Individuals and small companies may use website builders to create a website without having to hire a developer. Finding the finest website builder, on the other hand, might be difficult for novices.
How do you decide which website builder is suitable for you when there are so many on the market?
We'll go through the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular solutions in this post to help you select the best website builder.
In this post, we'll compare the website builders listed below. If you want to go ahead to a certain website builder, simply click on the name.
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Choosing the Best Website Builder — What to Look for?
We propose that you write down what you want to do with your website before evaluating the best website builders. What are your objectives and features that you would want to see on your website?
Things like having a blog section, photo gallery, online store (eCommerce), reservation system, contact form, SEO features, social networking features, and so on can be written down.
If you're not sure what you want, look at your rivals' websites or other websites for ideas.
To create your new website, most website builders include an easy-to-use drag-and-drop user interface. You may test drive the service using the trial accounts (free plans) or the substantial money-back guarantee before making a final choice.
The next step is to analyze your expansion alternatives. Will your website be updated on a frequent basis? Is a blog section required? Are you planning to add additional goods to your website in the future?
You must ensure that the website builder you select will be able to meet your demands as your company expands.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Website Builder
Over the previous two decades, we've evaluated just about every website builder on the market, and we've helped over 400,000+ consumers establish a website.
When evaluating the best website builder selections for each use-case, we consider numerous factors, but the following are the top five:
- Ease of Utilize — We aim to make sure that even complete beginners can use the website builder (non-techy users). A drag-and-drop builder, robust editing tools, and customization choices must all be included.
- Pricing — Because this is a competitive market, we examine which website builder provides the most value for the money. We look for things like a free domain, free SSL, free business email, and free eCommerce functionality, among other things. If not, how much will a small company owner have to pay on extras or hidden expenditures if they don't?
- Design and Features – We want to make sure that the website builder has a fair range of professional website designs to choose from, as well as the ability to add extra features like Google Analytics, CRM, and third-party marketing tools.
- Customer Assistance — While we want website builder software to have a simple, user-friendly interface, we also want to know that customer support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if needed.
- Data ownership and portability - This is something that many newcomers overlook, but having worked in the sector for over two decades, we pay special attention to our terms of service and privacy policies to guarantee that you control your data and that it is transferable should you need to switch.
As a result, let's have a look at the finest website builder software to get your website up and running without having to hire a developer ( coding HTML from scratch.)
1. WordPress
WordPress.org (sometimes known as self-hosted WordPress) is the most widely used website creation tool in the world. WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites on the internet.
It's worth noting that WordPress comes in two flavors: self-hosted WordPress CMS and WordPress.com. WordPress.com will be discussed later in this essay. For additional information, see our WordPress.org vs WordPress.com comparison.
Because of its popularity, extensive features, scalability, and simplicity of use, the self-hosted WordPress content management system (CMS) is at the top of our list of best website builders.
WordPress is a website builder that is both free and open source. Our implies that, in comparison to any other online website builder on this list, you have complete control over your website.
With WordPress, you have complete control over your website, with no third-party interference, ensuring optimum privacy.
This is why many well-known websites, such as WhiteHouse.gov (US Government), CNN, The New York Times, Microsoft, and a slew of other small businesses, utilize WordPress to create their websites.
You will require a (WordPress hosting)account and will have to host your own website, unlike the other website builders on our list (this is a lot easier than it sounds). Below are thorough instructions for getting started with WordPress.
Pros:
You have total control over every aspect of your website and online presence using WordPress. It may be used to create almost any type of website. An (eCommerce shop, community forums, a social network, a membership website,) a commercial / corporate website, landing pages, and more are examples.
You may choose from thousands of high-quality pre-made WordPress themes for your website's design.
You may also utilize one of the popular (drag and drop WordPress page)builders, such as SeedProd and Divi, to create your own bespoke website designs with a drag-and-drop editor (no coding needed).
Another significant benefit of WordPress is the access to over 59,000 free WordPress plugins.
Plugins are similar to applications for WordPress that allow you to add more features and functionality to your site, such as a shopping cart, contact forms, Google Analytics, photo galleries, social media tools, live chat, CRM, CSS customisation, and more.
WordPress plugins also make it simple to link and integrate your website with common business tools, allowing you to automate and streamline your everyday tasks.
Another reason WordPress is so popular throughout the world is because its website builder is completely translated into over 75 languages, making it simple to develop multilingual websites.
When all of the aforementioned factors are taken into account, WordPress is by far the most powerful website builder available.
It also includes powerful SEO techniques that search engines like, ensuring that your website constantly ranks at the top of search results. Because it will help you outrank your competition in Google, we utilize and recommend the All in One SEO plugin for WordPress.
