Best 7 Website Builders for Small Business in 2023: Overview
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Welcome to our ultimate guide to the best website builders for small business in 2023. Building a website has never been more accessible, and with the increasing demand for online presences, it’s essential for small businesses to have a professional website. Our list includes the top website builders that have been tried and tested, providing you with a variety of options to choose from. Whether you’re creating a website for a new business or revamping your existing one, our guide offers valuable insights and recommendations to help your small business thrive in the digital world. Let’s explore the best website builders for small business, including the features and pricing plans that make them the best on the market.
Our guide will cover everything you need to know about website builders, from what they are to how to choose the right one for your small business. We will compare popular website builders, explore niche business website builders, and provide details on how we tested and ranked the best website builders for small businesses. Additionally, we will discuss the cost of building a website yourself and free website builder options that can help you save money. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of the best website builders for small business in 2023, and the confidence to create a professional website for your small business. Let’s get started!
What is a Website Builder?
If you’re a small business owner looking to create a website for your business, you may be wondering what a website builder is. Simply put, a website builder is a tool or platform that allows you to create and customize your own website without needing to have any coding or design skills.
Website builders usually come equipped with user-friendly drag-and-drop editors, pre-designed templates, and a range of features to help you build your website with ease. With a website builder, you have the freedom to create a website that perfectly fits your small business needs.
So, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced web designer, a website builder can be an excellent option for creating your small business website.
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What to Look for in a Website Builder for Small Business
Choosing the right website builder for your small business can be a daunting task. There are countless options to choose from, and each one has its own set of features and capabilities that may or may not align with your business needs. To make the process easier, here are some key criteria to consider when evaluating website builders for small business:
- Ease of use: Look for a website builder that has an intuitive and user-friendly interface. It should not require any prior coding or design experience to use. A drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates make it easy to create a professional-looking website quickly.
- Design flexibility: Your website should be visually appealing and engaging. Look for a website builder that offers a wide range of templates, customization options, and design tools to create a unique and memorable website.
- Mobile responsiveness: With more people browsing the internet on their mobile devices, it’s crucial to choose a website builder that creates mobile-friendly websites. This ensures that your website looks and functions well on any device.
- Ecommerce capabilities: If you plan to sell products or services online, choose a website builder that provides ecommerce features, such as product listings, shopping carts, and payment gateways.
- Speed and security: A slow website and lack of security can harm your business’s reputation and online presence. Be sure to choose a website builder that offers fast loading times and top-notch security features, such as SSL certification.
- Value for money: Look for a website builder that offers flexible pricing plans and affordable options. Be sure to evaluate the features and capabilities of each plan to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.
By evaluating these criteria, you can find the best small business website builder that aligns with your business goals and needs.
Comparison of the Best Small Business Website Builders
Choosing the right website builder can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many options available. We’ve done the research for you and here are the top website builders for small businesses in 2023.
| Website Builder | Features | Pricing | Customer Support | Overall Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger Website Builder | Easy drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive templates, SEO tools, ecommerce capabilities | Starting at $2.15/month | 24/7 live chat, email support, knowledge base | Fast loading speeds, reliable uptime, affordable pricing |
| Wix | Intuitive drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, SEO tools, ecommerce capabilities, social media integration | Starting at $14/month | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support | Excellent design capabilities, good value for money, but slower loading times |
| Squarespace | Professional and clean templates, powerful blogging tools, ecommerce capabilities, SEO tools | Starting at $16/month | 24/7 email and chat support | Great design features, but limited customization options |
| GoDaddy Website Builder | Simple drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive templates, SEO tools, ecommerce capabilities | Starting at $10/month | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support | Easy to use, but limited design options and slower loading times |
| Weebly | Intuitive drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive templates, SEO tools, ecommerce capabilities, blogging tools | Starting at $6/month | 24/7 phone and chat support | Simple to use, but limited design flexibility and slower loading times |
| BigCommerce | Robust ecommerce capabilities, SEO tools, mobile-responsive templates, inventory management | Starting at $29.95/month | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support | Great for online stores, but may be overwhelming for beginners |
| Shopify | Powerful ecommerce capabilities, mobile-responsive templates, SEO tools, inventory management | Starting at $29/month | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support | The best for online stores, but may be expensive for small businesses |
| Webador | Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive templates, SEO tools, ecommerce capabilities | Starting at $8.25/month | Email support, knowledge base | Great for beginners, but limited design options and slower loading times |
| Canva | Simple drag-and-drop editor, user-friendly interface, SEO tools, customizable templates | Starting at $0/month | Email support, knowledge base | Best for creating quick designs, but limited features for building a full website |
| Pixpa | Mobile-responsive templates, customizable pages, SEO tools, unlimited galleries | Starting at $7/month | 24/7 email support, knowledge base | Great for photographers and artists, but may be overwhelming for beginners |
These are the best website builders for small businesses in 2023. Each builder has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose one that aligns with your business needs and budget.
