The 5 best website builders for small businesses Using the results from our in-depth user testing, we'll outline the top website builders for design, features, and overall value. Written by Emma Ryan Reviewed by Ollie Simpson Updated on 4 March 2026 Our research When reviewing website builders, our expert team of writers and independent researchers focuses in on the most important factors for small business owners. We look at the range of templates and designs available to choose from; how easy it is to get started building your site and customising it; the help and support options available; the range of available plugins, apps and extensions; the ability to customise a mobile design, and above all, the value for money – including any hidden pricing, ongoing fees, and initial setup costs. Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. 1 of 3 Featured: Hostinger - best for AI 4.3 Claim Deal 2 of 3 Wix - best overall website builder 4.9 See Pricing 3 of 3 Squarespace - best designed templates 4.6 See Pricing Wix is the best website builder for creating a professional-looking site, thanks to its 900+ templates and simple drag-and-drop builder, based on over 1,200 individual tasks completed across 12 top website builders.For those businesses looking for a quick and easy way to get online, using a website builder is the best option. This is especially true given that AI adoption is becoming central to SME survival in 2026. Many business owners still lack the confidence and knowledge to utilise it, but one of the easiest ways to adopt generative AI into your business is by using the native tools in our top website builder recommendations.Although Wix is our top-rated builder, it won’t be right for everyone. We’ve tested five of the best website builders on the market to help you find the perfect fit for your business. Ready to begin comparing your options? Let’s get started. 💡Key takeaways Wix is our top choice for its user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop features, and choice of over 900 templates.Out of all the builders we tested, Squarespace is the easiest to use, and the stylish templates and smart grid editor can help create a professional-looking site.Shopify is the best website builder for ecommerce businesses thanks it its depth of sales features, like abandoned cart recovery.You can build a website for free, such as with Wix, but you should expect to pay between £3.99 and £25 for a comprehensive business plan.For those on a tight budget, Hostinger is the cheapest website builder, costing between £1.99 and £2.99 per month for 48 months.While Shopify is the best choice for ecommerce businesses, it’s also the most expensive website builder – costing up to £259 per month. The best website builders for small businesses: comparison table 0 out of 0 backward forward Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing Price Free trial or plan Number of templates Transaction fees AI website builder FEATURED PROVIDER Hostinger Wix Squarespace GoDaddy Shopify 4.3 4.9 4.6 4.2 4.2 £1.99-£2.99/month (48-month subscription)Up to 81% discounted with code “STARTUPS” £9-£119/month£8.10-£107.10 with code “TAKE10” £12-£79/month, billed annuallyUse code “SU10” to receive a 10% discount on all Squarespace plans £7.99-£14.99/month, billed annually (first term discount) £19-£259/month, billed annuallyCurrently £1/month for the first 3 months 7-day free trial Free plan 14-day free trial Free plan 3-day free trial 150+ templates 900+ templates 150+ templates 200+ templates 200+ templates 0% 2.1% + 20p 0%-7% (depending on what you sell), plus a 1.5%-2% + 25p card processing rate Not shared publicly – you’ll need to contact GoDaddy 1.5%-2% + 25p We last updated this article on 04/03/2026 All pricing and information in this article was verified as accurate as of 04/03/2026. However, we would always recommend confirming any pricing directly with the website builders before making any purchasing decisions for your business. How do we test website builders? In 2025, we conducted testing of 12 top website builders to ensure our recommendations are both accurate and helpful. Our reviews are the result of rigorous research, and are written by an actual human, not AI.We combined analysis carried out by our dedicated research team with actual hands-on user testing. This included completing over 1,200 individual tasks and an in-depth exploration of the results.At the core of this testing were six main categories we felt were most relevant to a small business owner needing a website. Each builder was then scored on these categories depending on how well they met the outlined criteria of each area. You can find more information about this scoring system at the bottom of the page. 1. Wix: our top recommended small business website builder Wix 4.9 Number one website builder for features, design, and support. Full review of Wix Free plan Yes Price from £9/month Good balance of usability and complex features Customisable 'drag-and-drop' templates 24/7 customer support is available Summary Wix has undoubtedly earned its place as our best website builder, offering an unparalleled list of features and wide-ranging payment options for small businesses. Because of this, Wix is an excellent choice for a variety of users, whether you’re new to website building or a seasoned expert looking for endless customisability. Show moreless Based on our testing, Wix is the top website builder