Quick list
When it comes to finding the best website builder for small business, it’s essential to match the platform to your specific needs. Whether you prioritize ease of use, design flexibility, or robust e-commerce capabilities, there’s a builder out there for you. Here’s a quick list to guide you through the top options:
- The best website builder for small business overall: Wix
- Best for creatives: Squarespace
- Easiest e-commerce: Shopify
- The best quick option: Weebly
- Cheapest e-commerce: Big Cartel
- Best for marketing: HubSpot Website Builder
- Best for support: GoDaddy Website Builder
- Best for one-pagers: Carrd
- Best for simplicity: Strikingly
- Best for WordPress: ElementorPRO
| Website Builder | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | Overall | Drag-and-drop editor, extensive templates |
| Squarespace | Creatives | Design-forward templates, social media integration |
| Shopify | E-commerce | Robust e-commerce tools, easy to use |
| Weebly | Quick setup | Simple drag-and-drop, easy setup |
| Big Cartel | Budget e-commerce | Affordable, straightforward |
| HubSpot CMS | Marketing | Integrated marketing tools, SEO features |
| GoDaddy | Support | 24/7 customer support, easy to use |
| Strikingly | One-pagers | Designed for single-page sites, quick setup |
| Jimdo | Simplicity | AI-powered site builder, minimal effort |
| ElementorPRO | WordPress lovers | Simplified WordPress, flexible |
The best website builder for small business overall
When it comes to the best web builder for small business overall, Wix consistently ranks at the top.
Why?
Because it offers a perfect balance of ease of use, flexibility, and powerful features that make it ideal for small business owners.
Wix’s drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, meaning you don’t need any technical skills to create a professional-looking website.
You can choose from hundreds of templates, all of which are fully customizable, allowing you to design a site that perfectly reflects your brand.
What sets Wix apart is its vast app market, where you can add functionalities like online booking, chatbots, and e-commerce with just a few clicks.
This makes it incredibly versatile, whether you’re running a small boutique or a local service-based business.
Plus, Wix’s mobile optimization ensures that your site looks great on any device, which is crucial given the increasing number of users browsing on smartphones.
Best for creatives
If you’re in a creative field and need a website that showcases your portfolio, Squarespace is the best website builder for small business.
Squarespace is known for its stunning, design-forward templates that are perfect for photographers, designers, and artists.
The platform emphasizes visual appeal without sacrificing functionality, making it an excellent choice for anyone who needs a beautiful and effective website.
One of Squarespace’s standout features is its powerful image management tools.
You can easily drag and drop photos into your site, create galleries, and use a variety of image filters and styles to ensure your visuals stand out.
Additionally, Squarespace includes built-in SEO features, helping your creative work get discovered online.
Easiest e-commerce
If selling products online is your primary focus, Shopify is hands down the best web builder for small business with e-commerce needs.
Shopify is built specifically for online stores, offering everything you need to sell online, from inventory management to secure payment processing.
The platform is incredibly user-friendly, even for those who are new to e-commerce.
With Shopify, you can set up your store in just a few hours, and there’s no need to worry about technical details like hosting or security—Shopify handles all of that for you.
Plus, with its extensive app store, you can easily add functionalities like customer reviews, email marketing, and social media integration.
The best quick option
If speed is your priority, and you need to get your website up and running as soon as possible, Weebly is the best web builder for small business.
Weebly’s platform is incredibly straightforward, with a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create a professional-looking site in minutes.
Weebly is perfect for small businesses that need a simple, no-frills website.
While it doesn’t offer as many customization options as some other builders, it more than makes up for this with its ease of use.
You can quickly add pages, upload images, and customize text without any coding knowledge.
Cheapest e-commerce
For small businesses looking for the most cost-effective e-commerce solution, Big Cartel is the best web builder for small business on a budget.
Big Cartel is designed for artists, makers, and small businesses that only need to sell a limited number of products.
One of the biggest advantages of Big Cartel is its affordability, they might also offer a free trial.
It offers a free plan that allows you to list up to five products, making it an ideal choice for small-scale sellers.
