If you’re like most business owners, you don’t have time to learn how to code and design a website from scratch.
That’s where website builders come in. They help you create a professional website — with no coding or design experience or need to hire a website designer.
Website builders are easy to use and come with everything you need to create a stunning-looking website, and the best part is that you can usually get started for free.
What is a website builder?
A website builder is a software program that allows you to create a website with no coding or design experience. They are user-friendly and easy to use, so you can create a professional-looking website in just a few minutes.
Here are some of the most popular website builders out there and how much they cost:
| Website builder | Price | Learn more |
| Webflow | Free to $212/month | Webflow.com |
| Carrd | Free to $469/month | Carrd.com |
| Site123 | Free to $5.80/month | Site123.com |
| Ucraft | Free to $109/month | Ucraft.com |
| Strikingly | Free to $49/month | Strikingly.com |
| Elementor | $99 per year | Elementor.com |
| Wix | Free to $35/month | Wix.com |
| GoDaddy | Free to $13.99/month | GoDaddy.com |
| Zyro | $2.99 to $3.99+/month | Zyro.com |
| Duda | $14 to $99/month | Duda.com |
| Jimdo | Free to $39/month | Jimdo.com |
| Squarespace | $16 to $65/month | Squarespace.com |
Now, let’s look at how online website builders work and why you need one.
How a website builder works
An online website builder works by taking care of all the technical aspects of website creation so you can focus on creating content and adding features you want to it.
To use a website builder, all you need to do is sign up for an account and choose a template. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can start adding content and customizing your website.
You can add pages, blog posts, images, and other media to your website with just a few clicks. And if you ever need help, most modern site builders generally offer customer support via email, chat, and/or phone.
Steps to get started with using a website builder
Here are five steps you need to take to get started with using a website builder:
1. Get a domain and hosting provider
Domain names are how visitors find your site.
A unique domain name helps visitors remember your site and find it again. Hosting is where you store the actual website files and make sure they’re available to visitors.
You can buy both domain names and web hosting services from a variety of providers. And once you have both, you can connect the domain to the hosting and start using your website builder to create your site.
Here are a few tools to get you started:
- Domain name: Namecheap (and this is arguably the most popular domain name tool).
- Web hosting: SiteGround or WP Engine.
- Website builder: Webflow, Zyro, or Site123.
(Side note: If you want a solution that provides web hosting and a website builder all in one platform, Webflow is a great tool to use. They offer an easy-to-use Webhosting platform and website builder with plenty of features and templates to choose from. Learn more about Webflow here.)
2. Select a good website builder
Not all online website builders are created equal. Some are better than others, and some are better suited for specific types of websites.
For instance, if you’re looking to build a website for ecommerce, you might need a builder that’s different from what you’d use to build a simple portfolio site. Do your research and select a website builder that will work well for the type of website you want to create.
If you’re not sure which website creator software to choose, see the section on “so what’s the best website builder for you?” below. And once you’ve selected a website builder, it’s time to get started building your site.
3. Choose a template or theme for your website
Most website builders come with a wide selection of pre-designed templates you can choose from. For example, here’s what SITE123’s template library looks like:
Once you’ve selected a template, you can then start customizing it to match your brand. This includes adding your own colors, logo, images, and content.
You can also choose to start from scratch if you want more control over the design of your website. But, if you’re not a designer, I’d recommend sticking with a pre-designed template.
4. Start adding your content
This includes things like your About page, Services page, Homepage, and contact information. You can also add ecommerce or product pages to your website if you want to sell products or services online.
Online website builders generally come with a drag-and-drop editor, which makes it easy to add and arrange your content. And, if you get stuck, most website builders have helpful customer support teams that can assist you.
5. Publish
Once you’re happy with your website, and your web host support is all set up, hit the publish button, and your website will go live. It’s that simple!
Tools you’ll find in a good website builder
A great website builder would typically offer you a wide range of features, including:
1. A drag-and-drop editor
This is arguably the most user-friendly way to create a website, as it requires no coding experience. You can simply drag and drop elements onto your page to add content, change layouts, or style your website.
Elements you’d typically “drag and drop” include text, images, buttons, and videos — popular features you see on well-functioning websites.
2. A template library
If you don’t want to design your site from scratch, most website builder tools come with a library of pre-made templates you can use.
This is especially helpful if you’re creating a website for a specific purpose or industry, as there are usually templates designed specifically for those needs.
For example, if you’re creating a website for an ecommerce store, you can use a template that’s already set up with tools that let you sell products, like a shopping cart and payment gateway.
3. A content management system (CMS)
Some online website builders also come with a CMS, which is a backend platform that lets you manage your website’s content.
This is helpful if you want to update your website without having to hire a developer every time.
A CMS also gives lets you give varying levels of access to other people on your team, like editors, writers, and designers — so they can help you create website content and manage your website.
