Best website builders in 2024

Website builders differ in their design flexibility, ease of use, features, and general functionality. That’s why I, together with the Cybernews team, have researched each provider’s templates, interface, features, and more. Each category was rated from 1 to 5. In this article, I review my top 10 website builders to help you pick the best one for your needs.

Note: The ratings and insights in this article are based on our team’s personal experiences and testing. The choice of the best website builder may vary among users with different needs, so be sure to evaluate your own website needs as well.

Our 5 best website builders in short

1. Wix – best website builder overall with SEO tools
2. Hostinger Website Builder – secure AI-driven website builder
3. SITE123 – best website builder for beginners
4. Shopify – top website building service for businesses
5. IONOS – best website builder for quick site creation
6. Squarespace – fastest website builder with unique templates

There are 4 more providers on our detailed list to explore. Check out Web.com, Weebly, GoDaddy, Zenfolio for more options.

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Website builders tested

279

Websites built

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Hours of extensive testing

The best website builders in 2024 – detailed list

After continuous testing, we ranked the top 10 website builders on the market. You’ll find different picks for different website needs – from quick five-minute builders to intricate pixel-perfect design tools. So, without further ado, here’s our list of best website builders in the market:

1. Wix – top feature-rich website builder

Learn more about Wix

Packed with an abundance of features and well-functioning AI tools, Wix is my #1website builder today. I truly appreciate its simplistic yet modern interface, ease of use, and, most importantly, the websites I was able to create. Here’s how I ranked each aspect of Wix:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Wix review here.

My experience with Wix

Wix has to be the best website builder I’ve tried out. It’s exceptionally easy to use and yet it has everything an advanced user would need to launch a successful website. The entire process from the very beginning was smooth. At first, Wix asked me what kind of website I’ll be creating and then I had to choose the editor. I could either let Wix do the entire job for me or customize one of their many templates – Wix offers over 900 customizable templates.

The AI editor quickly creates a website with minimal input, making it ideal for beginners, though it offers less customization than the Wix Editor, where you can choose templates, adjust fonts, and drag and drop elements. While the AI builder tailors the site to your needs based on detailed questions, you may need to be very specific to avoid misinterpretation, but adjustments can always be made afterward.

In general, Wix is a highly versatile website builder. Everyone from beginners to advanced users can benefit from the tools offered by Wix. Not to forget a massive template library, convenient AI tools to speed up the process, and even eCommerce integration.

Pricing

Wix provides a free plan, though it doesn't allow custom domain connections. Premium plans begin at $10.50/month, with a 14-day money-back guarantee included.

2. Hostinger Website Builder – best website builder overall

Learn more about Hostinger Website Builder

A really close second on my list is Hostinger. It’s truly an amazing website builder that I had no issues with. Besides, it features perhaps the best AI tools you can find today. In general, I’m a big fan of Hostinger’s templates and the editor itself. Here’s how I ranked Hostinger Website builder:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Hostinger review here.

My experience with Hostinger

Needless to say, I’m a big fan of Hostinger Website Builder’s interface. It’s very modern-looking and simple to navigate. Setting up was smooth as well. Users are given the option to create a website using Hostinger’s built-in AI tools or by picking a predesigned template and customizing it.

To create a website, first, I had to tell Hostinger about my site. This included choosing the website type, a description of the site, style, and even colors. The only thing I kind of disliked was the fact that after Hostinger created my website, I was sent back to the dashboard where I had to look for my newly created website and only then I ended up in the editor. This was slightly inconvenient and it’s not the case with Wix website builder.

Once set up, Hostinger’s website builder is user-friendly with a drag-and-drop interface and flexible design options, including a smart grid for alignment. It features AI tools, though credits are needed to access them, including an image generator, text writer, page generator, and heatmap.

The left-side panel also offers useful analytics and SEO tools for keyword suggestions and meta descriptions. With over 150 customizable templates, Hostinger provides diverse and stylish options for various needs.

Pricing

Hostinger Website Builder doesn’t have a free version, but you can try it out risk-free using the 30-day money-back guarantee. There are three subscription options, namely Premium, Business, and Cloud Startup. Note that Hostinger is significantly cheaper than most website builders available today. The prices go as low as $2.54/month but that’s only with the extended four-year subscription. Naturally, shorter-term subscriptions will cost a little bit more, but in comparison, Hostinger is still way cheaper than its counterparts.

