You can use any website for free by taking advantage of their free trials or demos. Many websites offer a free trial period, typically ranging from 14 to 30 days, allowing you to test their features before committing to a paid plan.
Some websites also offer a free version of their service, often with limited features compared to the paid version. For example, Google Workspace offers a free version with limited storage and features, but still allows you to collaborate with others and access your files online.
To use a website for free, you may need to create an account or sign up for a free trial. This can usually be done by clicking on the "Sign up" or "Get started" button on the website's homepage.
Many websites also offer browser extensions or add-ons that can help you access their free features or services.
Accessing Websites for Free
To access websites for free, you can use a web proxy or a VPN/browser extension. You can use a web proxy like Hide.me or Proxyium, which are both free to use, to unblock websites.
To use a web proxy, copy your chosen website URL, open a web proxy site, paste your website URL, choose a server location, turn on security features, and click Go. You can also use a VPN/browser extension like Windscribe Free or TunnelBear Free, which are free, but most are part of a paid subscription.
Some VPN/browser extensions are more effective and reliable than web proxies for unblocking websites. For example, in tests, browser extensions allowed streaming YouTube videos, whereas most web proxies failed.
Here are some pros and cons of using a VPN/browser extension:
Weebly
Weebly is a great option for those looking to create a website for free. Weebly's free tier is quite impressive, offering a website builder with many free and well-designed website themes.
You can create a professional-looking website without breaking the bank. Weebly's free tier includes a free SSL security certificate, which is essential for securing online transactions.
Weebly also allows you to set up free e-commerce capabilities, making it easy to sell products online. This feature is perfect for small businesses or individuals looking to start an online store.
One of the most useful features of Weebly's free tier is the ability to add tracking tools like Google Analytics. This helps you understand your website's performance and make data-driven decisions.
Contact forms are also included in Weebly's free tier, making it easy to stay in touch with customers and visitors.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a powerful platform that offers web security and speed. It started as a Web Application Firewall to protect websites from attacks.
You can host a website for free on Cloudflare using their Cloudflare Pages offering. This is geared towards developers, but anyone can use it.
Cloudflare's security features are top-notch, and you get GitHub integration to deploy your website with just one command. This is a huge time-saver, especially for developers.
Here are some key benefits of using Cloudflare:
- Free website hosting with Cloudflare Pages
- Web security features to protect your website
- Github integration for easy deployment
Articles
You can find plenty of free articles online that you can repurpose for your website to boost your SEO.
EzineArticles is one of the largest databases of freely available articles, with over half a million authors contributing work to the site.
Amazines offers articles on a wide selection of topics, making it a great resource for finding content that fits your website's theme.
If you're looking for more options, consider checking out these five sites where writers frequently add fresh, free-to-use content:
- Article Sphere, which you can use to create an RSS feed on your website
- ArticleCity, which offers particularly high-quality articles
- Articles Factory, which focuses on technical writing
These sites are great places to find high-quality content to add to your website, and they're all free to use.
Our Verdict
A VPN is the most effective tool for unblocking websites, as it bypasses strict blocks and is easy to set up on almost any device. Our testing has shown that VPNs deliver fast connection speeds and are the best option for accessing geo-restricted content.
We've tested over 20 different methods and found that VPNs are the clear winner when it comes to unblocking websites. If you're looking for a reliable solution, consider using a VPN.
Some blocks are more restrictive than others, preventing any access to certain websites altogether. For example, social media platforms like X (Twitter) or WhatsApp may be completely blocked.
Typically, blocks are based on your IP address, geolocation, or local network. This is why using a VPN can be so effective in bypassing these restrictions.
To unblock websites using a VPN, follow these simple steps: choose a VPN and install it onto your device, open the VPN app and select a server location, connect to the server location, and run an IP address test to verify it has changed.
Here's a quick summary of the steps:
- Choose a VPN and install it onto your device.
- Open the VPN app and select a server location.
- Connect to the server location.
- Run an IP address test to verify it has changed.
- Visit the blocked website.
