I still remember the feeling of wanting to build my first website. I wanted full control over the design and the freedom to make changes myself, without needing to hire an expensive developer for every little update.
I also know how overwhelming it is to choose the right website builder. You worry about picking the wrong one, wasting money on a platform you’ll outgrow, or getting stuck with a tool that’s just too complicated.
That’s why I created this guide.
Drawing on years of professional experience, I’ve personally put 13 of the most popular website builders to the test to find the best option for WPBeginner readers. And from that testing, I’ve narrowed it down to my top 5 recommendations.
To help you see the big picture immediately, I’ve started with a high-level comparison table.
After that, we’ll dive into the in-depth, hands-on reviews for each of my top picks.
My Pick for the Best Website Builders
After testing 13 platforms, my top recommendation is WordPress.org for its unmatched flexibility and control. For beginners who want an all-in-one solution, Wix is the best starting point.
Here’s a quick summary of all the website builders I’m going to talk about:
| Builder Name | Best For | Platform Type | Our Rating | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.org | Full control & scalability | Self- Hosted | ★★★★★ (5/5) | $1.99/mo |
| Wix | Beginners needing simplicity | Fully Hosted | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) | $17/mo |
| WooCommerce | Customizable online stores | Self- Hosted | ★★★★☆ (4.8/5) | $2.99/mo |
| Shopify | All-in-one eCommerce | Fully Hosted | ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) | $29/mo |
| Hostinger AI Builder | Fast & affordable AI setup | Fully Hosted | ★★★★☆ (4.2/5) | $2.99/mo |
You can use the quick links below to easily navigate through the article:
- How I Test & Review Website Builders
- WordPress.org – Best for Ultimate Control & Scalability
- Wix – Best for Beginners Who Need Simplicity
- WooCommerce – Best for Powerful, Customizable eCommerce
- Shopify – Best All-in-One Platform for eCommerce
- Hostinger AI Website Builder – Best for Affordable AI-Power
- Other Website Builders I Considered
- Conclusion: Which Is the Best Website Builder?
- Website Builder FAQs
How I Test & Review Website Builders
I’ve seen too many ‘best of’ lists that are just a shallow summary of features.
My goal with this guide was different. I wanted to provide a truly practical review based on my own hands-on testing and years of professional experience building websites.
To do that, I personally signed up for, built test sites with, and evaluated each of the 13 builders on this list. I judged each one against the same eight key criteria that I know are most important for small business owners, bloggers, and store owners.
Here’s what I looked at:
- Ease of Use & Customization: How easy is it for a true beginner to get started, and how much freedom do you really have to make the site look and function the way you want?
- Features & Integrations: What can the platform do out of the box, and how well does it connect with the other essential tools you need to run a business?
- eCommerce Capabilities: How powerful is it for selling online? I looked at payment options, transaction fees, and the types of products you can sell.
- SEO & Marketing Tools: Can it actually help you get found on Google and grow your audience, or will you hit a wall?
- Data Portability & Scalability: This is a big one. Are you locked into the platform forever, or do you own your data? Can it handle your site as your traffic grows?
- Security: Who is responsible for keeping your site safe? I looked at how each platform handles software updates, SSL certificates, and protection against malware.
- Support: When you run into trouble, what kind of help is available, and how good is it?
- Pricing & True Cost: What is the real cost beyond the advertised price? I dug into hidden fees, required upsells, and long-term value.
With these criteria in mind, let’s dive into the in-depth reviews of my top five recommendations.
A Quick Note: WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org
Before we dive in, it’s important to understand that there are two versions of WordPress. WordPress.org, which I recommend here, is the self-hosted platform that gives you 100% control and ownership. WordPress.com is a more limited, hosted service.
To understand all the key differences, see our guide on WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.
1. WordPress.org – Best for Ultimate Control & Scalability
| Pros | ✅ Total design freedom ✅ You own 100% of your data ✅ Huge library of plugins & apps |
| Cons | ❌ Has a learning curve ❌ You manage hosting & updates |
| Price | Starts from $1.99/month |
| Ideal For | Users who want a future-proof site with no limits. |
WordPress.org is the open-source software that powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, including WPBeginner itself. It’s my #1 recommendation because it gives you maximum control, freedom, and flexibility over your website.
Ease of Use & Customization
Unlike fully hosted builders, you will need a domain name and web hosting to use WordPress.org. However, getting started is surprisingly simple, as most hosting companies, like Bluehost, offer a 1-click WordPress installation that does the setup for you.
Once installed, you can start building pages with the block editor.
When I first started creating WordPress websites, I was surprised by how intuitive the editor was. It lets you add and arrange content blocks, which felt a lot like putting together a document and made the whole process much easier to learn.
For total design control, you can install a drag-and-drop page builder like SeedProd, which lets you build a completely custom theme without writing any code.
While there is a slight learning curve, the payoff is having no limitations on what you can create.
For more details, see my guide on how to create a WordPress website.
Features & Integrations
The true power of WordPress lies in its massive ecosystem of plugins. With over 60,000 free plugins available, you can add any feature imaginable to your site.
For example, at WPBeginner, we use WPForms for all our contact forms and surveys, and MonsterInsights to properly install Google Analytics.
This ability to integrate with best-in-class tools is something that proprietary builders can’t match.
eCommerce Capabilities
By installing the free WooCommerce plugin, you can transform your WordPress site into a powerful online store. This allows you to sell physical goods, digital downloads, subscriptions, and more.
Best of all, WooCommerce doesn’t charge you a percentage of your revenue. You only pay the standard transaction fees charged by your chosen payment gateway, like Stripe or PayPal.
If you don’t need a full shopping cart system, there are other great options available, too. For simple payments without a cart, I recommend WP Simple Pay.
And if you only plan to sell digital goods like ebooks or software, then Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent choice. It’s the same plugin we use to sell our own WordPress plugins and software.
SEO & Marketing
WordPress is known for being the most SEO-friendly website builder right out of the box. You can take its capabilities even further with a plugin like All in One SEO, which we use on our own sites to optimize content and rank higher in search results.
