Starting a business online, launching a personal blog, or pursuing any other venture that requires a website has never been easier. This is all thanks to the many website builders now available on the market. Despite the wide variety of options, it’s become more difficult to know which builders are actually worth your time and money.
To help, we have compiled a handy guide to website builders. First, we discuss all the features you should consider before purchasing a website builder. With these features in mind, you can more confidently sift through the top website builders described below and ultimately settle on one that best suits your needs.
GoodStudio / ShutterstockFeatures to Consider
Before purchasing a website builder, it’s important to research what they offer in relation to the following features.
Compatible with E-commerce
If you’re creating a website with the intent of selling merchandise on it or even foresee yourself selling merchandise down the road, it’s important to choose a builder that is e-commerce compatible.
Plugins
Unless you’re a professional web developer, chances are you’re going to be heavily relying on plugins to make your website run. Plugins make things like editing the appearance of your website, adding lead capture devices, and optimizing the speed of your website much more accessible.
Before settling on a builder, look to see the scale of their plugin availability.
Tech Support and Online Assistance
If you’re not a seasoned programmer or web developer, you will likely require assistance at some point during the development of your website. If you foresee yourself needing a lot of help with the development of your website, you would be wise to choose a builder with comprehensive tech support.
Template and Theme
Using a template or theme for your website is magnitudes faster than building a one from scratch.
If you choose this route, you’re not stuck with the template or theme as it stands. You can often edit templates and themes to your liking.
For a quick and less stressful website launch, choose a builder with a wide template and theme offering.
UX/UI
Website builders can produce the most beautiful websites you’ve ever seen. However, if it’s impossible to use, none of that matters. Therefore, it’s essential that you try out a CMS before buying.
With a trial, you can mess around with the controls, see how fluid the user experience and interface is, and ultimately decide if it’s the right builder for you.
Custom Code Editor
While you can certainly build an entire website from just what a website builder offers, some people will inevitably want to add their own touches. This is where a custom code editor comes into play.
If you want to be able to customize all aspects of your website, choosing a builder with a custom code editor is a must.
Price
Different builders are available at different price points. Plus, many builders offer different ways to pay. For example, you may be able to pay more upfront for a lower monthly premium, or you may be able to pay less upfront for a high monthly premium.1
Top Website Builders of 2020
WordPress
Price: After their free plan, plans start at £14.67 per month for full access to the theme store, unlimited storage space, and a custom domain.
Features
- Plenty of themes, tools, and plugins; many of them free,
- Supports all types of websites.
- Free to install on your server
With 36 percent of websites on the internet using it, WordPress arguably offers the most trusted and comprehensive CMS on the market. With plenty of plugins, room for customization, and an easy-to-use UI, WordPress is a great option for beginners and web veterans alike.2
Squarespace
Price: Starts at £7.04 per month.
Features
- Plenty of themes and templates.
- Easy drag-and-drop UI.
- Support for e-commerce.
Squarespace is by far the best option for people new to website building. This is largely thanks to their famous drag-and-drop UI and large library of presets, themes, and templates.
A complete beginner can purchase a subscription to Squarespace, build their website, and have their website up-and-running in just hours.3
Wix
Price: Starts at £7.63 per month.
Features:
- Support for email marketing, e-commerce, contact forms, and community forums.
- Wide range of plugins available.
- Great for mobile-optimized sites.
Wix offers a large catalog of over 500 designer-made templates that you can easily customize by dragging and dropping the different elements. Additionally, users have the option to upgrade to Wix Turbo for an increase in performance.4
Magnolia
Price: Pricing depends on your needs. As such, you much contact Magnolia for specific pricing.
Features
- Java-based.
- Support for e-commerce, analytics, marketing automation, social media, CRM, and ERP.
- Heavily focused on security.
If you are a business owner in need of a secure, Magnolia is a great choice. Magnolia rides the line between full-featured and simple-to-use perfectly. Moreover, it allows you to add and subtract features as your business grows.5
Weebly
Price: After their free plan, plans start at £7.04 per month.
Features
- Plans catering to all kinds of budgets.
- Simple drag-and-drop interface.
- Included Google Ads credit with purchase.
Weebly offers all the features you hope to see in an approachable CMS at a very affordable price.
On top of the affordability, Weebly throws in some unique extras. One such extra is free Google Ads credit, which you can use to promote your new website after building it.6