The Finest Web site Builders (In-Depth Evaluate)
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There is a decision in life that you simply can't go wrong with.
And no, it's not about choosing the right partner or the right career.
That life changing decision depends on which website builder you choose.
Whether you are starting a small non-profit organization or want to take on the world with your handcrafted jewelry, the quality of your website is a key factor in your success.
And to build a great website, you need a great web builder. Provided, of course, you are like the vast majority of people with no technical skills. If you have skills, what are you doing here? Build!
But don't get angry. We did the hard work and this article will walk you through the otherwise tedious process of finding the best website builder out there.
The top 4 best website builders
- Wix
- Weebly
- Shopify
- WordPress
The different types of website builders
When choosing a website builder, you should first consider your real needs. There are a variety of reasons to start a website that affect the services and features you need.
For example, is your goal to set up an ecommerce business and ship items from abroad?
Would you like to start a simple blog documenting your travel adventures?
Or you work in marketing and are looking for ways to test and optimize your sales funnels.
Regardless of your goals, the idea here is to know yourself. Think carefully about what you want now, but also your roadmap for the future. Once you've decided on a particular website builder, it can be difficult to change them later.
Now that you have a clear picture of your needs, you need to consider the different types of web builders available.
Note that many website builders fall into multiple categories, each with different needs.
General purpose website builder
There are thousands of reasons to build a website and nowadays it seems like every person and organization has one.
To meet this huge demand, some website builders have taken a holistic approach to attractiveness and their tools.
For example, these websites typically have many features that other types of website builders do, such as: B. the possibility of blogging.
However, since these are general-purpose functions, you cannot expect these functions not to be as comprehensive and robust as more specialized platforms.
Some use cases for general website builders are:
- Information websites – If you just want to host information online, these general website builders can come in very handy. Perhaps you have a kitchen renovation company and you want to reach potential customers online.
- Self-marketing – Managing your personal brand is becoming more and more important every day. This is particularly important for independent workers and entrepreneurs, as well as for workers applying for a job.
An example of an information website.
Content management platforms
Content is what drives the web, and one of the oldest yet most relevant forms of content is blog post.
Because blogging is such an important part of the web, some website builders have been designed with a content management system in mind.
In case you want to get your thoughts out there; Ideally, a blog website builder is the right option for you in a serious and sustainable way. Use cases are:
- Professional writing – It goes without saying, but if you want to be a writer, you actually have to write. Typically, you need a place to show off your talent. Whether you are a business journalist or a journalist, maintaining a personal blog is important.
- Thought guidance – In many industries, it is useful for celebrities to share their unique insights on a public platform. Setting up a blog with a strong content management system helps spread ideas sustainably.
An example of a content-driven website.
Essentially, blog website builders are great choices if your aim is to write for the long term, and this is one of the things that you focus on.
E-commerce platforms
Another type of website builder is ecommerce platforms. These platforms allow you to create and manage online stores by listing goods, placing orders, and receiving payments.
These website builders are useful for:
- Background noise – You may want to sell some goods in addition to your day-to-day work and don't have the time to focus on the operational side of things. These website builders are great for solving this problem as they manage the backend of your business.
- Digitize your business – Perhaps you already have a brick and mortar store and want to make your inventory available online. In this situation, this type of website builder will remove all of the technical complications of setting it up online.
An example of an e-commerce website.
How to choose the best website builder for you
Now is the time to take a closer look at some of the specific features to consider when evaluating a website builder.
Keep in mind that while some website builders fall into the same category, each one will fit your needs differently.
For example, you may be setting up an online store and your main consideration may be a low learning curve while someone else thinks about a platform that they can easily scale with.
Here are some features to consider.
user friendliness
Things to consider:
- Intuitiveness – Some website builders are easy to use and have simple interfaces with drag and drop functionality. This is useful because you don't have to google changes that you want to make with the tool.
- Learning curve – Unless you're particularly good at technology, chances are you'll spend hours learning how to set up a website. Some website builders are a lot easier than others.
- Installation time – Similarly, you may want to get your website up and running right away, especially if it's an event that you want to promote.