You can also easily connect powerful marketing tools like OptinMonster to grow your email list or PushEngage for web push notifications.
In fact, we use OptinMonster on all our websites for lead generation. It’s the main tool we used to grow our email list by 600%, giving us a powerful way to stay in touch with our audience.
Data Portability & Scalability
This is a critical advantage. With WordPress, you have 100% ownership of your content and data. You are never locked into a platform, and you can easily export all your information and move to a new hosting provider whenever you want.
This freedom ensures your website can scale with your business, from a small personal blog to a high-traffic site handling millions of pageviews.
Security
WordPress security is pretty straightforward to manage. Your web hosting provider will handle security at the server level to protect your site. Plus, most good hosts include a free SSL certificate.
On your end, some of the most important steps are keeping your plugins and themes updated (which just takes one click) and using a good security plugin like Cloudflare for extra peace of mind.
For a complete checklist, you can follow our ultimate WordPress security guide.
Support
WordPress offers support through many channels. Your first line of support is your web hosting company, which provides 24/7 help for any platform-related questions.
Plus, because WordPress is so popular, there is a huge community online. You can find answers and free tutorials for nearly any topic on sites like WPBeginner, official forums, and countless blogs.
You can also watch helpful video tutorials on our YouTube Channel and get feedback from fellow WordPress users in our WPBeginner Engage Facebook group.
Pricing & True Cost
The WordPress software itself is 100% free. Your only costs are for a domain name (around $14.99/year) and a web hosting plan (typically starting at $7.99/month).
Fortunately, Bluehost has agreed to offer our readers web hosting for only $2.99 per month. This exclusive deal also includes a free domain name and a free SSL certificate, making it the most affordable way to build a professional website.
With this special pricing, WordPress is one of the cheapest website builders on this list for small businesses.
For more details, see my guide on how to make a website with step-by-step instructions (including a video tutorial).
2. Wix – Best for Beginners Who Need Simplicity
| Pros | ✅ Extremely intuitive website builder ✅ All-in-one platform (no hosting needed) ✅ Hundreds of designer templates |
| Cons | ❌ Cannot change template later ❌ Significant vendor lock-in ❌ App costs can add up |
| Price | Free plan available; paid plans start at $17/mo |
| Ideal For | Absolute beginners and small businesses. |
Wix is a fully hosted, all-in-one website builder that has become incredibly popular for its ease of use. It’s designed to get you online as quickly as possible, without worrying about the technical side of things.
Ease of Use & Customization
User-friendliness is where Wix truly shines. Its drag-and-drop editor is incredibly intuitive. When I built my test site, I was able to create a professional-looking ‘About Us’ page in under 10 minutes.
I could drag elements exactly where I wanted them without getting stuck, which I know is a huge relief for anyone who’s new to building websites.
Features & Integrations
Wix comes with a solid set of built-in features for things like contact forms, photo galleries, and basic bookings. You can add more functionality through the Wix App Market, which offers tools for everything from social media feeds to restaurant menus.
While the App Market is good, the selection is much smaller and more controlled compared to the WordPress plugin library. This means you have fewer choices and less flexibility if you need a very specific tool.
eCommerce Capabilities
Wix offers capable, built-in eCommerce features on their higher-tier plans. You can accept payments, manage inventory, and handle shipping all within the Wix dashboard.
It’s a great, simplified solution for small to medium-sized online stores. However, in my opinion, this simplicity comes with major trade-offs.
Compared to a more powerful platform like WooCommerce, you have far less design flexibility and fewer options for adding advanced features to grow your sales.
SEO & Marketing
Wix provides a guided SEO setup checklist to help you optimize your site for search engines. This is very helpful for beginners who are new to SEO.
However, it lacks the advanced control and powerful automation that a dedicated WordPress plugin like All in One SEO can offer.
Data Portability & Scalability
In my opinion, this is Wix’s most significant drawback. It is extremely difficult to export your content and move your website away from Wix.
You are essentially renting your website, not owning it.
This creates a high level of vendor lock-in, which simply means it’s very difficult to move your site to another service later on. This can be a serious problem as your business grows and your needs change.
Security
As a fully hosted platform, Wix handles all security for you. Their dedicated security team manages server maintenance, software updates, and protection against threats. Every Wix site also comes with a free SSL certificate, ensuring the connection is encrypted.
This is a huge plus for beginners because it means you don’t have to worry about the technical side of keeping your site safe.
The trade-off is that you can’t install your own security software or have deep control, but for most users, the hands-off approach is a major benefit.
Support
Wix offers good customer support through a detailed knowledge base and a scheduled callback system.
For users who want the peace of mind of having a dedicated support team to call on, this is a definite advantage over the community-based support of WordPress.
Pricing & True Cost
Wix offers a free plan, but it places Wix-branded ads on your site and doesn’t allow you to use a custom domain name.
To remove the ads and look professional, you need to upgrade to a paid plan, which starts at $17 per month. And to access their eCommerce features, you’ll need one of their business plans.
If you are interested in how it stacks up against WordPress, then see my comparison of Wix vs. WordPress.
3. WooCommerce – Best for Powerful, Customizable eCommerce
| Pros | ✅ No platform transaction fees ✅ Fully customizable store design ✅ Huge library of extensions |
| Cons | ❌ Steeper learning curve than Shopify ❌ You are responsible for security & hosting |
| Price | Free plugin (hosting from $2.99/mo) |
| Ideal For | Store owners who want maximum control & flexibility. |
It’s important to understand that WooCommerce isn’t a standalone website builder. It’s a free, open-source eCommerce plugin built specifically for WordPress. It essentially transforms your WordPress site into a powerful and fully customizable online store.
Ease of Use & Customization
Because WooCommerce runs on WordPress, it does have a bit of a learning curve. I’ll admit, the first time I decided to build an online store, I was a little intimidated.
However, the helpful setup wizard made a huge difference, walking me step-by-step through configuring payments, shipping, and other basic store settings.
The real benefit for me became clear when it came to design. Unlike other platforms where you’re stuck with a template’s limitations, with WooCommerce, you have complete freedom.
