Top 11 Website Builder Software for Small Businesses in 2023

If you are looking for the best website builder software online, stay tuned. In this blog post, I’ll discuss some of the best website builders out there.

These days, having a website is essential for any business.

Having a website should no longer be an issue for a business that wants to thrive and succeed in this digital age.

Building a website used to be a tremendous effort that only experts could do. It used to take a long time and a lot of money to build a website.

However, the times have changed.

With the development of advanced website-building tools that can be used by experts and amateurs alike, creating a website has become simple, quick, and painless. The fact is that website builders are a less expensive alternative to hiring a web developer for your site.

To create a beautiful website, you’ll need a high-quality builder.

The top 11 website builders on the market right now are as follows:

Best Website Builder Software/Tools

The following are the best website builder software available:

1. WordPress.org

WordPress.org isn’t the same as WordPress.com. WordPress.com is hosted on its own server, but the other one is not.

WordPress.org is a free open-source website builder.

WordPress can be used by anyone for free.

Website builders that use it have complete control over their sites. Developers and designers enjoy this independence because it allows them to control what happens to their websites and data.

It’s simple to use even for complete beginners with no experience.

You can quickly change your website design, run ads on your site for additional revenue, and conduct numerous marketing campaigns.

In short, you completely control what happens to your site.

Also, it includes over 55,000 free plugins and themes.

Read – 55+ Best WordPress Plugins You Should Know

These plugins and themes are regularly updated and be easily accessed by users like you. It truly increases WordPress power by leaps and bounds.

The SEO plugins, on the other hand, help you in tracking and managing your website’s SEO-related tasks easily and efficiently.

WordPress.org is used by more than 40% of all websites online. In fact, you could claim that WordPress.org is the foundation of the internet.

Well, because this website builder is self-hosted, you’ll need a solid web hosting site to host your WordPress-based website.

Best WordPress Hosting Sites

Cloudways
Bluehost
GreenGeeks
Dreamhost
HostGator

WordPress.org can be used to create any kind of website. You can use WordPress to build an eCommerce site, a social network, a membership site, a community forum, or a personal blogging site.

One of the disadvantages of WordPress.org is the amount of time it might take to learn how to use WordPress efficiently.

Don’t be discouraged!

Although it is not difficult to learn, even inexperienced web designers can swiftly go through the learning curve.

You’ll also need to get a domain name.

However, the price will not break the bank. It’s only around $10/year.

If you regard your website as an extension of your business, purchasing your domain is the most professional and fantastic option.

On the other hand, you have no control over the data on WordPress.com and other websites that host your website for you.

You will have no method of retrieving your data if the host web-building tool closes down unless you have backed them up.

All the files and databases will be deleted.

It’s rare, of course!

But, it can happen and it should not be ignored.

So, even if your business is still in its early stages, you should work toward a more long-term and solid future for your website.

What should you do?

Choose WordPress! It’s open-source and free.

2. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most powerful e-commerce website-building platforms available online these days, for both large and small businesses.

You can start a Shopify store even as a complete beginner. Shopify makes things super easy for users. It’s intended to help users in creating their own online store with hundreds of built-in features and a large number of apps.

In short, if you want to set up an online store, Shopify makes it super simple without the hassle of dealing with infrastructure or development fees that come with self-hosted platforms like Magento.

Because all of the functions are strategically organized, the admin or user interface looks clean. It’s simple, easy, and user-friendly.

But, Shopify doesn’t come free as WordPress.

It comes with a cost. The pricing starts at only $29/month with can go up to $299/month based on the features you’ll need.

Good news?

There’s a 14-day free trial without any credit card needed.

If you are looking for a user-friendly e-commerce builder, Shopify is not going to disappoint you at all. Even if you are doing it for the first time, you’ll be able to get your store up and running within minutes.

If the price is not a concern, choose Shopify.

Otherwise, I’ll suggest that you build a WordPress-based website.

To be honest, Shopify is well worth it. But, you’ll need to have a proper plan and you should know what you want to achieve with it.

It powers around 2 million businesses and has 1+ million active users.

The Shopify platform is used by 1.75 million merchants and 1.59 million live websites. Shopify powers around 29% of ecommerce sites.

Credit: Backlinko

Quite interesting facts, right?

Founded in the year 2004 by three Canadians, it’s now one of the most popular and affordable website builders available online.

The best part?

You don’t have to become an expert to be able to use it.

