To grow your business, you definitely need the Best Website Builders, and not just any website. You want one that is beautiful, functional, and easy to navigate. A slow website that offers a poor user experience causes visitors to leave without looking back, according to Arun Arora, senior partner at McKinsey & Company.
The good news is that you no longer need to hire a designer to create a brilliant website. You can do it yourself, even if you are a complete beginner. The best website builders are affordable, easy to use, have many visually appealing templates, and allow you to grow your online presence as your business grows.
In this article, we will review and compare the ten best websites on the market to help you choose the one that suits your needs.
Our Best Website Builders in 2023:
- GoDaddy – Best Website Builder for Beginners
- Web.com – Best for Design Flexibility
- Squarespace – Ideal for image-heavy websites
- Network Solutions: the best to connect quickly
- IONOS – The best to open an online store
- Jimdo: Best for those seeking guided help
- SITE123: Best for creating a simple website
- HostGator – Best for Business Owners on a Budget
- Fiverr – Best for Affordable Outsourcing Services
- Elementor – Best for WordPress Beginners.
A Closer Look at the Top 10 Website Builders
The GoDaddy website builder is a versatile option that caters to users of all levels. You shouldn't have any problems using its intuitive editor, and there are plenty of additional tools to help you develop your website, from powerful marketing and online booking tools to an online store builder.
GoDaddy has a great help centre and main user dashboard that allows you to manage all your GoDaddy products in one place. Its editor lacks design flexibility, the SEO tools are a bit basic, and there are only 22 templates available. But with its competitive price and wide range of tools, it stands out as a great option for everyone, from beginners creating their first website to advanced web admins looking to have an online store.
Why we chose GoDaddy? Works great for mobile sites
PROS
- Easy to set up and use
- Includes advanced marketing tools.
- Integrations with eBay, Etsy, Facebook and more
CONS
- Can't add custom code
- Cannot export content
Web.com is a US-based company that offers website development, domain name registration, and web hosting services to small and medium-sized businesses. It has existed since 1999, making it one of the pioneers in this field. Web.com's website builder is intuitive and beginner-friendly (although it lacks customization options) and offers over 150 industry-specific templates to get you online quickly, even if you're new to building websites. Websites.
According to Abhishek Shah, founder of Testlify, Web.com's strength is that it “offers a variety of services beyond website creation,” such as SEO and PPC, web security solutions, and hosting.
Their plans include free hosting services, domain registration, and basic marketing features. Plus, with Web.com, you get free one hour of dedicated support from experienced web designers.
Why we chose Web.com? We like that Web.com is simple and easy to use, making it a great choice if you want to get online quickly.
Our experience. Web.com is a solid choice for beginners, although its editor can seem complicated until you get the hang of it. We especially liked the variety of templates available.
PROS
- Well-designed templates
- Free images and stock photos
- One-hour support from a web design expert.
CONS
- Limited customization options
- There is no free trial
Squarespace is one of the best options for a visually impressive website, thanks to its fantastic variety of templates. With Squarespace, you can access advanced SEO features, powerful eCommerce capabilities, unlimited bandwidth, responsive design, and more. It is one of the most expensive web builders but offers flexible pricing options with its personal and business plans.
The intuitive and powerful Fluid Engine, Squarespace's new and improved drag-and-drop editor, offers many customization options, simplifies website creation, and delivers incredible results.
Why did we choose Squarespace? We were impressed with the quality of Squarespace's templates and the variety of design styles. The patterns seem to have a unique structure.
Our experience: The Fluid Engine editor is straightforward to use. Grid allows you to rearrange elements and even add animations. We could quickly switch between the desktop and mobile versions of the site and customize the design simultaneously.
Read the Squarespace Review
PROS
- 100+ beautifully designed templates
- All templates are mobile-responsive
- Strong SEO and blogging features
CONS
- Only suitable for websites with a flat navigation structure
- No phone support
With Network Solutions, you can quickly set up a basic website. It offers a wide variety of templates, an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, a personalized email address, free hosting, and a domain name.
However, Network Solutions' pricing structure is not very transparent. While the first month's subscription fee is quite affordable (starting at $2.95), consecutive months are significantly more expensive (starting at $14.95 for the lowest-level plan).
Additionally, many customers are satisfied with Network Solutions' technical support team's efficiency and ability to resolve complex issues quickly. The quality of customer support was an important consideration for us when compiling this list. Business owners need speed and efficiency when it comes to technical issues, and Network Solutions offers just that.
