The best website builders help you build a website in just hours, with the previously-complex act of building a website now open to all and achieved easily via drag-and-drop editors. Those with more website design experience can use builders to create flexible, customized, and advanced sites.
Many focus on small business, ecommerce, free blogs, or even specialist sites for musicians and photographers. Consequently, with so many platforms available, choosing just one of the best website builders can be challenging. We’re here to help!
Consider your experience level first of all; we’ve outlined the best easy website builders if you’re a beginner, while experienced users have options like the best web hosting, or content management systems (CMSs) like WordPress utilizing website builder plugins alongside specific hosting.
Bear the intended purpose of your site in mind, alongside the site editor’s ease of use, and any scalability required if you see future growth. You should also establish the customer service and support levels you’d need.
We reviewed and ranked the best website builders with regard to these important points, as well as pricing and any additional features. Keep reading to find the top builder for your new site!
The top 3 best website builders right now
What are the best website builders?
Wix is our top choice of the best website builders, thanks to its drag-and-drop customization, artificial intelligence design technology, the largest template library available, a built-in image editor, and third-party app integration. Fair pricing includes free domain registration, advertising credit, and a 14-day money-back guarantee, while Wix’s detailed free plan only broadens its appeal.
Bluehost’s WordPress website builder offers reasonably-priced site creation, with managed hosting, a simple interface, and access to over 300 templates. Squarespace offers highly-intuitive editor and responsive, excellently-designed templates, while GoDaddy’s in-house creator is user-friendly, and packed with analytics, strong support, and a library of own-brand apps.
Shopify and Weebly’s ecommerce proficiency set a high bar for online store builders, while hosts 1&1 IONOS and HostGator offer impressive built-in builders. Online productivity suite Zoho’s competitive Sites builder is relatively new, but well worth considering.
Website builder | Lowest pricing plan | Storage | Bandwidth | Ecommerce features? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wix | $14 a month (Combo) | From 3GB | From 2GB a month | ✔ |
Bluehost | $2.95 a month (Basic) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ (on Online Store plan) |
Squarespace | $12 a month (Personal) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ |
GoDaddy | $6.99 a month (Basic) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ |
Shopify | $29.99 a month (Basic Shopify) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ |
Weebly | $6 a month (Personal) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ |
1& IONOS MyWebsite | $1 a month (Starter) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ |
Zoho Sites | $4 a month (Starter) | 500MB | 10GB | ✔ |
HostGator | $3.84 a month (Express Start) | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✔ |
The best website builders you can buy today
With over 500 attractive templates, an extremely powerful editor, and various other features, Wix brings plenty to the table. Its editor is arguably the most advanced available, and we think it’s the best website builder, as well as the best ecommerce and small business builder.
The drag-and-drop interface enables placing in pixel-perfect positions, while personalization of content is extremely straightforward, and designs are only limited by imagination. You can also use Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) for a more straightforward experience: after answering a few quick questions, it’ll select a custom template that you can populate and publish online in just hours.
Should you want to make changes outside the template model, Velo Dev Mode allows you to add features that usually require a developer, including custom forms, dynamic pages, and databases. Wix also provides ecommerce tools, including powerful inventory management tools, multi-channel selling, and subscription and digital product support.
The full website builder is included within the excellent free package, while each paid plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee. The free plan’s limitations include advertisements on your site and other restrictions, but you can try Wix out before you pay for a subscription.
It is a little expensive, however. Pricing starts with Combo ($14), which comes with a free domain for the first year, 3GB of storage, and 2GB of bandwidth. Upgrade to Unlimited ($18 a month), Pro ($23 a month), or VIP ($39 a month) for more resources and additional tools. Finally, to access business and online store features, there are three Business and Ecommerce plans (ranging from $23 to $49 a month).
Read our detailed Wix review.
Combo | Unlimited | Pro | VIP | Business Basic | Business Unlimited | Business VIP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $14 / $168 | $18 / $216 | $23 / $276 | $39 / $468 | $23 / $276 | $27 / $324 | $49 / $588 |
Customer support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | Priority | 24/7 | 24/7 | Priority |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 800+ | 800+ | 800+ | 800+ | 800+ | 800+ | 800+ |
Bluehost’s WordPress website builder, developed and launched in August 2021, brings its web hosting prowess to site building. The platform utilizes many of WordPress’s best features via an easy-to-use block builder, with over 300 themes, integrations with WooCommerce for selling online, and much more.