due to its impressive range of features and hundreds of attractive templates. It’s especially ideal if your website isn’t the core focus of your business, but is primarily needed to promote it, combining building and marketing into a singular package.Previously, we’ve described Wix as something of a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” builder, but this is starting to shift as a result of the company’s investment in AI-verticalisation (offering industry specific tools, rather than a one-size-fits-all platform). This was bolstered by its acquisition of Hour One in 2025, which combines generative AI with 3D rendering. Suitable if: You want an easy-to-use AI-website builder that can create a good looking site with minimal fuss You want 24/7 support from experts You're selling internationally – Wix will help you translate your site for other markets Not suitable if: You're starting an ecommerce business with a large inventory – Shopify's scalability is a better fit for larger online stores You want the fastest site speeds (we tested Hostinger as being quicker) You just need something really basic, as you might find Wix's depth of features and design options to be overkill Who should use Wix?Wix caters to a wide range of industries, making it our top choice for small businesses due to its extensive functionality, new AI-chat builder, advanced image editing, and 24/7 support. If you’re running an ambitious ecommerce business, however, Shopify is the better choice.Wix is great for beginners and new businesses as it’s one of the few builders that offers a free plan. This means you can try out a range of features at no cost to see if it’s right for you, including:The drag-and-drop editorThe 900+ template librarySome basic search engine optimisation (SEO)500MB of storage (just know that in the current world of high-resolution AI-generated imagery, this won’t go far)It’s important to point out that if you opt for the free plan, you’ll get Wix ads and branding on your site as well as a wix subdomain rather than a custom one.What do we like about Wix?My favourite part about using Wix is the Wix Astro AI chatbot, as its conversational approach made the onboarding feel really natural and easy. This is another reason why Wix is good for beginners: you just need to answer some simple questions and your personalised site is built for you.The conversational Wix AI makes for a smooth onboarding process, adapting to your questions, and you can get a great looking site live in less than a day. Source: Startups.co.ukOther highlights for me were:The AI image generator, where I could choose a range of styles from photo-realistic to cartoonWix Harmony, the brand new AI website builder launched in January 2026: merging traditional website building tools with vibe coding, this make it even easier for the average business owner to quickly build a great looking siteThe 900+ templates that you can use for various industries, whether you’re setting up a candle shop or an international travel serviceSimple drag-and-drop editorThe extensive app market, which offers over 800 apps, so Wix can provide the tools needed by almost any businessI had the freedom to drag elements wherever I wanted with Wix’s editor. Source: Startups.co.ukWix boasts a huge library of professional templates, so if you’re the sort of person who wants to build their site from scratch, you’ll be spoiled for choice. However, if you don’t have the time or skills for that, you’re more likely to be interested in the quality of the AI builder. Luckily, Wix’s built-in AI capabilities left me impressed, making it easy for businesses to build, run, and grow their online presence.When I tested out Wix Harmony it was able to create a polished website for an independent coffee shop with a simple prompt. Source: Startups.co.ukIf you do run into any problems, Wix has you covered. In 2026, Agentic AI is taking over customer service, which makes the actual human-based support from Wix all the more valuable. For all Wix customers, it provides expert 24/7 callback phone support and live chat. Wix remains one of the best builders for getting support when you need it.How much does Wix cost?You can get started for free, but the paid plans range from £9 to £119 for the most advanced tier. The good news is that Wix’s plans can support your business as it scales.You can read our full Wix pricing guide for a breakdown of each pricing tier, but here’s a quick summary of the available plans, billed annually:PlanCostStorageEcommerceLight£9 per month (plus VAT)2GBNot includedCore£16 per month (plus VAT)15GBBasic Business£25 per month (plus VAT)100GBStandardBusiness elite£119 per month (plus VAT)UnlimtedAdvanced You can also receive a bespoke quote for the enterprise plan. Hidden costs and extra charges:Domain renewalEvents calendar app renewalChargebacksCross-border services feesPremium apps and integrations What could be improved? Though the design process with Wix is incredibly straightforward and intuitive, we felt the depth of features could be overwhelming for novices. If you just want a basic website builder, you'd find Squarespace or GoDaddy to be more suitable. 