9 Best Website Builders (September, 2023)

Website builders offer drag-and-drop functionalities and many tools to build webpages with little to no coding knowledge.

You can go with an offline or online creator, depending on how versatile you want to be while creating them. All it takes is to register on these platforms and use the tools to make the websites with minimal effort.

We will go over the best website builders to put you on a path to success. You will learn the following:

• What these platforms do
• The top 9 no-code creators
• Considerations for choosing the best
• Tips to ace your first design, regardless of the provider.

As a result, you can brush up on your coding skills and stash them away while we investigate the best no-code services.

What does a website builder do?

Building a website is like getting life insurance by yourself or letting another person do the heavy lifting. The latter sounds more interesting because it takes the burden off your shoulders. Getting the design of your dreams is finally possible.

Before we get to the tools at your disposal, you should know what they do. There might be slight variations, as you will see, but their primary goals are the same. The aim is to create webpages with little to no coding skills.

Typical no-code platforms offer a drag-and-drop interface to piece together a webpage. You will get storage for content, including options for custom domains, web hosting, themes, etc. Indeed, finding the best website builder is like finding gold.

TechJury estimates there are over 5 billion websites on the internet, although 85% of them are inactive. Regardless, that shows the need for innovative and easy design for quick deployment. The key is to have something your users can log on to and gain information.

We identified two types of no-code platforms: online and offline. With the online ones, you can only design and edit on their companies’ servers.

If that does not sit well with you, you can try the offline creators and make your edits without an internet connection.

The prominent builders transform your drag-and-drop commands into codes. Then, you can host your designed webpage directly on the platform or find it elsewhere.

With that in mind, let us move on to the best platforms available today. With that in mind, let us move on to the best platforms available today.

The top 9 website builders to try

The best website builder will offer templates, themes, and other tools to simplify the process. That often results in an appealing user interface and quick webpage deployment.

Some might even allow you to edit typefaces, change layouts, and choose your text and image sizes.

We could go on and on but let us look at these no-code platforms individually. The following are the best website creators that require no coding skills:

1. Shopify

While some see Shopify as a selling platform, the company could easily steal the spot as the most-rated online zero-code service. It has provided online shopping services to sellers and buyers since 2006. However, there is more to the platform than meets the eye.

Shopify recognizes the need for sellers or retailers to have control over their outlook. A typical e-commerce site would only offer to host an already-designed platform. You might make a few changes here and there, but nothing completely outrageous.

With Shopify, you can do more than make a few changes. You can design your web pages from the ground up and align them with your brand and sales funnel. It offers the tools to feature your products most appealingly.

Shopify offers an easy-to-use editor, but you might find it unsettling initially. Set your mind to digging in, and you will settle into an intuitive design rhythm. Nevertheless, you will have a challenge piecing together the elements if you don’t think like a designer.

This platform has some features that qualify it as the best website builder. We will get to that in a second, but let’s explore how you can get on board.

Starting your journey on Shopify is easy, and all you need to do is visit their official website. Enter your email and start the free trial.

Features of Shopify

The features of Shopify are extensive, making it a formidable service to some degree. It can effortlessly serve as an extension of your online business or a standalone platform. The features include the following:

• Free web hosting
• Custom domains
• Design templates
• Search engine optimization
• Drop-down menu support
• Social media icons
• Build-in colour palettes
• Free stock photos

Those are a few on the platform; there are more. You will have a seamless flow with your design and branding skills.

Shopify’s features are tailor-made for e-commerce businesses. It might not be the best if you want a platform to offer your services or virtual products. Let us explore the no-code creator further.

Shopify Themes

The overall theme of your website is central to the user experience. Hence, you want to give it your best shot and make it as appealing as possible. Shopify can help with that.

The platform has ten free themes, but they are not versatile. You are okay with them if you want to just put up something simple for your customers or clients. The paid themes number over sixty, but they are pricey.

Shopify’s themes come in different styles and colours to boost versatility. You can keep things minimalistic for small or large inventories.

It might sound vague reading about it, but you will appreciate the platform better when you get on board.

Customization is the hallmark of the best website builder, and Shopify allows it. You can edit the visuals through the interface or go to your dashboard to edit your products.

The latter is where you can add information like product codes, discounts, and shipping.

Shopify Pricing

We will end our discussion of the best website builder with the pricing options. In the end, that is where we will make the final decision to pick one platform over another.

Shopify is not a cheap, no-code platform. Even the paid themes cost $140. However, the pricing will be okay for a medium-sized business.

The basic plan starts at $38 per month, but you will have higher transaction fees and miss out on several features.

They include third-party shipping rate calculations, e-commerce automation, duty and import tax estimation, etc. You will also have support for only two staff accounts and four inventory locations.

Move up, and you will get the Shopify and advanced plans that cost $99 and $389, respectively. The Shopify plan allows five staff accounts, while the advanced subscription allows 15 accounts.

You will also get e-commerce automation and lower transaction fees on both.

Shopify also has a starter and enterprise plan. The former starts at $5 and allows sales through social media and messaging apps. You will need the latter if you run a high-volume business or a large business. 

Pros and Cons of Shopify

The following are the pros and cons of using Shopify:

Pros of Shopify

• The editor is suitable for managing more voluminous inventories.
• You can extend your services to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• The platform is robust, with support for over 3,000 apps and extensions.
• You will have no trouble making payments because it accepts over 100 different methods.
• Customer support is available 24/7.

Cons of Shopify

• It has a complex interface for beginners.
• There are high transaction fees, especially for low-cost pricing plans.
• The cost can quickly increase when you start adding integrations.

2. Webflow

Webflow is not the best website builder for professionals, but it offers valuable beginner features. Over 3 million designers and teams use it to scale their websites.

