Creating a website used to require coding skills and web development knowledge. But with the rise of website builders, anyone can now easily build a professional site even with zero experience.
Website builders empower beginners to create stunning websites through intuitive drag-and-drop editors, stylish templates, and built-in ecommerce features. You no longer need to hire a developer or learn complex web languages.
In this article, we review the top 5 best website builders for beginners in 2024 based on ease of use, features, templates, and pricing.
Wix
Wix is our top choice for beginners thanks to its user-friendly editor and extensive template library. With Wix, you can drag and drop elements to build any type of website imaginable with minimal coding or design skills.
Wix offers a free basic plan as well as premium plans starting at $14 per month. The free plan includes basic templates, 500MB storage, and Wix branding. Premium plans unlock more templates, storage, custom domain support, and an ad-free site.
We love Wix for its ADI feature that uses AI to create a customized site for you in minutes. The editor is also extremely intuitive with thousands of templates for blogs, stores, portfolios, and more.
Overall, Wix makes website building easy for complete beginners without sacrificing professional quality.
WordPress
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, making it the world's most popular website builder. The open-source platform is renowned for its flexibility through thousands of free themes and plugins.
You can use the free WordPress.com plan to get started which includes basic templates and 3GB storage. Or you can self-host WordPress.org for full control and customization. Self-hosted plans start at $5/month for shared hosting.
While WordPress has a steeper learning curve, its customization options are unmatched. It’s ideal for bloggers, developers, and site owners who want to scale. The wide range of plugins also makes it great for ecommerce.
Webflow
Webflow offers professional-grade web design tools without forcing you to code. It uses a drag-and-drop visual editor so you can animate interactions, build forms, and prototype sites.
The free plan allows full access to Webflow's tools and hosting. Paid plans start at $12/month for custom domains and other business features.
Webflow is great for building modern, interactive sites like portfolios, landing pages, and web apps. The learning curve is steeper than Wix but it allows for advanced customization without coding.
Squarespace
Squarespace is beloved for its elegant minimalist templates. The polished designs make it easy for anyone to create a beautiful website in minutes.
You can try Squarespace free for 14 days. Paid plans start at $12/month and unlock ecommerce features, custom domains, and more storage.
Squarespace empowers beginners to build sophisticated sites on a budget. It's great for creative businesses, blogs, and static sites that don't require lots of customization. The refined templates and intuitive editor make site-building frustration-free.
Shopify
Shopify is the top choice for ecommerce beginners, powering over 1 million online stores. Though not a traditional website builder, its powerful store-building tools make it easy to sell online.
The Lite plan lets you create a free online store with basic Shopify branding. Paid plans start at $29/month for a custom storefront and domain.
Shopify takes care of securing transactions, shipping, and managing inventory. So it's perfect for retail startups or small businesses looking to establish their brand online. Extensive app integrations provide room to scale.
The Bottom Line
The best website builder for beginners depends on your needs. But Wix is our top pick for its simplicity, templates, and easy drag-and-drop editor. For advanced customization, WordPress offers unmatched flexibility. Webflow is great for interactive sites while Squarespace provides stylish simplicity. And Shopify excels for ecommerce stores.
Whichever platform you choose, website builders make it possible for anyone to turn their ideas into reality online. With intuitive tools and professional templates, you can launch a stunning site in no time as a beginner.
