7 Greatest Free Web site Builders to Test Out in 2024 [+Pros & Cons]

In my half-decade as an search engine marketing content material marketer, I’ve spent a great chunk of my time both testing or working with any variety of free web site builders: CMS Hub, WordPress.com, WordPress.org, Wix, Weebly, Webflow, you identify it.

These web site builder instruments have been important for me to publish content material, both for my present employer or for my facet tasks. I’ve subsequently been capable of get properly acquainted with their capabilities over time.

However in the event you’re new to the web site builder sport, you is perhaps confused about the place to begin. What’s the best option in the event you don’t know the right way to code? And which is budget-friendly? I’m going to cowl that and extra. First, let’s go over the fundamentals.

Desk of Contents

For those who’ve been contemplating constructing a web site for a while, then you definately’re probably conversant in your choices. The most typical technique is shopping for a hosting plan and a area identify, after which putting in your most well-liked CMS in your web site, comparable to WordPress.org or Joomla.

From my expertise, the issue with this feature is that while you set up WordPress or Joomla out of the field, it doesn’t include a handbook or web page content material. With this technique, my web sites began as clean pages, which meant that until I employed a developer or spent a variety of time constructing it, the end result would look unfinished and unprofessional. 

When testing out free web site builders comparable to CMS Hub or WordPress.com, I discovered that I might shorten my workflow significantly. As an illustration, the themes got here with placeholder textual content and pictures making my web site really feel extra full than if I’d began with an out-of-the-box CMS.

How I Examined the Greatest Web site Builders

When looking for the perfect web site builders for this submit, I thought of workflow to be an important issue. Is it simple to arrange a web site from the beginning, or do you want in depth time and expertise to do it?

Likelihood is, in the event you’re in search of a free web site builder, you’d just like the set as much as be painless and seamless. For that purpose, I selected instruments that had:

• The usual required options: placeholder content material, running a blog instruments, search engine marketing instruments, mobile-optimized and responsive, and templates and themes
• A completely free possibility with robust capabilities out of the field — no have to improve at each flip
• A comparatively simple workflow from signup to completion

With that, let’s go over the very best web site builders I’ve used and examined earlier than.

Greatest Free Web site Builders

1. Greatest for Rising Companies: HubSpot
2. Greatest for Newbies: WordPress.com
3. Greatest for Ecommerce Web sites: Weebly
4. Greatest for Net Builders: Webflow
5. Greatest for Native Enterprise House owners: Wix
6. Greatest for No-Fuss, Quick-Time period Web sites: Google Websites
7. Greatest for Solopreneurs: Dorik

1. Greatest Free Web site Builder for Rising Companies: HubSpot Drag-and-Drop Web site Builder

Get began with HubSpot’s free drag-and-drop builder!

I exploit HubSpot’s drag-and-drop web site builder (inside CMS Hub) as a content material marketer on the HubSpot weblog group and have used it for 2 of my facet web site tasks.

Palms down, this is among the greatest web site builders out there at no cost — not solely due to the benefit of signing up, but in addition as a result of it consists of built-in instruments for a handful of different features, comparable to advertising and gross sales.

The web site creation course of is really easy, anybody might do it — primarily as a result of the setup dashboard consists of an interactive guidelines so that you can construct your web site step-by-step.

I liked this signup workflow once I was constructing a number of facet tasks. It’s among the finest when it comes to user- and beginner-friendliness.

As soon as you put in a free theme, you begin customizing the location immediately along with your most well-liked colours and fonts.

The bar on the prime of the web page exhibits you the place you might be on the setup workflow, which is supremely helpful for skipping between duties. Observe that that is solely lively throughout the onboarding part.

After you’re completed, you’re taken proper again to the person information, the place you possibly can start exploring HubSpot’s suite of instruments for enterprise. You even have the choice of connecting a {custom} area, which is free.

All it’s a must to do is purchase the area via a area registrar comparable to GoDaddy, after which undergo the area connection course of.

This is perhaps probably the most tough a part of signup as a result of verification step. However you possibly can all the time transfer ahead with a free HubSpot area identify, which appears to be like like this:

[randomly generated token].hs-sites.com

It’s not stunning and is unquestionably my least favourite characteristic, so I’d suggest shifting ahead with a custom-branded area.