3. SITE123 – beginner-friendly and quick website-building tool

Learn more about SITE123

Although the SITE123’s interface is a bit outdated, this website builder still allows you to create lovely websites. You don’t need any coding skills and I feel like it’s best suited for small bloggers. In all honesty, I wouldn’t recommend this builder for creating online stores. After playing around with this website builder, here’s what I can say about it:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full SITE123 review here.

My experience with SITE123

The interface, in my opinion, is somewhat outdated. It doesn’t mean that SITE123 is unable to create beautiful websites though. When getting started, I was first asked what type of website do I want. You can choose from a website, an online store, a blog, or a landing page. Again, I think SITE123 doesn’t have what it takes to launch a good online store, but it suffices for all the other categories.

The editor itself is super straightforward. At the top, you’ll find items such as Pages, Design, Settings, and Domain. Once you click on any of these, you’ll see a menu on the left side of the preview. This is where the editing takes place. You can add new pages, change the color scheme, customize the menu on the website. You can even optimize your website for mobile, which I think is a nice touch, especially if you want to launch a blog or something of the sort.

SITE123 websites are built from interchangeable sections that you can edit easily, but you can't customize the layout beyond the options provided. While SITE123 is user-friendly and affordable, its design options are limited compared to the more modern aesthetics of Hostinger or Wix.

Pricing

SITE123 really keeps things as simple as possible. When you first go to their website, you’ll see only two options – a free plan and the Premium plan. However, there are more plans available once you’re logged in. You’ll find the Basic business package available for $12.80/month, then Advanced priced at $11.88/month and offering email marketing capabilities. The Professional plan costs $17.28/month, while the Gold and Platinum packages have all the eCommerce and marketing tools. The Gold and the Platinum plans may seem expensive, priced $20.88/month and $45.00/month respectively. However, the longer your subscription is, the cheaper your monthly payments will be.

4. Shopify – eCommerce-focused website builder

Learn more about Shopify

Shopify is every sellers go-to. Made specifically for launching online shops, Shopify may not be an ideal choice for bloggers or visual artists. However, I feel like it’s even better to have rely on a service that focuses on one main thing. In Shopify’s case it’s launching professional-looking online stores. After trying it out, here’s what I have to say about Shopify:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Shopify review here.

My experience with Shopify

After playing around with Shopify, I can definitely say that Shopify makes difficult things simple. Making an online store with this builder was quite straightforward as the platform guided me through the process. At first, I had to answer a couple of questions about my business and was then taken to the dashboard.

As for the editor, it may look a bit outdated but it has all the necessary features. The menu is on the left-hand side and you can hide it anytime. Shopify allows users to add new sections to your site, including maps, images, blogs, and more. You can even create a custom section, so you do have more than enough design freedom.

A crucial thing about Shopify is that you can edit your website’s code, but only if you know what you’re doing. I had one look and came right back to editing premade Shopify’s themes. If you’re more advanced in HTML coding than I am, then with Shopify, you can truly craft the site of your dreams.

Pricing

Shopify’s Basic plan costs $29.00/month, offering unlimited products, discount codes, multi-language support, and standard analytics. The Shopify plan, at $79.00/month, adds 5 staff accounts and shipping insurance. The Advanced plan, priced at $299.00/month, provides custom reports, enhanced support, and global selling features.

5. IONOS – fast website-building solution for beginners

Learn more about IONOS

IONOS is a website builder that will meet everyone’s needs. It offers pretty good analytics and even unique features like competitor tracking. It lacks certain customization options, but it’s a pretty solid website builder nonetheless. Here’s what I think about IONOS:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full IONOS review here.

My experience with IONOS

The experience was overall positive with a few minor drawbacks. Once you register on their site, you will be directed straight to the website builder where you’ll be able to choose whether you want to build your website from a template or leave it to AI.

The process is similar to all previous providers. At first, the website builder will ask you a few general questions about your website and will then process this information to build your website. When comparing providers, I have to admit that Wix’s chatbot works better and the prompts I received were straight to the point.

After you’ve done all that, you’ll be able to customize your website. However, IONOS lacks colors and themes, giving you three options, namely Professional Blue, Elegant Gray, or Sleek Black. Naturally, this may not suit everyone’s business vision, so if you value customization over everything else, then maybe IONOS is not for you. Plus, users are not allowed to rearrange the sections, so the website you get is pretty much set in stone.

