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13 Best Website Builders in 2024

Jon Torres | February 19, 2024

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Starting a business is no easy feat. With the countless items on your to-do list and associated expenses, the last thing you want to think about is hiring someone to build your website. This can get very expensive, especially if your site requires advanced features and regular updates. But what if I told you that you could create a website yourself, even if you don’t have experience as a developer or professional designer?

I’ve been in your shoes before. When I started my affiliate marketing business, I faced the same challenges and turned to a website builder to handle the layout and design. In fact, I opted for a free WordPress website to build jontorres.com, and enhanced the design experience with Beaver Builder. Since then, I’ve utilized various website builders to create professional websites for large organizations, as well as for affiliate websites, landing pages, and blogs. With tools like website builders, creating a site has become a lot easier and more accessible for entrepreneurs like us. 

Thanks to my extensive experience testing website builders, I’m confident that this review will provide valuable insights for creating a website without any coding skills. But, with over 50 options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. This is where my hands-on experience comes in. I’m here to help you decide on the best website builder for your small business.

Summary

1. Wix - Best overall

2. Squarespace - Best for Design

3. Weebly - Best for Small Businesses

4. GoDaddy - Best for Ease of Use

5. WordPress - Best for Blogging

6. Shopify - Best for eCommerce

7. BigCommerce - Best for Scalability

8. Ionos - Best for Marketing Integration

9. Webflow - Best for Professional Designers

10. Jimdo - Best for Simplicity

11. Site123 - Best for Quick Setup

12. Hostinger - Best for Budget

13. Hostgator - Best for Customization

Top Website Builders

1. Wix

1. Wix

4.8
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4.8 stars

Price Range

Price

Free trial

$13 – $49/month

Highlights

Artificial design intelligence

600+ themes

eCommerce features

Best For

Overall website builder 

Price Range

Free trial

$13 – $49/month

Highlights

Artificial design intelligence

600+ themes

eCommerce features

Best For

Overall website builder 

Highlights:

  • Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) for quick and unique website creation
  • Excellent eCommerce features for businesses and online stores
  • 600+ themes covering various industries
  • Advanced SEO and marketing tools built into every site

Special Deals:

Wix offers a free plan with basic features, along with seven paid packages. These are divided into two categories: non-eCommerce packages for general websites and eCommerce packages for businesses and online stores. 

Plugins:

Wix offers a range of plugins through its App Market, covering categories like analytics, marketing, social media, and more.

Languages:

Wix supports multilingual websites, allowing users to create sites in multiple languages.

Editing Advantages:

Wix offers an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor that allows users to customize their websites without the use of code. Additionally, the Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) feature can create unique websites based on user preferences in minutes.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

Wix offers excellent eCommerce features, including: 

  • Inventory management 
  • Shipping and fulfillment solutions
  • Multiple payment methods
  • Coupon creation
  • Email newsletters

Templates:

Wix offers over 600 pre-designed templates. These cover various industries, such as beauty, travel, photography, events, and food.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Wix’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for users to create and customize their websites. The platform also offers ADI for an even more streamlined website creation experience.

Pros:

  • 14-day free trial 
  • Numerous pre-designed templates, themes, fonts, and stock images
  • Provides a free SSL certificate (https://) with each package
  • One-year free custom domain name with a paid package
  • Allows for multiple editors and authors on the website

Cons:

  • Costs more than some of the alternatives
  • The loading speed of the page can be quite slow
  • Doesn’t let the user switch templates

Non-eCommerce Packages:

  • Combo Plan: $13/month, 3GB storage, 2GB bandwidth, 1-year free domain, and up to 30 minutes of HD video
  • Unlimited Plan: $18/month, 10GB storage, unlimited bandwidth, 1 hour of video, and access to site booster and visitor analytics apps
  • VIP Plan: $39/month, 20GB storage, 2 hours of video, access to Wix’s Ascend marketing tool, and priority customer support

eCommerce Packages:

  • Business Basic: $23/month, 20GB storage, 5 video hours, unlimited bandwidth, online store functionality, and $300 ad vouchers
  • Business Unlimited: $27/month, 35GB storage, 10 video hours, and all features of Business Basic plus professional logo creation and social media logo files

Business VIP: $49/month, 50GB storage, unlimited video hours, priority customer support, and custom reports

Reputation:

Since Wix is well-known for its user-friendly interface, it’s considered one of the best website builders globally, especially for beginners.

