A free web design software download is a great way to get started building your own websites. The best part about these tools is that they’re free, so you don’t need to spend any money before you get started.

There are lots of different programs out there, but we’ve picked out some of the best ones on the market. Check them out below!

Free Web Design Software Download

If you’re new to web design, you probably want to know which web design software is worth the investment. You might also want to know what are the must-haves that every web designer should know?

Choosing a great web design tool comes down to its functionality and purpose. There isn’t the best all-in-one solution. Also, depending on your goal, you may need to use more than one design software to achieve the best-designed website.

We recommend testing out several types of web development software to learn which one suits your work the most.

To help you find what you’re looking for, we’ve put together a list of the 15 best web design software tools for building websites, graphic design, interface design, and prototyping.

Table of Contents
Best Design Software for Website Creation
Best Software for Interface Design & Prototyping
Best Software for Graphic Design
To Sum Up: Best Web Design Software Tools
Best Design Software for Website Creation
Code libraries, development environments, and hosting services allow developers to launch their websites and share them with the world.

Take a look at some of the best tools for this purpose.

1. WordPress (Free and Paid)
   WordPress.com web design software

Here at websitesetup.org, we recommend people use WordPress to create their websites.

Why?

Through our experience creating hundreds of sites, we’ve found that WordPress offers the best combination of flexibility, power, and ease-of-use necessary to build and launch content-based websites.

And it seems like the internet agrees with us! Over 35% of all websites run on WordPress. WordPress powers popular blogs, e-commerce stores, communities, and more.

To get started with WordPress, you have two options:

Set up a self-hosted WordPress site (WordPress.org)
Sign up for a free WordPress.com account
If you’re just looking to host a small personal site, WordPress.com may be a great choice. However, if you’re starting a more complex project a self-hosted WordPress site is probably a better option.

If you are already using WordPress, but looking for help creating a WordPress theme or customizing WordPress pages, we recommend checking out the Genesis Theme Framework and the Elementor Page Builder.

Visit WordPress.com

Further Reading:
How to Create a Website using WordPress (step-by-step)
How to Create a Blog using WordPress (step-by-step)

2. Bootstrap (Free)
   Bootstrap web design software

Originally created by the engineering team at Twitter, Bootstrap is now the world’s most popular framework for building responsive, mobile-first websites.

Put simply, Bootstrap is a free library of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that simplifies the process of coding a website from scratch. Bootstrap offers dozens of features like a grid system, responsive breakpoints, and a large library of components that make coding a website quick and easy.

The component library includes headers, navigation, buttons, forms, alerts, and more. The Bootstrap team has comprehensively documented each feature, complete with examples and suggestions for customization.

To get started with Bootstrap, simply download the latest version of the Bootstrap framework, copy one of the example templates, and start coding.

Visit GetBootstrap.com

Further Reading:
How to Use Bootstrap (step-by-step)

3. Wix (Free and Paid)
   Wix website builder software

Wix is an easy-to-use, affordable alternative to WordPress.

Much like WordPress, Wix can be used to create a variety of different sites, including blogs and stores. Through its drag-and-drop editor, Wix makes it simple to set up and launch your site in just a few minutes.

Wix is a fully-managed subscription service, meaning that the company handles all the details around hosting the site, backing it up, and handling security.

Wix offers a free, ad-sponsored plan that includes hundreds of templates and options to choose from. Paid plans start at $14 per month and include ad removal, increased bandwidth, and additional space for videos.

Visit Wix.com

Further Reading:
How to Use Wix (step-by-step)

4. Dreamweaver (Free Trial)
   Adobe Dreamweaver web design software

Dreamweaver is Adobe’s application for coding, editing, and maintaining websites. It lets you edit websites both by coding them manually and through an intuitive visual interface.

Dreamweaver includes many of the features of a traditional, text-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like syntax-highlighting, automatic code completion, and the ability to collapse and expand sections of code. You can even use Dreamweaver with Bootstrap!

Unlike a traditional IDE, however, Dreamweaver’s visual interface is what makes it really stand out. Any changes you make in your website’s code are automatically displayed in real-time in Dreamweaver’s interface, and you can also point and click to edit your website’s code visually.

If you’d like more power than a simple drag-and-drop editor, but need something simpler than a code-only IDE, Dreamweaver is a fantastic option.

You can subscribe to Dreamweaver on its own for $20.99 per month or choose a subscription to Adobe’s full Creative Suite for $52.99 per month. Adobe offers 7-day free trials for both options, and discounts for students are frequently available.

Visit adobe.com

Further Reading:
How to Use Dreamweaver (step-by-step)

5. Squarespace (Paid)
   Squarespace web design software

Squarespace is another good website builder that serves as a third alternative to Wix and WordPress.

Much like Wix, Squarespace offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for creating your website. Squarespace also offers a huge variety of different themes and color customizations and includes many of the standards you’d expect like SSL encryption and the ability to build an online store.

Squarespace’s personal plan starts at $14 per month with limits of 20 pages and two contributors. The business plan lifts these limitations and costs $23 per month.

Visit Squarespace.com

Further Reading:
How to Use Squarespace (step-by-step)
Best Software for Interface Design & Prototyping
Interface design apps and prototyping tools help designers envision and communicate how websites will look and behave before they’re launched. Here are a few great candidates to consider.

6. Figma (Free and Paid)
   Figma interface design software

Despite being one of the newest tools on this list, Figma is also one of the most powerful. If you’re looking for a feature-loaded tool for interface design and prototyping, Figma may be the perfect fit.