2. Squarespace: best for creatives and service-based businesses Squarespace 4.6 Ideal for professional and creative businesses that appreciate affordable plans and an easy-to-use platform. Squarespace Full Review Free trial 14-day Price from £12/month Use code "SU10" to receive a 10% discount on all Squarespace plans Over 150 stunning free templates Great value for money Use code 'SU10' to receive a 10% discount on all Squarespace plans Summary Squarespace scores extremely highly in our testing, catering to creative professionals with its mobile-responsive templates and visual designs. In comparison with Wix and GoDaddy, Squarespace is the easiest website builder on the market, thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, though it lacks the creative freedom of Wix. Plus, Squarespace’s affordable plans make it an accessible option for small businesses. Show moreless Squarespace’s stylish designs are great for creative and service-based enterprises that need a sleek site to show off their business. Using the built-in tools, whether it’s the AI-chatbot or the ready-made templates, you can show off your brand with a site that’s more visually appealing than the competition.Squarespace isn’t just nice to look at either, it’s also the easiest platform I’ve tested. Even in comparison to other easy-to-use builders, Squarespace stood out as particularly straightforward, and getting set up was so simple. Suitable if: You're a creative business that needs slick designs to showcase your work online You need to integrate booking tools for your services business (the builder includes Acuity Scheduling software) You're a beginner who needs a builder that's simple to use Not suitable if: You want the fastest site speeds – Squarespace was found to be lacking in our site speed analysis You're an online seller with a complicated inventory, as you'll be better off with Shopify's advanced ecommerce tools You're looking for a free plan (try Wix, our top recommendation, instead) Who should use Squarespace?Squarespace should be used by design consultancies, photographers, interior decorators, and anyone selling their services – essentially, anyone looking for an aesthetic way to showcase their business. It might be a little more expensive than some of its competitors, but if having a polished and professional looking site is your priority, Squarespace is worth the money.Squarespace also offers ecommerce functionalities from its cheapest plan, including the ability to sell unlimited products and memberships, as well as send invoices at no extra cost. Still, unless you’re planning to keep your online store small and simple, Shopify is still our top choice for selling online.What do we like about Squarespace?Squarespace’s AI-tools are impressive, but, unlike with Wix, I’d suggest you actually use one of the 150+ templates instead. I don’t think the AI themes currently yet compare to how stylish the look of Squarespace’s ready-to-use templates are.Despite this, I did still enjoy using Blueprint AI – Squarespace’s step-by-step, customisable AI builder. The conversational AI builder can build a website in seconds, which gives you a feeling of real control over how it will turn out.Blueprint AI is handy for getting a site ready as quickly as possible, but the end result doesn’t pop as much as the ready-made templates. Source: Startups.co.ukFor AI-enthusiasts who like to use ChatGPT in their workflow, the standout feature will be Squarespace GPT. This new integration allows you to create an entire website with Blueprint AI through ChatGPT, saving you time and stress.Some other key features that impressed me were:The built-in appointment tools for service-based businesses.Ecommerce functionality on all plans.The help and support: you can reach out for help 24/7 via email or live chat on weekdays, or you could even hire a Squarespace Expert.The smart grid editor for easy site changes.What makes Squarespace stand out from Wix is the smart grid it adds to the editor. I found this so useful to align elements and keep my pages tidy – Hostinger offers the same feature in its editor as well. Source: Startups.co.ukHow much does Squarespace cost?Squarespace isn’t a budget option like Wix or GoDaddy, as there’s no free plan, and its cheapest tier is £12 per month. Squarespace has four plans to choose from:PlanCostVideo hosting & storageEcommerceBasic£12 per month (plus VAT)30 minutesFully integrated Core£17 per month (plus VAT)5 hoursFully integratedPlus£29 per month (plus VAT)50 hoursFully integratedAdvanced£79 per month (plus VAT)UnlimtedFully integratedYou can jump over to our dedicated Squarespace pricing review for an in-depth look at the different plans.Hidden costs and extra charges:Domain renewalThird-party payment processing feesAcuity SchedulingPremium extensions What could be improved? Squarespace doesn’t offer the same level of creative freedom as Wix. With Wix, you can drag elements and sections anywhere on the page whereas Squarespace locks you into a grid layout. That said, with Squarespace’s designs, I didn't need to make as many tweaks. Just be wary of the slow site speeds, as we tested Hostinger as being faster. 