Why did we choose Network Solutions? Network solutions make creating websites simple, even if you are a beginner. This is a solid choice for small businesses looking to establish their online presence.
Our experience: We liked that Network Solutions offers website development services. It has a team of web designers who can build your website for a fee (the price is not transparent, but you can talk to an expert to get a quote). After that, you can access your site from the standard editor to make changes if necessary.
PROS
- Easy-to-use editor
- 150+ templates for different industries and use cases
- Domain name, web hosting and SSL certification are included in all plans
CONS
- Unclear pricing structure
- Limited customization options
IONOS is a trusted eCommerce website builder aimed at small business owners. Creating a website with IONOS is very simple, even if you've never done it before. You can efficiently cross-sell and sell products on individual product pages to increase profits and get comprehensive abandoned cart recovery functionality (not all website builders offer).
It's easy to grow your business with IONOS and even sell on popular social networks and marketplaces like Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, and Amazon. Although it has a limited number of templates (we counted 19), they are all well-designed and built for mobile responsiveness.
Why we chose IONOS: IONOS? IONOS is the best option to create an e-commerce store quickly. Their subscription rates (even for the premium plans) are affordable, especially for the first 6 to 12 months. After this period, subscription fees increase, but IONOS is transparent about its prices, with no unpleasant surprises.
Our experience: The IONOS dashboard, or Presence Suite, is an intuitive system for managing your website and online presence. Furthermore, the website builder is designed for beginners, making it easy to understand.
PROS
- Powerful eCommerce features at a reasonable price
- Mobile Responsive Templates
- Track your competitors' activity on Google and social media
CONS
- A limited number of templates
- which is only ten pages with a top-tier plan
Jimdo is a German web builder explicitly aimed at freelancers to empower and help them thrive. Jimdo founder Matthias Henze has dedicated his career to helping small businesses build an online presence because he believes that small business owners “are the backbone of our economy.”
Small business owners who want help creating a website will find Jimdo Dolphin helpful. It is an AI-powered design assistant that makes the design process easy. In just a few minutes, he can create an essential website with industry-specific photos and content that he can customize later. This is an affordable option and even features logo designers.
Why do we choose Jimdo? Jimdo is a great option when you're looking to automate and simplify the website design process as much as possible. We were impressed with how easy it was to create our website with Jimdo Dolphin.
Our experience. When we tested the platform, we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly we got everything up and running. We just had to answer a few questions about our business, the type of website we wanted, the pages we wanted to add, and our preferred style and colours. We even had the possibility of importing images from social networks. After that, Jimdo Dolphin gave us several web options to choose from.
PROS
- A quick and easy web design process
- Good SEO tools
- A forever-free plan is available
CONS
- Limited design flexibility
- Email-only customer support
SITE123 is one of the most intuitive and straightforward web builders, making it ideal for beginners. It's a complete solution for all your website-building needs, including an intuitive no-code editor, free hosting, powerful SEO tools, and responsive templates.
Creating an online store is also very simple. Since its e-commerce capabilities are limited, it may not be the best option if you plan to scale your business quickly. It will be beneficial if you look for an easy way to start selling online.
We chose SITE123 SITE123 is a simple, beginner-friendly platform that can help you get your website up and running quickly. Plus, it offers a free version you can try before committing.
Our experience Compared to other website builders we tested, SITE123 was probably the easiest to use. We had to choose the type of website we wanted to create, the name we wanted to use, and our favourite template.
PROS
Free version with 250 MB storage
Hundreds of mobile-friendly templates to choose from
24/7 live chat support and knowledge base with lots of tutorials
CONS
Basic customization options
Unable to export your site
HostGator is an affordable web-building solution with everything you need to get started: 200+ templates, an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, and robust email marketing tools included in all their plans. Depending on the plan you choose, you can get three, five, or ten email campaigns per month.
HostGator's editor is extremely versatile, especially considering its price. It offers two options: an AI-powered design assistant or a template, which you can customize yourself.
Why we chose HostGator HostGator is an affordable option with great hosting. Their competent site builder (included in all plans) is ideal for building your website with minimal effort.
Our experience We found the HostGator dashboard to be very easy to navigate, and you can even create your logo with their LogoMaker. While we found the customization options to be a little more limited with the AI-powered website builder, it's still ideal if you want to launch your website as soon as possible.
PROS
- AI-powered design assistant included in all plans
- Affordable introductory plans
- Powerful marketing tools, including LogoMaker by HostGator
CONS
- No free plan
- A limited number of products, except the premium plan.
