The best website builders of 2026: 80+ platforms tested | Tech Radar

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The best website builders of 2026: 80+ platforms tested to find the easiest ways to build a site.

Our seasoned experts tested over 80 web building platforms to find the best ones for every business

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Wix takes our top spot overall. Combining flexible templates with intuitive design tools, it caters effortlessly to both beginners and expert developers. From robust e-commerce and marketing features to an industry-leading AI builder (it wins a spot on ur list of the best AI website builders) , Wix consistently checks every box.

Explore our full recommendations below to find the best fit for your specific needs, budget, and skill level. Beyond standard site building, we’ve also rated integrated features such as the best web hosting, domain registration, best email hosting, and marketing suites to ensure you get a complete, all-in-one web-building platform.

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✔️ It's for you if you need to launch your site quickly.

Wix’s library of over 900 professionally-designed templates means there’s a starting point for nearly any business or creative project, so you can launch quickly and customize as needed.

❌ It's not for you if advanced selling and analytics tools are your priority.

While Wix’s ecommerce covers most needs, sellers requiring deep inventory management or advanced analytics may find platforms like Shopify or Big Commerce a better fit.

Wix’s impressive business tools are one of the biggest reasons I recommend Wix so often.

These include advanced ecommerce functionality, an appointment booking system, event management tools, a restaurant reservations platform, a logo maker, and a bunch of helpful financial tools such as a pay link generator and an invoice creator.

Wix also offers helpful AI-powered features, including a text and image creator, a meta tag generator, and analytics with built-in AI that helps you identify and take action based on website trends.

Wix's AI writer makes it quick and easy to create bespoke content for your website. (Image credit: Wix)

This is just a snippet of what Wix has to offer. Read our in-depth Wix website builder review to find out why it's the best website builder on the market.

If you are looking for something cheaper than Wix, Hostinger offers many of the same tools at a lower price point. Squarespace is also a worthy alternative if website design is important to you. You can check out our full guide to Wix alternatives.

Hostinger's website builder stands up to the best in the industry and offers incredible value for money (Image credit: Future)

✔️ It's for you if you seek maximum features per dollar.

Hostinger stands out for its exceptionally low entry price and monthly cost—delivering all the core features most small businesses need without straining your budget. If value-for-money is your top priority, it's hard to beat.

❌ It's not for you if you prioritize a standout visual style.

Hostinger’s templates get the job done, but they don’t match Squarespace’s high-end design or flexibility. If standout visual style is essential, Squarespace remains the stronger pick.

The multi-lingual AI builder allows you to put a website online in just four clicks, Hostinger claims. I gave this a try, and although the results were good, the text, images, and formatting needed a fair amount of editing to make it fit for purpose. This is true of every AI website builder I've tested.

Outside of the editor, you’ll get all the features you would expect from a leading website builder, including an AI writer and AI SEO tool (only available on higher-level plans) as well as a bunch of simple, yet powerful ecommerce and blogging tools.

Hostinger’s website builder also comes with some helpful business tools, such as its recent integration with Print On Demand (POD) company Printful. This partnership allows small businesses to launch online stores without the need to ever purchase, manage, package, or post stock - helping unlock a lucrative new revenue stream, with minimum input.

Oh, and I love that you don’t have to pay any additional transaction fees to Hostinger, which can be a big profit drain with some website builders.

Hostinger offers a simple checklist, helping you quickly and easily tick off the essentials when you build your website. (Image credit: Hostinger)

You can use code TECHRADAR to get an extra 10% off at checkout.

Read our full Hostinger website builder review for more insight into what the platform offers.

For more business and website building tools, Wix is more comprehensive than Hostinger, but will also cost you more. Squarespace is also a good alternative to Hostinger if you want a platform that puts design first.

✔️ It's for you if you prioritize standout visual design.

Squarespace delivers more than 180 professionally designed templates, all visually refined and polished, making it the top pick for those who prioritize standout design.

❌ It's not for you if you manage a massive product inventory. While Squarespace handles most storefronts well, Shopify is a better fit for advanced ecommerce features and large-scale selling.

I found Squarespace’s feature list impressive. I found everything I would expect from a top website builder, including SEO tools, ecommerce features, and one of the best blogging sites. I even used the Squarespace Blog app to publish and edit blog content on the go - a much better use of my commuting time than doomscrolling social media.

Business tools like invoice creation and scheduling can streamline processes, saving time and money for small businesses. So too does Squarespace's Acuity which can be used for everything from restaurant bookings to scheduling client meetings.