4. Plugins and extensions
If you want to add extra features to your websites, like a contact form or live chat, website builders often come with or allow plugins and extensions that let you do just that.
Some plugins may cost extra, but they’re usually not very expensive and they save you the hassle of having the technical skills to code them yourself.
5. A domain name and hosting
Last but not least, some online website builders will also come with a domain name and hosting.
If you’re just starting out, it’s usually easier (and cheaper) to use an online website builder that comes with a domain name and hosting.
But if you already have a domain name and hosting, you can use that with website builders.
Do you really need a website builder? Or should you hire a web designer?
There are several reasons you might need a website builder:
- You don’t have the time or money to hire a web designer.
- You want to create a website yourself without learning how to code.
- You need a simple website that you can create quickly.
- You want to update your website when you need to without having to hire a developer on an ongoing or retainer basis — which would cost a good amount of money.
If any of those resonate with you, then an online website builder is probably an excellent solution for you.
And again, many of the website builders out there are easy to use and come with everything you need to create a professional-looking website. Plus, they’re usually free to get started.
On the other hand, if you have the time and budget to hire a web designer, that’s great, too! They can create a custom website for you that meets all of your specific needs and requirements.
So it really comes down to the level of technicality your website or project requires. If you need to build a super-power website that needs a lot of coding experience, then obviously a website designer is likely a better option.
But if you’re only looking to build a simple website that you can manage yourself, then an online website builder is the way to go.
How much does a website builder cost?
Online website builders can cost as low as $0/month to get started or as high as a few hundred dollars/per month, depending on the features you need.
But most of them have a free or low-cost starter plan. This is great if you’re just getting started and want to test out the platform to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Once you’re ready to upgrade, website builders generally have several tiers of paid plans, which differ depending on the number of features you need and sometimes the amount of traffic your website gets.
I’ve posted this earlier, but here are the prices of some of the most popular website builders out there:
| Website builder | Price | Learn more |
| Webflow | Free to $212/month | Webflow.com |
| Carrd | Free to $469/month | Carrd.com |
| Site123 | Free to $5.80/month | Site123.com |
| Ucraft | Free to $109/month | Ucraft.com |
| Strikingly | Free to $49/month | Strikingly.com |
| Elementor | $99 per year | Elementor.com |
| Wix | Free to $35/month | Wix.com |
| GoDaddy | Free to $13.99/month | GoDaddy.com |
| Zyro | $2.99 to $3.99+/month | Zyro.com |
| Duda | $14 to $99/month | Duda.com |
| Jimdo | Free to $39/month | Jimdo.com |
| Squarespace | $16 to $65/month | Squarespace.com |
As you can see, there’s a wide range of prices, depending on what website builder software you choose and what features you need. And most of them have a free or low-cost option that you can use to get started.
How to choose the right website builder for your needs
There are a lot of website builders out there. So, how do you choose the right one for your needs? Here are ten important things to look for in a website builder:
- Ease of use: You should be able to create a website without having the technical skills to learn to code. The best website builders are intuitive and often come with a drag and drop interface that makes it easy to move things around and get your site looking just the way you want it.
- Scalability: Your website should be able to grow with you; look for a website builder that’ll work both when you’re just starting out and when you’re ready to expand.
- Customization: You should be able to personalize your website and give it a look that reflects your brand, whether that’s through choosing from a selection of website templates or being able to tweak the CSS.
- Affordability: Website builders should be affordable, especially if you’re just starting out. What’s “affordable” is different for everyone, though, so the most important thing is that the website builder software fits within your budget.
- Integration: You should be able to seamlessly integrate the website builder with the other tools you use, such as your email marketing service, analytics platform, and so on.
- Support: When things go wrong (and they will go wrong), you should be able to get help from the website builder’s customer support team. Look for a website builder that offers 24/7 support, so you can get help whenever you need it.
- Security: Your website should be secure, and the website builder should offer features that keep your site safe, such as two-factor authentication and SSL certificates.
- Documentation: The website builder should come with clear and concise documentation that will help you if you get stuck. For example, Webflow has an extensive help center that can answer just about any question you might have.
- User reviews: Check out what other people are saying about the website builder before you commit to it. Are people generally happy with it? Do they have any recurring complaints? Find out as much as you can before you decide.
- Free trial: Most website builders offer a free trial, so you can test out the platform before you commit to anything. This is an important way to see if the website builder is a good fit for your needs.
More importantly, take the time to compare features and read reviews before you choose a website builder; it’ll save you a lot of headaches (and money) in the long run.
Other FAQs on website builders
Is it really worth it to use a website builder?
This is a dicey question to answer as it really depends on what you hope to achieve with your website. If you’re simply looking to create a simple and functional online presence for your business, then a website builder could be a good option.