Customer Support:

Wix has a dedicated Help Center and provides email and phone support for users. The VIP plan offers priority customer support and faster response times.

2. Squarespace

2. Squarespace

4.5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4.5 stars

Price Range

Price

Free trial

$12-$40/month

Highlights

60+ modern templates

Multiple integration options

eCommerce features

Best For

Design options

Price Range

Free trial

$12-$40/month

Highlights

60+ modern templates

Multiple integration options

eCommerce features

Best For

Design options

Highlights:

  • Over 60 clean, modern, and customizable design templates
  • Sections and content blocks for efficient page layout
  • Impressive integration capabilities, including map blocks, Amazon, Instagram galleries, Google AMP, Apple Pay, and more
  • Built-in SEO features like meta titles and descriptions, AMP support, and alt tags for images
  • eCommerce functionality includes digital product sales, online payment solutions, and automatic tax reductions

Special Deals:

Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial and four paid plans. These plans include:

  • 2 general website packages (Personal and Business)
  • 2 eCommerce packages (Basic and Advanced)

Plugins:

Squarespace offers a range of add-ons and integrations. These include map blocks, Amazon, Instagram galleries, Google AMP, Apple Pay, Twitter block, Xero accounting, and more.

Languages:

Squarespace supports multilingual websites, allowing users to create sites in multiple languages.

Editing Advantages:

Squarespace’s drag-and-drop system, pre-built sections, and content blocks make it easy for users to design and customize their websites. No technical expertise required.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

This website builder offers robust eCommerce features, including:

  • Unlimited storage
  • Digital product sales
  • Online payments
  • Automatic tax reductions
  • Subscriptions
  • Automated emails
  • Various store page layouts

Templates:

There are over 60 customizable design templates available on Squarespace. Each features a clean, modern, and visually-appealing design.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Squarespace’s user interface is easy to navigate, making it accessible for users who aren’t very tech-savvy. Plus, the platform’s sections and content blocks simplify the page layout process, and its extensive integration capabilities enhance the overall user experience.

Pros:

  • Live chat support
  • Mobile phone responsive
  • Unlimited contributors feature

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Personal: $18/month, built-in SEO tools and free custom domain name
  • Professional: $27/month, eCommerce functionality and email marketing features
  • Premium: $69/month, advanced eCommerce features including advanced discounting, shipping, and subscription selling
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing, unlimited websites, internal communication tools, built-in SEO features

Reputation:

Squarespace is known for its modern design templates and user-friendly interface. This makes it a popular choice for beginner website building.

Customer Support:

Squarespace provides live chat support to help users with any issues they encounter.

3. Weebly

3. Weebly

4.5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4.5 stars

Price Range

Price

Free – $26/month

Highlights

Intuitive drag-and-drop builder

App Center

eCommerce integration

Best For

Small businesses

Price Range

Free – $26/month

Highlights

Intuitive drag-and-drop builder

App Center

eCommerce integration

Best For

Small businesses

Highlights:

  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop website builder
  • Mobile-responsive templates
  • App Center with numerous apps and integrations
  • Built-in eCommerce features for online stores

Special Deals:

Weebly offers a free plan as well as three paid plans: Personal, Professional, and Performance.

Plugins:

Weebly’s App Center offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance your website’s functionality. Some examples include apps for social media sharing, email marketing, and analytics tools.

Languages:

Weebly supports multiple languages, allowing you to create a multilingual website.

Editing Advantages:

Weebly’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for users with little or no web design experience to create and customize their websites.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

Weebly offers integrated eCommerce features. These include:

  • Product listings
  • Shopping cart functionality
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Shipping options

Templates:

This builder also offers a wide range of mobile-responsive themes and templates. They cater to various industries and website types.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Weebly’s user interface is designed for ease of use. This makes it accessible to users of all skill levels. The drag-and-drop website builder — along with the App Center — allows for a streamlined and customizable user experience.

