Best Website Builder
Paying thousands of dollars to a web designer to build your site is no longer required. Check out our list of easy, simple, and cheap website builders.
Updated on August 3rd, 2023
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Website builders are services that allow businesses to create and launch a website with little or no coding required. They resemble popular document editing programs, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Powerpoint. Most of the editing can be done by simply dragging and dropping images and text.
We've listed the top website builders that will allow just about anyone to create a website, with both free and paid options on offer. While a free website builder is ideal to get your personal or business website online quickly without spending large sums of money, you may want to look at upgrading to a paid package for more robust features.
Why We Chose Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly:
Our top pick is Squarespace, a powerful website builder with more than 3.7 million subscribers. The platform has an extensive selection of themes, and thanks to its drag-and-drop interface, the platform is ideal for beginners with little to no design experience.
In addition to its comprehensive range of website services, the platform has great ecommerce functionalities to effectively manage sales and merchandise workflows. There are also custom packages available for users with specialized needs.
In second place is Wix, a cloud-based platform that helps users design and build their own high-quality websites. Wix offers a wide variety of templates, product galleries, and comprehensive ecommerce functionalities.
The platform offers free website hosting along with general website plans, as well as ecommerce and enterprise packages to suit scaling companies. The platform also gives users access to a robust logo maker for an all-in-one business branding solution.
Weebly is our third pick based on its affordable pricing and comprehensive built-in website building tools. The platform offers a simple drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, password protection, and website analytics.
Ideal for beginners, Weebly features easy-to-use ecommerce functionalities and marketing services to ensure your website is optimized for customers and SEO-friendly. Its free plan is great for users with basic needs, while its premium packages include more advanced features, such as shipping labels, online payments, and priority customer support.
Things to Consider When Evaluating Website Builders:
- More affordable packages generally have fewer features or limited access to tools and themes.
- Free websites typically include the name of the website builder in the URL, which appears less professional.
- Consider a website builder that also offers domain registration and if you are interested in creating an online store, look out for plans that feature more robust product management and online payment tools.
The Best Website Builders:
Rank | Name | Offer | Review | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | From $192.00 /yr. | Squarespace boasts a wide variety of user-friendly templates, ecommerce integrations, and SEO tools to create a modern and easy-to-navigate website. It is also on the more affordable end of the spectrum. | ||
2. | From $192.00 /yr. | The platform’s drag-and-drop interface makes it ideal for beginners to quickly and easily create their websites, while its wide range of templates gives users great customization options. | ||
3. | Free and paid options. | Weebly offers a good selection of modern templates and its drag-and-drop interface allows users to build their websites with ease. Since there’s no advanced learning curve, the platform can be used by beginners and professionals alike. | ||
4. | Free and paid options. | The platform offers both free and paid plans, giving users greater flexibility than most website builders. Its wide variety of customizable templates, CMS tools, and built-in plugins make it a popular choice for users with both basic and advanced needs. | ||
5. | From $216.00 /yr. | Hubspot’s CMS plans are quite robust and include a range of helpful features, such as a drag-and-drop interface, custom domain connections, and a free blog maker with SEO-friendly content tools. | ||
6. | Free and paid options. | With a wide variety of general and ecommerce packages on offer, the platform is a great option for users in search of more advanced website-building tools, such as backup and restore functions, API access, and website traffic analytics. | ||
7. | From $119.88 /yr. | This mobile-friendly website builder equips users with both free tools and comprehensive add-ons, such as SEO and ecommerce functionality. Thanks to its free plan, the platform is one of the more affordable options. | ||
8. | From $60.00 /yr. | Shopify is a valuable resource for users building an online store or ecommerce website. Its features include user-friendly templates, secure hosting, and multiple third-party integrations. | ||