Your store’s appearance is controlled by our WordPress theme, and you can use a page builder to create completely custom product templates and shop pages.
Features & Integrations
This is WooCommerce’s greatest strength. The platform is built to be extended, allowing you to add almost any feature you can imagine with free and premium WooCommerce extensions and plugins.
Here are just a few examples of powerful tools you can add to grow your sales:
- Create advanced coupons and discounts. To move beyond basic coupon codes, I use the Advanced Coupons plugin to set up Buy One, Get One (BOGO) deals and other smart promotions.
- Build high-converting sales funnels. For creating custom checkout pages, order bumps, and one-click upsells, my go-to tool is FunnelKit.
- Design custom store pages. If you want to build completely custom WooCommerce product pages or shop layouts without code, a theme builder like SeedProd is the perfect solution.
- Launch your own affiliate program. You can get other people to promote your products by setting up a referral program with a plugin like AffiliateWP.
- Increase trust with social proof. To show real-time notifications of recent sales and activity on your site, I recommend using a tool like TrustPulse.
This ability to install these powerful tools for any need is what will allow you to design and grow your online store.
eCommerce Capabilities
WooCommerce lets you sell anything online. Whether you have physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, or appointment bookings, you can do it with WooCommerce.
It supports all major payment gateways, and most importantly, it does not charge you any transaction fees on top of what your payment processor charges. This can save you a significant amount of money compared to other platforms.
WooCommerce also comes with powerful built-in tools for managing your store. I especially find the detailed inventory management and automatic tax calculation features helpful.
Plus, you can set up very flexible shipping rules, which is important for businesses that sell to different regions.
SEO & Marketing
By running on WordPress, WooCommerce inherits the best SEO foundation of any platform.
You can use a powerful plugin like All in One SEO, which includes specific features to optimize your product pages, product categories, and images for higher search rankings.
For more details, see our complete guide to WooCommerce SEO.
Data Portability & Scalability
Just like WordPress, WooCommerce gives you 100% ownership and control over your store’s data. You are never locked in and can move your store to a new host at any time.
It’s an incredibly scalable platform that can grow with you, from your first sale to becoming a multi-million dollar brand.
Security
Because WooCommerce runs on WordPress, you are in full control of your store’s security. This means you are responsible for keeping your software updated and protected.
Your first line of defense is a high-quality hosting provider like SiteGround, which manages security at the server level.
On top of that, you’ll need to handle your own SSL certificate (most good hosts provide one for free) and use a WordPress security plugin for firewall protection and malware scanning.
While this requires more hands-on management, it gives you complete authority over your store’s security, which is something many business owners prefer.
Support
Support for WooCommerce comes from several places. You can get technical help related to your server from your hosting provider.
For questions about the plugin itself, there is extensive official documentation and active community forums.
You can also hire expert developers from a huge global talent pool for custom work.
Pricing & True Cost
The WooCommerce plugin is free. Your costs will be for hosting and a domain name. I recommend using a WooCommerce-optimized hosting plan.
For example, SiteGround offers managed WooCommerce hosting starting at just $2.99 per month, which comes with the plugin pre-installed.
→ Click Here to Claim This Exclusive SiteGround Offer ←
4. Shopify – Best All-in-One Platform for eCommerce
| Pros | ✅ Incredibly easy to use ✅ Excellent 24/7 support ✅ Handles all technical aspects for you |
| Cons | ❌ Charges fees for external payment gateways ❌ High degree of vendor lock-in ❌ App costs can add up quickly |
| Price | Starts from $29/month + transaction fees |
| Ideal For | Merchants who want a simple, hands-off eCommerce solution. |
Shopify is a fully hosted, all-in-one eCommerce platform that handles every technical aspect of running an online store for you. It’s a powerful competitor to WooCommerce, built for users who prioritize simplicity and outstanding support over ultimate flexibility.
Ease of Use & Customization
When I set up my test store on Shopify, I was immediately impressed by how simple it was.
Because it’s a fully hosted platform, I didn’t have to worry about installing software or managing backups. The interface is clean and guided me through adding products and launching the store, which I was able to do in under an hour.
While I found the available themes beautiful, this is also where I ran into limitations. Making simple customizations was easy, but I couldn’t make significant design changes outside of what the theme allowed.
This is a big difference from WordPress, where you have full control over the design.
Features & Integrations
Shopify comes with a comprehensive set of features for inventory management, shipping, and marketing.
You can add more functionality through the Shopify App Store, which is full of third-party extensions. However, many of these apps work on a monthly subscription model. Plus, the costs can add up quickly, significantly increasing your monthly bill.
eCommerce Capabilities
Shopify is an eCommerce machine. It offers its own integrated payment gateway, Shopify Payments, and Shopify POS for syncing with physical retail stores.
Its key drawback is that if you want to use third-party payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee of up to 2% on top of the gateway’s fee. This can eat into your profits over time.
In my experience, the choice between Shopify and WooCommerce really comes down to simplicity versus control.
Shopify is fantastic because it handles all the technical details, so you can focus only on selling. This is a huge relief if you don’t want to worry about security or updates.
However, that convenience comes at a price, both in monthly fees and the extra transaction charges.
With WooCommerce, you have more responsibility, but you also have the freedom to customize everything, and you avoid those extra platform fees, which can save you a lot of money as you grow.
For a detailed look at how they stack up, see my full comparison of Shopify vs. WooCommerce.
SEO & Marketing
Shopify includes solid, built-in SEO and marketing tools to help you manage your campaigns.
You can edit title tags, meta descriptions, and create discounts.
While these tools are effective for getting started, I found them to be less powerful than the dedicated plugins available for WordPress.
For example, a WordPress plugin like All in One SEO gives you much more control. You can add advanced schema markup to get rich snippets in search results and easily manage redirects, both of which are critical for outranking competitors.
Data Portability & Scalability
Similar to Wix, Shopify presents a significant vendor lock-in problem. It is very difficult to migrate your website away from the platform if you ever decide to switch.
