Whether you’re looking to start an online store, showcase a portfolio, or launch a personal blog, the right website builder can make all the difference. But with so many website builders, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.
This article will guide you through the top website-building sites and how well they do for different applications. We’ll show you their features, pros and cons, and how they can help you create the ideal website.
Top Picks for Site Builders
With all the available website builders out there, you have plenty of options to choose from. However, the best website builder for you depends on your specific needs and goals.
Here’s a rundown of the top website builders available:
Builder name | Ease of use | Best for | Features | Advantages |
Wix | Drag-and-drop interface | Beginners, various industries | Drag-and-drop editor, SEO tools, templates, mobile optimization | Intuitive and various designs |
Squarespace | Various templates, adjustable designs | Creatives, portfolios, visual content | Built-in SEO tools, blogging and portfolio tools | Templates fit for portfolios and visual content |
Shopify | eCommerce-focused | Online businesses and stores | eCommerce specific features, SEO tools, third-party app integrations | Fit for online stores, eCommerce functionalities |
WordPress.com | Flexible and customizable, requires some technical knowledge | Bloggers, businesses, organizations of all sizes | Advanced customization with plugins and themes, excellent for blogs and larger websites, SEO-friendly features and integrations | Highly customizable, large community and resources |
Weebly | Intuitive, drag-and-drop interface | Small businesses, individuals | Drag-and-drop editor, eCommerce features for small stores | Low-priced plans, beginner-friendly |
Web.com | User-friendly drag-and-drop interface | Small businesses and individuals | AI-powered website builder, SEO tools, marketing tools | Utilizes AI, has extensive template library |
1. Wix
Wix is a web builder for both beginners and experienced developers. It has a drag-and-drop interface that doesn’t require any coding. It also has a variety of templates. If you need additional features, Wix also integrates apps to your site. Due to its flexibility and customization, it’s a good choice for beginners and experts alike.
Features:
- Website editor
- SEO tools (including Wix SEO Wiz)
- Templates for different industries
- Mobile optimization
Advantages:
- User-friendly interface
- Flexible design options
- Great for beginners
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is another web builder that features flexible templates. It’s good for creatives planning to create aesthetic websites, along with its features and tools for blogging, marketing and eCommerce. It’s also a good choice for people who are not familiar with website design because it has customizable templates.
Features:
- Templates for creatives
- Built-in SEO tools (e.g., easy meta-tagging, structured data)
- Blogging and portfolio tools
Advantages:
- Design templates
- Suitable for portfolios and visual content
3. Shopify
Shopify is a website builder specializing in eCommerce with features for online stores, such as inventory management and payment processing. It also has various apps and integrations (e.g., Xero and Skubana) to help you grow your business.
Features:
- eCommerce-specific features
- SEO tools for online stores
- Third-party app integrations (for shipping, marketing etc.)
Pros:
- Specialized for online stores
- eCommerce features
4. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a popular website builder known for its flexibility and customizability. It’s a good choice for bloggers, businesses, and organizations of all sizes. They also offer a wide range of themes and plugins for a unique website. WordPress.com is also great if you’re looking to customize your website down to the last block. However, if you’re looking to use WordPress without the intricacies, you can avail of WordPress hosting plans for easier setups.
Features:
- Advanced customization with plugins and themes
- Excellent for blogs and larger websites
Pros:
- Highly customizable
- Large community and resources
5. Weebly
Weebly is a website builder for small businesses and individuals. It has a drag-and-drop interface, various templates, and eCommerce features. It is appropriate for those who want an easy-to-use and affordable website builder. It’s also good for people not familiar with website design, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface.
Features:
- Drag-and-drop editor
- eCommerce features for small stores
- SEO options like meta tags and sitemaps
Pros:
- Low-priced plans
- Beginner-friendly
6. Web.com
Web.com is a website builder that caters to small businesses, professionals and individuals who want an affordable and user-friendly option. Its AI-powered website builder makes it easy to build websites, while its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and templates offer a great degree of customization. Web.com also has many other features like eCommerce tools and SEO tools to help businesses grow their online presence.
