Website builder software is utilized to construct websites without manual code editing. This type of software consists of two main categories. Online proprietary programs offered by web hosting companies. These can be utilized by users to build their private site. Some vendors let the site owner to install alternative commercial or open source tools. Complex solutions of this type are also called Content Management Systems. Show more Offline software operates on a computer and builds and publishes web pages on any host. These are regarded as website design software rather than website builders. Start by checking our leader Strikingly, and other recommended solutions in this category.Show less
In order to develop this ranking of best Website Builder Software we have examined 204 trending systems currently available on the market, studying their features, ease-of-use, client service, possible integrations and mobile support using our patented SmartScoreTM rating algorithm. This list has been prepared by Louie Andre, our software authority responsible for the Website Builder Software category.
CloudRank™ system is a unique algorithm that our research team uses to evaluate Website Builder Software solutions in a detailed and accurate way. The Summer 2022 edition of the ranking was prepared by Louie Andre, our leading expert in the field of Website Builder Software, who has authored 1380+ product reviews in this category. The goal of CloudRank™ is to present an unbiased, multi-layered perspective on Website Builder Software, considering a wide range of metrics and factors, and educating potentiala customers about both opportunities and challenges associated with each piece of software.
In order to achieve full objectivity the position in our CloudRank™ is based on:
We’ve calculated a score for each product based on the average experience shared by our users in their product reviews and arranged the list in three tiers. You can see the methodology below on how the calculations were made.
Regardless of their tier, all products included in our CloudRank™ are popular, quality products considered top-performers by our team of experts. Make sure you read a more detailed review of each solution to find one that will work best for your specific needs and budget.
Show lessMARKET POSITION
A score between 1 and 10 based on popularity and market reach of each product.
TOTAL score
A score between 1 and 10 based on the average of our Expert Score and User Score.
Market Position
A score between 1 and 10 based on popularity and market reach of each product.
Total Score
A score between 1 and 10 based on the average of our Expert Score and User Score.
CloudRank™ tier
Based on product's total score.
Rising Star
Contender
Front Runners
Here is a list of all 25 Website Builder Software solutions evaluated with our CloudRank™ analysis. We have compared their features, user satisfaction, market presence and other key factors in an in-depth analysis you can find below:
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Our report covered 25 most popular products from the Website Builder Software category. We’ve analyzed their features, performance, integration, customer support, pricing, and several other key buying factors and combined it with feedback from user reviews to come up with the current list of best solutions:
Wix takes the top spot in our website builder CloudRank 2022 report. From its establishment in 2006, Wix has come a long way and proved itself an innovator and tech disruptor in the website builder market, challenging some of the older and popular contenders such as WordPress and Weebly. Over the years, the platform’s technology has been able to adapt to and influence trends in the website development space, all while ensuring ease of use and reliability. After winning our Best eCommerce Software Award for 2019, it now dominates our ranking of website builder software.
As an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered website builder, Wix appeals to users in need of a no-code platform that will provide them with the freedom to design and manage their website easily and efficiently. These qualities translate to high user review and satisfaction scores, which can be considered directly related to the platform garnering significant usability and support quality ratings. Moreover, Wix’s efficiency and user-friendliness are also extended to its mobile applications, both of which received considerable ratings from their users.
Based on our thorough evaluation of its features in relation to user reviews, Wix’s strongest suit is its range of customizable and functional templates. Its outstanding support for custom domains and mobile optimization helped drive its ratings upward as well. In general, its lowest-graded aspect is SEO optimization, but this can be easily supplemented with organic strategies. Furthermore, Wix may do well to improve its integration capabilities. All in all, this drag-and-drop website builder that leverages AI to help users create a website faster and easier reflects what the market expects from the players in this software category.
Most users of Website Builder Software solutions confirm that in most cases these tools allow them to reach the following business goals:
The Summer 2022 version of the report includes a total of 25 Website Builder Software products that were compared and analyzed by our team. We selected them based on the following factors:
According to research, every $1 invested in user experience (UX) results in as much as 9,900% of return on investment (ROI). Meanwhile, around 39% of website visitors will stop engaging if images take too much time to load or do not load at all.
Improving UX goes hand in hand with developing a seamless and engaging user interface (UI). Web designers are expected to combine creativity and functionality to ensure that users enjoy browsing through the website and ideally increase conversion rates. Furthermore, as mobile surfing continues to grow, the improved UX needs to reflect on both desktop and mobile websites. Mobile-responsive website elements, such as easy to find Call-to-Action banners, can help drive conversion.
