Having an online presence is crucial for small businesses, and choosing the right website builder can determine your success. With so many options, it’s important to find one that fits your budget, technical skills, and business needs. In this article, we review ten of the best website builders, their features, pros, cons, and ideal use cases.

1. Wix

Wix is one of the most popular website builders, offering a drag-and-drop interface that makes website creation easy for beginners. With over 800 customizable templates, small business owners can create unique sites tailored to their industry. The platform includes built-in SEO tools, mobile optimization, and the Wix App Market for third-party integrations.

For business owners looking to sell products, Wix provides a simple yet effective e-commerce solution. However, once you choose a template, you can’t switch without redesigning your site. The free plan includes Wix branding, which may not be suitable for professional businesses. Pricing starts at $16/month for business plans, making it affordable.

Pros:

✔️ Extremely easy to use with no coding required.
✔️ Huge variety of templates and customization options.
✔️ Built-in SEO, marketing, and analytics tools.
✔️ App Market allows for added functionality.

Cons:

❌ Once a template is chosen, it can’t be changed without rebuilding the site.
❌ Free plan includes Wix branding.

Pricing: Business plans start at $16/month.
Best For: Business owners who want a flexible and easy-to-use website.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace is known for its sleek, modern templates that are perfect for small businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs. It’s an all-in-one platform that includes website hosting, domain registration, built-in SEO tools, and integrated e-commerce functionality.

Unlike some other builders, Squarespace’s templates are highly polished, making them ideal for image-heavy businesses like photography, design, or boutique stores. The platform’s learning curve is slightly steeper, but once mastered, it offers plenty of creative freedom. Pricing starts at $16/month, with advanced e-commerce features available on higher-tier plans.

Pros:

✔️ Modern and stylish templates perfect for branding.
✔️ All-in-one solution (hosting, domain, SSL).
✔️ Strong built-in SEO and analytics tools.
✔️ Integrated e-commerce features.

Cons:

❌ Fewer third-party integrations compared to Wix.
❌ Slightly higher learning curve for beginners.

Pricing: Starts at $16/month, with business plans at $23/month.
Best For: Creative businesses needing a well-designed and professional website.

3. Shopify

For small businesses focused on e-commerce, Shopify is a leading platform that provides a full suite of online selling tools. It supports multi-channel selling, allowing businesses to list products on their websites, social media, and marketplaces like Amazon.

Shopify offers advanced features like abandoned cart recovery, inventory management, and built-in payment gateways. However, it has a higher cost compared to basic website builders, starting at $39/month. Customization options are available, but deeper changes require coding skills. Despite the cost, its robust e-commerce tools make it a strong choice for product-based businesses.

Pros:

✔️ Best platform for selling products online.
✔️ Supports multiple sales channels (Facebook, Amazon, Instagram).
✔️ 24/7 customer support and strong security features.
✔️ No coding required, but advanced customization is available.

Cons:

❌ Monthly costs can add up, especially with extra apps.
❌ Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments.

Pricing: Starts at $39/month.
Best For: Small businesses looking to sell products online with growth potential.

4. Weebly

Weebly is a simple yet effective website builder that caters to small businesses and startups looking for an affordable solution. Owned by Square, it integrates seamlessly with Square’s payment processing, making it great for small retail stores.

The platform includes a drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive designs, built-in SEO tools, and e-commerce functionality. While Weebly is very beginner-friendly, it lacks some of the advanced design flexibility seen in other platforms. The free plan includes Weebly branding, and paid plans start at just $10/month, making it one of the most budget-friendly options.

Pros:

✔️ Very easy to use with a drag-and-drop editor.
✔️ Budget-friendly, with a free plan available.
✔️ Decent e-commerce options through Square.
✔️ Good built-in SEO features.

Cons:

❌ Limited customization compared to Wix and Squarespace.
❌ Templates can feel outdated.

Pricing: Paid plans start at $10/month.
Best For: Startups and small businesses needing an affordable, simple website.

5. WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a hosted version of the popular WordPress platform, offering a balance of ease-of-use and scalability. It provides a variety of themes, built-in blogging tools, and strong SEO capabilities. Businesses can start with a simple website and gradually scale up with plugins and custom development.

WordPress.com differs from WordPress.org, as it handles hosting and technical aspects for you. However, customization is somewhat limited compared to its self-hosted counterpart. Plans start at $4/month, with higher-priced plans allowing plugin installations and custom domains.

Pros:

✔️ Thousands of themes and plugins for customization.
✔️ Strong SEO and blogging capabilities.
✔️ Scalable for growing businesses.
✔️ Hosting and security managed for you.

Cons:

❌ Limited customization unless on higher-tier plans.
❌ Not as intuitive as Wix for beginners.

