To achieve business growth, having a website is crucial. But not just any website; it needs to be beautiful, functional, and easy to navigate. According to Arun Arora, senior partner at McKinsey & Company, a slow website that offers a poor user experience will cause visitors to leave without a second thought.
The good news is that you no longer have to hire a designer to create an elegant website. Even if you’re a complete beginner, you can build it yourself. The top website builders available today are affordable, user-friendly, offer a wide range of visually appealing templates, and allow you to expand your online presence as your business grows.
In this article, we will assess and compare the top 10 website builders on the market, assisting you in selecting the one that best suits your needs.
Our Top Website Builders in 2023:
- Wix – Best overall website builder
- Web.com – Ideal for beginners
- Squarespace – Perfect for image-heavy sites
- Network Solutions – Great for quickly establishing an online presence
- HubSpot – Best all-in-one marketing suite
- IONOS – Excellent for launching an online store
- HostGator – Ideal for budget-conscious business owners
- SITE123 – Perfect for building a simple website
- Jimdo – Best for those who seek guided assistance
- Fiverr – Great for affordable outsourcing services
Web.com
Outstanding 9.7 web.com website builder Abundant design options for basic websites Read Web.com Review Visit Site Best for: Beginners seeking a simple solution Price: Starting from $4.95/month Free version: No
Web.com, an established US-based company, offers website-building services, domain name registration, and web hosting primarily to small and mid-sized businesses. With its inception dating back to 1999, Web.com stands as one of the pioneers in this industry. The website builder provided by Web.com is beginner-friendly, intuitive (though slightly limited in customization options), and features over 150 industry-specific templates. This allows even those with no prior experience in website development to quickly establish an online presence.
According to Abhishek Shah, the founder of Testlify, Web.com’s strength lies in its “wide range of services beyond website building,” which include SEO and PPC, web security solutions, and hosting.
All Web.com plans come with free hosting services, domain registration, and basic marketing features. Additionally, Web.com offers one hour of complimentary support from expert web designers.
Reason for choosing Web.com: We appreciate the straightforward and user-friendly nature of Web.com, making it an excellent choice for those looking to get online swiftly.
Our experience: We find Web.com to be a reliable option for beginners, although its editor may feel slightly cumbersome until one becomes accustomed to it. The diverse range of templates available for initial setup is particularly appealing.
Pros:
- Well-designed templates
- Free stock images and photos
- One hour of support from a web design expert
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- No free trial
Squarespace
Outstanding 9.3 Squarespace website builder Create an elegant website in a matter of hours Read Squarespace Review Visit Site Best for: Crafting beautiful, visually-rich websites Price: Starting from $16/month Free version: 14-day free trial
For those seeking visually stunning websites, Squarespace is one of the top contenders, thanks to its extensive collection of eye-catching templates. Squarespace offers advanced SEO capabilities, robust e-commerce features, unmetered bandwidth, responsive designs, and more. Although it is pricier compared to other website builders, Squarespace provides flexible pricing options with its personal and business plans.
Squarespace’s intuitive and powerful Fluid Engine, a new and improved drag-and-drop editor, offers a plethora of customization options while simplifying website development and delivering exceptional end results.
Reason for choosing Squarespace: We were impressed by the quality and variety of Squarespace’s templates, each possessing a unique structure.
Our experience: We found the Fluid Engine editor incredibly user-friendly, with the grid system making it effortless to rearrange elements and incorporate animations. The ability to seamlessly switch between desktop and mobile versions of a website while adjusting designs in real-time was highly convenient.
Pros:
- Over 100 beautifully designed templates
- All templates are mobile-responsive
- Strong SEO and blogging features
Cons:
- Suitable mainly for websites with a flat navigation structure
- No phone support
Network Solutions
Outstanding 9.0 Network Solutions website builder A slightly expensive builder for basic sites Read Network Solutions Review Visit Site Best for: Quickly establishing your online presence Price: Starting from $14.95/month Free version: No
With Network Solutions, you can swiftly build and launch a basic website. It offers a wide range of templates, an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, personalized email addresses, free hosting, and a domain name.
However, Network Solutions’ pricing structure lacks transparency. While the initial month’s subscription fee is quite affordable (starting from $2.95), subsequent months are significantly more expensive (starting from $14.95 for the lowest tier plan).