Features:
- AI-powered website builder
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
- Variety of templates
- eCommerce features
- SEO tools
Pros:
- Affordable and beginner-friendly
- AI-powered website builder for easy setup
- Suitable for small businesses and individuals
Which Website Builder Does SEO Better?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is important since it dictates how easily you’re seen by internet users. You’ll want to prioritize this aspect when planning your website if you want to be searchable and rank on top of search engine result pages (SERPs).
The different website builders listed in this article offer varying levels of SEO support:
- Wix provides a user-friendly SEO tool called Wix SEO Wiz, which guides you through basic optimization steps. It also offers features like custom URLs, meta descriptions, and alt-text optimization.
- Squarespace offers built-in SEO tools, including meta description editing, data implementation, and sitemap generation.
- Shopify provides SEO features specialized for online stores, such as customizable URLs, meta descriptions, and product schema markup. It also integrates with Google Analytics for performance tracking.
- WordPress.com is highly SEO-friendly; more than that, it offers plugins like Yoast SEO for on-page optimization. It also lets you easily customize URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps.
- Weebly offers basic SEO options, including meta tag editing and sitemap generation. However, its customization options may be limited compared to other platforms.
- Web.com helps improve your site’s SEO through its professional services made for small businesses. It also offers business directory setups and a free SEO Checker for your website.
Overall, these web builders can perform well in search engines if appropriately optimized. Make sure to explore their SEO features to know which is the perfect fit for your goals and budget.
How To Choose the Best Website Builder For Your Needs
Choosing the best website builder can significantly impact your online success. Consider the following factors to make an informed decision.
Ease of Use
If you’re a beginner in website building, choose website builders with intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and user-friendly tools that don’t require coding experience. These web builders are designed to be straightforward and easy to navigate, letting you build a website quickly and efficiently.
Pricing
Many web builders have various pricing plans, from free to premium plans. You can get free website builders for simple websites, but you’ll need a paid plan to unlock more features and flexibility. Consider your budget and get a plan for your needs and finances.
Design Flexibility
Your website’s aesthetics and customization play an important part in attracting and engaging visitors. In line with this, you must check their website templates and customization options. Many website builders are known for their appealing templates and extensive customization capabilities; make sure to look for these features.
SEO Features
If you’re also looking to attract organic traffic from search engines, prioritize website builders with solid SEO tools and integrations. You can find these tools in many web builders which have features like custom domains, meta descriptions, and sitemaps. These features help improve your website’s visibility in search results.
Scalability
Think about your long-term goals and choose a website builder that can accommodate your future growth. For example, if you’re looking to grow an eCommerce business, choose a builder with eCommerce website design services or business listings.
Support and Resources
When building a website, it’s important to have access to reliable customer support and helpful resources. Look for website builders with responsive customer support, such as live chat, email, or phone.
Additionally, consider platforms with lots of documentation, tutorials, and forums for answers to your questions. Finally, when choosing a website builder, consider your specific needs and preferences.
- If you’re a beginner, go for builders with user-friendly interfaces and intuitive tools.
- For design-oriented users seeking creative freedom, choose web builders with high-quality templates and customization options.
- eCommerce businesses should go for web builders with features and scalability to support online store growth.
- Bloggers and content creators are advised to choose web builders with flexibility, customization options, and extensive plugin library for enhanced functionality.
Choosing the right website builder is key to your online success.
Consider our partner Web.com. With its various features, such as AI Domain Generator, web hosting plans, SEO Checker and Professional SEO Services, you can build your website in no time.
Meanwhile, if you want to use your website builder to its full potential, check our articles at Websitebuilder.com.
FAQs on Website Builders
You can consider a website builder easy-to-use if it has an intuitive interface and drag-and-drop building features.
It depends on the website builder that you’re transferring to. Some website builders offer migration services or tools to assist with the process. It’s wise to check with the provider first before migrating.
A website builder is considered good for SEO if it’s user-friendly, optimized for mobile, flexible to emerging trends, has an extensive plugin library, and has plenty of customization options. Aside from these features, your provider should have a knowledgeable customer support (phone, email, and chat) to assist you with any issues you may encounter.