Personally, I really like Squarespace's additional platforms, such as Squarespace Unfold, a dedicated social media creation and management platform, and a link in bio creator to help drive social traffic to your site.

Unlike with Wix, you can sell online with Squarespace's cheapest plan, although there is 2% fee on online transactions on the Basic plan.

A detailed overview of costs can be found on our Squarespace pricing page.

Our Squarespace review takes a deep dive into everything you need to know about the platform.

Wix is Squarespace’s closest competitor. I found that Wix just edges ahead when it comes to tools and features, whereas Squarespace offers better designs. They are similar in price, too. It is worth checking out our full Squarespace vs Wix comparison to learn more. You can also get insight into other options in our Squarespace alternatives guide.

Shopify remains the market leader for those looking to sell online. (Image credit: Future)

✔️ It's for you if you manage orders and inventory daily.

The platform’s scalable inventory (up to 10 locations on Basic) and workflow reliability make it a smart choice for growing businesses.

❌ It's not for you if low monthly overhead is your priority.

Shopify’s monthly pricing, plus potential app and add-on costs, run higher than options like Squarespace or Hostinger.

Shopify's ecommerce functionality is industry-leading, that’s why I picked it for my online store.

The platform includes built-in inventory management, order processing, and customer management tools. Payment processing through Shopify Payments eliminates the need for third-party providers, though over 100 alternative payment gateways, including Pay Pal, are supported. Checkout is optimized for conversions, with features like abandoned cart recovery.

Shopify also comes with a bunch of super-helpful AI tools. The Shopify Magic tool id integrated across the platform and includes an AI-powered template creator, image editing, intelligent product suggestions, and automated customer service responses. Shopify Sidekick, the AI assistant, provides context-specific guidance based on your store's data, making store management more efficient.

Shopify's AI offering makes it stand out from its closest competitor, Big Commerce, which lacks many of these features.

Marketing tools are robust, covering SEO optimization, email campaigns, and social media integration. The platform automatically generates sitemaps, handles meta tags, and provides analytics to track performance. Built-in discount and promotion features let you create coupon codes, automatic offers, and seasonal sales campaigns.

App Store is Shopify's secret weapon, offering over 8,000 apps to extend functionality through 3rd-party vendors. Whether you need advanced analytics, loyalty programs, or specialized shipping solutions, there's an app for that. However, app costs can accumulate quickly, so budget carefully.

I never used Shopify for in-person selling, but its Point Of Sale (POS) integration allows seamless online/offline integration. You can manage online and physical store inventory from one dashboard, accept payments in person, and provide unified customer experiences across all touch points.

Take a deeper dive into what Shopify has to offer with our full Shopify review.

With simple to use, yet comprehensive ecommerce tools, Wix is a great alternative, especially if your website isn’t a dedicated online store. Big Commerce is also worth considering, it offers many of the same features as Shopify, but can be a little complex and is better suited for larger businesses. Read our full guide to the best Shopify alternatives to learn more.

✔️ It's for you if you're working with a tight starting budget.

Among major website builders, Go Daddy’s starting prices are some of the lowest, with clear, upfront plans that help you avoid surprise expenses.

❌ It's not for you if your business requires immediate online sale.

Ecommerce features like payment processing and inventory tracking are only unlocked in Go Daddy’s top-tier plan, so you’ll pay more if online sales are part of your initial business plan.

Once your template is sorted, you can start adding and managing different elements on your website. For example, you can add an online store or appointment booking tool to your site. You can also set up promotions and create pop-ups to promote them (or anything else you want to promote).

Go Daddy’s suite of marketing tools is extensive and includes features ranging from SEO and digital ads to social media and email marketing. Perhaps more crucially, I found Go Daddy’s marketing tools to be some of the easiest to use out of all the best website builders.

Go Daddy offers a free, but limited, plan. You’ll need the most expensive plan to sell online

Read our Go Daddy website builder review for an in-depth look at all of its features. You can also discover how Go Daddy stacks up against our top-rated website builder in our Wix vs Go Daddy guide.

Hub Spot's website builder lets you connect a custom domain for free. (Image credit: Future)

✔️ It's for you if CRM connectivity is your top priority.

Hub Spot Website Builder connects your website directly with Hub Spot CRM, so every contact, signup, and campaign action is automatically tracked and ready for automation. This is ideal if you want to manage leads and marketing workflows from one place.

❌ It's not for you if you prefer a straightforward, minimal builder.

Hub Spot's feature set is extensive, and learning to use its advanced CRM and automation tools can take time. If you prefer an easy, low-commitment website builder, it may feel overwhelming.