Pricing

IONOS doesn’t offer a free trial, but its Starter plan is very affordable at $1.00/month for the first six months, providing 10GB of storage and up to 10 websites. The Plus plan also starts at a discount but rises a month later; while it’s not the cheapest, it includes unique features like competitor tracking.

6. Squarespace – website builder with outstanding templates

Learn more about Squarespace

Squarespace is a popular choice among those who need to launch a small business or start a blog. Since Squarespace’s interface is so pleasing to the eye, this provider is appreciated by many users worldwide. I had a look at it myself and here’s how I ranked Squarespace:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Squarespace review here.

My experience with Squarespace

In general, I enjoyed using Squarespace. The interface looks sleek and modern, so it’s definitely a pleasure to use. In the very beginning, Squarespace asks if you want to pick a predesigned template or make a website from scratch. This website builder has around 130 templates that are divided into categories, such as fashion, travel, restaurants, events, weddings, and so on. Although it can’t compete with Wix’s template library, Squarespace delivers carefully crafted beautiful templates, so you can find the right fit for yourself.

The editor itself was also highly intuitive. I found everything I needed displayed on the left-side panel. Users will find options like Pages, Design, Commerce, Marketings, Analytics, and so on.

It’s all very straightforward. As for designing your website, Squarespace allows you to do it globally or on a single page. I found global design especially convenient, as it allows you to change fonts, styles, colors throughout the entire website, so you don’t miss any minor details by accident. When it comes to page design, you can edit or replace the pages individually, tailoring the website to your needs.

Overall, Squarespace definitely provides and intuitive and uncomplicated user experience. The editor is super easy to use even for beginner users.

Pricing

Yes, Squarespace is quite pricy. The cheapest subscription costs $16.00/month and it’s the simplest option for creating basic personal websites. You’ll get a free custom domain, mobile optimized websites, and 0% transaction fee on invoices. The Business plan is available for $23.00/month and has advanced website analytics on top of the basic features. The Basic Commerce plan cosats $28.00/month and has implemented selling tools to boost your business. The last plan is Advanced Commerce, priced $52.00/month, and has all the necessary tools for advanced sellers.

7. Web.com – great tool for starting an online store

Learn more about Web.com

Web.com is not only a web hosting service, but it provides a fairly good website builder as well. Therefore, it’s a convenient solution for those looking to combine these two services. I have focused on the website builder part, so here’s how I rated each aspect of Web.com:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Web.com review here.

My experience with Web.com

It’s safe to say that my experience with Web.com has been largely positive. The building process starts with you choosing whether you want to build the website yourself or use Web.com’s help. The DIY approach allows you to pick a template from the gallery and an automated website generator will ask you a couple of questions and will find the most-fitting template for you. So, in general, the process is quite smooth.

What I found a bit unusual, is that although Web.com is said to be a drag-and-drop type of editor, it’s actually more like a block-based one. In other words, all elements can be edited in blocks rather than separately. I was able to drag and drop numerous elements into my website but I didn’t have the complete freedom when it came to element placement.

Just like with most providers, Web.com conveniently places everything you need on left-side panel. There you’ll find Build, Themes, and Settings sections. Build section is where you, as the name suggests, build your website. Themes leads you to template customization, and Settings stores all configuration options.

Pricing

Web.com has three subscription packages available. The most basic one, available for $1.95/month, is called Website and it has a SSL certificate, 1 hour of expert design support, professional email, free domain for a year, and the AI-tools needed for smooth website creation. Website + Marketing plan costs $2.95/month and you’ll find social and email marketing tools as well as appointment scheduling. Lastly, the eCommerce package, costing $3.95/month, allows you to create a store with secure checkout, and sell on numerous platforms like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and more.

8. Weebly – wallet-friendly website builder for small businesses

Learn more about Weebly

Weebly is a fairly adequate website builder that has pretty solid business features. However, for those, looking for a lot of design flexibility, you’ll find yourself quite limited. Weebly could also use more themes cause right now it has around 60. In terms of features, ease of use, and templates, here’s how I ranked Weebly:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Weebly review here.

My experience with Weebly

Overall, I found Weebly to be a quite intuitive website builder. The drag-and-drop editor makes the process smooth and generally uncomplicated. Plus, you can see everything conveniently displayed on the left-side panel. At the top of the editor, you’ll find sections for building and designing your website, page creation, online store management, and settings. In other words, everything is right in front of you.