On the positive side, many customers appreciate the efficiency of Network Solutions’ technical support team, known for promptly resolving complex issues. Exceptional customer support was a vital criterion when compiling this list since business owners require fast and efficient assistance for technical problems, and Network Solutions delivers precisely that.
Reason for choosing Network Solutions: Network Solutions simplifies and streamlines website building, even for complete beginners. It is a reliable option for small businesses aiming to establish their online presence.
Our experience: We appreciate that Network Solutions offers website building services, featuring a team of web designers who can construct your website for a fee (pricing is not transparent, but you can obtain a quote from an expert). Following that, you gain access to your website through the standard editor, allowing you to make necessary changes.
Pros:
- User-friendly editor
- 150+ templates for various industries and use cases
- Domain name, web hosting, and SSL certification included in all plans
Cons:
- Unclear pricing structure
- Limited customization options
IONOS
Very Good 8.8 IONOS Marketing and E-commerce Tools for Small Businesses Read IONOS Review Visit Site Best for: Quick Launch of an Online Store Price: Starting from $1/month Free version: No
IONOS is a reliable e-commerce website builder designed for small business owners. With IONOS, building a website is hassle-free, even for beginners. You can easily cross-sell and upsell products on individual product pages to maximize your profits. Additionally, IONOS offers a comprehensive abandoned cart recovery feature, which is not commonly found in other website builders.
Scaling your business is effortless with IONOS, as it allows you to sell across popular social networks and marketplaces such as Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, and Amazon. While IONOS has a limited number of templates (19 in total), they are all well-designed and optimized for mobile responsiveness.
Reason for choosing IONOS: IONOS is a top choice if you need to build an e-commerce store quickly. The subscription fees, even for premium plans, are quite affordable, especially during the initial 6-12 months. IONOS maintains transparent pricing, ensuring no surprises.
Our experience: We found IONOS’ Presence Suite dashboard to be an intuitive system for managing websites and online presence. The website builder is specifically tailored for beginners, making it easy to navigate and use.
Pros:
- Powerful e-commerce features at a reasonable price
- Mobile-responsive templates
- Competitor activity tracking on Google and social media
Cons:
- Limited number of templates
- Only 10 pages with the first-tier plan
Jimdo:
Outstanding 9.0 Jimdo website builder AI-Powered Design Assistant for Personalized Websites Read Jimdo Review Visit Site Best for: Self-Employed Professionals and AI-Powered Design Price: Starting from $9/month Free version: Yes
Jimdo is a German website builder that specifically caters to self-employed professionals, aiming to empower them and help them succeed. Jimdo’s founder, Matthias Henze, is dedicated to assisting small businesses in establishing an online presence, as he believes they form the foundation of the economy.
For those who seek assistance in website building, Jimdo Dolphin is a valuable tool. It features an AI-enabled design assistant that streamlines the design process. Within minutes, you can create a basic website with industry-specific photos and content, which can be customized later. Jimdo also offers budget-friendly options and includes a logo designer.
Reason for choosing Jimdo: Jimdo is an excellent choice when you want to automate and simplify the website design process. We were impressed by how easy it was to create our own website using Jimdo Dolphin.
Our experience: During our trial, we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly we could set everything up. By answering a few questions about our business, desired website type, preferred pages, style, and colors, we were able to import photos from social media and choose from several website options provided by Jimdo Dolphin.
Pros:
- Quick and easy web design process
- Good SEO tools
- Free forever plan available
Cons:
- Limited design flexibility
- Email-only customer support
SITE123
Very Good 8.9 SITE123 website builder templates Simple and Beginner-Friendly Website Builder Read SITE123 Review Visit Site Best for: Fast and Simple Website Creation Price: Starting from $12.80/month Free version: Yes
SITE123 is one of the most intuitive and user-friendly website builders, making it ideal for beginners. It offers an all-in-one solution for site creation, including an intuitive no-code editor, free hosting, powerful SEO tools, and responsive templates.
Creating an online store with SITE123 is straightforward, although its e-commerce features are limited. It may not be the best choice for rapid business scaling, but it serves as an easy way to start selling online.