You should take a design lesson for this one, as it goes heavy on the colours.

You will find several features on Webflow, including those needed to scale your site. The list continues with the more intricate parts of managing your web pages. Nevertheless, work begins in the designer section of the company.

This company offers a zero-code solution to freelancers, start-ups, agencies, students, educators, and large enterprises.

As a result, it has varying pricing options to suit whichever class you prefer. The “enterprise level” has the most advanced tools to manage a big business.

Unlike Shopify, Webflow is not skewed toward e-commerce. It has packages that cover all niches of the internet, including product sales, education, etc. Notwithstanding, its designs are well-optimized for marketing.

Webflow stands its ground with premium features. App integrations flow seamlessly, and you can import your design from Figma.

Beginners can take advantage of the “Learn” section, which has over 400 free lessons on design and getting the most from a website.

The design section is intuitive if you have an outline before you start. Nevertheless, you can harvest ideas from the many templates and themes on the platform.

We expect the best website builder to have speedy execution, and Webflow has it. It will get you up and running in the shortest possible time.

Webflow Features

Webflow packs a buffet of features to make no-code designs as easy and swift as possible. Chances are that you will find more than you bargained for when you log into the platform.

It has everything from the design phase to content management, e-commerce, and interactions.

The most notable features of Webflow include the following:

• A designer
• Content management
• E-commerce
• Search engine optimization
• Editor
• Hosting by Amazon Web Services (AWS)

They might seem overwhelming, but a well-laid-out outline will keep you on track. Also, you can bring in your team to handle other parts of the website’s creation. Its tools for collaboration make it slick enough to edge past even the top builders.

Webflow Themes

Webflow has several themes in its marketplace to get you started. You can pick them from different categories and styles to fit your brand and outlook. Still, you might need to pay for the more intriguing designs.

All the templates at Webflow are HTML-ready and responsive on different devices. Getting the best look will cost you, but that is not surprising. If you have a design team, they can always import their designs from Figma.

Webflow may have distinguished itself as the best website builder because of this feature. Figma allows you to be creative and run a seamless transformation into a website. Nevertheless, the template marketplace is rich with the latest layouts.

This no-code platform has over a thousand paid and free web templates. You can kickstart your company’s branding and internet presence at the click of a button. Most importantly, you can start for free.

Webflow Pricing

Again, we come to the subtle but crucial part of no-code platforms: their pricing. Webflow offers a free service to anyone who wants to start one. That will give you one seat and two unhosted sites.

The free package misses out on billing, publishing, advanced permissions, page branding, and an activity log. Spend $19, and you will get the Core plan for small teams.

The features include three seats, ten unhosted sites, custom code, billing permissions, etc.

The Growth package has even more features if the core plan is inadequate. It will give you nine seats, unlimited unhosted sites, publishing permissions, code export, etc. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take full advantage of the platform.

We could say that Webflow is meant for big and established businesses, as most of its top-notch features are included in the enterprise package.

It brings the activity log, page branching, and site-specific access into the mix. You should go for the enterprise pricing plan if you expect heavy traffic on your web pages.

Webflow Pros and Cons

The following are the pros and cons of using Webflow:

Webflow Pros

• It has a free package for starters.
• The platform has in-built integration for email and social media channels.
• Its templates are optimized and customizable.
• The website editor’s interface is top-notch.

Webflow Cons

• Webflow is extensive but not easy for beginners.
• Most of the features are only available on the enterprise package.
• You might need third-party codes to expand the capabilities of your web pages.

3. GoDaddy

Our next port of call is GoDaddy, an all-in-one platform for webpage building, domain names, and web hosting. Learning how to build the best website comes easily with this platform. It has all the features you need, even as a beginner.

GoDaddy tilts towards simplicity and strives to offer an easy-to-use creator. Although you might need design skills to build more feature-intensive web pages, you will have no trouble starting.

Moreover, you will get all the support you need from their responsive customer representatives.

The platform does more than help people build web pages. It also offers marketing tools and artificial intelligence to put you in front of your customers when they search for your products or services.

Having marketing and design in one spot easily steals the show for GoDaddy as the best website builder.

You will find other helpful features to give your brand the power of publicity. SEO tools, professional stock-free images, responsive and mobile-friendly templates, AI-powered advice, etc., are available. They come together to make designing and hosting fun.

GoDaddy puts a powerful and customizable editor at your fingertips. Through drag-and-drop support, your web pages will take shape in minutes, giving you ample time for the thought process.

Of course, you can start for free and keep your cash till you need advanced features.

This creator has a special package for e-commerce. That distinction goes a long way toward making it precise to the touch. Retailers and wholesalers can focus on the specialized editor instead of the general one.

There is so much to love about GoDaddy. Let us take a closer look at its features, templates, and packages.

GoDaddy Features

GoDaddy’s features are the same as those of the most prominent zero-code providers. They are extensive, and you will find more than enough to fit your brand’s needs. You may not use all of them when designing your web pages.

The features of GoDaddy include the following:

• Design, social media, email marketing, and eCommerce integration
• Mobile design and editing across multiple devices
• Design templates and customizable themes
• Content creation through GoDaddy studio
• Drop-down menus
• Client management tools
• Credit card integration

We could go on listing the features of GoDaddy on this page. They are extensive and cover just about any area of web design and hosting you could imagine. Also, the seamless transition from design to hosting makes it a formidable contender for the best website builder.

Bloggers will find several supportive features to keep visitors thronging to their blogs. It offers everything from customizable layouts to email updates and basic image editing.

There is more to GoDaddy, but you must visit the site to see it. If you ask, “Is GoDaddy website builder brands the best website builder?” Our answer would be to recommend it.

