Best Website Builder for Small Businesses [2024]

Choosing the best website builder for your small business can feel like a big decision. It’s your website, your home-base so to speak, and it can be very difficult to change later, so you might feel a lot of pressure to get it right first time. I’m here to help.

Firstly, I’ll say that there are a ton of options. Maybe you’ve heard of Squarespace because every podcast you listen to always has a promo code, maybe you’ve heard of Wordpress because it’s been around forever. Should you go with one of those? Or something you’ve never heard of. For the purposes of this post I’ll focus on five that are either very popular or very good for small businesses, or both, and outline some of the pros and cons of each.

I’ll say up top that there isn’t one easy best answer. It depends on the needs of your individual business.

Squarespace

Designed for the design-conscious entrepreneur, Squarespace is known for its sleek templates and user-friendly interface. This site you’re on right now uses Squarespace. It’s extremely user-friendly, relatively affordable (although there are cheaper options), and for your small business it probably has all the features you need.

Pros of Squarespace

• Aesthetically Pleasing Templates: Squarespace boasts a library of beautiful, mobile-responsive templates perfect for creative industries like photography, art, and design. Customization options are plentiful, allowing you to tailor the look and feel to your brand.

• User-Friendly Interface: Navigating Squarespace is intuitive, even for tech-novices. Its drag-and-drop editor simplifies the process of adding content and arranging page elements.

• E-commerce Features: Squarespace offers robust e-commerce capabilities, including product management, inventory tracking, and secure payment gateways. Plans scale with your business growth, making it suitable for both aspiring and established online stores.

• Marketing Integrations: Squarespace seamlessly integrates with various marketing tools like email marketing platforms and social media scheduling apps, streamlining your promotional efforts.

Cons of Squarespace

• Limited Flexibility: While customization options are available, Squarespace doesn't offer the same level of flexibility as platforms like WordPress. You might feel restricted if you have very specific design requirements.

• App Dependence: Some essential features, like appointment scheduling and membership management, rely on paid apps, adding to your monthly costs.

• Pricing: Squarespace plans fall on the pricier side compared to some competitors. While offering good value, consider your budget carefully before subscribing.

Squarespace Promo Codes

Check out the Squarespace coupons page for official promo codes. Squarespace consistently offers various discounts on different products, and if you’ve ever listened to any podcast ever, you’ve probably heard a Squarespace ad with a promo code.

Appy Pie

Appy Pie offers a lot more than just a website builder, but its Website Builder functionality is designed to be easy and affordable, making it a great choice for small businesses and start-ups looking to create a professional website without any coding skills.

Pros of Appy Pie's Website Builder:

• Easy Drag-and-Drop Editor: Build your site with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It's perfect for beginners and doesn't require coding knowledge.

• Variety of Templates: You can choose from a range of professional templates to get started quickly.

• Affordable Pricing: Appy Pie’s website builder offers a free plan with basic features and budget-friendly paid plans that grow with your business.

• Mobile-Friendly Design: All websites generated by Appy Pie’s website builder are mobile-responsive, so they look great on any mobile device.

Cons of Appy Pie's Website Builder:

• Limited Features for Free Users: The free plan has fewer features compared to paid plans.

• Basic Customization Options: There are fewer design customization options with the basic plan.

Appy Pie Promo Codes:
Currently, no promo codes are available. If you have any, let us know in the comments, and we’ll update this!

Read more about Appy Pie’s website builder.

Wix

Geared towards ease of use and affordability, Wix caters to a broad range of businesses with its versatile features and extensive app library. I’ve worked on websites using Wix in the past and it’s… fine. To just get started with something, Wix is good but the templates aren’t quite as nice as Squarespace.

Pros of Wix

• Simple Drag-and-Drop Editor: Wix's editor is incredibly beginner-friendly. With a simple drag-and-drop interface, even those with no coding experience can build professional-looking websites.

• Extensive App Library: Wix App Market offers a vast collection of free and paid apps, adding functionalities like booking systems, live chat, and marketing tools.

• Scalable Pricing: Wix offers a free plan with limited features, along with affordable paid plans that scale with your website's needs, making it budget-friendly for startups.

• Mobile-Friendly Templates: All Wix templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring your website looks great across all devices.

Cons of Wix

• Lower Design Freedom: While offering customization options, Wix doesn't provide the same level of design control as some competitors. You might feel limited in achieving a truly unique website aesthetic.

• SEO Limitations: Wix offers SEO tools, but its platform can restrict advanced SEO customizations compared to WordPress, potentially impacting your search engine ranking.

• App Fees: While the app library is vast, using many apps can significantly increase your monthly costs.

Wix Promo Codes

I couldn’t find any Wix promo codes. If you know of one, drop it in the comments below and I’ll update this.

WordPress

The industry giant, used by about 40% of all websites, WordPress is incredibly versatile and powerful, offering immense flexibility for customization and growth, but it’s not as beginner friendly as some other tools and you need much more technical expertise to achieve a lot of customization.

Pros of WordPress

• Open-Source Platform: WordPress is open-source, giving you access to a vast range of free themes and plugins, expanding your functionality and design possibilities.

• Unmatched Flexibility: With advanced coding options and plugin compatibility, WordPress caters to developers and tech-savvy users who want complete control over their website.

• SEO-Friendly: WordPress is built with SEO in mind, offering numerous plugins and tools to optimize your website for search engines.