Templates & Design , Domains and Plans
Here’s a quick comparison of templates & design, domains, and plans for Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, Weebly, Webador, Pixpa, and Canva in a chart:
| Website Builder/Hosting Service | Templates & Design | Domains | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Offers a wide range of templates with drag-and-drop design customization. | Allows you to purchase domains directly through Wix or connect your existing domain. | Offers a range of plans, including free, premium, business, and eCommerce plans with varying features and pricing. |
| Squarespace | Offers beautifully designed templates with a strong focus on aesthetics. Customization options are available. | You can purchase domains through Squarespace or connect an existing domain. | Provides plans for personal websites, businesses, online stores, and more, each with different features and pricing. |
| Weebly | Provides a selection of templates with a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor for customization. | You can purchase domains through Weebly or use your existing domain. | Offers free and paid plans, including a starter plan, Pro plan, Business plan, and eCommerce plans, each with different features and pricing. |
| BigCommerce | Designed specifically for eCommerce, BigCommerce offers customizable themes for online stores. | You can purchase domains through BigCommerce or connect an existing domain. | Offers various pricing tiers, including Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans tailored to eCommerce needs. |
| Shopify | Specializes in eCommerce and offers a range of professionally designed themes. Customization is available. | You can purchase domains through Shopify or use an existing domain. | Provides pricing plans for small businesses, medium-sized enterprises, and high-volume stores, with varying features and costs. |
| GoDaddy | Offers templates for various types of websites with basic customization options. | Allows you to purchase domains through GoDaddy or use an existing domain. | Provides hosting and website builder plans with different features and pricing, including basic and eCommerce plans. |
| Hostinger | Provides templates for personal and small business websites with customization options. | You can purchase domains through Hostinger or use your own domain. | Offers shared hosting, WordPress hosting, and cloud hosting plans with different features and pricing for various needs. |
SSL status
The SSL status for the top mentioned web builders in a chart:
| Website Builder | SSL Status |
|---|---|
| Wix | Automatic SSL (with all plans) |
| Squarespace | Included with all plans |
| Weebly | SSL included (with all plans) |
| BigCommerce | Free SSL certificate included |
| Shopify | SSL included (with all plans) |
| GoDaddy | Free SSL certificate included |
| Hostinger | no-cost SSL certificate included |
Niche Business Top Website Builders in 2023
Not all small businesses are the same. Each industry or business type has unique needs when it comes to website builders. Fortunately, there are now niche business website builders available that offer specialized features and templates tailored to specific industries or business types.
Industry-Specific Website Builders
If you are a restaurant owner, you probably need a website that allows customers to book tables and view your menu easily. For this, you can choose website builders like Wix Restaurants, which offers specialized features such as online ordering, table booking, and menu customization.
For photographers, a website that easily showcases their work is essential. SmugMug is a website builder that offers templates specifically designed for photographers, with options to sell prints and digital downloads.
Fresha is a website builder specifically for salons and spas. It offers features such as online appointment booking, staff management, and automatic appointment reminders.
Website Builders for Specific Businesses
If you are a small e-commerce store, you can choose website builders like Shopify or BigCommerce, which offer powerful e-commerce capabilities, such as inventory management, payment gateways, and shipping options.
If you are a freelancer or consultant, you can choose website builders like Webflow, which offers features such as lead capture forms, contact management, and invoicing options.
Overall, these niche business website builders offer tailored solutions to help you build a website that meets the specific needs of your business.
How We Tested and Ranked Web Builders for Small Businesses
Choosing the best website builder for small businesses can be a daunting task, which is why we conducted extensive testing and evaluation of the top options available. Our evaluation criteria included factors such as ease of use, design flexibility, mobile responsiveness, ecommerce capabilities, speed, and security.
We tested each website builder by creating a basic website with similar features and content, such as product pages, contact forms, and blogs. We also evaluated their customer support and pricing plans to provide a comprehensive overview of their value for money.
After thorough testing, we ranked the website builders based on their overall performance, user experience, and suitability for small businesses. Our evaluation process allowed us to identify the best website builders for small businesses in 2023, and we highly recommend the following options:
- Hostinger Website Builder
- Wix
- Squarespace
- GoDaddy Website Builder
- Weebly
- BigCommerce
- Shopify
- Webador
- Canva
- Pixpa
Each of these website builders excelled in different areas, and we have provided detailed reviews of their features and pricing plans to help you make an informed decision for your small business.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website for a Small Business Yourself?
Building a website for your small business can vary in cost depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the website, the experience of the developer, and the features you add to your website. If you’re planning to build your small business website yourself, you’ll need to factor in the following costs:
Domain Registration
The first cost you’ll encounter is domain registration, which is the name of your website and the address where users can find it. You can register a domain name with a domain registrar such as GoDaddy or Namecheap for around $10 to $20 per year.