Now, it’s time to edit our web site. The web site enhancing course of is a bit more compartmentalized than in different instruments.

Others may take you to the web page editor immediately, however HubSpot takes you to the whole thing of its suite dashboard, permitting you to entry its advertising, gross sales, and repair instruments along with its web site instruments (situated beneath the “Advertising” menu).

To entry it, merely go to Advertising > Web site > Web site Pages.

Then, click on Create. One thing I liked right here was the choice to create both a web site web page or a touchdown web page. This makes HubSpot an awesome match in the event you’re utilizing your web site to drive leads in any capability.

After you create your first web page, the method is then simple and acquainted. You may select a template, however be sure you set up a theme first (which is a part of the setup workflow).

The free themes and templates are excellent, and the HubSpot market presents loads of choices.

That stated, most themes are business-oriented; in the event you’d prefer to construct an artsy or eclectic web site, different web site builders embrace extra “enjoyable” designs.

One factor I liked was which you can change between themes and blend and match them. Different instruments don’t permit you to use completely different themes on the identical web site, so CMS Hub is a good selection in the event you’re involved about restricted design choices.

When you’ve chosen your template, you’re prepared to start enhancing. CMS Hub pulls in demo content material so you possibly can see what your web page will seem like while you’re completed.

I can’t let you know the quantity of occasions I’ve used a template on WordPress, solely to get a totally clean web page with the “Howdy World!” heading. The demo content material is a particular plus.

Lastly, the drag-and-drop web page builder is nothing to scoff at. The web page builder works based mostly on modules, which you drag onto the web page.

It then creates a stay ingredient you possibly can edit instantly, permitting you to see your adjustments in real-time, as a substitute of to having to open a preview tab.

One other factor I liked is that it’s simple sufficient to make use of for a newbie but in addition offers builders the power to create superior {custom} modules and tinker with the location’s supply code.

As an illustration, you possibly can add a {custom} CSS stylesheet in your settings.

Right here’s the spectacular half: For all of its simplicity and user-friendliness, HubSpot’s web site builder is greater than outfitted to deal with business-level calls for, with advertising, gross sales, and service software program already built-in.

Most of these are free to make use of on the fundamental tier, permitting you to ship an electronic mail a month, for instance, and use HubSpot CRM with out paying a single cent.

After all, it comes with every thing that you must construct a web site, together with content material administration system (CMS) instruments, themes and templates, security measures, and a built-in content material supply community (CDN) to make sure pages load rapidly.

General, I can’t suggest this instrument sufficient for any kind of enterprise that desires greater than a fundamental web site builder.

Core Options

Benefits

• Consists of hosting
• Personalization (due to HubSpot’s CRM)
• Safety
• Responsive themes and templates

Disadvantages

• The free model shows HubSpot’s branding
• If you wish to construct {custom} modules and templates, you’ll have to study HuBL, HubSpot’s templating language

Pricing

A restricted free plan is obtainable. The premium CMS plans with extra options begin at $23 a month when billed yearly.

Manufacturers Utilizing HubSpot

2. Greatest Free Web site Builder for Newbies: WordPress.com

I can’t rely the variety of WordPress.com websites I’ve constructed for enjoyable. It’s simple to enroll, it’s free, and its included area identify just isn’t as ugly (and extra recognizable) than others on this record. “Brandname.wordpress.com” has a pleasant ring to it, proper?

First, although, I’d prefer to level out that WordPress.com is completely different from WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a free, fully-hosted website-building service, whereas WordPress.org is a content material administration system you possibly can set up in your web site.

For those who’re in search of a easy free web site builder, WordPress.com is the best way to go. However you probably have a bit little bit of web site growth data and are keen to study the ins and outs of WordPress internet hosting, WordPress.org is a good selection.

For this record, although, I like to recommend WordPress.com. Why? It’s an all-in-one possibility that doesn’t require you to purchase separate WordPress internet hosting or check out completely different WordPress web page builders.

It’s not as customizable as WordPress.org, nevertheless it’s greater than enough for novices, bloggers, and hobbyists. As a result of free tier’s limitations on bandwidth and lack of CDN, enterprise homeowners ought to most likely contemplate one other instrument.

