You may need a website for various reasons. Actually, that’s not a wonder today as having a trusted web presence helps solve multiple issues. Whether it’s for a business, a personal blog, a portfolio or an online store, a full-featured website will let you complete your goals.

There are numerous ways to set up an online project yet the most popular and convenient for a custom user is a website builder. The right web design software can make this process smooth and efficient, offering a variety of tools and features to suit specific needs.

With numerous options available, choosing the best website builder can seem complicated. This article is to help everyone select the right system to get started with a personal or a business website.

 

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Website Builder for Your Site

Website builders differ with regard to their implication, specialization, functionality, toolset, pricing and other parameters. When you just start thinking about setting up a new site and picking the software to do this, you should carefully analyze each of these factors to make an unbiased decision.

 

Ease of Use

The right website builder should come with an intuitive interface that simplifies the web design process. Look for systems that offer drag-and-drop functionality, letting you easily place elements exactly where you want them without the need for coding. This feature is especially valuable for beginners and those who want to get their site up and running quickly with minimal technical hassle.

 

Design Flexibility

Your chosen website builder should offer a broad selection of templates and themes that can be easily customized to reflect your brand’s personality and needs. Opportunity to adjust layouts, change color schemes and modify design elements without impacting the usability of your site is crucial. Additionally, responsive design options are essential to ensure your site looks great and functions well on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.

 

eCommerce

This is essential for those willing to launch and run online stores. A full-featured website should come with an integrated eCommerce engine that makes it possible to set up, manage and customize small-to-large web stores. It should also include tools for managing inventory, processing payments and handling secure transactions. Availability of eCommerce designs is also preferable.

 

Pricing

Website builders typically offer a range of pricing tiers, which may include a free version with basic functionalities and several paid options that provide more features. Evaluate the pricing relative to the included features in each tier to determine the best value for your budget. It’s important to consider ongoing costs such as domain registration and renewal, SSL certificates and any additional charges for plugins or third-party services.

 

Support

The level of customer support provided can make a significant difference, especially when you encounter issues or have questions. Verify that the website builder offers comprehensive support through multiple channels, including guides and tutorials, forums, direct contact methods etc.

These are only the baseline factors that will help you choose a website builder that not only meets your current needs but also supports the growth and success of your site in the future.

 

Top 3 Website Builders

Based on the factors listed above, we have analyzed and reviewed several websets builders to offer those that work best for this every purpose. These are Wix, Squarespace and WordPress. Let’s discuss each of them in details now.
 

Wix

Wix – is one of the most popular website builders known for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and extensive range of features that cater to both beginners and experienced users. The system can be used to set up almost any type of website, be it a blog, a landing page, a web store, a portfolio etc. It combines advanced features with affordable pricing suitable to various budgets and requirements. What’s important, the software does not require coding skills, being a worthy pick for everyone. Its major features are as follows:

• Drag-and-Drop Editor: Allows easy customization of websites with no coding required;
• AI Support (Wix ADI tool): Makes it possible to automatically create a website and add content based on the submitted information;
• Extensive Template Collection: Over 800 designer-made templates that are fully customizable, responsive and free;
• Advanced Features: Includes eCommerce tools, SEO Wiz tool, social media integrations, Ascend platform etc.;
• App Market: Offers a wide range of third-party applications to enhance website functionality;
• Blogging/eCommerce: Lets you setup and manage blogs and web stores due to the built-in blogging/eCommerce engines.

Cost: Wix boasts powerful functionality and cost flexibility. It has a free plan that lets you test and use the system for the required time interval. For those willing to get access to advanced features, the website builder allows choosing between two types of premium subscriptions (based on the project you intend to set up): Website or Business/eCommerce. Each package includes more detailed plans. The cost of Website subscriptions starts at $22/mo, while that of Business plans starts at $27/mo. Discounts and bonuses are offered as well.
 

Squarespace

Squarespace – is the all-in-one SaaS website builder known for its sophisticated design capabilities and powerful built-in features that make it a favorite among creatives and small business owners. The software grants access to features and tools helping facilitate all the stages of the website creation process – from the moment you sign up for an account and up to the moment you publish a ready-made website. Note that no coding skills are needed to work with Squarespace. The major software highlights include:

• Stunning Design Templates: A collection of stylish and responsive designs divided into niche categories;
• Built-in Tools: Comprehensive set of tools including analytics, SEO options and extensive eCommerce features;
• Multilingual Tool: Multilingual support that allows for personal/business website creation in different languages;
• Marketing Capabilities: Integrated email campaigns, social media tools, and blogging platforms;
• Blogging/eCommerce: Availability of built-in blogging/eCommerce engines to set up, manage and customize blogs and web stores;
• Advanced Image Editing Options: Access to versatile image editing tools to customize your project images as required (Image Editor, Cover Page Builder, Logo Maker, Page Editor etc.);
• Integrations: Built-in integrations that help you get the most out of your project performance (Acuity Scheduling Platform, Unfold App, Google maps, online calendar etc.).

Cost: Squarespace offers moderate pricing. Instead of a free plan, you will get a 14-day free trial. Upon its end, you will have to upgrade for one of 4 premium subscriptions. Their cost starts at $16 per month. You can save big, when getting an annual plan and making a one-time payment.
 

WordPress

WordPress – is a powerful and flexible CMS known for its vast plugin ecosystem and the ability to create highly customized websites. Actually, this is by far the most trusted and well-known Content Management System in the world. Offering hundreds of plugins and templates (free and paid), high end design customization tools and advanced functionality, WordPress makes it possible to launch even complicated projects. Just mind that you won’t go without baseline web design expertise here. The advantages of the system include:

• Open-Source Software: Free to download, with complete control over every aspect of your website.
• Extensive Plugins: Hundreds of plugins (free and premium) available online and in the software directory to add specific functionalities;
• Hosting Choice: Opportunity to select and connect the required hosting;
• Theme Variety: Thousands of templates (free and paid) available that cater to virtually any design requirement.
• Community Support: Large community of users and developers that offer support and resources yet no official customer support available.

Cost: WordPress is absolutely free to download and install. However, you should be ready to connect external plugins and get templates at extra cost. These are trusted and safe extensions and add-ons that won’t pose a threat to your project security. Additionally, you will have to invest in hosting. There are multiple hosts out there yet the most popular and officially recommended for WordPress sites is Bluehost. The cost of its plans starts at $2.95 per month only.

 

Conclusion

Choosing the best website builder depends largely on your specific needs, technical proficiency, project type and budget. Wix is ideal for users looking for an all-in-one solution with ease of use and great design flexibility. Squarespace offers more sophisticated design options making it perfect for creatives and small businesses that prioritize aesthetics. WordPress, while requiring a bit more technical know-how, offers unparalleled customization and control, ideal for those who need a complex, highly specific site. Assess your needs, consider these options and you’ll be well on your way to building a great website that serves your purpose.