When it comes to small businesses, having a website is often crucial for success in today's digital age. However, building a website from scratch can be a daunting task. That's where website builders come in. With so many options out there, it can be hard to choose the best one for your small business needs. Fortunately, we've done the research for you and found the top website builders perfect for small businesses.
From drag-and-drop templates to customizable features, these builders make it easy to create a professional and functional website. According to a recent survey, 64% of small businesses have a website, and those that don't, risk falling behind their competitors. So, whether you're starting a new venture or looking to revamp your existing website, read on to discover which website builder is the right fit for you and your small business.
Also read: Best website builders for portfolio
Squarespace
Shopify
Strikingly
Wix
Weebly
HostGator
Site123
WordPress
For those considering WordPress, it's worth noting that there is a free plan if you want to try it out first. If you are looking for a more bespoke online presentation of your creative business, you might want to consider the web builder from Bluehost, which runs on top of WordPress. It gives you countless options to add finesse and customization to your site using any of the thousands of WordPress plugins available.
As for WordPress.com, the personal plan starts at $4/mo billed yearly, with a free domain for one year and removal of WordPress.com ads. WordPress.com's pricing plans differ when it comes to paying annually or monthly, with annual plans including a free domain among other features but costing more. For businesses, the Pro plan is $18 a month and includes 50GB of storage space alongside a raft of features and tools.
One of the standout features of WordPress is its design flexibility, which is unrivaled in the industry. Users will have access to thousands of templates and plugins through the official WordPress stores. With its intuitive dashboard and customizable options, it is easy to understand why WordPress is popular among content creators.
The platform is also highly rated, with a WordPress G2 Rating of 4.4/5, and is favored by top industries, including Marketing and Advertising, Computer Software, Information Technology and Services, Internet, Writing and Editing.
However, WordPress can be a little confusing to get started with, and it will take users some time to get their site online. Additionally, WordPress is mentioned in the text as a platform that may require web hosting on top of a builder. If a user wants to use WordPress, it is recommended to consider if web hosting is needed, and Ionos is a hosting provider to consider.
In conclusion, for those looking for a website builder for small business, WordPress offers unmatched customization options and content flexibility. With its impressive design templates, its place among top industries, as well as being a trusted website-creating platform, it is an excellent option for anyone looking to create an online presence.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website building and hosting platform that offers customizable templates, drag-and-drop tools, and integrated features, such as e-commerce capabilities, to help users create a professional-looking website. With its stunning templates and scheduling tools, Squarespace is an ideal website builder for creative businesses, marketing-based small businesses and non-profit organizations. Our reviewers found that Squarespace's templates are the most beautiful of all the website builders. Plus its interface is easy to use, the SEO tools are great, and you can add an online store too.
Squarespace has a score of 4.5 out of 5, scoring 4.4 out of 5 in ease of use, and 3.7 out of 5 in website features. The platform offers impeccable customer support with fixed support channels that include live chat, email support, knowledge base, community forum, and video tutorials. Squarespace also offers in-house services for online bookings, advanced marketing features, and social media integration.
In terms of pricing, Squarespace's personal plan is $16/mo if you pay annually, making it a great option for marketing or creative-type businesses that don't need to sell in large quantities. Squarespace offers modern and stylish templates that are mobile-responsive, so they look great across every device. The platform also integrates with MailChimp for email marketing.
Other top features of Squarespace include its focus on branding or visual promotion, a wide range of templates, and integration with social media. The platform prioritizes design and offers analytics tools that help users monitor their website's performance.
Squarespace is in second place among the best website builders for small businesses, with design-focused templates ideal for creatives and marketing-based small businesses. Top industries using Squarespace include Marketing and Advertising, Design, Non-Profit Organization Management, Photography, Writing, and Editing.
In summary, Squarespace is the best website builder with the most beautiful templates offering a suite of e-commerce tools and modern design. While its drag-and-drop interface may appear a little fiddlier to use than some competitors, it's probably an extra cost worth paying for those looking for a website builder that prioritizes design and ease of use.
Strikingly
If you're in the market for a website builder for your small business, you may want to consider Strikingly. This unique option is specifically designed for one-page sites and landing pages, making it a fantastic choice for businesses that only need a single web page to get their message across.
One of the standout features of Strikingly is its intuitive, beginner-friendly editor and site creation tools. Even if you have no experience with web design, you'll find it easy to create an attractive and effective one-page site with Strikingly. Additionally, there are simple online store and blog modules that you can add to your site for ecommerce and blogging functionality.
While there is a free plan available with a strikingly.com domain, paid plans start at very competitive prices, from just $8 per month. These plans come with a free SSL certificate and the ability to create up to two limited sites.
The Pro and VIP packages are the best choices for most businesses, as they offer a more complete suite of features. However, it's worth noting that the template library is a little limited, and the free account comes with a one-page restriction.