Pros:

  • Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
  • Wide range of themes and templates
  • Integrated eCommerce features
  • App Center for additional functionality

Cons:

  • Limited customization options compared to some competitors
  • Fewer advanced features for experienced users
  • Free Plan: Basic features, Weebly branding, and a Weebly subdomain
  • Personal Plan: $6/month, custom domain, unlimited storage, and basic eCommerce features
  • Professional Plan: $12/month, advanced site features, no Weebly ads, and additional eCommerce features
  • Performance Plan: $26/month, advanced eCommerce features, email marketing tools, and priority customer support

Reputation:

Weebly is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive range of templates, making it a popular choice for beginners and those looking for a simple website-building solution.

Customer Support:

Weebly provides email and chat support, as well as a comprehensive Help Center for users to find answers to common questions.

4. GoDaddy

4. GoDaddy

4.0
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4.0 stars

Price Range

Price

$9.99 – $24.99/month

Highlights

Hosting and domain services

SEO tools

Drag-and-drop builder

Best For

Ease of use

Price Range

$9.99 – $24.99/month

Highlights

Hosting and domain services

SEO tools

Drag-and-drop builder

Best For

Ease of use

Highlights:

  • User-friendly drag-and-drop website builder
  • Mobile-responsive templates
  • Comprehensive hosting and domain services
  • Built-in marketing and SEO tools

Special Deals:

GoDaddy offers a 1-month free trial and four paid plans: Basic, Standard, Premium, and eCommerce.

Plugins:

GoDaddy offers various built-in integrations and apps to enhance your website’s functionality, including plug-ins for WordPress and Google Reviews. 

Languages:

GoDaddy supports multiple languages, allowing you to create a multilingual website.

Editing Advantages:

GoDaddy’s builder makes it easy for users with little or no web design experience to create and customize their websites.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

GoDaddy offers integrated eCommerce features for product listings, shopping cart functionality, payment processing, inventory management, shipping options, and more. 

Templates:

GoDaddy provides mobile-responsive themes and templates that make it easy to create a site.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

GoDaddy’s user interface is both intuitive and easy to navigate, so you can find what you’re looking for quickly and without any confusion.

Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly website builder
  • Comprehensive website hosting and domain services
  • Integrated eCommerce features
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Limited design customization options
  • Fewer advanced features compared to competitors
  • Basic Plan: $9.99/month, basic website builder tools, and GoDaddy Insights
  • Standard Plan: $14.99/month, additional marketing features, and social media integrations
  • Premium Plan: $19.99/month, advanced marketing features, and appointment booking functionality

eCommerce Plan: $24.99/month, comprehensive eCommerce features, including product listings and payment processing

Reputation:

GoDaddy is known for its simple hosting solutions. The builder sweetens the deal and also offers domain registration and website hosting services. This makes it a popular choice for beginners and small businesses.

Customer Support:

GoDaddy provides 24/7 customer support via phone and live chat. The site also has a comprehensive Help Center with articles and tutorials covering various topics. 

5. WordPress

5. WordPress

5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

5 stars

Price Range

Price

Free – $45/month

Highlights

7,000+ themes

55,960+ plugins

Blogging and SEO

Best For

Blogging

Price Range

Free – $45/month

Highlights

7,000+ themes

55,960+ plugins

Blogging and SEO

Best For

Blogging

Highlights:

  • Open-source content management system
  • Over 7,000 available themes and 55,000 plugins
  • Strong SEO capabilities
  • Built-in blogging features

Special Deals:

WordPress offers a free version with limited features. It also has four paid plans: Personal, Premium, Business, and eCommerce.

Plugins:

WordPress offers over 55,000 plugins, allowing users to extend the functionality of their websites. You can use these plugins to add eCommerce features, contact forms, analytics tools, and more. 

Languages:

WordPress supports multiple languages, making it possible to create multilingual websites.

Editing Advantages:

WordPress provides a user-friendly editor that allows users to customize their websites’ appearance, content, and functionality with ease.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

With the help of plugins, WordPress websites can be easily transformed into eCommerce platforms. WooCommerce is the most popular choice for this.

Templates:

With over 7,000 different themes available, WordPress provides a vast selection of design templates.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

The WordPress interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, allowing users with varying levels of experience to create and manage their websites. The extensive range of themes and plugins enables a highly customizable and unique user experience.