GoDaddy Themes

Finding themes and templates to get your brand out to the world with GoDaddy will be easy. The platform offers hundreds of them to its members. You can sign up quickly through Facebook and Gmail or use your email address.

GoDaddy sorts its templates into all aspects of the internet to give you a stress-free experience. The popular niches include the following: fashion and beauty, health services, photography, music, travel, online stores, restaurant & food, art & design, and blogs.

One limitation this platform has is its limited templates. Nevertheless, GoDaddy is growing, and we expect it to add more in the coming months.

GoDaddy Pricing

GoDaddy offers four plans for members, depending on the level of sophistication they want on their web pages. Unlike other competitors, it does not have a free subscription. That is a setback for those who want to do something without paying from the onset.

Instead, GoDaddy offers a free trial period on all plans. The exciting part is that the free trial does not require any credit card details. So, you can try the features of any subscription before paying for it.

The basic plan is the most affordable, offering features like website security, custom domain connection, and 100 email marketing messages per month.

It is adequate for a start, but you will miss out on search engine optimization and eCommerce features. Also, you have support for only one social media channel.

If you opt for the standard or premium version,  you get more advanced features and extensive support. The social media channels increase, and you get more functionalities. Still, they do not come with any eCommerce features.

You must go for the eCommerce plan if you want a product and sales page. That brings all the features you need, including product listings, flexible payments, shipping options, etc.

Regarding pricing, GoDaddy steals the show as a strong contender for the best website builder.

GoDaddy Pros and Cons

The following are the pros and cons of using Shopify:

GoDaddy Pros

• All plans have free trials without credit card details.
• The packages are affordable.
• It has an easy-to-use interface.
• Members get AI support and marketing features.

GoDaddy Cons

• The templates are fewer than competitors.
• Customization is okay but minimal.
• The eCommerce features are limited.

4. Wix

There is a reason why Wix is popular among bloggers and small business owners, and we will tell you why soon. If you wonder which website builder is the best, look no further than the ones on this list.

Wix’s affordability makes it the go-to option for people with a limited budget.

Wix caters to those who want an eCommerce site, online services, restaurants, and blogs. It has tailor-made features to take care of each niche and reduce the time you spend designing.

Remember that we want a simple platform for quick designs and launches.

If you are like us, this platform should be on your radar. It also offers scalability to enable your website to grow and expand as your business booms. Notwithstanding, it has a secret feature that pits it favourably against even the best website builder. 

You will get full-stack development tools to increase the capabilities of your site. That’s a handy feature that most competitors lack. They will help you create the webpages but having full-stack functionality is rare.

Of course, only those with coding skills can use the full stack’s capabilities. Those who want a no-code platform will be thrilled, as Wix has the tools to get them going.

Wix’s website is clutter-free and intuitive. You will have smooth navigation as you move through its features. Even the most efficient editor will not appear to be rocket science.

Website creation with Wix is fun but let us explore the features further.

There is a reason why Wix is popular among bloggers and small business owners, and we will tell you why soon. If you wonder which website builder is the best, look no further than the ones on this list. Wix’s affordability makes it the go-to option for people with a limited budget.

Wix Features

Is Wix the best website builder? That is the question on most people’s minds when they stumble onto the platform. It can get you through the hassles of designing an online site.

Wix has the usual features on most no-code platforms but adds a few extras.

These additional functionalities give them a unique spot in the market, and some designers may find them more favourable. They will not replace a full-stack developer, but they are powerful.

The features of Wix include the following:

• Wix editor
• 500 design templates
• Advanced SEO tools
• Mobile-optimized functionalities
• Wix ADI
• Velo by Wix, which offers serverless computing
• Unified database management
• DE and DevOps
• Custom domain name.

Wix has even more features. If you want something for quick site branding, the platform is ready. Despite this, it still offers a robust system for professional creators.

Wix can substitute for a full-stack development platform, making it a viable option as the best website builder. Regardless, the features can quickly become overwhelming for a novice.

Wix Themes

Before getting the gear running on your site, you can look up several designs for inspiration. The templates span several niches you can think of with an online presence. Hence, you will easily find one that resonates with you.

Wix offers over 800 HTML5 templates to give you a head start with your design. You will find them all, from landing pages to photography, business consulting, news blogs, illustrations, interior design, and marketing.

The powerful editor has over 1000 elements with drag-and-drop functionalities. Pulling up your creative skills on the platform should be easy. Also, you will get ample support and suggestions to improve your designs.

You can use the mobile app to create and edit designs. That shows the versatility of Wix and why we regard it as the best website editor for beginners and professionals.

Wix Pricing

Wix has packages in two different price categories. The first is for websites, while the second extends support to eCommerce and businesses. You should opt for the latter to incorporate online payments into your web pages.

The most basic plan gives users 1 GB of bandwidth, 500 MB of storage, a free SSL certificate, a custom domain, and 24/7 support.

You can go for the combo, unlimited, or VIP packages if you want more. The VIP plan is the best and most expensive if you want a website package.

Switch over to eCommerce and business packages, and you get even more subscriptions. However, they are worth the price because you have more storage space, secure online payments, more video hours, and unlimited bandwidth.

Wix’s pricing is affordable, and you will get most of the features in the low-priced options. That is a plus against other contenders for the best website builder.

Pros and Cons of Wix

The following are the pros and cons of using Shopify:

Pros of Wix

• There is a 14-day money-back guarantee.
• It adds full-stack development to its features.
• Over 800 templates are available.
• It accepts multiple payment options.
• There is built-in SEO.

Cons of Wix

• The free and combo plans lack visitor analytics.
• None of the subscriptions offer unlimited storage.
• Live site templates are unchangeable.

