Many website builders offer a wide range of features at an incredibly affordable price; however, it eventually becomes evident that they lack the necessary tools to construct a website of professional standards.
If you don’t want to waste your time and money on a site builder, make sure it doesn’t provide outdated design templates that give your website an outdated appearance. Additionally, even if you come across a builder with impressive designs, there’s a possibility that you will have to use a cumbersome site editor that lacks sufficient customization choices.
With my experience as a website builder tester and someone who looks for deals, I have put together a list of cost-effective platforms that allow you to have it all. These platforms are user-friendly and offer essential features, as well as additional benefits such as complimentary apps, SEO tools, and e-commerce capabilities.
10 Best Cheap Website Builders
1. Wix: Widest Selection of Templates and Great Free Apps
With an intuitive interface, the Wix editor allows for easy work by simply dragging and dropping elements onto the template. There are over 900 customizable templates available, ensuring that your site matches your vision precisely. You have the ability to modify any color, font, or image within your template, as well as add and arrange design elements in various combinations.
In addition to enhancing the appearance of your site, Wix provides numerous apps that offer extra functionality. These apps allow you to host videos and podcasts, establish a restricted area for members, and facilitate restaurant reservations and online orders.
Even if you are using Wix’s free plan, you will have access to almost all features. However, in order to link a custom domain name, you will need to upgrade.
2. SITE123: Budget-Friendly Option To Get You Online Quickly
If you require a basic website, SITE123 is a convenient and affordable choice. While there are limited customization options, SITE123’s point-and-click editor is more user-friendly than Wix, making it effortless to modify your page layout and adjust colors and fonts.
SITE123 is particularly effective if you require a one-page website, such as a landing page or a fast portfolio. By relocating all your content blocks to the homepage, SITE123 automatically adapts your site navigation accordingly.
SITE123 provides a free plan; however, it is somewhat restricted in terms of features and does not allow you to link a personalized domain. By opting for the budget-friendly Premium plan, you will receive a complimentary domain for one year, 3GB of bandwidth and storage, access to online store tools, and additional benefits.
3. Squarespace: Stunning Designs and Powerful Content Creation Tools
Squarespace offers exceptional options for creatives with its impressive mobile-responsive templates that allow for ample high-resolution images. Despite not having as many templates as Wix, they can be easily personalized by incorporating features like sign-up forms and social media feeds.
In addition, Squarespace provides integrated features that assist in making your content noticeable. You will find a user-friendly blog editor to publish your story, and the Unfold app allows you to elevate your Instagram posts with personalized templates, graphics, fonts, and other options.
If you’re looking for affordable options, Squarespace offers a paid plan which includes premium features like SSL security, unlimited storage for images, and SEO tools. However, if you need more advanced features without spending too much, the Business plan may be a good choice. With this plan, you’ll have access to professional Google email address, promotional pop-ups, e-commerce tools, and other additional features. To try out the platform without any risks, you can take advantage of Squarespace’s 14-day free trial.
4. Webador: Flexible Builder With User-Friendly Blogging Tools
The user-friendly interface of this platform is truly impressive. Its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality allows you to easily place elements onto your page, which automatically snap to a grid. While this may restrict some of your creative choices, it guarantees a clean and visually pleasing layout.
Webador’s blog editor is beginner-friendly and highly flexible for those interested in blogging. It provides all the necessary tools for post organization, media integration (such as photo albums and videos), and engaging readers through comments and social media sharing.
When using Webador’s free plan, you have access to unlimited storage and blogging tools, but your website will have a subdomain from the platform. To enhance your website further, we suggest upgrading to the reasonably priced Pro and Business plans. These plans eliminate Webador branding and ads on your site and provide additional features such as unlimited photo albums, custom forms, advanced reports, and more.
5. IONOS: Get a Professional Business Website on a Budget
IONOS (formerly 1&1 IONOS) has a smaller template library compared to other site builders on this list. However, all of its designs are visually appealing and optimized for mobile devices. The level of customization available depends on the plan you opt for.