But if you’re looking to create a more complex website with multiple pages and features, then you may be better off hiring a web developer to create a custom website for you.
What do you call someone who creates websites?
A web developer or a web designer.
Sometimes people use the terms interchangeably, but a web developer is usually someone who specializes in coding and creating the backend of a website, while a web designer focuses on the design and layout of the frontend.
Is Google Sites a website builder?
Yes, it is. It’s a website builder from Google that — like any other site builder — has its own strengths and weaknesses. But many (if not most) people don’t use it because it’s very limiting in design.
First, there are very few design templates to pick from. But even the website templates available are barely customizable. There’s no CSS or HTML editing access, so if you want to create custom functionalities, it’s a no-go.
And then there’s one more major downside to it: you can’t use a custom domain with Google Sites. If you’re looking to build a business website, that’s a big one — since any website with sites.google.com/[yoursitename] as its URL doesn’t look as professional as most other professional websites.
Can I make a website for free?
Of course, you can. But keep in mind that free website builders usually come with very limited features and functionality. In most cases, like Google Sites, they won’t let you use a custom domain name — which is essential if you’re looking to build a serious brand.
Additionally, free website builders usually have very basic designs and website templates. Their features are also quite limited, so if you’re looking for something specific (like an online store), they might not have what you need.
In short, while you can make a website for free, it probably won’t be the best website. If you’re serious about building a brand or business online, I’d recommend investing in a paid website builder.
What is the best free website builder?
There’s no simple answer to this question since what’s “best” varies from person to person. However, I would recommend Carrd or Weebly as two of the best free website builders out there.
Both have decent designs and templates and excellent features, but won’t allow you to use a custom domain name. And that’s one of the major downsides.
But there are often many other disadvantages with free website builders, like limited storage space, ads on your website, and few features.
At the end of the day, I would say that if you’re looking for a free website builder, Carrd and Weebly are two of the best. But if you’re willing to invest a bit of money on your website, I think it’s worth it to go with a paid website builder.
Do I need coding skills to use a website builder?
No, you don’t need any coding skills! In fact, that’s one of the major advantages of using a website builder.
With most or many online website builders, you can create a professional website without knowing how to code. Everything is drag and drop, so you just need to put everything in the right place — and voila, you’ve got yourself a website!
And of course, if you want to add custom code or functionality to your website, you can usually do that with most website builders. But it’s not necessary, and you don’t need any coding skills!
What is the best website builder for a small business?
There’s no easy answer to this question, as what’s “best” varies from person to person and business to business. But I would recommend Webflow or WordPress as two of the best options out there.
Both have brilliant designs and templates and excellent features and will allow you to use a custom domain name. Plus, they have ecommerce website functionality — which is essential if you’re looking to sell products or services online.
Of course, there are other online website builders out there that might be a better fit for your specific business. But in general, I think those two are two of the best options for small businesses.
What is the difference between website design and website building?
Website design is all about the look and feel of your website. This includes things like colors, fonts, images, and layout.
Website building, on the other hand, is more about the functionality and features of your website. This includes things like contact forms, online stores, and search engine optimization (SEO) tools.
In short, website design is about how your website looks, and website building is about how your website works.
So what’s the best website builder for you?
The best website builder for you is the one that meets your specific needs and requirements.
If you’re just starting out, look for a website builder that offers a free plan or a low-cost trial so you can get a feel for how the software works. Once you’re more comfortable, you can upgrade to a paid plan that offers more features and customization options.
If you have a specific vision for your website, you’ll want to look for a website builder that offers a wide range of templates and customization options so you can create a site that’s truly unique.
And if you’re looking to build an ecommerce website for your business, you’ll want to find a website builder that offers ecommerce features and tools.
No matter what your needs are, there’s a website builder out there that’s perfect for you. Let’s list a few options for you here again:
| Website builder | Price | Learn more |
| Webflow | Free to $212/month | Webflow.com |
| Carrd | Free to $469/month | Carrd.com |
| Site123 | Free to $5.80/month | Site123.com |
| Ucraft | Free to $109/month | Ucraft.com |
| Strikingly | Free to $49/month | Strikingly.com |
| Wix | Free to $35/month | Wix.com |
| GoDaddy | Free to $13.99/month | GoDaddy.com |
| Zyro | $2.99 to $3.99+/month | Zyro.com |
| Duda | $14 to $99/month | Duda.com |
| Jimdo | Free to $39/month | Jimdo.com |
| Squarespace | $16 to $65/month | Squarespace.com |
| Elementor | $99 per year | Elementor.com |
And here’s another article written on website builders so you can review and pick the best one for your needs: Best Online Website Builders For Small Businesses.
Hopefully, this article has answered every question you have about the topic, “what is a website builder?” Best of luck out there!
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