The BEST Free AI Website Builder You’re Not Using (Yet!)

In a world where everyone’s fighting for online attention, having a website that stands out is no longer optional  it’s necessary. But for small business owners and bloggers without coding skills or big budgets, creating a professional website has always been a challenge. That’s changing fast, thanks to AI website builders that are revolutionizing how we create web presence.

While many people already know about Wix (often cited as the best free website builder), there’s another player in the AI website builder space that deserves serious attention. This article explores a powerful but underutilized AI website builder that’s perfect for small businesses, bloggers, and creators looking for professional results without the professional price tag.

What Makes an AI Website Builder Different?

Traditional website builders let you drag and drop elements onto a page. They’re fine, but let’s be honest  they require time, patience, and at least some design sense.

AI website builders take a completely different approach:

• They use artificial intelligence to understand what you want
• They generate complete designs based on simple text prompts
• They handle complex coding and design decisions automatically
• They learn from your feedback to refine results

The best AI website builders can create a professional site in minutes instead of days, often at a fraction of the cost of hiring a developer

Introducing Bardly

While Wix AI has gotten most of the attention in the AI website builder category (and yes, Wix AI website builder is impressive), there’s another option that offers more flexibility, better customization, and completely free plans for small businesses.

Meet Bardly  arguably the best AI website builder that most people haven’t discovered yet.

Why Bardly Stands Out Among Free AI Website Builders

Bardly combines the ease of AI with surprising flexibility that other builders lack. Here’s what makes it special:

1. Truly Free Plans (Not Just Free Trials)

Unlike many “free” website builders that limit essential features, Bardly offers genuinely usable free plans:

• No mandatory upgrade after 14 days
• Custom domain connection even on free plans
• No Bardly branding or watermarks on your pages
• 5 pages included (perfect for small business websites)

For small businesses testing the waters online, Bardly is possibly the best free website builder for small business needs.

2. Conversational AI That Understands Your Vision

Bardly’s approach is refreshingly simple. Instead of overwhelming you with templates and design options, it asks questions about your business and goals. The conversation feels natural like talking to a designer who genuinely wants to understand your needs.

You can literally type: “I need a clean website for my handmade candle business with a focus on product photos and online ordering” and watch as Bardly builds exactly that.

3. The Clean Code Advantage

One problem with many AI website builders is the messy code they generate behind the scenes. This often leads to slow loading times and poor mobile performance.

Bardly takes a different approach. As an AI website builder open source enthusiast’s dream, Bardly generates clean, efficient code that:

• Loads quickly on all devices
• Ranks better in search engines (Google’s Core Web Vitals love it)
• Can be exported and modified if you eventually outgrow the platform

A small business owner shared: “I tried three different website builders before finding Bardly. The others made beautiful sites that loaded so slowly my customers would leave before seeing anything. Bardly’s site looks just as good but loads instantly.”

4. Integration Capabilities That Surprise

For a free tool, Bardly’s integration options are impressive:

• Direct connection with major payment processors
• Email marketing tool connections
• Social media feeds that actually update properly
• Analytics that make sense even to non-technical users

How Bardly Compares to Other Popular AI Website Builders

Wix AI Website Builder

Wix has made huge strides with their AI website builder. The Wix best free website builder reputation is well earned with its extensive template library and established marketplace of plugins.

No forced upgrades to access basic features; cleaner code that loads faster; more intuitive AI that requires less back-and-forth. Larger app marketplace,more extensive documentation and Larger user community.

AI Website Builder Free With Code Export Options

Some users want the ability to start with AI but eventually customize their code. Several platforms offer this, but most limit code export to paid plans.

Offers complete HTML/CSS export even on free plans; generates more readable code that’s easier to modify.

How Small Businesses Are Using Bardly

Sarah runs a small accounting firm and needed a professional website but had no design experience. “I tried those other big name website builders, but everything I made looked like a template. With Bardly, I described what I wanted in plain English, and it created something that actually looked custom designed.”

John, a food blogger, had a similar experience: “I needed a recipe blog that loaded quickly and looked professional. Other AI tools made sites that were pretty but so slow. Bardly created a site that’s both beautiful and fast, which matters a lot for my readers.”

Practical Tips for Getting the Most from Bardly

To help you succeed with this AI website builder, here are some practical tips:

Be Specific in Your Prompts

The more specific your instructions, the better results you’ll get. Compare these approaches:

Too vague: “Make me a business website.”

Much better: “Create a website for my plumbing business that emphasizes emergency services, shows our service area map, and includes easy contact options for customers with urgent needs.”

Use the Refinement Phase Wisely

After Bardly generates your initial design, you’ll have opportunities to refine it. Don’t skip this step! This is where you can:

• Adjust color schemes to match your branding
• Modify layouts for specific pages
• Add custom sections that weren’t in your initial description

Take Advantage of the Free SEO Tools

Unlike many AI website builder free options that lock SEO features behind paywalls, Bardly includes powerful optimization tools even on free plans:

• Automatic meta description generation
• Image alt text suggestions
• Page speed optimization
• Mobile-first design approaches

A fitness studio owner noted: “Other builders charged extra for basic SEO. Bardly not only included these tools but actually explained how to use them effectively.”

The Limitations (Yes, There Are Some)

No honest review would be complete without mentioning limitations. For Bardly, these include:

• The free plan is limited to 5 pages (though this is more generous than competitors)
• Advanced e-commerce features require a paid upgrade
• Some integrations with specialized industry software may require custom work

Is Bardly Right for You?

Bardly is particularly well-suited for:

• Small business owners creating their first professional website
• Bloggers who prioritize page speed and SEO
• Creators who need a portfolio that stands out
• Anyone who values simplicity but doesn’t want a cookie-cutter website

If you need a 50 page e-commerce store with complex inventory management, you might eventually need something more specialized. But for most small businesses and creators, Bardly offers everything needed for a professional web presence.

The Future of AI Website Builders

The AI website builder space is evolving rapidly. As an AI website builder open source contributor explained: “We’re just seeing the beginning of what AI can do for web design. Tools like Bardly are leading a movement toward more personalized, efficient website creation that doesn’t require technical expertise.”

What makes Bardly particularly interesting is how it’s positioning itself for the future – with regular AI model updates and a commitment to keeping basic features free, they’re building a tool that grows with its users.

Ready to Try the Best Free Website Builder You Haven’t Been Using?

For small business owners, bloggers, and creators who want a professional website without the professional price tag, Bardly represents a compelling option in the AI website builder landscape.

While Wix may have the name recognition in the best free website builder conversation, and other AI website builders have flashier marketing, Bardly’s combination of truly useful free features, clean code, and intuitive AI makes it worth serious consideration.

The most refreshing part? You can try it completely free, build a fully functional website, and decide for yourself if it lives up to the promise of being the best AI website builder you haven’t been using yet.

Have you tried Bardly or other AI website builders? Share your experience in the comments below!