The drag-and-drop editor requires no coding knowledge, though the interface feels more complex than competitors like Wix or Squarespace. The learning curve steepens when exploring advanced features like CRM integration, but Hub Spot provides a ton of documentation and tutorials for newcomers through Hub Spot Academy.

Hub Spot includes email marketing, lead scoring, marketing automation, and campaign management built directly into the website builder. Contact forms automatically populate the integrated CRM, creating seamless lead management workflows that typically require separate tools.

I found that the AI-powered content suite has a lot of breadth and sophistication. Content Remix generates multiple content formats from single blog posts, AI Blog Writer creates compelling articles with minimal input, and Brand Voice technology ensures consistency across all AI-generated content.

SEO capabilities go beyond basic optimization with in-editor recommendations, content planning suggestions, and comprehensive analytics. The platform automatically generates sitemaps, handles technical SEO, and provides detailed performance tracking for search-focused marketers.

Hub Spot's native ecommerce functionality handles product catalogs, payment processing, and customer insights through an integrated CRM. While not as advanced as Shopify, it provides sufficient tools for businesses selling digital products or simple physical goods.

Rather than offering a stand alone plan, Hubspot's website builder comes with its 'Content Hub'. The prices above can vary based on several factors such as how many 'seats' you require.

You can learn more about the Hub Spot platform with our full Hub Spot website builder review.

Duda has been purpose built to help agencies and freelancers build, launch, and manage professional websites (Image credit: Future)

✔️ It's for you if managing multiple client sites drains your time.

Duda’s strong white-label and client management tools make it easy to handle multiple clients and projects efficiently, streamlining workflows for agencies and freelancers.

❌ It's not for you if you expect premium support on every plan.

Duda’s advanced customer support is not available on entry-level plans, so agencies needing rapid assistance for every site may find this limiting.

Duda’s core strength lies in its focus on client management tools.

With this, users can easily create new websites from Duda’s pre-saved templates, set permissions for clients, and even offer a streamlined feedback and revision process. All this saves significant time and resources in the workflow.

It also offers robust ecommerce tools, including various payment gateways, coupons, and gift cards. However, these features come as a paid add-on service.

What makes Duda even better for design is its customization capabilities, featuring ultra-precise edits through Flex Mode, global styles for sitewide consistency, and continuous support for RTL languages.

Plus, you even get a bunch of marketing and SEO tools, like native email marketing, blogging functionality, and comprehensive SEO features, specially optimized for Google Page Speed.

You can check out our Duda review for more insight into what the platform has to offer.

✔️ It's for you if you're managing multiple client storefronts.

Big Commerce lets you manage multiple storefronts from a single dashboard, with each storefront fully customizable—ideal for agencies handling diverse client portfolios.

❌ It's not for you if low startup costs are a must for you.

Big Commerce has a higher starting price compared to freelancer-friendly rivals, which can be a hurdle for smaller agencies or solo consultants.

Read our detailed Big Commerce review for more details on pricing, features, and ease of use.

✔️ It's for you if you're selling online on a zero budget.

Weebly is currently the only major website builder that lets you sell unlimited products on a truly free plan, so you can launch your store without any subscription fees or payment required.

❌ It's not for you if sophisticated business tools are a must for you. Platforms like Wix deliver stronger business tools and AI, though you’ll need a paid plan; Weebly’s free plan is simpler and more basic by comparison.

In 2025, Weebly's free plan is a genuine surprise thanks to its ecommerce capabilities. You can sell unlimited products without transaction fees — a feature that typically costs way more on competing platforms. Unbelievably enough, it even includes inventory management, automatic tax calculation, item options, and even gift card functionality.

I found that the drag-and-drop editor handles basic website building tasks well. I could add text, images, videos, and forms without touching code. The platform automatically optimizes sites for mobile devices, ensuring content looks decent across screen sizes. However, customization options felt restrictive compared to modern no-code alternatives, and the lack of a full AI website builder is noticeable.

SEO tools come built-in, including automatic sitemap generation and basic optimization features. The platform handles technical aspects like SSL certificates, removing common headaches for beginners. Integration with Square's payment processing creates seamless checkout experiences for customers.

Weebly offers a free plan that lets you sell online, but comes with other limits. Serious online stores will need the top-tier plan for advanced tools.

If you want to learn more about what the Weebly platform has to offer, check out our full Weebly website builder review.

Although Weebly is still super easy to use, it hasn’t released any major features or updates in recent years, making it feel a little dated. Wix offers a great alternative with a generous free plan, but you won’t be able to sell online with it. We have done a full comparison of the two free plans in our Wix vs Weebly guide.