Pros:

  • Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins
  • SEO-friendly platform
  • Suitable for various website types, including online stores and blogging sites 
  • Large user community and multiple support resources

Cons:

  • Frequent updates may lead to compatibility issues
  • Advanced customization may require coding knowledge
  • Free Plan: Access to basic features, limited themes, and a WordPress subdomain
  • Personal Plan: $4/month, custom domain, access to premium themes, and basic live chat support
  • Premium Plan: $8/month, advanced design customization, monetization options, and video hosting
  • Business Plan: $25/month, unlimited premium themes, plugins, and SEO tools, along with 24/7 live chat support

eCommerce Plan: $45/month, eCommerce features, including payment processing and shipping options

Reputation:

WordPress is renowned for its versatility and flexibility. This makes it a popular choice for all site types, including blogs and online shops.

Customer Support:

WordPress offers extensive documentation, guides, and a large user community to provide support. Additionally, paid plans include varying levels of live chat support.

6. Shopify

6. Shopify

5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

5 stars

Price Range

Price

$29 – $299/month

Highlights

Made for eCommerce

SEO features

Stock images included

Best For

eCommerce

Price Range

$29 – $299/month

Highlights

Made for eCommerce

SEO features

Stock images included

Best For

eCommerce

Highlights:

  • Specifically tailored for eCommerce websites
  • Access to free high-resolution stock images
  • SEO-friendly features, including responsive themes and a structured page layout
  • Transparent pricing with a 14-day free trial

Special Deals:

Shopify offers a 14-day free trial and three pricing plans: Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify.

Plugins:

Shopify’s App Store offers many plugins to enhance your store’s functionality. For instance, there are options for SEO tools like Yoast, SEO Image Optimizer, Smart SEO, and SEMRush.

Languages:

Shopify supports multiple languages, allowing you to create a multilingual online store.

Editing Advantages:

Shopify provides a user-friendly interface that’s designed specifically for eCommerce sites, making it easy to add products, manage orders, and track sales.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

As mentioned earlier, Shopify is designed specifically for eCommerce and offers built-in features to create an online store and sell products or services. Some of these features include:

  • A credit card processor
  • Multi-currency support
  • Shopify Pay
  • An extensive App Store for added functionality

Templates:

With over 100 ready-to-use templates and 10 free themes, Shopify offers a wide range of clean and modern design options for your online store.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Shopify provides a seamless experience for both store owners and customers. The platform’s responsive themes ensure optimal performance across all devices.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface designed for eCommerce websites
  • More than 100 ready-to-use templates
  • Built-in credit card processor and multi-currency support
  • App store for extended functionality and SEO tools

Cons:

  • Transaction fees may apply for online purchases not using Shopify Payments
  • Basic Shopify: $29/month, unlimited products, digital products, customer login, and abandoned cart recovery
  • Shopify: $79/month, additional features include gift cards for customers and professional reports
  • Advanced Shopify: $299/month, advanced report builder and real-time carrier shipping

Reputation:

Shopify is best known for its comprehensive eCommerce features, making it a popular choice for online retailers.

Customer Support:

Shopify provides live chat support and the option to hire a Shopify Expert to help with store setup, SEO, and other aspects of your online business.

7. BigCommerce

7. BigCommerce

5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

5 stars

Price Range

Price

$29.95 – $71.95/month

Highlights

Performance optimized

Multiple wallet options

WordPress integration 

Best For

Scalability

Price Range

$29.95 – $71.95/month

Highlights

Performance optimized

Multiple wallet options

WordPress integration 

Best For

Scalability

Highlights:

  • Fast performance with Google AMP, Google Cloud Platform, and Akamai Image Manager
  • Dozens of wallet options for easy payment processing
  • WordPress integration for back-end enablement
  • Mobile-responsive themes

Special Deals:

BigCommerce offers a three-month free service to new users and has three pricing plans: Standard, Plus, and Pro.

Plugins:

BigCommerce does not require plugins for advanced operations, making it simpler to manage.

Languages:

BigCommerce supports multiple languages.

Editing Advantages:

BigCommerce’s built-in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript functionality allows for customizable themes and a personalized checkout experience using a server-to-server API and SDK.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

BigCommerce is specifically designed for eCommerce websites and offers a range of features, like:

  • Cross-channel activities
  • Customer support services
  • Payment and pricing arrangements
  • Cross-border fulfillment

Templates:

BigCommerce provides several design templates to suit individual business preferences. These themes are mobile-responsive and automatically adjust to different devices.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

BigCommerce’s user interface may be challenging for beginners. While the platform may require some technical knowledge, its themes and features are designed to provide a seamless experience for both website owners and visitors.

