Cheapest website builders in 2024
Updated 2:16 p.m. UTC May 29, 2024
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Building a website can be an exciting and challenging endeavor, whether you’re building a personal portfolio or CV or opening up your business to a wider audience. Depending on the provider you choose, you’ll have the option of creating anything from a simple straightforward website with limited functionality to a fully customizable and personalized online experience.
Our team of experts has reviewed the best and cheapest website builders on the market to see which ones offer the best value and features so you can find the one that suits your or your business’ needs.
Featured website builder offers
Cheapest website builders
- ClickFunnels: Best for sales teams.
- Wix: Best for creative flexibility.
- Weebly: Best for beginners.
- GoDaddy: Best for all-in-one hosting.
- Squarespace: Best for professional and stunning templates.
- Duda: Best for client management, agencies and freelancers.
- Strikingly: Best for multiple simple websites.
- Hostinger: Best budget option.
- IONOS: Best for small businesses.
- Web.com: Best for quick setup.
Why trust our small business experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 20 companies reviewed.
- 3,121 data points analyzed.
- 100+ hours of research.
Featured website builder offers
Cheapest website builder comparison
STORAGE LIMIT | MONTHLY BANDWIDTH LIMIT | DRAG-AND-DROP BUILDER | NUMBER OF TEMPLATES OR THEMES | E-COMMERCE FUNCTIONALITY | SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATION | BUILT-IN REPORTING & ANALYTICS | BACKUP & RESTORATION SERVICES | BLOGGING | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ClickFunnels
| Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| Over 100
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Wix
| 2 GB to Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| Over 170
| Yes
| Yes; third-party integration
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Weebly
| Unlimited
| 500 MB to Unlimited
| Yes
| Over 100
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
GoDaddy
| 100 GB
| Unlimited
| Yes
| Over 260
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Squarespace
| Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| 175 | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| No
| Yes
|
Duda
| Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| 244 | Yes; add-on
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Strikingly
| 1 GB to 100 GB
| 5 GB to unlimited
| Yes
| Over 190
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| No
| Yes
|
Hostinger
| Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| 160 | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
IONOS
| 10 GB to Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| Over 25
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Web.com
| 300 GB to Unlimited
| Unlimited
| Yes
| 2,700
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Methodology
We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.
We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the cheapest website builders of 2024.
Expert score (10%): Our expert score factors in our analysis of the provider’s features, value, popularity and ease of use. It’s useful for understanding who each of these website builders is best suited to.
Pricing and value (43%): We closely assess a platform’s overall pricing and value by looking at its monthly and annual costs and the availability of a free trial or free-forever version that allows users to try without financial commitment. This can help you understand which providers offer the best value for your needs.
Features (37%): We look at the presence of core features like a drag-and-drop editor and pre-built templates as well as extra functionality like e-commerce, social media and email marketing. We also assess the usage limits in place and the strength of its reporting and security capabilities. This indicates how useful a platform will be for you and your business.
Service and support (10%): Finally, we look at a provider’s customer support options and availability as well as online resources to understand what help you’ll be able to get when you need it.
What is a website builder, and how does it work?
Website builders allow anyone to create a site without coding or technical experience. Most provide drag-and-drop editors, customizable templates and built-in image libraries.
Although affordability varies by individual, cheap website builders allow professionals to achieve a return on investment (ROI) fairly quickly. Since the time investment to develop the site is minimal, business owners can generate returns from website sales, marketing or lead generation sooner.
Benefits of cheap website builders
Low-cost website builders provide advantages that last beyond the initial site installation. The best platforms support your business objectives and help you achieve marketing and sales goals.
Affordable website builders offer the following benefits:
- Quick deployment. The quicker your site goes live, the sooner you can see a return. Top-rated site builders offer AI-powered tools, image libraries and professional templates to streamline website creation.
- Easy to use and maintain. Websites aren’t a set-it-and-forget-it thing. You’re constantly updating products, blog posts and business hours. The best website builders provide user-friendly dashboards and tools to save time.
- Budget-friendly. Although budgets differ for solopreneurs versus enterprises, the most affordable website builders offer solutions for various budgets. Scalable plans allow users to start with a free or cheap plan and upgrade as their business (and budget) grows.