5. Weebly

Weebly might look basic from a distance, but it can help you design and build a responsive site in minutes. Additionally, you have a free slate to start things if you want to try them. That way, you can test a few things while deciding.

We often hear this question: Is Weebly the best website builder? It depends on what you want and what budget you want to use. Weebly is adequate to take care of most of your design needs.

You can also get the Weebly app on Android, iOS, and iPad devices. That brings versatility on the go, enabling users to quickly create designs. Having that is a plus, although the mobile app is less robust than the PC platform.

Weebly has joined the Square product suite, adding functionalities for eCommerce.

You can track all your sales and provide your customers with different payment options. That will give you a more established and reliable presence.

If you feel like you are in a design rut, you can call on the different inspirational articles on the platform. They cover various topics, from marketing to establishing and maintaining relationships. They might come in handy now and then.

Weebly has a free plan to get you started on your first design. Also, you will find the editor interface simple enough for your needs. The templates are visually appealing, and you might make minimal changes. 

Weebly Features

You will find the features more than adequate for everyday design needs. They are robust and available on the mobile app for versatility. Nevertheless, you will get the best design experience from your PC.

When designing with Weebly, you get the sense that it is enough to be the best website builder. Its features span from simple drag-and-drop functions to eCommerce and photo manipulation.

The features of Weebly include the following:

• The drag-and-drop editor
• Custom headers
• Full-width images and backgrounds
• Fully integrated shopping cart and checkout page
• Inventory tracker
• Filtered product search for your users
• Free eCommerce hosting
• SEO-friendly HTML formatting

Weebly assists users with website design and ranking. Hence, it offers a range of SEO tools to help you optimize your web pages as much as possible.

Once you are on the Weebly site, you can navigate to its features section. There, you will learn everything about the tools on the platform.

One thing is sure: Weebly is adequate in the features department. Both beginners and professional designers will find them intuitive enough for everyday use.

Weebly Themes

The core strength of the top builders flows from the features to the themes and templates.

These are the starting points for designers to create web pages that show off their brands in the best possible way. Hence, Weebly must pass this “litmus” test to be ranked highly among competitors.

Weebly offers fewer templates to lessen the stress of designing. While that is disappointing, it covers the most sought-after niches. If yours is among them, then you have a starting point.

The niches on Weebly’s templates include portfolios, businesses, online stores, events, blogs, etc. They are few, but they are visually appealing. Also, you can get by with most of them if you don’t want something over the top. 

Their simplicity makes mobile editing much quicker. A heavy design will require more powerful processors than those on most of our smartphones. 

Weebly Pricing

To the final part of the review: the pricing. A platform could be the best website builder, but its price makes it out of reach. Thankfully, Weebly is affordable for beginners.

You can begin your journey with Weebly for free. This plan offers a free SSL certificate, 500 MB of storage, and a Weebly-branded domain. You will also get basic SEO, chat and email support, lead capture, and contact forms.

The following package is the Connect plan, which offers everything the free subscription provides. However, you will get custom domain support, unlike the free package.

Things take shape when you opt for the pro and business packages. They add shopping carts and payment options, including Square, advanced site stats, inventory management, a shipping calculator, etc.

If you have a high sales volume, you can upgrade to the business plus package, which includes real-time shipping. Also, you will get emails from users who abandoned their carts for follow-up.

Pros and Cons of Weebly

The following are the pros and cons of using Shopify:

Pros of Weebly

• The design themes are responsive.
• You can switch themes even when your site is live.
• The more advanced packages have site stats capabilities.
• It supports the sales of digital goods.

Cons of Weebly

• A limited number of templates
• The editor is less customizable.

6. Squarespace

Don’t confuse Squarespace with Weebly from Square. They are two different platforms contending for the best website builder. Shortly, you will learn which one suits your needs best.

Squarespace offers a robust platform that takes care of anything regarding website building and maintenance.

Apart from its design features, it has other supporting functions, like email marketing, video making, and logo maker. It is a versatile platform that goes a step further than most competitors.

Working with Squarespace is like becoming a full-fledged website developer, except for the coding skills. It is still a no-code platform, but the features will make you feel like a boss. You will receive extensive templates covering all internet niches.

Squarespace does something well. Instead of packing everything into one editor, users get specialized sections for typical websites and eCommerce platforms. That makes designing and editing easy.

Squarespace’s web pages are highly customizable and responsive, allowing them to work across multiple devices. You will get a rich colour palette and font packs to tailor your design to your brand. It is a robust platform you will not regret using for your design.

Squarespace offers layouts and templates to bring your ideas to life. For professionals, it might be the best website builder. However, beginners will need lots of tutorials to get by on the platform.

Thankfully, Squarespace has webinars and forums to sharpen your skills and creativity. The forums discuss topics ranging from eCommerce, images, and products to feedback and SEO best practices.

There are plenty of webinars for growth, expansion, getting started, and other relevant topics.  

So, is Squarespace the best website builder? Let us see its features.

Squarespace Features

The forums and webinars are standout features of the most prominent zero-code services. In addition, the customer support team has your back on any challenges.

That said, Squarespace offers features across three sections: websites, eCommerce, and marketing. The website section has tools for SEO, analytics, app integration, mobile editing, and blogging.

They cover everything you need to create a stunning site for your business.

The eCommerce features include:

• Tax tools
• Flexible shipping options
• Multiple payment methods
• Integrated social channels
• Management of mobile stores via email campaigns

You will also find specialized marketing tools to drive traffic to your website. Things like profiles and social media integrations can be helpful to increase publicity about your business.

All three sections offer a step-by-step guide to get anyone started with a design. It is a simple touch but rather thoughtful for Squarespace. Indeed, this platform could easily steal votes to become the best website builder.

