6 Best Website Builders to Launch Your Business in 2024

Can I achieve financial success by launching my own business with a website? If you ever ask yourself this question, the answer is, yes, you can.

However, it requires strategic planning and step-by-step implementation to ensure success. When it comes to choosing the right website builder for your business, it depends on your specific needs and budget.

Consider the following factors when making your decision:

• Ease of use: How easy is it to use the platform? If you’re not comfortable with technology, you’ll want to choose a platform that is easy to learn and use.
• Features: What features does the platform offer? Make sure the platform offers the features you need to create the type of website you want.
• Price: How much does the platform cost? Website builders typically offer free plans with limited features, as well as paid plans with more features.
• Design: What kind of design do you want for your website? Choose a platform that offers templates and features that match your desired style.

Over the past decade, we have helped various clients pick the right solution for them. Below, you will find the most user-friendly platforms that allow you to create a professional-looking website.

Top 6 website builders to launch your business

Let’s take a closer look at the key factors that will determine your website’s outcome.

WordPress (Self-Hosted)

WordPress is an all-in-one website building platform, offering users a variety of features such as customizable templates and advanced functions. In layman’s terms, the templates are called “WordPress themes,” and the functions are often defined in “WordPress plugins.”

Not directly comparable: Unlike the other options, self-hosted WordPress doesn’t offer its own templates. Instead, users rely on a vast ecosystem of third-party themes, offering unrivaled design flexibility and customization.

For non-techies like merchants and solopreneurs, we recommend using a managed WordPress hosting service if you’re considering WordPress. It will take care of server maintenance, security updates, and WordPress-specific optimizations. Thus, it’s convenient to manage your website even if you don’t have extensive technical knowledge.

Popular managed WordPress hosting providers that we’ve tried and recommended:

• Flywheel
• WP Engine
• Pressable
• Kinsta (also offers managed WordPress hosting)

Shopify

Shopify’s dominance in ecommerce website building platforms is undeniable.

Shopify allows you to get your online store up and running quickly. If you’re aiming ecommerce, it’s the top choice for you! Its intuitive interface makes managing products, orders, and customers a breeze.

As your solo business scales, Shopify offers enhanced performance plans that grow with you. Its robust features and wide range of apps cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring your online store can keep pace with your growing needs.

Shopify’s app store offers a plethora of tools to enhance your store’s functionality, from marketing and shipping to customer service and analytics. This allows you to customize your store and add features specifically required for your solo business.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your solo journey, Shopify offers a robust platform to build your online presence and turn your business dreams into reality.

• Pros: While not primarily focused on design, Shopify offers templates specifically designed for e-commerce, prioritizing clear product presentation and user experience.
• Cons: Content management and customer relationship management (CRM) options might be limited compared to platforms focused on general websites like WordPress and WordPress.com.

Webflow

Webflow goes beyond simply providing responsive premade website templates. It empowers business starters with a unique combination of features that streamline the website creation process.

You’re equipped to build visually with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and fully customizable templates. While premade themes offer a head start, Webflow allows extensive customization. You can tailor the design to match your brand identity and ensure your website truly reflects your unique vision.

Does Webflow stand out from WordPress? Well, it excels in creating complex animations and interactive elements that are difficult to achieve with other platforms. This can be particularly beneficial for showcasing products, explaining services, or creating a more immersive user experience.

Webflow provides built-in CMS functionalities, allowing you to easily add, edit, and manage your website content without needing additional plugins or platforms. While not as comprehensive as dedicated CMS platforms like WordPress, it offers sufficient capabilities for managing content on most websites.

• Pros: Provides the highest level of design flexibility with a code-based approach. This allows for creating truly unique and customized website designs.
• Cons: Requires design and coding knowledge, making it less user-friendly for beginners.

Squarespace

Squarespace is best for creating personal, professional, and visually appealing websites. It allows for a quick spin like a one-page website, event introduction, and portfolio showcase.

• Pros: Known for its modern, clean, and minimalist aesthetic, with a focus on high-quality visuals and typography.
• Cons: The design options might be limited compared to platforms like Wix, especially for those seeking very specific or unique styles.

Wix

Wix.com is an excellent choice for beginners, individuals or businesses with simple website needs, and those who value a user-friendly interface with good design flexibility. You can modify layouts, fonts, colors, and images to create a website that reflects your brand identity.

Wix offers a vast library of pre-made templates across various industries, providing a head start and eliminating the need to design from scratch.

Wix App Market provides access to various third-party apps that can extend the platform’s functionality, allowing you to add features specific to your needs.

• Pros: Offers a vast library of templates covering diverse styles and industries, allowing for greater customization.
• Cons: While extensive, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming, and some templates might feel generic or outdated. It also delivers potential scalability limitations as your website or business grows and requires more complex functionalities.

WordPress.com

While WordPress.com can be an option for beginners and startups with simple website needs, it’s not necessarily the most excellent choice.

WordPress.com offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop editing for some features, making it easier to build a basic website compared to self-hosted WordPress.

You don’t need significant technical knowledge to set up and manage your website on WordPress.com, as it handles hosting and maintenance.

Compared to self-hosted WordPress, WordPress.com offers limited customization options. You have less control over themes, plugins, and overall website design and functionality.

• Pros: Offers a selection of pre-designed themes, some with clean and modern aesthetics. However, customization options are limited compared to self-hosted WordPress.
• Cons: The free plan doesn’t allow monetization through ads or other methods, and paid plans have limitations on how you can monetize your website. You can only install plugins if you’re on the Creator plan, which costs $25 per month. Design flexibility is restricted compared to other options, especially on free plans.

In conclusion

From our hands-on experience, WordPress self-hosted and managed WordPress hosting are the most versatile web building option. While Shopify is the ideal for ecommerce store, Webflow offers a unique blend of design flexibility, advanced features, and CMS capabilities.

These 3 platforms cater well to pre-built templates and who value the ability to create truly customized, interactive websites. You might be having a steeper learning curve, but they are worth it!

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