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Tech Stack

Best Website Builder for Agencies, Online Sellers & More

By Priscilla Tan

Can’t decide which is the best website builder for your business? We’ve rounded up some of the top options out there today.

Table of Contents hide
1. WordPress [Advanced customization]
2. Podsite [Podcasts]
3. Sitejet [All-in-one]
4. Webflow [Designers]
5. Jimdo [Online sellers]
6. Wix [Beginners]
7. Squarespace [Quick set-up]
8. Webnode [International businesses]
9. Duda [Web agencies]
10. Weebly [Ecommerce]

What makes a good website builder?

You’re in the right place if you’re not sure what you should look for in a web builder. Here’s our take on what makes a great choice for small business owners.

Flexibility: The ideal website builder grows with you. It should be simple and advanced when it needs to be. For instance, you can extend your site’s functionality through plugins—whether it’s installing an existing add-on or creating one of your own.

Ease of use: Great website builders take seconds to master. You shouldn’t spend too much time trying to figure out what each feature does. Look for a platform so intuitive that you just know where to click.

Pre-built templates: For novices and time-strapped business owners, creating a website from scratch is overwhelming. Choose a web builder that offers a variety of customizable templates, so you can easily tailor them to suit your needs.

Speed: Google looks at page speed as a ranking factor for mobile searches. Avoid “bloated” web builders that slow down your digital home.

Minimal to zero coding: Yes, developers might scoff at the rise of the no-code movement. But these no-coding tools are here to stay. Unless you’re willing to invest in mastering your web builder, you should pick one that requires little to zero programming knowledge.

Now that we got our must-haves out of the way, let’s look at some of the best website builder platforms available today.

Best website builders

1. WordPress [Advanced customization]

Best website builders - WordPress

WordPress needs no introduction. There’s WordPress.com, which handles hosting for you; and WordPress.org if you want to host your website on a third-party web hosting provider.

This popular web builder’s biggest strength lies in its extensive plugin library. With over 50,000 tools, you can customize your website in any way you like. Note that this involves some coding expertise.

Another WordPress selling point? Its hyper SEO-optimized content management system (CMS).

According to Gotch SEO, 45% of WordPress websites rank well on Google. Other website builders like Squarespace and Wix make up less than 1% on Google.

While we’re on the subject of search, you probably know that Google prioritizes speed as a ranking factor. True, many WordPress page builder plugins offer robust features, but unfortunately, most of them are bulky.

All those extra CSS and Javascript files add a lot of unnecessary “bloat” to your website! It’s worth it to keep this in mind as you set up your WordPress site.

Zion Builder is a clean and light WordPress builder plugin that fixes this issue.

best website builder - Zion Builder

In an experiment, a Sumo-ling discovered that Zion Builder only had 3KB of bloat. On the other hand, Elementor Pro generated a whopping 164KB. We’re no tech whizzes, but even we can tell this is a huge difference.

There’s a lot more to love about Zion. Try the Pro version for free here and see it for yourself.

Then, when you’re ready, grab the Zion Builder lifetime deal on AppSumo today for $99.

Pricing: WordPress starts free, with paid plans scaling from $4/month. You can download WordPress.org for free—just remember that hosting comes at a cost.

2. Podsite [Podcasts]

best website builder - podsite

Focus on recording your podcast and leave everything else to Podsite. With this AI-powered website builder, it takes only a minute to get your podcast’s website up and running.

Submit your RSS feed and watch your website come to life instantly. Each podcast episode even gets a dedicated SEO-optimized page with release notes and transcripts.

The customizable web builder also offers a drag and drop editor, intuitive online feedback forms, email sign-up lists, and sponsorship packages.

best website builder - podsite

Source: Share Talk LTD

Pricing: Free 14-day trial, with paid plans scaling $5/month. Grab the Podsite lifetime deal today on AppSumo for $99.

3. Sitejet [All-in-one]

best website builder - sitejet

It’s expensive to integrate multiple tools into a single platform. Fortunately, Sitejet solves this problem.

Besides offering 100+ designer-built website templates and a drag-and-drop web editor, this full-on suite also helps you manage your projects and resolve client requests seamlessly.

best website builder - sitejet

Other standout features include revenue dashboard, project time tracking, client portal, on-page feedback tools, and file transfer.