- Ongoing administration – If you need outside help to manage your website, the purpose of a website builder is defeated. It needs to be easy to manage in terms of updates.
If you're new to setting up online or you're limited on time, how easy it is to get started will likely be your primary concern.
Scalability
Things to consider:
- Custom Code – Website builders use standardized code that represents the building blocks of a website. With these you can easily create a site with different functions. However, in some cases, you may need your own custom functions and the ability to write your own code.
- Migration – At some point, you may want to host your website yourself. However, not all website builders allow you to easily complete this step. In some cases, you may need to develop your site from scratch.
- Integrations – You will likely create new goals as your website grows, such as: B. Show ads or embed social feeds. Some website builders are more compatible with other platforms and easier to integrate.
You should think hard about scalability if you are already an established company looking to build an online presence. This is especially true if you are already selling products on a large scale in the real world.
Startups in the fundraising process that want to scale quickly or even change the core functions of their product should also exercise caution here.
support
Things to consider:
- Support channels – You need to consider the different ways you can get in touch with support teams like live chat, email, and phone. Detailed FAQs (frequently asked questions) are also important.
- Responsiveness – If your website is down at 5:00 p.m. East Coast Time, but support only works during European hours, you are in trouble. Some teams may also react much faster than others.
- Engagement – Unfortunately, some support teams are useless. Maybe they are paid very little so they don't care, or they are overworked. Either way, you need support that can actually solve your problems.
If you are planning to run a website with a lot of visitors and it happens to be down, the last thing you want is an unresponsive support team. This is especially true if you want to drive a lot of traffic at a given time.
A website builder with a strong support team is also useful if you are just starting out online as you might still be stuck with even simple user interfaces.
price
Things to consider:
- Costs – Some website builders can be more expensive, while others run up to more than $ 299 per month (e.g. for landing pages). Others are permanently free and can upgrade for a small monthly fee.
- Attempt – Before committing, it can be helpful to take advantage of a trial offer to play around with the tools. You will likely find that some fit better than others.
- Hosting & Domain – Most website builders host your website on the web, which is usually included in the price. Some may also offer a domain as part of the package. Otherwise you would have to buy them yourself.
If your plan is to make money from your website by selling products directly or collecting leads, price shouldn't be an issue for you. Invest in the best service for your needs.
However, if you just want to set up a small information page, you can use the cheapest options.
In general, feature depth website builders tend to be more expensive because they solve more specific problems.
properties
Things to consider:
- Ecommerce Store – If you have any plans to sell things online, you need a website builder to do it with. Consider sub-functions such as payment processing and product catalogs.
- SEO – Some website builders have tools that can help you rank better on Google searches.
- Marketing Tools – You may also need other marketing tools like forms, popups, and chat boxes.
- Community – In some cases, you may want to expand your website into a community where people can communicate and network (also known as a forum).
- Analysis tools – Website builders may also offer analytics tools that allow you to track traffic on your website, or at least integrate it with other tools that do.
- Niche functions – Perhaps there are some specifics that you are looking for such as: B. the possibility of setting up a crowdfunding campaign in addition to a standard website.
The functions of a website builder are the most important factors in deciding which route to follow. This is because they have the greatest impact on your specific goals.
For example, if you want to set up a landing page for a specific product, trying to optimize with a generic site builder is a problem. It will likely lack the in-depth analytics tools a dedicated landing page builder would have.
Also, keep in mind that there are some features that you may not need now but that you may need in the future, such as: For example, if you want to run paid ads for your blog posts.
design
Things to consider:
- Themes and templates – Website builders let you start with a pre-built website that is customizable to varying degrees. Some topics serve different purposes in terms of branding and usefulness.
- Mobile phone friendliness – You need to make sure that your website builder automatically simplifies your website for mobile users, usually with a nice design.
- Adaptation – Chances are you'll want to make some changes to your template. You need to consider the various customization tools available.
Regardless of your goal, you should always be concerned about providing a great user experience for the people who visit your website. It just makes sense of logic – if your website is difficult to navigate, people are not going to make the most of it.