This is a common pain point for growing businesses, which is why we created a free Shopify to WooCommerce migration tool to help users regain control.
Security
Shopify’s all-in-one platform provides excellent security, which is one of its core strengths. They handle all software updates, server security, and provide a free SSL certificate for your store.
Most importantly, Shopify is Level 1 PCI DSS compliant by default. This is the gold standard for eCommerce security, and it means you don’t have to manage the complex compliance requirements for handling credit card information yourself.
For store owners, this provides incredible peace of mind and allows you to focus on selling, knowing that the platform is secure.
Support
Shopify’s support is one of its biggest selling points. They offer 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email.
For store owners who want the security of knowing an expert is always available to help, this is a major advantage.
Pricing & True Cost
Shopify’s pricing starts with its Basic plan at $29 per month. The true cost, however, is often much higher.
This is because you also have to factor in payment processing fees, additional transaction fees for using external gateways, and the recurring monthly costs for any third-party apps you need.
If you are just starting out, then you may find Shopify’s pricing a bit higher than some other website builders on this list. For more details, see my Shopify vs. WooCommerce comparison.
5. Hostinger AI Website Builder – Best for Affordable AI-Power
| Pros | ✅ Extremely affordable pricing ✅ AI tools make setup incredibly fast ✅ All-in-one solution with hosting included |
| Cons | ❌ Limited third-party integrations ❌ Less design flexibility than WordPress ❌ Proprietary platform with lock-in |
| Price | Starts from $2.99/month |
| Ideal For | Beginners on a tight budget who need a site online fast. |
The Hostinger AI Website Builder is an all-in-one website builder that stands out for its affordability and innovative use of AI. It’s part of the Hostinger web hosting platform and is designed for beginners who want a professional-looking website without a big budget or a steep learning curve.
Ease of Use & Customization
Hostinger’s main selling point is its AI-powered setup. I was able to generate a complete starter website in under a minute simply by answering a few questions about my business.
From there, you can customize the design using their simple drag-and-drop editor. While it’s very easy, it uses a grid system, which offers less freedom than the open canvas of a builder like Wix.
Features & Integrations
The platform comes packed with helpful AI tools, including an AI writer to generate content, an AI logo maker, and even an AI heatmap tool to predict where visitors will focus their attention on your page.
However, its ability to connect with third-party tools is very limited, which is a major trade-off compared to a platform like WordPress.
eCommerce Capabilities
Hostinger AI Website Builder includes eCommerce functionality on all its plans. You can add products, manage inventory, and accept payments through Stripe and other processors.
While the features are straightforward and suitable for a simple store, I found in my testing that they lack advanced capabilities.
For example, you can’t easily sell recurring subscriptions or set up complex sales promotions like ‘buy one, get one free.’
This makes it a good starting point for selling basic products, but you may outgrow it as your business needs become more complex.
SEO & Marketing
You get access to basic, built-in SEO tools that let you edit titles, meta descriptions, and alt text. This is enough for beginners to get started.
It also includes some simple marketing integrations for things like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel, but it can’t compete with the powerful marketing stacks you can build on WordPress.
Data Portability & Scalability
As a proprietary, closed-source platform, Hostinger AI Website Builder comes with vendor lock-in. You cannot easily export your website’s data and move it to another platform.
This makes it best suited for smaller projects where future scalability and data ownership are not the primary concerns.
Security
Because this is a fully hosted platform, Hostinger handles all the security for you. They manage server security, deploy patches for their builder, and provide a free SSL certificate.
This is a big advantage for beginners who don’t want to worry about technical maintenance, but it comes at the cost of control.
Support
Support is provided through Hostinger’s main customer support channels, which include 24/7 live chat and a comprehensive knowledge base.
Their support is generally well-regarded and helpful for issues related to their platform.
Pricing & True Cost
This is where Hostinger excels. Plans start at just $2.99 per month, which includes the builder, free hosting, and a free domain name for a year.
This makes the Hostinger AI Builder one of the most affordable all-in-one solutions on the market. Overall, it offers tremendous value for anyone on a tight budget.
Other Website Builders I Considered
In my testing, I looked at 13 different platforms.
While the five above are my top recommendations for most users, some of the other builders are strong contenders for very specific needs.
Here’s a quick summary of the other platforms I reviewed.
The Good: It integrates perfectly with HubSpot’s powerful CRM and marketing automation tools.
The Bad: Expensive and overly complex if you aren’t using the full HubSpot ecosystem.
Who it’s for: Businesses already invested in HubSpot’s marketing and sales software.
The Good: It acts as a powerful eCommerce engine that can run in the background of a WordPress site, and it doesn’t charge platform transaction fees.
The Bad: The interface is less intuitive than Shopify’s for beginners.
Who it’s for: Larger stores or WordPress users who want a separate, powerful eCommerce engine.
The Good: A managed, all-in-one version of WordPress.
The Bad: Less flexible than self-hosted WordPress.org, and you need a higher-tier plan to install plugins and add advanced features.
Who it’s for: The free plan is great for new bloggers. Meanwhile, the higher-tier plans are a good fit for businesses that want the power of WordPress without managing their own hosting.
The Good: Fast AI-powered setup that comes bundled with a domain and professional email.
The Bad: Offers very little design flexibility once the AI builds your site, and it lacks the advanced features found in other platforms.
Who it’s for: Users who want the simplicity of an AI builder and prefer to bundle all their services with a long-standing domain provider.
The Good: Industry-leading template designs that are beautiful and professional.
The Bad: The editor can have a learning curve, and its eCommerce is less capable than competitors.
Who it’s for: Artists, photographers, and designers who need a visually stunning portfolio.
The Good: Very simple and affordable, with strong integration into Square’s payment system.
The Bad: Feels less modern and innovative compared to Wix or Squarespace.
Who it’s for: Small businesses or cafes already using the Square POS system.
The Good: A solid WordPress-based builder from a trusted hosting provider.
The Bad: It’s essentially a pre-packaged version of WordPress that you could set up yourself.
Who it’s for: Users who want WordPress but prefer a more guided setup experience from their host.