Squarespace Themes

Squarespace has a plethora of themes from which to begin your design. It has templates for just about any niche on the internet. Whether you want a blog or an eCommerce platform, you can get it all on its site.

Popular niches on Squarespace include photography, entertainment, food, real estate, media, art, fashion, local businesses, restaurants, nature, and animals.

You will even find one-page templates to satisfy your needs. Just click on any one and start designing your web pages.

The look and feel of the templates are highly customizable, and you can redesign them to your taste.

Regarding themes and templates, only a handful of competitors can rival Squarespace. The platform can easily pick up the title of the best website builder if you overlook its shortcomings. However, the pricing often determines if it is worth the investment.

Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace has four pricing plans for its members. The first and most affordable is suitable for lightweight personal blogs with very little video content.

If that is your niche, you will get features like unlimited bandwidth, mobile-optimized websites, support for two contributors, etc.

Product sales, gift card functionality, and customization with CSS and Java have more expensive packages. The next and most popular one is the business plan. It is the one most small businesses opt for because of its affordability and value.

The “basic” and “advanced” commerce plans are for full-fledged eCommerce sites. Users get benefits like zero transaction fees, eCommerce analytics, merchandise tools, checkouts, etc.

However, more advanced features like custom APIs, advanced shipping, and subscriptions are available in the most expensive plan.

You can get a free trial on all the plans. Also, you don’t need to provide credit card details.

Pros and Cons of Squarespace

The following are the pros and cons of using Squarespace:

Pros of Squarespace

• It has full CSS and Java integration.
• The themes are sophisticated and optimized for mobile and tablet devices.
• There is ample support for blog sites.
• Unlimited bandwidth is available on all plans.

Cons of Squarespace

• The user experience on the editor still beckons for improvement.
• The new update makes it impossible to switch between templates.

7. WordPress.com

There was a time when bloggers were all over WordPress.com because of the innovations it carried. The platform has been active since 2005. Over the years, it has grown to offer one of the best search engine optimization services.

WordPress provides content delivery networks to ensure you have faster load times. You will have an organized webpage thanks to its jet-packed XML sitemaps. Simple features like these make rating it as the best website builder an easy decision.

This platform claims to be the world’s most flexible website builder, and that is not far from the truth. It offers multiple plugins and Google app integrations to maximize your web pages. You can play with them to find out which works best for you.

One good thing about WordPress is that it tailors its services to different requirements. Bloggers will find exclusive features to optimize their blogs, while designers will find more than enough for their designs. Regardless of your preference, the sections are capable.

The plugins set WordPress apart from other no-code platforms. It can easily pass off as a premium web editor, and we will have no worries. That is how good the service is for creators and businesses.

You will find little additions like a business name generator, a logo maker, and developer resources. There are website-building tips and forums to sharpen your skills and improve your sites. Most importantly, the pricing is favourable and pocket-friendly.

WordPress Features

Unlimited plugins are one of the highlights of WordPress. You can find a plugin for anything, ranging from SEO tools to analytics. Popular on the site are Yoast, Monster Insights, and Woo.

WordPress has support for multiple languages. Hence, you never have to worry about accessibility from any region of the world.

This platform’s functionality revolves around Jetpack. It is the only toolkit you will need to design, market, and secure your websites. That is because it extends to performance monitoring, SEO, social sharing, and other helpful tools.

The features of WordPress include the following:

• Google Analytics
• Google Workspace Integration
• Text editor
• Custom domains
• Custom plugins

This platform spreads its features across three categories: themes, plugins, and Google apps. They are all available to you for extensive customizations. You can even use the Polylang plugin to make your web pages available in multiple languages.

WordPress Themes

WordPress’s scalability has made many ask: Is WordPress the best website builder? The answer might just be “yes” if you want a scalable blog. Its themes number above 100, with different designs and approaches for unique applications.

Although WordPress tends to gravitate toward bloggers more, it can handle advanced websites. You will find designs with different colours and font packs to craft your perfect web pages. Blogs, professional services, businesses, and eCommerce platforms are all covered by this no-code service.

While the predesigned themes will give you a head start, you can still use the blank canvas to design yours from scratch.

Regardless of your choice, you will have over 50,000 plugins to increase the functionality of your pages. This versatility makes WordPress formidable as the best website builder.

Note that WordPress.com is different from WordPress.org. For this article, our focus is on WordPress.com and its features.

WordPress Pricing

Although WordPress’s plans are affordable, many people may feel let down by their capabilities. The cheapest is the Personal plan, which costs $4 monthly for an annual payment. If you want to pay monthly, the cost increases to more than twice that, at $9.

The subsequent subscription is the premium plan, with more advanced features. You can use premium themes, video uploads, and Google Analytics integration. It still misses out on crucial things like the plugins, but it should move your web pages off their feet.

The business and eCommerce plans add more functionalities to your web pages. You will have access to 50,000 WordPress plugins, Jetpack backup, advanced SEO tools, integration with top shipping carriers, etc. Nevertheless, the eCommerce plan is the most expensive of the bunch.

The VIP plan is the best solution if you have a large global business. The plan includes CDN, hourly backups, DDoS protection, automated code scanning, and multisite availability. However, the cost starts at $25,000 per year.

Pros and Cons of WordPress

The following are the pros and cons of using WordPress.com:

Pros of WordPress

• WordPress.com has a free plan for beginners.
• The no-code platform has 50,000 plugins.
• The most affordable subscription offers a free domain for one year.
• It is ideal for bloggers
• There are no ads across all payment plans

Cons of WordPress

• You need the business plan to access the 50,000 plugins.
• Paying per month removes the free domain hosting for one year.
• SEO can be challenging for those without experience.