9. | From $59.40 /yr. | An easy-to-use platform that features ready-made content blocks, social marketing tools, and free web design support. Its top-tier package includes AI-powered copywriting and bulk editing services. | ||
10. | From $48.00 /yr. | IONOS has several affordable website-building packages on offer, featuring both pre-built templates and robust customization options. Its standout features include an AI text generator, integrated online booking tools, and SEO optimization. | ||
11. | Free and paid options. | The platform gives users ultimate control with comprehensive editing tools, a free image library, and flexible layouts. Its ecommerce website packages boast unlimited storage, social selling, and order management services. | ||
12. | From $348.00 /yr. | While predominantly an ecommerce website builder, the platform is ideal for scaling businesses in search of robust product filtering tools, POS integrations, and multicurrency payments. | ||
13. | From $168.00 /yr. | Providing both basic and advanced website building packages, Duda offers multiple site hosting, widget building, and client management services at affordable rates. | ||
14. | From $35.88 /yr. | An intuitive platform with AI features that allow users to customize design templates, generate website copy via ChatGPT, and integrate various marketing tools. | ||
15. | Free and paid options. | Compared to other platforms, IM Creator stands out with its free package for students, artists, and nonprofits in search of a basic website builder. While its paid plans feature nice-to-have tools, such as customizable templates, it lacks various advanced functionalities. | ||
16. | Free and paid options. | UCraft offers a free plan for users on a budget, as well as premium packages with comprehensive website-building features, such as SEO tools, ecommerce functionalities, and multilingual options. | ||
17. | Free and paid options. | The platform’s free plan allows users to sell only a single product on their website, which is less than ideal for businesses with bigger inventory. However, its paid packages include comprehensive tools to help scale companies and membership sites with more advanced needs. | ||
18. | From $60.00 /yr. | A highly customizable website builder offering various add-on products to meet the needs of scaling businesses. Its standout features include member portals, a custom 404 page, and element animation. | ||
19. | From $35.40 /yr. | The platform integrates seamlessly with WordPress.com and offers a variety of plans with advanced website-building tools, such as custom themes, domain privacy, malware scanning, and ecommerce functionality. | ||
20. | From €132.00 /yr. | Businesses can use Voog to create either a general website or online store, and its key features include mobile-optimized pages, customizable templates, and powerful SEO tools. | ||
21. | From $119.88 /yr. | The platform provides advanced website-building design tools via its integration with WordPress.com, as well as managed hosting and site cloning services. | ||
22. | From $444.00 /yr. | While on the costlier end of the spectrum, Leadpages offers mobile-responsive website pages, leads notifications, and a wide variety of third-party integrations for added convenience. | ||
23. | From $144.00 /yr. | The platform offers robust SEO tools, a custom domain name, and access to free stock images. It's ideal for users in search of automated website creation and hosting services. | ||
24. | From $35.40 /yr. | Dreamhost offers WordPress-optimized web hosting services, as well as free domain connections, easy-to-use website building tools, and automated daily backups so users never lose their data. | ||
25. | Free. | The platform is completely free to use and allows users to create a simple website with basic site templates and a drag-and-drop editor. However, it may not be ideal for those in search of more robust website building features. |
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Website builders are more cost-effective than hiring professional website designers.
- You do not need to know how to code to use a website builder.
- You have control of the content, design, and SEO of your website.
- Most website builders offer personalized customer support.
Cons
- Website builders aren't always suitable for business use as some can lack professional web page features.
- You cannot always use your own domain name with a free or affordable plan.
- You will need to invest some time into creating your website.
- Website builders cannot handle very big projects and can become difficult to manage.
- Most website builders limit the number of templates and customization options avaliable.
Comparisons Between Leading Competitors:
We compared packages offered by Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly to help you find the perfect fit for your business.
Squarespace Personal vs. Wix Light vs. Weebly Free:
Of the three, Squarespace's basic plan is the most feature-rich option, offering custom templates, website metrics, and audience management. However, it is also the costliest at $23.00 month-to-month or $16.00 per month billed annually. By contrast, Wix Light features custom domain hosting and 1 GB bandwidth for $16.00 per month billed annually.
