The best website builder for beginners is Squarespace, because its easy-to-use interface is sleek and intuitive without sacrificing customizability or functionality. Plus, our hands-on research has found that Squarespace offers a top tier AI website builder that is intuitive and helpful at creating a site in seconds.
We spend hours of hands-on research with 16 different website builders to evaluate them on features, ease of use, pricing, and advanced functionality like analytics and ecommerce to help you make the right decision for your business.
Why Trust Us? Our Research Methodology
After conducting an initial exploration to identify the most relevant, popular, and established tools in the market, we put them through their paces with hands-on testing to see their real strengths and weaknesses. In this case, our research consisted of:
- 16 website builder products
- 200 hours
- 398 areas of investigation
- Six core categories of investigation
- 33 subcategories
At Tech.co, we have a number of full-time in-house researchers, who re-run this testing process regularly, to ensure our results remain reflective of the present day.
| Price | Special deal | Free plan | Free trial | Best for | Pros | Cons | Beginner's features | SEO | Design editor | App store Is there an app store available to utilize third-party integrations? | Autosave | Templates How many templates are available? | Full review | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURED PROVIDER  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||
| Hostinger | Squarespace | GoDaddy | Wix | Shopify | |||||||||||
| $11.99/month | $16/month | $9.99/month | $17/month | $29/month | |||||||||||
| $2.99/month for four-year contract | $14.40/month with code TC10 | Up to 62% off for annual contract | $15.84/month with code TAKE10 | $1/month for first three months | |||||||||||
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| 30-day money-back guarantee | 14-day free trial | 7-day free trial | 14-day free trial | 3-day free trial | |||||||||||
| Affordable AI features | Creative businesses | Setting up quickly | All-round website management | Large ecommerce businesses | |||||||||||
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| Average | Great | Basic | Great | Good | |||||||||||
| Drag-and-drop | Smart Grid | Section-based | Drag-and-drop | Section-based | |||||||||||
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| 300+ | 180+ | 200+ | 2,000+ | 900+ | |||||||||||
| Hostinger Review | Full Review | GoDaddy Review | Wix Review | Shopify Review |
Key Takeaways
- Best: Squarespace is the best website builder for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, smooth backend, and well-designed templates that you can edit after publishing your site.
- Budget: Hostinger is the best choice for budget-conscious customers, with plans that can start at just $1.99 per month for a four-year contract.
- Overall: Wix is our favorite website builder overall, but its rich feature set can be a little overwhelming for first-time users.
- Ecommerce: Shopify is ideal for users building an online store, but it can be a little bit intimidating because of the sheer breadth of functionality.
- Quick setup: GoDaddy and its Airo platform provide the fastest setup process across all of our website builder research.
Best Website Builder for Beginners Reviews
Below, we’ve reviewed each website builder based on its suitability for beginners.
- Squarespace – Easiest website builder for getting started as a beginner
- Hostinger – Most affordable website builder for beginners
- GoDaddy – Best website builder for a beginner wanting a quick setup
- Wix – Best for a beginner that wants to take advantage of plenty of features
- Shopify – Best for beginners wanting strong ecommerce functionality
1. Squarespace: Easiest Website Builder To Get Started With
- Price: $16 per month
- Deal: $14.40/month with code TC10
- Free plan: No
Our research and testing found Squarespace to be the easiest website builder for beginners, because of the combination of a simple, easy-to-navigate interface where we found it straightforward to carry out functions, and an AI website builder we simply had to follow, step-by-step, to get up and running with a site.
Beginners just getting started with website builders will find that every function is exactly where it should be, and that elements such as designing your site are made simple with a combination of AI tools and the drag-and-drop editor.
Pros
- Easiest website builder to use across our research
- Plenty of content-focused features for blogging
- Integrates with Acuity for booking and appointments
Cons
- Limited language support for international businesses
- AI site builder creates fairly generic output
- No autosave feature for website editor
- Basic: $16/month
- Core: $23/month
- Plus: $39/month
- Advanced: $99/month
- 10% off with code TC10
- 14-day free trial
2. Hostinger: Most Affordable Website Builder for Beginners
- Price: $12.99/month
- Deal: $1.99/month for four-year contract + 3 months free
- Free plan: No
Hostinger is the most affordable website builder on our list, particularly if you take advantage of consistent sales that can see the provider drop to as little as $1.79 per month, plus three months free.
Hostinger certainly beats competitors like Wix on price, and it can match them on features, too. For example, like Squarespace, Hostinger offers an AI website builder that can have your site up and running in seconds.
Beginners that are eager to trial and experiment with different providers will do well with Hostinger, thanks to an affordable entry price that still retains top-quality features and a solid interface.
Pros
- AI generated site in three steps (60 seconds)
- Built-in heatmap for advanced site analytics
- Language translations capabilities
Cons
- No app market for third-party integrations
- No email marketing in any paid plans
- No free trial or free plan for users
- Premium: $2.99/month
- Business: $3.99/month
- AI Builder: $6.99/month
3. GoDaddy: Best Website Builder for Beginners Wanting a Quick Setup
- Price: $9.99/month
- Deal: Up to 62% off for annual contract
- Free plan: Yes
GoDaddy is a great option for users that want to get up and running quickly, because of its AI website builder and simple setup process.
Users favorably compared GoDaddy’s setup with Wix and Shopify, suggesting that the overall process was much more straightforward, thanks to an initial onboarding tour for new users and the ability to see which sections are available to you immediately after logging on. Beginners that want to get started quickly will do well with GoDaddy,
Pros
- AI generated websites in two steps (30 seconds)
- 24/7 phone support available for all plans
- Free forever plan can publish site
Cons
- No mobile website editor to modify pages on the go
- Overly generic website design with fewer templates than other builders
- No app market to branch out functionality across your site
- Basic: $9.99/month
- Premium: $14.99/month
- Commerce: $20.99/month
4. Wix: Best for Beginners That Still Need Advanced Features
- Price: $17 per month
- Deal: $15.84/month with code TAKE10
- Free plan: Yes
Wix is the best website builder we’ve tested, mostly because of its advanced set of features and top-of-the-line AI tools. Depending on the kind of beginner you are, Wix can be either a blessing or a curse.