Pros:

  • Specialized content management system
  • Highly integrative with other platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping
  • Built-in blog and affiliate marketing features
  • Advanced SEO tools and features

Cons:

  • May be difficult for beginners, requiring some HTML knowledge
  • Monthly subscriptions can be expensive
  • Standard: $29.95/month, 100+ built-in features, 24/7 live agent support, dedicated SSL, and marketplace integrations
  • Plus: $71.95/month, additional features include fraud monitoring, analytics, faceted search, and prioritized call routing
  • Pro: Pricing available upon request

Reputation:

BigCommerce provides comprehensive eCommerce features and high integrative capacity with other platforms.

Customer Support:

BigCommerce provides numerous customer support options. They have a dedicated Help Center with case studies and solutions from BigCommerce merchants, as well as free trial features to try out the platform. More support resources include videos, articles, guides, and developer docs.

8. Ionos

8. Ionos

4
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4 stars

Price Range

Price

$5-$15/month

Highlights

Scalable hosting options

Good plan variety

eCommerce features included

Best For

Marketing integrations

Price Range

$5-$15/month

Highlights

Scalable hosting options

Good plan variety

eCommerce features included

Best For

Marketing integrations

Highlights:

  • Reliable and scalable hosting options
  • Offers a range of plans for different user needs
  • Website builder includes essential eCommerce features

Special Deals:

Ionos offers a range of affordable plans for web hosting, domain registration, and website building.

Plugins:

Ionos offers a limited range of plugins compared to other website builders. However, the essential features for website functionality are included.

Languages:

Ionos includes multilingual support.

Editing Advantages:

Ionos offers an easy-to-use website builder that simplifies website creation and management. 

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

Ionos provides essential eCommerce features so you can create an online store easily and accept payments securely.

Templates:

There is a limited range of design templates compared to competitors, but the available templates are modern and responsive.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Ionos’s user interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, and its drag-and-drop functionality ensures a seamless user experience.

Pros:

  • Affordable web hosting plans
  • High-performance servers
  • Easy-to-use website builder
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Limited design templates compared to competitors
  • Not as feature-rich as other website builders
  • Advanced features may require some technical knowledge
  • Essential: Starting at $5/month, includes a domain, 10 GB storage, and 10 email accounts
  • Business: Starting at $10/month, includes a domain, 100 GB storage, and 25 email accounts
  • Pro: Starting at $15/month, includes a domain, 200 GB storage, and 50 email accounts

Reputation:

Ionos is known for its affordable and high-performance web hosting solutions for businesses and individuals.

Customer Support:

Ionos offers 24/7 customer support through phone and live chat. Users can also access a comprehensive knowledge base of self-help resources.

9. Webflow

9. Webflow

4.5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4.5 stars

Price Range

Price

$15 – $234/month

Highlights

Multiple integration options

Good plan variety

Intuitive builder

Best For

Designers

Price Range

$15 – $234/month

Highlights

Multiple integration options

Good plan variety

Intuitive builder

Best For

Designers

Highlights:

  • Perfect for web designers and small agencies
  • Extensive integration options with modern applications
  • Offers a range of plans to cater to various users

Special Deals:

Webflow offers a free version, but to unlock advanced features, you should subscribe to one of the site plans, eCommerce plans, or account plans.

Plugins:

Webflow doesn’t require plugins for advanced functionality. It already provides a wide range of built-in tools and features.

Languages:

Webflow supports multiple languages.

Editing Advantages:

Webflow offers a visually appealing website builder. It has a fully customizable CMS as well, so you can create a website without needing to code.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

Webflow includes built-in eCommerce functionality, and it allows you to integrate commerce platforms like Gumroad, Shopify, and Foxy.

Templates:

It offers a limited selection of templates compared to other platforms, but the available options are all modern and function seamlessly. 

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Webflow’s user interface caters to professionals rather than beginners. However, once you’re familiar with the platform, you can benefit from its advanced features.