After spending several years writing about website builders and associated topics at Website Builder Expert, I am now the Website Builder Editor at Tech Radar, where I apply my experience to recommend the best website builders for entrepreneurs and SMEs.

During my time here I have gotten hands-on experience with all of the biggest website builders, interviewed top executives from Wix, Squarespace, Hostinger, Go Daddy, and Webflow. I have also spoken and live blogged from some of the biggest industry events including Word Camp and Dudacon.

Not only do I get to test website builders as part of my role at Tech Radar, I also use several of them every day, including Hostinger, Wix, and Squarespace, to build and run websites for my hobbies and side projects.

Before specializing in website builders, I achieved a BA(hons) in Business and Marketing, and had several marketing and sales role, before launching and running my own marketing agency between 2017 and 2023. During this time I worked on everything from website projects to content marketing for brands including Red Bull, Dr Jackson, Cisco, Nestle, Website Builder Expert, Marketing Profs, Digital Doughnut, and Neal Schaffer.com.

Ritoban Mukherjee is a B2B tech and software journalist and researcher with a specialization in no-code/low-code platforms like drag-and-drop website builders, visual development tools, and AI tools for web and mobile design. His articles on website builders and no-code apps have appeared in Tech Radar Pro, Tom's Guide, Creative Bloq, and ZDNet. At Tech Radar Pro, Ritoban has researched and written more than 150 reviews and guides, including website builders such as Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow. He has also tested and reviewed blogging platforms (Substack, Word Press, Medium), and ecommerce platforms (Shopify, Big Commerce, Woo Commerce).

A website builder is a platform that provides tools for the construction and management of a website (or multiple websites) and business management.

When you use a website builder you are locked in to that platform. The upside is that vendor lock-in leads to a very fast and streamlined experience. The downside is that you never really own your site. If vendor lock in concerns you, try web hosting. There are open-source page builders that allow you to build and manage yourself with zero experience (they're just not as easy as a website builder).

Typically, a website builder includes a number of templates (pre-built website designs.) The user chooses the template they like best, then uses a drag-and-drop editor to rearrange the site and add new content of their own (image galleries, videos, maps, forms, social media feeds - whatever else is available). It also comes with, or supports paid add-ons that seamlessly integrate into your site - like email marketing, and payment methods.

With a good website builder, you can create anything from a few simple personal web pages, to a complex business site and even busy and full-featured web stores.

You can read our detailed what is a website builder guide to find out more.

Many website builders will let you change everything from page layouts to tiny details like the shape and style of buttons. Some even let you edit code, to help you get the exact look you are looking for but you're still restricted to what they allow you to do.

For full flexibility you'll need to host your own site.

Some of the best website builders offer a free plan. For example, Wix, Weebly, and Go Daddy from our list all allow you to build a website for free.

However, free plans do have limitations. For example, most free plans will force you to host your website on a platform branded domain, such as yoursite.wixsite.com. You may also find ads on your website and limited access to tools and features on a free plan.

Free website builders aren’t for everyone, but they do offer a great way to test a builder with no financial investment.

Can I fully customize the design of my website?

The level of customization available depends heavily on the website building platform you pick, as each offers a different level of access to code and design tools than the other.

Some website builders, such as Weebly, keep things very simple, only allowing you to drag and drop blocks to create the website you want. This can help you build your site quickly and easily, but it limits customization. Other, more advanced, platforms such as Wix Studio, allow you a greater level of design flexibility with advanced design tools.

If you want total ownership and control over your website’s design, coding from scratch is your best option.

Are there any hidden costs I should watch out for?

Yes. Although website builders offer an all-in-one solution, there are some additional costs that you should be aware of.

Many website builders offer a free domain for the first year of your subscription, once a year has passed, this becomes an additional cost. It is important to keep an eye on your upcoming domain renewal, as this can add an often small, but not insignificant amount to your total website costs. You can renew within your builder but they add a few dollars onto the price. You can renew it at a registrar but it requires some admin.

Add-ons can also add costs to your website. For example, Wix offers many free website add-ons, but also offers premium add-ons that incur a one off or monthly cost. These add-ons are a great way to extend the functionality of your website, but their use should be carefully monitored, as they can add up over time.

Free website builder plans are a great way to test a website building platform or business idea, but come with limitations ranging from the inability to connect a custom domain to onsite branding that you cannot remove.

Opting for a premium plan is a great way to create a professional site and unlock more powerful website building features and tools.

Website builders make it notoriously difficult to switch to a different platform at a later date. This is arguably one of the biggest downsides to creating a website using a website building platform.