On the one hand, Wix’s advanced capability means beginners can get hands-on with a range of tools and become more easily accustomed to how website builders work. However, while our users did find Wix’s interface user-friendly, the number of options available could become overwhelming to new users.
Plus, having to get to grips with the platform means you may not have a website ready as quickly as with an option like Hostinger, which has fewer features.
Pros
- Unrivaled selection of website features across design, sales, and support
- AI features can create a site in 60 seconds
- Quality free forever plan available
Cons
- No template switching once published
- Number of features can be overwhelming for some beginners
- Steep price increase for scaling businesses
- Light: $17/month
- Core: $29/month
- Business: $39/month
- Business Elite: $159/month
- 10% off any plan with code TAKE10
- 14-day free trial available
5. Shopify: Best for Ecommerce Beginners
- Price: $29/month
- Deal: $1/month for first three months
- Free plan: No
Shopify has some of the most robust online store features available, including built-in inventory management and unlimited products. Likewise, it offers an immense app library, giving beginners the opportunity to create an all-in-one platform that has everything they need for their business, streamlining operations.
Overall, Shopify is one of the best ecommerce website builders we’ve tested, making it perfect for beginners that want to get started selling online.
Pros
- Add unlimited products with your own CSV
- Customizable member areas
- Intuitive product-adding experience for beginners
- AI site builder can have you live in seconds
Cons
- Monthly fees for POS system integration
- Scheduling and booking requires add-on
- No tutorials for setup, so tough for beginners
- Limited SEO settings available
- Basic Plan: $29/month
- Grow Plan: $79/month
- Advanced Plan: $299/month
How to Choose a Website Builder as a Beginner
The market will look slightly different based on whether your business has used website builders or not. Here are the main elements to consider when making your choice as a beginner:
- Price: The price of a website builder can range from $5 to $300 per month depending on your particular business needs.
- Features: If you need to build an online store, make sure your website builder and pricing plan offer features for that kind of functionality.
- Ease of use: Some website builders are easier to use than others, depending on the design editor and guidance tools.
- AI tools: AI tools give beginners the opportunity to access advanced functions without having to do all the technical heavy-lifting.
- Business type: Certain website builders are geared towards specific industries, like Squarespace to creative business or Shopify to retail spaces.
Expert Analysis: Squarespace Is Best for Beginners
As someone that has done hands-on research with a wide range of website builder and a person that has created a website with Squarespace for personal use, I can confidently say that it’s a top choice for beginners.
The stunning templates make designing your site easy, the smart grid provides easy tips for how to get started, and the AI features make generating content easier than other options on the market.
Conor is the lead writer for Tech.co, as well as a Squarespace website builder user for his personal comedy website.
How Much Do Website Builders Cost?
Website builders cost between $5 and $300 per month, depending on your particular business needs. The average starting price for website builders is around $10 to $15 per month, while ecommerce-enabled builders typically cost around $25 to $30 per month.
Here’s how much the website builders above cost, including free plans, free trials, and special deals.
| Price | Special deal | Price for ecommerce The cost for a plan that allows users to build and operate an online store. | Free plan | Free trial | Try now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURED PROVIDER | | | | | |||
| Hostinger | Squarespace | GoDaddy | Wix | Shopify | |||
| $11.99/month | $16/month | $9.99/month | $17/month | $29/month | |||
| $2.99/month for four-year contract | $14.40/month with code TC10 | Up to 62% off for annual contract | $15.84/month with code TAKE10 | $1/month for first three months | |||
| $18.99/month | $16/month | $20.99/month | $29/month | $29/month | |||
| | | | | | |||
| 30-day money-back guarantee | 14-day free trial | 7-day free trial | 14-day free trial | 3-day free trial | |||
| Try Hostinger | Try Squarespace | Try GoDaddy | Try Wix | Try Shopify |
Methodology: How We Tested Website Builders
We take our impartial research and analysis seriously, so you can have complete confidence that we’re giving you the clearest, most useful product recommendations. Our main testing categories for website builders are:
- Website features: The capabilities and functionalities offered by a website builder, e.g. blog functionality, SEO capability, and marketing capacity.
- Design functionality: The aesthetic appeal and visual layout of a website created using a website builder. It encompasses aspects such as page templates and customizable themes.
- Customer satisfaction: External customer opinion. This is the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular website builder — the market position and reputation a website builder holds.
- User experience: How user-friendly and intuitive a website builder is for people with varying levels of technical expertise.
- Value for money: The balance between the cost of a website builder and the benefits it provides. It considers factors such as pricing plans, subscription models, and available features.
- Help and support: The assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using a website builder.
When it comes to calculating a product’s final score, not all testing areas are weighted evenly, as we know some aspects matter more to our readers than others, which are simply “nice to have”. After hundreds of hours, our process is complete, and the results should ensure you can find the best solution for your needs.
Verdict: What's the Best Website Builder for Beginners?
If you’re building a site for the first time, we’d recommend using Squarespace. Not only does it boast the best user experience out of any platform on this list, but it also offers the best templates and design features, making it a perfect match for users building creative sites for the first time.
It also offers an AI builder that can get your site live quickly and easily, while still maintaining a lot of control over your design.
If you want more control over your site, WordPress might be a better option. But this does involve a steeper learning curve and more time managing your website in general.
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