- Supports business goals. Website builders support dropshippers, artists, coaches and retailers. Each entrepreneur has unique goals and the right solution will fit their budget while helping them achieve high-level business objectives.
- Enhances customer experiences. Seamless checkout experiences, payment links and fast-loading pages make people happy. These features come standard with many affordable website builders.
Who needs a website builder?
Almost anyone benefits from building an online presence, from students wanting to showcase their portfolios to budding entrepreneurs. While ample opportunities exist on social media and other third-party channels, a website is something you own and control. It’s an ideal platform to highlight your unique skills and services while building your email list or dipping your toes into e-commerce.
Of course, anyone who owns a business needs a website. A landing page or form won’t cut it in most cases. Consumers want more information that only a website can provide. For businesses on a tight budget, a cheap website builder can offer the basics without leaving you strapped for cash. As your company grows, most site builders have scalable plans for things like online payments and bookings.
How to choose the best cheap website builder
The best website builders help you create a site quickly. However, the services extend beyond site editing tools. Use these tips when evaluating affordable site-building solutions.
Decide if you need monetization tools
The most significant cost difference between website builders comes down to payment processing capabilities. It’s always a good idea to look ahead a few years because migrating to a new web host isn’t easy. But if your main intention is to showcase your portfolio, not sell items or services online, you may be able to save a few bucks.
Likewise, there’s no reason to pay for unlimited products and cart abandonment tools to book recurring appointments and take online payments. Consider your use case and look for a website builder with the best features and prices.
Key features to look for
Identify solutions by looking at core tools and services. Review the options by going through templates or contacting customer support. The best low-cost website builders have these features:
- Drag-and-drop editor. Design editing tools let you adjust page layouts and add images, text boxes and other elements. These editors don’t require technical experience or coding knowledge.
- Customizable templates. Pre-designed layouts provide a starting point for your site. Most are mobile-responsive and categorized by industry or style.
- Image library. Many website builders have galleries with icons, shapes and images. You can add elements to pages or upload your own photos.
- SSL certificate. A website with an SSL certificate has HTTPS instead of HTTP. SSL is a protocol that encrypts internet traffic. It protects customer and transaction data.
- Customer service. Website-building services should provide ample support through chat and email. Look for quick response times and knowledgeable agents.
Add-ons and extras
Aside from the essentials, cheap website builder platforms may provide additional features with all packages or only include them with more expensive plans. Consider looking for solutions offering:
- Domain names. Several providers supply a free domain name for clients that prepay for one or more years in advance.
- Industry-specific features. Site builders may have native scheduling tools for service professionals, customizable restaurant menus and customer portals for retail or coaching clients.
- Monetization options. E-commerce capabilities allow businesses to accept payments for digital or physical products and services. Some site builders have built-in payment processing, whereas others support third-party services.
- Marketing features. Web hosting platforms often provide social media and email marketing tools. You can auto-post to social channels and automate email sequences.
- AI-powered tools. Web builders may offer solutions to speed up content or image generation. These can help generate product descriptions and metadata or improve existing text.
- Professional design services. Companies needing extra assistance developing one or more pages can hire a web designer through their website builder service.
UX and ease of use
Most website builders are user-friendly. But differences exist when managing pages, adding products and editing images.
Consider the following factors when testing website builders:
- Website creation. Website builders help you build a site quickly. However, tools that allow for more customization may have more of a learning curve than those that ask a few questions and use AI to generate a site for you.
- Page management. When testing website builders, see how easy adding a page to your site is. Some platforms let you pick from preset page types, whereas others allow you to build a page from scratch.
- Image editing. While creating your website, you’ll often need to crop or edit an image. Site builders with built-in image editors can be a big help. Duda and Squarespace enable photo editing within their website builders.
- Store capabilities. The method for adding products or adjusting stock levels differs by program. The best e-commerce platforms offer bulk upload options for extensive inventories and have a straightforward user interface.
Software integrations
Software integrations save time by reducing app switching and duplicate data entry. They also improve customer experiences and help businesses achieve objectives, like increasing sales or scaling to new sales channels.