Identical to CMS Hub, establishing your web site on WordPress.com could be very simple. Because it guides you thru the setup course of, WordPress will ask you about your targets and instantly immediate you to decide on a free theme to your web site.

The themes are fashionable and mobile-optimized — I used to be shocked to seek out that I appreciated fairly a number of of the designs. After I’ve used WordPress previously, I discovered the themes lackluster, nevertheless it appears to have up to date its library.

From there, WordPress will take you to an abbreviated guidelines that’s much like HubSpot’s. By the point you’ve picked your theme, you’ve already accomplished the primary three steps.

All it’s a must to do is publish your first weblog submit, edit the web site’s design, and launch your web site.

Remember the fact that the location continues to be within the naked minimal levels — you continue to want to enter the dashboard and add pages and content material.

Sadly, on the free model, you possibly can’t set up plugins, together with the HubSpot WordPress advertising plugin.

Now, let’s discuss concerning the drag-and-drop web page builder. WordPress.com’s is way more minimal than different choices on this record, and that’s as a result of it primarily consists of plain content material codecs comparable to paragraphs, headings, lists, and tables.

A downside for me is that it’s not a stay editor, so you possibly can’t see your adjustments on the web page with out previewing it on one other tab.

If you would like stay adjustments and previews, I’d suggest trying right into a free web site builder with a WYSIWYG editor like Webflow (mentioned additional under).

That stated, its simplicity makes it an awesome possibility for novices simply beginning to construct their first web site — no have to fiddle with sophisticated modules.

In case you are in search of extra built-out modules — comparable to banners, headers, pre-built sections, and extra — you’d be higher off with a web site builder that gives these choices on the free tier, comparable to HubSpot’s CMS Hub or Webflow.

Core Options

• Giant assortment of themes
• Cellular-friendly and optimized for search engine marketing
• Managed web site internet hosting and safety

Benefits

• Customizable
• Versatile
• Cellular and desktop apps out there

Disadvantages

• The free model shows adverts
• Extra limitations in comparison with WordPress.org
• Though intuitive, it’s tougher to study than different drag-and-drop builders

Pricing

A restricted free plan is obtainable. Premium plans begin at $4 a month when billed yearly.

Manufacturers Utilizing WordPress.com

3. Greatest Free Web site Builder for Ecommerce Web sites: Weebly

Weebly is a basic web site builder that gives a singular bundle of hosting, area registration, net design, and built-in ecommerce features.

This final characteristic is of observe as a result of, with different instruments on this record, like WordPress, you’d have to put in an ecommerce plugin to begin a store, and even on CMS Hub, you’d want a third-party integration.

On Weebly, you possibly can open a retailer as a part of the sign-up course of. Due to this, I extremely suggest it in the event you’d prefer to construct an ecommerce web site. This web site builder already integrates with Sq., a preferred on-line fee gateway.

As a part of my check, I created a web site for an internet retailer. What I appreciated about this a part of Weebly’s setup is that it’s so easy — you don’t need to go on and on about your targets or the kind of web site you’d prefer to construct.

Throughout the subsequent few phases, you’ll select a reputation to your retailer and designate the kind of merchandise you’ll be promote. I’m unsure what this step is for — it have to be for metadata or for Wix’s monitoring functions, nevertheless it’s good to fill out both manner.

As with CMS Hub and WordPress.com, you’ll be prompted to decide on a theme. For those who’re establishing an ecommerce web site, Weebly will robotically kind the themes so that you just get storefront choices first — no have to go looking for them.

I discovered the theme choice rather less various than different choices on this record, however the choices are cheap free ecommerce web site builder.

Whereas testing this web site builder, I additionally discovered that it presents a nifty product itemizing instrument that lets you arrange your stock on the market instantly.

I liked how simple and easy this was, and it is an awesome match for somebody who’s attempting out ecommerce for the primary time.

And, nice information: Weebly, just like the earlier instruments, features a guidelines to work via to arrange your retailer appropriately. 

