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The way you build a website can directly impact the success your website has in attracting and retaining customers. So, it's important to choose a website builder that maximizes things like search engine optimization (SEO), usability, the speed at which each page loads (page speed), mobile browser compatibility, accessibility for users with disabilities, and dozens of other requirements.
Website builder software and services aim to remove the technical barriers that come with more sophisticated methods of building websites. With a website builder, not only is content easier to author, you also become a "drag and drop" designer of your home page and supporting sub-pages. This can be a blessing or it can be a burden depending on the quality of the website builder, how much time you have and your tolerance for learning curves.
Sunday, March 26th
WordPress isn't often thought of as a website builder, but it is! WordPress has everything you need to build a website, including drag and drop editing through its latest Block Editor feature. Plus, it's as flexible as you need it to be. WordPress earns our highest recommendation among website builders.
Divi is a very popular theme builder that you add to WordPress to instantly create incredible designs that really "pop" and retain your site visitors. The Visual Builder is very advanced and you can start with any of hundreds of pre-built layouts. If you want a unique website that looks like it was designed by a professional, Divi is a fantastic choice.
Nicepage is a "freemium", standalone website design software application for Windows and Mac, a plugin for the WordPress and Joomla content management systems, as well as an online website design tool. While there are a few drawbacks to using this website builder, overall, it's a solid platform.
Duda is a website builder, but also a platform for individual, team, and agency creatives to use in developing websites for their customers and clients. This is a good choice if you want an out-of-the-box website that needs little personalization, but for users who need a website builder with maximum flexibility and freedom in design, Duda comes up short.
Weebly is a minimally capable website builder with several features to make website design easy. It does include a strong set of eCommerce and integrated shipping solutions. But, for most people, a more robust website builder will provide a better experience.
Wix is a free website builder and eCommerce platform that provides freedom to design your website in the way you and your customers find most appealing. With Wix you can run a marketing, portfolio, blog, or eCommerce website. Be aware, however, that Wix isn't a website builder that can "grow" along with your website, which may leave you starting from scratch later down the line.
The GoDaddy free website builder helps you create an online presence in just a few clicks. It allows you to add purpose-built components to your website to manage your business. Cons to this service include a lack of ability to expand as your needs change, and fine print fees that can make it more expensive than you were expecting.
Website offers a free plan to get you started on building your website using their designer-made templates. Get a free domain name and no ads displayed on your site with all of Website's premium plans. All of that sounds great - until you start getting "your connection is not private" error messages from a site that should know better. You'll get more reliable service from a higher-ranked website builder.
Site123 is a freemium website builder to help those without coding or design knowledge create a website without hiring a professional. It has a wizard to get you started with premade layouts and styles. You get what you pay for, of course - and with Site123, that's not a lot.
Strikingly is a "click to edit" website builder, where everything is clickable and changeable to your liking. No code or previous design experience is required. Because of its limitations, though, Strikingly is only a good option for those with low budgets and even lower expectations.
Tip Top Website is a website builder that offers a free domain name and up to 100 pages for your website. You can also add eCommerce to your site. That sounds great, but once you see how outdated and limited this service is, you'll quickly decide in favor of a more advanced, fully-featured website builder.
Whatever you choose, remember that you may be stuck with your decision for a long time. In other words, think in the long term and visualize what your needs will be not just months from now, but years from now.
As you decide which website builder will be the best choice for your needs, there are several factors to keep in mind:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best website builders available today. We hope this information helps you create the perfect site for your business, non-profit organization, or your own personal projects!
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