Want to launch your website without spending months learning to code?
The best website builder platforms have evolved to the point where you can create a professional site in hours, not weeks.
But with so many options out there, which one should you choose?
I've tested all the top website building tools, from drag-and-drop builders to AI-powered platforms.
In this guide, I'll break down the best website builders for every need, budget, and skill level. Whether you're a total beginner or have already experience in building websites, you'll find the best tool in this guide.
So grab a coffee and let's dive in! ☕
What Makes the Best Website Builder?
Before we get into the specific recommendations, let's talk about what actually makes a great website builder.
Here are the key criteria I look for:
Ease of Use 👨🎨 The whole point of using a website builder is to make the design process faster and easier. The best tools have intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and plenty of templates to get you started.
Flexibility 🧩 As your business grows, your website needs to be able to grow with it. Look for a builder that offers a wide range of features and integrations, so you can add new functionality as you need it.
Design Options 🎨 Your website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your brand. The best website builders offer a wide range of customizable templates and design elements, so you can create a site that reflects your unique style.
Scalability 📈 If you're building a site for a small business or startup, you need a platform that can scale with you. Look for a builder that offers features like e-commerce functionality, blogging tools, and email marketing integrations.
Best Website Builders for Small Businesses
Now that we've covered the key criteria, let's dive into my top picks for the best website builders for small businesses and startups.
Webflow: Best for Flexibility and Advanced Tools 🏆
Webflow is my top pick for the best overall website builder, thanks to its unparalleled flexibility and feature set. Its best features are:
- Advanced and native animation
- Great community
- Webflow University that offers tutorials
- Advanced SEO features
- Fast sites thanks to clean code and creme de la creme hosting on AWS
One of the things I love about Webflow is how easy it is to create a totally unique website. The community shares their work and you can copy sections you like and personalize them to be on brand.
Squarespace: Best for Visually Stunning Websites 🌄
If your top priority is creating a visually stunning website, Squarespace is the builder for you.
With its clean, modern templates and intuitive editing tools, Squarespace makes it easy to create a site that looks like it was designed by a pro.
Some of the key features of Squarespace include:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
- Stunning template designs
- Built-in image editing
- Social media integration
- Mobile optimization
Squarespace is an especially great choice for businesses in creative fields, like photographers, designers, and artists. The templates are tailored to showcase visual content, with big, bold images and plenty of white space.
And with Squarespace's built-in image editing tools, you can easily crop, resize, and adjust your photos to make them look their best.
Shopify: Best for eCommerce-Focused Businesses 🛒
If your primary goal is to sell products online, Shopify is hands-down the best website builder for you.
Shopify is a specialized e-commerce platform that's designed to help you create and manage an online store with ease.
Some of the key features of Shopify include:
- Customizable store themes
- Powerful inventory management
- Secure payment processing
- Multi-channel integration
- AI-generated product descriptions
With Shopify, you can create a professional-looking online store in minutes, no coding required. The platform offers a wide range of customizable themes, so you can choose a design that fits your brand.
And Shopify's powerful backend tools make it easy to manage your inventory, process payments securely, and even sell across multiple channels like Amazon and Facebook.
One of the coolest features of Shopify is its AI-powered product description generator. Just enter a few key details about your product, and Shopify will generate a compelling description that's optimized for search engines.
Canva: the Best Free Website Builder for Beginners
If you're just starting out and don't have a big budget for web design, don't worry - there are plenty of great free website builders out there. My favourite recommendation is Canva, as you probably already know the tool.
Canva is a popular graphic design tool that also offers a simple website builder.
While it doesn't have as many features as some other builders, it's a great option if you need to create a basic site quickly using pre-designed templates.
Canva's free plan includes:
- Drag-and-drop editor 🖱️
- 250,000+ templates 📝
- 100+ design types 🎨
- Collaborate with team members 👥
If you're already using Canva for other design needs, like social media graphics or presentations, the website builder is a simple way to create a coordinated online presence.
AI-Powered Website Builders and the Future of Web Design 🤖
One of the most exciting developments in website building software is the rise of AI-powered tools.
These platforms use machine learning to automate and streamline the design process, making it easier than ever to create a professional websites.