Source: Invesp, 2018
In a time when most users browse the internet using their phones, the dark mode trend is slowly becoming commonplace. Many apps provide the option to switch to dark mode. On average, it is predicted that 2 in 3 mobile users experience eye strain. Dark mode is thought to help with this as it makes elements more visible and screens easier on the eyes.
Adopting the dark mode trend in website design can not only make a website look ultra-modern, but also assist in the goal to improve overall UX. Dark backgrounds also highlight website elements, which could be especially useful to websites with interactive and dynamic functionalities.
Blue
57%Green
35%White
32%Black
29%Red
21%Yellow
14%Orange
12%Gray
12%Purple
10%Source: 99Designs Survey
Designed byAs of 2017, there are about half a billion augmented reality (AR) users worldwide. This number is expected to grow to almost 2 billion by 2021. Furthermore, AR statistics show that there are more AR than virtual reality users as the former has become more increasingly available on mobile apps.
Integrating AR with website design makes for the ultimate interactive experience. Ecommerce websites have been leveraging the technology in recent years, letting customers “experience” a product even before they purchase it. In all, AR provides website owners with the opportunity to interact with their audience, ultimately aiding in improving UX. Furthermore, AR analytics can also help website owners understand their audience better based on how they utilize a website’s AR features.
Website builder tools can be used by individuals as well as businesses to create websites to promote their services and products. But it can be a hard task to do educated comparisons to select the best website builder software given the many available programs. You can use this buyer’s guide to learn about the main features and factors to look for in your search for the best website builder tools for your unique needs.
Aside from taking cues from our website builder software guide, we also encourage you to check out individual software reviews. These provide you with a summary of the key features and benefits offered by a particular software. Then, it will be in your best interest to subscribe to a software’s free trial to see if it fits your needs.
We recommend you start by registering for the free trials offered by leading website builder software providers. This will enable you to do a comparison and learn which system is a good fit for your business needs. You can visit the websites of the following popular website builder software platforms to find out if they offer a free trial or demo: Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, OptimizePress, and Zoho Sites. We recommend these tools as they have been given high rankings in our website builder software reviews.
After trying out these website builders through the free trial, you will be better equipped to choose which software suit your needs better. By having a hands-on experience using and navigating the software’s tools, you’ll be able to pick a software based on ease of use and functionality.
Whatever your needs and goals are, there’s a website builder software for you. But in order for your software search to be successful, you should also have a good understanding of what those needs and goals are in the first place.
Desktop WYSIWYG software
What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) software enables you to create a website in a similar manner to using a word processing app like Microsoft Word. You can add elements such as tables, images, and buttons with a few clicks without needing to edit the HTML. Another advantage is you can select from a wide range of pre-built templates and adapt them for your needs. Popular packages include CoffeeCup Visual Site Designer, NetObjects Fusion, and Serif WebPlus.
Content management systems
A content management system (CMS) enables you to add content to your website quickly and easily. Leading free open source CMS solutions such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla are used by millions of websites.
Online website building software
This type of software is similar to the WYSIWYG systems, except that everything is done online and you are not required to install anything on your computer. The new breed of online website builders, such as Moonfruit, Squarespace, and BaseKit, is adaptable and ideal for small businesses.
HTML editors
It pays to have a basic knowledge of HTML as you can make use of a number of free or affordable HTML templates that you can download and use for your needs. Plus, with HTML knowledge you can save costs as you can make changes yourself and don’t need to rely on others.
Different types of website builder software appeal to different kinds of users and businesses. Even if a user does not have extensive website development skills, he or she can eventually find the right type of website builder software.
No coding knowledge needed
The main advantage of website builder software is you don’t need coding skills to create a website. All the HTML and scripts are built in the app and you don’t have to write them. Plus, you don’t need to test to ensure all the inputs and parameters work properly.
You can create attractive websites
You need just a basic understanding of graphic design to create a visually appealing website. You can add images and graphs to the site to attract more traffic. Plus, you can use an online site to create your brand’s logo and upload it on your website to make it more interesting.
Create a user-friendly website
The website you create should be easy to use. If it is confusing or too sophisticated, visitors would not be able to interact properly and buy anything. You can select a template and customize it for your needs. Plus, ensure that both client-side and server-side functions work correctly.
The software is easy to use
With a good website builder, you can easily upgrade your content without needing to write code every time you wish to make a change to the website. Simply write text and add images in the back room area and they will be posted online where and how you want them. In short, using a quality website builder software solution is as simple as using word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and other common programs.
