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Best Website Builders
ARTICLE #53
Top 10 best website builders in 2024 with key features
Website Builders
Website Design
Web Development
Web Design Tools
Best Website Builders
Website Builders
Website Design
Web Development
Web Design Tools
Best Website Builders
Written by:
6 min read
Updated on: July 11, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Building a website doesn’t have to involve coding marathons or pricey experts. In 2024, there’s a solid line-up of platforms that help you create something professional and user-friendly, whether you’re a creative with an eye for design, an ecommerce enthusiast, or simply looking to launch a personal site.
Below are our top ten website builders, handpicked for affordability, style, and overall usefulness. Each one is suitable for beginners yet flexible enough to grow alongside your business. Ready to find your favourite?
Building a website doesn’t have to involve coding marathons or pricey experts. In 2024, there’s a solid line-up of platforms that help you create something professional and user-friendly, whether you’re a creative with an eye for design, an ecommerce enthusiast, or simply looking to launch a personal site.
Below are our top ten website builders, handpicked for affordability, style, and overall usefulness. Each one is suitable for beginners yet flexible enough to grow alongside your business. Ready to find your favourite?
1. Wix
1. Wix
Wix holds onto its reputation in 2024 by serving everyone from solo bloggers to established organisations. A free plan exists, although adverts will appear on your site unless you go premium. The real draw is over 500 templates plus a drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to set up anything from a personal blog to a full-scale business page.
Be aware that once you’ve chosen and published a template, switching to a new one means re-starting your setup. Still, the built-in SEO tools are a strong incentive to stick with Wix.
Key Features
App integrations: Wix’s app marketplace includes numerous add-ons to expand site functionality (no coding needed).
Various templates: Choose from hundreds of layouts for photography, music, events, restaurants, and more.
SEO optimisation: Grow your online presence with Wix’s search engine features, plus options for online selling and bookings.
Wix holds onto its reputation in 2024 by serving everyone from solo bloggers to established organisations. A free plan exists, although adverts will appear on your site unless you go premium. The real draw is over 500 templates plus a drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to set up anything from a personal blog to a full-scale business page.
Be aware that once you’ve chosen and published a template, switching to a new one means re-starting your setup. Still, the built-in SEO tools are a strong incentive to stick with Wix.
Key Features
App integrations: Wix’s app marketplace includes numerous add-ons to expand site functionality (no coding needed).
Various templates: Choose from hundreds of layouts for photography, music, events, restaurants, and more.
SEO optimisation: Grow your online presence with Wix’s search engine features, plus options for online selling and bookings.
2. Hostinger Website Builder
Hostinger Website Builder is all about speed and simplicity. Its drag-and-drop approach gets you online fast, and the starter price of $2.99 per month makes it one of the cheapest options out there. If you want extra oomph, the platform offers AI Builder, AI Heatmap, AI Logo Maker, and AI Writer to streamline your content creation.
Meanwhile, Hostinger’s hosting features include a free domain name, SSL certificate, email, Cloudflare-protected nameservers, and support available round the clock. That’s a comforting safety net if you’re new to website building.
Key Features
AI Heatmap: Highlights areas that capture the most visitor attention, which is excellent for fine-tuning your layout.
AI Writer: Automatically generates text for your site, so you won’t spend hours wrestling with copy.
Hostinger Website Builder is all about speed and simplicity. Its drag-and-drop approach gets you online fast, and the starter price of $2.99 per month makes it one of the cheapest options out there. If you want extra oomph, the platform offers AI Builder, AI Heatmap, AI Logo Maker, and AI Writer to streamline your content creation.
Meanwhile, Hostinger’s hosting features include a free domain name, SSL certificate, email, Cloudflare-protected nameservers, and support available round the clock. That’s a comforting safety net if you’re new to website building.
Key Features
AI Heatmap: Highlights areas that capture the most visitor attention, which is excellent for fine-tuning your layout.
AI Writer: Automatically generates text for your site, so you won’t spend hours wrestling with copy.
3. Shopify
Shopify is a heavyweight in ecommerce, giving online retailers a straightforward way to set up shop and start selling. The drag-and-drop editor is beginner-friendly, and you can customise your store using pre-designed templates or dive into third-party apps like Gempages for even more creative control.
The free plan includes 11 ecommerce templates, although advanced plans can get pricey. Shopify provides a 3-day free trial for you to test the platform. Perks include round-the-clock support and a large community of consultants if you need more detailed help.
