Best Website Builder for Small Business: Top 11 in 2024 Reviewed

Are you looking for the best website builder for small business?

Having a website for a small business is more important than ever. While social media is excellent, it’s also limiting. Plus, creating a website makes your business more professional.

But, as a small business entrepreneur, creating a website may seem intimidating or time-consuming, and hiring someone to build a website can be expensive.

Gladly, a website builder for small businesses takes the burden off your shoulders. It helps you create and run a website without requiring professional help or knowing how to code.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through the best website builders for small businesses, helping you make an informed decision.

Key Features To Consider in a Website Builder

When selecting a website builder for your small business, several key features should be on your radar, but I highly suggest prioritizing the following four as the most important:

  1. User-friendly interface ensures fast and smooth navigation
  2. Customization options let you tailor your site to your brand
  3. Ecommerce capabilities are essential for online sales
  4. Responsiveness ensures your site looks great on mobile devices

Don’t forget the search engine optimization tools that boost your visibility on search engines.

Best Website Builder for Small Business

In this roundup, I have reviewed the best options for creating a website for a small business. If you’re interested in a specific builder, click the links below to go straight to it:

  1. Self-Hosted WordPress: Best Website Builder for Small Business Overall
  2. Hostinger Website Builder: Best AI-Powered Website Builder
  3. HubSpot Website Builder: Best for Marketing Automation
  4. Wix: Best Quick Business Website Creator With Simple Templates
  5. Web.com: Best DIY Business Website Builder for Beginners
  6. GoDaddy Website Builder: Best for Creating Simple Sites
  7. Gator Website Builder: Best Affordable Website Builder
  8. MemberPress: Best Membership Site Builder
  9. Weebly: Best Freemium Website Platform for Small Business
  10. BigCommerce: Best Business Website Builder for ecommerce
  11. Squarespace: Best Business Website Creator for Modern Designs

1. Self-Hosted WordPress: Best Website Builder for Small Business Overall

Self Hosted WordPress.org

About 43% of the internet runs on WordPress. It’s the world’s most popular content management system (CMS) because it’s flexible, scalable, and easy to use, making it a fitting option for small businesses.

There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. WordPress.org is self-hosted and free, while WordPress.com has a variety of pricing levels.

Tons of brands use WordPress. Some big names include TechCrunch, The New York Times Company, and Microsoft News.

While WordPress is popular with bloggers, it isn’t only for blogging. Creating a website for your business is more than possible!

I recommend creating a website for your business using self-hosted WordPress.org. This could be the best website builder for your small business because it’s flexible and free.

Pros:

Cons:

  • Requires manual site back up, updating WordPress and plugins. One way to solve this is with managed WordPress hosting. This option lets someone else look after the technical aspects of running your site.

Pricing:

Self-hosted WordPress is free.

That said, registering your own domain name and using shared hosting come with fees, and this is the way most truly professional websites go.

I recommend Bluehost, where you can get started for $1.99 per month with a free domain for the first year. It also comes with professional email, free SSL certificate, and more.

Get started with WordPress today!

2. Hostinger Website Builder: Best for Automatically Creating a Website

Hostinger Website Builder

Hostinger Website Builder, formerly known as Zyro, is second on my list of the best website builder for small business. Its ability to quickly build a professional website using artificial intelligence (AI) caught my attention.

The AI-powered website builder will automatically build you a website, including SEO-friendly content and relevant images, based on your answers to a few simple questions.

If you need to make customizations, you can easily do so with the drag-and-drop editor.

Hostinger is also one of the top web hosting providers with affordable pricing.

Pros:

  • AI-powered website builder and an easy drag-and-drop editor to make customizations.
  • Built-in library of ready-made website templates designed by professionals.
  • Powerful ecommerce tools to manage an online store and sell up to 500 products.
  • The cheapest plan includes web hosting, a free domain name, free business email address, and more.

Cons:

  • It’s difficult to switch to a different website template after you’ve chosen one.
  • Compared to website builders like WordPress.org, it lacks 3rd-party integrations and addons.

Pricing:

  • Premium: $2.99 per month ($7.99 per month upon renewal)
  • Business: $3.99 per month ($8.99 per month upon renewal)
  • Cloud Startup: $8.99 per month ($19.99 per month upon renewal)

Get started with Hostinger Website Builder today!