Wix ADI 🎨
Wix was one of the first builders to introduce an AI-powered design tool, called Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence).
With Wix ADI, you simply answer a few questions about your business and style preferences, and the AI generates a custom website for you in minutes.
You can then easily customize the site further using Wix's drag-and-drop editor, or let the AI continue to optimize the design for you based on best practices.
Jimdo Dolphin 🐬
Jimdo is a beginner-friendly website builder that offers an AI-powered tool called Dolphin.
Like Wix ADI, Dolphin asks you a series of questions about your business and design preferences, then generates a custom website for you.
You can edit the AI-generated site using Jimdo's simple drag-and-drop editor, or let Dolphin continue to optimize the design for you over time.
The rise of AI-powered website builders is a game-changer for small businesses and startups. These tools make it easier than ever to create a professional site without hiring a designer or developer.
And as the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advanced features and capabilities in the years to come.
Best Website Builders for Coding and Advanced Customization 💻
If you're a web designer or developer looking for more advanced customization options, there are several website builders that offer greater control and flexibility.
Webflow
As mentioned earlier, Webflow is a popular choice among professional designers who want to create custom websites without writing code.
With Webflow, you can:
- Create custom animations
- Build complex interactions
- Design with CSS grid
- Export clean, semantic code
Webflow's visual design tools are incredibly powerful, allowing you to create virtually any layout or design you can imagine.
And because Webflow generates clean, standards-compliant code, you can easily hand off your designs to a developer for further customization.
WordPress
WordPress is the world's most popular website building platform, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet.
While WordPress has a steeper learning curve than some other builders, it offers unparalleled flexibility and customization options.
With WordPress, you can:
- Choose from thousands of themes and plugins
- Customize your site with HTML, CSS, and PHP
- Manage your content with a powerful CMS
- Scale your site to handle high traffic
WordPress is a great choice for businesses that need a highly customized website or expect to scale rapidly.
Visual Studio Code
For developers who want complete control over their website's code, Visual Studio Code is a popular choice.
VS Code is a lightweight, extensible code editor that supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks.
While VS Code isn't a website builder per se, it's a powerful tool for web designers and developers who want to build websites from scratch.
This is a great options if you are used to web development, as it will be faster to develop a website from scratch compared to learning a new tool.
This option is also great for speed and therefore the user experience. It will also greatly help with SEO, especially compared to WordPress.
Don’t get me wrong, WordPress is a great option for SEO but the thing is, when you start working on the SEO of your site, there is a period called sand box, where Google is reluctant to give you much visibility.
Development from scratch gives you and edge as many spammy websites are made with WordPress, so, at least from my experience, it takes more time to get out of the sand box with WordPress websites.
By the way, if SEO is an important consideration for you, check out my guide on the best website builders for SEO.
Best Web Design Software for Professionals 🎨
For professional designers who need even more advanced tools, there are several web design software options to choose from.
Figma
Figma is a cloud-based design tool that's popular among UI/UX designers and product teams.
With Figma, you can:
- Design and prototype websites and apps
- Collaborate with team members in real-time
- Create and share design systems
- Integrate with other tools like Slack and Jira
Figma's vector-based design tools and collaborative features make it a great choice for designing complex, responsive websites.
Adobe Dreamweaver
Adobe Dreamweaver is a classic web design tool that's been around for over 20 years.
While it's not as popular as it once was, Dreamweaver still offers some powerful features for professional designers, including:
- Visual design tools
- Code editing and highlighting
- Responsive design previews
- Integration with other Adobe tools
If you're already using other Adobe products like Photoshop or Illustrator, Dreamweaver can be a good choice for web design projects.
Choosing the Best Website Builders for Small Businesses
With so many website builders to choose from, it can be tough to know which one is right for your small business or startup.
Here are a few key factors to consider:
Ease of Use
If you're new to web design, you'll want to choose a builder with a simple, intuitive interface and plenty of templates to get you started.
Wix and Squarespace are both great choices for beginners, with drag-and-drop editors and hundreds of customizable templates.
Budget
If you're on a tight budget, you may want to start with a free website builder like Wix or Canva.