Much like Sketch, the next app on this list, Figma features an intuitive, vector-based interface that makes designing websites simple. Anything you can do with Sketch or Adobe XD, you can also do with Figma.

What makes Figma really shine, however, is its collaborative, cloud-based approach. With Figma, multiple team members can edit a design file simultaneously. Business stakeholders can also leave comments, and developers can copy code snippets to simplify the process of turning your design into a real site.

Figma offers a free plan that includes up to 3 projects. Paid plans start at $12 per month and include advanced options like custom user permissions.

Visit Figma.com

7. Sketch 3 (Free Trial)
   Sketch3 interface design software

Sketch is an extremely popular interface design tool focused on simplifying the process of creating beautiful, high-fidelity mockups. Sketch gained popularity in the early 2010s when it won a design award from Apple.

Designers love Sketch because its uncluttered and intuitive interface makes it easy to create beautiful designs quickly, without the steep learning curve often associated with other design tools. Sketch also has a comprehensive ecosystem of plugins and integrations that bring added power and make it simple to integrate Sketch into your workflow.

While Sketch has recently added some features focused on prototyping and collaboration, the program isn’t as advanced in these areas as some of the other tools on this list.

Sketch is available for macOS and costs $9 per editor, monthly (or $99 per editor, annually). Sketch comes with a 30-day trial.

Visit Sketch.com

8. Adobe XD (Free Trial)
   Adobe XD interface design software

Tired of being beaten out by simpler tools that were better-suited to interface design and prototyping, Adobe released XD in 2019 as its answer to the other tools on this list.

XD is a powerful, vector-based tool that also supports prototyping animations. If you like Adobe’s other products like Photoshop and Illustrator, chances are you’ll also like XD.

The program also supports opening and editing files from Sketch, making it a popular choice for Windows users who need to collaborate with other designers who use Sketch. That said, novices may find XD’s learning curve a bit steep, and even many professionals prefer other tools on this list.

You can subscribe to XD on its own for $9.99 per month or choose a subscription to Adobe’s full Creative Suite for $52.99 per month. Adobe offers 7-day free trials for both options.

Visit adobe.com/products/xd

9. InVision Studio (Free and Paid)
   InVision Studio interface design software

While InVision got its start offering a cloud-based prototype service that integrates with tools like Sketch and Photoshop, it now offers its own full-featured interface design and prototyping tool called Studio.

Think of InVision Studio like an advanced version of Sketch, complete with advanced motion animations, collaboration tools, and options to create and share prototypes.

InVision Studio is currently in free beta. To share prototypes using its cloud service, you can opt for a free plan or upgrade to one of InVision’s paid offerings, which allows for more collaborators and projects.

Visit InVisionapp.com

10. Framer X (Free Trial)
    Framer X interface design software

Framer originally started as a JavaScript library and toolset for prototyping, but it’s evolved into the most powerful tool on this list.

Framer X is a rapid prototyping tool that supports complex animations and generates the code for React components on the fly. At first glance, Framer’s vector-based interface looks extremely similar to Sketch, but there’s far more power under the hood.

Designers like Framer for its responsive design features, an array of premade components, and support for advanced animations. Developers love it because it simplifies the process of turning a design into production-ready code.

If you’re already part of the React ecosystem, or if you simply want a powerful interface capable of creating high-fidelity prototypes with realistic interactions and animations, Framer X is a fantastic option.

Framer X offers a free plan for up to two editors. Framer’s paid plans start from $20/month.

Visit Framer.com

Best Software for Graphic Design
Photo-editing and graphic design tools allow designers to manipulate images and create graphics. Here’s our top pick of the best graphic design tools.

11. Adobe Photoshop (Free Trial)
    Adobe Photoshop graphic design software

If you’re looking for a powerful, do-it-all graphic design tool, Adobe’s Photoshop has been the leader for decades.

While originally released purely for photo editing, Photoshop has evolved to support a variety of use cases, including interface design, video editing, and more, while remaining true to its photo-editing use.

While many designers prefer to work exclusively in Photoshop because of its flexibility, others prefer more specialized tools. Like Adobe’s other products, the learning curve is a bit steeper because of the vast array of tools and options Photoshop offers.

You can subscribe to Photoshop on its own for $20.99 per month or choose a subscription to Adobe’s full Creative Suite for $52.99 per month. Adobe offers 7-day free trials for both options.

Visit adobe.com

12. Canva (Free and Paid)
    Canva graphic design software

If you need a simple tool for creating graphics for social media posts, flyers, or business cards, Canva is a fantastic option.

Users love Canva for its easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface. With thousands of templates and hundreds of design types, marketers and hobbyists can produce beautiful imagery in just a few clicks.

Canva offers a free plan with over 8000 templates. Pro plans start at $9.99 per month (up to five people) and include advanced features like the ability to export transparent PNGs and the option to resize a graphic for multiple use cases in just one click.

Visit Canva.com

13. Vectr (Free)
    Vectr graphic design software

Vectr is a free, cloud-based illustration tool with features similar to Sketch and Adobe Illustrator.

If you want to create complex illustrations, or simply design a website or mobile app, Vectr offers everything you need to get started.

Vectr’s drag-and-drop editor is easy to learn, and since it’s cloud-based, it’s easy to share designs with others for feedback and collaboration.

Visit Vectr.com

14. Pixelmator (Free trial)
    Pixelmator graphic design software

Much like Photoshop, Pixelmator is a feature-rich photo editor for macOS.