The Starter plan includes prebuilt page sections and color palettes, while the Plus and Pro plans offer a flexible editor for adding and rearranging elements to customize layouts. The higher-tiered plans also offer more advanced features, such as a booking tool for online appointments and an AI text generator (Beta version) for quick copywriting assistance.
With its affordable pricing, IONOS offers an opportunity to quickly establish an online presence and achieve a professional appearance. Rest assured, you can try out all the plans without any risk as they come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
6. Shopify: Powerful but Reasonably Priced E-Commerce Site Builder
Shopify offers a wide range and high-quality themes that can make any online store, whether it sells vintage apparel or dog treats, look great. While the best designs are more expensive, even the free themes include useful features like sticky headers for easy navigation and social media apps for connecting with your audience.
Shopify offers a user-friendly and straightforward interface that simplifies the process of building and managing your online store. This includes tasks such as adding products and configuring payment gateways. In case you encounter difficulties, there are in-app tutorials available to assist you in getting back on course. Moreover, Shopify ensures a seamless shopping experience for your customers by providing features such as product filtering and customer login areas.
Shopify’s plans are designed to meet the needs of both new entrepreneurs and established businesses. Even the least expensive Shopify plan includes advanced features like unlimited products and abandoned cart recovery. You can try out the platform with Shopify’s free trial.
7. Web.com Website Builder
Intermediate designers will find Web.com’s versatility appealing as it offers a wide range of content, branding, and e-commerce tools, allowing them to have ample creative control. However, beginners might struggle with the extensive array of features and a slightly perplexing interface.
Although Web.com has initially low prices, the costs rise after the initial billing cycle, making it important to consider the renewal fees if you seek a long-term solution.
8. WordPress.com
WordPress.com provides users with high-quality blogging features and ample design freedom. However, it is important to note that there is a learning curve associated with this platform. Additionally, various themes offer the ability to customize different elements, making it crucial to verify these options before finalizing your decision.
WordPress.com offers cheaper plans, namely Personal and Premium, that provide all the necessary features to begin a blog. Nevertheless, unlike Wix, access to plug-ins and other advanced features is restricted to the pricier plan.
9. Duda
Duda is an advanced website builder with robust design capabilities, making it ideal for professional designers and agencies who benefit from its comprehensive range of client-focused tools.
If you are a beginner, Duda’s interface might be overwhelming, so we suggest not using it unless you are willing to dedicate time and effort. Furthermore, Duda’s prices are slightly higher when compared to other website builders on this list.
10. Hostinger Website Builder
Hostinger Website Builder provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and a practical collection of AI tools to facilitate the swift launching of your website. Additionally, it offers a reliable range of e-commerce features, hence making it an affordable choice for online stores.
Even though Hostinger offers some third-party integrations, they are not as extensive as those found on other comparable platforms. Furthermore, the absence of an app market means that there are limited options available to enhance the functionality of your website.
BONUS: Best Ecommerce Website Builders for Your Online Store
Although it may appear intimidating, starting an online store can prove to be both rewarding and exceptionally lucrative if executed correctly.
With the help of a reliable ecommerce website builder, you can efficiently deal with ecommerce challenges and swiftly establish an appealing online store. Consequently, you can promptly captivate customers and initiate sales.
1. Shopify
Shopify is recognized as the simplest and most dependable method to establish an online presence for your business. Being an ecommerce platform, Shopify enables effortless creation of an online store without the necessity of coding expertise or large financial resources. Trusted by numerous businesses, Shopify offers cost-effective pricing, attractive website designs, and valuable marketing tools.
If you are interested in creating a Shopify store, you have the option to select from over 100 professional templates that come with built-in features. These features include SSL certifications, domain hosting, custom domains, abandoned cart recovery, and other useful tools. These tools are designed to assist you in attracting customers, generating sales, and efficiently managing your daily tasks. Furthermore, you have the ability to sell an unlimited number of products through your ecommerce store and across various marketplaces, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, thanks to Shopify’s native partner integrations.
