How to Choose the Best Website Builder in 2023
Today, website building is no longer reserved for web designers and developers.
With the advent of user-friendly website builders, anyone can create a professional-looking website in a matter of hours without prior experience or design skills.
In addition, most website builders also feature web hosting, so you can get your website online as soon as you create it.
In this article, I discuss what goes into choosing the best website builder based on your required features.
How To Choose The Best Website Builder Based On Features
Knowing which features are required in the website builder of choice is crucial to making the right decision when choosing a platform.
To help you out, I’ve listed some of the most important factors below.
Ease Of Use
The best website builders allow you to make a website with a drag-and-drop editor that is easy to use.
With a learning curve that should be as close to zero as possible, you can create a website quickly.
Flexibility and Customization
Most website builders allow you to create a website tailored to your needs in various aspects – from functionality to look, you should control the finished product.
A website that can adapt to one’s changing needs is also crucial for any business that plans on evolving.
Zyro is an example of a website builder that allows its users to take full advantage of customization features like drag & drop editing, creative control, various blogging tools, and much more.
With Zyro, you can customize various settings, including fonts, colors, and backgrounds, to make your webpage look unique.
Get started with Zyro.
Ecommerce Functionality
Online stores are becoming increasingly popular, and the right website builder will allow you to easily set up your ecommerce online store and start selling products or services.
In addition, for customers to be able to add items to their shopping cart and input their credit card information without worry, your own website must be secure.
You’ll need a website builder with SSL encryption and PCI compliance features.
Mobile-Friendliness
A responsive business website is essential in today’s age.
With mobile devices becoming increasingly popular, your website must look good on all devices, regardless of user browsing.
In addition, a mobile-friendly website will also load faster, which is essential for both SEO and the general user experience.
SEO-Friendliness
Marketing and search engine optimization tools are part and parcel of any professional website builder.
These features can help you rank highly in search engines for specific keywords related to your small business.
With search engine algorithms evolving and getting smarter, choosing a website builder with marketing and SEO tools is essential.
At their basic, website-building platforms allow users to set custom titles and descriptions, add alternative text to images, define a custom URL, etc.
Some even allow an inbuilt search engine optimization wizard to automate as many SEO-related operations as possible.
Considering how much flexibility you have with SEO is necessary if your business depends on this type of traffic.
Domain Name
Getting a free custom domain is a nice-to-have feature, but this doesn’t always happen.
Also, if a domain name comes with setting up an account on a website builder, the available options might not be as extensive as those found on domain registrars.
Knowing the domain name options for a site builder and your specific requirements will allow you to make the right choice in this case.
Pricing
The cost (per month) is something to consider when building your website through a builder.
While a basic plan might allow you to build a website that looks OK but is full of ads, paid plans come with more features, flexibility, and better customer support.
With various pricing plan tiers, choosing a builder with the right features at a price point that won’t break the bank is essential.
Support
Running into issues while using the web builder is normal if you are not an experienced web designer or developer.
In this case, customer support is crucial to resolving any issues.
The best website builders offer 24/7 customer support so you can always get help when needed.
Whether through live chat, email support, or phone calls, knowing how to contact the right people can save you a lot of headaches.
User Reviews
When small business owners are looking for the best website builder, user reviews can be a great way to understand what others say about a specific business or even one of their products.
If you cannot find any reviews on a business, that could be considered a red flag in most situations.
Site builders that have been in operation for any length of time will have people that have publically shared their opinion about the service they received – whether it’s good, bad, or anywhere in between.
Templates And Themes
While most web design software will come with a selection of templates and themes, the best website builders will give you access to hundreds, if not thousands, of different options.
As a result, you can find a design that perfectly suits your business.
Whether it’s a design that corresponds to your specific niche or audience you are targeting, this can help make your business website more relatable to the people that matter.
Integrations And Add-Ons
From SEO features to social media marketing integrations, being able to add different elements to your website is essential.
An easy website builder offers many integrations and add-ons to find what you need quickly.
Blogging Capabilities
If you aim to start a blog and make money from it, blogging capabilities are also worth considering.
Bloggers typically require specific features that include the ability to schedule posts, create custom categories, and add social media buttons that make it easy to share content.
Security
A professional website builder should include free SSL certificates, daily backups, and malware scanning.
SSL certificates serve two purposes – they encrypt the connection between your website and visitors so that sensitive information can’t be intercepted, and they also help improve your search engine ranking.
Daily backups are essential if something goes wrong with your website, and you must restore it to a previous version.