The actual design and branding are also important. For example, some designs are more corporate while others are more inviting. There may be a design template that really suits your brand.
And when you're selling something, you need to make sure the design is optimized to increase conversions.
Now that you have a good understanding of the types of website builders and the features to look out for, it is time to check out some of the best website builders out there.
# 1 – Wix / Website Builder – The best for general use
If there's one website builder you've probably heard of, it's probably Wix. The effort that Wix puts into its marketing is phenomenal. In fact, Wix is so successful that they have featured high profile celebrities like Jason Stratham in some of their campaigns.
Additionally, Wix has results with over 160 million websites hosted by the company.
Wix is the best website builder if you don't have special needs. This is also the case in the opposite case, for example if you have broad requirements and aim for different functions.
Wix is really the "jack of all trades" in the sense that it does everything well, but nothing is really exceptional. However, it does its job for the average person looking to set up a website.
Benefits of Wix
Here are the best things about Wix:
- Powerful app market – Wix has an enormous number of additional functions that you can access through the App Market. Would you like to book meetings directly on your website? They have you covered. Do you want a live chat popup box? Just click on it and install it on your website.
- Covers all needs – Wix covers most of the needs of people who want to set up a website. This includes setting up an e-commerce shop, a blog or a simple information website.
- Many templates – Wix has a variety of templates that you can choose from to get your website up and running quickly. Their templates are well designed and take the user experience into account.
Cons of Wix
Here are the weaker parts of Wix:
- The user interface can be tricky – Although Wix is aimed at the mass market, the user interface can be very difficult, especially if you want to customize your website. You often have to go to Google to find out how to perform certain tasks. .
- No migration – One major downside to Wix is that you are locked out, so you won't be able to put your website code elsewhere later. This can create problems when you need to scale your business quickly.
- Can do a lot, but nothing is good – The main strength of Wix is also its weakness. While it has a lot of features, it can't compete with the quality of niche website builders.
Who Should Use Wix?
- Small businesses – If you offer a service like legal advice or marketing, Wix is a solid website builder that will meet all of your needs. If your focus is on selling products online, you avoid Wix.
- Freelancers and professionals – Similarly, Wix is great for professionals who want to showcase their personal brand. That way, you can cover all the potential fundamentals for highlighting your portfolio such as: B. Meetings and even blogs.
# 2 – Weebly / Website Builder – Easiest to use
Next up we have Weebly, a drag and drop website builder that prides itself on its ease of use. Weebly currently operates over 50 million websites and has been around since 2006 which is a tremendous feat and testament to how effective the platform is.
What made Weebly consistently popular with users? It all comes down to the simple user experience and short learning curve. Weebly doesn't bombard you with features or a complicated user interface.
Instead, it doesn't put you off and allows you to go straight to setting up your website.
Benefits of Weebly
Here are the best things about Weebly:
- Simple and easy to use – Weebly has a simple interface with drag and drop mechanics that just works. Everything feels natural and intuitive. It also helps that they have an onboarding mechanic with email and pop-up explanations when you start.
- Migration – If you decide to host your own website, Weebly makes it easy to remove your website from the platform.
- Affordable – Compared to other general website builders, Weebly has one of the most affordable pricing structures.
- Great customer support – Weebly has a powerful customer service team that is active every day of the week. They typically reply within a day via email, or even faster via their live chat or phone lines.
disadvantage
Here are the weaker parts of Weebly
- The variety of functions is missing – The downside to using Weebly is that it isn't as powerful as Wix. For example there are fewer functions. In addition, some functions, such as the content management system and analysis tools, are much weaker than those of the competition.
- Limited customization – Because Weebly uses a drop-and-drop interface and themes, customization can be very limited. Wix has this problem too, but more tools are available to help solve this problem.
- Scaling Problems – Weebly just isn't a great platform if you are looking to grow your website significantly: it's just a simple website builder for everyday users.
Who should use Weebly?
- People who need simple websites – Typically, unless you are very tech-savvy and want to get a simple website up and running quickly, you should use Weebly. One category of users would be associations or clubs that want to set up an information page about their group.
