Best website builders in 2024

Duda’s got our top vote for a few clear reasons: It’s easy to use, offers a decent 14-day free trial and doesn’t cap your storage. Its editor works smoothly on both desktop and mobile, and it’s particularly user-friendly — which means you can get your site up and running without technical know-how. The unlimited storage and bandwidth are key if you need to upload a bunch of high-res images or create a content-rich site without worrying about available space.
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Duda’s Agency and White Label plans are geared toward web agencies, which is where Duda really shines. The client management options and priority support included in these tiers are particular standouts. If you’re looking at the Basic and Team plans, your support access is limited to email but you still get Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosting and unlimited storage.
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It’s worth noting that Duda doesn’t come cheap. Starting at $25 a month (when billed monthly; annual pricing is slightly cheaper), it’s a bit pricier than options like Strikingly or WordPress.com. E-commerce is also an add-on and additional cost. Even with Duda’s advanced features, the price could be a bit steep, so weigh the robust features against your actual needs and budget to see if it’s the right fit for your small business.

Thanks to its simple yet robust tools, Shopify is a straightforward pick for entrepreneurs diving into e-commerce. The platform stands out for its ease of use and offers a three-day free trial and no storage limits — essentials for businesses testing the online waters. Its user-friendly, intuitive interface ensures that even those with minimal tech knowledge can navigate the platform effectively.
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Shopify also stands out as a scalable platform that can adapt and grow alongside your business, offering functionalities that cater to various business sizes and needs. From guiding beginners through inventory and tax settings to providing 24/7 support via live chat and email, it’s a reliable ally in navigating e-commerce essentials.
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However, there are a few considerations worth noting. First, certain themes lack the flexibility for highly specific customization needs, which may be a drawback for some businesses. Additionally, pay close attention when comparing Shopify’s pricing tiers. While it offers a Starter plan ($5/month) to sell products via social media, that plan isn’t a proper e-commerce website builder. SMBs really need the Basic plan to build a viable e-commerce website with Shopify, and at $39/month (annual pricing is slightly cheaper), its price tag could be a barrier for very small businesses and startups.
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The leap from the Basic plan to the standard Shopify plan ($105/month) comes with valuable additions like extra staff accounts and better shipping rates, and the next leap to Advanced ($399/month) offers even more staff accounts and custom reporting. But these leaps require thoughtful consideration of your actual needs and budget; the Basic plan has the most features for the price.

Strikingly is a unique contender in the website builder market due to its emphasis on quickly building focused websites. The platform’s user-friendly site-building tools and 200+ responsive, attractive templates make it an appealing website building option. Strikingly garners praise for its excellent uptime, ensuring websites are reliably accessible — an essential attribute for maintaining an effective online presence.
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It’s worth noting that while Strikingly emphasizes ease and simplification in website creation, it does impose limitations on several standard features (some design and navigation elements) in its more budget-friendly tiers. Additionally, even though the tiered approach (which includes a free option) offers flexibility, Strikingly’s free and Limited plans are restricted to a maximum of five pages per site, which might inhibit content presentation for some SMBs. However, the Pro tier ($20/month) allows up to 100 pages.
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Strikingly is a suitable platform for those seeking to build an online space that’s straightforward, engaging and doesn’t require a steep learning curve or intensive management. While it offers simplicity and ease, businesses need to weigh these benefits against the platform’s limitations in customization and feature availability.

WordPress.com offers an accessible route into website building while balancing the power of extensive customization — a significant reason why it earned its spot as a top pick. It stands out for its varied plans, each catering to different needs. The Commerce plan ($70/month; annual billing is cheaper) offers a robust foundation for businesses exploring digital markets, providing a platform to showcase their offerings and leverage an extensive plug-in library to optimize and scale their operations.
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SMBs should be mindful of a few WordPress-specific considerations before choosing this builder. While WordPress.com streamlines many processes, it can have a steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with its interface and functionalities. Additionally, leveraging its extensive customization options requires diving into its plug-in and theme ecosystems, which may require additional budget and expertise.
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Note: WordPress.com is distinct from WordPress.org; the former offers a hosted platform with varied plans to build websites using the WordPress software, while the latter is not actually a platform at all but instead provides free, open-source WordPress software for use on self-hosted sites.