Our experts rank WordPress as the best website builder and content management system for company owners, bloggers, web developers, and web designers for all of the reasons stated above.
2. Web.com
Web.com is a small company website builder that was one of the first and most popular. They provide simple website construction tools at a low cost, allowing anyone to create a website without knowing how to code.
Pros
Web.com is a robust drag-and-drop website builder that is simple to use even for non-techies.
You may choose from thousands of gorgeous pre-made website templates and easily adjust the design to meet your brand's demands.
The builder has all of the strong elements you'd expect, such as photo galleries, movies, testimonial sliders, contact forms, map locations, social network links, and more.
You may add an infinite number of pages to your website and change the style of each page separately. All of their website designs are mobile-friendly, and you can tweak the design to fit different devices (desktop, tablet, and mobile phones).
You may add up to 50 goods, securely collect credit card payments online, track and manage orders, provide discounts, and more using their eCommerce features.
All Web.com plans include a free domain name, a business email address, autosave and backup capabilities, website security, SEO tools, website analytics, and other useful website tools.
They also provide limitless chat and phone support, allowing you to contact their online professionals whenever you want assistance.
Aside from the website builder, they also provide bespoke web design services, where an expert can create your full website for a low cost.
Cons
While Web.com has all of the tools you'll need to create a small business website, it lacks some of the more advanced capabilities you'll need as your company expands.
For example, Web.com's blogging capabilities is very limited, and it pales in comparison to what WordPress offers.
Only 50 goods are allowed on their eCommerce plan, which is more than enough for most small enterprises. If you're wanting to develop a substantial online store, though, other website builders on our list, like as WooCommerce or Shopify, could be a better fit.
Finally, because Web.com is a proprietary website builder, you will not be able to easily migrate to an other platform in the future.
Pricing
Web.com's website starting package is $1.95 per month and includes a drag-and-drop website builder, hundreds of stunning designs, thousands of stock pictures, and a free domain.
Their monthly marketing package starts at $2.95 and includes extra SEO capabilities to help you rank better. Finally, their eCommerce package begins at $3.95 per month and includes eCommerce features such as the ability to accept credit cards using a secure shopping cart, sell up to 50 goods, track and manage orders, and more.
The Web.com site builder enables you to establish a company website at a minimal cost.
Wix.com is another well-known cloud-based website builder. It combines ease of use with a robust collection of features to let you create a website quickly. Wix is the website builder of choice for over 1.9 percent of all websites.
Pros
You won't have to pay for hosting because Wix website maker is a completely hosted platform. You'll have access to hundreds of templates to pick from when it comes to the design of your website. With its user-friendly drag-and-drop site builder, each template can be completely customized.
Wix has also built an artificial design intelligence (Wix ADI) that can design a beautiful website for you.
Aside from tons of templates, Wix also comes with dozens of free and paid apps that you can install on your website. These apps allow you to add new features and functionality to your website. Some of them are created by Wix, and others are created by third-party developers.
Wix offers a free plan with limited bandwidth and storage. However, you can use this plan to test drive their drag and drop website builder. It does not include a domain name, so if you decide to keep your website, then you may want to upgrade to a premium plan.
You also get a free SSL with all Wix plans, but you will need to turn it on for your website.
Cons
Free and Connect Domain plans will show Wix branded ads on your website. You’ll need to upgrade to their Combo or Unlimited plan to remove those ads.
If you ever decide to move your website away from Wix, then you will find it quite complicated to do so.
Their Connect Domain plan which costs $9.16 per month only lets you connect a custom domain name, so you’ll still have to buy a domain name separately.
Pricing
Wix offers a limited free version with a Wix branded sub domain. You can connect a domain for $9.16 per month. Their combo plan starts at $14 per month and will get you a free domain name. The eCommerce plan for online stores start at $23 per month.
If you are interested in how it stacks up against WordPress, then see our comparison of Wix vs WordPress.
HubSpot Website Builder
is a robust content management system designed specifically for marketers and small company owners. It combines the power of their drag-and-drop website builder, marketing automation tools, and CRM to allow you to provide your users with a tailored digital experience.
Pros
HubSpot is regarded as one of the most powerful marketing automation and CRM platforms available. They decided to design an all-in-one website builder after listening to small company problems. It allows you to construct a website in minutes (without hiring a developer).
You may easily create a website that delivers results by using their conversion focused website designs.
Alternatively, you may develop a custom website design in minutes using their simple drag-and-drop editor.