One major advantage is Shopify’s huge range of payment methods and advanced sales tools—like multichannel integration, so you can connect your store to TikTok, and abandoned cart recovery, which encourages shoppers to complete their purchases.
Key Features
Payment gateways: Over 100 payment options, so you can accept transactions from customers worldwide.
Order management: Keep track of shipping, refunds, and updates in one place.
Marketing: Integrate email campaigns, discount codes, and social media directly from the Shopify dashboard.
Shopify is a heavyweight in ecommerce, giving online retailers a straightforward way to set up shop and start selling. The drag-and-drop editor is beginner-friendly, and you can customise your store using pre-designed templates or dive into third-party apps like Gempages for even more creative control.
The free plan includes 11 ecommerce templates, although advanced plans can get pricey. Shopify provides a 3-day free trial for you to test the platform. Perks include round-the-clock support and a large community of consultants if you need more detailed help.
One major advantage is Shopify’s huge range of payment methods and advanced sales tools—like multichannel integration, so you can connect your store to TikTok, and abandoned cart recovery, which encourages shoppers to complete their purchases.
Key Features
Payment gateways: Over 100 payment options, so you can accept transactions from customers worldwide.
Order management: Keep track of shipping, refunds, and updates in one place.
Marketing: Integrate email campaigns, discount codes, and social media directly from the Shopify dashboard.
4. WordPress
WordPress can work for both total beginners and seasoned pros. It uses a drag-and-drop interface for page building and gives you access to thousands of plugins. Some plugins boost website functionality (e.g., contact forms and social sharing buttons), while others help you track performance.
As an open-source platform, WordPress has a huge global community behind it. It’s well-known for powering everything from personal blogs to large-scale apps. If you’re itching to customise your site extensively, WordPress lets you do that, and there’s always a plugin to solve just about any problem.
Key Features
Community support: Massive forums and community channels to guide you through any issues.
Website design service: If you’re short on time or patience, there are paid professional design services available.
WordPress can work for both total beginners and seasoned pros. It uses a drag-and-drop interface for page building and gives you access to thousands of plugins. Some plugins boost website functionality (e.g., contact forms and social sharing buttons), while others help you track performance.
As an open-source platform, WordPress has a huge global community behind it. It’s well-known for powering everything from personal blogs to large-scale apps. If you’re itching to customise your site extensively, WordPress lets you do that, and there’s always a plugin to solve just about any problem.
Key Features
Community support: Massive forums and community channels to guide you through any issues.
Website design service: If you’re short on time or patience, there are paid professional design services available.
5. Squarespace
Squarespace is famed for modern, polished templates that suit businesses, portfolios, and online stores. Because it’s an all-in-one platform, you’ll find ecommerce add-ons such as a shopping cart, inventory management, and automatic tax calculations—all in one place. This means you can start selling without juggling multiple tools.
Key Features
Member-only areas: Monetise your site with subscription-only content, including newsletters or video guides.
Professional services: For an added fee, you can hire experts to refine any site you build using Squarespace’s editor.
Squarespace is famed for modern, polished templates that suit businesses, portfolios, and online stores. Because it’s an all-in-one platform, you’ll find ecommerce add-ons such as a shopping cart, inventory management, and automatic tax calculations—all in one place. This means you can start selling without juggling multiple tools.
Key Features
Member-only areas: Monetise your site with subscription-only content, including newsletters or video guides.
Professional services: For an added fee, you can hire experts to refine any site you build using Squarespace’s editor.
6. Webflow
Webflow stands out for near-limitless customisation. Its add-ons and templates give you the freedom to create advanced design elements, like parallax scrolling or animations, without heavy coding. Although you’ll still need a bit of technical know-how, the drag-and-drop editor is relatively intuitive if you’ve dabbled in website building before.
That said, beginners might feel a little out of their depth. Webflow’s onboarding process asks about your level of experience with CSS or HTML, so you can set up the editor to match your comfort zone. Those who want total creative control—especially designers and developers—often praise Webflow’s flexibility.
Key Features
eCommerce tools: Includes payment options, product management, and more.
Ease of use: Not always straightforward for first-timers, but the tutorials can help ease the learning curve.
SEO tools: Offers everything you need, although the settings might be tricky to spot if SEO is new to you.
Webflow stands out for near-limitless customisation. Its add-ons and templates give you the freedom to create advanced design elements, like parallax scrolling or animations, without heavy coding. Although you’ll still need a bit of technical know-how, the drag-and-drop editor is relatively intuitive if you’ve dabbled in website building before.
