There is no way to run a website without some cost. The cost of hosting would be the minimum cost to run a website. There is also a cost properly maintaining a website. It would be the cost to learn how to do it properly as well as the time spent on it. A common fallacy is that building and maintaining a website is ‘easy’. It absolutely is for a person or team who knows what they are doing. If the knowledge isn’t there, the cost can be immense. A good analogy to think of is the following…
A mechanic may think rebuilding a clutch is easy. They have done it hundreds or thousands of times. In addition to the knowledge and experience, the mechanic will have the proper tools and environment to work in to ensure the clutch is repaired properly and does not lock up the engine.
A website is no different. In the less complex Internet era of 2005, a website could be built relatively easily. 20+ years later, the landscape has changed and there is a lot more that goes into it to make the web presence effective.
The cost of trying to build and maintain a website without appropriate experience is much higher than the cost of paying someone who knows what they are doing.
There are no free websites.