Malware scanning helps prevent malicious code from being injected into your website, which can damage your reputation and cause your site to be blacklisted.
Scalability
The right website builder should also be able to scale as your business grows.
It should offer features like the ability to add more pages, users, and storage when you need it.
Trial Period And Money-Back Guarantee
It is vital to have a free trial period where you can try out the product before committing to it.
In addition, many website builders also offer a money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with the product.
Tracking Features
Adding Google Analytics to your website is essential to track traffic and performance.
Whether you want to see how long people stay on your site, what pages they visit, or where they come from, tracking features can help you make informed decisions about your website.
The best website builders might also have built-in tracking features that complement the information you get from Google Analytics.
The Pros And Cons Of The Most Popular Website Builders
Now that I’ve gone over some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a website builder, I want to take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of the most popular options on the market.
Pros
Here are the top advantages to consider when using a website builder.
No Coding Skills Required
Traditionally, building a website requires knowledge of HTML and CSS.
However, with a website builder, you can create a website without coding skills.
Website builders come with pre-made templates and drag-and-drop features, making creating a website without prior experience or technical know-how easy.
Cheap And Fast
Website builders are also cheap and fast to use.
Using a website builder is much cheaper than hiring a web designer or developer.
In addition, website builders are faster to use since you don’t have to wait for someone else to build your website.
No Maintenance Fees
Another advantage of using a website builder is no maintenance fees.
Once you build your website, you can keep it updated and running without paying additional fees.
Instead of hiring a web designer or developer to make changes to your website, you can do it yourself with a website builder.
Great for Blogging And Ecommerce
Website builders are also great for blogging and eCommerce.
If you want to start a blog, most website builders come with built-in blogging features that make it easy to get started.
In addition, many website builders also offer an eCommerce plan and features, allowing you to create product pages, add listings and integrate payment methods.
Cons
With the pros out of the way, here are some disadvantages to consider when using a website builder.
Fewer Customization Options
One of the main drawbacks of using a website builder is the fewer customization options available.
Since website builders come with pre-made templates, you’ll have less control over how your website looks than if you were to build your website from scratch.
Limited Bandwidth And Storage
Another downside of using a website builder is that you’ll typically be limited in bandwidth and storage.
Many website builders only offer a certain amount of bandwidth and storage for each plan, so you might need to upgrade to a higher-paid plan if your traffic increases.
Fewer Advanced Features
Website builders are also not ideal for large-scale websites or websites that need advanced features.
A website builder is probably not the best option if you need a website with complex features, such as a website with a members-only area, a forum, or a website with many data processing requirements.
May Require Some Technical Knowledge
Finally, it’s worth noting that while you don’t need any coding skills to use a website builder, some technical knowledge may still be required.
For example, if you want to use a custom domain name for your website, you must know how to set up DNS records.
That said, this is true for any website you set up online, and the good news is that many tutorials can help you with this.
Questions To Ask Before Settling On A Website Builder
Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you decide which builder could be the right choice for your web-building needs.
What Is Your Budget?
A website builder offers a variety of pricing options.
Open-source platforms with a free plan can typically be used at no cost.
Next up, solutions that offer basic functionality would cost slightly more.
Finally, website builders that provide you with more secure hosting services and advanced features will generally come in at the highest price points.
You will want to decide your budget and find a platform to give you the most features for the money spent.
How Much Time Are You Willing To Spend Building Your Website?
The website design you get with a website builder is usually based on pre-made templates.
While one can build simple website hours, a more complex one will take longer to get exactly as desired.
Do You Have Any Coding Skills?
You’ll need coding skills to use HTML, CSS, and other advanced features.
While this is not required, using these features will give you more control over the look and feel of your website.
Do You Need Ecommerce Features?
Being able to set up an online store is a popular reason for using a website builder.
However, not all website builders offer e-commerce features.
Integrating with Paypal, Square, or any other popular payment processor is usually pretty straightforward with most website builders.
When choosing an ecommerce website builder, be aware that some will have higher transaction fees when transactions are performed, so knowing what these are will allow you to calculate your overall costs.
While you can also use a separate ecommerce platform to set up your listings, a website builder with selling functionality will give you a single interface to run your business.
Are You Planning To Blog?
A blog is often a must-have feature for site builder users.
Also, having the ability to set up a blog as a subdomain of the main website can be an excellent way to keep things organized.
How Personalized Do You Want The Technical Support From The Website Builder To Be?
Some website builders offer no customer support, while others will provide you with everything from phone support to live chat.
Knowing what kind of support you’ll need before choosing a website builder.