Look for website builders with the following integrations:
- Social media. Website builders offer basic to advanced social media integrations. For instance, you can sync your Squarespace product catalog to Meta and tag, advertise or sell items on Facebook and Instagram. Shopify also supports social selling and lets users post to social channels directly from Shopify Admin accounts.
- POS. Connecting your POS system to your e-commerce platform is essential for brick-and-mortar businesses that sell products online. Inventory, product and sales information syncs between both channels, eliminating the need to enter data into your POS and update your website manually.
- Payment processors. The best credit card processing services integrate seamlessly with e-commerce sites. However, your merchant account provider options may vary by subscription tier, and certain website builders charge fees if you use a third-party payment processor.
- Shipping. When integrated into your shopping cart, free and paid shipping solutions can enhance customer experiences. Website builders may partner with well-known shippers to offer discounts or plugins and extensions for additional shipping options.
- CRM. Sharing sales data with your CRM can improve customer relationships and increase sales. It allows you to create more complete client profiles and personalized messages. Several website builders integrate with top-rated CRM software programs like HubSpot.
How much does a website builder cost?
FREE PLAN | FREE TRIAL | BASE PLAN (MONTHLY BILLING) | MID-TIER PLAN (MONTHLY BILLING) | HIGH-TIER PLAN (MONTHLY BILLING) | MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE | FREE SSL CERTIFICATE | FREE CUSTOM DOMAIN | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | No | 14 days | $147 | $197 | $297 | 30 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Yes | None | $23 | $38 | $172 | 14 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Yes | None | $13 | $16 | $29 | 30 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | No | 7 days | $12.99 | $22.99 | $26.99 | 30 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | No | 14 days | $25 | $36 | $72 | 14 days | Yes | No | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | No | 14 days | $25 | $39 | $199 | 30 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Yes | 14 days | $12 | $20 | $20 | No | Yes | No | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | No | No | $11.99 | $13.99 | $24.99 | 30 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | No | No | $16 | $22 | $27 | 30 days | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | No | No | $19.99 | $24.99 | $34.99 | Three days | No | Yes | ||||||||||
|
Website builders come at many price points, ranging from free to $297 monthly. Most providers offer discounts for annual billing. Depending on the vendor, you can save up to 55% by prepaying for a year. Some site building plans also include a free domain with yearly prepayment.
Hostinger only has two website builder subscriptions, but other services offer three or more plans. Not all base packages include e-commerce capabilities, and the vendor may charge higher transaction fees for cheaper subscriptions.
Free versions are a great way to get a feel for a website builder’s editing tools. But these plans typically have less storage than paid subscriptions and don’t support custom domains. Strikingly’s free plan includes 500 MB storage, whereas paid packages have 1 GB, 20 GB or 100 GB.
Featured website builder offers
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The best cheap website builder is Weebly, offering a solid and easy-to-use editor with a decent degree of customization for a relatively low starting price. Upgrading is affordable too, with its most expensive plan still costing under $30.
Finding funds to build a website can be challenging when you’re on a tight budget. However, free website builders or cheap solutions let you create an online presence without hiring professional services.
Develop a website on a budget by:.
- Choosing a free or cheap website builder.
- Using complimentary themes and templates.
- Keeping content and imagery simple to save time.
- Leveraging AI-powered tools for writing metadata and product descriptions.
It’s free to build a website through Strikingly, Wix and Weebly. Hostinger charges $11.99 per month, and Duda plans start at $25 per month. Squarespace subscriptions range from $25 to $72 per month. Most website builders provide generous discounts for annual billing, and some include a free domain for the first year.
You can build a website for free with user-friendly tools and professional templates.
The best free website builders include:
- Strikingly. It’s free for five pages, has 24/7 support and a simple store with one product. Sites receive 500 MB storage and 5 GB monthly bandwidth.
- Wix. Wix offers 500 MB of storage and 1 GB bandwidth as well as a powerful drag-and-drop editor and over 900 templates.
- Weebly. Weebly’s free basic plan has a range of e-commerce features including unlimited items, inventory management and an automatic tax calculator.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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