While you can use Pixelmator for illustration or interface design, it works best as a tool for editing and retouching photos, with features for color correction, retouching, and applying filters.

Pixelmator costs $39.99 and is available on the macOS app store. Pixelmator also offers a free, 15-day trial on its website.

Visit Pixelmator.com

15. GIMP (Free)
    GIMP graphic design software

GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program), is a popular, open-source photo editor that supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.

While the interface feels a bit dated, don’t let that fool you. GIMP packs quite a bit of power and is capable of nearly everything that Photoshop can do.

While the free price point is certainly appealing, GIMP isn’t the easiest tool on this list to learn or use day-to-day. Still, it’s a great choice for budget-conscious designers who need to edit photos or design interfaces.

Visit Gimp.org

To Sum Up: Best Web Design Software Tools
And you’ve reached the end of this list!

All of the abovementioned tools can help you be more productive and creative at the same time. However, it’s still important to check the software’s features to see if it fulfills your web design project requirements.

best website builder software

We’ve researched and tested a lot of website builders over the years, which is why we feel confident saying that Wix is the best overall website builder out there.

Wix combines ease of use with total creative freedom, making it easy for beginners to create professional-looking websites. Squarespace isn’t far behind though, delivering the best template designs on the market, making it perfect for creatives. GoDaddy sits comfortably in third place, thanks to its time efficiency and its excellent array of design functionalities.

Take a look below to see our full list of the 11 best website builders, and compare them against each other.

11 Best Website Builders of 2022
Wix – Best overall
Squarespace – Best template designs
GoDaddy – Fastest way to build a website
Weebly – Fantastic free plan
Zyro – Best up-and-coming builder
Jimdo Creator – Best value for money
Duda – Best for pure, polished web design
WordPress.com – Best for blogs and content-heavy sites
SITE123 – Best for site speed reliability
Strikingly – Easy to use
1&1 IONOS – Best for its cheapest pricing plan
We’ve used our own independent and unique research process to create this list. This means that all of our ratings are backed up by hours of hard work, so you can be sure that our recommendations are accurate and reliable. We always aim to be as honest and transparent as possible – after all, our primary aim is to find you a website builder that’s going to help you fulfill your goals.

That’s why we’ve rigorously combed through the 100+ website builder options out there on the market, picking out the 50 biggest hitters and measuring them up against our high standards. In this way, we’ve been able to narrow it down to a list of the best 11, each of which we felt answered our readers’ needs. Because of this, we’re confident that you’ll be able to find the ideal website builder to suit you and your website-building aims.

More Information on Our Unique Research Process

Compare the 11 Best Website Builders
Before we jump into reviews of each website builder, take a look at the summary table below to get an idea of which builder might be your perfect match. Use the arrow at the top of the chart to compare different platforms. We’ve started you off with our top three: Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy.

3 out of 11
backward
forward
Overall Rating
Starting from
Free plan or free trial
Domain renewal cost/year
Features
Number of templates
Free custom domain
50% OFF NOW

Wix

Squarespace

GoDaddy

Weebly

Zyro

Jimdo

Duda

WordPress.com

Site123

Strikingly

1&1 IONOS

4.8
4.7
4.4
4.0
3.9
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.4
$14

$7 until May 19

$12

$6.99

$6

$2.90

$9

$14

$4

$12.80

$8

$7

Free plan

14-day free trial

1 month free trial

Free plan

No

Free plan

14-day free trial

Free plan

Free plan

Free plan

No

$14.95

$20

N/A

$9

$15

$20

N/A

$18

$13

$24.95

$15

4.9
4.4
3.3
3.5
2.4
1.9
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.5
2.0
800+

100+

100+

50+

120+

15+

90+

150+

150+

200+

200+

Claim 50% off
View Squarespace
Visit GoDaddy
Visit Weebly
Visit Zyro
Visit Jimdo
Visit Duda
Visit WordPress
Visit Site123
Visit Strikingly
Visit 1&1
See our Wix Review

See our Squarespace Review

See our GoDaddy Review

See our Weebly Review

See our Zyro Review

See our Jimdo Review

See our Duda Review

See our WordPress.com Review

See our Site123 Review

See our Strikingly Review

See our 1&1 IONOS Review

1. Wix

Best Overall Website Builder
Pricing range: free – $56 per month

Editor’s Choice
Wix
Best all-round website builder

OUTSTANDING
4.8out of 5
Easiest to use
800+ template designs
Most popular in testing
Free plan available

Paid Plans: $14 – $56 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
wix logo
Wix Overview
Wix is an extremely beginner-friendly website builder that gives you total creative control over your site. Unlike some other builders, it doesn’t sacrifice power or customizability for ease – instead, it combines simple drag-and-drop editing tools with a huge range of features.

With an 18% increase in its ‘Features’ score in our pre-2021 research – driven largely by improvements to its blogging, and internationalization – Wix has proven itself to be the platform that, quite literally, does it all. Not only is it a fantastic website builder, but it’s also an excellent choice if you’re looking to open an online store, offering three ecommerce-specific plans, and a score of features to boost your sales. But that doesn’t mean it’ll be right for everyone – particularly because of its higher price point and cluttered visual editor.

It has a free plan, and eight premium plans starting at $14 per month. You get over 800 templates to choose from, but choose carefully – you can’t switch your template once your site goes live.