I’ve used Weebly earlier than and have deserted it because of a laggy web page editor. Throughout my check this time, I discovered that the drag-and-drop editor continues to be considerably laggy however extra serviceable than once I was utilizing Weebly for enjoyable.

It consists of the usual textual content, picture, and wealthy content material modules, with extra selection and complexity than WordPress.com’s choices.

It additionally options useful search engine marketing instruments and sources to get you began with an search engine marketing technique, which is a vital and unavoidable a part of having a web site as a result of, with out it, individuals may by no means know your web page exists.

Core Options

• Drag-and-drop editor
• Built-in CMS answer
• Free SSL certificates
• search engine marketing instruments
• Analytics and reporting

Benefits

• Useful search engine marketing useful resource instruments
• Good choice of paid and free apps within the app middle
• The free plan has ecommerce performance

Disadvantages

• Restricted selection of themes
• The free and fundamental paid plans show adverts
• Restricted search engine marketing performance

Pricing

A restricted free plan is obtainable. Premium plans begin at $6 a month when billed yearly.

Manufacturers Utilizing Weebly

4. Greatest Free Web site Builder for Net Builders: Webflow

Webflow is a incredible free web site builder for these with extra coding expertise and who’d like a extra customizable web site builder instrument.

Due to its potential to incorporate a number of workspaces and a number of web sites for shoppers, I particularly suggest it for freelance net builders and companies.

(And in the event you occur to be a fan of Adobe Artistic Cloud, you’ll discover that Webflow has the same UX — one other plus.)

Webflow is a winner in relation to the setup workflow. Straightaway, you’ll have the choice to construct a web site to your firm, your shoppers, or your self. I selected “Purchasers” to check its capabilities for freelancers and companies.

Subsequent, you’ll be requested to determine the kind of web site you’re constructing. Weblog web sites are an possibility, however in the event you’re planning to begin a weblog, I like to recommend CMS Hub or WordPress.com as a substitute.

Each of these provide highly effective running a blog choices and a way more beginner-friendly interface.

I used to be shocked to see that Webflow consists of completely different workspaces, one thing I didn’t run throughout in different instruments (besides CMS Hub, which lets you have entry to completely different portals).

This makes Webflow a superb selection for giant groups the place you may need completely different workspaces relying on permissions or job perform.

The free theme choice in Webflow is, although restricted, excellent. I informed the instrument I wished to create a portfolio web site, and it robotically steered a portfolio theme for me to strive.

After you select a theme, you’ll be taken immediately to the web site builder. Webflow’s web page builder is sophisticated and the training curve is steep. Whereas the instrument features a setup guidelines, it’s not so simple as others on this record.

As an illustration, immediately, you’ll be prompted to vary CSS courses immediately — which will be daunting in the event you’re new to net growth.

The precise web page builder, although, is fairly acquainted. You may add HTML parts comparable to sections, containers, divs, lists, buttons, headings, and so forth.

The instrument does embrace extra technical language, so that you’ll encounter phrases comparable to “V Flex,” which refers to a vertical flexbox.

I can see this being tough for novices and even intermediate customers, so in the event you determine as both, you may wish to go for one other instrument. (Or you should utilize Webflow to study net growth phrases!)

One factor I liked that does make Webflow a great match for novices is its inclusion of “Libraries.”

For those who’re in any respect intimidated by the language and the training curve, you possibly can merely import pre-designed parts and sections without having to tinker excessively with the instrument itself.

Webflow features a free area so that you can use, nevertheless it solely publishes to a staging setting — one more reason this instrument is such an awesome match for builders.

The one factor you’ll have to buy when utilizing Webflow is a website you possibly can publish your web site to.

Core Options

• A drag-and-drop web site builder
• Widgets so as to add options like maps and media
• Third-party integrations

Benefits

• Provides full management over your web site’s design
• Drag-and-drop what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) builder
• Responsive interface

Disadvantages

• After constructing a web site on Webflow, that you must switch it to a content material administration system
• Requires some data of HTML and CSS to entry full options
• It has a posh free and paid plan construction
• You want to enroll in each a Web site and Workspace plan

Pricing

A restricted free plan is obtainable. Premium plans begin at $12 a month when billed yearly.