8. IONOS By 1&1

This no-code platform has so much going for it that you might pick it as the best website builder. With its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can hop on it and try the features yourself. If you find the platform wanting, you can always get your money back.

IONOS by 1&1 has a simple, three-step process for all creators. It begins when you pick a design from its buffet of world-class themes. Then, add the content, text, or videos, and publish your site.

Professionals can complete this process in as little as a few hours. However, beginners will take a while to learn all the features and functionalities available. The platform has both simple and complex integrations to create web pages.

IONOS by 1&1 is a domain and hosting platform and a website builder. The templates are adaptable to give room for brand colours and design themes. Also, you will get the full backing of its search engine optimization to boost your website’s performance.

IONOS by 1&1 promises webpages with high visibility and fast load times. It adds previews on multiple devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Hence, you can always tweak your pages and make them responsive on all devices.

The no-code platform has a dedicated service if you want an online store. It makes things easier by moving these industry-specific designs to a separate section instead of mixing them in the general category. That adds specialization to the entire design process.

E-commerce site designers will also find dedicated tools to facilitate faster and quicker designs. Indeed, IONOS by 1&1’s segmentation makes it formidable as the best website builder.

IONOS Features

IONOS by 1&1 adds many helpful features to boost creativity and functionality. The general business website design section, the online store, and eCommerce have dedicated functions. Hence, designing becomes more specialized and fun.

The dedicated personal consultant is the most significant feature of this no-code platform. This aids in forming a working relationship and accumulating information. Challenges get resolved faster because of the established pattern.

Other crucial features you will find helpful include the following:

• Professional email support
• Free domain and free SSL certificate
• Responsive design
• Built-in analytics tool
• Built-in privacy tool
• Website checker
• SEO checker

These are the general features you will get with IONOS by 1&1. Go to the eCommerce section and find others like privacy templates, professional copywriting, payment, and shipping. These factors make this no-code platform a formidable contender for the best website builder.

There are many more features on the platform if you take the time to explore them. Most importantly, they are user-friendly. Understanding them will not take a bite off your plate.

IONOS Themes

IONOS by 1&1 lags behind other contenders on this list in terms of themes. It features fewer design templates, but it manages to cover niches like restaurants, real estate, travel, photography, etc.

What this no-code platform does well is it provides previews on multiple devices and screen sizes. That helps streamline the design process with the templates and make the web pages responsive.

The themes or templates are highly customizable to give you the best brand outlook. You can change the colours, font packs, and text and move the icons around. In addition, the interface is intuitive enough for beginners.

The major downside to using IONOS by 1&1 is the number of templates it offers. You will gain little inspiration for a design. Hence, the platform performs on average against the best website builder.

If you want something to start your online journey, IONOS by 1&1 is more than capable. Also, the dedicated online store and eCommerce sections make things easier for that niche.

IONOS Pricing

IONOS by 1&1 has three very affordable plans. They come with a free domain for one year and free professional emails. That makes even the most affordable subscription a good starting point for beginners.

The starter plan costs $1 for the first twelve months and $5 afterward. This price is only for a website with no online store. If you pick the configuration with an online store, the cost changes to $12 per month after the first 12 months at $1.

The plus plan provides more functionalities, like multilingual support, video backgrounds, and animations. You can also edit the HTML and CSS codes if you are good at that. Nevertheless, pricing is $5 per month for the first 12 months and $10 afterward.

Like the starter plan, adding a store increases the subsequent monthly charge. The pro plan brings more content delivery and personalization tools to you. It is also the most expensive, with support for 10,000 products.

You should opt for the Pro plan if you want an eCommerce platform. Apart from that, the Plus plan is almost identical to it. 

Pros and Cons of IONOS

The following are the pros and cons of using IONOS by 1&1:

Pros of IONOS

• Every user gets a personal consultant to attend to complaints.
• All templates are available for desktop, tablet, and mobile preview.
• There is a website checker tool to test presentation, accessibility, security, and speed.
• IONOS by 1&1 offers a free domain and professional email across all plans.

Cons of IONOS

• The platform has a limited number of templates.
• The themes cover only a few niches.
• There is little difference between the plus and pro plans, which makes the added costs questionable.

9. HostGator

You might see HostGator as a website hosting service, but it has an integrated and intelligent builder. Although it ranks lower than the others on this list, it is still a capable platform for your online needs. The tools are robust and tuned to industry standards.

While most no-code platforms, including the best website builder, have drag-and-drop capabilities, HostGator executes its own differently.

With its automated process, it promises users a delivery time within minutes. That is quick, even for non-designers or beginners.

The features on the platform cut across email marketing, an online store, appointments, and support. Most importantly, even the “basic” plan has enough of them. You will only opt for the more expensive subscriptions when you want more functionality.

One good thing about HostGator is its extensive knowledge base, which contains answers to different industry-specific questions.

You will learn everything, from optimization to design tools, emails, and web host manager. In addition, video tutorials will explain the most crucial topics to keep you updated.

Building a website with HostGator is simple. It involves the following steps:

• There is a question section where the AI converts the information about your site into a functional design.
• The next step is to upload your business’s logo or use the onboard maker to create one
• You can pick images from its library to augment the look and feel of your web pages.The next step is customization, which involves fonts, theme colours, navigation buttons, images, etc.
• Once complete, you can launch your web pages with its “web hosting” service.

HostGator is an all-in-one service, from the building to the hosting. That gives it some leverage to compete with the best website builder.

HostGator Features

You will get tons of features to craft your ideal pages. They are extensive and robust for quick deployment in the design process. Nevertheless, you will start with the intelligent builder.