Although there is nothing stopping you from closing your account and opening another account with a different website builder or host, you may find it difficult (or impossible) to transfer key aspects of your website, such as your template, functionality, and customer data.

If you believe you may want to transfer to a different website builder in the future, it is worth taking the time to understand how easy this will be given your website builder of choice.

Do website builders use Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Many website builders are now leveraging artificial intelligence to help customers build better sites, faster than ever before. AI can be applied to many parts of the website creation process including image creation and edits, written content generation, and applying Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices.

Some of the best AI website builders, including Wix, Hostinger, and Go Daddy allow users to generate fully customized websites by providing a handful of prompts to an AI assistant. This can be a great way for business owners to get a head start on building their websites.

There is no straightforward answer to the question: “How much does a website builder cost?” For businesses that are satisfied with simple templates and are happy to put up with ads and a generic URL, website builders can be found that don’t cost anything at all. Of course, most brands would not be content with a free solution, which can deliver sites that look unprofessional. The good news is that there are some very effective website builders out there that are reasonably priced. Most work through a monthly billing system, with costs for entry-level plans sometimes as little as $6 a month.

One thing that all website administrators should be aware of, however, is how much website builders charge for additional features. Even if your basic web builder package is cheap, costs can quickly escalate if you have to buy add-ons for security, e-commerce functionality, and marketing tools. It is important that businesses have transparency when it comes to the expenses related to their website, so it’s probably a good idea to research prospective platforms thoroughly before making your choice. It’s also important to factor in whether your website builder is scalable: will it remain suitable as your business expands and how will costs increase?

Do I need to know how to code to build a website?

No website builders require any coding knowledge. These platforms offer a combination of drag and drop and AI builders, making it simple for anyone to build a website.

However, some website builders now allow you to edit certain aspects of your website's code, helping offer greater flexibility for more advanced users.

It may sound like a daunting prospect, but building a website is not necessarily difficult – although of course that all depends on how hands-on you want to be, the type of website you want, and your level of experience. Fortunately, many website builders are designed to appeal to the absolute beginner, coming with drag-and-drop editors that mean no coding experience is required at all. In fact, most web builders will have you up and running with a fully functioning site in under an hour. Alternatively, individuals with greater financial resources could hire a professional web designer to build their website for them.

For those that are willing to take on the website building process themselves, the level of difficulty involved will depend on the website builder they choose. Although all of them are relatively intuitive, some come with extra features that may require some knowledge of the website-building process to implement. Fortunately, most platforms come with decent levels of support, including how-to guides and video tutorials. It is worth mentioning, however, that many of the simplest website builders come with limited customization. For anyone that truly wants complete control over their site, some coding experience, as well as prior knowledge of HTML, will come in helpful.

What is the best website builder for beginners?

The best website builder for beginners is Wix. This is simply down to the fact that Wix's website builder is extremely straight forward and easy to use. Wix also has regular offers and discounts for beginners. Building a web store with Wix is very simple. as you won't need any coding experience. Wix is also the best small business website builder for these very same reasons.

If it's your first time building a website, you will want to commit to a website builder that's effortless to use. Wix fits the bill, letting you build and publish a website in minutes. Wix also has an AI website builder that will ask you some broad questions about the type of website you want to create. Wix will then give you a website shell tailored to the type of website you want to create, based on the answers you give to the questions.

Beginners may also opt for Weebly for its super simple interface, or Squarespace if looking for better design tools.

Yes. The vast majority of website builders allow for seamless scaling as your online presence expands. Upgrading your subscription typically grants access to higher storage limits, advanced performance tools, and increased bandwidth to manage heavier web traffic seamlessly.

For rapidly growing brands, many platforms also provide bespoke enterprise-level solutions. However, before committing to a platform, you should evaluate its top-tier plans to ensure it can accommodate your future growth trajectory.

How can I save on my website builder subscription?

Yes, the majority of website builders will come with at least a level of security built in such as HTTPS and SSL protocols. These types of protocols ensure that communications between your website and its visitors are secure by using encryption.

High levels of security help your visitors feel safe when using your website. This is especially important when dealing with sensitive information such as personal and credit card data.

Check with your website builder of choice what level of security they offer as part of their packages.

James is a tech journalist and Buying Guide Editor at Tech Radar, where he manages B2B buying guides to help businesses find the right tools, services, and solutions. With a background spanning editorial leadership, enterprise technology, and building his own ventures, he brings a commercially minded perspective to evaluating the products and platforms businesses rely on. He has covered the technology industry at senior levels across both editorial and operational roles, working closely with some of the world's leading tech companies.

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