Manufacturers Utilizing Webflow

5. Greatest Free Web site Builder for Native Enterprise House owners: Wix

Wix is among the hottest free web site builders, and possibly one of many first choices you considered while you began researching instruments.

The simple-to-use, fully-hosted platform presents a simple drag-and-drop editor, an intensive assortment of apps, and professional-looking templates.

I first used Wix in 2010-2013, when it was nonetheless only a easy web site builder with a fame for being laggy and poorly optimized. It’s now become one of the sturdy choices in the marketplace.

Wix’s most noteworthy characteristic is its deal with offering all of the instruments needed for enterprise homeowners to get their companies up and operating on-line.

When establishing your web site, you possibly can select the kind of enterprise you run.

In contrast to on different web site builders, the place this info is used for inside cataloging functions, Wix creates a custom-made dashboard relying on the kind of enterprise you select.

I arrange a weblog, an internet retailer, and a brick-and-mortar store, and all three had completely different checklists and built-in apps on their dashboards.

For this check, I selected to arrange an area store. As an alternative taking me to the web site builder immediately, the Wix setup assistant tried to get as a lot details about “my enterprise” as potential.

I used to be completely impressed by the hassle to get my enterprise info in a beginner-friendly questionnaire. The knowledge would later be used for Wix’s Level of Sale instrument and on my web site.

This makes Wix an particularly good match for native companies who wish to arrange an sturdy on-line presence however don’t wish to mess with completely different instruments to take action.

Relying in your solutions to among the questions on the questionnaire, Wix will embrace completely different widgets, instruments, and guidelines gadgets in your dashboard.

As an illustration, under, I informed the instrument I wished to simply accept on-line and in-person funds, ship automated emails, and extra—

—and once I went to my dashboard, Wix created a guidelines that helped me via a step-by-step arrange course of, together with signing up on its Level of Sale instrument.

That is extraordinarily handy and seamless for an area enterprise proprietor, however the record will be overwhelming to have a look at. 

I used to be possibly half an hour into the setup, and Wix had but to immediate me to begin designing my web site. The primary few steps within the guidelines, in reality, all need to do with inside administration and finance.

That tells me that Wix needs to be the one administration portal for enterprise homeowners to handle their on-line presence past designing a web site.

Once you lastly start to arrange your web site, Wix offers you the choice of manually selecting a template or utilizing Wix’s creation assistant.

This can be a distinctive characteristic I’ve but to run into in my assessments, and it may be a sport changer for native enterprise homeowners which might be brief on time. 

I selected to have Wix to create a web site for me. It then prompted me to choose a theme and started getting ready house web page designs based mostly on my most well-liked aesthetic.

Since I selected “Recent,” it delivered earthy and clear designs. The choice is proscribed, however good for an area enterprise.

After, you will have the choice of including pages to your web site with pre-imported demo content material.

My least favourite side of Wix is the web page builder itself. It’s cluttered, tough to navigate, and overly sophisticated, which might probably lengthen the training curve for this instrument.

One other side I discovered unusual is that while you insert a brand new ingredient, it doesn’t snap to the grid.

As an alternative, it stays proper the place you place it, that means it is perhaps tough to reliably use the very same quantity of padding and margin to align parts in your web page. 

However in the event you don’t want extra parts past the demo content material, merely edit what’s already there, and it shouldn’t be a lot of an issue.

Core Options

• A drag-and-drop editor
• A big assortment of apps and templates
• Analytics and reporting

Benefits

• Simple to make use of
• Giant assortment of apps and templates
• Optimized for cell

Disadvantages

• The free model shows outstanding adverts
• The premium plans are dear when in comparison with others on this record
• The one approach to change templates is by creating a brand new web site and transferring your premium plan to it

Pricing

A restricted free plan is obtainable. Premium plans begin at $16 a month when billed yearly.

Manufacturers Utilizing Wix

6. Greatest Free Web site Builder for No-Fuss, Quick-Time period Web sites: Google Websites

Google Websites is Google’s proprietary web site builder and completely value a spot on this record, if just for its ease-of-use and for the truth that it’s 100% free — no improve required.

You need to use it simply as you’ll Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides. Merely go to websites.google.com, select a template from the record, and begin enhancing.