3. Hostinger: best for simple side hustles Hostinger 4.3 This affordable website builder makes building simple with its suite of AI tools. Free trial 7-day Price from £1.99/month Affordable deals for beginners The drag-and-drop editor is very easy to use A growing suite of AI features Summary Hostinger is a simple and low-cost website builder, offering affordable plans and introductory deals for new businesses. However, its features aren’t as sophisticated as rival website builders’, and it lacks basic functionalities like email marketing. That said, its design options are impressive and its suite of AI tools makes building a website quick and easy. Show moreless Hostinger is the cheapest website builder on this list, providing helpful AI-tools as part of that low-cost. This makes it the best choice if you need a cheap-and-cheerful website for running your side hustle.Over the many years we’ve been testing Hostinger, it’s improved its site speed, making it the fastest website builder in the roundup and perfect for side hustlers who want a speedy mobile experience. It’s also made some impressive improvements to both its navigation and interface, making building a site with Hostinger even easier. Suitable if: You want AI-powered tools to help you quickly generate images and written content for your site Cash-strapped solopreneurs and side hustlers who need a cheap website builder You need a website builder with a short learning curve Not suitable if: You're ambitious and want a website to support a rapidly scaling business (Hostinger only has two website builder plans) You want the best looking website possible, as Squarespace's templates are much slicker You want to connect a large amount of third-party applications Who should use Hostinger?Hostinger’s low-cost deals make it best for those needing a professional business website built on a shoestring budget. The impressive AI-features mean you can quickly set up a cheap but effective site to promote and run your side hustle.That budget cost does mean you’ll have to sacrifice some advanced functionality, as well as the ability to scale your business. If you’re running a more complex business than just a side hustle, then you should take a look at Wix or Shopify instead.What did we like about Hostinger?Using the AI website builder tools allowed me start building in less than a minute – all I had to was input my prompt, and I was reasonably impressed with how quickly it generated a decent looking site. I also found it easy to make edits with the simple drag-and-drop editor.You just need to complete a single prompt to get a site ready in moments, and you can use AI to refine your instructions for a more accurate build. Source: Startups.co.ukAmongst Hostinger’s more helpful AI-tools for business owners is the AI heatmap. This leverages AI to analyse your site and identify where your visitors are most likely to click. You’ll get actual, actionable data back on your site’s design so you can incorporate the feedback and increase conversions.Some other standout areas in my Hostinger testing were:The AI blog generator, which can create up to 2000 words for your site’s contentUpload photos of your products, and AI will analyse to generate relevant textNo payment processing fees for businessesAI assistant Kodee is easily accessible and provides adviceHostinger has more creative design freedom than Squarespace and I could place design elements anywhere on the pageLike Wix, Hostinger let me move and place elements wherever I wanted. Source: Startups.co.ukFor online stores, you can use the AI-Powered Product Information Generator, which generates product titles, subtitles, descriptions and labels – for overstretched solopreneurs this can save precious time when adding new products to your inventory.How much does Hostinger cost?Hostinger’s a great option for low-cost pricing plans which is attractive for startups looking for minimal overhead spending.The cheapest pricing is available with a 48-month subscription:PlanCostStorageEcommerceBusiness Website Builder£1.99 per month (plus VAT)2 GBNot includedPremium Website Builder£2.99 per month (plus VAT)50 GBIncludes ecommerce featuresThat said, the cheap price comes at the expense of features like email and advertorial marketing, and an app market.Hidden charges and extra fees:Domain renewalThird-party payment processing feesAdditional email accounts What could be improved? Hostinger has limited built-in features. You won't be able to create email marketing campaigns without a third-party integration and ecommerce functionality is limited to 500 products. There's also only basic support options, unlike Wix's 24/7 support. 4. GoDaddy: best for small, local businesses GoDaddy 4.2 An easy-to-use website builder with great value plans. GoDaddy Full Review Free plan Yes Price from £7.99/month Great value for money Fastest way to create a website Very simple features Summary GoDaddy is known for making it easy for small business owners with little or no website-building experience to start growing a business online. The builder’s simplicity makes it ideal for beginners, but the limited customisation options might frustrate those who are looking to get creative. Show moreless For local stores that don’t have the time or patience to spend hours building their website and just need to get online fast, GoDaddy is one of the simplest website builders you can choose. The user-friendly focus meant I could get a basic business site ready in under an hour.Like Wix, GoDaddy also offers a free plan, making it financially accessible for local businesses concerned about rising 2026 costs, like an increase in the National Living Wage. Suitable if: This is your first time designing a website – GoDaddy is quick and easy to get the hang of You only have limited needs, as the basic features and design options are ideal for simple businesses You're running a local shop, as GoDaddy provides promotional tools (such as social media integration) to help