Published in: Web Development

The 14 best website Builders and their pros and cons

Author Obeid Arash

Published on: April 2, 2023

Building a website used to be a daunting task that required extensive knowledge of coding and web development. However, website builders have made creating a website easier and more accessible. With so many website builders available, choosing the right one for your needs can be challenging. In this article, we’ll look at the six best website builders and their pros and cons. Whether you’re looking to build a personal blog or an e-commerce website, this article will help you decide which website builder is right for you.

WordPress

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) / website Builder that powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It allows users to create and manage websites without coding or web development knowledge. WordPress provides a user-friendly interface and a large community of developers who create themes and plugins, making it easy to customize your website’s design and functionality. It is used for various websites, including blogs, e-commerce stores, and social networks. With its flexibility, SEO-friendliness, and extensive community, WordPress is popular for website creation and management.

Pros:

• Easy to use: WordPress is user-friendly, and you don’t need any technical skills.
• Large community: WordPress has a vast community of users and developers contributing to its development, offering a wealth of resources and support.
• Flexibility: WordPress with various plugins and themes can be customized to fit any website’s needs.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly: WordPress is SEO friendly, offering many plugins to optimize your website for search engines.

Cons:

• Security: WordPress is a popular target for hackers, making it more vulnerable to security breaches.
• Maintenance: WordPress requires frequent updates to ensure it runs efficiently and is secure.
• Scalability: WordPress can be challenging to scale for large and complex websites.

Drupal

Drupal was first released in 2001 and has become a popular choice for building websites and applications. It is known for its flexibility, scalability, and security, making it a popular choice for enterprise-level websites and large-scale projects.

Pros:

• Flexibility: Drupal offers high flexibility and can be customized to fit complex websites’ needs.
• Security: Drupal is known for its robust security features, making it a popular choice for government agencies and universities.
• Multilingual: Drupal offers built-in multilingual support, making creating websites in different languages easy.
• Scalability: Drupal is highly scalable and can handle large websites with ease.

Cons:

• Complexity: Drupal can be more challenging than other CMS, requiring technical expertise to set up and manage.
• Learning Curve: The learning curve for Drupal can be steep, and it may take more time to master its functionalities.
• Cost: Drupal can be more expensive to develop and maintain due to its complexity.

Joomla

Like WordPress, Joomla is designed to be user-friendly and requires no coding or web development knowledge. It provides many features, including multilingual support, advanced user management, and flexible templates. Joomla is famous for creating corporate websites, e-commerce stores, and social networking websites.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Joomla is easy to use and requires little technical expertise.
• Large community: Joomla has a large community of users and developers who contribute to its development, offering resources and support.
• Multilingual: Joomla offers multilingual support and allows you to create websites in different languages.
• Extensions: Joomla offers a wide range of extensions to enhance your website’s functionality.

Cons:

• Complexity: Joomla can be more complicated than other CMS, and it may take more time to master its functionalities.
• Limited scalability: Joomla can be challenging to scale for large and complex websites.
• Limited customization: Joomla has limited customization options compared to other CMS.

Which website builder is best?

Many different website builders are available, each with strengths and weaknesses. The best website builder for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Ultimately, the best website builder for you will depend on your specific needs, such as the type of website you want to create, your level of technical expertise, and your budget.

Wix

Wix is a cloud-based website builder that allows users to create websites without coding or web development knowledge. It provides a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to create their website’s design and layout. Wix offers a range of features, including eCommerce functionality, blogging, and a mobile app for managing your website on the go.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Wix is incredibly user-friendly, offering a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create a website quickly and easily.
• Templates: Wix offers a wide range of templates that can be customized to fit your needs.
• Affordable: Wix offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan, making it affordable for small businesses or personal websites.

Cons:

• Limited customization: Wix has limited customization options, and you may be limited in functionality and design.
• Limited scalability: Wix can be challenging to scale for larger and more complex websites.
• SEO limitations: Wix has some SEO limitations that can impact your website’s visibility on search engines.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a website builder that offers modern and sleek templates for creatives, bloggers, and small businesses. It has a user-friendly interface and many built-in features to help you create a professional-looking website.

Pros:

• Design-focused: Squarespace is design-focused, offering a range of beautiful templates that can be customized to fit your brand.
• All-in-one platform: Squarespace offers all the tools you need to create a website, including hosting, domain registration, and analytics.
• E-commerce: Squarespace offers e-commerce functionality, making it easy to sell products or services online.
• User-friendly: Squarespace is easy to use, and you don’t need technical skills to create a website.