Google Websites presents templates for workers, people, and college students.

Although you would use it for a enterprise web site, I wouldn’t suggest this web site builder for any kind of enterprise, whether or not freelance, native, small, or enterprise, due to the restricted options and lack of integrations.

Google Websites is just too restricted for a enterprise’ demanding wants. 

For those who’d prefer to construct a web site for every other purpose, although — for a mission, a private replace, or an FAQ — Google Websites is a incredible selection.

For instance, it’s an awesome possibility for a job seeker trying to create a easy portfolio to connect to job purposes. When you select a template, you’re taken proper to the editor, the place you can begin enhancing the demo content material.

The interface is as seamless and acquainted as you’d anticipate from Google. No overly sophisticated jargon and no overabundance of choices, however nonetheless precisely what that you must construct a powerful web site with a light studying curve. 

(Actually, the training curve is so gentle that I might really not suggest this as a studying instrument for these constructing a web site for the primary time. To actually learn to create a web site, contemplate a extra sturdy instrument that features conventional net design parts.)

As with all different Google instrument, you possibly can collaborate with others and restrict permissions. That makes it an awesome possibility if that you must construct a group web site for any purpose.

When you hit publish, it is going to be printed to a subdirectory of a subdirectory on Google’s area. As an illustration, right here’s the URL I printed my web site to once I was doing my check:

https://websites.google.com/hubspot.com/tinasmithphdtest/about

You may’t join a {custom} area via the Google Websites portal, however you possibly can all the time buy a {custom} area (I like to recommend utilizing Google’s personal area shopping for service, domains.google.com) and establishing a 301 redirect.

Core Options

• A drag-and-drop editor
• The normal Google Workspace interface
• Analytics and reporting (via Google Analytics)

Benefits

• Very, very simple to make use of
• Easy to arrange for present Google customers
• Optimized for cell

Disadvantages

• This can be a restricted instrument for any kind of enterprise want
• The templates skew towards outdated
• Customized domains can’t be related by way of Google Websites; 301-redirect wanted

Pricing

Free.

Manufacturers Utilizing Google Websites

No manufacturers that I do know of use Google Websites — this instrument is greatest for private tasks.

7. Greatest Free Web site Builder for Solopreneurs: Dorik

Dorik is a web site builder that boasts customers can create wonderful web sites in simply minutes due to its myriad of options, together with AI instruments. Furthermore, customers do not want any coding or design expertise to design their web site, in response to Dorik.

I discover Dorik’s AI options to be probably the most spectacular and distinctive in comparison with different web site builders. Dorik’s web site says it will probably generate a whole web site in seconds with a single immediate. So, naturally, I put it to the check.

After clicking “Create New Web site With AI,” I am greeted with a pop-up displaying I solely need to enter the identify of my web site, kind a immediate describing the location, and choose the language. 

That is the touchdown web page Dorik’s AI instrument designed for my “Jane Doe Advertising” web site. I really like how the web page consists of the next tabs within the prime left nook 

• Dwelling 
• About 
• Weblog 
• Contact 

I additionally recognize the imagery, which options 3-D figures of social media nad leisure apps.

And although the opening sentence is a bit dry when it comes to tone, it consists of essential advertising key phrases and is a powerful begin to enhance upon.

I am blown away by the small print of this AI-generated web site. As I proceed to scroll down, I see a piece explaining what Jane Doe Advertising is an the way it works. There’s even a “Study Extra” button. 

If I scroll a bit additional, I am going to discover a spot for our location and call info. After all, Dorik gives a sidebar full with instruments to customise and edit the location to my liking. 

Primarily based on the benefit of its AI instrument alone, I believe Dorik is a wonderful web site builder in the event you’re a freelancer, content material creator, or solopreneur who needs a fantastically designed web site with all of the fixings with out having to design or code.

Core Options

• AI web site generator 
• Sturdy weblog editor with built-in search engine marketing instruments 
• Airtable integration

Benefits

• Simple for customers with out coding or design expertise 
• Complete and simply customizable AI-generated web site 
• Intuitive interface 

Disadvantages

• Only a few e-commerce options

Pricing

Free options can be found. Plans begin at $15 per 30 days.