The drag-and-drop editor makes things easier for less-experienced users, and all plans include managed WordPress hosting for unlimited sites. This means installations and plugins are kept updated for you, while you also get a free SSL certificate and a free domain for one year.
There are three plans: Basic, Pro, and Online Store, starting at $2.95 a month for the Basic plan and ranging up to $24.95 a month for Online Store. You have to sign up for either 12 or 36 months, with the first term offering up to 75% off. All plans include hosting for unlimited sites, blog post management, and email marketing tools.
Pro adds WooCommerce support; Online Store adds appointment bookings, subscription sales, and discount code generation; and both add 30 additional premium templates.
Bluehost combines WordPress’s leading elements with top hosting and a simple interface, at reasonable prices. If there’s a negative, it’s that the builder isn’t as flexible when it comes to site layout, but its wider range of content options and ease-of-use rank it highly among the top website builders for WordPress available.
Read our Bluehost WordPress website builder review.
Basic | Pro | Online Store | |
---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $2.95 / $35.40* | $9.95 / $119.40* | $24.95 / $299.40* |
Unlimited bandwidth | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Customer suppport | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 300+ | 330+ | 330+ |
*The Bluehost WordPress website builder is available with a minimum 12-month subscription, and prices will increase on renewal.
Squarespace is known for extremely attractive, professionally designed templates, and although its library is quite small compared to Wix, designs tend to be visually appealing, as well as specifically targeted.
Another standout is its excellent blogging features, such as adding multiple authors, scheduling posts, and creating content from mobile devices, while many templates are targeted at users looking to create a blog. Other impressive elements include ecommerce integrations, SEO tools, and an advanced analytics portal.
However, Squarespace’s editor could certainly be better. It can be quite confusing to use and to navigate, especially for beginners, and even we have trouble from time to time, despite having used it numerous times before. On the cost side, there also isn’t any free forever plan.
Despite this, each of the four paid plans comes with a 14-day free trial, as well as a free domain for the first year, unmetered bandwidth and storage, built-in SSL security, and more. Prices range from $12 a month for an annual Personal subscription to $40 a month with the Advanced Commerce plan.
Read our full Squarespace review.
Personal | Business | Basic Commerce | Advanced Commerce | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $16 / $144 | $26 / $216 | $35 / $312 | $54 / $480 |
Customer support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 110+ | 110+ | 110+ | 110+ |
GoDaddy has a built-in website creator that ships alongside its hosting services. It’s simple and easy to use, with no third-party app market or add-ons. While that may be a disappointment for some, others will appreciate the lack of clutter. The builder boasts excellent support and powerful analytics, two must-have essentials for any growing site.
While it’s a little barebones compared to competitors, this streamlined approach means novices can focus on the important things. A decent drag-and-drop interface lets you configure your site to your liking, with pre-built templates to choose from if you want to get started quickly. There are extensive tutorials available, as well as a live chat support system for technical problems.
Though GoDaddy doesn’t offer an app market, this means all features are built in-house, ensuring complete compatibility and greater security. It’s also worth noting that the base plan doesn’t include marketing or analytics—those are paid add-ons that require a separate plan.
The four plans range from $6.99 to $17.49 a month for the first year, and increase to $9.99 to $24.99 a month after. Prices are significantly higher for shorter subscriptions, but all plans include a free SSL certificate, the option to connect a custom domain name, a free business email (for the first year), and analytics and editing tools. Advanced plans add marketing, ecommerce, and business features.
Read our full GoDaddy website builder review and our GoDaddy web hosting review.
Basic | Standard | Premium | Commerce | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $14.99 / $83.88 | $19.99 / $125.88 | $24.99 / $167.88 | $29.99 / $209.88 |
Customer support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Shopify is the ultimate ecommerce platform, with over one million merchants using its services across 175 countries, While you can expect ecommerce features from builders like Wix and Weebly, these pale in comparison to Shopify’s.