Cons:

• Limited customization: Squarespace has limited customization options, and you may be limited in functionality and design.
• Cost: Squarespace can be more expensive than other website builders, especially if you need to add more features or upgrade to a higher-tier plan.
• Limited scalability: Squarespace can be challenging to scale for larger and more complex websites.

Shopify

Shopify is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that allows users to create and manage online stores. It provides a range of features, including website design templates, payment processing, inventory management, and marketing tools. Shopify is designed to be user-friendly, making it an ideal choice for small business owners who want to create an online store without any coding or web development knowledge.

Pros:

• eCommerce focused: Shopify is explicitly designed for e-commerce, making it easy to create and manage an online store.
• All-in-one platform: Shopify offers everything you need to create an online store, including hosting, domain registration, and payment processing.
• Scalability: Shopify is highly scalable and can easily handle large, complex online stores.
• App store: Shopify has a vast app store with thousands of apps and integrations to enhance your store’s functionality.

Cons:

• Cost: Shopify can be more expensive than other CMS, especially if you need to add more features or integrations.
• Limited customization: Shopify has limited customization options, and you may be limited in design and functionality.
• Learning curve: Shopify can take some time, especially if you’re new to e-commerce or online stores.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy Website Builder is a website builder tool designed for beginners or small business owners who want to create a website quickly and easily. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that allows users to choose from various pre-designed templates and then customize them by adding text, images, and other elements.

Pros:

• Good customer support: GoDaddy has a reputation for offering good customer support, and users of GoDaddy Website Builder can access a range of support options, including live chat and phone support.
• Inexpensive: GoDaddy Website Builder is relatively inexpensive, with plans starting at just a few dollars per month.
• Variety of templates: GoDaddy Website Builder offers a range of templates to choose from, which can help users quickly create a professional-looking website.

Cons:

• Limited features: GoDaddy Website Builder needs to include some of the advanced features available in other website builders, making it less suitable for more complex websites.
• Limited integration options: GoDaddy Website Builder has limited integration options compared to some other website builders, which can make it more challenging to connect to additional tools and services.
• Dependence on GoDaddy: GoDaddy Website Builder depends on the GoDaddy hosting and domain registrar platform, which can be a concern for users who prefer more flexibility in their hosting and domain registration choices.

Is GoDaddy free to build a website?

GoDaddy offers a free trial of its Website Builder tool, but it is only partially free to build a website on GoDaddy. The free trial allows users to create a website and test out the tool’s features, but the website will be hosted on a temporary subdomain with limited functionality.

To publish a website on a custom domain and access all the features of GoDaddy Website Builder, users must purchase a paid plan. GoDaddy offers several paid plans with different levels of functionality and pricing. The plans start at a few dollars per month, and users can choose a plan that best suits their needs and budget.

The less-known website builders

Webflow

Webflow is a web design and development platform that allows users to create professional-quality websites without writing code. It is a cloud-based tool that provides a visual interface for building and designing websites

Pros:

• No coding required: Webflow allows you to design and build websites without needing to write any code, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
• Responsive design: Webflow’s built-in responsive design tools make it easy to create websites that look great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.
• Powerful design tools: Webflow’s design tools are robust and allow for a high degree of customization, giving you the flexibility to create unique and visually stunning websites.
• Built-in CMS: Webflow has a built-in content management system (CMS), making it easy to manage and update website content.
• Integrations: Webflow integrates with various third-party tools and services, such as Google Analytics, Zapier, and Mailchimp, making it easy to add additional functionality to your site.

Cons:

• Learning curve: While Webflow is user-friendly, there is still a learning curve, especially if you’re unfamiliar with web design concepts like CSS and HTML.
• Limited functionality: While Webflow is a powerful website builder, it has some limitations compared to coding a website from scratch. For example, you may not be able to implement certain custom functionalities that require coding.
• Limited hosting options: Webflow’s hosting is only available through their platform, so you cannot use their hosting service.
• Price: Webflow’s pricing can be relatively high, especially for freelancers or small businesses on a tight budget.
• Support: While Webflow offers support resources, some users have reported that their support can be slow to respond or not as helpful as they would like.

How much does it cost to hire someone to build a website?

When it comes to building a website, the cost can vary depending on various factors, such as the project’s complexity, the features and functionalities required, and the experience and expertise of the web developer.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you build a website that meets your needs and fits within your budget, we invite you to contact us today. Our team of experts would be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a quote for your project.

Duda

The platform offers a variety of features and functionalities, including responsive design, customization options, e-commerce functionality, and more.

