For any business starting out, having a professional website is no longer optional—it’s essential.
A well-designed website serves as a central hub for your brand, showcasing your unique offerings, building credibility, and connecting you directly with your audience.
Whether you’re selling products, sharing your expertise, or cultivating a loyal fanbase, your website is a powerful tool to grow your business and reach new heights.
But with so many platforms promising ease of use, stunning designs, and robust features, how do you choose the best one for your needs?
In this article, we'll guide you through the top 8 website builders to use in 2025. From SEO tools and ecommerce capabilities to customization options and cost-effectiveness, we’ll explore what you need to establish a compelling online presence.
A website builder is a tool designed to simplify the process of creating a professional and functional website without requiring coding or technical expertise.
These tools typically offer user-friendly interfaces, drag-and-drop editors, and customizable templates to help users design websites quickly and efficiently.
They are ideal for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals looking to establish an online presence.
Website builders are particularly advantageous for small businesses due to their:
Ultimately, these platforms provide a straightforward and effective way to establish a polished online presence, catering to the needs of both beginners and experienced users.
Choosing the best website builder for your small business requires a clear understanding of your needs and aligning them with the features offered by various platforms.
With a wide range of options available, from free tools to premium solutions, it’s important to evaluate functionality, ease of use, and scalability.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find the ideal website builder for your business:
Start by identifying the primary purpose of your website:
For those without technical expertise, an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality is essential. Choose a builder that simplifies the design process and includes features like setup wizards or AI-assisted design tools to create professional-looking sites effortlessly.
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Look for platforms that automatically optimize designs for mobile and desktop views to maintain a consistent and professional appearance across devices.
Your website is an extension of your brand, so design flexibility is critical. Opt for platforms that allow you to:
Visibility is key to driving traffic to your website. Choose a builder with built-in SEO tools, including:
If you plan to sell products or services online, prioritize platforms that include:
Carefully compare the costs of different website builders:
Before committing, take advantage of free trials or demo versions. Testing the platform’s usability, design tools, and overall functionality will help you assess if it’s a good fit for your business.
Technical issues can disrupt your website’s performance, so dependable customer support is essential. Look for platforms offering 24/7 support, live chat, or extensive knowledge bases to ensure you have assistance when needed.
To streamline operations, your website should integrate seamlessly with third-party tools such as:
This ensures enhanced functionality and better management of your business operations.
By carefully evaluating these aspects, you can confidently choose a website builder that aligns with your business goals, simplifies operations, and supports your long-term growth.
Now that you understand what to look for in a website builder—like ease of use, SEO tools, mobile responsiveness, customization options, and scalability—it's time to explore the top platforms available today.
Each of these website builders offers unique features to help small businesses and creators establish a professional online presence and grow their brand.
Fourthwall is revolutionizing how small businesses and creators build and manage their online presence.
With its no-code custom website builder, seamless ecommerce integrations, and high-quality product catalog, Fourthwall empowers users to create professional, fully customizable websites without the complexity of traditional platforms.
Its unique focus on creators and entrepreneurs makes it the ideal platform for selling physical products, digital goods, and memberships—all while providing unparalleled support and tools to grow your brand.
You can even build a branded mobile app mirroring your site and memberships page. You can also use this feature to send push notifications to supporters for new content or alter them on upcoming discounts and perks.
Best of all, Fourthwall handles logistics, customer service, and taxes, so you can focus on what you do best.
Fourthwall has no upfront costs or monthly fees making it an affordable option for business at any stage. However, the platform does charge a 5% fee on all memberships and a 3% fee on all digital products sold.
Wix stands out as a highly versatile and beginner-friendly website builder tailored to meet the needs of small businesses across various industries.
With over 900 customizable templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and robust SEO tools, Wix allows users to build visually stunning and functional websites without any prior coding experience.
Whether you're looking to create an online store, promote your services, or showcase your portfolio, Wix offers a vast array of features to help your site stand out.