Its builder helps create an online store in a matter of minutes, and you can take advantage of an extensive collection of third-party apps for new features and functionality. This helps it stay clutter-free, while allowing you to opt for specific features your store requires. Pricing starts at a relatively expensive $29 a month, and ranges up to $299 a month across three plans.
Excellent additional elements include a built-in shopping cart and checkout manager, and marketing and security tools. With cybersecurity one of the biggest concerns for online shopping, Shopify is Level 1 PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant, meaning it’s extremely safe for you and your customers.
If you’re looking to build a traditional site or blog however, you are out of luck. In turn, while excellent for small businesses, larger ecommerce stores may want to look to more dedicated solutions like WooCommerce or BigCommerce. A 2.4% to 2.6% transaction fee is applicable on each purchase made too, which might be a turn-off for some.
Read our full Shopify review.
Basic Shopify | Shopify | Advanced Shopify | |
---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $29 / $313.20 | $79 / $853.20 | $299 / $3,229.20 |
Customer support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 70+ | 70+ | 70+ |
Alongside Wix, Weebly is probably the most widely recognized name in the website building space. It provides a range of site creation tools, and has become known for extremely attractive templates and excellent ecommerce elements, the latter thanks to its acquisition by ecommerce giant Square.
Ecommerce is probably Weebly’s largest selling point, with much of its site builder dedicated to creating an online store. A large percentage of available designs include some sort of store, which means that getting started can be as easy as adding content and hitting publish.
The editor is a little limited, however. It uses a drag-and-drop interface, but you can only move elements into pre-coded positions. But if you’re not too fussy about pixel-perfect editing, this will help keep things simple. In the long-term, a pivot to Square’s own ecommerce store builder will see new customers funnelled towards it. Existing Weebly customers will still be supported with features and functionality, though.
When it comes to pricing, there are seven plans including a free-forever plan, which enables you to create a site and online store, though you can’t connect your own domain. The cheapest Personal plan ($6 a month) adds custom domain support and more advanced ecommerce tools, while Professional ($12) and Performance ($26) offer even more powerful ecommerce features.
Read our full Weebly review and our Square Online review.
Personal | Professional | Performance | Pro | Business | Business Plus | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $9 / $72 | $16 / $144 | $29 / $312 | $18 / $216 | $35 / $420 | $46 / $552 |
Customer support | Email and forums | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ |
1&1 IONOS is one of the largest European web hosting providers, hosting 20 million sites, and its website builder features an array of templates and great functionalities for businesses of all sizes.
Its huge collection of themes are categorized neatly by industry and genre, so you’re bound to find something for your needs. The built-in targeted content system even allows you to display specific messages to different visitor demographics. Using this builder requires absolutely no coding knowledge—the drag-and-drop editor allows you to make any changes you need.
There are eight plans available across different site types: three for basic builders, ranging from $1 a month (the Starter plan) to $10 (the Pro plan), with pricing options within these for sites with or without ecommerce functionality (ranging from $1 to $25 a month).
1&1 IONOS also offers three plans that offer design advice and consultation, ranging from $30 to $60 a month, alongside MyWebsite Now and Creator, two plans that offer a website builder packaged with marketing tools. These begin for free for the first month, increasing to $17 and $23 respectively thereafter, but offer a free domain for a year, a free SSL certificate, and emails.
The drawback is the lack of a free plan, although a paid trial is available for new users for one month. Another factor worth considering is that some themes may not be responsive to screen size.
Read our 1&1 IONOS MyWebsite website builder review.
Starter | Plus | Pro | |
---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $5 / $60 (basic) – $12 / $144 (ecommerce) | $10 / $120 (basic) – $20 / $240 (ecommerce) | $15 / $180 (basic) – $35 / $420 (ecommerce) |
Customer support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✔ (with ecommerce) | ✔ (with ecommerce) | ✔ (with ecommerce) |
Number of templates | 400+ | 400+ | 400+ |
Zoho is famous for its all-in-one productivity suite, much like Microsoft 365, and its website builder Zoho Sites is efficient and powerful, offering over 190 templates and a code editor for those with the knowledge to get stuck in behind the scenes.
