As a freelancer, having the right website-building tool can significantly impact your ability to showcase your portfolio, attract clients, and establish an online presence. Here are some top website-building tools specifically useful for freelancers:
1. Wix
- Purpose: Easy website builder with drag-and-drop functionality
- Best For: Freelancers who need a fast, user-friendly platform to create portfolios, landing pages, or business websites.
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop builder for easy website creation.
- Extensive template library designed for various industries and niches.
- AI-powered design tool (Wix ADI) to create a site based on user input.
- Hosting and domain management are included.
- App marketplace for additional features (e.g., booking systems, contact forms).
- Free Version: Yes, with limitations (Wix branding and ads).
2. Squarespace
- Purpose: Design-focused website builder with drag-and-drop tools
- Best For: Freelancers (especially creatives like designers, photographers, and writers) who want visually stunning websites.
- Key Features:
- Beautiful, professionally designed templates with responsive layouts.
- Drag-and-drop builder to easily customize content and design.
- Blogging, portfolio, and e-commerce features.
- Integrated SEO tools for search engine visibility.
- Analytics and marketing tools like email campaigns and social media integration.
- Free Version: No, but offers a 14-day free trial.
3. WordPress.com
- Purpose: Managed WordPress platform with easy-to-use website building tools
- Best For: Freelancers who want flexibility and control over their website content, blogging, and SEO.
- Key Features:
- Free hosting with the option to upgrade for custom domains and additional features.
- Thousands of themes and plugins to customize your site.
- Built-in blogging functionality for content creation.
- Basic e-commerce functionality with paid plans.
- Built-in SEO tools and social media sharing features.
- Free Version: Yes, with limitations on customization and branding (WordPress.com branding).
4. Weebly
- Purpose: Simple drag-and-drop website builder
- Best For: Freelancers looking for a straightforward and cost-effective way to create a professional website or online portfolio.
- Key Features:
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder.
- Mobile-friendly themes and templates.
- Built-in e-commerce features for selling products or services.
- Analytics and SEO options to track website performance.
- Custom domain options with paid plans.
- Free Version: Yes, with Weebly branding and limited features.
5. Webflow
- Purpose: Advanced website builder with design flexibility
- Best For: Freelancers who want complete control over their website’s design without coding.
- Key Features:
- Highly customizable design tools with a visual editor.
- Responsive design with the ability to create custom animations and interactions.
- CMS functionality for blogs, portfolios, and dynamic content.
- Integrated hosting with SSL and fast loading times.
- E-commerce tools for selling products or services.
- Free Version: Yes, with Webflow branding (paid plans for custom domains and advanced features).
6. Shopify
- Purpose: E-commerce platform for freelancers who want to sell products or services online
- Best For: Freelancers looking to build an online store with minimal effort.
- Key Features:
- Simple drag-and-drop interface to set up your online store.
- Secure payment gateways and shipping options.
- Extensive app marketplace for added features.
- SEO and marketing tools to boost sales.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Free Version: No, but offers a 14-day free trial.
7. WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)
- Purpose: Open-source content management system for ultimate flexibility
- Best For: Freelancers who want complete control over their website’s functionality, especially for blogs, portfolios, and e-commerce.
- Key Features:
- Full customization with themes and plugins.
- Supports a wide range of third-party integrations (e.g., SEO, analytics, social sharing).
- Open-source platform for developers and advanced users.
- Huge community and support resources.
- Ability to create any type of website (blog, portfolio, online store).
- Free Version: Yes (self-hosted, but you need to pay for hosting and a domain).
8. Strikingly
- Purpose: One-page website builder
- Best For: Freelancers who need a simple, single-page website or portfolio to showcase their work.
- Key Features:
- Focus on one-page websites with beautiful templates.
- Easy drag-and-drop interface.
- E-commerce functionality to sell products or services.
- Mobile-optimized templates.
- Built-in SEO tools to improve site visibility.
- Free Version: Yes, with limitations (Strikingly branding and a subdomain).
9. Ucraft
- Purpose: Simple website builder with advanced design features
- Best For: Freelancers who need a clean, modern website or portfolio with the option to add an online store.
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop editor with flexible layout options.
- Built-in e-commerce features to create an online store.
- Integration with third-party tools like Google Analytics and Mailchimp.
- Multilingual website capabilities for global reach.
- Customizable SEO settings to optimize for search engines.
- Free Version: Yes, with limitations and Ucraft branding (premium plans available for full features).
10. Jimdo
- Purpose: AI-powered website builder
- Best For: Freelancers who need a quick, no-fuss website with minimal design work.
- Key Features:
- AI-powered website builder that creates a site based on your preferences.
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.
- Basic e-commerce functionality for selling products or services.
- Automatic SEO optimization for search engines.
- Hosting and SSL security included.
- Free Version: Yes, with limitations (Jimdo branding and ads).
11. Tilda
- Purpose: Website builder with a focus on design and typography
- Best For: Freelancers who want to create visually stunning websites, especially those focused on content-heavy sites like portfolios and blogs.
- Key Features:
- Highly customizable design options with blocks and templates.
- 40+ pre-designed blocks for various content types.
- Ability to create landing pages, portfolios, and blogs.
- Integrated analytics and SEO tools.
- E-commerce features for small online stores.
- Free Version: Yes, with limitations (Tilda branding and subdomain).
12. GoDaddy Website Builder
- Purpose: Website builder with a simple setup for freelancers
- Best For: Freelancers looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use platform to build a professional website quickly.
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop website builder with customizable templates.
- E-commerce tools for selling products or services.
- Email marketing and SEO tools.
- 24/7 customer support for troubleshooting.
- Integrated domain and hosting management.
- Free Version: Yes, with GoDaddy branding and limitations (paid versions for full features).
Conclusion:
For freelancers, the right website-building tool depends on your specific needs, skills, and preferences. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Beginners: Wix, Weebly, and Strikingly are great for quick setups with little learning curve.
- Design-Centric Freelancers: Squarespace, Webflow, and Tilda are ideal for creatives who want beautiful and visually appealing websites.
- Advanced Customization: WordPress.org offers the flexibility and control needed for highly customized websites.
- E-Commerce Freelancers: Shopify, Ucraft, and GoDaddy are great for freelancers wanting to set up an online store.
Pick the tool that aligns with your skill set and business goals, and create a website that showcases your work and helps attract clients effectively.