Shopify Payments simplifies the process of accepting online payments by providing integration with over 100 payment gateways and options globally. This includes popular platforms like Bitcoin, PayPal, and Shop Pay. Moreover, there are more than 4,000 free Shopify apps available to enhance your store’s functionality and boost online sales.
Some of the features are:
- More than 100 professional themes created by world-renowned designers, such as Happy Cog and Pixel Union
- Built-in mobile commerce shopping cart, so shoppers can buy on any mobile device or tablet
- Full access to your store’s HTML and CSS so you can customize every aspect of your ecommerce website
- Search-engine-optimized stores to help potential customers find you online
- Simple inventory management to track stock counts and stop selling products when inventory runs out
- No restrictions on the number of products you can sell in your store
- Unlimited bandwidth, so you’re never charged based on the amount of traffic your store receives
- Simplified reporting and analytics
- Shopify POS system integration to connect in-person and digital storefronts
- App store with over 4,000 marketing, sales, and customer support tools
- Mobile app to manage your business on the go
- Dedicated customer support team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through email, live chat, and phone
2. Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop (formerly known as 3dcart) caters to retailers who desire to sell products online by providing a shopping cart. This builder specifically targets store owners who require a rapid development of an online presence, offering features such as sales reporting and mobile-responsive themes.
Although Shift4Shop offers certain ecommerce features, there is only a restricted level of creative control over your stores. The templates available have minimal customization options.
Included in the features are:
- 160+ payment options
- 90+ free templates to get your website up and running
- Built-in SEO functions to improve websites’ search visibility
- Abandoned cart notifications to help recover lost sales
- Zapier integrations to help extend your store’s functionality
3. Square Online
Square Online is a web store creator that was previously referred to as Weebly. You have the option to construct a website using Square Online at no cost, although you will not have the ability to utilize your own domain name (or eliminate ads) until you make a purchase for a plan. The complimentary plan provides functionalities such as real-time shipping and coupons, but in order to access more advanced features, you will need to upgrade. Additionally, it is compatible with Square for processing payments.
Included in the features are:
- Website builder and management platform for controlling inventory and orders
- Bulk inventory functions to edit bulk batches of products and import/export information
- Mobile-optimized websites
- Coupon builder (for paid plans) to create promotions in your store
- Drag-and-drop builder and media library to walk you through website creation
4. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is designed for larger companies and provides a platform for building online stores. It offers various customization options and also includes web hosting services. However, it does not allow domain name registration. Therefore, you will have to purchase a domain name from another source and link it to your BigCommerce store.
BigCommerce offers international selling capabilities, as well as SEO apps and optimized stores, along with the ability to make multichannel sales on social and online selling sites.
Included are characteristics such as:
- Visual editor to edit website pages with a drag-and-drop tool
- Customizable themes built with HTML, CSS, and Javascript
- Checkout customization with server-to-server checkout API and SDK
- Digital wallet payment options with wallets like Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and more
- Cross-channel commerce with marketplaces such as Amazon and Google Shopping
- Multi-currency and multi-language support for international sales
FAQ
Are free website builders reliable?
When considering free website builders, it is important to note that while they can be dependable for basic requirements, they typically have drawbacks such as advertisements, fewer features, and limitations on custom domains. They serve as a satisfactory starting point, but for extended or professional endeavors, an upgrade could be worth considering. As an example, Wix is a free platform that also offers various paid plans at affordable prices with abundant features, catering to different budgets and requirements.
Can I set up an online store on a budget website builder?
Yes, definitely! Take Squarespace for example, which is a cost-effective choice with excellent e-commerce capabilities, including the ability to have unlimited products, customer accounts, and the option to sell on multiple platforms. It’s an excellent choice if you’re on a budget but still want high-quality features.
What kind of customer support can I expect from budget website builders?
When using SITE123, you can anticipate receiving assistance through useful tutorials, forums, and customer support via email and live chat. Specifically, SITE123 offers quick and accessible support, allowing you to contact them at any time through their 24/7 live chat or email options.