Hosting Costs
You will also need a hosting provider to publish your website on the internet. Hosting prices can range from a few dollars per month to several hundred dollars per month, depending on the hosting provider and the features you choose. Some popular hosting providers for small businesses are Hostinger, Bluehost, and SiteGround.
Theme/Template Costs
If you’re using a website builder, you’ll likely choose a pre-designed template/theme to create your website. Some website builders offer free templates, while others charge a one-time fee or a monthly subscription that includes access to premium templates. Popular website builder templates can range from $50 to $200.
Additional Features/Plugins
If you want to add additional features or functionality to your website, you may need to purchase plugins or apps. For example, if you want to add an online store to your website, you might need to pay extra for an ecommerce plugin. The cost of additional features/plugins can vary widely depending on the provider and the complexity of the feature.
Overall, the cost of building a small business website yourself can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the choices you make and the features you require. However, building your website yourself can be a cost-effective option for small businesses on a budget.
Checked These Out! Free Tools for Small Business Website Building
Building a website for your small business doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are several website builders with free plans that can help you create a professional-looking website without breaking the bank. Here are some of the best free website builder tools that you can utilize:
- Weebly: Weebly is a popular website builder that offers a free plan with basic features such as drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, and website hosting. The free plan comes with Weebly ads, but you can upgrade to a paid plan to remove them and access more advanced features.
- Wix: Wix also offers a free plan with features such as a drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, and website hosting. The free plan comes with Wix ads, but you can upgrade to a paid plan to remove them and access more advanced features such as domain connection and ecommerce capabilities.
- WordPress: WordPress is a powerful website builder that powers more than 30% of all websites on the internet. WordPress has a free plan with basic features such as a customizable template, website hosting, and access to the WordPress community for support and resources.
- Shopify: Shopify is a popular ecommerce website builder that offers a free plan with limited features such as customizable templates, website hosting, and access to the Shopify community. The free plan is ideal for small businesses that are just starting with an online store.
While free website builder plans are a great way to get started, keep in mind that they come with limitations and often require you to display ads or branding from the website builder platform. If you’re looking for more advanced features or want to remove the ads, upgrading to a paid plan is often necessary. Nevertheless, free website builders are a great option for small businesses on a budget.
Conclusion
Choosing the best website builder for your small business is crucial to establish a strong online presence. By considering factors such as ease of use, design flexibility, mobile responsiveness, ecommerce capabilities, speed, and security, you can find the perfect website builder that aligns with your small business goals.
After thorough testing and evaluation, we have identified the top website builders for small businesses in 2023. From Hostinger Website Builder to Wix, Squarespace to Shopify, Weebly to BigCommerce, Webador to Canva and Pixpa, these website builders offer powerful features and excellent customer support.
For businesses with specific needs, such as restaurants, freelancers, photographers, and small e-commerce stores, we have also highlighted niche website builders that cater to specific industries or business types.
In addition, we have discussed the costs involved in building a website yourself, including domain registration, hosting, theme/template costs, and additional features/plugins, to help you estimate the budget required for your small business website.
Lastly, if you’re on a budget, we have featured some of the best free website builder tools that can help you create a professional-looking website for your small business.
In conclusion, we hope this ultimate guide has provided you with valuable insights and recommendations to choose the best website builder for your small business in 2023 and beyond. Start building your online presence today and take your small business to new heights!
Best Website builder for Small businesses FAQs
Q: What is a website builder?
A: A website builder is a tool or platform that allows users to create and customize their own websites without needing to have coding or design skills.
Q: What should I look for in a website builder for small business?
A: When choosing a website builder for your small business, consider factors such as ease of use, design flexibility, mobile responsiveness, ecommerce capabilities, speed and security, and value for money.
Q: How can I compare different website builders for small businesses?
A: In our guide, we compare popular website builders such as Hostinger Website Builder, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy Website Builder, Weebly, BigCommerce, Shopify, Webador, Canva, and Pixpa. We evaluate their features, pricing plans, customer support, and overall performance to help you make an informed decision.
Q: Are there website builders specifically designed for niche businesses?
A: Yes, there are niche business website builders that cater to specific industries or business types. Whether you’re a restaurant owner, freelancer, photographer, or small e-commerce store, we have selected website builders that offer specialized features and templates tailored to your specific needs.
Q: How did you test and rank the web builders for small businesses?
A: To determine the best website builders for small businesses, we conducted rigorous testing and evaluation. In this section, we explain our testing methodology, criteria, and the factors we considered when ranking the website builders.
Q: How much does it cost to build a website for a small business yourself?
A: Building a website for your small business can vary in cost depending on various factors. In this section, we discuss the different cost components involved, such as domain registration, hosting, theme/template costs, and additional features/plugins.
Q: Are there any free tools available for small business website building?
A: Yes, there are free website builder tools available that can still create a professional-looking website for your small business. In this section, we highlight some of the best free website builder options, discussing their features, limitations, and how they can benefit your small business.