Web Proxies
Web proxies are a quick and easy way to unblock websites for free. They work by routing your web traffic through a remote server, effectively hiding your physical location from the website you’re visiting.
Free web proxies have some serious limitations, though. They only work in a single browser tab, and typically don’t work with streaming apps or websites like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+.
Using a web proxy is as simple as finding a proxy site, entering the URL you want to unblock, and pressing enter. This should temporarily unblock the content for you.
Free web proxies lack obfuscation and their IP pools are easily identified by streaming services and infrequently recycled. This is why they often fail to unblock social media sites and free web games.
Web proxies typically offer no encryption, and some inject your traffic with ads and malware, or leak your real IP address to websites. They’ve even been known to capture usernames and passwords if you use it to log in to streaming services or other accounts.
Some popular free web proxy options include ProxySite and CroxyProxy, which support multiple proxy servers based in various locations. These websites are extremely reliable and offer excellent site rendering.
Here are the pros and cons of using a web proxy:
Overall, free web proxies might be a great one-time solution to unblock websites, but they’re not secure or effective enough to use on a daily basis for streaming, social media, or gaming.
Using Website Features
Using Website Features can be a game-changer for anyone looking to get the most out of a website without spending a dime. You can create custom forms for free, allowing you to experiment with different features and see how they'll look on your site.
Some websites even offer an on-page Form Builder editor, giving you the freedom to play around with various features and see the results in real-time. This is a great way to get a feel for how your form will look and function before you even start using it.
Creating forms for free is just one of the many perks of using a website's features. By taking advantage of these tools, you can enhance your online experience and get the most out of your website.
Use a Proxy
Using a proxy is a great way to unblock websites and access restricted content. It's a simple and easy-to-use solution that works by routing your web traffic through a remote server, effectively hiding your IP address and geographic location from the websites you visit.
Free web proxies are available, but they have some serious limitations. They only work in a single browser tab and typically don't work with streaming apps or websites like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+. They also lack obfuscation and their IP pools are easily identified by streaming services and infrequently recycled.
Some popular free web proxy sites include Hide.me and Proxyium, which are both free to use. These sites allow you to copy and paste your chosen website URL, choose a server location, and turn on security features like TLS encryption and cookie blocking.
A proxy browser extension is a midpoint between a VPN and a web proxy. It's a more effective and reliable solution for unblocking websites than a web proxy, but it's still not as secure as a VPN app. Some popular VPN and proxy browser extensions include ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Here are the pros and cons of using a web proxy:
Overall, using a proxy is a good option if you need to unblock a website quickly and easily, but it's not the most secure or effective solution in the long run.
Editor: Create Forms
Creating forms for your website is a breeze, and with the right tools, you can do it for free. You can create forms for any case without needing to code, thanks to one-click solutions that reduce manual work.
The Form Builder offers multi-step forms creation, integration with Zapier or Google Sites, and a conditional logic feature – all of which can be tried online for free. This means you can experiment with different features and settings without incurring any charges.
To embed the form you've created on your website, you'll need to paste the form widget code into an HTML field. This is a simple process that requires no coding expertise. In fact, even code non-professionals can manage it.
Here are the basic steps to follow:
- Paste the form widget code into an HTML field.
- Authorize on Elfsight for free and go to the admin board.
- Create your responsive form in the widget creator.
- Save your Form Builder after all settings are completed.
- Copy the code for form installation from the popup.
- Go to your website and paste the form code to the HTML field.
If you need any help along the way, the Elfsight Support Team is always online to assist you. You can also use the on-page Form Builder editor to experiment with all the features and see how your custom form will look.
Videos
You can give your website a professional boost by adding a video. Adding a video can capture your visitors' attention and make your website feel more dynamic.
Free videos are a great option if you're working on a tight budget. These stock clips can be extremely helpful and can be found on reliable sources like Pixabay and Pexels Video.
You can gather enough of these clips to build your own video without needing to shoot any new footage. This can save you time and money.
Just Ask
Just ask the website owner if you can use their content, and they might just say yes. You can find a blog post or photo on another website and send an email to the author asking about repurposing it.