As your business grows, you can upgrade to a paid plan to remove ads and access more advanced features.
For the cheapest paid plans, check out builders like GoDaddy (plans starting at 5.49€/month) and Hostinger (plans starting at 2.99€/month), which offer basic websites for as little as a few dollars per month.
Scalability
If you plan to grow your business quickly, you'll want to choose a website builder that can scale with you.
Webflow and WordPress are both great options for businesses that need more advanced features and customization options.
And if you plan to sell products online, Shopify is the best choice for its powerful e-commerce tools and seamless scalability.
Limitations of Free Website Builders
While free website builders can be a great way to get started with web design, they do have some limitations.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Limited Scalability
Most free website plans have limits on the number of pages, products, or visitors you can have.
As your business grows, you may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access more advanced features and remove these restrictions.
Branding Restrictions
Free website plans often require you to display the builder's branding on your site, which can make your business look less professional.
To remove these ads and use your own custom domain name, you'll typically need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Limited Support
While most website builders offer some level of customer support, free plans may have limited access to phone or chat support.
If you need help with a technical issue or have questions about using the platform, you may need to rely on online documentation or community forums.
That said, free website builders can still be a great option for:
- Personal projects or hobbies 🎨
- Temporary websites for events or promotions 📅
- Testing out a new business idea 💡
If you're just starting out and don't have the budget for a paid plan, a free website builder can be a low-risk way to get your site up and running.
Best Website Builders for Beginners
If you're new to web design and feeling overwhelmed by all the options, don't worry - there are plenty of beginner-friendly website builders to choose from.
Here are a few of the best:
Wix
As mentioned earlier, Wix is one of the most popular website builders for beginners, thanks to its simple drag-and-drop editor and extensive template library.
Some of the key features that make Wix great for beginners include:
- Step-by-step tutorials
- Pre-designed templates for various industries
- AI-powered design suggestions
- 24/7 customer support
Wix also offers a robust app market, so you can easily add new features and functionality to your site as your business grows.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is another popular choice for beginners, with a simple, guided website building process and affordable pricing.
Some of the key features of GoDaddy's website builder include:
- Easy drag-and-drop editor
- Industry-specific templates
- Built-in marketing tools
- 24/7 customer support
GoDaddy also offers a range of other tools for small businesses, like domain registration, email hosting, and online bookkeeping.
Squarespace
While Squarespace is a bit more advanced than Wix or GoDaddy, it's still a great choice for beginners who want a bit more control over their site's design.
Some of the key features of Squarespace include:
- Beautiful, modern templates 🖼️
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor 🖱️
- Built-in e-commerce tools 🛍️
- 24/7 customer support 🙋♂️
Squarespace is particularly popular among creative professionals, like photographers, artists, and designers, thanks to its stunning visual templates and portfolio features.
Best Website Design Features for Small Businesses
Now let's talk about designing your website. When choosing a website builder for your small business, there are a few key features to look for:
Responsive Design
With more and more people accessing the internet on their smartphones, it's essential that your website looks great on any device.
The best website builders offer responsive design templates that automatically adjust to fit the screen size of the user's device.
Built-In SEO Tools
To help potential customers find your website online, you'll want to choose a builder with built-in SEO (search engine optimization) tools.
Look for features like:
- Customizable page titles and meta descriptions
- Automatic sitemap generation
- Integration with Google Analytics
By optimizing your site for search engines, you can improve your rankings and drive more traffic to your business.
Third-Party App Integrations
As your business grows, you may need to add new features and functionality to your website, like email marketing, appointment booking, or customer reviews.
The best website builders offer a range of third-party app integrations, so you can easily connect your site to the tools you need.
Look for builders with a robust app market or plugin ecosystem, like Wix, Shopify, or WordPress.
Alternative Website Building Methods
While website builders are a great option for many small businesses and startups, they're not the only way to create a website.
Here are a few alternative methods to consider:
Hiring a Web Designer or Developer
If you have a complex website project or need highly customized features, you may want to consider hiring a professional web designer or developer.
While this option is typically more expensive than using a website builder, it can be a good choice if you need a highly specialized site or don't have the time or expertise to build it yourself.
