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Written by: Howard Tillerman
Howard Tillerman is the Chief Marketing Officer for Step By Step Business and an award-winning marketing professional.
Published on September 29, 2023
In an age where first impressions are often made online, can you afford to have a mediocre digital footprint? Did you know that 75% of a company’s credibility is based on website design?
In today’s digital landscape, establishing a robust online presence isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a small business owner, an artist showcasing a portfolio, or a blogger sharing thoughts, the right website builder can be your gateway to connecting with a global audience.
Dive into this article as we unravel the best website builders available today, assessing their features, benefits, and ease of use. Prepare to craft a site that not only looks professional but also enhances your brand’s credibility.
Best for Small Business
Best for Variety of Supporting Tools
Best for Ecommerce and Dropshipping
Best for Affordability
Best All-in-One Solution
Best for Customization
Best AI Website Generator
Best for Beginners
Read our interview with Felix Norton for key insights on improving your online presence through expert website design techniques!
Squarespace presents a quartet of website builder plans, each beginning with a 14-day free trial:
Squarespace is known for its stunning, modern templates created by professional designers, which are all mobile-responsive. Its standout feature is the ability to enable accelerated mobile pages (AMP) for faster loading times on mobile devices.
Squarespace also excels in marketing tools and offers integrations with third-party apps. Users can easily set up online stores with built-in shopping carts, inventory management, and other e-commerce tools.
However, it’s worth noting that Squarespace does not offer free plans, and some e-commerce plans have transaction fees.
Squarespace is a top pick for its stunning, user-friendly design and pro templates. Ideal for creatives and businesses, its design and e-commerce strengths offset minor limitations.
Web.com offers four website builder plans tailored to various needs:
Web.com’s user-friendly platform is budget-friendly and ideal for individuals and small businesses seeking a quick website solution. It features a drag-and-drop interface for easy template customization, access to a vast library of stock photos, pre-designed building blocks, and custom code blocks for a tailored website. The platform’s responsive templates ensure websites look great on any device.
Web.com is ideal for small businesses and individuals wanting an affordable, simple website builder with eCommerce and many website management tools. While it might miss some advanced features, its all-in-one approach simplifies website creation.
Shopify is primarily an e-commerce website builder known for its built-in shopping carts and marketing features designed to facilitate online selling. While there are only nine free e-commerce templates available, premium templates can be purchased for an average cost of $100. The platform offers a point-and-click editor rather than a true drag-and-drop interface, which may have a slight learning curve.
Key Features:
Shopify provides a 3-day free trial before its pricing plans come into effect, starting at $29 per month for the Basic plan, $79 per month for the Shopify plan, and $299 per month for the Advanced plan. While it may be pricier than some other platforms, Shopify’s quality features justify the cost. A three-month trial at $1 per month for select plans allows users to test Shopify extensively.
Shopify is ideal for eCommerce and dropshipping businesses with its extensive features, 100+ payment integrations, and user-friendly interface. Though pricier than some, it’s perfect for scalable online stores with advanced capabilities.
Weebly is a budget-friendly, user-friendly website builder renowned for its versatility. Post-Square acquisition in 2018, it integrated Square’s e-commerce capabilities, making it suitable for both small business websites and online stores. Weebly boasts a rich selection of mobile-responsive themes, categorized by industry or personal style.
Their free plan includes an SSL certificate, e-commerce tools, SEO, lead capture, and Instagram integration. For premium options:
Weebly’s editor is user-friendly but follows a grid-based design, limiting extensive customization. Nonetheless, it offers ample storage, bandwidth, and tools for email and social media marketing. Plus, you can add shopping cart functionality at any time.
Weebly provides essential ecommerce and an intuitive builder at low or no cost. While there’s limited customization and some customer support issues, it’s a solid, budget-friendly website option.
GoDaddy Website Builder offers a free option for basic websites, upgradable to four paid plans:
GoDaddy Builder boasts a user-friendly editor, a vast selection of mobile-responsive templates, and a free domain with annual plans. Its robust e-commerce support is a standout feature, catering to online retailers. While some add-ons come at an extra cost, the overall combination of features and competitive pricing makes GoDaddy Website Builder a compelling choice.
GoDaddy offers an integrated domain registrar, web host, and site builder with a user-friendly interface, extensive templates, and strong e-commerce. With 24/7 support, it’s ideal for beginners and small businesses.
WordPress, a popular website builder for businesses of all sizes, offers a range of plans:
The builder provides an extensive library of themes and plugins, allowing users to customize their websites with ease. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor simplifies the design process, making it accessible to even those without coding experience. SEO optimization tools, mobile responsiveness, and robust security features are also included in the package. Whether you’re a blogger, small business owner, or a larger enterprise, the WordPress Builder has pricing and features to suit your needs.
We recommend WordPress for its deep customization options, vast integrations, diverse plugins, and strong SEO capabilities. Perfect for all, from bloggers to enterprises, it’s budget-friendly with a range of pricing, including a free plan.
IONOS, primarily known for web hosting services, offers the MyWebsite website builder, competing with top standalone builders. It features an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it user-friendly for all skill levels.
Focusing on online store options, there are four plans available:
IONOS provides an initial discount for new users, enhancing affordability. However, the lowest-priced plan includes IONOS ads, which may be a drawback. Upgrading to the Plus plan removes ads and unlocks advanced features. The basic plan lacks business apps, requiring an upgrade for features like reviews or booking integration.
