Google Sites lets you build a working website in your browser without writing any code or paying for hosting

Google Sites is a free website builder that lives inside your Google account. You log in, pick a template or start blank, drag text and images onto the page, and publish. Your site gets a free web address (like yourname.sites.google.com) and lives on Google's servers. No monthly fees, no software to install, no HTML to learn. The trade-off is less design flexibility than paid builders — you're working within Google's templates and tools — but for a small business, portfolio, or community project, it's genuinely functional.

The whole process takes 15 to 30 minutes from account to published site. You'll need a Google account (Gmail, Google Drive, or any Google service counts). If you don't have one, you can create it free in two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Sites is free and requires only a Google account; your site is hosted automatically and you never pay for a domain or server.
  • You build pages by dragging and dropping text, images, and other content blocks — no coding required.
  • Your site gets a free address like yourname.sites.google.com, or you can connect your own domain name if you own one elsewhere.
  • You control who sees your site: publish it to the world, share it with specific people, or keep it private.
  • Google Sites works on phones and tablets, and your visitors can view your site on any device.

Sign in and start a new site

Go to sites.google.com in your browser. If you're already signed into Google (Gmail, Drive, YouTube), you'll see your account picture in the top right. If not, click Sign in and enter your Google email and password.

Once you're signed in, you'll see a gallery of templates or a blank canvas. Click the blank template (the empty square) to start from nothing, or pick one of Google's pre-built layouts if you want a head start. Templates include designs for small business, portfolio, event, and community sites. You can change the template later, so don't overthink this choice.

Google will ask you to name your site. Type something descriptive — this becomes part of your web address. For example, if you type "Sarah's Pottery," your site address becomes sarahspottery.sites.google.com. You can change this name later, though the web address stays the same unless you buy a custom domain.

Add and arrange pages

When your new site opens, you're on the home page. On the left side, you'll see a navigation panel with your site name at the top and a + button below it. Click that button to add a new page.

Name each page something clear: "About," "Services," "Contact," "Gallery." Google automatically adds these to your site's menu so visitors can navigate between them. You can reorder pages by dragging them up or down in the left panel, and you can delete a page by right-clicking it and selecting delete.

Most small sites need three to five pages. Start with Home, About, and Contact. Add more only if you have content that belongs on its own page — a portfolio needs a Gallery page, a business might add Services or Pricing.

Add text, images, and other content

Click anywhere on the page to start adding content. You'll see a toolbar appear with options to insert text, images, buttons, and more. The simplest way is to click the text box icon and then click on the page where you want the text to go. Type your content directly.

To add an image, click the image icon in the toolbar. Google lets you upload a photo from your computer, search Google Images, or paste a link to an image elsewhere online. Drag the image to resize it, and click it to add a caption or make it a link.

You can also add buttons (useful for "Contact Us" or "Learn More" links), embedded videos from YouTube, Google Maps, calendars, and forms. Each of these has its own icon in the toolbar. Experiment — if you don't like what you added, click it and press Delete.

Arrange content by dragging elements around the page. Google Sites uses a flexible grid, so items snap into place as you move them. There's no "wrong" layout, but keep it simple: readers should be able to scan the page and find what they need in a few seconds.

Customize the look and feel

Click the paint palette icon in the top toolbar to change colors, fonts, and the overall theme. Google offers preset color schemes (light, dark, colorful) and you can customize individual elements. Pick a font that's easy to read — Google's default choices are all fine, and fancy fonts often make sites harder to use on phones.

The layout icon (three horizontal lines) lets you adjust the width of your page and add a header image or logo at the top. A header image makes your site feel more polished, but it's optional. If you add one, keep it simple and make sure any text on it is readable.

Don't spend hours on design. A clean, readable site with good content beats a beautiful site that's hard to navigate. Stick with one or two colors, use plenty of white space, and make sure text is large enough to read on a phone.

Set who can see your site

Click the Share button in the top right. You have three options: Anyone with the link (people can view if you send them the address, but it won't show up in Google search), Public on the web (anyone can find it through Google search), or Restricted (only people you invite can see it).

For a business or portfolio, choose "Public on the web" so potential customers can find you. For a private family site or internal project, choose "Restricted" and add the email addresses of people who should see it. Google will send them an invitation.

You can change these settings anytime. If you start with "Restricted" and later want to publish publicly, just go back to Share and flip the switch.

Publish and share your site

Your site is live the moment you create it — there's no separate "publish" button. Any changes you make appear on the live site immediately, so be careful not to delete content by accident. If you need to work on something without visitors seeing it, use the "Restricted" setting until you're ready.

Share your site address by copying the link from the browser's address bar (it looks like yourname.sites.google.com) and sending it via email, text, or social media. If you own a domain name elsewhere — like yourname.com — you can connect it to your Google Site. Click Settings (gear icon) and look for "Custom domain" to add your own address.

Google Sites doesn't have built-in analytics, but you can connect Google Analytics to track visitor numbers and behavior. This is optional and useful mainly if you're running a business site and want to know how many people visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my Google Site to a different platform later?

Google Sites doesn't have an export feature, so moving your content to WordPress or another builder requires copying text and images manually. This is tedious but doable. If you think you might outgrow Google Sites, start with a platform that lets you export from day one.

What if I want my own domain name instead of sites.google.com?

You can buy a domain from GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains, then connect it to your Google Site. Go to Settings and select "Custom domain," then follow the steps to link your purchased domain. This usually costs $10 to $15 per year.

Can I add a contact form or newsletter signup?

Yes. Click the form icon in the toolbar to create a contact form that collects visitor messages. You can also embed a Google Form or connect Mailchimp for newsletter signups, though this requires copying an embed code. Google Sites keeps these integrations simple.

Is my site mobile-friendly?

Yes. Google Sites automatically adjusts your layout for phones and tablets. Test it by viewing your site on your phone — click the address bar and refresh. If text is too small or images are cut off, adjust your layout in the design settings.

What happens if I stop using my Google Site?

Your site stays live unless you delete it. If you delete it, the address becomes available again and all content is gone. Google doesn't charge for inactive sites, so you can leave it up indefinitely.