Reason for choosing SITE123: SITE123 is a hassle-free platform that is perfect for beginners looking to launch their websites quickly. It also offers a free version for testing purposes before committing.
Our experience: Compared to other website builders we’ve tested, SITE123 was perhaps the easiest to use. We simply had to select the type of website we wanted to create, choose a name, and select our favorite template.
Pros:
- Free version with 250 MB of storage
- Hundreds of mobile-responsive templates to choose from
- 24/7 live chat support and a knowledge base with tutorials
Cons:
- Basic customization options
- Inability to export your website
HostGator:
Great Choice for Budget-Conscious Business Owners Rating: 8.8 Visit Site Read HostGator Review
HostGator is a web-building solution that offers affordability without compromising on features. With over 200 templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, it provides a user-friendly experience for building websites. HostGator also includes solid email marketing tools in all its plans, offering three, five, or 10 email campaigns per month depending on the chosen plan.
The editor in HostGator is highly versatile, providing two options: an AI-powered design assistant or a template where you can customize everything yourself.
Reason for choosing HostGator: We recommend HostGator for its affordability and excellent hosting services. The AI-powered site builder, included in all plans, is ideal for those seeking a website with minimal effort.
Our experience: HostGator’s dashboard is easy to navigate, and its LogoMaker allows you to create your own logo. While customization options may be slightly limited with the AI-powered website creator, it is still a great choice for launching your website quickly.
Pros:
- AI-powered design assistant included in all plans
- Affordable introductory plans
- Powerful marketing tools, including HostGator’s LogoMaker
Cons:
- No free plan
- Limited number of products except for the premium plan
HostGator is a solid option for budget-conscious business owners looking to establish an online presence without breaking the bank.
Fiverr:
Affordable Customized Design Marketplace Rating: 8.6 Visit Site Read Fiverr Review
Fiverr is a marketplace that connects you with talented web designers and developers who can create a tailor-made website based on your specific needs. It stands out for its transparent pricing, user-friendly interface, and ease of finding the right web design specialist.
When using Fiverr, consider the type of website you want to build, your specific requirements, budget, timeframe, and preferred platforms and tools. Fiverr’s search engine and filters make it easy to find the perfect freelancer, and you can review portfolios, ratings, and packages to make an informed choice.
Reason for choosing Fiverr: Fiverr provides access to professional web designers who can create customized designs at competitive prices. Fiverr Pro offers hand-vetted professionals for higher-quality service.
Our experience: Navigating Fiverr is straightforward, with the ability to search for services and use filters to refine your options. The top listings in specific categories proved more efficient than browsing through hundreds of listings in broader categories.
Pros:
- Access to a global marketplace of talented professionals
- Custom design according to your specifications
- Easy-to-use search engine
Cons:
- Quality may vary depending on the selected freelancer
- Custom design can be more expensive
Fiverr is an excellent choice if you’re seeking customized website design at an affordable price from skilled professionals.
Elementor Advanced WordPress Page Builder Plugin Rating: 8.8 Visit Site Read Elementor Review:
Elementor is a popular WordPress page builder plugin with advanced editing features. It allows you to make small edits to existing WordPress sites, making it ideal for those who want to modify their websites without starting from scratch. The plugin offers a great free version along with competitively priced premium options.
Elementor is known for its user-friendly interface, excellent customization options, and compatibility with various third-party plugins and apps.
Pros:
- Feature-rich editor with a clean interface
- Versatile design flexibility
- Works with all WordPress themes
Cons:
- May require some initial learning to get started
- Requires a hosting account and a WordPress site
Elementor is a top choice for WordPress beginners who want to enhance their websites with advanced design and editing capabilities.
Webador Beginner-Friendly Website Builder Rating: 8.7 Visit Site Read Webador Review
Webador is a highly-rated website builder that offers streamlined solutions for beginners. It features a simple site editor, basic blogging tools, and the ability to add an online store. Integration with Google Analytics and Google Search Console allows you to track your website’s performance, and advanced tools enable additional functionality.
While customer service is limited to email support, Webador’s user-friendly editor makes it easy to add personal touches to your site.