It's a good idea to credit the original creator on your site, and make it clear in your email that you plan to do so. This shows respect for their work and helps build trust.
You can give some background about your website and why you think their work is a good fit for your audience. This can help the website owner see the benefits of having their content on your site.
You do need to do some vetting when choosing who to email. A competitor in your industry probably won't allow you to reuse their content.
It's also a good idea to look for websites that don't see a ton of traffic. The owner of a smaller website stands to benefit more from having their content reappear on your site.
The worst that can happen is that the site owner you email denies your request. But it only takes a few minutes to find content and send off an email.
Alternative Solutions
There are several alternative solutions to using a website for free. You can use a VPN to mask your IP address and access geo-restricted content.
Some websites offer free trials or demos, such as Microsoft Office Online, which offers a free version of its popular productivity suite. This can be a great way to test the waters before committing to a paid subscription.
You can also use online libraries and public domain resources, like Project Gutenberg, which offers over 60,000 free e-books.
Use Smart DNS
Smart DNS is a great alternative solution for accessing websites blocked or restricted in your region. It's cheap, compatible with a wide range of devices, and commonly used to unblock streaming services due to its extremely fast connection speeds.
Smart DNS works by rerouting your DNS requests through a proxy server in a country of your choosing. This differs from proxy and VPNs, which redirect all of your traffic through the proxy server.
ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer unblocks US Netflix, making it a popular choice for streaming services. Control D is another option, with servers that unblock DAZN, Max, BBC iPlayer, and more.
Smart DNS is usually cheaper than a VPN, offers faster connection speeds, and is compatible with a wider range of devices. However, it doesn't encrypt your traffic or hide your IP address, making it less secure than a VPN.
To use Smart DNS, you'll need to sign up for a service like MediaStreamer or Control D. Then, register your IP address with your provider, change your DNS server address, and restart your device.
Proxy/VPN Browser Extension
A Proxy/VPN Browser Extension can be a reliable way to unblock websites on your computer. It's easy to use and can be installed on popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Some VPN and proxy browser extensions are free, but most are part of a paid subscription. For example, Windscribe Free and TunnelBear Free are free options, while ExpressVPN and NordVPN require a subscription.
These extensions can be more effective than web proxies, which often fail to unblock streaming services. In our tests, browser extensions allowed us to stream YouTube videos, whereas most web proxies failed.
A Proxy/VPN Browser Extension works by routing your web traffic through a remote server, hiding your IP address and geographic location from the websites you visit. This can help you access restricted content on your phone, computer, tablet, and even on a Smart TV or Amazon Firestick.
However, it's essential to note that a VPN browser extension is not as secure as a VPN app, and most of them are actually proxy extensions, not offering the same level of protection and encryption as a VPN app.
Here are some popular Proxy/VPN Browser Extensions:
Keep in mind that a Proxy/VPN Browser Extension only works if you want to bypass network-level blocks, and some school-issued devices and business laptops may be configured to only use that institution's WiFi or have content filtering software installed into the device.
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is a great alternative to Amazon Web Services, offering a distinct approach to cloud computing.
It's free to get started with Microsoft Azure, just like Amazon, they want to hook you in with their services.
You can't connect your website to a custom domain, so you'll have to live with an ugly URL.
This limitation might be a drawback for some users, but it's worth considering the other benefits Microsoft Azure has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a way to run a website for free?
Yes, you can run a website for free with most website builders, but be aware that free plans often come with limitations. Consider exploring free website builder options to find one that meets your needs.
Sources
- https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/6-ways-to-get-free-website-content-for-your-site-legally-and-without-fuss
- https://www.top10vpn.com/guides/how-to-unblock-websites-anywhere/
- https://www.maketecheasier.com/best-ways-access-blocked-websites/
- https://dotwise.uk/blog/10-ways-to-host-a-website-for-free/
- https://elfsight.com/blog/how-to-embed-forms-on-any-website-online-and-for-free/
Featured Images: pexels.com