In our testing, Wix received the highest “likely to recommend” score from our users – so our advice is, if you’re unsure about which website builder to use, give Wix a spin for free and see how you get on.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of Wix

In the gallery below, we’ve included images of some of the templates that you’ll find on Wix. If you’re looking for a template for an online store, check out Wix’s ecommerce template pages.
Wix Gallery
Click the image below to expand
Wix Homepage
Wix Templates
Wix Desktop Editor
Wix Mobile Editor
Wix Get Started
vergleich website baukasten wix logo
Like the Sound of Wix So Far?
Explore Wix’s website to get a closer look at its features, templates, and more.
More Information:
Read our in-depth Wix Review for a full look at Wix’s features, ease of use, and more
Just what makes Wix the best value for money? Read our Wix Pricing Review for a breakdown of its pricing plans and what you get with each premium package
Want to sell online? Our Wix Ecommerce Review tells you all you need to know about creating an online store with Wix

2. Squarespace

Best for Creatives and Quality Designs
Pricing range: $12 – $46 per month

Squarespace
Best for creatives and quality designs

EXCELLENT
4.7out of 5
Best website designs
Great blogging features
Ideal for creatives
Free trial available

Paid Plans: $12 – $46 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
squarespace logo
Use code WBE for 10% off
Squarespace Overview
Squarespace is a sophisticated website builder that has a lot to offer creatives and businesses alike. It’s not the easiest to use builder on the market, but it still won’t take long to get used to – it just needs a little more time and patience than Wix.

Where Squarespace really shines is its template designs – they’re the best on the market, and are perfect for creatives who want a visually impressive website (and standing out is important, since as of January 2021 there are over 1.8 billion websites on the internet!). It’s not a case of style over substance, however – Squarespace also has a huge range of features to give your site the power it needs.

Better still, Squarespace sports the best knowledge center on the market. There, you’ll find a range of text, image, and video guidance, as well as a seamless onboarding experience and clear navigational signposts and guidance.

Squarespace also has a 14-day free trial. If you love the trial and want to sign up, there are four premium plans to choose from, starting from $12 per month.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of Squarespace

Real-Life Squarespace Website Examples
Well Together Gallery
Click the image below to expand
Well Together Homepage
Well Together Meet the Team
Wellness Together Blog
Wellness Together Contact
Wellness Together Shop
Squarespace in Action: Well Together
Iyana Anderson
Iyana Anderson
Iyana Anderson is the Founder and CEO of Well Together LLC, a wellness company dedicated to providing all the truth and tools needed to invest in the wellbeing of both the individual and the collective. She is a licensed social worker, motivational speaker, innovative wellness strategist, and though leader. Iyana holds a BA degree in Psychology and an MA in Social Work.
Squarespace is user-friendly, and it is easy to access support if you need it.

How long have you been using Squarespace?

What do you like most about Squarespace?

Is there anything you’d change about Squarespace?

Would you recommend Squarespace?

Squarespace Gallery
Click the image below to expand
Squarespace Homepage
Squarespace Templates
squarespace editor
Squarespace Custom CSS

squarespace logo
Do You Want a Stunning Website?
Squarespace combines style with power, making it a great choice for creatives.
More Information:
Read our Squarespace Review for a detailed look at this top quality builder, and find out if it’s the right choice for you
Got products you want to show off? Squarespace combines stunning visuals with advanced sales tools: read all about it in our Squarespace Ecommerce Review
What’s so good about Squarespace’s designs anyway? Check out our Squarespace Template Designs Review to find out!
Is it worth the money? Our Squarespace Pricing Review goes into detail on Squarespace’s price plans, and whether they offer good value for money
Looking for a discount? Take a look at our exclusive Squarespace Offer Code, which will save you 10% on the cost of any Squarespace plan
Unsure? Our Wix vs Squarespace comparison breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of each builder’s features, templates, and more to find the best option for you

3. GoDaddy

Best for Creating and Publishing Websites Fast
Pricing range: $6.99 – $29.99 per month

GoDaddy
Best for creating and publishing websites fast

VERY GOOD
4.4out of 5
5 minute setup
Strong marketing
Good for basic sites
Free trial available

Paid Plans: $6.99 – $29.99 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
godaddy logo
GoDaddy Overview
GoDaddy is very user-friendly, and is the fastest outright website builder for creating a website. Its design assistance means you just have to enter your details, before GoDaddy creates a tailored website for you to customize.

Simple layouts and guidance on adding elements to your site make for an extremely straightforward and speedy building process. And the results of our latest round of research bore this out – GoDaddy’s score has seen an overall 11.6% increase from our pre-2021 evaluations.

However, GoDaddy isn’t the best choice for powerful or complex websites – it may offer speed and simplicity, but this also means it’s not the best choice for building a truly personalized website. That said, GoDaddy should tick all the boxes for smaller site offerings and businesses, particularly because of its simple layout and user-friendly, design-assisted format.

In fact, GoDaddy has transformed itself somewhat since our pre-2021 rankings, enhancing its design functionality score in our latest research by 14%. This increase was driven mostly by the platform’s improved templates and superior customization, turning GoDaddy from an underwhelming ‘Plain Jane’ into one of the highest-rated (and nicest-looking) builders on the market.