# 3 – Shopify / Website Builder – The best for online stores
If you plan to sell any kind of product online – from jewelry to electric scooters – your best bet is to use a dedicated ecommerce platform and website builder.
Without a doubt, Shopify is number one in this category. The platform serves over 1 million retailers in 175 different countries and is the third largest online retailer in the US, only behind Amazon and eBay.
Shopify software is a complete end-to-end platform that you can use to set up, manage, and promote a business online. You can easily put your goods up for sale, take payments and place orders – all under one roof.
advantages
Here are the best things about Shopify:
- E-commerce specialty – The main attraction of Shopify is that it is a niche website builder that is focused on setting up an ecommerce store. This means that all functions and processes are aligned with this goal, resulting in a powerful platform that can help maximize sales.
- Safety – If you want to conduct transactions, you need ways to protect your website and customer data. Shopify stores have tough cybersecurity measures that a self-hosted website would normally lack.
- Integrated sales channels – Shopify is heavily integrated with other platforms like Facebook and Amazon. This way you can optimize your sales by managing your catalog under one roof on every platform.
disadvantage
Here are the weaker aspects of Shopify:
- Niche focus on e-commerce – With a focus on ecommerce, Shopify lacks some of the features and finesse of other website builders. For example, their content management system is very limited compared to WordPress.
- Transaction fees + monthly fees – There is a transaction fee of between 2.4% and 2.6% for every sale you make on Shopify. Combined with the payment provider's fees, this can put a strain on your margin.
Who should be using Shopify?
- Stationary shops – If you have a personal business and want to sell your products online, Shopify offers you a solid entry into the digital world.
- E-Commerce Startups – Entrepreneurs starting new brands or doing drop shipping also benefit from the fast, end-to-end setup that Shopify offers.
# 4 – WordPress / Website Builder – The best for content management
One of the oldest and most reliable website builders is WordPress. The platform has come a long way since its inception in 2003 and is now the most popular content management system on the web.
In fact, WordPress supports a whopping 37.6% of all websites.
Since WordPress existed in the earlier days of the web, its focus revolved around content, which was the most popular form of website at the time.
This focus is maintained to this day, as WordPress has arguably the best content management system among the various website builders.
One important limitation is that WordPress is divided into platforms:
- WordPress.org – This is the open source (free) version of WordPress, which offers greater flexibility but is more difficult for non-technical users.
- WordPress.com – This is the paid version. They can get help installing themes and managing them, but are generally less customizable.
advantages
Here are the best things about WordPress:
- You are in full control – Unlike other website builders, WordPress is fully customizable as the website is developed directly with code as opposed to drag and drop interfaces. This means that you have a lot more flexibility in terms of design and function.
- Robust blogging and CMS – WordPress was designed from the ground up with content in mind. It has some of the best tools for publishing and managing content, including team management, advanced planning, and categorization.
- Lots of plugins – There are over 52,000 plugins for WordPress. You can measure and improve your SEO with plugins like YoastSEO or even add a new feature like a shopping cart.
disadvantage
Here are the weaker aspects of WordPress:
- You May Need Help- Since your WordPress site was developed with code, you will likely need help installing and updating your WordPress theme. This can be costly, especially if you want ongoing changes.
- Learning curve – If you want to manage and update your site yourself, it may take some time to learn how to do this. Managing and scheduling posts is relatively easy, but updating the look and feel of your website or installing a plugin is a lot more difficult.
- Security Issues – Since your WordPress site is self-hosted, you are more vulnerable to cybersecurity issues. Some of the plugins for WordPress can also pose a risk.
Who should use it
- Blogger – If writing is your primary focus then WordPress is a great choice. The platform was developed for bloggers who optimize content management and search engine optimization. With WordPress you can scale your content and use it optimally.
- Content-oriented companies – If you're building a content-heavy business like a new website, WordPress will also help you manage the operational side of content production a lot easier.
Think about your goals
It is important to note that the website builders listed above can serve several roles. So this article gives you an overview. You need to look at the details of each platform.
The best choice for you will depend on both your current needs and where you plan to host your website in the future.
After reading reviews like this one, make sure you take a step back and put your particular needs first before you commit.