Know Your Options — Popular Web Platforms & Site Builders
Having a strong online presence is crucial for small businesses and personal brands. Luckily, website builders make it easier than ever to create a beautiful, functional website without needing advanced coding skills (or a large budget). Let’s explore some of the most popular website builders available in 2024, specifically their features and pricing options, so that you can make the best choice for you and your team!
Wix or Wix Studio
Wix is one of the most user-friendly and flexible website builders on the market, offering a drag-and-drop editor with tons of design freedom. It’s great for beginners and small businesses looking to create a dynamic website quickly and on a tight budget. It provides a vast range of templates and allows users to customize websites without coding knowledge. The newest version of Wix Studio also has some impressive design features, adding movement and custom interaction with ease!
Key Features:
Drag-and-drop functionality
Hundreds of customizable templates
Built-in SEO tools
E-commerce capabilities
App market for added functionality
Pricing:
Free Plan: Yes (with Wix ads and branding)
Lowest Paid Plan: $16/month for the “Combo” plan, which removes ads and includes a custom domain.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a visually appealing platform known for its sleek, modern templates. It’s particularly popular among artists, photographers, and designers due to its design-centric approach. While the platform doesn’t have as much design flexibility as Wix, it offers excellent built-in features for blogs, portfolios, and online stores.
Key Features:
Award-winning templates
Integrated blogging platform
E-commerce capabilities with built-in payment solutions
SEO tools and analytics
24/7 customer support
Pricing:
No Free Plan
Lowest Paid Plan: $16/month for the “Personal” plan, which includes a free custom domain and basic website features.
Wordpress
Wordpress is one of the most powerful and flexible options for building websites, supporting everything from simple blogs to complex e-commerce platforms. The key difference between Wordpress and other builders is its extensive customization options, particularly with plugins and themes. Check out Elementor as an added design plugin to up your design template options while maintaining beginner-friendly functionality.
Key Features:
Customizable with plugins
Huge selection of themes
Built-in blogging and SEO tools
E-commerce capabilities with WooCommerce
Large support community
Pricing:
Free Plan: Yes (with WordPress branding)
Lowest Paid Plan: $4/month for the “Personal” plan, which includes a custom domain and basic website customization.
Webflow
Webflow is a powerful website builder designed for developers and designers who want more control over the appearance and functionality of their sites. It offers a balance between design flexibility and clean code output, making it a popular choice among creatives who want to build professional, dynamic websites without starting from scratch. As a small business, this platform takes a bit more platform knowledge to manage, but if you want a truly modern, interactive website — Webflow is an excellent option!
Key Features:
Advanced design capabilities
Custom animations and interactions
CMS functionality
SEO tools
E-commerce capabilities
Pricing:
No Free Plan (Though there is a free trial)
Lowest Paid Plan: $14/month for the “Basic” plan, which allows for a simple, static website with a custom domain.
Framer
Framer began as a prototyping tool for designers, but has evolved into a website builder that emphasizes high design quality and animations. It's perfect for those looking to create eye-catching, interactive websites quickly. Framer’s visual editor lets users build without code, though it also supports more advanced features for developers.
Key Features:
Beautiful, interactive templates
Design-centric animations and interactions
Collaboration tools for teams
Built-in hosting
Custom code integration for advanced users
Pricing:
Free Plan: Yes (with Framer branding)
Lowest Paid Plan: $10/month for the “Basic” plan, which removes branding and includes custom domains and SEO tools.
Weebly
Weebly, now owned by Square, is an intuitive and beginner-friendly website builder. It’s great for small businesses and those looking to build simple, effective websites or online stores without much hassle. The drag-and-drop editor, combined with Square’s payment solutions, makes Weebly a strong contender for e-commerce sites.
Key Features:
Simple drag-and-drop interface
Built-in e-commerce functionality
Mobile-responsive templates
Integrated payment solutions (via Square)
Basic SEO options
Pricing:
Free Plan: Yes (with Weebly branding)
Lowest Paid Plan: $10/month for the “Personal” plan, which includes a custom domain and removes ads.
Shopify
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform designed specifically for businesses looking to sell products online. It offers everything you need to build, customize, and manage an online store, including payment processing, inventory management, and marketing tools. Shopify caters to businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, and is known for its reliability and scalability.
Key Features:
Comprehensive e-commerce functionality
Payment gateway integration (Shopify Payments)
Inventory and order management
Mobile-friendly themes
Integrated marketing tools (SEO, email, social media integration)
App store with a wide range of plugins
Pricing:
No Free Plan (though a free trial is available)
Lowest Paid Plan: $39/month for the “Basic” plan, which includes essential e-commerce features such as a website, blog, and full storefront capabilities.
Which Website Builder Should You Choose?
Your choice of website builder largely depends on your needs, skill level, and budget.
Wix/Wix Studio: Best for beginners who want complete creative control over their website with easy drag-and-drop functionality.
Squarespace: Ideal for creatives and small businesses looking for sleek, visually appealing templates with integrated features.
Wordpress: Best for bloggers and users who require advanced customization options and scalability.
Webflow: Great for designers and developers seeking full design flexibility and control over code.
Framer: Best for creative professionals focused on high-quality design and interactive website experiences.
Weebly: Perfect for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need a simple, user-friendly platform with solid e-commerce capabilities.
Shopify: The top choice for businesses focused on e-commerce, offering powerful tools to manage online stores and scale sales across multiple channels.
With options ranging from free plans to premium features, there’s something for everyone, whether you're just starting out or scaling an established online presence. The website builder you choose can impact your online success. Consider the features, design flexibility, and pricing options that best match your goals. The great news? Most of these platforms offer free plans or trials, allowing you to experiment and find your perfect match.
Ready to Build Your Dream Website (with Expert Help)?
Whether you’re redesigning, re-platforming or building your website from scratch, want a UX audit or simply need SEO assistance, our team is ready to help! If the above information was not enough to help you decide, we can asses your unique needs to help you decide on how and where to build your website. Explore our web design services or book a free design consultation to get started!