Pricing: Free 14-day trial, with paid plans scaling from $15/website every month when billed annually.

4. Webflow [Designers]

best website builder - webflow

Source: Webflow

Webflow is a designer-centric web design suite. It allows you to control HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript in a 100% visual canvas.

In other words, you can build custom, responsive, and beautiful websites without writing a single line of code.

You’ll love the pre-built elements (e.g., tabs, background videos), component library, and multi-step animations. Want a slider to rotate 63° clockwise? We know, it’s oddly random. But guess what? You can do this easily on Webflow.

best website builder - webflow

Source: Webflow

Webflow involves a steep learning curve. But once you master it—and there are tons of helpful resources in Webflow University—you won’t regret adding it to your arsenal of tools.

Pricing: Starts free, with paid plans scaling from $12/month when billed annually.

5. Jimdo [Online sellers]

best website builder - Jimbo

Source: YouTube

Jimdo automatically creates a website after you answer a few questions about your business.

If you want to save more time in set-up, connect your Facebook page. Jimdo will put together a website based on the photos and information you imported.

There’s more. You can sync your online store products to Facebook and Instagram and manage your orders directly from the dashboard.

You can also edit your business info. Jimdo will then sync your updated information across your online listing platforms, including Google My Business and Foursquare.

best website builder - Jimbo

Source: Jimdo

Jimdo also offers a logo creator, legal text generator, and a license-free image library.

Pricing: Starts free, with paid plans scaling from $9/month when billed annually.

6. Wix [Beginners]

best website builder - wix

Source: G2

With 800+ designer-made templates and an AI-powered web builder, Wix is an excellent choice for beginners.

Answer a few simple questions and let Wix ADI create a fully designed website as you sit back and relax. Prefer to do it yourself? Use the Wix Editor for complete design control.

Like Jimdo, Wix also provides a free logo maker. If you want to print your logo for your brand materials, purchase the high-quality SVG vector files for a small fee.

Other interesting features include Wix Marketplace, a freelance community for outsourcing; and Wix Answers, an all-in-one help desk software that combines all your customer support (CS) channels in a single platform.

best website builder - wix

Source: Wix Answers

Pricing: Wix starts free, with paid plans scaling from $4.50/month.

7. Squarespace [Quick set-up]

best website builder - squarespace

Source: Squarespace

If there’s an award for “Most beautiful website builder,” Squarespace wins it by default. Creatives, look no further. This one’s a beauty!

Squarespace boasts 100+ gorgeous templates and a sophisticated front-end editor. Whether you’re a programmer or a newbie, it takes only seconds to master this sleek web builder.

Similarly, Squarespace features a logo maker and designer and developer marketplace. Other great features include Scheduling and Members Area.

best website builder - crosby second

Source: YouTube. Create members-only content, set your fees, and send emails from one place

Pricing: Free 14-day trial, with paid plans beginning at $12/month when billed annually.

8. Webnode [International businesses]

best website builder - webnode

Source: YouTube

Webnode is an ideal website builder if you want to tap into the international market.

But first, let’s talk about the essentials. With Webnode, besides setting up a website within minutes, you can also add royalty-free images, manage visitors’ registration, and create locked members-only content.

Webnode stands out with two great features. One, you can export your products to price comparison sites to maximize visibility. And two, Webnode allows you to add multiple languages to your website.

best website builder - webnode

Source: Webnode

Now you can reach a wider audience.

Pricing: Starts free, with paid plans scaling from $3.90/month.

9. Duda [Web agencies]

best website builder - duda

Duda, another superior website builder in this post, is the ultimate choice for web agencies.

Collaboration is Duda’s strongest feature. You can assign granular permissions down to the user level and review clients’ feedback directly on the website you’re building. This real-time dialogue will save you time from writing those endless emails!

best website builder - duda

Source: Duda

Plus, the built-in analytics and reporting help you showcase the ROI you delivered to clients.

Pricing: Free 14-day trial, with paid plans scaling from $14/month when billed annually.

10. Weebly [Ecommerce]

best website builder - weebly

Source: Weebly

Weebly is a web and online store builder. Ever since Square acquired it, it’s offered heaps of advanced ecommerce-friendly solutions.

Hands down, the coolest feature is the shareable pay link, which allows you to accept payments online. Want other options? Weebly also offers a shareable button and printable QR code. Embed on your website or share on social media and watch your orders roll in.