• Large Community: The WordPress community is massive and active, providing extensive support resources, tutorials, and forums to help you navigate any challenges.

• Free: Wordpress at its core is free, although you’ll need to pay for hosting, a good-looking theme, and maybe various add-ons.

Cons of WordPress

• Steeper Learning Curve: Compared to drag-and-drop builders, WordPress has a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners with no coding knowledge.

• Maintenance & Security: Updating plugins, themes, and the core software requires more active management compared to hosted platforms like Squarespace.

• Hosting and Domain Purchase: WordPress requires separate hosting and domain name purchases, adding another layer of complexity for beginners.

Wordpress Promo Codes

Wordpress is free so doesn’t offer any promo codes.

Webflow

Aimed at creative professionals and designers, Webflow offers unmatched design freedom and animation capabilities, blurring the lines between website building and web design.

Pros of Webflow

• Unprecedented Design Control: Webflow offers unmatched flexibility in website design. With a visual interface and code-based options, you can achieve highly customized and unique website aesthetics.

• Animations & Interactions: Webflow excels in creating sophisticated animations and micro-interactions, adding a dynamic and engaging user experience.

Cons of Webflow

• Steeper Learning Curve: Webflow's design freedom comes with a steeper learning curve compared to other platforms. It requires some understanding of design principles and potentially HTML, CSS, and JavaScript if you want to leverage its full potential.

• Limited CMS Features: While Webflow offers basic content management features, it lags behind dedicated CMS platforms like WordPress in terms of content organization, user roles, and advanced blogging capabilities.

• Limited E-commerce Functionality: Webflow's e-commerce features are still under development compared to platforms like Squarespace and Wix. While basic functionality exists, complex store management capabilities might be lacking.

• Pricing: Webflow plans cater to larger projects and can be more expensive than other options, especially for smaller businesses with basic website needs.

• Limited Support: Although offering helpful tutorials and documentation, Webflow's support system might not be as readily available and comprehensive as established players like WordPress.

Webflow Promo Code

I couldn’t find any direct promo codes for Webflow, but students and educators can use the platform for free, as outlined here.

Shopify

If your business is purely e-commerce (i.e. selling and shipping lots of different physical products to customers), Shopify has to be considered. Shopify boasts millions of users and a reputation for ease of use and scalability.

Pros of Shopify

• E-commerce Powerhouse: From product management to secure payments and shipping integrations, Shopify is built for online sales. It seamlessly handles inventory, taxes, and discounts, making it ideal for both small and growing businesses.

• Scalability & Flexibility: Unlike some builders, Shopify doesn't lock you in. You can upgrade plans seamlessly as your business expands, adding features and integrations to cater to your evolving needs.

• App Marketplace: Craving extra functionality? Shopify's expansive app marketplace offers thousands of add-ons, from marketing tools to loyalty programs, letting you customize your store without complex coding.

• Mobile-First Approach: In today's mobile-dominant world, Shopify ensures your store looks stunning and functions smoothly on all devices, offering a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

• Reliable & Secure: Shopify boasts robust security features and reliable uptime, ensuring your store stays online and protects your customer data.

Cons of Shopify

• Transaction Fees: While monthly plans cover basic costs, every transaction incurs additional fees, which can eat into your profits, especially for high-volume businesses.

• Limited Design Freedom: While themes offer customization, Shopify doesn't provide the pixel-perfect design control of platforms like Webflow.

• App Costs: Remember those handy apps? Many come with monthly fees, adding to your overall expenses and potentially impacting your budget.

• Not-So-Beginner-Friendly: While user-friendly compared to traditional coding, Shopify has a steeper learning curve than drag-and-drop builders like Wix, requiring some time investment to master its features.

• Limited Email Hosting: Shopify doesn't offer built-in email hosting, requiring you to purchase it separately, adding another layer of complexity and cost.

Shopify Promo Code

Start for free, get your first month for $1. I couldn’t find any other promo codes for Shopify.

Choosing the Best Website Builder for Small Businesses

Everything outlined above is just to give you a rough idea of what’s worth considering. The fact is, the best website builder for your small business depends on your specific needs and priorities. Consider factors like:

• Design Requirements: Do you need a highly customized website with unique aesthetics and complex animations? Webflow or WordPress might be a good fit.

• Technical Expertise: Are you comfortable learning new tools and potentially some coding? WordPress and Webflow require more technical know-how than Squarespace and Wix.

• Budget: Compare your budget with the pricing structures of each platform, including potential app fees and additional costs like hosting and domain purchases.

• Content Management Needs: If you plan to manage a lot of dynamic content or have intricate blogging requirements, WordPress might be the most suitable option.

• E-commerce Needs: If you intend to run an online store with advanced features, platforms like Squarespace or Shopify might be better options than Webflow.

After carefully analyzing your needs and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, you can make an informed decision and choose the website builder that best suits your small business.

Since I’m the kind of person that hates review articles that don’t actually pick a favorite definitively, despite all the caveats mentioned above, I think Squarespace overall is the best website builder for small businesses. It’ll be a safe, easy option for almost all new businesses with a lot of customizability if needed via custom coding.

If you do choose Squarespace, you can either get started yourself, or work with me for affordable rates to get your website up and run quickly.

For more resources to help small businesses, join the mailing list or follow me on LinkedIn where all I do is post stuff relevant to small businesses.