The intelligent designer is the hallmark of HostGator. It adds the automated building process to assist users, especially beginners. However, it is well aware of the importance of allowing interface customizations.

The features on HostGator include the following:

• Image Library
• Search-optimized designs
• Integrated analytics
• Content management
• Lead capture forms
• Order and tax management
• Advanced shipping management

Most of these features are available on all the plans. Most no-code platforms, including the premium editors, leave the advanced functions to the most expensive subscriptions.

HostGator Themes

HostGator chooses a different approach to the building of webpages. Instead of going with the drag-and-drop interface that most no-code platforms use, it adds an automated AI creator.

You cannot get the typical templates and themes you would get from others.

This approach is mainly for those who care little about having complete control over the design process. Although there is customization, it is less extensive than other no-code creators. It is a modern twist, but not without its disadvantages.

The AI designer is good if you don’t expect too much from it. Input the details of your web pages, and the automated designer will create one for you. That will act as a starting point for further customizations.

HostGator’s use of AI for the design process gives it an edge because that is something you often find on the best website builder.

The result is shorter design times, but a closer look reveals that it is not different from providing templates or themes. Maybe a little more fine-tuned, but nothing out of the ordinary.

HostGator Pricing

HostGator has one of the most affordable plans among no-code platforms. You can expect significant features even with the most affordable subscription. That is something we don’t get to see every day, especially with the push to make more money.

The cheapest plan starts at $3.84 per month with features like order and tax management, inventory management, etc. The functions include calendar management, lead capture forms, site statistics, unlimited storage for images, automated email scheduling, etc.

Pick the site plan, and you can send monthly emails, carry out more campaigns, and host up to 10 products. Nevertheless, all transactions come with a 3% charge, and integrated shipping management is “basic.”

The store plan is best suited for online sellers. It offers unlimited product hosting, zero transaction charges, and 1,250 unique monthly emails. And you can activate email notifications with this pricing plan.

Pros and Cons of HostGator

The following are the pros and cons of HostGator

Pros of HostGator

• Fast website design times.
• The features are reasonably priced, and you can get them in almost all the plans.
• Web hosting, domain, and SSL certificates are free.

Cons of HostGator

• There is no way to edit the HTML and CSS codes.
• The site does not have a plan for enterprise subscriptions.
• There are no templates or themes.

Considerations when choosing the best website builder

Technological advances and an expanding web presence have brought several no-code platforms to our fingertips.

The competition in the sector brings out the best features and makes them more affordable. Nevertheless, choosing the most appropriate zero-code editor should not be a random process.

Note that no no-code platform will provide all you need, especially for more demanding hosting. There is a reason why people still contact full-stack developers to build their websites for them.

They often have more integrations because they build from the ground up.

That said, no-code platforms have come a long way since their introduction. They have taken on the burden of seeking out a developer. Businesses can quickly find one and get down to designing.

No-code services put the designing process back into the hands of the webpage owners. While that is good, the interface might be complex for some people.

With that in mind, here are the considerations you should make when picking the best website builder for your business:

• A read-only web page or an interactive one.
• Product sales and customer contact builder.
• Self-managed platform or third-party managed.
• Cost of the features, including plugins.
• The level of customization for the layout and design.
• The need to include forms and newsletters

There are many more considerations, but they depend on the sole purpose of an online presence. A person who wants a blog will have different needs than an eCommerce company.

Hence, the key is to ascertain what you need and gauge your options.

Key features to look out for in the best website builder

Apart from those, you should consider the platform’s core features. They will affect your experience, performance, and the outcome of your web pages. Hence, they are even more crucial before subscribing to any plan.

The following features are crucial in determining how to choose the best website builder:

• The Design Editor: This feature is generally the drag-and-drop interface where you will do all the designs. The buttons and components will be available on one side of the interface. At the same time, you drag them to the canvas or predesigned template.
• Customizations happen in the editor. You need the themes, font packs, and colours to be easily adjustable. Anything below that will give you little control over the final product.
• Storage Capacity for Videos and Pictures: Most no-code platforms offer web hosting services, making it easy to build and deploy web pages. Blogs can get away with having little storage for media, but eCommerce and professional sites cannot. Hence, you must consider how much storage you need and how much is available.
• Plugin capabilities: Plugins make designing your web pages simpler, with more versatility to control their performance. Imagine hosting a site where you cannot monitor the traffic. That will result in a poor outlook and sales if it is an eCommerce platform.
• Pick no-code editors that have the plugins you need. It could be an SEO plugin or an analytics tool for real-time data collection. Determine the core needs of your site and decide what you want.
• Device Compatibility: When designing, keep device compatibility in mind. An editor like HostGator previews your designs on multiple devices for easy feedback before hosting.  

Pick according to your business

The most crucial aspect of selecting the best zero-code service is knowing your business needs. Building an online presence takes great effort and dedication. As a result, it is not something you rush into doing.

No-code services might offer tools for faster designing, but the overall creativity lies in your hands. You can review the templates or previous designs to gain inspiration. That will help you create a layout that resonates most with your brand.

Your business needs determine the tools you need on your site. There is no need for an online store if you are not into retail or wholesale. You will need a registration portal if you provide a subscription service to users.

The tools and buttons are available, but you need to know what your business requires. Doing that will give you an edge, even if you are a beginner. The predesigned templates will shorten the design time.

Payments can quickly add up and become burdensome. Hence, there is a need to save on subscriptions while getting the best services. We refer to APIs, plugins, and other integrations that improve functionality.

Plugins will make your site more robust, but you must know which ones you need. The exciting design process can rob you of clarity. For that, we recommend you try the following:

• Outline the needs of your business on a blank sheet.
• Write out the functions you need for your site. Doing that will narrow the plugins you need.
• Study the designs of similar sites to understand their layout.
• Sketch your proposed layout on a piece of paper.
• Find the best template that represents your design.
• Edit it to suit your taste.
• Add the necessary plugins.