Another incredible perk of using Weebly is the Square Photo Studio. Ship your product, and Square will shoot and deliver it within two weeks. You can get professionally taken photos for as low as $9.95.

Shopify, an alternative to Weebly, offers a similar service called Experts Marketplace. However, it’s a lot more complicated as you’d have to vet dozens of photographers. Go with Weebly if you want to take hiring freelancers off your plate.

Pricing: Starts free, with paid plans scaling from $5/month when billed annually.

How to choose a website builder?

You’re a few steps away from picking the best website builder for your business. Here are three questions to help you narrow your shortlist down to one or two tools:

1. What’s the goal of your website?

Most website builders cater to a wide range of users. For instance, WordPress can be used by casual bloggers, freelance writers, and ecommerce stores.

Even so, there are niche web builders that might be a better fit for your specific use cases.

Case in point: Podsite. This podcast-centric web builder works great for podcasters as all you have to do is submit an RSS feed, and Podsite will handle the rest. With features like sponsorship packages and donate pages, there’s really no better option.

Podsite

Of course, it’s possible to create a podcast website on WordPress but think of the third-party tools you have to integrate it with. These plugins run the risk of slowing down your site. Remember how Google looks at speed in ranking? Yep, not the best idea.

Think about what you really want to achieve on your website.

Attract sponsors for your podcast? Go with Podsite.

Communicate with clients seamlessly? Sitejet’s got our vote.

Enable shareable payment links in your ecommerce store? Opt for Weebly.

Your web builder should help you achieve your goals with minimal effort.

2. What’s your budget?

Ah, the quintessential question of software buying.

How much are you willing to spend to build and maintain your website? We deliberately bold the word “and,” because we want to remind you that there may be (knock on wood) unexpected expenses down the road.

Factor your set-up and maintenance costs in your evaluation. That should give you a better idea of which web builder to choose.

3. What’s the level of your coding skills?

Did this question surprise you?

Here’s the thing. Several website builders in this guide state they require no coding at all, but that isn’t entirely true.

WordPress, for one, will require some form of coding knowledge if you want to customize your website for advanced features.

But don’t scratch WordPress entirely off your list. Are you planning to outsource freelancers to maintain your site? If so, it’s still worth a look. Given WordPress’ popularity, many developers and writers will be familiar with how it works—it shouldn’t take long to find the right expert.

Ultimately, you want to think about your coding expertise and the people using your website.

Wrapping up: Which is the best website builder for you?

As a non-programmer, you need a website builder that helps you easily create a website—preferably in a few simple steps. Luckily, these platforms got your back.

Let’s quickly recap what we’ve covered so far.

  • WordPress is known for its extensive plugin library and excellent CMS. Consider it if you want to customize your website and dominate Google. To speed up your website, check out Zion Builder. This WordPress page builder plugin reduces bloat, thanks to its clean code. Grab the Zion Builder lifetime deal on AppSumo today for $99.
  • Podsite gets your Podcast website off the ground in a minute. All you have to do is submit your RSS feed and let Podsite handle the rest. Grab the Podsite lifetime deal today on AppSumo for $99.
  • Sitejet is an all-in-one web builder with a ticketing system, project manager, and client portal. It’s a fantastic choice for seamless client communication.
  • Webflow is a web design suite ideal for designers. Control HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript in a 100% visual canvas.
  • Jimdo is perfect for online sellers. You can connect your products in real-time with Facebook and Instagram and sync your updated info across your online listing platforms.
  • Wix is suitable for beginners. It also offers other interesting features like Wix Answers, a complete help desk software that combines all your CS channels in one place.
  • Squarespace offers many stunning templates; it’s best for creatives who want to set up their websites quickly.
  • Webnode is a fantastic website builder if you run a global business. Use its multilingual tool to translate your web copy to tap into a wider audience.
  • Duda offers excellent collaboration tools. This agency-centric web builder allows you to review client feedback directly on the website you’re building, saving you from writing another email.
  • Weebly is an exceptional web builder for ecommerce stores, thanks to its shareable pay links and affordable product photography services.

Head over to the AppSumo store for more. From web builders and hosting providers to SEO solutions and social media apps, we got everything you need to grow your business—for a fraction of the cost.

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