Website builders are available from web hosting providers, domain registrars, and during a trial period from web-building software manufacturers. Some are general website templates, while others may have a specific bent towards ecommerce. Some people even choose their hosting package because of the quality of the website builder they can access as a result.

When you choose a site builder, make sure that the number of web pages you need are available, that the alterations you need for your website can be made, and that support is available for any assistance you might need. While some free site builders restrict you to replacing images and text and give you no control over the text (font, size, color), other website builders give you more freedom.

If you will need widgets (such as a calendar), make sure that this feature is available. Take the time to look at websites that have been built using the complimentary website builders you are considering: do they look as professional as you want your website to look? Consider that if a site builder has the one website template that you want, it doesn't matter whether there are 100 others or 19000 others.

Choosing a jumping off point that will adapt as your website grows is another consideration. Can you add more pages for a price? Or are you going to have to start from scratch if your website needs increase?

Here are a few free webpage builders:

• GoDaddy's Website Tonite--for as little as $3.99/month for hosting, a customer can take advantage of GoDaddy's no-experience-needed website builder to create a 5-page website with 1 GB of disk storage, 150 GB of bandwidth, and 1 email account. The program features more than 1500 templates, tens of thousands of free images and no set-up fees. Flash intros are available, and an integrated photo album is offered, but no technical sklls are required.

• At 1&1, registering a domain name gets you a free website builder for a 5-page site, with no custom HTML, although purchasing a hosting package will get you the ability to add web pages. There is a library of 120 free website templates, and you can adapt the font size, color of the text, and add a graphic of your choice.

• Intuit offers a 30-day free trial, another form in which free website builders occur. There are 2000+ free website templates available, each of which can be customized, either by you or by Intuit's staff. You have control over the domain name, as well as the ability to add your own logo, and choose the graphics and text that appear.

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