Best Website Building Tools

Website building tools are essential for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses who want to create professional websites without needing advanced coding skills. These tools help you design, build, and manage websites quickly and easily. Below are some top website-building tools:

1. Wix

• Purpose: Website building with drag-and-drop functionality
• Key Features:
  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor with customizable templates.
  • AI-powered website builder (Wix ADI) that creates a site based on user preferences.
  • E-commerce functionality for building online stores.
  • Wide range of apps and integrations for additional functionality.
  • Hosting included with your subscription.
• Best For: Beginners or freelancers who need to build a site quickly without any technical expertise.
• Free Version: Yes, with ads and limited features (premium versions available for more features and a custom domain).

2. Squarespace

• Purpose: Elegant website design with drag-and-drop tools
• Key Features:
  • Beautiful, professionally designed templates with responsive design.
  • Drag-and-drop interface that’s easy to use.
  • E-commerce tools to sell products online.
  • Built-in blogging features and social media integrations.
  • Analytics and marketing tools like SEO and email campaigns.
• Best For: Freelancers or creatives who want visually appealing websites with minimal effort.
• Free Version: No, but offers a 14-day free trial (premium plans available).

3. WordPress (WordPress.org)

• Purpose: Flexible and customizable website building (self-hosted)
• Key Features:
  • Open-source CMS with complete control over design and content.
  • Thousands of themes and plugins to customize functionality.
  • SEO-friendly with various SEO plugins like Yoast SEO.
  • Supports blogs, e-commerce, portfolios, and business websites.
  • Large community and extensive documentation for troubleshooting.
• Best For: Freelancers who need full control over their website design and functionality, and are comfortable with some level of technical work.
• Free Version: Yes, but you need to host the site yourself (paid hosting required).

4. Weebly

• Purpose: Drag-and-drop website builder with e-commerce integration
• Key Features:
  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface for building websites.
  • Built-in e-commerce tools to create online stores.
  • Customizable themes and a variety of pre-built layouts.
  • SEO options to help improve search rankings.
  • Integrated with Square for seamless payment processing.
• Best For: Small business owners and freelancers looking to set up a simple website or online store.
• Free Version: Yes, with basic features (premium plans offer more features and a custom domain).

5. Webflow

• Purpose: Advanced website design with a focus on design control and animations
• Key Features:
  • Powerful design tools for complete customization without coding (advanced drag-and-drop features).
  • Responsive web design, custom animations, and interactions.
  • CMS capabilities for creating dynamic content (e.g., blogs or portfolios).
  • Hosting included with fast speeds and SSL security.
  • Ecommerce features for building custom online stores.
• Best For: Designers and freelancers who want more control over the look and feel of their website without writing code.
• Free Version: Yes, with limited features and Webflow branding (paid plans available for full functionality).

6. Shopify

• Purpose: E-commerce website builder
• Key Features:
  • Tailored for building online stores with a variety of themes and designs.
  • Secure payment gateways and various shipping options.
  • Extensive e-commerce tools like inventory management, order tracking, and customer management.
  • Integrates with a variety of apps to enhance store functionality (e.g., marketing, accounting, customer service).
  • SEO and marketing tools to help promote your store.
• Best For: Freelancers or small business owners who want to start an online store with minimal technical effort.
• Free Version: No, but offers a 14-day free trial (subscription-based plans for e-commerce).

7. Jimdo

• Purpose: AI-powered website builder
• Key Features:
  • Uses AI to generate a website based on your answers to a few questions.
  • Offers an easy-to-use interface with customizable templates.
  • Mobile-friendly designs with automatic adjustments for different devices.
  • Basic e-commerce features for online stores.
  • SEO-friendly with automatic optimization for search engines.
• Best For: Freelancers who want to quickly create a website without much customization or design input.
• Free Version: Yes, with limited features (paid versions offer more functionality).

8. Strikingly

• Purpose: One-page website builder
• Key Features:
  • Specializes in creating beautiful single-page websites.
  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for fast design.
  • Mobile-optimized templates that look great on all devices.
  • E-commerce features available for selling products online.
  • Offers analytics to track site traffic.
• Best For: Freelancers, creatives, or small businesses looking for a simple, one-page website.
• Free Version: Yes, with basic features and Strikingly branding (paid plans offer more customization options).

9. GoDaddy Website Builder

• Purpose: Quick website setup with easy-to-use tools
• Key Features:
  • Quick and simple drag-and-drop interface to build websites in minutes.
  • Mobile-optimized templates with customizable layouts.
  • Integrated marketing tools like SEO, email marketing, and social media integration.
  • E-commerce tools for setting up online stores with secure payment options.
  • 24/7 customer support.
• Best For: Freelancers or small businesses looking to get a website live quickly with a user-friendly interface.
• Free Version: Yes, with GoDaddy branding (paid versions available for more features).

10. Ucraft

• Purpose: Website builder with focus on modern design and ease of use
• Key Features:
  • Drag-and-drop builder with a variety of modern templates.
  • Built-in e-commerce tools to create online stores.
  • Integration with third-party tools like Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and Zapier.
  • Offers multilingual support for global audiences.
  • SEO tools to improve search rankings.
• Best For: Freelancers and small businesses looking to build a stylish, professional website with e-commerce features.
• Free Version: Yes, with limited features and Ucraft branding (paid plans available for more customization and features).

11. WordPress.com

• Purpose: Managed WordPress website builder (hosted version)
• Key Features:
  • Easy-to-use interface for creating blogs, portfolios, and business websites.
  • A variety of themes and customization options.
  • Built-in blogging features with comments and post categories.
  • Includes hosting, security, and regular updates.
  • Premium plans available for advanced features and custom domains.
• Best For: Freelancers who want a hassle-free WordPress experience without managing hosting or technical details.
• Free Version: Yes, with basic features and WordPress.com branding (premium plans available for custom domains and more features).

12. Elementor (for WordPress)

• Purpose: Visual page builder plugin for WordPress
• Key Features:
  • Drag-and-drop page builder for designing custom layouts without coding.
  • Highly customizable design options with widgets, fonts, colors, and animations.
  • Mobile-responsive design options.
  • Extensive theme library for quick page creation.
  • Live preview of changes as you design your website.
• Best For: WordPress users who want to create highly customized pages with an intuitive visual editor.
• Free Version: Yes, with basic features (Pro version offers more advanced customization options).

13. SiteGround (with WordPress)

• Purpose: Hosting service with WordPress installation and management
• Key Features:
  • Provides reliable WordPress hosting with fast speeds and security features.
  • One-click WordPress installation and auto-updates.
  • Free daily backups and SSL certificates.
  • Easy website building with the SiteGround Optimizer plugin.
• Best For: Freelancers who want reliable hosting with built-in WordPress management tools.
• Free Version: No, but offers affordable hosting plans.

Conclusion:

Each of these website-building tools serves a different purpose depending on the freelancer’s needs. Whether you need a simple website with a few pages, an online store, or a fully custom-built site with advanced features, there’s a tool that suits your goals. Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly are great for beginners due to their drag-and-drop features, while WordPress, Webflow, and Elementor offer more customization and control for those with some technical skills. Shopify and GoDaddy are perfect for freelancers who want an easy way to build e-commerce websites.

Choosing the right tool depends on factors like budget, desired level of customization, and whether you plan to manage the site yourself or outsource development.