Pros:

  • Highly customizable and visually appealing designs
  • Built-in CMS and eCommerce functionality
  • No coding or plugin installation required
  • SEO-friendly and responsive designs

Cons:

  • Not beginner-friendly
  • Limited template selection compared to other platforms

Site Plans:

  • Basic: $15/month, includes a free SSL certificate, CDN, 25,000 monthly visits, and 500 form submissions
  • CMS: $20/month, offers 2,000 CMS items, 3 content editors, limited CMS API, custom search engine, and 100,000 monthly visits
  • Business: $45/month, includes an advanced global CDN, 10,000 CMS items, full CMS API, 10 content editors, and unlimited form submissions

eCommerce Plans:

  • Standard: $42/month, ideal for new businesses, includes custom check-out, shopping carts, product field, and payment tools
  • Plus: $84/month, suitable for higher volume businesses, offers additional features
  • Advance: $234/month, incorporates all features from the business plan with advanced eCommerce features

Account Plans:

  • Lite: $24/month, suitable for individual users, offers up to 10 projects, client billing, and unlimited project transfers

Pro: $43/month, ideal for multiple users, no project restrictions, site password protection, and all features from the Lite plan

Reputation:

This builder is known for its powerful design capabilities. As a result, it’s steadily growing in popularity among web designers and small agencies.

Customer Support:

Webflow provides support through ebooks, online courses, videos, and community platforms.

10. Jimdo

10. Jimdo

3.5
stars
Logo
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Rating

3.5 stars

Price Range

Price

Free – $20/month

Highlights

Drag-and-drop builder

Small business focus

Best For

Simplicity 

Price Range

Free – $20/month

Highlights

Drag-and-drop builder

Small business focus

Best For

Simplicity 

Highlights:

  • Ideal for small businesses and personal projects
  • User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality

Special Deals:

Jimdo offers a free version, but users can opt for paid plans to unlock more features.

Plugins:

Jimdo has a limited selection of built-in tools and features, and it does not support extensive third-party plugins.

Languages:

Jimdo comes with support for multiple languages.

Editing Advantages:

Jimdo features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. This makes it easy for beginners to create and edit their websites.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

Jimdo provides basic eCommerce functionality, but it lacks the advanced features and integration options offered by competitors.

Templates:

Jimdo has a smaller template selection compared to other website builders, and the customization options that are available are somewhat limited.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Jimdo’s user interface is simple and easy to navigate, making it ideal for beginners and users with little web design experience. The platform provides a smooth user experience, especially for those looking for a basic website builder.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use interface, suitable for beginners
  • Mobile-friendly and responsive templates
  • Built-in SEO tools
  • Basic eCommerce functionality

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Fewer templates compared to competitors
  • Lacks advanced eCommerce and integration features
  • Free: Basic features and functionality with a Jimdo subdomain
  • Pro: $10/month, includes a free domain for the first year, ad-free experience, more storage, and additional support
  • Business: $20/month, offers basic eCommerce features, unlimited storage, and premium support

eCommerce: Pricing varies depending on the level of eCommerce features needed

Reputation:

Jimdo is known for its user-friendly interface and simple tools. It’s a popular choice among small businesses and personal users.

Customer Support:

Jimdo offers customer support via email, with faster response times for users on higher-tier plans.

11. Site123

11. Site123

3.5
stars
Logo
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Rating

3.5 stars

Price Range

Price

Free – $28.80/month

Highlights

Great for small projects

Guided setup

Easy-to-use site builder

Best For

Small business and personal projects

Price Range

Free – $28.80/month

Highlights

Great for small projects

Guided setup

Easy-to-use site builder

Best For

Small business and personal projects

Highlights:

  • Ideal for small businesses, personal websites, and simple projects
  • Intuitive website builder with a guided setup process

Special Deals:

Site123 offers a free plan with basic features, as well as paid plans for more advanced functionality.

Plugins:

Site123 has built-in features, but it does not support a wide range of third-party plugins.

Languages:

Site123 supports multiple languages, allowing you to create multilingual websites easily.

Editing Advantages:

Site123 offers a guided website-building process and a simple interface, so beginners can enjoy this platform.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

Site123 provides basic eCommerce functionality in higher-tier plans but lacks advanced features and integrations many of the other builders listed here have.