The entire process is straightforward. Always keep your business needs in mind.

Determine your budget

While selecting the best website builder, be mindful of the cost. Prices could easily add up and become burdensome if you don’t lay them out from the start.

You might look at the pricing plans and think that is all you need to get your website up and functional. Often, the monthly subscriptions don’t include the prices for plugins and other third-party integrations you may need along the way.

To guide you, here is a brief breakdown of the total cost:

• Website builder: This is the core cost, which often comes as a monthly subscription. Some providers will allow users to pay for one year or more. Notwithstanding, the more features you want, the more money you must pay.
• Plugins: no-code editors may have in-house plugins, but they don’t often come free of charge. You will pay for them separately from the monthly or annual subscriptions. Hence, the price will quickly increase as you add more plugins to your site.
• Hosting: The most significant players in the zero-code industry may offer free hosting services, but that is rare. You will often pay for web hosting separately, though it is from the same service. And let us remember that web hosting comes with its inherent costs.
• SSL Certification: Almost all the services on this list offer free SSL certificates to subscribers. Your online presence must have this certification to reliability to visitors.
• Content management: Small contents are easier to manage on your own. However, the need for a dedicated manager becomes obvious in large businesses. That makes content management part of the cost of building an online presence.

Picking a website builder over coding

The question on everyone’s mind has been whether the best website builder can replace full-stack development. For starters, that depends on what you want to achieve.

Investing in a no-code platform might be cheaper for small businesses that want to launch an online presence.

These providers can provide the tools for quick online deployment. Hence, it might take minutes to piece your web pages together and host them.

The benefits of using zero-code services over coding include:

• No need for programming or coding skills: You do not have to worry about taking coding lessons to design and host your web pages. Although simple to learn, you will spend considerable time perfecting your skills as a beginner. That makes using a zero-code provider even more appealing.
• Multi-device access: You can pick up your phone and make quick edits or tweaks on your web pages. It could be as simple as editing a text or adding a button to the pages. The mobile apps are just as efficient as the desktop versions.
• Editing a code on your phone is challenging. Even installing Visual Studio on a Chromebook comes with some hassles. Imagine using your phone to edit blocks of code for your web pages.
• Easy Plugin integration: Using web builders gives you access to hundreds of plugins like WordPress.com. Most importantly, their integration into your designs is simple, and you might only need to press one button. Improving the functionalities of your pages becomes easier.
• Quick deployment: The predesigned templates shorten the entire design process. Although you can still start with a blank canvas, you will most likely find a theme that suits your business.

When coding is preferable even with the best website builder

Zero-code providers have come a long way since their inception. They have shown remarkable improvements in the design process and web hosting. Barring all odds, they have become integral to the success of many businesses.

Regardless of advances in zero-code design services, there are limitations. Their capabilities come into question when you demand more than just design and plugin integrations. That is where coding or full-stack development comes into play.

Every website has two sides, the front and the back end. The front end is what we see through the texts, images, videos, animations, buttons, etc.

The back end refers to the functionalities built into your pages. Clicking a button to open another page is a vivid example.

Zero-code services have limitations in how much function you can achieve. You might use a template that does not support drop-down menus when you need them. A simple inadequacy like that can derail your brand’s design.

Coding your web pages has the following advantages:

• Room for endless possibilities: You can customize your website as much as possible because you are building it from the ground up. Every single line of code is customizable. Tweaking the platform becomes highly achievable.
• Multiple integrations: There is no limit to how many functions you can achieve with integrations. You can build functionalities that surpass the capabilities of zero-code providers, provided you have the APIs. Regardless, the only limitations you will have are your skills.

Apart from these benefits, there is always that feeling that the design is yours. You can tailor everything to your needs without breaking the bank by looking for more templates.

Tips to ace your first design

Building a website should not only be on the end-of-year checklist for your business; it should be a priority. It is the best way to benefit from today’s digitally-connected world. You could be where you are and reach clients on the other side of the globe.

You should know certain things if you want to use a zero-code service for your first design. Knowing them will help you create the most impactful layouts for your brand. Moreover, the aim is to leave a digital mark on the customers or clients.

The following tips will help you ace your first design:

• Multi-device compatibility: When designing, it is crucial to ensure your pages run smoothly on multiple devices. Desktops have larger screens than mobile phones. Hence, they cannot share the same layout.
• Most zero-code platforms will do the mobile optimization for you. Still, test your pages on multiple platforms before you host your site.
• IONOS by 1&1 can be said to be the best website builder in this regard. It offers previews on many devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. You can easily see how your design looks and interacts with them.
• Use templates: Zero-code platforms shine in the area of offering users predesigned templates. The idea is to reduce the time it takes to design and host web pages. If you are a beginner, using a blank canvas might be intimidating.
• Templates make the design process look and feel simple. You can design multiple pages in minutes.
• Add SSL certificates: An SSL certificate protects your user’s data. Information to and from the site will be encrypted. It also helps to establish trust with your clients and customers.

Best website builder conclusion

It is challenging to find the best website builder with the many options available. These zero-code platforms have several features to help build a site quickly. From the drag-and-drop tools to plugins and integrations, one can easily get lost in them.

Choosing site builders depends on personal preference, features, templates, and pricing. You must consider these things before settling for any zero-code service.

There is no need to ask, “What is the best company to build a website?” Instead, look for the one that offers the most features for your site.

Always watch out for the subscriptions, as they can quickly add up. The best approach is to determine how many of them you need before designing. That will help you to stay within the confines of your business needs.

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