Marketplaces like Fiverr are invaluable resources for those looking for a custom-built website to help you find a talented web designer or developer. Fiverr stands out for us with its transparent pricing, excellent user interface, and how easy it is to find the right web design specialist.
Here are some things to consider before hiring someone on Fiverr:
- The type of website you want to create (for example, an interactive website, a large online store, a portfolio website, etc.)
- Your specific needs and requirements
- Your budget and deadline
- Your preferences for the platforms and tools you would like the web designer to use (such as Adobe Photoshop, Figma, WordPress, or a website builder like Wix or Squarespace)
- The services you need (responsive design, prototypes, etc.)
Then, you head to the website design category and use the search engine to find the right person. Once you've shortlisted a few promising freelancers, you can check their portfolios, reviews, and the packages they offer to find the perfect candidate.
Why we chose Fiverr: You can find professional web designers on Fiverr who can create anything to your specifications, usually at a very competitive price. You can also use Fiverr Pro to find carefully vetted professionals who offer stellar quality and service.
Why we chose Fiverr: We found Fiverr to be easy to navigate. Select the type of service you are looking for and use the search engine and filters to narrow it down. Reviewing the top listings in a specific category was much faster than trying to sift through hundreds of listings in broad categories, such as website design.
PROS
- Global marketplace giving you access to talented professionals
- Outsource website creation for a truly custom design
- Easy-to-use search engine
CONS
- Quality may vary depending on the person you choose.
- The custom layout is more expensive.
Elementor is a popular WordPress page builder plugin with advanced editing features. It can be used with existing WordPress sites, making it an excellent option for minor edits without starting over.
Additionally, Elementor has an excellent free version and several premium options at competitive prices. It is easy to use, offers excellent customization, and can be integrated with various third-party plugins and applications.
PROS
- It comes with a neat and feature-rich editor.
- It offers excellent design flexibility across the board.
- Works with all WordPress themes
CONS
- It can be not very clear to start
- Requires a hosting account and WordPress site
What is a Website Builder?
A website builder is an easy-to-use platform that allows you to create and launch a website quickly, even if you are a beginner with no coding or technology knowledge. Most website builders feature an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, a selection of pre-designed templates that you can customize, an eCommerce suite, and SEO tools.
How Do Website Builders Work?
Website builders come with built-in editors that translate your design into code. These editors allow you to create your site, control its appearance, add different elements (photos, content, contact forms, and more), and create new pages.
Most website builders have extensive template libraries. You can choose the design that best suits your brand image and vision from here. Then, you can customize it and add images and content.
The Advantages of Website Builders
Website builders offer many advantages for business owners who want to launch an online presence quickly without spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Ease of use: The website builders are intuitive, and you don't need any CG or special tech skills to use most of them.
Customization options: Site-building platforms typically offer a wide selection of professionally designed templates that you can customize to create a website that fits your vision.
Affordability: Hiring a web designer can cost thousands of dollars. Website builders are a much cheaper solution, starting at just $1 a month for a builder like IONOS.
Easy maintenance: Using a website builder makes maintaining and growing your website easy. You can create new pages, list new products, add more content, and change any design elements from the platform itself.
How to Choose the Best Website Builder for Your Needs?
5 Questions to Help Determine Your Website Builder Needs
Choosing the best option depends on what you need. Here are five questions to help you decide.
- What type of website are you planning to build? (Portfolio, blog, online store, etc.)
- Will you sell products and/or services?
- What is your annual budget? Are you willing to pay more for the features you need?
- Do you need a platform with many customization options, or are you looking to create a simple website and launch it quickly?
- How comfortable are you learning to use a new platform?
For example, let's say you just launched your first clothing brand and want to create an online store quickly. You have no prior experience in web design, which makes you lean towards more straightforward solutions, and your budget is limited. In this case, look for a cheap, easy-to-use website builder with comprehensive eCommerce features like IONOS or HostGator.
On the other hand, Squarespace or Wix might be a better option if you have a higher budget and lots of product photos.
9 Key Features of the Best Website Builders
The best website builders have a few things in common. These are the key features to consider when choosing a platform.
- A variety of quality templates: A good website builder will offer a wide range of high-quality templates to make creating a visually appealing site simple.
- Design flexibility: Website customization options are key if you want to create something bespoke that feels like yours.
- Adequate storage and bandwidth: Think about the storage space you need. Websites containing photos and text will probably require less storage space than those with many videos.