Pricing: Starts at $4/month, business plans at $25/month.
Best For: Businesses wanting a content-driven website with long-term scalability.

6. GoDaddy Website Builder

GoDaddy’s website builder is designed for speed and simplicity, using AI to create websites in minutes. Small business owners who don’t have time to manually design a site will find this tool helpful. The builder includes mobile-responsive templates, integrated marketing tools, and appointment scheduling features.

While GoDaddy makes setup incredibly easy, it lacks deep customization options compared to Wix or Squarespace. The pricing starts at $9.99/month, making it affordable for small businesses looking for a hassle-free solution. However, businesses that need advanced features may find it limiting in the long run.

Pros:

✔️ AI-powered design makes setup quick.
✔️ Built-in SEO and marketing tools.
✔️ Simple and beginner-friendly.
✔️ Appointment booking feature for service businesses.

Cons:

❌ Limited customization options.
❌ Not ideal for large or complex websites.

Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month.
Best For: Business owners who want a fast and easy-to-build website.

7. Zyro

Zyro, powered by Hostinger, is a budget-friendly website builder that includes AI-driven features to simplify the website creation process. It offers over 100 templates, an AI content generator, and built-in e-commerce functionality.

Zyro is ideal for small business owners who want to save time while still having a professional-looking site. However, its customization options are not as extensive as Wix or Webflow. Its biggest advantage is affordability, with plans starting as low as $2.99/month.

Pros:

✔️ Very affordable pricing plans.
✔️ AI-powered tools (content writing, logo maker, etc.).
✔️ Fast-loading websites.
✔️ Simple drag-and-drop functionality.

Cons:

❌ Fewer integrations than competitors.
❌ Not as flexible for advanced users.

Pricing: Starts at $2.99/month.
Best For: Entrepreneurs needing a budget-friendly website with AI features.

8. Webflow

Webflow is a designer-centric website builder that gives users full control over their site’s layout and interactions. It allows businesses to create visually stunning websites without coding, though the learning curve is higher than traditional drag-and-drop builders.

The platform includes CMS functionality, SEO tools, and integrations with third-party applications. Webflow is more expensive, starting at $14/month, but it’s one of the most powerful platforms for businesses that need advanced design features.

Pros:

✔️ Allows for full design customization.
✔️ Strong CMS functionality for dynamic content.
✔️ No need for plugins – most features are built-in.
✔️ Excellent for visually unique websites.

Cons:

❌ Steeper learning curve.
❌ More expensive than traditional website builders.

Pricing: Starts at $14/month.
Best For: Designers and businesses wanting advanced customization.

9. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform built for businesses that want to scale. Unlike Shopify, it does not charge transaction fees, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses with high sales volume.

It includes multi-channel selling, advanced SEO tools, and analytics to help businesses optimize their online store. However, it has a steeper learning curve compared to Shopify, making it better suited for growing businesses rather than complete beginners. Pricing starts at $29/month.

Pros:

✔️ No transaction fees, unlike Shopify.
✔️ Supports multi-channel selling (Amazon, social media).
✔️ Built-in SEO tools and analytics.
✔️ Scalable for businesses expecting growth.

Cons:

❌ Higher learning curve than Shopify.
❌ Monthly costs can be expensive for small businesses.

Pricing: Starts at $29/month.
Best For: Small businesses focused on e-commerce and long-term growth.

10. Strikingly

Strikingly is an ultra-simple website builder best suited for one-page websites and landing pages. It includes pre-designed templates, simple e-commerce tools, and built-in blogging features.

Strikingly is ideal for businesses that need a quick online presence without complex functionality. However, its customization options are more limited compared to other builders. The free plan includes basic features, while paid plans start at $8/month.

Pros:

✔️ Quick and easy setup with pre-designed templates.
✔️ Best for single-page sites and portfolios.
✔️ Free plan available.
✔️ Simple blogging and e-commerce options.

Cons:

❌ Not suitable for complex websites.
❌ Limited design flexibility.

Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $8/month.
Best For: Freelancers and businesses needing a single-page website.

Final Recommendations & Comparison

Each website builder has its strengths, and the best choice depends on your business needs. Here’s how they compare:

Website Builder	Best For	Ease of Use	Customization	Pricing	E-commerce Support
Wix	General business websites	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$	Basic store
Squarespace	Design-heavy websites	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	Strong
Shopify	E-commerce	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$$	Excellent
WordPress.com	Blogs & scalability	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	$$	Basic store
Webflow	Advanced design	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	$$$	Advanced

For those who want a simple and flexible website, Wix and Squarespace are excellent choices. If e-commerce is the priority, Shopify and BigCommerce are the best. For customization-heavy websites, Webflow and WordPress.com offer the most control.