The interface is surprisingly user-friendly, and therefore easy for newbies to access. There are also a good deal of in-house add-ons for marketing and customer management, which businesses will appreciate. While there’s no forever free plan, the two paid plans are reasonably priced, with scope for scaling via paid add-ons as your site expands.
Starter ($5 per site a month) has restrictions on storage, bandwidth, and maximum file size, as well as the number of pages your site can have, but it’s sufficient for a simple site. Pro ($17 per site a month) has much higher limits, alongside additional tools like built-in newsletter subscriptions and blog scheduling.
In terms of paid add-ons, you can also add more pages ($50 a year), contributors ($20 a year), and a portal for 1,000 members ($50 a year) should you need to. You can also take advantage of the entire Zoho office suite, including project management and database creation software.
There are a few downsides, especially when it comes to compatibility, as there isn’t a lot of support for third-party applications. Thankfully, Zoho’s office applications are able to plug many of these holes with equally good alternatives.
Read our Zoho Sites review.
Starter | Pro | |
---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $5 / $8 (per month) | $17 / $23 (per month) |
Customer support | 24/7 (with extra payment) | 24/7 (with extra payment) |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✖ | ✖ |
Number of templates | 190+ | 190+ |
HostGator is a popular web host, and its Gator Website Builder uses a drag-and-drop interface to generate simple sites. You can easily combine columns, text boxes, images, videos, and other simple elements to create mobile-friendly websites.
There are more than 200 templates to choose from, with each one completely customizable and allowing for endless personalization. There’s a built-in library of stock photographs included too, as well as a series of video tutorials if you need a step-by-step guide. It offers three plans, Express Start, Express Site, and Express Store, ranging from $3.84 to $9.22 a month.
Premium customer support via phone and chat comes with hosting plans, while free analytics are also available, which will be particularly useful for smaller businesses. Advanced users, conversely, may find the lack of specialized tools irritating. There are no dedicated email marketing tools, while blogging tools are relatively basic.
Ultimately, Gator Website Builder is a good choice for small businesses, but not for bigger companies.
Read our HostGator review.
Express Start | Express Site | Express Store | |
---|---|---|---|
Cost per month/year | $3.84 / $110.64 | $5.99 / $147.47 | $9.22 / $239.76 |
Customer support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
SSL certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Store builder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of templates | 200+ | 200+ | 200+ |
Easy website builders are the best choice for beginners
How to build a website with…
If you’re a complete beginner, you’ll want one of the best website builders that makes it as easy as possible to create a site from scratch. Most are fairly simple to use via drag-and-drop editors, though not all are designed with beginners in mind, or those without time or budgets to dedicate.
Selecting an easy website builder requires you to consider a series of important factors, including performance, main features, support, ease of use, and pricing plans available should you need more advanced tools. Below, we’ll discuss leading easy builders, measuring each against key factors to help you make the right choice.
The best easy website builders available right now
Easy website builders: Features
All of the four platforms mentioned above come with drag-and-drop editors, decent template libraries, and a range of website SEO and marketing tools.
Wix is arguably the most powerful builder on the market, and its ADI site-building tool makes things very easy for beginners. When you begin editing, you’ll have access to various business-specific features. Add an online store, take bookings, or even accept donations from fans with a suite of add-ons.
Weebly has an “idiot-proof” editing interface: templates are so attractive and well-designed that you’ll have to try hard to build a site that doesn’t look good. It’s also known for powerful ecommerce tools, designed to help even the most inexperienced build their own online store, and there’s also an excellent built-in analytics platform and detailed documentation.
GoDaddy is the easiest builder we’ve used, but its features are a little limited. For example, its template library is very small, and designs are far from the best. Similarly, while it has tools to create an online store, these are very much on the basic side. However, its ease of use is unparalleled.
Site123 is up there with the easiest builders, but offers more powerful tools, including advanced SEO, business-specific templates, and mobile-first design.
At the end of the day, every builder is different. It’s important to understand that they can be both powerful and easy-to-use, and are often suited to different needs.
Easy website builders: Performance and ease of use
Performance is a key consideration for business owners wanting to create their own site. Some builders require a high level of technical knowledge to use properly, while others are extremely intuitive and designed specifically for beginners.