3. HubSpot Website Builder: Best for Marketing Automation

HubSpot website builder

HubSpot Website Builder is a drag-and-drop builder with marketing automation tools and CRM. You can optimize your website for every device and personalize it for every visitor.

All this makes its spot on the list of the best website builder for small business a no-brainer!

You can use pre-built templates to create posts, landing pages, site pages, and emails.

A unique feature of the HubSpot website builder is its adaptive testing. This lets you choose up to 5 different versions of a web page. HubSpot monitors and determines the best website for your small business.

Pros:

  • Integration with its CRM. This lets you use customer data to create a personalized experience for each visitor.
  • All content is on one platform. So, you don’t need to jump around to different places to make everything work.
  • Though HubSpot is simple, it’s also comprehensive. It has features like email marketing, live chat, and adaptive testing, which many don’t.

Cons:

  • If you want an online store or a complex business website, a platform like WordPress.org could be better. HubSpot is a bit simpler.
  • Beginners might find the extra features a bit intimidating. Decide if you need marketing automation features before buying.

Pricing:

Begin your journey with the free website builder from HubSpot! They provide a range of packages, including free options with limited features and premium plans offering advanced capabilities and dedicated support.

For pricing plans, feel free to contact their sales experts.

Get started with HubSpot Website Builder today!

4. Wix: Best Quick Business Website Creator With Simple Templates

Wix website builder

Wix shines with its intuitive drag-and-drop builder, allowing you to create a stunning website without coding knowledge. With many templates and web design options, Wix caters to various industries.

Whether you’re selling products or services, Wix’s e-commerce features and SEO tools have you covered.

Wix made my list of the top website builders because of its Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI). ADI digs through the web for information on your business.

Pros:

  • Offers over 800 templates, clip art, icons, and an app market in the free version. You can add access to more apps, videos, and more at higher levels.
  • This platform also has SEO, email capture and marketing, social posting, and Facebook ad tools.
  • Hundreds of customizable templates available. These templates let you create your own website in minutes.
  • Some versions of Wix also allow you to translate your site into different languages.

Cons:

  • Wix uses absolute positioning (as opposed to responsive design). This means elements don’t always adjust to different screens. So, it isn’t the best for different sizes of screens or SEO.
  • If you move your site away from Wix, it can be pretty complicated to make it happen.

Pricing:

Wix offers a free plan and 5 different premium plans:

  • Lite: $16 per month
  • Core: $27 per month
  • Business: $32 per month
  • Business Elite: $159 per month
  • Enterprise Plans: Customized to your needs

Get started with Wix today!

5. Web.com: Best DIY Business Website Builder for Beginners

web dot com business website builder for beginners homepage

Web.com is an easy-to-use, do-it-yourself website builder. It allows anyone to create a professional small business website.

It makes creating a website for your business simpler via a drag-and-drop builder. Plus, there are tons of website templates to get you started.

Web.com should be expensive. But, it has one of the lowest starting prices, securing its place on my list of best website builders.

Pros:

  • User-friendly and affordable.
  • You can choose a template and use the drag-and-drop builder to customize your site.
  • Loaded with tools to help market your small business website. These include resources for SEO and integrations with third-party tools.

Cons:

  • The domain name you get is only valid for a year, and you must renew it for a fee each year after this. To cancel it, you need to call them.
  • The Starter package has significant limitations, particularly if you need ecommerce tools. But, the upgraded levels are still less expensive than the average site.

Pricing:

  • Website: $4.95 per month
  • Website + Marketing: $7.95 per month
  • Online Store: $13.95 per month
  • Online Marketplaces: $19.95 per month

Get started with Web.com today!

6. GoDaddy Website Builder: Best for Creating Simple Sites

GoDaddy Website Builder

GoDaddy is one of the most popular domain name registrars and hosting service providers. With GoDaddy Website Builder, you can create a business website, including GoDaddy hosting.

Pros:

  • No technical knowledge needed, pick one of their ready-to-use templates, fonts, and graphics and use the drag-and-drop editor to customize it.
  • You can add contact forms, videos, and social media links.
  • Also includes built-in marketing tools, including SEO and email marketing functions.
  • This business website creator works on any screen, including your phone or tablet.
  • The GoDaddy InSight tool gets insights and recommendations based on data from millions of users. You get an Insight Score to help you make your small business website even better.