That said, beginners might feel a little out of their depth. Webflow’s onboarding process asks about your level of experience with CSS or HTML, so you can set up the editor to match your comfort zone. Those who want total creative control—especially designers and developers—often praise Webflow’s flexibility.
Key Features
eCommerce tools: Includes payment options, product management, and more.
Ease of use: Not always straightforward for first-timers, but the tutorials can help ease the learning curve.
SEO tools: Offers everything you need, although the settings might be tricky to spot if SEO is new to you.
7. Dorik
Dorik can build an entire website or just a single page for free. Upgrading to a paid plan unlocks blogging features and membership options. It’s reminiscent of WordPress page builders in terms of flexibility, though beginners might need to poke around the documentation for clarity at first.
You can start from scratch, import JSON, try the AI builder, or choose from 80+ website templates. The AI builder only needs your site’s name and a basic description of what you want. If you’re not happy with the first layout it generates, you can refresh individual blocks or rework the entire design with different colours. Dorik even supports AI-based image creation.
SEO settings are clear and simple to configure. You can adjust titles, descriptions, or advanced meta elements like FAQ schema, plus integrate analytics. Dorik also allows adjustments for desktop, tablet, and mobile screen sizes.
Key Features
Ease of use: The drag-and-drop editor is straightforward, though the abundance of options might feel like a lot initially.
Customisation: Over 39 templates, 250+ UI blocks, and 20+ elements give you unlimited design possibilities.
Dorik can build an entire website or just a single page for free. Upgrading to a paid plan unlocks blogging features and membership options. It’s reminiscent of WordPress page builders in terms of flexibility, though beginners might need to poke around the documentation for clarity at first.
You can start from scratch, import JSON, try the AI builder, or choose from 80+ website templates. The AI builder only needs your site’s name and a basic description of what you want. If you’re not happy with the first layout it generates, you can refresh individual blocks or rework the entire design with different colours. Dorik even supports AI-based image creation.
SEO settings are clear and simple to configure. You can adjust titles, descriptions, or advanced meta elements like FAQ schema, plus integrate analytics. Dorik also allows adjustments for desktop, tablet, and mobile screen sizes.
Key Features
Ease of use: The drag-and-drop editor is straightforward, though the abundance of options might feel like a lot initially.
Customisation: Over 39 templates, 250+ UI blocks, and 20+ elements give you unlimited design possibilities.
8. Duda
Duda is relatively new but already impresses with a variety of templates and a drag-and-drop editor. Its unique feature? White-label options—fantastic if you’re building sites for clients and want to place your branding on the platform instead of Duda’s.
You can also set permissions for each team member. For instance, a designer can tweak visuals while staying away from critical settings like domain management or backups. That’s a bonus for agencies hoping to let clients preview drafts without the risk of accidental changes.
Duda doesn’t have a free plan but does provide a 14-day free trial.
Key Features
White label: Agencies can add their own branding and create a unified experience for clients.
Client management: Manage multiple projects from one dashboard, controlling who sees and edits specific features.
Customer support: Offers award winning customer service which is reassuring if you run into any snags.
Duda is relatively new but already impresses with a variety of templates and a drag-and-drop editor. Its unique feature? White-label options—fantastic if you’re building sites for clients and want to place your branding on the platform instead of Duda’s.
You can also set permissions for each team member. For instance, a designer can tweak visuals while staying away from critical settings like domain management or backups. That’s a bonus for agencies hoping to let clients preview drafts without the risk of accidental changes.
Duda doesn’t have a free plan but does provide a 14-day free trial.
Key Features
White label: Agencies can add their own branding and create a unified experience for clients.
Client management: Manage multiple projects from one dashboard, controlling who sees and edits specific features.
Customer support: Offers award winning customer service which is reassuring if you run into any snags.
9. GoDaddy
Anyone aiming for a quick, cost-conscious solution might like GoDaddy. There’s a free plan, plus paid upgrades that stay within a modest budget. The website editor is straightforward and includes AI-powered design features, though the design options aren’t as extensive as some might prefer.
Still, if your primary goal is to put up a decent-looking site in record time, GoDaddy can get you there with minimal fuss.
Key Features
Web design services: If you feel stuck, GoDaddy can build the site for you.
Email marketing: Built-in email marketing allows you to reach out to your subscribers directly from your website dashboard.
Anyone aiming for a quick, cost-conscious solution might like GoDaddy. There’s a free plan, plus paid upgrades that stay within a modest budget. The website editor is straightforward and includes AI-powered design features, though the design options aren’t as extensive as some might prefer.
Still, if your primary goal is to put up a decent-looking site in record time, GoDaddy can get you there with minimal fuss.