A standout feature of the IONOS Pro plan is personalized content creation for specific visitors, offering tailored experiences. For small business websites, especially with e-commerce needs, the mid- or top-tier IONOS plans are worth considering.
One of the features of the IONOS offering is their AI Website Generator. With this innovative tool, users can generate a unique, fully customizable website. By entering a few simple details, the AI-driven platform can craft a search engine-optimized website, complete with relevant text and images. What’s even better? This AI Website Generator is included free in all MyWebsite Now plans, setting IONOS apart in the saturated market of website builders.
We recommend IONOS Website Builder for its affordability and key features, ideal for small businesses. Its competitive rates, comprehensive tools, and reliable support are standout features. Plus, its scalable plans ensure growth-friendly upgrades, including e-commerce capabilities.
Wix, a widely acclaimed website builder, is celebrated for its adaptability and user-friendly nature. It accommodates a diverse audience, rendering it a versatile choice for myriad website-building requirements.
Wix’s offerings include a free website builder for straightforward sites like blogs, alongside five paid website builder plans. The free plan allows users to craft a website but carries certain limitations, such as a subdomain and Wix-branded ads.
Their plans encompass:
Wix also caters to enterprises with custom Enterprise plans, available by quotation.
Wix supplements its core features with a plethora of free apps, allowing users to augment their website’s functionality. The higher-tier plans furnish valuable attributes such as SEO and analytics tools, an events calendar, and a logo maker. Furthermore, it offers e-commerce plans for those venturing into online retail, albeit at a higher price point.
Wix distinguishes itself with a vast template library comprising over 900 designer-created templates, predominantly modern and adaptable for various industries. It stands out as an exceptional choice for budding small business owners, particularly those contemplating an online store, with competitive e-commerce offerings.
We recommend Wix for its user-friendly design, versatility, and robust features. Ideal for beginners to developers, its App Market caters to varied site needs. With a notable free option and valuable premium plans, Wix ensures a professional online presence.
Before selecting a website builder, clearly identify what you want your website to achieve. Do you need an online store, a blog, or a portfolio? Your specific needs will determine which features are essential. For instance, if you’re selling products, you might need secure payment options and inventory management.
While many website builders offer basic versions for free, these often come with limitations. Determine how much you’re willing to spend on building and maintaining your website. Premium versions often provide advanced features, domain names, and eliminate platform branding.
Especially if you’re not tech-savvy, you’ll want a website builder that’s intuitive and easy to use. Look for drag-and-drop functionality, simple editing tools, and readily available customer support.
For your business to flourish online, your website must rank well on search engines. Choose a builder that supports search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. Additionally, with the rising use of mobile devices, ensure the platform automatically optimizes your site for mobile viewing.
Aesthetics and branding are crucial. Opt for builders that provide a diverse range of professional-looking templates. Being able to customize these templates to align with your brand’s identity can set your business apart.
If your business will be selling products or services online, it’s essential to have robust e-commerce features. This includes secure payment gateways, shopping cart functionalities, and inventory tracking. Some website builders are specifically designed for e-commerce, so keep an eye out for those.
A website builder that offers various integrations and plugins can enhance your site’s functionality. This could be in the form of email marketing tools, analytics, or social media integrations. These plugins can save time and provide automated solutions for various tasks.
When you run into issues or have questions, timely and helpful support can be invaluable. Consider platforms that offer 24/7 support, have active community forums, or provide an extensive knowledge base.
Real feedback from other small business owners can provide insights that you might not get from promotional materials. Look for reviews that mention the pros and cons, ease of use, and the quality of customer support.
Many website builders offer free trials or basic versions. Utilize these to get a hands-on feel for the platform. Spend some time building a mock website to ensure it meets your needs and expectations before making a financial commitment.
Choosing the right website builder is a significant decision for your small business. Take the time to assess and compare options to ensure your website effectively supports your business goals.
A website builder is a tool or platform that allows users to create and manage a website without manual coding. It often includes drag-and-drop features, pre-designed templates, and hosting services.
Website builder costs vary. Some offer free basic versions with optional paid plans for advanced features. Prices for paid plans can range from $5 to over $500 per month, depending on features and requirements.
Inspect the website’s source code for clues or use online tools like BuiltWith or Wappalyzer to determine the platform or builder used.
To make a website without a builder, one would typically use HTML, CSS, and possibly JavaScript. You’d need a code editor, a web server or hosting provider, and possibly a domain name.
Wix is commonly touted as one of the easiest due to its drag-and-drop interface. Other user-friendly options include Squarespace and Weebly.
WordPress.com, Wix, and Weebly all offer free plans suitable for small businesses, though upgrading to a paid plan might offer more features and customization.
WordPress, especially with SEO plugins like Yoast or RankMath, is known for strong SEO capabilities. Wix has also improved its SEO features in recent years.
Yes, Google offers a website builder tool as part of its Google My Business service, primarily designed for small businesses to create a simple online presence.
A CMS (Content Management System) allows users to manage and publish content on a website. It often requires more technical know-how than a website builder. A website builder provides tools to create and design websites easily, often with drag-and-drop functionality. While both can overlap in features, CMSs like WordPress offer more flexibility but might have a steeper learning curve than typical website builders like Wix or Squarespace.
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