Cons:

  • Compared to some business website builders, GoDaddy Website Builder offers fewer features.
  • It’s also not the best for content-rich websites. It’s better for building a simple site with a few pages.
  • If you want to move your site from GoDaddy to a different platform in the future, it’s not easy to do.

Pricing:

  • Basic: $10.99 per month ($12.99 per month upon renewal)
  • Premium: $14.99 per month ($22.99 per month upon renewal)
  • Commerce: $20.99 per month ($26.99 per month upon renewal)

Get started with GoDaddy Website Builder today!

7. Gator Website Builder: Best Affordable Website Builder

HostGator small business website builder and host homepage

Gator Website Builder, by HostGator, makes it easy to create a simple website with a few clicks. Plus, it’s among the cheapest high-quality business website builders available today.

Pros:

  • Gator Website Builder boasts no learning curve, with a library of themes and layouts to choose from. The drag-and-drop software makes it easy to add images, videos, Google Maps, and more.
  • This platform includes free hosting, a domain name, analytics, and an SSL certificate. Those certificates keep your site secure and more SEO-friendly.
  • If you already have a website, Gator Website Builder doesn’t make you start from scratch. They make transferring your site as easy as possible.

Cons:

  • Gator Website Builder doesn’t have a ton of advanced features. If you want to open an ecommerce site or have lots of bells and whistles, this wouldn’t be the best choice for you.
  • Additionally, you sign a 3-year contract up front. You can cancel before renewal, but there may be a fee. (That said, it’s still cheaper than many hosts when you add up the yearly prices.)

Pricing:

  • Starter Plan: Starts at $3.46 per month
  • Premium Plan: Starts at $5.39 per month
  • Ecommerce Plan: Starts at $8.30 per month

Get started with the Gator Website Builder today!

8. MemberPress: Best Membership Site Builder

MemberPress

Do you want a business website where visitors register for exclusive content? Then you need MemberPress.

MemberPress is a WordPress plugin for building stunning membership sites. You can accept payments, sell digital downloads, and control who sees your content.

Pros:

  • Since MemberPress runs on WordPress (which you’ll need to add to your site in order to use MemberPress), it has a lot of flexibility
  • Set up your membership site in minutes and generate recurring subscription revenue.
  • Manage your site members and give them access to content based on membership level.
  • Connects with Stripe and PayPal to accept payments, with no additional transaction fees.
  • It integrates with other plugins and you can use it with any WordPress theme.
  • It can even create online classes, including quizzes.
  • MemberPress offers high-quality customer support to help you build and maintain your site.

Cons:

  • MemberPress is a bit pricier than some business website builder options on this list.
  • Because it runs on WordPress, you’re responsible for software updates and backups.

Pricing:

  • Basic Plan: $179.50 per year
  • Plus Plan: $299.50 per year
  • Pro Plan: $399.50 per year
  • Elite Plan: $499.50 per year

Resource: MemberPress Review: Details, Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Get started with MemberPress site builder today!

9. Weebly: Best Freemium Website Platform for Small Business

Weebly low cost or free website builder homepage

Weebly is often listed among the best free website builder software because it’s hard to argue with that price tag!

Pros:

  • Allows you to use SEO and lead generation features. But, you may have to upgrade to a paid plan to gain full access.
  • This platform allows your small business website to be mobile-friendly with responsive templates.
  • Upgrading lets you use Weebly with your domain. Otherwise, you’ll have a domain including Weebly in the URL.
  • You get site search, HD audio and video, and membership options with different plans.

Cons:

  • The basic, free level has some rudimentary ecommerce functions. Still, the paid versions are likely to make customers far happier.
  • Not everyone finds Weebly’s drag-and-drop builder easy to use.
  • If you want to change website platforms later, you may have to re-create your site from scratch.
  • It has an excellent app store.

Pricing:

  • Personal: $10 per month
  • Professional: $12 per month
  • Performance: $26 per month billed

Get started with the Weebly Website Builder today!

10. BigCommerce: Best Business Website Builder for eCommerce

bigcommerce best business website for ecommerce homepage

BigCommerce is one of the best websites for small businesses needing ecommerce functions. It’s designed for online sales. The BigCommerce platform powers Burrow, Skullcandy, and large brands.