What’s great about the Shopify platform is that you don’t have to worry about maintaining the site’s backend operations.

All that is required of the web designer or owner is to be focused on the website’s front-end activities, such as ensuring that their clients receive timely responses, feedback, guidance, and excellent services.

Shopify also includes full inventory management, easy-to-use eCommerce solutions, comprehensive statistics, countless items, and a POS system, as well as secure payment solutions via third-party payment gateways.

Having an eCommerce website built on Shopify strengthens your brand and business significantly, despite the fact that it is not inexpensive.

Overall, it’s a significant investment that can push your business forward.

3. Wix

Wix is a fantastic platform for beginners.

If you are just getting started, Wix is an easy option to go with.

It allows you to have complete control over your website without the hassle or stress of complicated backend operations.

The best part?

You can try Wix for free. No credit card is necessary.

Unlike most other website builders that lock you into a pre-designed grid with limited access, it doesn’t sacrifice power for convenience. It has simple drag-and-drop editing functionalities as well as a large number of useful features.

You’ll also get over 500 templates to take advantage of.

You won’t be able to use a personal domain name with the free plan. If you want to use your own domain, use a paid plan.

Wix’s free plan will have some limits; for example, their banner ad may be intrusive because it stays in place as you scroll down the page.

The most basic plan has only a 500 MB limit.

It simply means you can’t have too many images or videos on your site.

To ensure good and professional-looking videos, optimize your videos first with video-editing software. You can, of course, subscribe to a Premium account to have access to additional premium features.

4. Weebly

Weebly is a popular website-building tool.

It makes website creation simple and it also includes a slew of important services for eCommerce websites and blogging.

The best part?

Weebly is a free website builder.

Its drag-and-drop editor is comparable to Wix’s.

Weebly stands out as a website builder because of its built-in SEO functionalities, which help small businesses grow their websites over time using accurate data and proper strategies.

You get a choice of templates, just like Wix, but not as many as Wix, which covers most niches. In just a few hours, you can have a professional-looking website up and running.

It may be easier to use, but it is not without flaws. When it comes to design and customizability, it falls short of its competition.

You can either pay for a subscription or try it out for free.

It also includes a Pro plan with unlimited storage and no advertising, which is not available with the Personal project.

Read – Weebly Website Builder Review – Features, Pros & Cons

5. Squarespace

Squarespace is a website-building platform that allows users to create professional websites without having to know how to code. They have templates for various niches such as travel, food, fashion, fitness, beauty, pets, and so on.

Customizing your site is simple using their drag-and-drop editor.

You can add content, change colors, upload images, and use text formatting tools. All these features make Squarespace perfect for personal websites, online stores, creative agencies, and brands.

It is like the Apple of website builders.

Squarespace’s template designs are fresh and sophisticated on the market, and they are perfect for creatives who want a visually impressive website. It also has a massive range of features to give your site the power it needs.

Squarespace has the best blogging, podcasting, audio players, and photo galleries, and its eCommerce is a practical alternative to pure eCommerce website builders. Squarespace has a 14-day free trial that you can take advantage of. Premium plans start at $19 per month with a 14-day free trial.

6. DashClicks’s Website Builder Software

DashClicks’ Website Builder Software called “Sites” is a fantastic and easy-to-use website-building software for businesses. You can build beautiful and professional websites in minutes without any coding.

The drag-and-drop website builder helps you create and manage your website with utmost ease. And, you know what? The best part about the builder is that you don’t require any coding or IT knowledge to use it.

That’s pretty cool, right?

All you need to do is pick a template of your choice and have your new custom website built in a matter of seconds, that too automatically!

You can choose from a total of 10 website templates.

Simply choose the template, buy your website, and modify it to your own liking. Yes, it’s that easy.

Additionally, you get built-in website analytics.

This means you can easily track website visitors and the actions they take on your website. You can view user engagements, visitor volume, form submissions, and so much more. Luckily, you can try it with a free-forever account.

Here’s what Dashclicks’s “Sites” track about your site:

Map clicks
Calls
Geolocation data
Unique OS visits
Unique browser visits

It’s also important to know that Sites include hosting, which is done on AWS, and an SSL certificate to ensure your site is fully protected.

DashClicks Pricing

Dashclicks comes with a free-forever account, and options for the premium paid accounts. You can choose from a total of 3 different premium plans.

You can opt for a free plan without a credit card.