The Good: Extremely fast for creating a basic ‘brochure’ site.
The Bad: Very limited features and customization. You’ll likely outgrow it quickly.
Who it’s for: Users who want to keep everything under their GoDaddy account for simplicity.
Conclusion: Which Is the Best Website Builder?
After extensive testing, I recommend WordPress.org as the best overall website builder because it gives you unlimited flexibility and full ownership of your data.
For users who want the simplest option, Wix is the top choice for beginners.
For eCommerce, Shopify provides the simplest all-in-one solution, while WooCommerce is the most powerful and customizable choice.
To help you decide, here is my final verdict on the top website builders and who they are best suited for:
1. WordPress.org
🏆 Best Overall Website Builder
For anyone who wants a future-proof website with unlimited potential, WordPress is the answer. It gives you complete control and ownership over your site, allowing you to build anything from a blog to a massive online store without limitations. It’s the platform I use for my own projects.
2. Wix
✅ Best for Beginners
If your main priority is ease of use, then Wix is an excellent choice. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor is perfect for absolute beginners who want to build a simple, good-looking website with minimal fuss and don’t want to worry about hosting.
3. WooCommerce
🛒 Best for Customizable Stores
For building a powerful and fully customizable online store on WordPress, nothing beats WooCommerce. You get total control over your design, pay no platform transaction fees, and can add any feature you need with extensions. It’s the choice for serious store owners.
4. Shopify
📦 Best All-in-One eCommerce Platform
Shopify is the best choice for merchants who want a simple, hands-off solution. It’s incredibly easy to get started, handles all the technical details for you, and offers fantastic 24/7 customer support.
5. Hostinger AI Website Builder
💰 Best for Tight Budgets
If you’re on a tight budget, Hostinger offers unbeatable value. Its AI-powered tools help you create a professional site in minutes for a very low monthly price, making it a great starting point for new projects or small businesses.
Website Builder FAQs
Having helped thousands of users choose the right website builder, I’ve answered a lot of questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common ones.
Which is the best website builder for beginners?
In my experience, WordPress.org is the best website builder for beginners overall. While it has a small learning curve, I find that most beginners are able to learn WordPress quickly. Plus, it’s a much better long-term choice that will grow with your business.
However, if your absolute top priority is ease of use, then Wix is a great alternative. For beginners on a very tight budget, the Hostinger AI Website Builder is another excellent choice.
How much does it really cost to build a website?
For a self-hosted WordPress site, you can get started for as little as $2.99 per month with our exclusive Bluehost deal, which includes a free domain name.
For fully hosted builders, prices vary. A simple site on Wix will cost around $17/month, while a Shopify store starts at $29/month plus transaction fees.
For a detailed breakdown, see our guide on how much it really costs to build a WordPress website.
Can I switch my website builder later on?
This is a critical question. With fully hosted builders like Wix and Shopify, it is extremely difficult to move your site to another platform. This is why I strongly recommend WordPress.org, as it gives you 100% ownership and the freedom to move your site whenever you want.
If you do need to make a switch, you can follow our ultimate website migration guide.
What is the best website builder for SEO?
WordPress.org is hands-down the best website builder for SEO. When you combine it with a powerful SEO plugin like All in One SEO, you have an unmatched level of control to optimize your site for higher search engine rankings.
Disclaimer: To help avoid choice paralysis, I only compared the top 13 best website builder platforms. This list doesn’t include other website builder software like Site123, Duda, Jimdo, SiteBuilder, Webflow, Format, Carrd, Ucraft, Google Sites, Webs, IONOS by 1&1, Adobe Muse, Yola, Webnode, etc, because I believe the solutions mentioned in this article are simply better.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Betsy Perez
Great article. I am undecided on what I really need to run an online small business for handmade diaper cakes, baby shower and weddings crafts including invitations and etc. Any suggestions?
WPBeginner Support
As a WordPress tutorial site, our opinion tends to be biased toward WordPress
Admin
Vivien
My boss wants me to create a simple elegant website for his jewellery business customers to view. No e-commerce function needed. Every jewellery piece has a code. He needs the ability to type that code into his online website to bring that jewellery piece up into view.
I’ve got enough computer literacy to admit that I know nothing about databases and prefer website templates that aren’t too rigid when it comes to the placement of text and/or graphics.
Any suggestions?
WPBeginner Support
You could create a custom post type for the pieces so they can be searched: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/wp-tutorials/how-to-create-custom-post-types-in-wordpress/
Admin
Shiri
Thank you for the article! It was very informative even with the bent. I want to create a website that is essentially a digital library. I want to be able to charge to use the site but not actually sell anything on the site itself. Could I actually create something like this with WordPress?
WPBeginner Support
For what it sounds like you’re wanting, you would want to create a membership site using a plugin from our article here: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/plugins/5-best-wordpress-membership-plugins-compared/
Admin
voGGio
Great article! Even with the bias the pros and cons on all options seems well thought of.
I have been a long time ecomm lurker, but recently felt the need to do more research and actually start, this gave some clarity.
I recently read about bluehost.com(might have been here somewhere?) – this seems like a great offer as well.
My biggest concern is the speed of all these platforms, and how mobile site viewing is compared. This is holding me back on pulling the trigger and starting.
Keep on banging out these wonderful write-ups @Editorial staff.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you for the feedback and kind words
Admin
Joseph Bosteder
Hey thank you so much for this article! It was really helpful. I do have a question regarding what platform I should use for my business venture though. I currently have a premium plan with Wix that I use to promote myself as an artist/ performer. I have loved working with Wix, but I am starting a marketing business online and want something that allows me to build websites for other businesses quickly, and be able to do a broad range of things since I would be building for other people I would need that flexibility. Also does Wix or Wordpress offer any sort of click funnel? Thank you and look forward to hearing from you soon.
WPBeginner Support
It would depend on what you’re looking for in terms of your click funnel, for a starting point you may want to take a look at OptinMonster.