Overall, Strikingly is an interesting option for businesses that only need a one-page site. Its unique features, competitive pricing, and user-friendly editor make it a solid choice for those who want to create a simple, effective website without any hassle.
Wix
If you're a small business owner, Wix is a website builder that might be worth considering. It offers a variety of features that make it stand out from other website builders. In our testing, we found Wix's interface super-easy to use. You can add your own text and images to its over 800 expertly-designed templates via drag and drop, with a user-friendly editor allowing for complete customization. And when we did run into problems, though, there were Help buttons everywhere on the page.
Wix is also known for its powerful e-commerce features, scoring 4.8 out of 5 in our ratings, well ahead of any other builder tested. It offers inventory management software, powerful shipping solutions, and customizable online booking elements, invoices, and payment tracking functionality. Wix's suite of SEO tools is impressive as well, with its Wix SEO Wiz feature that asks you a few questions about your website, location, and keywords and creates a bespoke SEO plan and keyword research capabilities.
Wix offers different pricing options, with prices starting at $16 per month. Annually, the prices can reach $59 per month, making it less affordable than other website builders, with a score of 3.4 out of 5 in a price comparison. However, the extensive internal functionality that Wix offers can compensate for the higher fees. Wix supports major credit and debit cards as well as Apple Pay and other payment methods.
Wix is used by a diverse range of businesses, with top industries including Marketing and Advertising, Computer Software, Information Technology & Services, Design, and Non-Profit Organization Management. It also offers specific templates and features for restaurants, music or brand promotion, tech & IT businesses, entertainment & events, amongst others, making it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes and industries.
In conclusion, Wix is the best website builder for small businesses, offering superb customization options and ecommerce functionality. Its powerful SEO tools and user-friendly editor make it stand out from its competitors, with the ability to create a website quickly and easily using its ADI builder, making it an attractive choice for businesses looking to sell online or simply establish an online presence.
Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce platform designed to cater to small to medium-sized businesses. It is an ideal option for businesses in the retail, apparel & fashion, marketing, advertising, consumer goods and internet industries. Its basic plan starts at $24/mo billed annually.
Shopify offers advanced features that set it apart from other website builders, especially when it comes to sales. Dropshipping services, subscriptions, and shipping tools are some of the best sales tools offered by Shopify. The platform also allows you to accept major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and other payment options.
The platform offers three core plans - Basic, Shopify, and Advanced, along with an extensive app store. Advanced marketing features like in-house email newsletters and multi-channel outreach are also available. However, the platform has a steeper learning curve and relies heavily on third-party apps.
Shopify offers unlimited products, multiple sales channels, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, and Shopify Payments. The starter plan only costs $5 per month, making it an attractive option for small businesses. Additionally, customer support for Shopify is available 24/7 through different channels like live chat, phone, email, social media and the Shopify Community.
While Square Online has pricing similar to Shopify's, Shopify's more advanced features make it a better option for larger online stores. The overwhelming app market and powerful ecommerce features make it suitable for businesses wanting to expand into a new market or grow online.
In conclusion, Shopify is the ultimate choice for businesses that want to sell online. It is not just limited to promoting an online business, but allows businesses to actively sell. The platform is specialized in e-commerce and comes with all the necessary features that businesses need. Shopify is the best option for businesses that need to set up an online store with ease and simplicity. Its designs are also mobile responsive, making it easier for customers to browse through the store from anywhere.
Questions you might be asking
Which type of website is best for small business?
The best type of website for a small business depends on the business's specific needs. Generally, a simple and easy-to-use website builder like Wix or Squarespace is a great option. WordPress is also a popular choice for those who prefer more customization options.
Is Wix good for a small business?
Wix is a great option for small businesses that need a simple and straightforward website builder. It offers pre-designed templates and an easy drag-and-drop editor, making it simple to create a professional-looking website quickly. It also offers affordable pricing plans, making it suitable for businesses on a budget.
How do I create a mini business website?
To create a mini business website, you can use a website builder like Wix or Squarespace. Choose a template that fits your business's needs, customize the design, add your content, and publish your site. It's that simple!
Is GoDaddy a free website?
GoDaddy offers a website builder with a free trial. However, once the trial is up, you will need to choose a paid plan to continue using the service.
Is .com or .net better for small business?
A .com domain is typically better for small businesses because it is the most common and familiar domain extension. It is also easier to remember than other domain extensions like .net.
Is Wix a free website?
Wix offers a free plan, but it comes with limitations and Wix ads on your site. However, it is a great way to test out the platform before committing to a paid plan.
Is Wix better than WordPress?
It depends on your needs and preferences. Wix offers a simpler and more intuitive drag-and-drop editor, while WordPress provides more customization options and flexibility. Both platforms have their pros and cons, so it's ultimately up to the user to decide which one is the better fit for their business.