Pros:
- Very easy to use, especially for beginners
- Integrated blogging and e-commerce functionality
- Decent SEO tools
Cons:
- Limited customer support options
- Design flexibility is somewhat restricted
Webador is an attractive option for beginners with little website building experience, offering a straightforward approach to getting online quickly.
In summary, when considering our top 10 choices:
- Web.com provides a basic website with design flexibility.
- Squarespace offers responsive design and is suitable for image-heavy websites.
- Network Solutions provides easy-to-use customizable templates.
- IONOS offers simple DIY websites with expert support.
- Jimdo is known for its well-designed sites.
- SITE123 provides excellent support resources for beginners.
- HostGator offers a simple point-and-click website editor.
- Fiverr is an affordable, global online marketplace for custom design.
- Elementor is a powerful WordPress page builder.
- Webador allows beginners to get online quickly.
Consider your specific needs and preferences to determine which option is best for you.
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HostGator Great Choice for Budget-Conscious Business Owners Rating: 8.8 Visit Site Read HostGator Review
HostGator is a web-building solution that offers affordability without compromising on features. With over 200 templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, it provides a user-friendly experience for building websites. HostGator also includes solid email marketing tools in all its plans, offering three, five, or 10 email campaigns per month depending on the chosen plan.
The editor in HostGator is highly versatile, providing two options: an AI-powered design assistant or a template where you can customize everything yourself.
Reason for choosing HostGator: We recommend HostGator for its affordability and excellent hosting services. The AI-powered site builder, included in all plans, is ideal for those seeking a website with minimal effort.
Our experience: HostGator’s dashboard is easy to navigate, and its LogoMaker allows you to create your own logo. While customization options may be slightly limited with the AI-powered website creator, it is still a great choice for launching your website quickly.
Pros:
- AI-powered design assistant included in all plans
- Affordable introductory plans
- Powerful marketing tools, including HostGator’s LogoMaker
Cons:
- No free plan
- Limited number of products except for the premium plan
HostGator is a solid option for budget-conscious business owners looking to establish an online presence without breaking the bank.
Fiverr Affordable Customized Design Marketplace Rating: 8.6 Visit Site Read Fiverr Review
Fiverr is a marketplace that connects you with talented web designers and developers who can create a tailor-made website based on your specific needs. It stands out for its transparent pricing, user-friendly interface, and ease of finding the right web design specialist.
When using Fiverr, consider the type of website you want to build, your specific requirements, budget, timeframe, and preferred platforms and tools. Fiverr’s search engine and filters make it easy to find the perfect freelancer, and you can review portfolios, ratings, and packages to make an informed choice.
Reason for choosing Fiverr: Fiverr provides access to professional web designers who can create customized designs at competitive prices. Fiverr Pro offers hand-vetted professionals for higher-quality service.
Our experience: Navigating Fiverr is straightforward, with the ability to search for services and use filters to refine your options. The top listings in specific categories proved more efficient than browsing through hundreds of listings in broader categories.
Pros:
- Access to a global marketplace of talented professionals
- Custom design according to your specifications
- Easy-to-use search engine
Cons:
- Quality may vary depending on the selected freelancer
- Custom design can be more expensive
Fiverr is an excellent choice if you’re seeking customized website design at an affordable price from skilled professionals.
Elementor Advanced WordPress Page Builder Plugin Rating: 8.8 Visit Site Read Elementor Review
Elementor is a popular WordPress page builder plugin with advanced editing features. It allows you to make small edits to existing WordPress sites, making it ideal for those who want to modify their websites without starting from scratch. The plugin offers a great free version along with competitively priced premium options.
Elementor is known for its user-friendly interface, excellent customization options, and compatibility with various third-party plugins and apps.
Pros:
- Feature-rich editor with a clean interface
- Versatile design flexibility
- Works with all WordPress themes
Cons:
- May require some initial learning to get started
- Requires a hosting account and a WordPress site
Elementor is a top choice for WordPress beginners who want to enhance their websites with advanced design and editing capabilities.
Webador Beginner-Friendly Website Builder Rating: 8.7 Visit Site Read Webador Review
Webador is a highly-rated website builder that offers streamlined solutions for beginners. It features a simple site editor, basic blogging tools, and the ability to add an online store. Integration with Google Analytics and Google Search Console allows you to track your website’s performance, and advanced tools enable additional functionality.