The platform also provides an extensive App Market, powerful ecommerce tools, and advanced AI-driven functionalities, making it a go-to choice for small business owners.
Wix offers a range of plans to suit different needs: Light: $17/month, Core: $29/month, and Business: $36/month.
Known for its beautifully designed templates and intuitive tools, Squarespace makes it easy to create professional, mobile-responsive websites that reflect your brand’s unique style.
With built-in ecommerce functionality, blogging tools, and seamless social media integrations, it’s a versatile platform that balances aesthetics with performance.
Whether you're showcasing a portfolio, running a blog, or managing an online store, Squarespace provides the tools you need to succeed.
Squarespace offers multiple pricing plans that range from $16/month-$49/month.
Shopify is an industry leader for good reason—it provides a robust, scalable, and user-friendly platform for ecommerce businesses big or small.
While it may be pricier than general website builders, its extensive tools and automation features make it well worth the investment for businesses looking to thrive in the competitive online marketplace.
With over 8,000 apps and customizable templates, the platform provides the flexibility to craft a store tailored to your brand and goals.
From seamless multichannel selling to advanced inventory and payment solutions, Shopify is ideal for small businesses, growing startups, and enterprise-level operations alike.
Shopify offers several tiered pricing plans for both small and large business ranging from $29/month to $2,300/month. All plans include unlimited products, 24/7 support, and a 14-day free trial.
Weebly is an intuitive and budget-friendly platform designed for users who want to create professional websites or online stores without coding expertise.
Its drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive designs, and robust ecommerce tools make it a great choice for beginners and small businesses alike.
Whether you're building a blog, showcasing your portfolio, or running an online shop, Weebly’s user-friendly interface and app center ensure you have everything you need to succeed.
Weebly offers plans tailored to different needs and budgets ranging from a Free Plan, with basic website functionality and tools, to a Performance Plan that offers advanced ecommerce features like abandoned cart emails and item reviews for $26/month.
WordPress is the ideal platform for those seeking ultimate control and customization in their website design.
Known for its open-source platform, the platform provides unparalleled control and customization, making it an excellent choice for blogs, portfolios, business websites, and even large-scale ecommerce stores
With thousands of themes, plugins, and a massive community of developers, WordPress is perfect for those looking to create a highly tailored website.
WordPress itself is free to use, however, users will need to budget for additional costs including Hosting: $3 to $25/month, Domain: $10 to $20/annually, Premium Themes: $20 to $200, and Plugins: $10 to $200/annually, and additional costs.
GoDaddy is a long-standing leader in the domain and hosting industry, offering a streamlined website builder tailored for small businesses.
Combining domain registration with website creation, GoDaddy provides an all-in-one platform that’s easy to use, even for beginners.
With AI-powered tools, 24/7 customer support, and integrated marketing features, GoDaddy simplifies the process of creating a professional online presence.
Its intuitive editor and responsive templates are designed to help businesses get online quickly while maintaining affordability.
GoDaddy offers competitive pricing plans that include its; Basic Plan: $9.99/month, Premium Plan: $14.99/month, and Commerce Plan: $16.99/month.
BigCommerce is an excellent choice for businesses seeking a robust, scalable platform with advanced tools for managing and growing an online store.
While it may be more expensive and complex than some competitors, its comprehensive feature set, multichannel selling capabilities, and absence of transaction fees make it a top contender for retailers with ambitious growth plans or high sales volumes.
Whether you're a small business planning for growth or an established retailer seeking to expand across platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook, BigCommerce offers a comprehensive suite of tools to handle high-volume sales and complex operations.
BigCommerce offers tiered pricing based on sales volume and features ranging from $29.95/month to $299.95/month. All plans include a free SSL certificate and a 15-day free trial with no credit card required.
Choosing the best website builder for small business is a critical decision that can greatly influence your success. However, many small business owners make avoidable mistakes during this process. Here are some of the most common pitfalls and how to steer clear of them:
Many entrepreneurs choose a free website builder or a basic plan without considering future growth. While these options are appealing initially, they may not support expanding product lines, increased website traffic, or advanced features like ecommerce. Select a platform like Shopify or BigCommerce, which are designed to scale with your business, ensuring you won’t outgrow your website builder.