- E-commerce features: Pay special attention to the website builder you choose for your e-commerce store. Some fit better than others, especially if you plan to climb.
- SEO tools: Search engine optimization is crucial if you rely on organic traffic to grow your business. The selected website builder should provide the SEO features you need to be visible on search engines.
- Google Analytics integration: Google Analytics allows you to analyze your website's performance and your visitors' demographics.
- Third-party plugins and apps: To add additional features to your website (chatbots, forms, testimonials, etc.), you may need to use a third-party application. Make sure you choose a website builder that allows this.
- Mobile responsiveness: Almost 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Website?
The cost of building a website varies depending on your needs. A simple website that you make yourself can cost $100/year if you choose the most budget-friendly tools and subscription plans. However, your annual costs will increase if you want to add an online store or third-party applications.
For example, with the IONOS starter plan, a no-store site will cost $5/month for the first six months and $9/month thereafter. The store will cost $5/month for the first six months and $19/month after that.
You need to hire a professional web designer to create a website where you control every design element. This can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the complexity, number of pages and your exact requirements.
Do You Need a Website Builder?
Website builders are ideal for hard-working business owners on a tight budget and anyone who wants to start a website and is willing to invest time and effort into creating it.
Making Money From Your Website
Try some of these standard options to monetize your website:
- Sell ad space: visitor attention is one of your most valuable resources, and you can monetize it by selling advertising space.
- Add products or services for sale: creating an online store is another way to monetize your website traffic.
- Join an affiliate marketing network. Affiliate marketing accounts for 16% of e-commerce sales, making it an important marketing channel for brands.
- Build a membership program: A subscription-based membership lets you easily monetize a loyal fan base.
- Launch an online course: Global revenue from online education is expected to grow by about 10% annually over the next few years, so now is the ideal time to get started.
- Publish sponsored content: If your website receives a lot of organic traffic, sponsored content can be a great way to monetize it.
You can create almost any type of online presence with the help of a web builder, from a portfolio to a restaurant website, an online store, or a website for a school, university, or non-profit organization.
What Types of Sites Can You Create with a Website Builder?
- E-commerce platforms
- Bloggers
- Portfolio sites for artists or photographers
- Websites for musicians
- Non-commercial sites
- Websites for businesses such as mom-and-pop shops, SMBs or enterprises
- Daycare websites
- Entertainment websites
- Directory sites
- Community forums
In short, the possibilities are almost unlimited. Need more help deciding? Below, we'll help you narrow your options and choose the website builder that best suits your needs.
The Best Website Builders for Photography
Squarespace and Web.com are two of the best website builders for photographers. Both make it easy to set up and manage a beautiful portfolio website quickly and easily, even if you know nothing about web design.
The Best Website Builders for Small Businesses
Look no further than Wix and SITE123, two of the best website builders for small businesses. Their editors are straightforward and intuitive, so you'll have a professional-looking website for your small business in no time.
The Best Website Builders for SEO
Are you going to rely on organic traffic to grow your business? WordPress.com and Jimdo are two of the best web builders for SEO. They both come with all the SEO tools you need to get started, even without experience.
Jimdo has its RankingCoach tool that gives you short SEO tasks to improve your website's ranking, while WordPress.com has its Page Structure Editor to change how your website looks in search engines.
The Best Website Builders for E-Commerce
IONOS and HostGator are some of the best eCommerce builders. Both offer inventory and order management, easy online payments, and integrated shipping management.
The Best Website Builders for Blogs
When looking for the best blog website builders, HubSpot and Network Solutions are your best options. With them, you can create a solid online presence, publish blog posts and increase your content.
Other Website Builders Worth Considering
Our recommendations result from a rigorous research, review and selection process. While only 10 made it to the final list, we reviewed many more website builders, including:
- WordPress.com – The best-advanced blogging feature
- BoldGrid – Best for creating professional websites on WordPress
- Weebly – Best Marketing & E-commerce Features
- Zyro – User-friendly web design tools
- Hibu – Best for Personal Digital Marketing Services
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- 10 Tips for Creating a Stunning Website for Your Daycare Business
Creating a Website Is Effortless With the Right Website Builder
Building a solid online presence is a must if you want to grow your business. For that, you need the right tools in your toolbox. And we can safely say that a web builder is the best way to create a professional-looking website and get online fast.
We've exhaustively researched the best website builders and found that the ten listed here are the best options and cover many needs. Our comparison of the best website builders has something for everyone, from one-stop platforms like Wix to AI-powered web design assistants like Jimdo Dolphin.