For small businesses looking to establish an online presence, choosing the right website builder is crucial. After evaluating the top options, Wix emerges as the overall best choice, offering:
- Easy drag-and-drop editor
- 500+ customizable templates
- Online store and payment gateways
- SEO-friendly and mobile-responsive
- Affordable plans starting at $14/month with 24/7 support
In addition to building a great website, small business owners often need to think about boosting their visibility across social media platforms like Instagram.
Many find that buying Instagram views can help give their content the initial push it needs to reach a wider audience, helping to attract organic engagement.
Combining an effective website with strategic social media growth techniques can provide a solid foundation for increasing brand awareness and sales.
Other top contenders include:
| Website Builder | Best For | Pricing (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Squarespace | Design-focused businesses | $16 - $46 |
| Shopify | Ecommerce businesses | $29 - $299 |
| GoDaddy | Budget-friendly websites | $10 - $25 |
| Hostinger | Affordable, easy-to-use sites | $2.69 - $20.99 |
Consider your specific needs, budget, and priorities when selecting the ideal website builder to create a professional online presence for your small business.
1. Wix
Wix is a top website builder for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform to create a professional website without requiring extensive coding knowledge. With Wix, you can choose from hundreds of templates, customize your website's design, and add features to enhance your online presence.
Setup & Usability
Wix's drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to set up and customize your website. You can choose from various templates, and the AI-powered website builder will guide you through the process. The editor is intuitive, allowing you to add elements, text, and images without coding.
Design & Customization
Wix offers a vast collection of templates, catering to various industries and website types. You can customize your website's design, layout, and content using the drag-and-drop editor. The platform also provides design features like a logo maker, font styles, and color schemes.
Ecommerce Tools
Wix's ecommerce features enable you to create an online store, manage products, and process payments. You can set up a storefront, add products, and configure payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
SEO & Mobile Optimization
Wix's website builder is optimized for search engines, with built-in SEO tools to help you improve your website's visibility. The platform also ensures that your website is mobile-friendly.
Cost & Support
Wix offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $17/month. The platform provides 24/7 customer support, including phone, email, and live chat support. Wix also offers a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials to help you get started.
Wix Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $17 | Website builder, 500 MB storage, 1 GB bandwidth |
| Unlimited | $22 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth |
| eCommerce | $27 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, online store |
Overall, Wix is an excellent choice for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform, flexible design options, and robust ecommerce features.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is a popular website builder that helps small businesses create a professional website without requiring extensive coding knowledge. With Squarespace, you can choose from various templates, customize your website's design, and add features to enhance your online presence.
Setup & Usability
Squarespace's drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to set up and customize your website. You can choose from various templates, and the platform's intuitive interface will guide you through the process. The editor is user-friendly, allowing you to add elements, text, and images without coding.
Design & Customization
Squarespace offers a range of modern templates, catering to various industries and website types. You can customize your website's design, layout, and content using the drag-and-drop editor. The platform also provides design features like a logo maker, font styles, and color schemes.
Ecommerce Tools
Squarespace's ecommerce features enable you to create an online store, manage products, and process payments. You can set up a storefront, add products, and configure payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
SEO & Mobile Optimization
Squarespace's website builder is optimized for search engines, with built-in SEO tools to help you improve your website's visibility. The platform also ensures that your website is mobile-friendly, providing a responsive design that adapts to different devices and screen sizes.
Cost & Support
Squarespace offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $16/month. The platform provides 24/7 customer support, including email, live chat, and online resources. Squarespace also offers a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials to help you get started.
Squarespace Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $16 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth |
| Business | $23 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features |
| Basic Commerce | $27 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features, abandoned cart recovery |
| Advanced Commerce | $49 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features, abandoned cart recovery, APIs and integrations |
Overall, Squarespace is a great choice for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform, flexible design options, and robust ecommerce features.
3. Shopify
Setup & Usability
Shopify is a user-friendly ecommerce platform that helps small businesses create an online store without requiring extensive coding knowledge. With Shopify, you can set up and customize your website using a drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to add elements, text, and images.
Design & Customization
Shopify offers a range of customizable templates, both free and paid, that cater to various industries and website types. You can modify your website's design, layout, and content using the drag-and-drop editor. Shopify also provides design features like a logo maker, font styles, and color schemes.
Ecommerce Tools
Shopify is primarily an ecommerce platform designed for online stores of all sizes. It offers robust ecommerce features, including:
- Inventory management
- Various payment gateways
- An extensive app ecosystem
You can set up a storefront, add products, and configure payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
SEO & Mobile Optimization
Shopify's website builder is optimized for search engines, with built-in SEO tools to help you improve your website's visibility. The platform also ensures that your website is mobile-friendly, providing a responsive design.
Cost & Support
Shopify offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $39/month. The platform provides 24/7 customer support, including email, live chat, and online resources. Shopify also offers a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials to help you get started.
Shopify Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Shopify | $39 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features |
| Shopify | $105 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features, abandoned cart recovery |
| Advanced Shopify | $399 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features, abandoned cart recovery, APIs and integrations |
Overall, Shopify is a great choice for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform, flexible design options, and robust ecommerce features.
4. GoDaddy
Setup & Usability
GoDaddy is a user-friendly website builder that helps small businesses create an online presence without requiring extensive coding knowledge. With GoDaddy, you can set up and customize your website using a drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to add elements, text, and images. The platform offers a 30-day free trial, allowing you to test its features before committing to a plan.
Design & Customization
GoDaddy offers over 100 customizable templates, catering to various industries and website types. You can modify your website's design, layout, and content using the drag-and-drop editor. The platform also provides design features like a logo maker, font styles, and color schemes.