GoDaddy may be the best website builder for speed, and its prices are similarly impressive – plans range from $6.99 to $29.99 per month. Luckily, GoDaddy has a free plan, as well as a very generous one-month free trial, so you can make sure it’s right for you before signing up.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of GoDaddy

Real-Life GoDaddy Website Examples
Naturally Made with Love Gallery
Click the image below to expand
Naturally Made with Love Homepage
Naturally Made with Love About Us
Naturally Made with Love Shop
Naturally Made with Love Contact Form
Naturally Made with Love Charity Page
GoDaddy in Action: Naturally Made with Love
Jennifer Woodruff
Jennifer Woodruff
Jennifer Woodruff started Naturally Made with Love as an eager attempt to find a natural solution to her son’s eczema. After researching natural, skin healing products and reading many blogs, she began whipping up her own healing recipes. The positive feedback from her son, family and friends gave Jennifer the drive to launch her own business. Jennifer is a native New Yorker and Hampton University Alumnae with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
Most small businesses are working with limited budgets and a small team. I would recommend GoDaddy’s Website Builder because it offers a professional look while being easy to set up/maintain so hiring a professional is not necessary.

How long have you been using GoDaddy?

What do you like most about GoDaddy?

Is there anything you’d change about GoDaddy?

Would you recommend GoDaddy?
GoDaddy Gallery
Click the image below to expand
GoDaddy Homepage
GoDaddy Website Type
GoDaddy Color Scheme
GoDaddy Editor
GoDaddy Select New Theme
godaddy logo
In a Hurry?
GoDaddy is the fastest website builder around; perfect for getting a simple site online quickly!
More Information:
Read our GoDaddy Website Builder Review to get the details on this speedy builder, from ease of use to FAQs
Want to sell online? Read our GoDaddy Ecommerce Review to find out if this is the best website builder for your online store

4. Weebly

Best for its Generous Free Plan
Pricing range: free – $29 per month

Weebly
Best for small businesses and portfolios

EXCELLENT
4out of 5
Best features for growth
Large app store
Cheap and free plans
Free plan available

Paid Plans: $6 – $29 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
weebly logo
Weebly Overview
Weebly is a simple website builder that nevertheless packs a powerful punch when it comes to features – especially ecommerce and blogging. It’s pretty easy to use, but is also more limited than its competitors in terms of design and customizability.

What’s more, Weebly was the most recognized website builder we tested to see the largest reduction in scores across all categories in our 2021 research. Most notably, Weebly’s ‘Design’ score saw a whopping 36% decrease – a drop that indicates the platform is not only outdated vis a vis the rest of the market, but has been largely forgotten about by the industry at large.

That said, it does have a free plan, as well as three paid plans ranging from just $6 up to $26 per month (billed annually). These cheap starter plans makes Weebly one of the most affordable website builders on the market. But ultimately, Weebly is a platform which will work for someone new to website building – not longer term growth or expansion.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of Weebly

Weebly Gallery
Click the image below to expand
weebly homepage
weebly themes
weebly app center
weebly website example
weebly website example
weebly logo
Is Weebly Right For You?
Weebly was our top scoring website builder when it came to features, and is perfect for growing your online business.
More Information:
Read our Weebly Review for a detailed breakdown of this builder’s pros, cons, features, and ease of use
Check out our Weebly Pricing Review to find out which plan is right for you
Setting up an online store? Read our Weebly Ecommerce Review for more information on Weebly’s sales tools, pricing, and more
Torn between Wix and Weebly? We’ve got just the thing! Our Wix vs Weebly comparison puts these market leaders head to head, helping you find the best one for you

5. Zyro

Best for the Basics
Pricing range: $8.99 $2.61 per month

Save Up to 72% With Zyro!
Grab Spring savings with Zyro! Simply use our dedicated discount code – WBE10 – at checkout, and you’ll snag up to 72% off Zyro’s premium plans, allowing you to get online from just $2.61/month.
Plus, with all annual plans, users get an additional 4 months on the house – and a free domain, too!

But hurry – this limited-time offer only runs until May 31st!

Zyro
Best for the basics

GOOD
3.9out of 5
Helpful grid layout
Clean, logical templates
Higher renewal prices
Paid Plans: $1.9 – $29.99 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
zyro logo
Zyro Overview
Zyro is an easy-to-use website builder with nice, clean templates. The features it does include are super high-quality, but it just doesn’t offer as many features as a top builder. In fact, Zyro can almost be seen as a kind of ‘mini Wix’. It costs less than our top website builder pick, but doesn’t boast all the same bells and whistles of that provider.

For example, Zyro lets you include a blog on your site – which is great – but it won’t come with search, archive, or commenting tools.

Still, we were really impressed by the quality of Zyro’s templates – not only do they have great UX for your website’s visitors, they’re also easy to edit, even if you don’t have any tech skills. They’re not very customizable, though, so if putting a personal touch on your branding is a top priority, then you may want to consider Squarespace instead.

The bottom line is that Zyro is a platform with a lot of potential – some of it unfulfilled. It feels like Zyro hasn’t quite finished building out certain features, and isn’t yet where it wants to be in relation to its closest website builder rivals. Zyro definitely has some big ideas, though, and is one for the future. Watch this space!

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of Zyro

Zyro Gallery
Click the image below to expand
Zyro AI Heatmap
Zyro Building Options
Zyro Store
Zyro Homepage
Zyro Templates
zyro logo
Interested in Zyro?
You’ve got good taste! We love Zyro’s clean templates and its solid sales features.
More Information:
Check out our Zyro Review to take a closer look at this builder

6. Jimdo

Best Value for Money
Pricing range: free – $40 per month

Jimdo
Best for removing adverts cheaply

GOOD
3.6out of 5
Sell on the free plan
Rigid designs
Help and support lacking
Free plan available

Paid Plans: $9 – $39 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
jimdo logo
Jimdo Overview
Jimdo is a basic website builder that’s best for creating simple websites, rather than anything complex or flashy. While it’s more limited than much of the competition (especially in terms of its features and scope for customization) it makes up for it with high levels of usability.