The nicest aspect of HubSpot's website builder is that it allows you to undertake adaptive testing, which means you can pick up to five different variants of a page and HubSpot will track and serve the best performing one.
Landing Page Creator by HubSpot
The HubSpot website builder interacts perfectly with their CRM platform, allowing you to use customer data to create a fully tailored digital experience for each website visitor.
SEO capabilities, strong analytics, blogging tools, live chat software, email marketing feature, multi-language content support, and more are among the many powerful features included.
HubSpot is unquestionably one of the top professional website builders for marketers and small businesses on this list, based on the capabilities in their integrated marketing platform.
Cons
While HubSpot enables marketers to create tailored digital experiences, it is best suited for landing pages and basic corporate websites. WordPress is better suited for online retailers and complex business websites.
The good news is that HubSpot understands this, which is why they provide a free WordPress plugin that allows you to effortlessly integrate with WordPress and provide the best of both worlds.
HubSpot is a robust platform with a wide range of capabilities. For small company entrepreneurs who are just starting started, this might be scary. Their account executives will work with you to guarantee that your business succeeds online as long as you are dedicated.
Pricing:
HubSpot is a robust free website builder that includes a range of marketing automation technologies like as CRM, email marketing, live chat, and more.
You may get started for free and then upgrade to the plan that best meets your needs as your business grows.
The Starter package is $45 per month and includes all of their business tools, including a CMS (website builder), marketing hub, sales tools, and business operating tools.
All plans include live chat and phone assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and their support staff is really helpful.
HubSpot is an excellent alternative for small businesses seeking for a fully integrated website builder platform with all of the capabilities they want.
Shopify
If Wix is the clear pick for most website construction needs, Shopify is the e-commerce store's equivalent. The platform provides a simple and user-friendly approach to get an e-commerce internet shop up and operating online, and it assists business owners with their e-commerce tools along the process. For most "e-tailers," Shopify is a good place to start, albeit, like Wix, it isn't great for every case.
Shopify's platform, like most other commerce-oriented builders, is centered on your product and sales information. Fortunately, even if you don't have much expertise starting up a retail business, Shopify's procedure guarantees you don't skip a step by guiding you through inventory, customer information, tax and shipping costs. If you still have questions, Shopify offers phone and chat assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as an active online community forum.
Shopify doesn't have a lot of plan alternatives since its user base is very defined, and its costs are higher than the market average. The $29-per-month "Basic Shopify" plan provides most of the essentials for an online business, while the $79-per-month plan includes gift cards and extra employee accounts. It was difficult for us to justify the $50 upgrade from basic to standard, but when you consider the lower transaction costs and delivery reductions, it could make sense. They also have a $299-per-month option if you're running a larger business.
Shopify's primary flaw is most likely their pricing approach. The extra expenditures are worth it if you want help, direction, and a builder who will handle the most of the technical intricacies. And while the numerous applications offered are appealing, they may quickly add up if you're utilizing the BigCommerce add-ons. If you're still undecided after looking at the various e-commerce capabilities, we propose calculating the total cost of extra add-ons and transaction fees based on your sales, and then comparing to rivals like BigCommerce, which has more product variations and combinations and cheaper costs.
Best for bigger stores
BigCommerce is suitable for medium- to large-scale online shops that may benefit from the lack of additional transaction costs and the ability to create limitless product variants. Although the store site builder is not as simple to use as Shopify's, the time you invest learning it might save you a lot of money in the long run.
When you're just starting started, the editor provides a lot of options and versatility, but it may be intimidating for newbies, comparable to Wix. Those features and tools, such as product variations and tax rates, will likely come in helpful as you develop or if you're currently at scale if you have some expertise.
BigCommerce's price levels are the same as Shopify's: $29 (Standard), $79 (Plus), and $249 (Pro), but you receive different things at each level. BigCommerce's cheapest subscription, at $29, includes unlimited users, bandwidth and storage, unlimited goods, and no additional transaction costs. Your e-commerce site can also be linked to eBay, Google Shopping, and Amazon. The sales criteria are where the price becomes a bit tricky: the Standard plan only allows annual sales of less than $50,000, while the Plus and Pro plans support up to $150,000 and $400,000. So, the more sales you make, the more money you save on transaction costs, but after you have enough sales, you must upgrade to the next plan tier.
It'll be worthwhile to conduct some calculations based on your product inventory and predicted sales, as with any online store builders. No transaction costs — they even have an agreement with PayPal where you can save an extra 0.5 percent to 1% — struck us as a key deal-maker depending on your size, so if you're a bigger company, take advantage of the 15-day sample and give BigCommerce a chance.
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