Posted on November 5, 2018

Create a Free Website for Your Church

Posted on November 5, 2018 by .BIBLE Registry Categories: Online Presence

Website builders have become easier every year, just as we see digital technologies improve every year with another big announcement about the new version of a personal device or website platform. 

Since this blog compiled a list of platforms for free church websites in 2015, 5 of those 10 services have closed. And there's 2 newer ones we'd like to bring to your attention. (note: these 2 lists are not comprehensive lists of church website creators, these are ones that we could find based our research. Know of another one? Please add a comment.)—

Free Church Website Builders Since 2015

Faithlife Sites launched in May 2018. A new product from the makers of Logos Bible Software, this mobile-friendly platform has integrated features like event calendar and giving, and other features. A paid upgrade gives you additional features like a custom domain name, site security (SSL), blogging, and unlimited email newsletters.

Grace Church Websites launched in 2016, initially to serve smaller urban and rural churches. Websites run on the WordPress platform. Hosting costs are underwritten by TicketNetwork and they have committed to cover costs for at least 5 years, as noted in this RNS article, Bridging the digital divide, company gives churches free websites (Religion News Service, November 2016).

Getting Started with the Basics

If your church doesn't have a website yet, using a free church website builder is a good short-term solution. What's nice about a "Website creator" or "website builder" (the vernacular for these web-based content management systems) is how a good template system with fill-in-the-blanks can equip your church to have a website without hiring a software developer and not having to incur the costs involved with web hosting. 

But when & if your church or ministry has the budget, having volunteers, paid staff, or an outside agency, it may be good for a larger church to consider investing in a customized website platform for the optimal online experience for its visitors and members. To get some great tips, check out  The Epic Guide to Building a Great Church Website (Andrew Conrad, in Capterra Blog, May 2017).

Here's another option.

You don't have to use a website builder specifically for churches; you could use a website creator that works for any kind of content. 

Popular Website Builders that are Free

These popular up-to-date website builder platforms provide easy ways to create a web presence and most have a paid upgrade option too. 

Make Your Website Easier to Share

Consider how you will tell people about your website address. Will it be in your email signature, church bulletin, flyers, and signs? Is it important to have a URL that's easier to say and to share? 

That's where having your own domain name is very important. 

Most free websites give you a web address using a subdomain, i.e. thanksgivingbible.weebly.com—that URL is very long to type out and difficult to say. 

Registering a domain name is how to get a web address like Thanksgiving.Bible. 

When your church or ministry name has the word "Bible" in it, registering and using a .BIBLE domain name makes the most sense. If your church or ministry wants to show how important and valuable the Bible is, using a .BIBLE domain name can clearly motivate people to join a Bible reading campaign.

Want more help?

Do you have a question about church websites? Please add a comment and we'll help where we can.