Jimdo has all the basic features you need to build your website. But if you want the power to edit, personalize, or create something more advanced, the builder will start to feel rigid very quickly.

Jimdo comes with a free plan so you can build risk-free, and has two additional paid plans ranging from $9 to $15 per month (billed annually).

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Jimdo Gallery
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Jimdo Homepage
Jimdo Add Blocks
Jimdo Color Palette
Jimdo Website Design Starting Points
Jimdo colour palettes
jimdo logo
Is Jimdo Your Favorite So Far?
Jimdo is a great option if you want an ad-free site without having to spend too much.
More Information:
Read our Jimdo Review to find out if this is the best website builder for you
Can’t decide? Our Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace vs Jimdo comparison lays out the pros and cons of the best website builders to help you choose the right one

7. Duda

Best for Pure, Polished Web Design
Pricing range: $14 – $59 per month

Duda
Best for lending a creative hand

GOOD
3.6out of 5
Aimed at design agencies
Surprisingly easy to use
Quite expensive
Free trial available

Paid Plans: $14 – $59 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
duda logo
Duda Overview
Duda is a clear winner for anyone in search of website design that’s pure, polished, and simple.

The builder is easy to use, giving you drag-and-drop functionality combined with structured and stylish templates. This makes it perfect for anyone who cares about design, but isn’t ready for total creative freedom over their site.

There are over 90 templates to choose from, covering a range of industries from business to lifestyle. You get creative control over customization, but within the template’s limits – you’re still largely guided by your chosen design.

These features make Duda ideal for web designers creating multiple websites for clients – in fact, that’s what Duda was originally built for! Duda also allows you to build progressive, personalized web apps, which is a massive advantage to any serious business owner.

However, this all comes at a cost, which is one of the reasons why Duda is – on average – around 59% more expensive than Squarespace. Cost is actually Duda’s main drawback – it’s the most expensive website builder on our list, with prices starting at $14 per month. Still, there’s a 14-day free trial for you to have a go on.

We’d particularly recommend Duda for web design businesses looking to build simple, efficient sites for clients that don’t want to use WordPress.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of Duda

Duda Gallery
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Duda Homepage
Duda Templates
duda editor
duda pricing
duda logo
Does Duda Sound Like Your Perfect Match?
Duda is perfect for those wanting a beautiful website without any of the creative hassle.
More Information:
Read our Duda Review for a closer look at this builder’s drag-and-drop tools

8. WordPress.com

Best for Blogs and Content-Heavy Websites
Pricing range: free – $45 per month

WordPress.com
Best for blogging

ABOVE AVERAGE
3.5out of 5
Well-suited to blogs
Very cheap plans
Customize with code
Free plan available

Paid Plans: $4 – $45 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
wordpress logo
WordPress.com Overview
WordPress.com is the basic website building platform offered by WordPress. WordPress.org, on the other hand, is a more advanced content management system that offers more power, but demands more technical expertise. If you’re interested in WordPress.org, you can check out our WordPress.com vs WordPress.org comparison. But for now, let’s dive into WordPress.com.

WordPress.com isn’t the easiest website builder to use – in order to make the most out of the builder and expand your site, you’ll need to get to grips with some basic coding.

WordPress.com has one free plan and four premium plans, ranging from $4 to $45 per month (billed annually). This offers a lot of choice, as well as good value – WordPress.com’s lowest pricing plan in particular offers fantastic bang for your buck, especially if you’re after a more basic site.

Lots of features, high quality blogging tools, and sensible prices make WordPress.com a great choice. Easier to use than WordPress.org but still unsuitable for novices, WordPress.com is perfect for bloggers with some technical confidence.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of WordPress.com

WordPress.com Gallery
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wordpress.com homepage
wordpress.com themes
wordpress.com plugins
wordpress.com logo
Do You Want to Start a Blog?
WordPress.com is the best website builder for blogging on the market – take a closer look!
More Information:
Read our WordPress.com Review for a full look at this ideal blogging platform, including its pricing plans, features, ease of use, and more
To learn more about the difference between the two WordPress platforms and what each one can offer you, check out our WordPress.com vs WordPress.org comparison guide
See how WordPress.com stacks up against our best overall website builder in our Wix vs WordPress comparison guide

9. SITE123

Best for Site Speed Reliability
Pricing range: free – $41 per month

Site123
Best for help and support via live chat

ABOVE AVERAGE
3.4out of 5
Great support on hand
Ideal for tech novices
Stripped-back features
Free plan available

Paid Plans: $12.8 – $97.5 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
site123 logo
SITE123 Overview
SITE123 gets back to basics to bring you a super simple and beginner-friendly website builder. It’s best for those with no tech experience, as it can quickly become limiting if you ask too much from it.

SITE123 makes it easy to create simple websites. Thanks to its live chat support and straightforward design, you can publish your website without wasting a moment.

Brilliant customer support is this website builder’s main strength. The live chat feature means you can easily get help if you get stuck while creating or editing your website. If you’re a beginner or are looking to set up your site fast, SITE123 is a safe choice.

