What is Google Sites?
Google Sites builds hosted information websites using pages, layouts and embedded content. It separates people editing the draft from the audience allowed to view the published site.
Who is Google Sites for?
Teams and individuals publishing straightforward information sites with clear editor ownership and audience permissions.
Choose the audience as well as the page layout
Sites provides a template-and-page workflow for an information website. Decide who maintains the draft and whether the published content is intended for the public or a restricted audience.
Google’s publishing guidance separates the published site’s audience from editing. Compare Wix or WordPress.com if the required website workflow differs.
Google Sites features
The core capabilities to consider for your workflow.
- Template-based page creation and layout editing
- Google file and media embedding
- Published-site sharing and custom-domain options
Google Sites pricing
Free plan available
Basic Sites creation does not require a separate site-builder purchase. Budget managed Workspace services and any custom domain separately, and confirm the actual account’s availability.
Calculate the cost of your quote →Free access & evaluation
Core site creation is available with an eligible Google Account. A paid Workspace subscription or custom-domain registration is a separate purchase.
Before you choose Google Sites
Draft editing permissions and published-site viewing permissions need separate checks.
Managed work or school accounts can have administrator restrictions.
Custom-domain setup, domain registration and required embedded-content access need their own review.
Check the actual workflow
Use a non-sensitive two-page brief with text, an image and one embedded item. Check the intended viewing experience on a phone and computer and verify that the embedded content is available to that audience.
Custom-domain setup has owner and account requirements; work or school users should check the administrator route. Confirm the domain arrangement separately from authoring the pages.
Explore related website builders tools
Google Sites FAQs
Is Google Sites free to create a basic website?
Core site creation is available with an eligible Google Account without a separate site-builder purchase. Managed Workspace services and a custom domain can have separate costs.
Can a Google Site be public or restricted?
Google’s publishing guidance provides separate published-site audience controls, including Public and Restricted where available. Work or school settings can differ.
Can Google Sites use my own domain?
Yes. Google documents custom-domain setup with ownership and account requirements. Managed work or school users should contact their administrator.
Does giving someone editing access also define the published site audience?
Treat them as separate checks. Agree who edits the draft and who is permitted to view the published site, including any embedded content.