you connect with local customers Not suitable if: You're an advanced online seller – GoDaddy only has one plan ecommerce plan so you're better off with Shopify You need to advertise a creative business, as Squarepsace and Wix have more stylish offerings You already have design experience (you might find the rigid editor quite limiting) Who should use GoDaddy?GoDaddy’s simplicity and affordability is best for time-poor local business owners who need to get a site up quickly and want to promote themselves through multiple channels.GoDaddy’s AI tool, Airo (built using GoDaddy’s proprietary data), is able to provide businesses owners with accessible agentic AI. Airo Agent can propose step-by-step plans for business owners, making proactive, AI-powered decision accessible to independent SMEs.The free plan provides:Built-in marketing toolsMobile optimisation24/7 supportAs you’d expect, though, the free plan comes with limitations, such as adverts across your website, as well as a lack of a custom domain name and no ecommerce functionality.What do we like about GoDaddy?Even GoDaddy’s cheapest plan offers a great range of features, including:A free business emailEmail marketing campaignsCustomer service functionality (via live chats and contact forms)Advertising across multiple channels will be key to the survival of many local independent businesses and GoDaddy’s AI-powered social media marketing tool can help with that.It can create and schedule multi-channel posts, including for Facebook and Instagram. This multiple channel marketing, along with its automated social media calendar, is useful if you’re looking to kickstart your first campaign quickly and easily.GoDaddy keeps things simple, but I did find this comes at the cost of some customisability. Source: Startups.co.ukIf you do experience any issues, you can try and find a solution through its 24/7 live chat or look through its online guides and resources. However, our researchers found that the knowledge centre wasn’t quite as helpful as Shopify’s or Wix’s.How much does GoDaddy cost?GoDaddy is on par with Wix as one of the best builders in terms of value for money, especially now with the inclusion of Airo. Its cheapest paid plan starts at £7.99 per month (billed annually), giving you a lower cost overall because of its simple features.You can read our GoDaddy pricing page for a deeper insight into the different packages, but here’s a summary of its three affordable plans (billed annually):PlanCostEcommerceBasic£7.99 per month (plus VAT)IncludedPremium £11.99 per month (plus VAT)InlcudedCommerce£14.99 per month (plus VAT)IncludedHidden costs and extra charges:Domain renewalThird-party payment processing feesEmail/marketing tool upgradesShipping and fulfilment add-ons (with advanced delivery options) What could be improved? GoDaddy's section-based editor lacks the functionality and flexibility of other builders such as Wix and Squarespace, which use a drag-and-drop style instead. With GoDaddy, I could only move blocks up or down within the page structure. GoDaddy keeps things simple, but I think in places, it's overly streamlined. Common confusion: how do I choose between a 'free' builder and a paid plan if I want a custom domain? There can often be confusion around the ‘hidden costs’ on free plans but essentially, virtually no free tier will also provide you with a custom domain. Custom domains are considered to be a premium feature.For hobbyists or students who don’t need a custom domain, a free plan will be suitable. However, if you’re a professional business, then a paid-plan will be the better solution as you normally get a custom domain included for the first year. Hostinger is a great low-cost option and you get a free domain for a year with any 12-month plan. 5. Shopify: best for online sellers Shopify (Web Builder) 4.2 The ideal platform for online stores looking to start selling right away. Full review of Shopify Free trial 3-day Price from £19/month Best range of features and apps for ecommerce sites AI-powered Shopify Magic tool for business support Regularly adds new features or makes improvements Summary Shopify is perfect for users looking for that all-in-one online store solution. Its ability to predict what a merchant will need next when creating a website is a brilliant feature, and its countless apps give you complete control over your business, enabling you to grow through diverse multi-channel integration options and email marketing. Shopify is better suited to store owners with complex, larger inventories because of its expensive plans and additional costs to consider, such as purchasing a domain name – something other builders usually include as part of their packages. Show moreless Shopify’s unparalleled AI-driven sales features make it the best ecommerce website builder. Shoppers in 2026 expect a personalised experience, and you can use Shopify’s AI to analyse your customers’ shopping behaviours to provide them with tailored purchase recommendations and targeted email campaigns.Its industry-leading range of sales features, such as abandoned cart recovery, will help you streamline the sales process, increase conversions, and make selling to your customers as simple as possible. Suitable if: You want to run an online store, as Shopify has the best sales features and business-focused support You're looking to scale rapidly, as a Shopify has a range of plans to support growth You want to use AI to