Templates:

Site123 has a limited selection of templates compared to competitors. Additionally, the customization options are somewhat restricted but may be enough for those with simple needs.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

The user interface is straightforward and easy to navigate. If you’ve never used a website builder before, Site123 might be a good option.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use and beginner-friendly
  • Mobile-friendly templates
  • Multilingual capabilities
  • Free plan is available

Cons:

  • Limited design customization options
  • Limited features compared to competitors
  • eCommerce functionality only available in higher-tier plans
  • Free: Basic features, Site123 branding, and a subdomain
  • Basic: $10.80/month, removes Site123 branding, includes a free domain for one year, more storage, and eCommerce functionality (up to 10 products)
  • Advanced: $16.80/month, increased storage and product listings (up to 50), additional language support, and custom forms
  • Professional: $22.80/month, advanced eCommerce features (up to 500 products), unlimited web pages, and additional language support

Gold: $28.80/month, unlimited product listings, priority support, and more storage

Reputation:

The user-friendly interface and overall simplicity are what make Site123 stand out. It’s ideal for small business sites and personal projects.

Customer Support:

Site123 offers 24/7 live chat support, as well as email support and various resources located on the site.

12. Hostinger

12. Hostinger

4.5
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4.5 stars

Price Range

Price

$1.39 – $3.39/month

Highlights

Affordable

Zyro Website Builder included

Stellar support

Best For

Budget

Price Range

$1.39 – $3.39/month

Highlights

Affordable

Zyro Website Builder included

Stellar support

Best For

Budget

Highlights:

  • Budget-friendly hosting plans for various needs
  • Zyro website builder included in hosting packages
  • 24/7 customer support

Special Deals:

Hostinger offers frequent discounts and promotions on their hosting plans.

Website Builder:

Hostinger includes the Zyro website builder with its hosting plans. Zyro is an easy-to-use website builder with AI-driven tools and a variety of templates.

Plugins:

Hostinger supports a wide range of third-party plugins and applications. Depending on the hosting plan and your technical expertise, you can find a setup that works for you.

Languages:

Hostinger’s platform is available in multiple languages.

Editing Advantages:

The Zyro website builder included in Hostinger’s hosting plans is easy to use. It comes with drag-and-drop functionality and a variety of templates.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

While Hostinger supports eCommerce functionality, the extent of the features and integration options depends on the hosting plan.

Templates:

The Zyro website builder comes with a decent range of templates for multiple industries.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

Hostinger’s user interface is straightforward and suitable for beginners. However, more advanced plans offer more advanced features, and the UX can scale up depending on your needs.

Pros:

  • Affordable hosting plans
  • Easy-to-use website builder
  • Reliable performance and uptime
  • Responsive customer support

Cons:

  • Limited features in the basic plan
  • No free plan is available
  • Advanced features may require technical expertise
  • Single Shared Hosting: $1.39/month, basic features, one website, 30 GB SSD storage, 100 GB bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate
  • Premium Shared Hosting: $2.59/month, unlimited websites, 100 GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, and a free domain for one year
  • Business Shared Hosting: $3.99/month, unlimited websites, 200 GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, a free domain for one year, daily backups, and more advanced features

Reputation:

Hostinger is best known for its affordable hosting plans and reliable performance.

Customer Support:

Hostinger offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and a comprehensive knowledge base.

13. HostGator

13. HostGator

4
stars
Logo
Visit Website

Rating

4 stars

Price Range

Price

$2.75 – $5.25/month

Highlights

Numerous hosting options

Gator website builder included

Supports plugins

Best For

Customization

Price Range

$2.75 – $5.25/month

Highlights

Numerous hosting options

Gator website builder included

Supports plugins

Best For

Customization

Highlights:

  • Wide range of hosting options
  • Gator website builder included in hosting plans
  • Extensive plugin support

Special Deals:

HostGator offers frequent discounts and promotions on its hosting plans.

Website Builder:

HostGator includes the Gator website builder, which is a feature-rich, drag-and-drop editor with pre-made templates and various customization options.

Plugins:

HostGator supports third-party plugins and applications, so you can easily enhance your website with additional features.

Languages:

Multiple languages are supported.

Editing Advantages:

The Gator website builder offers a variety of editing advantages. These include drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built sections, and multiple customization options.

Services / eCommerce Functionality:

HostGator supports eCommerce sites as well. It also provides support for WordPress sites running WooCommerce, Shopify, and more.

Templates:

The Gator website builder includes a variety of professionally-designed templates, so you’re certain to find one that works for your given industry.

