For most new businesses, a professional online presence is crucial to attract customers and build credibility. One of the best ways to do this is through a business website.
Creating a business website if you don’t have technical expertise can be daunting. However, nowadays website builders mean even people with no experience can easily build personalised websites quickly and affordably.
We’ve compared some popular website builders to help you choose the best option based on criteria such as simplicity and cost.
- What to look for in a website builder
- Free vs paid website builders – what’s the difference?
- Best website builder platforms for small businesses
- Which website builder is right for you?
- Website builder FAQs
What to look for in a website builder
If you’re just starting out, it’s likely you’ll want to use a website builder that’s user-friendly with plenty of customer support.
Simple website builders often have a drag-and-drop function, allowing you to create your pages without coding. Many of them also have customisable pre-built templates and different plans to suit your needs.
Other things to consider include:
- scalability – can the website builder’s offering grow with your business?
- infrastructure – once you’ve designed your website, is it easy to get live and secure for customers to use?
- search engine optimisation (SEO) – does the site have the structure to help you appear on search engines like Google?
Read more: How to advertise your business – the ultimate marketing guide
Ease of use and simplicity
By using a simple website builder, you can avoid hiring web developers (which can be costly if you’re just starting), and you won’t need to undertake the time-consuming process of learning how to use an HTML website builder.
Most have hundreds of templates to choose from and give you the option to incorporate your brand colours and logo.
Paid and free options
Website builders offer different packages for different needs, including free options. A free option could work for you if you need something very basic to advertise your services. If you’re looking to take orders or collect customer information, you’ll likely need a paid version.
You can pay monthly or annually for your website. The price can differ depending on what’s included in your subscription, such as domain hosting, customer support, and AI tools.
Templates, design, and mobile responsiveness
As well as ease of use when creating your website, it’s important that your website builder offers professionally designed templates and an effective user experience.
A polished and visually appealing website can help to build trust with your customers, while a solid user experience can increase the chances of visitors getting what they need.
Another thing to consider is mobile responsiveness. With almost 60 per cent of UK internet traffic coming from mobile devices, according to StatCounter, your website must adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes.
The vast majority of website builders provide responsive sites, but it’s worth previewing your site on different devices before it goes live.
Free vs paid website builders – what’s the difference?
Choosing between a free or paid website builder will depend on what stage your business is at. A free website builder is great if you’re launching a side hustle or want to test ideas.
However, there are limitations you need to be aware of, such as:
- low storage
- basic templates
- domains with website builder branding
- display adverts for other companies
If you go for a paid website builder, you’ll likely benefit from more professional features. And you’ll have more control over how your final website looks.
Other benefits include:
- custom domain names
- analytics and performance tracking
- advanced customisable templates
- ecommerce functionality
When making a decision on which website builder to use, consider your budget and future plans. If you have a desire to grow quickly, it’s unlikely a free website builder will meet your needs for long. However, it could be the best option to get you up and running.
6 of the best website builder platforms for small businesses
Not sure which website builder is best for you? We’ve compared some of the best-known platforms, including information on the best free website builder for small businesses.
Wix
Key features: AI website builder, library of templates, ecommerce tools
Potential downsides: Lack of flexibility once a template has been chosen
Pricing: Limited free plan. Starting at £9 a month for a basic plan
Suitable for: Beginners on a budget
Wix is one of the most popular website builders, known for its easy-to-use functionality.
As well as hundreds of templates to choose from, Wix has an AI website builder that can create a website in seconds using your answers to just a few questions.
Wix offers one of the best free website builders to get started, and it also has a 14-day trial for all packages.
Squarespace
Key features: Blog builder, AI support, responsive templates
Potential downsides: Limited integrations and ecommerce restrictions
Pricing: Starting at £12 a month, from £23 a month for ecommerce features. Includes a two-week free trial
Suitable for: Bloggers with a medium budget
Squarespace has a range of professional templates for businesses and is also very popular with bloggers.
You can use its AI support function to help you build pages and write your content. It also boasts an easy to use drag and drop website builder, which is ideal for beginners.
Squarespace doesn’t have a free option, but it does have several different priced options based on your needs.
Shopify
Key features: Built-in marketing tools, 24-hour support, and inventory management
Potential downsides: Higher than average subscription costs and transaction fees
Pricing: Starting at £25 a month for the basic package, up to £344 a month for the advanced plan
Suitable for: Online retailers with a big budget
If you’re looking to launch an online shop or dropshipping business, Shopify could be the platform for you.
This website builder integrates with thousands of apps and allows you to sell products across multiple platforms.
There is a range of templates to choose from and a drag-and-drop editor to help you build your store.
Shopify can prove more expensive than other website builders, particularly if you don’t integrate with Shopify Payments.
GoDaddy
Key features: 24/7 support, AI tools, ecommerce functionality
Potential downsides: Limited design flexibility and style customisations
Pricing: Starting at £6.99 a month for a basic plan, up to £11.99 a month for a premium package
Suitable for: Beginners on a budget
GoDaddy may be best known for being a website host, but it also has its website builder.
As well as marketing and SEO tools, the GoDaddy platform has hundreds of templates and allows users to make simple customisations.
You can also benefit from a 30-day free trial to try before you buy.
123Reg
Key features: PayPal integration, free email addresses included, built-in security
Potential downsides: No free trial and high cost after initial offers expire
Pricing: Starting at £5.99 a month for the basic package, up to £13.49 a month for an ecommerce package
Suitable for: Beginners with growth plans
123Reg allows users to create a website in minutes, with a free domain name, email address, hosting, and SSL certificate included in every package. This platform has a range of templates to use, all of which are mobile-ready.
The 123Reg website builder aims to grow with its customers’ businesses, allowing them to scale up to use social media integration and full ecommerce features when they’re ready.
Friday
Key features: AI assistant, ecommerce integration, easily customisable templates
Potential downsides: Higher cost and limited scalability due to having a single plan
Pricing: A single plan at $50 a month
Suitable for: Businesses with a bigger budget or technical expertise
Friday is a newer website builder that has a built-in AI assistant.
For beginners, there’s a range of customisable templates but if you’re more advanced, you can use Friday’s coding editor.
The Friday plan comes with a custom domain, website hosting, unlimited bandwidth, and SEO tools.
There’s no free option, but you can get a seven-day free trial.
Which website builder is right for you?
Choosing the right website builder for your business is a big decision. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about whether you’re looking for something basic and affordable, or more advanced and scalable.
Startups may benefit from using Wix, 123Reg, or GoDaddy, while Squarespace is a solid option for bloggers, and Shopify is suitable for established online retailers. If you’ve got a slightly bigger budget or some technical expertise, you may want to try Friday.
If you’re struggling to decide which website builder is best for you, take advantage of the free trials on offer to compare the different services.
Best website builders for small businesses – FAQs
What website builder is best for small businesses?
The best website builder for small businesses depends on your circumstances, such as size, budget, and level of technical expertise.
Some of the most popular website builders for small businesses are Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, 123Reg, Friday, and Shopify.
What is the best website hosting for a small business?
The best website hosting for small businesses will depend on what they’re looking for. There are different types of website hosting available, including shared hosting, Virtual Private Server, cloud hosting, and dedicated hosting.
Most website builders will offer a type of website hosting within their package.
What is the easiest website builder for beginners?
The easiest website builders for small businesses are generally ones that offer customisable templates and drag-and-drop editors.
Website builders that require coding experience will be harder to use.
More guides for small businesses
- How to advertise on Facebook
- Should you use YouTube for business advertising?
- How to advertise on TikTok and boost your small business
- Directory of UK businesses: 12 free ways to promote your small business
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