Manufacturers Utilizing Dorik

I do not know of any main manufacturers utilizing Dorik, probably because of its lack of e-commerce options.

Web site Builder Options You Want

Selecting a web site builder instrument is simpler when you recognize what you are in search of. Listed here are the options to look out for.

1. Themes and Templates

The above drag-and-drop themes can be found in CMS Hub — join free.

Having an assortment of totally customizable themes and templates on the web site builder’s theme marketplaces makes it simpler for customers to vary their web site’s look.

In that sense, web site builders ought to have theme choices that cater to particular niches so customers do not waste time creating new templates from scratch. For instance, the web site builders on our record have choices for blogs, portfolios, ecommerce web sites, and extra.

Templates must be pre-structured and pre-populated with photos, textual content, and different parts generally discovered on web sites. For instance, each web site wants a house web page, about web page, and call web page. All that you must do is choose one and change the pattern content material with your individual.

Themes and templates must be simple to customise — with a number of choices for backgrounds, layouts, fonts, and colours.

2. Media (Video, Photograph, Audio, and Graphics)

When looking on-line, I discover web sites full of textual content extremely dreary and unhealthy at grabbing my consideration. Except I’m on a text-based web site, like a weblog or, say, Wikipedia, I anticipate to see multimedia parts that break up textual content or a minimum of make a web site extra interactive. 

Solely having textual content in your web site will be monotonous, so together with completely different types of media helps break up textual content and may also help info stick. I counsel filling your web site with extremely partaking multimedia content material and graphics to help important info and interact customers.

You may simply carry your web site to life utilizing visible aids and mediums like inventory pictures, vector photos, background photos, inventory video footage, sound results, and video enhancing templates. There are tons of internet sites that present media sources which might be free to make use of for content material. Freepik is a well known web site that gives illustrations and pictures.

Many websites additionally incorporate icons inside the call-to-actions and sources sections. Flaticon is a good supply of icons.

These sources will rework your web site into one thing memorable and visually interesting, whereas additionally offering a user-friendly expertise.

Some web site builders provide extra sturdy media capabilities, with a number of gallery layouts, customization choices, and enhancing options.

3. WYSIWYG Editor

Moreover an assortment of themes and templates, I believe the perfect web site builder instruments make it simple for customers to customise their web sites with drag-and-drop instruments and what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editors.

It’s nice for novices since you don’t have to learn to code — merely design your web site in a number of clicks by dragging and dropping parts onto your web page and see the way it will look. 

I additionally predict that you just’ll spend quite a bit much less time making adjustments after you publish your web site by utilizing a WYSIWYG editor as a result of you possibly can see how every thing will look when you’re designing your web site, so it’s an essential characteristic to contemplate when selecting the perfect web site builder for you, selecting a web site builder that meets your wants.

4. Malware Scanning

Safety is a prime consideration when selecting a web site builder.

Security measures differ relying on the web site builder instrument you choose, however contemplate it a keeper if it presents malware scanning. Automated malware scanning lets you handle threats earlier than they progress into one thing catastrophic.

5. Net Software Firewall (WAF)

A net utility firewall (WAF) is one other must-have safety characteristic.

WAFs sit between your net server and the web to guard your web site from frequent assaults. You’ll be capable of keep away from SQL injections (the place a hacker will get the power to view your web site database and entry safe knowledge) and cross-site scripting (XSS) (when a hacker injects malicious code into your web site) by filtering, monitoring, and blocking malicious site visitors from getting into the community.

WAFs can come within the type of software-as-a-service (SaaS), and you’ll customise them to fulfill your web site’s distinctive wants. For those who create your web site with HubSpot, you’ll get entry to 24/7 enterprise-grade safety instruments like malware scanning and WAF.

6. Content material Supply Community (CDN)

Moreover web site safety, I strongly suggest optimizing for web page pace.  The period of time it takes to your web site to load considerably impacts buyer expertise, conversions, and income, and whether or not your web site is even usable on cell gadgets.

In line with Portent, a web site that masses in a single second has a conversion price 5x greater than a web site that masses in 10 seconds.