SEO is essential for driving organic traffic to your small business website, yet some builders offer limited SEO tools. Avoid platforms that don’t provide essential features like customizable meta tags, alt attributes for images, and integration with Google Analytics. Builders such as Wix and WordPress excel in this area, offering robust SEO capabilities to help your site rank higher in search engine results.
While affordability is important, choosing a free plan or the cheapest option can result in compromised quality. Many website builders charge extra for critical features like e-commerce functionality, integrations, or premium templates. Balance your budget with the features your business needs to thrive, and consider platforms like Squarespace or Weebly, which offer good value for money.
If your business involves selling products or services, skipping ecommerce functionality can be a costly mistake. Look for platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, which offer advanced ecommerce features, including inventory management, payment processing, and abandoned cart recovery.
When using integrated tools or services, such as GoDaddy's hosting or Fourthwall's social media integrations, verify their reliability and compatibility with your website goals. Subpar services can lead to slow load times, technical glitches, or security vulnerabilities.
Many website builders offer free trials or demo versions. Skipping this step can lead to regrets if the platform doesn’t meet your expectations. Test the interface, customization options, and integrations before committing to a paid plan.
Technical issues can arise unexpectedly, and having reliable customer support is crucial. Avoid platforms with limited or slow support options. Builders like GoDaddy and Squarespace provide 24/7 support, ensuring assistance is available whenever you need it.
With most online traffic coming from mobile devices, a mobile-friendly website is non-negotiable. Some free website builders may not optimize your site for mobile users, leading to poor user experiences and higher bounce rates. Opt for platforms like Fourthwall or WordPress, which automatically create responsive designs.
Too many plugins, widgets, or complex layouts can slow down your website and confuse visitors. Focus on essential tools and clean, intuitive designs that align with your business goals.
To ensure your small business website stands out and drives results, you need to focus on optimization. A poorly designed or slow-loading website can deter visitors and harm your credibility. Here are five essential tips for getting the most out of your website builder and creating a site that attracts and retains customers:
If you're looking for a platform that makes building a website simple, effective, and tailored to your needs, Fourthwall is your go-to solution.
This all-in-one platform is designed to give creators and small businesses the tools they need to build a professional, customized website without any technical expertise.
From its drag-and-drop builder to seamless ecommerce integrations and support for digital product sales, Fourthwall simplifies the process so you can focus on your passion.
Best of all, there are no upfront costs!
Start building your website today and experience how Fourthwall turns your vision into reality with ease.
For beginners, Fourthwall is an outstanding choice. This platform offers an intuitive, no-code website builder with drag-and-drop functionality, making it incredibly easy to design a professional website without any technical expertise.
Fourthwall provides customizable themes tailored to various needs, whether you're building an online store, selling digital products, or creating a hub for your brand.
It also combines website building with seamless ecommerce tools, domain setup, and integrated marketing features, making it an all-in-one solution for anyone starting their online journey.
The cost of building a small business website can vary widely based on your chosen platform, the level of customization, and the features you need.
Free plans are available on some platforms but often come with limitations, such as ads or restricted features.
Paid plans typically range from $4 per month for basic blogging sites to $299 or more for advanced e-commerce platforms with tools like inventory management, secure payment processing, and marketing integrations.
Additional costs, such as premium templates, plugins, hosting, or a custom domain, may also apply. For small businesses aiming to create a professional online presence, investing in a scalable paid plan often provides the best balance of features and value.
Switching website builders later is possible, but it can be a time-consuming and complex process.
Migration typically involves transferring your content, domain, and design elements, which may not always translate perfectly between platforms.
Additionally, some features or integrations you rely on might not be available on the new platform.
To avoid the hassle, it’s important to choose a website builder that aligns with your long-term goals, offering scalability, customization, and the features you anticipate needing as your business grows.