Faster content updating
When you use a website builder software, adding and updating content is faster and easier. More often than not, you won’t need the help of a webmaster to upload new content every time.
Cost efficiency
Most website builder software are very easy to use and are practically plug and play. As a result, they help you create a website faster, helping you earn from the website faster, too. Furthermore, you can get started even without hiring a webmaster or website designer.
Responsive website design
Smartphones have become ubiquitous and for this reason, your website needs to the look the same on any device. For this reason, responsive website design is important so that your visitors can have a great viewing experience on their mobile devices.
Semi-flat design
This design type offers more clarity to the website viewer. It is a difficult technique but it has become a trend as it makes it easier for visitors to understand the website’s directions and cues. As a result, the entire website offers intuitive navigation. This style has been used by Apple and Android in their software releases and hence has become familiar to mobile users.
Minimalism combined with micro-interactions
Micro-interactions are enabled by the user and they provide guidance and control and make it a fun experience to view a website. The minimalist design ensures your website is uncluttered. Websites, therefore, need to combine these design trends to offer a great user experience that takes into account the short attention spans of visitors and their wish for quick gratification.
Single-page design
In this website design, all information is laid out on a single, continuous page. This makes the website more adaptable and responsive using different devices and platforms. Single-page websites are also generally lighter, so they load faster.
Lack of control
You have minimum control over your site’s layout because you use pre-made templates. In the case of some website builders, you need to start afresh if you wish to change the template after having entered the content.
Unwanted Ads
Some web creators permit external ads on your website in important places. These can’t be avoided most times and if you wish to get rid of them you need to shell out extra money.
You need a good understanding of aesthetics and style
Though you don’t need coding skills to use website builder software, you still need a good understanding of style to create an attractive website as you need to select an appealing layout, imagery, button style, color palette, and other crucial elements.
Domain ownership
If you use the website builder software’s free subdomain service, the website is essentially not yours even if it shows your content and branding. So, if you decide to switch to a new software or buy your own domain, you might have to start over again.
Below are the most common pricing plan models for website builder software.
When choosing a website builder software to use, remember to focus on benefits more than the features. Keep in mind that this kind of software should help you build a website easily, ideally, and quickly—not overwhelm you with features that you may not be able to maximize in the end.
So, when selecting a website builder software, evaluate your choices based on ease of use, customization capabilities, multi-platform compatibility, integration, and hosting support. Additionally, make sure you identify, assess, and consider your needs all throughout.
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Pricing details are a key consideration when you analyze SaaS vendors. Ask the provider if they offer price safeguards and contractual flexibility. “Shelfware” has become a major issue in SaaS licensing as buyers end up shelling out for more than they require. Plus, to get pricing predictability, buyers are forced to subscribe to long-term contracts. Make sure you don’t get saddled with long-term licensing and get locked in for a long period with a single vendor. Ask about easy exit policies that assist you to migrate to another provider if you are not happy with the services offered by the current one. Select a vendor that offers a convenient standard annual termination facility as well as long-term cost protection.
Another important factor to consider is whether the cloud vendor meets compliance and security requirements. Your company is answerable to staff members, customers, business partners, and regulators. Therefore, you should pick a provider that has deployed a technically sound and comprehensive security program. Map your security control needs such as availability, integrity, confidentiality, privacy, and accountability to the provider’s capabilities. Ask the potential provider about the procedures and systems they use to protect your private data. Do they meet general as well as industry-specific compliance and security standards? Do they offer special measures to meet the unique security requirements of your particular industry? Get satisfactory answers to these queries before you make the investment.
With a SmartScore of 9.8 and a user satisfaction rating of 100%, the best website builder software as of this writing is Wix. It provides small businesses and individuals with tools that build beautiful and professional-looking websites but do not hamper their creativity with coding expertise. Furthermore, you can use Wix for free, but you can opt to improve your Wix website by subscribing to the website builder’s premium plans.
There are several benefits to using a website builder software. These include the following:
Different website builder software may offer features unique to them, but the following are what you’re likely to find most helpful:
The easiest website builder software to use thus far is Weebly. It has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. It also offers third party integrations and marketing solutions under one hood. With Weebly, users can create a blog, online store, or business website.
If you’re looking for a free website builder software, check out SITE123. This is designed for private and corporate users to create a website as easy as 1-2-3. The free plan gives you 500 MB of storage and 1 GB bandwidth, as well as free use of a subdomain, hosting, and web wizard.
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