However, it’s not a powerful builder – it lacks advanced features, and isn’t a scalable option for growing a website. Still, with a free plan and great support, SITE123 is a perfect choice for first-time builders. We like to think of it as a ‘best of the rest’ kind of platform – good value for money, but (according to our users, at least) nothing special.

This is confirmed by SITE123’s 12% dip in overall score performance since our pre-2021 research rankings. To us, that indicates how little the builder has progressed or improved over the last two years, which suggests it won’t be the best fit for ambitious, growth-minded businesses looking to scale.

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Site123 Gallery
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site123 homepage
site123 live chat support
site123 template example
site123 logo
Want to See More of SITE123?
SITE123 is a free and easy way of creating basic websites – a perfect option for beginners!
More Information:
Read our SITE123 Review for a more in-depth look at this popular website builder
See how SITE123 stacks up in this article on the Cheapest Website Builders on the market

10. Strikingly

Easy to Use
Pricing range: free – $159 per month

Strikingly
Best for value for money

ABOVE AVERAGE
3.4out of 5
For one page websites
Great value for money
Beginner-friendly
Free plan available

Paid Plans: $8 – $59 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
strikingly logo
Strikingly Overview
Strikingly is another beginner-friendly website builder that specializes in one-page websites.

It’s not ideal for complex websites, but Strikingly’s free plan includes some great basic features, making it popular with bloggers and freelancers. That said, you might find the one-page design and basic level of customization limiting if you have grand plans for your site.

If you want to use a personalized domain name, you’ll need one of Strikingly’s three premium plans, which range from $8 to $49 per month (billed annually).

While Strikingly has its strong points, our latest round of in-house research indicates the builder has been left behind in the rapidly evolving website builder space. Unlike its predecessor in this list, SITE123, Strikingly has poor sitespeed performance (in fact, it’s the worst!).

Strikingly is also the only platform our research recognizes as “poor”, and dismally underperforms against its top competitors by a whole 48%.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of Strikingly

Strikingly Gallery
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strikingly homepage
strikingly editor
strikingly pricing
Strikingly Templates
strikingly logo
Do You Want Great Value For Money?
Strikingly is a simple website builder that’s perfect for beginners on a budget.
More Information:
Read our Strikingly Review for more on this builder’s features, ease of use, and pricing

11. 1&1 IONOS

Best for its Excellent Cheap Pricing Plan
Pricing range: $7 – $30 per month

1&1 IONOS
Best for multilingual websites and white collar businesses

ABOVE AVERAGE
3.4out of 5
Multilingual options
Wide range of industries
Confusing to use
Paid Plans: $0.5 – $30 / month

SEE PROS & CONS
1and1 ionos logo
1&1 IONOS Overview
1&1 IONOS has everything you need to create a functional, standard website. It won’t look like a Squarespace site or win awards for its designs, but it will get the job done. The builder has all the basic features you need, especially for small corporate businesses, while its quickest server response time and superlative mobile sitespeed performance are highly impressive.

It’s also a great option for those on a budget, because although 1&1 IONOS doesn’t have a free plan, its prices start at just $7 per month.

One of the main drawbacks of 1&1 IONOS is that its designs look pretty dated compared to the other best website builders in this list. 1&1 IONOS is a functional, rather than stylish website builder – it won’t create the best-looking site on the internet, but it has the features to make your site or business succeed.

1&1 IONOS if free for your first month, then charges $7 per month after that on its cheapest plan. There are three plans in total, one of which is for building online stores.

Click the + to read a more detailed summary of 1&1 IONOS

1&1 IONOS Gallery
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IONOS Homepage
IONOS Ecomm
IONOS Templates
IONOS Pricing Plans
1&1 ionos support
1&1 IONOS logo
Do You Like the Sound of 1&1 IONOS?
1&1 IONOS is an affordable option for white collar businesses and multilingual sites.
More Information:
Read our 1&1 IONOS Website Builder Review and find out whether it’s the perfect match for you
5 Other Good Website Builders
So far we’ve taken you through our top 11 website builders. But what about the platforms that didn’t quite make the cut? Here are some other strong options:

1. Webflow

Webflow is a powerful platform, but not one we’d necessarily recommend for the everyday user. Like Duda, Webflow is pitched more towards the web designers of the world. But unlike Duda, this hasn’t yet been translated into a beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface. The selection of tutorials is amazing though, and the platform is definitely headed in the right direction.

2. Format

Format is becoming increasingly popular in the photography/portfolio space, and it’s one we’re keeping an eye on. We don’t think it’s quite a challenger for the likes of Squarespace yet, and isn’t really suited to non-portfolio websites, but we’re interested to see how this platform grows and develops.

3. PageCloud

PageCloud is an easy-to-use drag-and-drop website builder, but when we tried it out, it fell down in two areas; mobile responsiveness, and price. You have to edit the mobile version of your PageCloud website separately to make sure it’ll format properly on mobile, and prices start at $20/month, which would make it the most expensive platform on this list. While it doesn’t make our top 11 at the moment, we do think it has a lot of potential.

4. Carrd

Carrd is a really interesting platform. While it’s not right for the typical website, it’s really strong in its chosen niche; one-page websites. It’s ideal when you want to go one better than a PDF, whether that’s for a resume or personal site, or a project outline. There’s a free plan, or you can create up to three sites for just $9/year, making it really great value.

5. Mozello

While Mozello didn’t make it into our top 11, it’s a great option for those needing a site in multiple languages. So if that’s you, it’s definitely one to consider! It also has a good mobile editor, plus it made it onto our list of the best free website builders.