Admin
Prakash
I had a website with domain and hosting at godaddy. My site was deleted completely by godaddy due to a problem in payment processing of my hosting fees. I do have a backup of that website on my desktop. My domain is still registered with godaddy. My question is: I want to revise my site on my desktop before uploading to any hosting provider. I want to make it a responsive design and mobile friendly site. How can I do the revision of my old site on my desktop so that I can finally upload it to my hosting provider?
WPBeginner Support
You can follow our guide to install WordPress locally on your computer here: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/how-to-install-wordpress/#installlocal
Admin
Brandi
Hello,
I am looking to build a website that serves as a flight deal hub. I want the main content of my site to feature daily flight deals aggregated from multiple external websites. I’m not sure what the technical term is called, but are there any web platforms on this list that would enable me to have content from other websites automatically uploaded on my website?
WPBeginner Support
From the sound of what you’re wanting, you would want to take a look at RSS aggregators: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/plugins/how-to-create-an-autoblog-in-wordpress/
Admin
Prabin
How to create a new e-commerce website like Amazon ?
WPBeginner Support
You would start by creating a store which we have an article on how to do here: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/wp-tutorials/how-to-start-an-online-store/
Once you set that up you can use dropshipping for functionality similar to Amazon.
Admin
hayley
im currently with wix but looking for a website that supports afterpay or zippay? thanks
WPBeginner Support
You would want to check with the support for ecommerce plugins if they have an integration depending on what you’re wanting to accept payment for: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/plugins/best-wordpress-ecommerce-plugins-compared/
Admin
Drexler
Thank you for a great article.
I’m just starting my therapy practice and I want to just promote myself with few videos and posts and connect them to Facebook and other social networks.
I can’t see myself selling anything from website.
What would you suggest?
WP seems to be the strongest platform but I really don’t know much about site maintenance and those drag and drop platforms look appealing.
WPBeginner Support
As we are a WordPress tutorial site we are slightly biased toward WordPress but WP should be able to handle what you’re wanting to do
Admin
Tracy Lee
So very thankful to find this article!! I have been using Blogger for two weeks and am finding it so plain and am ready to upgrade to a real site. It is possible to move an existing Blogger site to WordPress? I also already have a domain purchased from Google, would I need to purchase a new one when I sign up for a hosting site? I’m so ready to go with a more professional looking blog that doesn’t show up as a blogspot URL. Thank you again….
WPBeginner Support
Yes you can move an existing site to WordPress, we have an article covering the steps involved here: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/wp-tutorials/how-to-switch-from-blogger-to-wordpress-without-losing-google-rankings/
Admin
Sherry Pierce
Starting a website that I prefer would be hosted with security features… a combination blog/website with “tab” for online store for a few items (or that would link to an Etsy store) accepting payments by Paypal, Visa/Mastercard. Also a “tab/dropdown” for ability to select videos that I will be posting on you-tube. I don’t want to do any coding, so drag and drop to a template plus ability to add in my own photos and SSL certificate are primary concerns. Is this all possible with wordpress choices?
WPBeginner Support
Yes, with plugins you are able to do that with WordPress. For the tab for YouTube, I am unsure what you mean.
Admin
maryam
best article, i want to have corporate site and its design is very important for me
, which theme is better for corporate site
WPBeginner Support
For questions about themes, you would want to take a look at our different theme articles: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/showcase/best-corporate-wordpress-themes/
Admin
Sam
I’m using wix right now for my own personal blog. I know I don’t have my own domain name and the wix add is always on my website, however, the page can still be easily reached and I will be able to add basic content like article entries and videos. Products or merchandise and affiliate links could still also be used without having to pay a premium for a registered domain and hosting service. Pay feature may possibly be enabled as well, depending on how you set it up, so that no percentage would be deducted from sales through the site or from a sales widget.
WPBeginner Support
While you could use affiliate links or link to other locations to sell your products from, to create a store directly on the site you would need their ecommerce plan
Admin
Tia
This is great information, thank you for this article. I’m just being pulled in too many directions with what to chose. I’m building a website for my blog and podcast. I already have a hosting site for my podcast but I also want a site for my blogs and about me for my followers to reference too. I want all my social media links along with my buzzsprout link to my podcast. Which website builder would you recommend? I would like to have a player on my site if possible.
WPBeginner Support
Our recommended website builder will be WordPress, for creating a site like what you’re wanting you would want to take a look at: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/wp-tutorials/step-by-step-guide-how-to-start-a-podcast-with-wordpress/
You can skip the steps you have completed but later in the article, it explains how to have embeds on your site
Admin
Favour Joshua
Wow! I love your posts so greatly. You know how to excavate those hidden treasures in WordPress.
I have a question; how can you add big company logos to your website not as picture. For instance; “As featured in Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur. This is my first question and I would cherish immediate response.
WPBeginner Support
There are a few methods to do so, normally through CSS or JS to hide that they are images rather than them not being images. If you take a look at sites using that with inspect element it should give you an idea of how that site is setting it up
https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/wp-tutorials/basics-of-inspect-element-with-your-wordpress-site/
Admin
BNG Kumar
I want to have my website to promote my Tuition Classes. I would also like to build this website though i have no technical expertise. Should i just blindly go in for Wordpress.com ? I am also confused with this Wordpress.org. Which one should i go for ? Further once the site is up, should i need to promote the site on the internet/on google and what will the associated costs to setup and also the annual maintenance costs ?
WPBeginner Support
For these questions about WordPress, you would want to take a look at our article comparing the two here: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/beginners-guide/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com-infograph/
Admin
jamie
Hi there!
I love your list, but of course you will select WP as the top platform. Hey, I love it too!
I have a Wordpress site that I am seriously considering shutting down. I love that i get to work with my creativity building sites, but I don’t love that I have been in a cycle of getting the site up, after a month or so, I start getting those Jetpack notifications that my site is down, it’s still not loading, it’s back up. I mean I’ve gotten at least 50 in the last couple of days. I can never figure out what’s wrong with the site so I end up stripping or deleting the whole site and and starting over. I don’t use a lot of plugins (the basics security, backup, some kind of form, elementor, etc). I’d really love to believe that the benefits outweigh
I don’t want to leave WP, but I am seriously considering some of those other options. Got any idea out keep Jetpack happy?