One of the critical features of Duda is its white labelling options, which allow agencies to brand the platform as their own, providing a seamless experience for clients. This can be particularly useful for agencies that want to offer website-building services but need more resources to develop their platform.

Pros:

• White labelling: Duda’s white labelling options allow agencies to brand the platform as their own, providing a seamless experience for clients.
• Multi-site management: Duda allows agencies to manage multiple websites from one platform, making it easy to oversee client projects.
• Responsive design: Duda’s mobile-responsive templates ensure that websites look great on all devices.
• Customization options: Duda offers a range of customization options, such as adding custom code, which allows for greater flexibility when building websites.
• eCommerce functionality: Duda offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online.

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility: While Duda’s templates are responsive and visually appealing, they may not be as customizable as other website builders. This could be a drawback for agencies looking to create highly unique client designs.
• Steep learning curve: Duda’s platform can be complex, and learning its features and functionality may take time.
• Price: Duda’s pricing can be relatively high compared to other website builders, which could be a deterrent for smaller businesses or agencies on a budget.
• Limited integrations: Duda offers limited integrations with third-party tools and services, which could be a drawback for businesses that rely heavily on these services.
• Limited SEO tools: Duda’s SEO tools are basic, which could be a drawback for businesses that place a high value on search engine optimization.

Weebly

One of the critical benefits of Weebly is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create and publish websites without coding experience. Weebly also offers a range of customizable templates, allowing users to create a visually appealing website quickly and easily.

Weebly’s templates are mobile-responsive, meaning that websites created with the platform will look great on all devices. The platform also offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online.

However, some users may find Weebly’s templates less customizable than they would like, which could be a drawback for those who want more design control. Additionally, Weebly’s blogging and SEO tools are essential, which could be a drawback for users who value these features highly.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Weebly is easy to use and requires no coding experience, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
• Responsive design: Weebly’s templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that websites created with the platform look great on all devices.
• eCommerce functionality: Weebly offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online.
• Customization options: Weebly offers a range of customization options, including adding custom code, which allows for greater flexibility when building websites.
• Affordable: Weebly’s pricing is relatively inexpensive, making it a good choice for small businesses or individuals on a budget.

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility: While Weebly’s templates are visually appealing, they may not be as customizable as some other website builders, which could be a drawback for users who want more design control.
• Limited blogging functionality: Weebly’s blogging tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who place a high value on blogging.
• Limited SEO tools: Weebly’s SEO tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who place a high value on search engine optimization.
• Limited integrations: Weebly offers a limited number of integrations with third-party tools and services, which could be a drawback for users relying heavily on these services.
• Support: Weebly’s support can be slow to respond, and some users have reported that their support team could be more helpful.

Jimdo

Jimdo’s templates are mobile-responsive, meaning that websites created with the platform will look great on all devices. The platform also offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online. Jimdo provides multilingual support, allowing users to create websites in multiple languages.

However, some users may find that Jimdo’s templates are less customizable than they would like, which could be a drawback for those who want more design control. Additionally, Jimdo’s integrations with third-party tools and services are limited, which could be a drawback for users relying heavily on these services.

Pros:

• Responsive design: Jimdo’s templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that websites created with the platform look great on all devices.
• eCommerce functionality: Jimdo offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online.
• Multilingual support: Jimdo offers multilingual support, allowing users to create websites in multiple languages.
• Affordable: Jimdo’s pricing is relatively inexpensive, making it a good choice for small businesses or individuals on a budget.

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility: While Jimdo’s templates are visually appealing, they may not be as customizable as some other website builders, which could be a drawback for users who want more design control.
• Limited integrations: Jimdo offers a limited number of integrations with third-party tools and services, which could be a drawback for users relying heavily on these services.
• Limited SEO tools: Jimdo’s SEO tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who place a high value on search engine optimization.
• Limited support: Jimdo’s support can be slow to respond, and some users have reported that their support team could be more helpful.
• Limited blogging functionality: Jimdo’s blogging tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who place a high value on blogging.

Webnode

One of Webnode’s standout features is its advanced SEO tools, which allow users to optimize their websites for search engines. This can be a significant advantage for businesses and individuals who want to improve their online visibility and reach.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Webnode’s interface is intuitive and easy to use, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
• Responsive design: Webnode’s templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that websites created with the platform look great on all devices.
• Multilingual support: Webnode offers multilingual support, allowing users to create websites in multiple languages.
• eCommerce functionality: Webnode offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online.
• Good SEO tools: Webnode’s SEO tools are advanced, allowing users to optimize their websites for search engines.