Pros:

  • BigCommerce could help launch an ecommerce store without worrying about technical aspects.
  • Beginner friendly, easy to create stores with stunning templates.
  • You can find dozens of responsive designs for different industries.
  • You can customize your small business website with integrated apps.
  • They offer features like shipping and inventory solutions, reviews, and email marketing automation.
  • BigCommerce has 99.99% uptime and protection from hackers and DDoS attacks. This can help customers feel safe and stay engaged.

Cons:

You need to upgrade to get some ecommerce features, including:

Pricing:

  • Standard: $29 per month
  • Plus: $79 per month
  • Pro: $299 per month
  • Enterprise: custom pricing

Want to know how BigCommerce stacks up to other ecommerce platforms? Check out our comparison of Magneto, Shopify, and BigCommerce.

Get started with BigCommerce today!

11. Squarespace: Best Business Website Creator for Modern Designs

Squarespace

Squarespace made my list because I love its beautiful designs and ease of use.

Pros:

  • Squarespace aims to be manageable if you’re creating a website for your business for the first time.
  • Its basic plan lets you set up a 20-page website.
  • You can use Squarespace with a custom domain for free for the first year. Plus, it’s hosted, so Squarespace keeps your site updated.
  • You also get free SSL certificate, analytics, and ecommerce features with that package.
  • It also lets you sell unlimited products and accept donations.
  • Other plans offer inventory management, accounting, checkout functions, cart recovery, and ecommerce reporting.

Cons:

  • Some people find a learning curve, though Squarespace’s support can help solve issues.
  • If ecommerce is essential to your business, you need one of the more expensive plans.

Pricing:

  • Personal: $16 per month
  • Business: $23 per month
  • Basic Commerce: $27 per month
  • Advanced Commerce: $49 per month

Get started with Squarespace today!

Note: There are many web builders not included in the list, such as Square, WordPress.com, and others because I did not want to put our readers into decision paralysis. Rest assured, the tools mentioned are the best website builders for small businesses.

What Comes After Picking a Business Website Creator?

Even if you’re still working on your business website, I recommend building your email marketing list and audience before launching your site.

The sooner you start building your list, the more leads and conversions you can see.

OptinMonster, a premium WordPress plugin, has advanced targeting features for effective marketing. Regardless of which website builder you choose, I want to help your business grow.

OptinMonster’s targeting features include:

OptinMonster also integrates with major ecommerce platforms and industry-leading email marketing services.

With its range of templates and themes, you can create a unique website for your business. OptinMonster lets you build high-converting marketing campaigns matching your company’s design.

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Best Website Builder for Small Business – FAQs

Q1. What Are the Best Website Builders for Your Small Business?

I’ve narrowed down my choices for the best website platforms for small businesses. So, which should you use to create a website for your business?

It depends on your business needs. But, let’s look at my choices for the best overall and best ecommerce website builders.

Best Overall Business Website Builder

WordPress is my pick for the best website builder for small businesses. It’s flexible, scalable, and easy to use.

With four out of ten websites running on WordPress, there’s a huge community with resources and tutorials to provide help.

Best Ecommerce Business Website Builder

BigCommerce wins for the best ecommerce website builder. I love its user-friendliness, professional designs, and expert functionality.

Q2. Can I create a business website for free?

Free business website creators often have limitations and don’t look professional.

Plus, many “free” website creators aren’t free when you look deeper. Using a free website platform for small businesses usually means:

  • You can’t use your domain
  • Your website has ads you can’t control
  • You may have to pay for templates and add-ons
  • You don’t have complete control over your site
  • Having to pay for things you weren’t expecting

That said, I did include a few free options in my list of business website builders because “free” doesn’t always mean “bad.” Pay attention to what’s on offer and make sure your chosen business website creator fits your needs.

Q3: How much does it cost to build a website for a small business? 

The cost of building a website for a small business owner can vary widely depending on factors like complexity, features, website design, bandwidth and the platform you choose. Using a DIY website building tool can start as low as $5 to $20 per month, while hiring a professional web developer might range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more. Remember, investing in a quality website is an investment in your business’s online presence.

Resources for Your Small Business Website

Hello, I'm your guide to the lead generation universe. With a knack for SEO and a mastery of content marketing, I'm on a mission to educate you on how-to generate lead and monetize your web traffic.

Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that we believe will add value to our readers.

Comments

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  2. Great Article!
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    1. Nathan Thompson
      Nathan Thompson April 13, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading 🙂

  3. Shanelle Petersson November 18, 2022 at 6:06 am

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