Even their paid plans are reasonably priced, and the platform doesn’t charge any transaction fees, allowing you to keep more of your profits.
Best for marketing
If your small business relies heavily on digital marketing, HubSpot Website Builder is the best website builder for small business focused on growth.
HubSpot is known for its comprehensive marketing tools, and their website builder integrates seamlessly with these, making it easier than ever to manage your website and marketing in one place.
With HubSpot, you can create landing pages, track visitors, and manage your leads all from the same platform.
Their builder is designed to help you optimize your site for conversions, with built-in A/B testing and analytics tools that allow you to see what’s working and what isn’t.
Best for support
If customer support is a top priority, GoDaddy Website Builder is the best website builder for small business owners who want peace of mind.
GoDaddy offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email, so you can always get help when you need it.
In addition to its excellent support, GoDaddy’s website builder is user-friendly and offers a variety of templates that are perfect for small businesses.
It also includes SEO tools, social media integration, and the ability to add an online store if your business grows.
Best for one-pagers
If your small business only needs a single-page website, Carrd is the best website builder for small business owners who want something simple yet effective.
Carrd specializes in creating one-page websites that look professional and load quickly.
Carrd is incredibly easy to use and offers a variety of templates that are perfect for small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who don’t need a multi-page site.
It’s also one of the most affordable options, with a free plan and low-cost paid plans that offer additional features.
Best for simplicity
If you want a website builder that’s as straightforward as possible, Strikingly is the best website builder for small business.
Strikingly is designed for simplicity, making it easy to create a professional-looking website with minimal effort.
Strikingly’s platform is perfect for small businesses that don’t need a lot of bells and whistles.
You can quickly create a site, customize it with your branding, and publish it without any technical knowledge.
It’s also great for creating mobile-responsive sites, ensuring that your website looks great on any device.
Best for WordPress
If you’re looking to build a WordPress site but want the ease of a website builder, ElementorPRO is the best website builder for small business owners who prefer WordPress.
ElementorPRO builder is specifically designed for WordPress, combining the flexibility of WordPress with the user-friendly nature of a drag-and-drop builder.
With ElementorPRO Website Builder, you can create a WordPress site in few hours, even if you have no experience with WordPress.
The platform offers a variety of templates, customization options, and built-in SEO tools, making it easy to create a site that meets your business needs.
How to choose website builders for small business
Choosing the best website builder for small business isn’t just about picking the one with the most features.
It’s about finding the one that best fits your specific needs and goals.
Consider what’s most important to your business—whether that’s ease of use, customization, e-commerce, or support—and choose a builder that excels in those areas.
How we test website builders for small business
When testing website builders, we focus on a few key areas: ease of use, customization, features, and support.
We also consider pricing and value for money, ensuring that the builders we recommend offer good value for small business owners.
Each builder is tested thoroughly to see how well it performs in real-world scenarios, including how easy it is to set up a site, customize it, and add features like e-commerce.
FAQs
Does my business need a website?
Yes, every business, no matter how small, benefits from having a website.
A website is your digital storefront, making it easier for customers to find you, learn about your services, and make purchases.
Do I need to learn how to code?
No, most website builders for small business do not require any coding knowledge.
They use drag-and-drop interfaces that allow you to create a professional-looking website without any technical skills.
Do I need to hire a web designer?
While hiring a web designer can be beneficial for more complex sites, most small businesses can create a great website using a website builder without needing to hire a designer.
What should a small business website include?
A small business website should include essential information like your services, contact details, and about page.
If applicable, it should also include e-commerce functionality, a blog, and social media links.
Do I need to learn about search engine optimization (SEO)?
While you don’t need to be an SEO expert, understanding the basics of SEO can help your website rank higher in search engine results.
Most website builders include built-in SEO tools to help with this.
What’s the best website builder for small business?
The best website builder for small business depends on your specific needs.
Wix is a great all-around option, while Shopify excels for e-commerce.
Squarespace is ideal for creatives, and Weebly is perfect for those who need a simple, quick solution.