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility: While Webnode’s templates are visually appealing, they may not be as customizable as some other website builders, which could be a drawback for users who want more design control.
• Limited integrations: Webnode offers a limited number of integrations with third-party tools and services, which could be a drawback for users relying heavily on these services.
• Limited support: Webnode’s support can be slow to respond, and some users have reported that their support team could be more helpful.
• Limited blogging functionality: Webnode’s blogging tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who place a high value on blogging.
• Limited templates: Webnode offers a limited number of templates compared to other website builders, which could be a drawback for users who want more variety.

Tilda

Tilda offers a wide range of customizable templates designed to be mobile-responsive, meaning that websites created with the platform will look great on all devices. Users can choose from various templates specifically tailored to different types of websites, such as portfolios, blogs, online stores, and more.

Pros:

• Customizable templates: Tilda offers a wide range of templates allowing users to create a visually appealing website quickly and easily.
• Responsive design: Tilda’s templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that websites created with the platform look great on all devices.
• Reasonable design control: Tilda offers a high degree of design control, allowing users to create custom designs and layouts without coding experience.
• eCommerce functionality: Tilda offers e-commerce functionality, including payment processing and inventory management, making it a good choice for businesses that sell products online.

Cons:

• Limited integrations: Tilda offers a limited number of integrations with third-party tools and services, which could be a drawback for users relying heavily on these services.
• Limited support: Tilda’s support can be slow to respond, and some users have reported that their support team could be more helpful.
• Limited blogging functionality: Tilda’s blogging tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who place a high value on this feature.
• Limited multilingual support: Tilda offers only basic multilingual support, which could be a drawback for users who want to create websites in multiple languages.
• Limited SEO tools: Tilda’s SEO tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who want more advanced SEO functionality.

Bubble

The Bubble is a no-code web application development platform allowing users to create custom web applications without coding experience. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that allows users to create custom designs and layouts for their web applications. Bubble’s templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that web applications built with the platform look great on all devices. Additionally, the platform offers a high degree of design control, allowing users to create custom designs and layouts without coding experience.

Pros:

• No coding required: Bubble’s drag-and-drop interface allows users to create web applications without coding experience.
• Customizable templates: Bubble offers various templates and design elements that allow users to create visually appealing web applications quickly and easily.
• Responsive design: Bubble’s templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that web applications created with the platform look great on all devices.
• The high degree of design control: Bubble offers a high degree of design control, allowing users to create custom designs and layouts without coding experience.
• Integrations: Bubble offers a wide range of integrations with third-party tools and services, making it easy for users to connect their web applications to other platforms.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve: While Bubble’s interface is intuitive, users may still find a steep learning curve associated with using the platform effectively.
• Limited support: Bubble’s support can be slow to respond, and some users have reported that their support team could be more helpful.
• Limited multilingual support: Bubble offers only basic multilingual support, which could be a drawback for users who want to create web applications in multiple languages.
• Limited SEO tools: Bubble’s SEO tools are basic, which could be a drawback for users who want more advanced SEO functionality.
• Pricing: Bubble’s pricing can be expensive for larger projects, and users may need to pay for additional features or resources.

SvelteKit

SvelteKit is a web application framework built on top of the Svelte compiler, a popular JavaScript framework for building user interfaces. It is designed to simplify the process of building web applications by providing a range of tools and features to help developers create high-performance, serverless web applications.

Pros:

• Lightweight: SvelteKit is a lightweight framework designed to be fast and efficient, making it a good choice for building high-performance web applications.
• Fast load times: SvelteKit is designed to produce small, optimized code that loads quickly, which can improve the user experience.
• Easy to learn: SvelteKit uses a simple syntax that is easy to understand, making it accessible to developers with various experience levels.
• Serverless architecture: SvelteKit’s serverless architecture means that developers do not need to manage server infrastructure, which can reduce complexity and lower costs.
• Flexible: SvelteKit allows developers to use any front-end or back-end technology they prefer, making it a versatile framework that can be adapted to various use cases.

Cons:

• Limited documentation: SvelteKit is a relatively new framework, and its documentation is less extensive than other frameworks. This can make it challenging for developers who are new to the platform.
• Limited community support: Because SvelteKit is a newer framework, it has a smaller community than others. This can make finding answers to questions or getting help with issues more challenging.
• Limited ecosystem: Because SvelteKit is a newer framework, fewer third-party tools and plugins are available for it than for some other frameworks.
• Limited backwards compatibility: SvelteKit is a relatively new framework and may need to be fully backwards compatible with older platform versions.