While customer service is limited to email support, Webador’s user-friendly editor makes it easy to add personal touches to your site.
Pros:
- Very easy to use, especially for beginners
- Integrated blogging and e-commerce functionality
- Decent SEO tools
Cons:
- Limited customer support options
- Design flexibility is somewhat restricted
Webador is an attractive option for beginners with little website building experience, offering a straightforward approach to getting online quickly.
In summary, when considering our top 10 choices:
- Web.com provides a basic website with design flexibility.
- Squarespace offers responsive design and is suitable for image-heavy websites.
- Network Solutions provides easy-to-use customizable templates.
- IONOS offers simple DIY websites with expert support.
- Jimdo is known for its well-designed sites.
- SITE123 provides excellent support resources for beginners.
- HostGator offers a simple point-and-click website editor.
- Fiverr is an affordable, global online marketplace for custom design.
- Elementor is a powerful WordPress page builder.
- Webador allows beginners to get online quickly.
Consider your specific needs and preferences to determine which option is best for you.
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A website builder is a platform that allows users to create and launch a website quickly and easily, even without coding or technical skills. These builders typically provide an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, a selection of customizable templates, e-commerce capabilities, and SEO tools.
The process of building a website with a website builder involves using the built-in editor to design and customize your site. You can choose from a variety of pre-designed templates that suit your brand image and vision, and then personalize them by adding images, content, and other elements.
Website builders offer several advantages for business owners who want to establish an online presence without a large financial investment:
- Ease of use: Website builders are designed to be user-friendly, requiring no coding knowledge or special technical skills.
- Customization options: Most website builders offer a range of professionally designed templates that you can customize to create a unique website that aligns with your vision.
- Affordability: Hiring a web designer can be expensive, while website builders provide a more budget-friendly solution, with plans starting as low as $1 per month.
- Easy maintenance: Website builders make it simple to maintain and update your website. You can easily create new pages, add products, update content, and make design changes from the platform itself.
To choose the best website builder for your needs, consider the following questions:
- What type of website do you plan to build? (Portfolio, blog, online store, etc.)
- Will you be selling products or services on your website?
- What is your budget, and are you willing to pay extra for specific features?
- Do you need extensive customization options, or are you looking for a quick and simple website launch?
- How comfortable are you with learning to use a new platform?
Based on your specific requirements, you can select a website builder that fits your needs. For example, if you’re starting an apparel brand and need to build an online store quickly, an affordable and easy-to-use website builder with comprehensive e-commerce features like IONOS or HostGator would be a good choice. On the other hand, if you have a higher budget and a large number of product photos, Squarespace or Wix might be more suitable.
When evaluating website builders, consider the following key features:
- Variety of quality templates
- Design flexibility
- Adequate storage and bandwidth
- E-commerce features
- SEO tools
- Google Analytics integration
- Third-party plugin and app support
- Mobile responsiveness
- Domain name and hosting services
The cost of building a website with a website builder can vary depending on your needs. Simple websites built with budget-friendly tools can cost as little as $100 per year. However, additional features like an online store or third-party plugins may increase the annual cost. Hiring a professional web designer for a fully customized website can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on complexity and requirements.
Website builders are ideal for business owners on a limited budget who are willing to invest time and effort into creating their own website. They offer an affordable and accessible solution for launching an online presence.
To monetize your website, consider options such as selling ad space, offering products or services for sale, joining an affiliate marketing network, launching a membership program, offering online courses, or publishing sponsored content.
Website builders can be used to create various types of websites, including e-commerce platforms, blogs, portfolio websites, musician or artist websites, non-profit sites, business websites, daycare websites, entertainment sites, brochure sites, and community forums, among others.
In addition to the website builders mentioned earlier, there are other notable options worth considering, such as WordPress.com, BoldGrid, Weebly, Zyro, and Hibu. Each of these platforms offers unique features and advantages.
Building a strong online presence is crucial for business growth, and using a website builder is an effective way to create a professional-looking website quickly. The top 10 website builders mentioned in the comparison cover a wide range of needs, from all-in-one platforms like Wix to AI-powered web design assistants like Jimdo Dolphin.