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX):

HostGator’s user interface is comprehensive and feature-rich, which may be slightly overwhelming for beginners.

Pros:

  • Affordable hosting plans
  • Feature-rich website builder
  • Reliable performance and uptime
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • No free plan is available
  • Interface may be overwhelming for beginners
  • Hatchling Plan: $2.75/month, one domain, unlimited disk space and bandwidth, free SSL certificate, and a free domain for one year
  • Baby Plan: $3.50/month, unlimited domains, unlimited disk space and bandwidth, free SSL certificate, and a free domain for one year
  • Business Plan: $5.25/month, unlimited domains, unlimited disk space and bandwidth, free SSL certificate, free dedicated IP, SEO tools, and a free domain for one year

Reputation:

HostGator provides reliable performance, extensive features, and affordable hosting plans. It’s a popular choice for businesses and bloggers.

Customer Support:

HostGator offers customer support through live chat and phone. You can also check out the various resources located on their website.

Our Methodology for Choosing the Best Website Builders for Small Businesses

To determine the best website builders, we evaluated them based on the following criteria:

Ease of Use

We considered how easy it is for users, especially beginners, to create and manage their websites using the website builder in question. 

Design Options

We assessed the variety and quality of templates available. We also took a look at customization options and design flexibility.

Pricing

We compared the pricing plans and features offered by each website builder, carefully considering the value they provide.

Customer Support

We evaluated the availability and quality of customer support, considering response times, helpfulness, and support channels.

Integrations

In my evaluation, I also looked at the availability and variety of third-party integrations and plugins, as they can enhance the functionality and features of a website.

What Is a Website Builder?

A website builder is a tool that allows you to create and manage a website without any technical skills. Website builders typically offer a range of templates and design options, making it easy to customize a site’s appearance and functionality. 

There are many types of website builders available, including:

  • Drag-and-drop builders
  • eCommerce-focused builders
  • Content management systems (CMS)

Using a website builder has several advantages. They’re simple to use and cost-effective, as you don’t need to hire a designer or pay for regular maintenance.

How Does a Website Builder Work?

A website builder works by providing a selection of templates and design elements that you can customize. After selecting the template, you can add content, images, and other features by dragging and dropping elements around the page. 

Most website builders also offer hosting services and domain registration solutions. This makes them a one-stop shop for website creation and management.

How to Build a Great Website: Do's and Don'ts

Before you start building your website, there are some key things to consider to ensure your website looks and performs great:

Do’s

  • Choose a clean and professional template that reflects your brand or business.
  • Use high-quality images and multimedia to enhance the user experience.
  • Make sure your website is easy to navigate and well-organized.
  • Optimize your website for search engines (SEO) to increase visibility.
  • Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive to different devices.
  • Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and relevant.

Don’ts

  • Overwhelm your visitors with too many ads or pop-ups.
  • Use hard-to-read fonts or colors that make your content difficult to read.
  • Create long blocks of text without breaking them up with headings or bullet points.
  • Neglect your website’s loading speed, which can lead to a poor user experience.
  • Ignore the importance of a clear call-to-action (CTA) on your website.
  • Fail to test your website on different browsers and devices to ensure compatibility.

Conclusion

Selecting a web builder for your website can be difficult. That’s why I’ve compiled this list to narrow down your search. It’s a great resource for those who want to create a new website without much work.

Taking a glance at the list, the choices can still seem numerous. That’s why I’ve included the pros and cons of each of the web builders. To maximize this information, you can ask yourself certain questions like, what’s the purpose of the website? How important is making sales online? How much control do you want to have over your website design?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you’re well on your way to finding the best website builder for your small business.

 

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you decide to buy a website builder through one of the links provided. Rest assured, I’ve based my recommendations on my genuine experience and knowledge. Any commission earned helps support my ongoing efforts to provide valuable content like this.

Author

Jon Torres

I’m a digital marketer, entrepreneur, and disruptor breaking traditional boundaries by sharing my years of industry knowledge and making extensive learnings and actionable strategies accessible to everyone.

I’ve created this platform to help you stay ahead of the curve and scale alongside the ever-evolving digital and affiliate marketing landscape. Whether your goal is to build brand awareness, make money for your online business, or simply stay updated with the latest industry trends, this site is your go-to resource.

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