There are a lot of methods to enhance web page pace, and a content material supply community (CDN) is a technique to take action. CDNs retailer heavy and static content material on distributed servers situated worldwide and cargo the cached content material from a location nearest to the person to hurry up its supply.

7. Net Internet hosting

What good are web site builders after they cannot get your web site on-line?

Some options solely provide web site builder instruments to make your web site. It’s a must to pay individually for hosting providers to get your web site on-line.

The perfect web site builders make it handy to begin your web sites by providing free hosting. In some instances, you may want to supply your individual hosting to your platform or use one thing like WordPress internet hosting.Free web site builders provide restricted bandwidth and storage only for private use. You may improve to shared, devoted, or managed internet hosting for a further price.

8. Storage

Website hosting gives two providers: bandwidth and disk area (or storage).

Most free web site builders provide ample (restricted) storage for a newbie web site however require you to buy extra storage do you have to want it.

9. Blogs

Individuals usually confuse web sites and blogs with one another — they’re related however not the identical.

A weblog is a sort of web site that comprises details about completely different subjects. They’re usually up to date with new articles or posts, whereas web sites solely obtain updates when wanted. In a nutshell, all blogs are web sites, however not all web sites are or have blogs.

Organizations construct web sites for various causes: to promote, showcase a portfolio, or inform — and for these causes, a weblog will be useful.

Blogs can assist your web site by:

• Rising visibility via search engine marketing.
• Producing new leads.
• Constructing belief and loyalty.
• Creating model consciousness.

Most free web site builders include fundamental running a blog instruments, like AI weblog writers, and different content material administration options.

10. search engine marketing Capabilities

In line with our 2023 Net Visitors & Analytics Report, natural search is the second-highest driver of web site site visitors. With this, I can’t stress sufficient the significance of search engine marketing optimization—

If you wish to carry in additional site visitors and views, your web site must be search engine- optimized.

Most web site builders assist with technical search engine marketing by providing free SSL certificates and supporting schema markup and XML sitemaps. In addition they help on-page search engine marketing by permitting you to enter and modify URLs, meta tags, and picture alt attributes.

11. Buyer Assist

I bumped into a number of points whereas testing the web site builder instruments listed above that I couldn’t troubleshoot by myself, which leads me to my subsequent level: select a instrument that gives buyer help. 

Buyer help assists you with something you need assistance with — technical, gross sales, billing, funds, or experiences. Relying on the web site builder, help can are available in any (or a mixture) of the next channels:

• FAQs.
• Chatbot help.
• Dwell help.
• A data base.
• Video tutorials.

The perfect web site builders preserve a mixture of channels and reply inquiries promptly.

12. Ecommerce Capabilities

Are you planning on promoting bodily or digital merchandise sooner or later? Think about selecting a web site builder with ecommerce capabilities.

There are devoted ecommerce web site builders, however these are sometimes paid options with sturdy performance comparable to apps for fee and transport.

Free web site builders usually combine with a third-party ecommerce utility or help a easy built-in retailer.

13. Third-party Integrations

There’s nothing worse than realizing your present tech stack doesn’t work with the web site builder you selected. Thus, it’s essential to contemplate whether or not a web site builder permits third-party integrations.

Your web site builder ought to combine with exterior instruments, comparable to electronic mail advertising, ecommerce, and social software program, so you possibly can add any features you want, like stay chat, to your web site. HubSpot, for instance, presents 1,400+ third-party apps and instruments for integrations, and WordPress.com presents prolonged performance to your web site within the type of Plugins. 

14. Analytics and Reporting

Your web site builder also needs to have a net analytics and reporting perform to measure essential metrics like the location’s in style pages, bounce price, common length per go to, and extra.

Alternatively, you possibly can monitor your web site metrics in an analytics and reporting instrument. Once you carry your net analytics along with different key funnel metrics like trials or activation price onto a dashboard, you give everybody in your group the power to discover your knowledge and uncover insights.

Selecting Your Web site Builder

There you will have it! Since most of those web site builders are free, check out a pair in the event you’re not sure of the perfect match. Specifically, pay attention to what you actually wish to get out of your web site to make sure your wants will probably be met by considered one of these builders.

Editor’s Observe: This submit was initially printed in November 2018 however has been up to date for comprehensiveness.