WPBeginner Support
Sadly, you would want to reach out to Jetpack for that question, there are multiple possible reasons their plugin could be giving you that warning while your site is still up.
Admin
Mark
I am a designer that wishes to place my portfolio on the web and have the option to accept cryptocurrency as well as fiat currency. What would you recommend?
WPBeginner Support
Depending on the currency, you may want to take a look at: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/plugins/how-to-accept-bitcoin-payments-in-wordpress/
Admin
Shaunnette
Hi. I want to start a review site that incorporates videos and actual reviews by normal people. It should have categories and an awesome search function. And allow links back to actual shops. Could you please advise on a theme? Thank you.
WPBeginner Support
While we may not have a review theme at the moment, you should be able to find a theme you like then use plugins to add the functionality you are looking for. You may want to take a look at: https://014.leahstevensyj.workers.dev/wp-tutorials/how-to-create-a-reviews-site-with-wordpress/
Admin
Rachel Bristowe
Hi
Looking to build a website for a excavation company we just started. Would WP be good for this? It is imperative that we get good Google rankings due to competition in area, does WP automatically do this or do I need to know how technical stuff like how to code etc to get a good ranking?
Thanks
WPBeginner Support
Hi Rachel,
WordPress is powerful and is SEO friendly. However, chances are that most of your competitors will also be using WordPress.
The good news is that there is so much more you can do in WordPress to beat the competition. For instructions, see our ultimate WordPress SEO guide for beginners.
Admin
Ary
Hi I’m tour organizers in Bali I would like to build up my website to get more tours,can I have more info.
Thanks
WPBeginner Support
Hi Ary,
WordPress has tons of plugins that you can use for example manage online bookings, accept credit card payments, display events calendar, sell tour packages and more.
Admin
LEE
Everyone look no further. Just use Wordpress I can see in the comments it’s recommended majority of the time. Also, I have some experience with WordPress and it’s definitely worth trying. It has serval templates and plugins to use. You can also customize it with using a little code.
Raymond Watkins
Nice Blog. Thanks for sharing the best way to choose the Website Builder. I really appreciate your work. Keep up to the great work
Diego Volpe
Hello, first of all amazing job with this article, is full of condensed information, straight to the point. I loved it.
I’m working with a real estate agency, airbnb “wannabe” and I’m doing a research on the most famous and useful website builders, but I still don’t seem to understand if any of these would work to showcase the properties I have in stock for possible tenants. Would you recommend any of these? And, if that’s the case, which one would you recommend?
Thanks a lot in advance!
WPBeginner Support
Hi Diego,
We would recommend WordPress. There are several real estate plugins that can be used to create something similar. how to create a real estate website using WordPress
Admin
Shannon Sequeira
I want to build a website to showcase my work. I’m a baker and cake decorator. And would want a website mainly to display my work to interested parties as well as some terms and conditions that apply on placing an order with me. And just some more photos and general information about myself and my company.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Shannon,
WordPress is perfect for that and many cake decorators and bakers already use it. See our list of best WordPress themes for bakeries for some ideas.
Admin
Alana
Hello I am trying to start a website where I blog and do reviews of products that are of course not my own, just for giving information. I also plan to try and find advertising sponsorship so I can earn some income through my site at the same time, as well as I want to sell a few things I have created myself on the same site. I have zero knowledge of how to build my own site, no skill when it comes to coding or even what it is, and am new to all of this but still want to do so. What should I do and who do I use as the website builder? I want one that does a lot for you easily, but to blog and add my own photos for reviews. To have the ability to accept advertising on my site for revenue, and ability to sell my own items and accept PayPal or another common trusted credit card or online pay service for payment. Please can you give me a detailed answer or advice exactly what company to use? I am not so much concerned with monthly cost as I am with upfront year being paid at once, that’s a lot of money at once for me. Please help?
WPBeginner Support
Hi Alana,
You can do all that using WordPress. You can easily start a blog, online store, or reviews site and then expand it using other plugins and tools.
Admin
Richard Blodgett
At one time I had an online eBay store for about 6 years and did alright but I would like to start another one with merchandise from a company that drop ships everything and has a very extensive catalog. Which website would compliment my eBay store?
WPBeginner Support
Hi Richard,
We would recommend WordPress due to its flexibility.
Admin
Hyguncia
Hi I’m planning to sell men and women clothing /shoes which website that will help me
Nicolas
Wix owns your website and will remove it without notice if it receives any complaint, justified or not.
kerry
Hi. I m looking to start my own food & restaurant blogging. I can not seem to find a website that is easy to install yet make money from..
Bopane
Hi,
Thanks for the article. As new to wehostings, I want to start a discussion blog and sell ads on my website but need a reasonable monthly pricing as a starter, which can you advise. And if I decide to move from one website to another will i be able to stop payment authorisation
jack
Hi guys, found this website and like your article.
What you would recommend is best for a Doctor website? I Want to make a website for my friend who is a doctor to promote him. I do not know much tech but can learn easy. fast learner.
David Sosnovskiy
Hello,
I am planning to create my own contest. This is an online based singing competition based on the popular Eurovision Song Contest. A summary of the contest is this: Fans of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) would apply for a spot, they would each represent a country of their choice in Europe, and would choose a contestant from that country that would represent them with a song. I want this contest to be based on all platforms. (Social Media, YouTube, and it’s own website). I am planning a lot of graphics to be added that I will need to create, and there will be polls, and videos from YouTube attached to this page. I want there to be multiple sections of the website, and for it to be accessible both on computer and on mobile. I also want to create a voting section of the website, where fans that aren’t in the contest would be able to vote in the contest as well. I am a beginner to all of this website and graphics stuff, so my intentions may seem very ambitious, but I need a website that could eventually hold all of these things. What would you recommend? I am also on somewhat of a limited budget, so I would like to keep costs as low as I can, but still create a sleek and quality website. Could you please help and give me some input?
