built-in export tool. You can take screenshots, copy text, and download images, then rebuild on another platform. If you think you might outgrow Google Sites, keep your content organized so migration is easier later.
What happens if I delete my Google account?
Your site goes offline. Google gives you a warning before deleting your account and a window to download your data, but Google Sites doesn't have a separate backup. If your site is important, keep copies of your text and images elsewhere.
Can I add a shopping cart or sell things on Google Sites?
Google Sites doesn't have built-in e-commerce features. You can embed a PayPal button or link to an external store, but you can't manage inventory or process orders directly on the site. For anything beyond a simple "buy now" link, you'd need Shopify, WooCommerce, or another e-commerce platform.
Is my Google Sites site secure and private?
Google Sites uses HTTPS encryption, so data sent to and from your site is encrypted. If you restrict who can view it, only those people can access it. However, if you make it public, anyone with the link can see it. Google also scans for malware and handles security updates for you.