Whether you’re in the planning stages of starting your own business, or you’ve been up and running for some time and want to make the switch to a new website, choosing a website builder can seem overwhelming. You want them to be user-friendly, have easy-to-use SEO tools that will help you rank, and fit into your budget. With so many different options in the market, you may be having a hard time choosing–but fret not because we’re breaking down the pros and cons of some of the most popular website builders available.
The Best Website Builders
Wix
Wix has by far won the title of the best website builder for small businesses. One quick search will bring you thousands of blogs ranting and raving about why it’s their top choice. Thanks to its drag and drop feature, it’s extremely easy to use, produces beautiful, aesthetically pleasing websites (it has over 800 templates to choose from), and lets you have free reign on customization.
But, like with anything else, where there are pros, there are also cons. Although its pricing is affordable, it’s not the lowest amidst its competition. So, if you are on a tight budget, it may not be the best option for you.
Related: 8 Ways To Improve Your Small Business Website
Squarespace
If your business involves an online store, you may find that Squarespace is the ideal choice for you. It allows you to take credit card payments, track your customers, and more. And because there are so many different plug-in options, you can also have features such as fabric swatches, inventory tracking, and more. It’s not just for e-commerce, though. With over 100 specially designed templates, it works for almost every business under the sun.
Unlike some other website builders, Squarespace does not offer a free forever plan. So, unfortunately, while you can test out their platform with a free trial, you will eventually have to start paying if it is one that you find best meets your needs. Business plans begin at $18/month but get up to $40/month. It’s also wise to keep in mind that it offers average SEO optimization compared to others.
GoDaddy
If your ultimate goal is to create a website in little to no time, GoDaddy is one of the best choices. In fact, it’s so easy to use that your site can be up and running in less than an hour. Be mindful that its quick set-up is because it has limited customization capabilities. Essentially this means that your site will get the job done but may not be the most well-designed.
And because of these limited capabilities, it’s extremely affordable–with plans starting at $7 a month. This is perfect for anyone with money constraints. And it’s important to remember that although it doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles that other builders have, it’s a great one to start with. You can transfer to a different builder once your business grows if you find that you need it!
Weebly
Although Squarespace is a great option for e-commerce, Weebly may just have it beat. With a free-plan, drag and drop features, and templates that look great on desktop and mobile, it’s a great all-around option for businesses. Although you will pay a little more for a plan that includes e-commerce tools, it’s worth it thanks to its partnership with Square–one of the most popular payment tools.
One of the biggest negatives with Weebly is its limited builder. While the drag and drop feature allows you to rearrange your pages the way you want them, you are stuck with some preset elements that cannot be changed. So, if you’re looking for a completely personalized option, this may not be the one for you.
WordPress
Before we dive into WordPress, it’s important that we clarify the difference between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org. In this breakdown, we will be talking about Wordpress.org–the free blog and website builder. Wordpress.com is a paid website creation software that requires a host.
And although WordPress is a very simple, straightforward-to-use builder, it’s ideal for anyone looking for a more blog-like site. It has thousands of themes and plug-ins to choose from, making it very easy to tailor to your business needs. But with endless options comes the need for design knowledge. If you have the time to learn some design and coding skills, you can make the most out of the builder. And because of its SEO optimization options and customization options, we think it’s definitely worth learning.
Final Thoughts on The Best Website Builders
Running a business is no easy feat, and we’re sure there’s already a lot on your plate. Choosing a website builder shouldn’t take all of your time away from more important tasks. We highly recommend scrolling through each option and comparing them based on affordability, customization capabilities, and features offered. These five options are great starting points, and we have full faith that you’ll choose the one that’s best for your business!