ClickFunnels is a straightforward, no-frills solution for entrepreneurs and SMBs focused on lead conversion and sales. With a range of predesigned templates, the platform offers quick-start creation of a functional sales funnel without tech know-how. Its notable simplicity in integrating third-party apps, email systems and payment processing makes it a hassle-free tool to transition online traffic toward actual sales.
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What sets ClickFunnels apart is its core strength: a dedicated focus on building and optimizing sales funnels. While conventional websites provide static information, a sales funnel — as executed by ClickFunnels — acts like an automated sales representative guiding potential customers through the buying journey. The ease of setting up these automated journeys makes this a powerful tool for small businesses with limited staffing and tech resources.
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While ClickFunnels offers substantial ease and utility, the platform’s editor is not the most robust or flexible compared to competitors. Its direct, conversion-focused approach could be too rigid for those seeking expansive design capabilities. So, while it’s a strong performer for sales funnels, it may not be the best fit for broader website management and design. With monthly billing plans ranging from $147/month (Basic) to $497/month (Funnel Hacker plan), this platform is the priciest of our top picks (even with frequent special offers), which may be a barrier for many SMBs.

Squarespace stands out for its visually appealing designs and user-friendly platform, catering to businesses and brands that prioritize aesthetics. Its templates offer more than just eye-catching visuals; they’re responsive for mobile screens, ensuring a seamless experience across devices. Additionally, its e-commerce capabilities (starting at $33/month; cheaper when billed annually), blogging tools and custom code options make it a well-rounded choice for businesses that need both form and function.
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Squarespace doesn’t compromise on functionality. With notable e-commerce capabilities, businesses can sell digital products, manage inventory and even schedule blog posts, all while maintaining a stylish appearance. The option to use custom code offers a degree of personalization so businesses can tweak websites to fit their specific needs.
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However, while Squarespace is recognized for its stunning templates and design-oriented approach, it’s worth noting that the platform doesn’t allow detailed customization to the level of some competitors. And while it provides numerous features and tools, the interface might be slightly less intuitive for those unfamiliar with website building.

Wix secures its position as best for beginners thanks to its intuitive editor interface, an extensive selection of over 800 templates and a wealth of tools that make website creation accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical proficiency. With a rich library of e-commerce tools, app widgets and AI-powered design aids, Wix simplifies the creation of visually appealing pages while ensuring they are functionally robust. The platform offers excellent uptime and customer support, providing a reliable online presence for SMBs.
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However, it’s important to acknowledge that Wix has limitations. Despite its ample offerings, the inability to switch templates without starting from scratch may cause problems for indecisive users. Additionally, the sheer volume of features and templates could offer more choices than a novice knows what to do with.
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Wix offers a free tier and varied pricing options ($32/month for its Business plan), catering to different budget levels and needs. For robust needs, the Business Elite plan ($159/month) includes unlimited storage, priority customer care, advanced analytics and advanced e-commerce capabilities. This flexibility is a plus for businesses with various budgets but requires careful scrutiny of plan features.

Web.com is a versatile website builder with an appealing balance of simplicity and functionality, making it an attractive choice for small and medium-sized businesses. Its straightforward interface caters to those who may not have extensive technical expertise in web design, allowing for the easy creation of professional-looking websites.
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All plans include access to an easy-to-use AI website builder with customizable templates and blocks. The platform’s selection of about 150 templates, though less extensive than some competitors, is sufficient for most standard business needs. Additionally, Web.com provides e-commerce capabilities and online marketing tools such as email marketing, social media scheduling and pay-per-click advertising.
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However, SMBs should consider some of Web.com’s limitations. The platform, while generally user-friendly, doesn’t offer the same level of customization as more advanced website builders like Duda or WordPress.com. This could hinder businesses looking for highly unique or intricate designs. Another noteworthy point is the pricing structure. While Web.com advertises low introductory prices, businesses should be aware that prices increase significantly after the initial period, which is an important consideration for budget planning. For example, plans range from $1.95 to $13.95 for the first month but jump to $19.99 to $49.99 per month upon renewal. (Plans are slightly cheaper when billed annually.)

Weebly is a compelling choice for small businesses looking for a balance between functionality and ease of use. With its straightforward, drag-and-drop website builder, Weebly makes creating a professional-looking website accessible, even for those lacking web design experience. This ease of use isn’t at the expense of functionality; Weebly offers a range of features, including SEO tools, e-commerce capabilities and a variety of responsive templates suitable for various business needs.
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One of Weebly’s strengths is its value for the money. With a range of reasonably priced plans, including a basic free option, it caters to businesses with different budgets. However, the free plan doesn’t allow custom domains, and building a website under a Weebly.com subdomain will be a deal-breaker for some companies, even those just starting to form an online presence.
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Businesses must also opt for Weebly’s paid plans (which are $13, $16 and $29 per month when billed monthly; annual pricing is slightly cheaper) to access more advanced features, such as enhanced e-commerce marketing, analytics and SEO. Finally, the level of customer support varies depending on the plan, with more comprehensive support available to higher-tier plan subscribers.