All four options excel on ease of use, and Site123 and GoDaddy are arguably the easiest. Both are a little limited, but are perfect for businesses and owners who just want to get a simple site online as fast as possible.
Wix is a little more complicated, but Wix ADI is definitely a great option for beginners. You’re guided through a short questionnaire asking about your goals, what sort of site you want, and what design features you want. Then, you’re provided with a custom template you can customize via the drag-and-drop editor.
Weebly is slightly more complex than Site123 or GoDaddy, but advanced editing features and great ecommerce tools make it a top option for beginners nonetheless. Creating your site may take a little longer, but ongoing management is extremely easy due to the attractive web dashboard.
Easy website builders: Support
Ultimately, the customer service you get will largely depend on the builder you decide to use. Most come with extensive knowledge bases and resource libraries, but live support options can vary extensively.
Weebly’s support is limited to email and live chat during US business hours. However, Performance or Professional plan users have access to direct phone support, and Performance subscribers get priority access. Site123 offers excellent 24/7 live chat support, its customer service agents are friendly and responsive, and we’ve never had anything other than a positive experience when dealing with them.
The key point is to pay careful attention to customer service options before you buy.
Easy website builders: Pricing and plans
As with everything else, prices tend to vary significantly between builders.
Wix, Weebly, Site123, and GoDaddy offer free website builders: others only have paid options, but will offer free trials are available. It’s clear free builders are adequate for simpler sites or smaller personal projects. They have pros and cons, however, and if you’re looking for ecommerce or marketing features, or want a professional business site, a premium plan is always best.
Wix’s free plan allows access to the full website builder, but has common limitations including adverts, the inability to connect a custom domain name, and restricted storage and bandwidth. It’s also important to note that cheaper plans are often much more limited. While Weebly’s Personal plan is $6 a month, it doesn’t include advanced ecommerce tools, has limited storage, and includes built-in advertising.
We’ve already mentioned pricing for Wix, GoDaddy, and Weebly; Site123’s four paid plans cost between $12.80 and $34.80 a month. Remember, though, that the cheapest option won’t necessarily be the best, especially if planning a business site.
Easy website builders: Which is best?
The take-home message is that powerful and easy to use aren’t mutually exclusive when building a website.
Some of the most popular builders, like Weebly and Wix, are also among the best for beginners. Site123 and GoDaddy are designed specifically to be easy to use: neither offers extremely powerful features or advanced editing tools, but provide the opportunity to create a new site in hours.
All things considered, there’s no way to label any one builder as the best for beginners. There are numerous options available that are easy to use, and every business has different requirements. The bottom line is, do your research: sign up for a trial, build a website for free, and test different platforms. Take time choosing the best easy website builder for your site.
Website builders FAQs
What is a website builder?
A website builder offers end-to-end site creation, via a selection of templates, a visual editor, and extra advanced tools. They are generally extremely beginner-friendly, and often provide a drag-and-drop editing interface.
No prior coding or technical experience is required, and they’re a great option for creating a simple site quickly. Some offer significantly more design flexibility, and can even provide coding access for advanced editing.
Which online website builder is best? What’s the best cheap website builder?
Wix is the best website builder available, and the best cheap website builder. It’s extremely popular, and its huge template library of over 500 designs offers excellent design flexibility. Users have the choice of the Editor or ADI interfaces, providing a more complex drag-and-drop customizability or an extremely straightforward, AI-led service.
What’s the difference between a website builder and web hosting?
Traditionally, web developers had to create code for a new site, then upload this to a web host’s servers, where it would be delivered to visitors. The same principles still apply, and many high-end sites are still built like this. However, the best website builders offer all-in-one site creation solutions that simplify things significantly, with various tools, an editor, and web hosting included.
WordPress vs website builders: which is better?
How to choose and buy the best website builder for you
How we review the best website builders
Should I use a free website builder?
Next steps when choosing website builders and hosting
Take some time to discover the differences between web hosting, WordPress, and website builders. If you’re considering WordPress, it’s worth taking a look at our WordPress review to learn more about the leading CMS. Learn more about what web hosting is, and how to choose a web hosting service. We’ve got a range of guides covering the best web hosting and multiple other hosting types available.