By the way, we are Realistack, a product design and low-code development studio that exclusively works with tech startups. If you want to launch your startup and need help with building your MVP, don’t hesitate to reach out. We usually take a 5% share upon delivery in exchange for a lower hourly rate. That way, our interests are aligned with yours in the long run.
One worry that I always had when I wanted to outsource the development of my startup’s MVP was all the things in the code that I would not see, but if done wrong, could cause major issues and slow us down later on. That’s why I like the idea of taking share and truly think that’s the way to go if you decide to outsource the development of your MVP. We also offer product design services which is a great if you want to do things properly and already have some early validation.
Using a Hybrid Approach
Another option is to use a website builder for the basic structure and layout of your site, then hire a developer to add custom features or functionality.
This hybrid approach can be a good way to get the best of both worlds - the ease and affordability of a website builder, plus the flexibility and customization of a developer.
Building from Scratch with Code
For developers or businesses with very specific needs, building a website from scratch with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript may be the best option.
While this approach requires more technical expertise and time investment, it gives you complete control over every aspect of your site's design and functionality.
If you choose to go this route, consider using a code editor like Visual Studio Code or a framework like Bootstrap or React to streamline your development process.
How to Optimize your Website 🎨
Once you've built your website with a builder or custom code, there are a few key strategies you can use to optimize its performance and user experience:
Using Animations and Micro-Interactions 🎥
Adding subtle animations and micro-interactions to your site can make it feel more engaging and interactive for users.
For example, you might add a hover effect to buttons, or an animated loading spinner to indicate when a page is loading.
Webflow is a great tool for adding custom animations and interactions to your site without writing code.
Leveraging AI Heatmaps 🔥
AI-powered heatmap tools can help you understand how users are interacting with your website, and identify areas for improvement.
For example, a heatmap might show you that users are clicking on a certain button or link more than others, indicating that it's a key point of engagement.
You can use this data to optimize your site's layout, content, and calls-to-action for better conversions.
Customizing Templates 🖌️
While website builder templates can be a great starting point, it's important to customize them to avoid a generic, cookie-cutter look.
Consider adding your own brand colors, fonts, and imagery to your template, and rearranging the layout to better suit your content and goals.
You can also use custom CSS or JavaScript to further tweak the design and functionality of your template.
FAQs
What is the best overall approach to building a website?
The best approach combines understanding your business goals with using the right tools. Start by choosing a site builder that matches your needs, such as an AI builder for simplicity or an e-commerce website builder for selling online. Look for platforms that include web hosting and a free trial to test features before committing. Tools like drag-and-drop website builders make it easier to design a website without coding, ensuring you can make your website quickly and efficiently.
Is an easy website builder suitable for enterprise-level needs?
An easy website builder can suit some enterprise needs, especially for basic web pages or portfolio sites. However, enterprises often require advanced features like website hosting services, scalability, and robust e-commerce solutions, which may exceed the capabilities of simpler tools. Look for builders like Hostinger’s website builder or platforms offering powerful web design features tailored to larger operations.
How I choose the cheapest website builder without sacrificing quality?
Focus on platforms offering a free trial to explore their features before committing. Look for website builders that bundle essential services like web hosting and design tools. For example, Hostinger’s website builder provides affordable options while maintaining a wide range of website customization capabilities. Prioritize builders that offer value for money, such as those with drag-and-drop functionality and design elements and features that meet your goals.
What should startups consider when creating a website for the first time?
Startups should focus on choosing a site builder that is intuitive and scalable. Consider features like a free trial, bundled web hosting, and tools for creating an e-commerce website if needed. It’s also important to define the type of website—whether it’s informational, a portfolio website, or a platform to sell products. Start simple but ensure the builder can grow with your business needs.
How do AI website builders simplify site design?
AI website builders streamline the web design process by automating tasks like layout selection, color schemes, and content suggestions. These tools allow you to make your site in minutes by offering pre-designed templates and optimizing for mobile responsiveness. Features like drag-and-drop functionality eliminate the need for coding, making it easy to create web pages or an e-commerce website tailored to your needs. Many AI builders also include website hosting, ensuring a smooth setup process.