The paid plans are priced at:

Pro: $97 USD monthly
Plus: $297 USD monthly
Premium: $597 USD monthly

Once your Sites add-on subscription gets activated, you can find your custom site in your Sites app. Connecting your custom domain name will take only a few minutes, and then you will be live on the internet.

All in all, the website builder software allows you to build a beautiful and user-friendly website in just a few seconds. It also lets you take control of your website in a hassle-free way. Even the custom content management system (CMS) makes editing your site effortless.

7. Gator by HostGator

Gator is a popular website-building tool from one of the largest Webhosting services worldwide known as HostGator. Gator is perfect for small businesses because it is a one-stop, fully hosted platform.

Just like other web hosting sites, you need not worry about what goes on in the background, like software updates, backups, and security.

There are over 200 templates to choose from, and each design is customizable for your website needs and preferences.

You can directly edit the page, like pictures and the like, with a point and a click. Drag-and-drop options are available to add images, videos, contact forms, and the like.

You get a custom domain.

When you upgrade to an eCommerce plan, you can set up an online store and start making money through online buy-and-sell or whatever business your heart so desires. You also get a library or a photo gallery.

You are also secure that your data is safe from third parties because Gator is a paid product. It does not have a free plan, though, so for meticulous buyers who want to test the waters first before purchase; this is not available with the Gator system. It may not be a match to WordPress.org, but it is more than a decent website builder for small businesses and stores that have limited stocks, or a photo gallery showcasing somebody’s portfolio.

8. BlueHost Website Builder

Bluehost has a lot of hosting packages, options, and extras to suit all comers. Bluehost’s WordPress makes it easier for website builders to build a site, and the SSH functionality supplies increased encryption and security. Its three central plans cater to beginners, regular bloggers, and SMBs, respectively.

A few tools are free with a hosting package, but others require additional payment. When you use this website builder, you will find a bunch of Bluehost templates that are also free to use.

Bluehost is easy-to-navigate, intuitive, and user-friendly for both experts and those who are just beginning to develop their digital proficiency. It comes with Basic Plan, Plus Plan, Prime Plan, and an Advanced Plan to suit your website needs and business demands.

9. GoDaddy Website Builder

GoDaddy is the fastest outright website builder for creating a website. You can finish building a website in less than an hour.

They make their website builder simple, or too simple.

Website builders can use the 52 sections that GoDaddy provides in this website builder. However, these sections are frustratingly cookie-cutter and have very few customization options. You are stuck with what GoDaddy has preset for you. GoDaddy offers 20 themes, but it is frustratingly cookie-cutting.

It may offer speed and simplicity, but it isn’t the best choice for complicated websites.

GoDaddy may have a one-month free trial, but its prices are not so impressive to start, so be sure that it is right for you before signing up.

10. Strikingly

Strikingly is a website builder focused on one-page websites. It can also provide the best value for money out of all the sites. This website builder makes bloggers and freelancers accessible because of its free plan. The open program gives you 24/7 customer support, a bandwidth of 5G monthly, and the ability to sell one product for every site via the Simple Store function.

Unlike other website builders, Strikingly’s free plan does not include an SSL certificate, which means your site will be flagged ‘Not Secure’ to anyone trying to visit it.

First, try the free plan, then upgrade it to the Limited paid plan for a month. You will also have good value for money when you have 50GB of bandwidth per month, and the ability to sell up to five products on your site.

11. Format

Format is perfect for photographers, artists, and the like that need to show a portfolio of their work professionally. Photographers and artists can establish their art as a business through website-builders such as Format, which gets high customer satisfaction from professional photographers themselves.

Format includes features such as integrations with Adobe Lightroom and Capture One, proofing, and watermarking. Photographers can easily format links of photo galleries directly into their portfolios.

Format also provides a lot of choices of portfolio templates, creates websites quickly without worrying about code, and comes with an intuitive design editor. It is also very user-friendly, with mobile-responsive pages, layouts, and templates for mobile-first priority in its customer’s experience.

Photographers also get their very own professional domain and email via G Suite, an online store.

Final Words and Thoughts

Services nowadays provide features that affect development, maintenance, and performance. Choosing a host entails more than just picking a server. Services today provide elements that influence growth, support, and performance. Before you choose a bundle, take a look at the site builder. While some packages just provide the essentials, others provide free packages that include a variety of platforms.

You should remember that these website-building services are unique, and others are explicitly tailored to either more advanced website builders or first-time website builders. The level of comfort, internet experience, and complexity of the websites you build and maintain depends on what you do when you make a website.