The most affordable plan, Weebly Free, does not offer custom domain hosting but does feature comprehensive inventory and marketing management tools, which is ideal for small businesses in search of a basic ecommerce website or online store.
Comparison Between Squarespace Personal, Wix Light, and Weebly Free:
Feature | Squarespace Personal | Wix Light | Weebly Free |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual price | $192.00 | $192.00 | Free. |
Month-to-month price | $23.00 | $16.00 | Free. |
Custom domain hosting | x | ✓ | x |
Drag-and-drop editor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Website metrics | ✓ | x | x |
Bandwidth | Unlimited. | 1 GB | Unlimited. |
Inventory management | x | x | ✓ |
SEO tools | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer support | 24/7 email. | 24/7 email. | Chat and email. |
Squarespace Commerce vs. Wix Enterprise vs. Weebly Performance:
Squarespace's Commerce plan is its top-tier plan, offering fully integrated ecommerce functionalities, advanced website analytics, and product subscriptions. At $65.00 month-to-month or $49.00 per month billed annually, it is the costlier plan of the three but is a good option for scaling online stores.
Wix Enterprise has similar ecommerce tools to the former but also includes professional logo design services, free domain hosting for a year, and priority customer care. By contrast, Weebly Performance features the most robust ecommerce services of the three, offering shipping labels and abandoned cart emails.
While Weebly Performance costs $29.00 month-to-month or $26.00 per month billed annually, users need to contact Wix's for pricing details on the Enterprise plan.
Comparison Between Squarespace Commerce, Wix Enterprise, and Weebly Performance:
Feature | Squarespace Commerce | Wix Enterprise | Weebly Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual price | $588.00 | Contact for quote. | $312.00 |
Month-to-month price | $65.00 | Contact for quote. | $29.00 |
Custom domain hosting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced website metrics | ✓ | x | ✓ |
Bandwidth | Unlimited. | Unlimited. | Unlimited. |
Abandoned cart recovery | ✓ | x | ✓ |
Integrated logo design services | ✓ | ✓ | x |
Free SSL security | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer support | 24/7 email. | Priority 24/7 email. | Priority phone, email, and chat. |
FAQs:
What is the best website builder for small business?
What is the cheapest website builder?
Several website builders, such as Weebly, offer free plans. Some of the cheapest paid plans are offered by Web.com, Zyro, and Ucraft. You'll also find that many popular website builders have reasonable starting prices for their premium plans that include more advanced features.
What is the best free website builder?
Which website builder is easiest to use?
Does Google have a website builder?
Yes. Google has a free website builder called Sites. Users can create and edit customized websites using a simple drag-and-drop editing tool.
Do I need technical knowledge to use website building software?
Yes, some website building software may require you to have technical knowledge, but most platforms being marketed as website builders are simple to use and only require as much technical knowledge as your average word processor.
Which is the best website builder for eCommerce?
BigCommerce is one of the best website builders for eCommerce. The main focus of its website-building software is selling products online, managing inventory, and overseeing shipping processes. All its features are geared toward creating simple and successful online stores.
What is the best website maker for personal sites?
The Wix and GoDaddy website builders are great options for personal site building and offer themes or templates that need minimal customization. While pricing may be the distinguishing factor between most competitors, users should look out for beginner-friendly editing tools or 24/7 technical support for ultimate usability.
Are there free website makers?
Yes, there are a number of website builders that will let you make a website for free. Weebly and WordPress.com both offer a free website plan and while these do not have as many features as their paid counterparts, they are ideal for users just starting out or in need of basic functionalities.
Do images usually come with the website creator software?
Wix and Durable both offer free images that you can use to build your website. Other platforms offer the option to buy quality images from libraries that you access directly from the platform. You can also find free images on sites like Pexels and Pixabay.