WPBeginner Support
Hi David,
Obviously, your website will need extensions to connect with your social media accounts, add voting plugin, save user account details, and more. For all that you will need a platform that can be extended to meet your needs, and WordPress makes all this super easy. You may also be able to find free plugins to do a lot of things which will help you keep the costs in check.
Admin
Kimberly Mitchell
So with most of these, you are billed annually. They won’t let you pay monthly and for those who do like go Daddy, you get restricted on some content to use.. Meaning you can’t use them.
Bridget
So if I purchase my domain names from godaddy, I can’t use them with Wordpress?
WPBeginner Support
You can use your domain on GoDaddy for a WordPress site
Admin
Tawnya Ennis
Thank you for the article. One question as I would like to have an online store on my website , which would be best so I can have two options for payment, one as PayPal and also one for credit card ie Visa/Mastercard check out as well?
WPBeginner Support
Hi Tawyna,
You can have them both, this gives your users more options to purchase.
Admin
Mark
Hi!
I want to create a website that promotes a drugless, non-surgical service for patients in pain and weekend warriors. I want my site to have video testimonials, information about services, inquiries for consultations and possibly the ability to schedule appointment for service. Essentially we need a web presence for this service that drives traffic to us, demands them to take action to increase sales (who doesn’t, right?) Recommendations? Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Mark,
We will recommend WordPress.org. It gives you access to all the features you need videos, testimonials, services, and more. It is flexible enough to accommodate changes you will need in the future as your website grows.
Admin
Heather Walsh
I’m looking to create a website for my home cleaning business. I’d love a clean looking website (no outside ads cluttering it), with the option for clients to easily pay online for services. I’m somewhat tech savy but don’t speak tech lingo and would love an easy to navigate & manage website builder. Which builders do you recommend?
WPBeginner Support
Hi Heather,
We will recommend WordPress. It not only allows you to create clean beautiful websites, you can also use it to sell services online.
Admin
Tyesha Sosa
Hi,
I’m currently using WIX.com to create my CPT & fitness nutrition specialist web page. For some reason I saw theses other options and now I have choices. Also I sell nutrition but addition of having a store I would like to have link also to connect people to the nutrition web page. which web page builder is better option for me?
W. James Rapp
So far I have not yet found ANY of the DIY platforms that can complete the functionality of my simple website. Without the required payment method that my site needs I can not use ANY of these DIY platforms.
tine bhatia
i am launching a line of fine jewelry and would like to have the option to sell from my website.
my current hosting is media temple.
which builder should i go with?
WPBeginner Support
Hi,
We recommend using WordPress with WooCommerce. See our guide on how to start an online store for step by step instructions.
Admin
Ferdinand
Please. i am a graphic designer and i wish to build a website to showcase my jobs and also talk about my brand. What website builder do you advise i use ? Have it in mind that i have little knowledge about website designs and all.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Ferdinand,
We will recommend WordPress.org, it has tons of themes (website designs) some are designed specifically to create a portfolio website.
Admin
omen
hi, i want to build a website for on line technical training ( i being the trainer) for students. i have my own designs and contents without much major changes in the future. which platform should i choose?
WPBeginner Support
Hi,
We would recommend using WordPress. It comes with great membership and LMS plugins that will help you offer courses and training materials more easily.
Admin
Ian Boniface
Does WordPress, or any of the other website builders have drop in booking systems for home lets?
April farrall
I am wanting. Needing to build a website for my small brick and mortar studio and will be wanting to sell products online in near future. I am not very tech savvy at all. Which platform would be easiest for me to build and maintain. WordPress. Wix or weekly are the 3 I have looked at
Thank you
WPBeginner Support
Hi April,
If you intend to sell products on your website then you’ll need an ecommerce solution like Shopify or WooCommerce.
Admin
Janine Brancale
I am moving all my sites from WIX to Wordpress. Wix doesn’t have responsive design. It is sort of mobile optimized but not good enough. Super easy to use but the mobile options need to be better.
Wordpress with a good builder plugin (I use Beaver Builder) helped me transition.
James Nguma
I recently acquired the free wordpress.com website for my creative writing blogs. I am a beginner and less knowledgeable about the whole website stuff. I need to earn from my blogs, what do I need to do?
WPBeginner Support
Hi James,
Please see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
Marina
Thank you for a helpful article. One thing makes me hesitate before choosing wordpress. It’s a zero maintanence platform, isn’t it? So i’ll have to take care of my website myself in case of any hacker’s attacks. As a complete beginner I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do that.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Marina,
Yes, you are right. You will have to maintain your website and protect it. It is not as difficult as it sounds, many beginners successfully keep their websites secure and up to date. See our WordPress security guide for beginners for more information.
Admin
Tatjana
Hi there and thank you wor this fantastic WP resource. So much useful information. I have a question, though, I am not finding an answer anywhere but I’m sure you’d be able to point me in the right direction. I have a webpage that I had built with weebly time ago but I finally have time and wish to turn it into a more professional site and blog. I want to move to WP.
So I’d like to use the same domain name I purchased with weebly:
But for as long as my new WP site is not ready I want my old weebly site to go on existing. Is it possible to first build the new site and only then, when it is ready, link it to my domain name?
When you register to WP they ask you for your domain name and I do not want to change it or buy another one.
How can I go around this problem?
Thank you so much!
WPBeginner Support
Hi Tatjana,
Yes it is possible. When signing up for your WordPress hosting account, you can use the temporary domain provided by your host. Once your website is ready you can change your domain name settings and point it to your hosting provider.
Admin
Robert
Elegant Themes: Divi?
WPBeginner Support
Hey Robert,
Sure, Elegant’s Divi is another good page builder for WordPress.
Admin
Tia
Thank you for you’re article. I am looking to start blogging soon…would you say word press will be the best for it as a beginner? As I am split between Wix, Weebly and Word press
Thanks
WPBeginner Support
Hi Tia,
Yes, self-hosted WordPress.org is the best option for beginner bloggers. Please see our guide on how to start a WordPress blog if you need help setting it up.
Ken
Lol WordPress always the best la