Ecommerce Tools
GoDaddy's ecommerce plan offers robust features, including:
- Inventory management
- Various payment gateways
- Online store
You can set up a storefront, add products, and configure payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
SEO & Mobile Optimization
GoDaddy's website builder is optimized for search engines, with built-in SEO tools to help you improve your website's visibility. The platform also ensures that your website is mobile-friendly, providing a responsive design.
Cost & Support
GoDaddy offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $9.99/month. The platform provides 24/7 customer support, including email, live chat, and online resources. GoDaddy also offers a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials to help you get started.
GoDaddy Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $9.99 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features |
| Premium | $14.99 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features, SEO tools |
| Commerce | $20.99 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, ecommerce features, SEO tools, appointment scheduling |
GoDaddy is a great choice for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform, flexible design options, and robust ecommerce features.
sbb-itb-bf47c9b
5. Hostinger
Setup & Usability
Hostinger Website Builder is a powerful tool for creating high-quality webpages without technical knowledge. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to place elements manually or use the AI Website Builder to create your site's foundation. This makes it a perfect option for solopreneurs and small businesses looking to go online.
Design & Customization
Hostinger Website Builder offers 150+ modern templates, eCommerce functionality, analytic tools, and SEO settings. You can also use its royalty-free image library to find fitting images for your site.
Ecommerce Tools
Hostinger Website Builder provides a full suite of eCommerce tools to help you create an online store. You can add up to 500 physical and digital products, set up product categories, and even create custom discount codes.
Cost & Support
Hostinger Website Builder offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $2.69/month. The platform provides 24/7 live support, including email, live chat, and online resources.
Hostinger Website Builder Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Website Builder & Web Hosting | $2.49 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, eCommerce features |
| Business | $3.99 | Website builder, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, eCommerce features, SEO tools |
Hostinger Website Builder is a great choice for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform, flexible design options, and robust eCommerce features.
Comparing Key Features
When choosing a website builder for your small business, it's crucial to compare the key features of each platform. Here's a breakdown of the top website builders, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in terms of setup and usability, design and customization, ecommerce tools, SEO and mobile optimization, cost, and support.
Website Builder Comparison
| Website Builder | Setup & Usability | Design & Customization | Ecommerce Tools | SEO & Mobile Optimization | Cost | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Easy drag-and-drop editor | 500+ templates, customizable | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $14-$39/month | 24/7 support |
| Squarespace | User-friendly interface | 100+ templates, customizable | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $16-$46/month | 24/7 support |
| Shopify | Easy setup, drag-and-drop editor | 100+ templates, customizable | Robust ecommerce features | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $29-$299/month | 24/7 support |
| GoDaddy | Easy setup, drag-and-drop editor | 100+ templates, customizable | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $10-$25/month | 24/7 support |
| Hostinger | Easy setup, drag-and-drop editor | 150+ templates, customizable | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $2.69-$20.99/month | 24/7 support |
Pros and Cons Summary
When choosing a website builder for your small business, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each platform. Here's a concise summary of the advantages and limitations of Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, GoDaddy, and Hostinger:
Wix
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Limited scalability |
| Many templates to choose from | Limited ecommerce features |
| Good for SEO and mobile devices | Limited integrations |
Squarespace
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly interface | Limited ecommerce features |
| Many templates to choose from | Limited integrations |
| Good for SEO and mobile devices | Higher pricing plans |
Shopify
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Robust ecommerce features | Higher pricing plans |
| Many templates to choose from | Limited design flexibility |
| Good for SEO and mobile devices | Transaction fees |
GoDaddy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to set up | Limited ecommerce features |
| Many templates to choose from | Limited integrations |
| Affordable pricing plans | Limited scalability |
Hostinger
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable pricing plans | Limited ecommerce features |
| Many templates to choose from | Limited integrations |
| Easy to set up | Limited scalability |
Final Thoughts
After evaluating the pros and cons of each website builder, it's clear that each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Here's a summary:
Website Builder Comparison
| Website Builder | Ease of Use | Design Options | Ecommerce Features | SEO and Mobile Optimization | Cost | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Easy | 500+ templates | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $14-$39/month | 24/7 support |
| Squarespace | User-friendly | 100+ templates | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $16-$46/month | 24/7 support |
| Shopify | Easy setup | 100+ templates | Robust ecommerce features | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $29-$299/month | 24/7 support |
| GoDaddy | Easy setup | 100+ templates | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $10-$25/month | 24/7 support |
| Hostinger | Easy setup | 150+ templates | Online store, payment gateways | SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive | $2.69-$20.99/month | 24/7 support |
When choosing a website builder, consider your specific needs and priorities. If you're looking for ease of use, Wix or Squarespace might be the way to go. If ecommerce features are essential, Shopify is the top choice. For those on a budget, GoDaddy or Hostinger could be the perfect fit.
FAQs
What is the best website builder for small business?
The best overall website builder for small business is Wix. It offers hundreds of templates, a suite of tools, and a flexible, beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface. Its fairly-priced plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee, making it ideal for small businesses starting out.
What website builder is best for small businesses?
Here's a comparison of the top website builders for small businesses:
| Website Builder | Best For |
|---|---|
| Wix | Overall best for small businesses |
| Squarespace | Design-focused businesses |
| Shopify | Ecommerce businesses |
| GoDaddy | Budget-friendly businesses |
| Hostinger | Affordable, easy-to-use websites |
Each website builder has its strengths and weaknesses. Choose the one that best fits your small business needs.