The Golden Rules of Ethical Web Design
The golden rules of ethical web design are essential to creating a successful website.
They ensure the website is designed for user needs and experiences, protecting the developer and users from legal risks.
The main principles include accessibility, usability, privacy, reliability, content accuracy, and currency.
Accessibility means all visitors should use the site regardless of disability or device.
Usability ensures that the navigation and layout allow users to access the right content.
Consider how you’ll protect data, such as customer information, from unauthorized access or misuse.
Reliability promises that the content on the website is accurate and up to date.
Content accuracy ensures that information on the website is correct, while currency refers to how often updates are made to keep information up-to-date.
Ethics and web design also include aesthetic considerations like typography, color palette, visuals, and layout.
It is essential to consider how these will work together to create an engaging visitor experience while expressing your brand identity.
Clear communication regarding any disclaimers or policies associated with your company or site content is also essential.
Users know what they agree to when they use your site services or purchase products from you.
Following ethical web design standards helps maintain user trust while promoting a consistent customer experience across platforms.
They also help reduce potential legal liability risks associated with any online activities performed on your site.
How to Choose the Best Website Builder – FAQs
What Are The Best Website Builders?
Some noteworthy examples include Squarespace, WordPress, Weebly, Zyro, Duda, and Shopify.
More specifically, the GoDaddy website builder and the Wix ADI are two platforms that make website creation straightforward.
That said, the right content management system for you will be the one that allows you to set up a business website that looks great and is easy to use.
Can Beginners Use Free Website Builders?
Yes, beginners can use free website builders to get started.
Free website builders usually have some limitations, such as being unable to use custom domain names or having ads run on your site, but it might be an excellent way to get your feet wet.
After some time, I suggest going with a pro plan from the website builder of choice, as this will usually offer more needed features.
What Exactly Is A Drag-And-Drop Website Builder?
A drag-and-drop website builder allows you to add content to your website by dragging and dropping it into place.
Being able to change fonts, colors, and other design elements with a click of a button is also included in drag-and-drop functionality.
How Important Are Widgets In A Website Builder?
The right widgets can be essential in a website builder, as they allow you to add additional functionality to your website without having to code it yourself.
For example, you could add a widget that displays your latest tweets or Instagram posts or allows visitors to sign up for your newsletter.
It’s much easier than adding the code and can be done with just a few clicks.
The same applies to plugins, which come as standard with various premium plans.
What Are Some Typical Transaction Fees When Using An Ecommerce Website Builder?
Transaction fees vary depending on which ecommerce website builder or the payment processor you use, but they are typically around 2-3% per sale plus a set amount per transaction.
What’s The Difference Between Wordpress.com And Wordpress.org?
WordPress.com is a hosted platform, meaning you don’t have to worry about installing WordPress or buying web hosting.
WordPress.org is a self-hosted platform, meaning you will need to install WordPress on your web server and buy hosting from a provider.
With WordPress.org, you will have more control over your website, but it does require more technical knowledge.
What Is A Landing Page Builder?
A landing page builder is a tool that allows you to create custom pages for your website.
Landing pages are often used to promote a product or service. They usually have a contact form where visitors can enter their email information in exchange for something they want.
Using an email marketing solution with a landing page builder will allow you to make the most out of this feature.
Can Amazon Affiliates Use A Site Builder To Create Their Website?
Yes, Amazon Affiliates can use a site builder to create their website.
Using a site builder is one of the easiest ways to create an affiliate website.
Do Site Builders Come With A Mobile App?
Through the App Store and Google Play, several mobile apps allow you to edit your website on the go.
However, not all site builders come with a mobile app, so it’s something to remember when making your decision.
Wrap Up.
Not only does a website give you a space to call your own on the internet, but it also allows you to control your online presence and build your brand.
Your website is also a great place to connect with your customers and followers, and a well-designed website can be a powerful marketing tool.
That said, building a website doesn’t have to be more complicated than it should be.
You can simplify the process using website builders and ensure you get the desired results.
The best website builder is the one that will allow you to create the website you need, whether that’s about building personal websites or more advanced ecommerce stores.
What is your favorite website builder?
Which features do you find most important in a website builder?
Do you have any tips for choosing the best website builder?
Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.
Further reading on AdamEnfroy.com: Choosing the best web hosting service is essential if you’re going for a self-hosted option.
With various web hosting services, it pays to know which options are best for your needs.
Finally, here are some website builder reviews, comparisons, and alternatives, aimed to help you choose the right platform for your needs:
Last Updated on March 21, 2023 by Adam Enfroy