Key Features
Web design services: If you feel stuck, GoDaddy can build the site for you.
Email marketing: Built-in email marketing allows you to reach out to your subscribers directly from your website dashboard.
10. Framer
Framer is known for combining design and coding in one tool, letting you create interactive pages and apps with minimal code. It’s also an AI website builder, so you can type in a quick prompt, and Framer will whip up a layout on the spot.
The result is a modern, powerful editor that appeals to those who want a bit more oomph in their design. You can easily add transitions and other interactive elements. Collaboration is simple too—teams can work together in real-time, which is handy if you’ve got multiple stakeholders.
Key Features
Coding editor: You can stick to no-code tools or switch to Creator mode for custom CSS, HTML, or JavaScript.
ADI builder: The AI engine builds your site automatically based on the prompts you provide.
Fast load times: Framer is praised for speedy page performance.
Framer is known for combining design and coding in one tool, letting you create interactive pages and apps with minimal code. It’s also an AI website builder, so you can type in a quick prompt, and Framer will whip up a layout on the spot.
The result is a modern, powerful editor that appeals to those who want a bit more oomph in their design. You can easily add transitions and other interactive elements. Collaboration is simple too—teams can work together in real-time, which is handy if you’ve got multiple stakeholders.
Key Features
Coding editor: You can stick to no-code tools or switch to Creator mode for custom CSS, HTML, or JavaScript.
ADI builder: The AI engine builds your site automatically based on the prompts you provide.
Fast load times: Framer is praised for speedy page performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular website builder?
If you want the easiest website builder, Squarespace is the way to go. The drag-and-drop editor and dashboard are a piece of cake. However, Squarespace still has powerful tools and features to support your website, such as Acuity Scheduling and Squarespace Payments. If you want a more stripped-back and “simple” website builder, GoDaddy and Hostinger keep it super simple and easy to understand.
How does a website builder work?
Website builders are platforms to build and customise websites without needing to code. You choose a template, add content, and customise the design through a visual interface. The site builder turns those choices into code and hosts the site on their servers. You can update and change through the same interface.
What is the difference between website builder and web hosting?
Web hosting provides a place to store your website, while a website builder gives you the tools to design it. Most website builders also offer hosting services.
Conclusion
There’s a wide range of user-friendly website builders these days, each with strengths and potential drawbacks. Your best match depends on factors like user experience, budget, design freedom, ecommerce functionality, and SEO performance. We’ve pored over many of the top contenders and narrowed them down to these ten—an assortment that suits different goals and skill levels.
Whether you’re after a quick, budget-friendly solution like GoDaddy or a more advanced design platform such as Webflow, there’s a perfect fit waiting in this lineup. If you’re game to experiment with AI features, Hostinger Website Builder, Dorik, or Framer can give your process a big push. Meanwhile, Shopify remains the go-to choice for serious ecommerce ventures, with Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, and Duda holding their own for broader needs.
No matter which route you choose, the main thing is to get your website out there, keep refining it, and watch your online presence grow as your business does the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular website builder?
If you want the easiest website builder, Squarespace is the way to go. The drag-and-drop editor and dashboard are a piece of cake. However, Squarespace still has powerful tools and features to support your website, such as Acuity Scheduling and Squarespace Payments. If you want a more stripped-back and “simple” website builder, GoDaddy and Hostinger keep it super simple and easy to understand.
How does a website builder work?
Website builders are platforms to build and customise websites without needing to code. You choose a template, add content, and customise the design through a visual interface. The site builder turns those choices into code and hosts the site on their servers. You can update and change through the same interface.
What is the difference between website builder and web hosting?
Web hosting provides a place to store your website, while a website builder gives you the tools to design it. Most website builders also offer hosting services.
Conclusion
There’s a wide range of user-friendly website builders these days, each with strengths and potential drawbacks. Your best match depends on factors like user experience, budget, design freedom, ecommerce functionality, and SEO performance. We’ve pored over many of the top contenders and narrowed them down to these ten—an assortment that suits different goals and skill levels.
Whether you’re after a quick, budget-friendly solution like GoDaddy or a more advanced design platform such as Webflow, there’s a perfect fit waiting in this lineup. If you’re game to experiment with AI features, Hostinger Website Builder, Dorik, or Framer can give your process a big push. Meanwhile, Shopify remains the go-to choice for serious ecommerce ventures, with Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, and Duda holding their own for broader needs.
No matter which route you choose, the main thing is to get your website out there, keep refining it, and watch your online presence grow as your business does the same.
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