The best website builder for small businesses: start selling online today

Wix and Squarespace and Shopify logos on a purple background
(Image credit: Wix/Squarespace/Shopify/Future)

These days, every company has to have some kind of online presence. And the best website builders for small business can make that surprisingly easy.

Why you can trust Creative Bloq

✅ We are solely focused on what creatives need
✅ We create sites based on real workflows
✅ We consult actual designers and creative pros
✅ Over 30 website builders tested over 200 hours

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Tom May

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. He has tried and tested a range of website builders, using them to create his own portfolio sites.

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Wix scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilityEasy-to-use drag-and-drop approach or AI option.★★★★★
VersatilityLots of templates and plenty of options for more premium features.★★★★★
PricingScalable plans allow you to choose the features you need, starting from a limited free plan.★★★★
Our expert says
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Our expert says
Chelsea Forsyth

With innovative design tools, SEO integration, and a generous free plan, Wix is a brilliant option for beginners looking to design a sleek website or portfolio quickly.

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Squarespace scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilityTakes some time to learn.★★★★
VersatilityGreat templates and good ecommerce options.★★★★★
PricingNo free option, although there is a free trial.★★★
Our expert says
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Our expert says
Chelsea Forsyth

An innovative platform with stunning template designs and thorough customisation options, Squarespace is a strong contender for building personal websites and portfolios.

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Shopify scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilityEasy to get started; complex to master★★★★
VersatilityImpressive, flexible range of selling options.★★★★
PricingExpensive to use, and has transaction fees.★★★
Our expert says
Black and white photograph headshot of Creative Bloq contributor Daniel Schwarz
Our expert says
Daniel Schwarz

Shopify’s complexity matches its ability to solve unique challenges other platforms don’t. If you're selling through your website and not just advertising, it's the top choice.

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GoDaddy scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilityStreamlined process is good for beginners.★★★★★
VersatilityQuite basic.★★★
PricingFairly standard pricing★★★
Our expert says
Our expert says
Brian Monks

GoDaddy has a plethora of hosting options to choose from and benefits from great customer support, but it is let down by rather uninspiring themes.

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Weebly scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilitySimple to use.★★★★★
VersatilityLimited customisation options but lots of apps available.★★★
PricingGood value for ecommerce.★★★★
Our expert says
Our expert says
Joanna Heng

Weebly is a popular platform with various useful capabilities and an intuitive interface. It also has decent ecommerce capabilities.

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Hostinger scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilityEasy to use interface.★★★★★
VersatilityLimited customisation but a variety plans makes it a good fit to accompany a business as it grows.★★★
PricingGreat value, although prices jump after the first year.★★★★★
Our expert says
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Our expert says
Richard Sutherland

Hostinger draws you in with cheap shared hosting plans, but be prepared for tight restrictions on service. Still, it’s a top choice for basic, no-frills hosting at a fantastic price.

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Bluehost scorecard
AttributesNotesRating
Interface and usabilityTakes some time to learn.★★★
VersatilityLots of flexibility.★★★★
PricingCompetitive pricing but not free plan.★★★★
Our expert says
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Our expert says
Richard Sutherland

Bluehost Website Builder is an exciting option for anyone who wants the power of WordPress but the simplicity of a drag-and-drop website editor.

Recent updates

December 3rd, 2024: I added Shopify 2024 as the best ecommerce option for small businesses, using data and insights from Creative Bloq's Shopify 2024 review.

TOPICS
Tom May

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World, T3.com and Tech Radar. He also writes for Creative Boom and works on content marketing projects. 

With contributions from