Weebly boasts having over 200 fonts to choose from, however, I feel like fonts alone will not make your website stand out. Therefore, I missed some design freedom. For example, in the build section, you’ll find all the elements you can add, and one of them is called “Sections”. Essentially, sections give you access to premade parts with several elements combed together. Users can find 5 of those and I don’t think it suffices.

Pricing

Weebly offers three paid plans and a free version, but the free plan is too limited for any serious business use. The Personal plan ($6.00/month) adds custom domain support but is similar to the free version. The Professional plan ($12.00/month) includes advanced stats, unlimited storage, and a free domain, while the Performance plan ($26.00/month) adds eCommerce insights, priority support, and PayPal payments.

9. GoDaddy website builder – great solution for small companies

Learn more about GoDaddy website builder

GoDaddy website builder usually appeals to small business owners and beginner users. It’s a pretty decent tool to build your first websites and create a professional-looking online presence. However, it’s not the epitome of customization, which is why I couldn’t rank it any higher. Here’s how I rated GoDaddy:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full GoDaddy review here.

My experience with GoDaddy

Using GoDaddy was overall a positive experience. The platform's interface is intuitive, making it easy to navigate through various features even if you're not tech-savvy. I particularly appreciated how quickly I was able to set up my website – everything from domain registration to hosting felt seamless.

However, I found the lack of detailed prompts during the initial setup phase a bit frustrating, I couldn’t even choose a theme first. The editor isn’t extensive either but it’s easy to use. I was able to find everything I need on the right-hand panel. You shouldn’t expect much design freedom but for inexperienced users this is more than enough. It’s a solid option for anyone looking to create a website without much hassle.

Pricing

GoDaddy doesn’t offer a free version but includes a 14-day trial with each plan. The basic plan at $9.99/month offers essentials like custom domain connection, 100 marketing emails, and SEO tools. The premium plan at $14.99/month adds social media ads, online payments, and 25,000 marketing emails. The Commerce plan, costing $20.99/month, includes advanced features like automated sales tax, inventory sync, and unlimited product sales.

10. Zenfolio – ideal website builder for visual artists

Learn about Zenfolio

Zenfolio is a website builder made specifically for visual artists, be it photographers or illustrators. Essentially, Zenfolio is an ideal tool to manage, sell, and showcase your work, since it’s highly convenient and portfolio-focused. Here’s how I rated each aspect of this website builder:

If you’re eager to learn more, read the full Zenfolio review here.

My experience with Zenfolio

Overall, I had no issues with this website builder and found it quite convenient. If you need to showcase your pictures, Zenfolio gives you full flexibility of the layout. I was able to display the images in a grid, grid stacked, masonry portrait, and masonry landscape styles. Plus, I found the custom layout option highly intuitive to use thanks to the classic drag-and-drop editor.

The follow-through guide was helpful and required minimal input. I was asked if I want to create a gallery or a website and was then taken to choose a template. After that, I had to name my gallery and upload pictures. In general, I found the interface highly intuitive. Everything a user needs is on the left-hand panel. The “Galleries” menu allows you to add new images and sort them into galleries, the “Settings” menu configures the privileges of the said galleries, and the “Selling” menu allows for quick monetization of pictures.

Pricing

Zenfolio offers three plans: the basic plan at $7.00/month with 15GB storage, HD video uploads, and social media integration, but no sales options. The PortfolioPlus plan at $11.50/month adds more storage, sales capabilities, and email marketing tools. The ProSuite plan provides unlimited storage, automated marketing, invoicing, and full features. All plans come with a 14-day free trial, no credit card required.

Our best website builders compared

	Wix	Hostinger Website Builder	SITE123	Shopify	IONOS	Squarespace	Web.com	Weebly	GoDaddy	Zenfolio
Brand
Price starts from	$10.50/month	$2.54/month	$11.88/month	$29.00/month	$1.00/month	$16.00/month	$1.95/month	$6.00/month	$9.99/month	$7.00/month
Free plan	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No, free trial only	❌ No	❌ No, free trial only	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No, free trial only	❌ No, free trial only
Best for	Top design customization	Easy website building	Top ease of use	Affordable eCommerce	Affordable eCommerce	Beautiful site designs	Easy website building	Simple online stores	Small business websites	Simple online stores
How many templates	900+	130+	160+	70+	20+	130+	190+	60+	200+	19
Editor	Wix ADI and Wix Editor	Drag-and-drop and AI editors	Section-based ADI editor	Section-based editor	Section-based editor	Section-based editor	DIY and AI editors	Drag-and-drop editor	ADI editor	Drag-and-drop and a block-based portfolio editors
Free domain name	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Custom email	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No