create a tailored experience for your shoppers Not suitable if: You want to create the sleekest looking site possible – I found Shopify’s editor difficult to use You need a budget-friendly builder, as Shopify’s feature-rich plans are very expensive You want an extended free trial of the builder before you buy, as Shopify's free trial is very brief Who should use Shopify?If you’re a small business looking to sell online, Shopify’s unrivalled sales features make it the best choice, especially if your inventory contains more than just a few products.However, Shopify’s plans are a considerable cost investment, and it’s not the most beginner-friendly platform out there, either. If you’re a solopreneur with only a limited inventory, you should look at GoDaddy, instead.What do we like about Shopify?While it’s not the cheapest option, Shopify’s incomparable ecommerce tools definitely makes it worth the price (specially for fast-growing online stores) with excellent features like:Unlimited productsOver 13,000 third-party app integrationsAdvanced checkout optionsThe recent Shopify Editions: Winter ‘26 announcement unsurprisingly had a focus on AI, but an interesting addition that stood out to me was the new Shopify SymGim app. This tool uses agentic AI to simulate shopper behaviours and give recommendations on how to improve your store. It uses purchase data to flag potential complaints, like an unclear returns policy.Shopify’s editor isn’t the most user-friendly, but this has become less of an issue in 2026 with the use of Shopify’s AI-generated templates. All I had to do was input one or two words that described my brand or products and it generated three templates in less than a minute. I recommend using Shopify Magic if you want a lot of the creative work done for you.Shopify Magic helped me create a stylish-looking online store. Source: Startups.co.ukShopify – alongside Wix – is one of our two top-recommended builders for help and support. Shopify’s 24/7 live chat was highly responsive, and I appreciated having the option to hire a Shopify Expert should I need an extra helping hand.I always got a helpful answer from Shopify’s virtual assistant, but I could connect with a human support advisor if I needed more help. Source: Startups.co.ukI also appreciated the recent introduction of Tinker, an app that unifies all of Shopify’s AI tools in one place. It can be hard to keep track of all the latest AI developments, but, with Tinker, you can test them out in one place and see which might benefit your business.How much does Shopify cost?Shopify’s higher-cost plans are oriented towards those who are seriously looking to scale their business and want access to more advanced revenue-generating ecommerce features.If you only need a cheap option to get the job done, look at Wix or Hostinger instead.When billed annually, Shopify pricing is as follows:PlanCostEcommerceBasic£19 per month (plus VAT)IncludedGrow£49 per month (plus VAT)InlcudedAdvanced£259 per month (plus VAT)IncludedPlus£1,800 per month (plus VAT)IncludedHead to our dedicated Shopify pricing page to learn more detail about each pricing tier.Hidden costs and extra charges:Domain renewalThird-party payment processing feesCurrency conversion/foreign card feesPaid apps/pluginsPaid template designs What could be improved? I found Shopify's editor difficult to use, and it took me longer to create a site I was happy with than it did with other builders like Squarespace. Shopify’s section-based editor doesn’t give you as much freedom as a drag-and-drop, and there's a lack of free templates. How we test website builders for small businessesWe tested 12 top website builders to deliver accurate and helpful recommendations to UK-based small businesses.In 2025, we have conducted rigorous research and hands-on testing, which included 54 individual user tests, with over 1,200 individual tasks completed.Our detailed testing process means these builders have been scored and rated in six main categories of investigation and 36 subcategories. We then gave each category a score and a ‘relevance weighting’ to ensure the results reflect the most important needs of a modern business owner.Our main testing categories for website builders and how we weighted them are:Website functionality: 25% – the capabilities of a builder beyond just design elements, like SEO and marketing tools.User experience: 25% – how user-friendly and intuitive a website builder is for people of all skills and experience levels.Design features: 15% – the look and visual layout of a website created using the website builder, including themes, templates and AI assistance.Pricing 15% – pricing plans, free trials, and the balance between the cost of a website builder and the features you’ll get.Help and support: 15% – the assistance and resources available to users if they run into any issues.Reputation: 5% – a combination of competitor reviews, online and market analysis, and user feedback to determine the overall reputation of the builder. How easy is it to switch website builders later?Generally, migrating a website once it’s been built can be reasonably tricky, potentially taking weeks of work. Starting from scratch is easy of course, but if you want to migrate your website from one platform to another this will be much more complex.Most builders aren’t compatible with each other, so you can’t just “export” and “import” your whole site. You usually have to rebuild pages, layouts