4 Website Builders to Avoid
What goes up must come down, and on our quest to find the best website builders, we inevitably came across a fair few that we wouldn’t recommend:

1. WebStarts

WebStarts’ homepage has a distinctly budget feel to it, which isn’t the most reassuring first impression. And sadly, when we tested WebStarts for ourselves, the platform did little to restore our confidence. It brings nothing special to the table, and instead lags far behind competitors in terms of user experience.

2. Yola

There’s nothing really ‘wrong’ with Yola, it just trails so far behind the competitors featured higher up on this list that we can’t see it catching up. That said, at least its prices reflect this (there’s a free plan, and paid plans start at just $4.95/month).

3. Webs.com

It’s a similar story with Webs.com, although this platform’s designs are more dated, and its plans are more expensive. Webs.com was taken over by Vistaprint in 2011, and the process of setting up an account and starting to build your site still has that slightly disjointed feel that can come from these mergers.

4. One.com

One.com builds you a website the ADI way. You enter basic information about your site, and One.com produces a website to match. Unfortunately, Wix, Weebly and GoDaddy already offer ADI options, and although One.com is cheaper, the others are better (and two have a free plan). One.com is also reluctant to let you sign up without entering card details (either for a domain name, or a website plan) which is unusual in our experience, and not something we like to see.

How Do You Pick the Best Website Builder For You?
Now you know the 11 best website builders on the market. But what if you’re still feeling a bit stumped? Which of these fine builders should you choose?

Unfortunately, we can’t read your mind through the screen and tell you straight. Only you know about the type of site you want to create, your specific needs, if you’ll be selling products, or if you’ll be blogging or showcasing creative work.

However, we can give you some handy pointers on finding your perfect website builder – carry on reading for three quick and helpful tips…

1. Make the Most of Free Trials and Free Plans

Most of the website builders in our list offer either a free trial or a free plan for you to use. This is the perfect way of judging if it’s the right website creator for you – try actually building a website, and work out:

How easy it is
How long it takes
What you like and don’t like
What you’d want to be different
If you’re happy with the example site you create
Then, try out more website builders. Even if the first one you try is perfect, it’s still worth having something to compare it to.

2. Think About What You Want to Make

This seems obvious, but so many people pick a website builder because of how it’s advertised, or simply for the freebies that get thrown in. Safe to say, this isn’t a sensible way to choose the best website builder for you.

You’ve already taken the first step by reading this article – the next step is to decide the purpose of your website, and then narrow down your builder list based on that. Don’t be dazzled by sale prices, or features that you don’t really need!

For example, if you want to start a portfolio website, then your best options will include Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, and Duda. Try them all out, and see which one you like the best.

If you want to sell online, you should consider selecting a website builder that also comes with good ecommerce plans, too. We’d recommend Wix — it’s our top-rated ecommerce platform because it offers a wide range of selling tools and extra features to make your online store a success. Check out our list of the best ecommerce platforms for more information on where to get started.

In this example, choosing your best website builder will be much easier, because you can ignore other builders (such as 1&1 IONOS and WordPress.com) because – despite their other strengths – they don’t suit your specific needs.

3. Factor in Your Budget

You don’t want to overspend on your website – it’s as simple as that. Look at the price plans of each builder, decide how much you can afford to spend, and work out whether you want to pay upfront for the year or per month (monthly prices will be more expensive, but give you more flexibility).

Don’t make the mistake of underfunding your website, though – you should always pay for the best builder you can afford. Yes, there are tons of great free plans out there, but free plans won’t give your site the features it needs to succeed in the long run.

Best Website Builders: Round-Up
You’ve now seen our rundown of the best website builders on the market, and hopefully you’ve got a better idea of which builders are best suited to your needs.

All of our recommendations are based on in-depth research and feedback from people just like you – they’re not just picked out of thin air – so you can feel confident that the information we’ve provided you in this article is fair and accurate.

Let’s have a quick recap of our top 11 website builders…

11 Best Website Builders of 2022
Wix – Best overall
Squarespace – Best template designs
GoDaddy – Fastest way to build a website
Weebly – Fantastic free plan
Zyro – Best up-and-coming builder
Jimdo Creator – Best value for money
Duda – Best for pure, polished web design
WordPress.com – Best for blogs and content-heavy sites
SITE123 – Best for site speed reliability
Strikingly – Easy to use
1&1 IONOS – Best for its cheapest pricing plan
As you can see from our list, each website builder has its own strengths. Whether you want a cutting-edge, stylish website, great value for money, or even a helping hand, there will be a builder out there for you.

Overall, though, the best website builder in our research was Wix. Its simple drag-and-drop interface makes it super easy to use (even for technophobes), and its huge range of templates and features, such as contact forms and media galleries, means you can truly customize your website and make it your own.

And, although we’ve focused mainly on Wix as a website builder in this review, it’s also a fantastic choice if you’re thinking about starting an online store. It offers everything small businesses could need to start selling online, and offers three ecommerce-specific plans.

If you’re unsure of where to start, jumping on Wix’s free plan is a great way to get building and figure out what is and isn’t right for you.

Try out as many website makers as possible by using the free trials (or plans) on offer. This will give you a real feel for each one, and ensure that you choose the best one for your needs.

Still Unsure Which Website Builder is Best for You?
Website Builder Comparison Chart – a detailed side-by-side comparison of our top-rated website builders
Website Builder Quiz – get a recommendation about which website builder is best for you based on your needs

Conclusion

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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