How we tested best website builders

When it comes to testing web builders, here at Cybernews, we spare no detail. We picked 32 website builders and reviewed each provider’s templates, ease of use, features, and many other aspects. After going through all that, we selected the top 10 providers that offer the best price-to-quality ratio and dived even deeper on attributes like these:

1. Templates. Website building templates ensure quick and easy flow through the site creation process. However, we looked for website builders that not only offer lots of templates, but we also ensured those templates are eye-catching.
2. Ease of use. Drag-and-drop website builders are what experts and users prefer. We are not an exception. Yet, we not only looked for drag-and-drop builders but also for advanced AI-driven services that offer even a faster site building progress.
3. Features. The variety of features determine how flexible a website builder is regarding different user purposes. While testing, we searched for dedicated SEO, marketing, blogging, and eCommerce features, among others.
4. Performance. Once we built the website, we ran each provider through the speed test to find only those that don’t break during the loading process with heaps of images on the site. The ideal page load speed is 1-2 seconds.
5. Price. When paying bigger money, we expect to receive higher quality service. Yet, that’s not always the case. Hence, we made sure that website builders on the list offered a fair price-to-quality ratio.

What is a website builder?

A website builder is a tool for building a website that doesn’t require coding experience. It’s a quick and all-around solution for small-scale businesses, merchants, artists, or anyone who needs their production to go viral without depending on professionals nor investing heaps of money.

The majority of website builders rely on drag-and-drop website-building principles. Meaning, what you choose to drag or drop while building a webpage is automatically converted into a code, and the service provides you with the final result only. Reputable website builders include a list of additional features that ease your experience even more. For instance, with Hostinger Website Builder, you get an AI content generator, while Shopify focuses on bringing eCommerce tools for the user.

While web hosting services make your website accessible for users online, website builders help you make the website visually approachable. Some providers, like Hostinger Website Builder, have both services included, allowing you to build and make the website go live at lightning-fast speeds.

How to choose the best website builder for you?

Choosing a website builder that's right for you is basically a balancing act between many different options.

But just how in the world do you choose between all of them? Why is option A and D better for you than option B, C, E, or even F? Well, this is where I'll try to help you sort things out.

Before opening your wallet, ask yourself these questions.

1. What is my budget? Determine your budget and choose a website builder with a reasonable long-term plan, like Hostinger Website Builder. Don’t trust free plans as they often lack substantial features needed for a good website.
2. What is my website going to be? Your needs should influence your choice, whether you need an online store, a website to showcase your portfolio or just a simple website. For example, Wix and Shopify are great for online stores, Squarespace is the go-to choice for portfolios, and Hostinger is ideal for crafting simple sites.
3. What other additional features do I need? Some website builders offer extensive marketing and SEO tools for you to take advantage of, like Shopify. Others, like Wix, offer a bunch of AI tools to streamline your website creation process.
4. What do I want from my website design? If you want more flexibility and an array of third-party themes, go for Shopify. However, if you want simplicity and a website that looks great with minimal effort, then Wix or Squarespace are the builders for that.
5. How much experience building websites do I have? For beginners, it’s recommended to pick a website builder that guides you through the process. For example, Wix, SITE123, or GoDaddy. On the other hand, more experienced users can enjoy the customizability of the Wix Editor.
6. How much time do I want to spend building and running my website? With Wix AI, the website creation process is smooth as the editor guides you through it. However, if you have the time and are feeling crafty, you can use Wix to its full potential and finetune anything you want.

Video review

You can learn all about the best website builder in our YouTube video review. Check it out to find out more about the features, value, templates, and more.

Final thoughts

Having a functioning website is the most convenient way to showcase your products, services, or ideas. What’s even better is that with most website builders you don’t need any prior knowledge to craft the website you want. Just pick the one that suits your needs best.

Tests show that Wix is the most versatile website builder currently available. With a vast selection of templates and handy marketing and AI tools, this provider ensures a smooth and effortless website creation process. Plus, there’s a fairly good free version for you to try.

If you know your needs better, you can opt for a different website builder for a more tailored experience. Always evaluate what you need from such a service and how much are you willing to spend, only then you will be able to make an informed choice.

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