and sometimes even redesign certain parts from scratch.Any of our top recommendations on this roundup allow you to cancel anytime. So switching providers is easy, but just know that means you’ll need to start your website over from the beginning.It’s worth noting, if you have an online store, typically you can export and import your product listings using a CSV file. Just know that correctly formatting the file can be tricky and time-intensive. Wix vs. Shopify: Which is better for a boutique store? Wix would be great for a smaller boutique that wanted a lot of creative control over its site. For a bigger, rapidly expanding boutique, then the ecommerce power of Shopify would be more suitable. Our verdict: which builder is best for small businesses?Wix is the best choice for building a small business website, due to the impressive range of built-in features, stylish design options, app integration, and available support channels.However, you might find one of the other top builders has features that are a better fit for your specific business needs. For example, Squarespace’s stylish templates are best for creative sites, whereas Shopify is best for larger ecommerce businesses.With AI-powered website builders helping you get set up in minutes, the barrier to entry for creating a sleek, professional site has never been lower. Most builders offer a free trial, which is the perfect way to get started. Jump back up to any of our reviews: Website builder comparison table 1. Wix: our top recommended small business website builder 2. Squarespace: best for creatives and services 3. Hostinger: best for simple side hustles 4. GoDaddy: best for small, local businesses 5. Shopify: best for online sellers How we test website builders for small businesses How easy is it to switch website builders later? Our verdict and next steps Frequently Asked Questions Which is the most affordable website builder? Hostinger is the most affordable website builder, as it has the cheapest pricing plans. For a 48-month subscription, Hostinger's Premium Website Builder costs £1.99 per month, while its Business Website builder is £2.99 per month. Does a website builder plan include a free domain name? Wix, Squarespace and Hostinger offer a free custom domain for the first year. For Shopify and GoDaddy, you will either have to connect an existing domain (if you have one) or purchase one through the platforms. What are the limitations of a free website builder plan? A free plan is a great starting point, but it isn't viable in the long run. Some website builders (such as Wix and GoDaddy) will place branded ads on your website, which can hinder your site's professionalism. You'll also have limited storage space and won't be able to set up a custom domain or sell products until you upgrade. I already own a domain name. Can I use it with any of these website builders? Yes. All website builders on this list allow you to connect an existing domain name, so you won't have to create a new one. Is Shopify better for ecommerce than Wix? While Shopify is the best choice for growing online stores, Wix is the better option if you're looking for something cheaper and more beginner-friendly. It also has its own strong ecommerce features, including the ability to offer discounts and multichannel selling – ideal for those who want the benefits of ecommerce functionality without the complexity. Which website builder is best for SEO? Wix as the best website builder for SEO, thanks to a range of intuitive features, like customisable URLs and SEO page settings. Are there hidden costs when building a website? Yes, the monthly price of your builder will only be about 50% of what you'll end up paying over the first couple of years. The main hidden cost will be domain renewal. Most builders include a free domain for the first year, but then the cost can potentially increase when it's time to renew. This is main hidden cost to watch out for. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags Recommendations Written by: Emma Ryan Lead Writer Emma works on Startups’ reviews and recommendations for building a website for your business. She is the Lead Writer at Website Builder Expert, having first joined the team in 2022. She manages Website Builder Expert’s topical content strategy to help website owners navigate the highs and lows of being online. Emma specialises in hands-on testing and research of all the leading website builder platforms, including Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. Her work and expertise have been featured in Digiday, TechRound, Industry Today, and Digital Information World. Reviewed by: Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years of refining my skills in data analysis, I transitioned to a role as a researcher to help understand our readers' preferences and needs. My professional journey started as a researcher in law enforcement, where I developed strong analytical abilities. Later, I moved into operations, strengthening my understanding of quantitative data. Now, I blend my quantitative analysis skills with qualitative research to explore both audience preferences and product nuances. Armed with a UX design diploma, I translate research findings into actionable insights that facilitate informed decision-making. Whether enhancing Startups offerings or delivering research presentations, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of improvement and results.