Best Website Builder Software 2021

Website builder software is technology that lets individuals and small businesses build websites with little or no manual code. This includes the ability to create pages, insert different types of multimedia into pages, and publishing websites all through one platform. The key benefit of website builder software is having a professional looking website, which translates to increased customer trust, discoverability, and business growth.

These platforms offer key features like drag and drop website builders, WYSIWYG blog editors, ecommerce management, SEO optimization tools, digital marketing tools, and traffic and sales analytics reports. Some website builders are better for those with no coding knowledge, others are best for businesses that are particularly concerned about website design, or the ability to use code to customize a website.

Research Led By:
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Junior Research Analyst

We use a rigorous software review process to create our unbiased, in-depth research.
Learn more about our software review process.

Highest Rated Website Builder Software

Different software vendors build solutions for individuals, small businesses, and larger businesses. All the tools we've reviewed are industry-agnostic, meaning that they're relevant for businesses of all types.

Website Builder Software Prices

Website builder software can range from free to over $500 per month. Here are some details that will help you compare prices for the most popular website builder platforms.

Software VendorStarting Monthly PriceFree Trial
WordPressFreeNo
WixFreeYes
Squarespace$16Yes
GoDaddy$9.99Yes
Webflow$15No
WeeblyFreeNo

Website Builder Software FAQs

Website builder software is technology that lets users build websites without any manual code. This includes the ability to create pages, insert different types of multimedia into pages, and publishing websites all through one platform.

Long story short, websites are crucial for the growth and profitability of a small business. They help businesses build their brands and credibility, promote and sell products and services, and allow businesses to distinguish themselves from your competitors.

The best website builder software will depend on your budget and the kind of website you want to build. Tools like Wix and Squarespace are best if you want a website builder with high design flexibility. Tools like WordPress are best if you have more technical experience and want more control over your website’s design and functionalities.

The most popular website builder software tools are Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Weebly, and Webflow.

The most common website builder software features are:

  • Website page builders
  • WYSIWYG blog editors
  • Ecommerce tools
  • Plugins, applications, and extensions
  • Online search & SEO tools
  • Analytics dashboards & reports
  • Social media marketing tools
  • Email marketing tools
  • Contact forms

Website Builder Industry Research & Advice

Weebly vs. Wix

By Amy Yang |

Are you deciding between Weebly and Wix? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best website builder tool to...Read More >

Wix Competitors & Alternatives

By Amy Yang |

Are you considering using Wix to build your website and run your ecommerce business? Before choosing a software, it’s important to learn...Read More >

Weebly vs. WordPress

By Amy Yang |

Are you deciding between Weebly and WordPress? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best website builder...Read More >

Webflow vs. WordPress

By Amy Yang |

Are you deciding between Webflow and WordPress? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best website builder...Read More >

WordPress vs. Wix

By Amy Yang |

Are you deciding between WordPress and Wix? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best website builder tool...Read More >

WordPress vs. Squarespace

By Amy Yang |

Is WordPress or Squarespace the better solution for you? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best website...Read More >

Wix vs. Squarespace

By Amy Yang |

Is Wix or Squarespace the better solution for you? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best website...Read More >

Why You Should Trust Our Recommendations

The team at SoftwarePundit has been testing software since 2017. We’ve hand-tested over 250 software products in that time, including several in the website builder category. We applied the same rigorous process to each piece of website builder software that we analyzed. The specifics of our website builder category research process are outlined below.

Amy led our analysis of website builder software. She has spent more than 400 hours evaluating leading website builder platforms. To test the tools, she set up trials, built website pages, and tested overall usability. She also spoke with several users of each solution to hear their personal experiences and input.

In addition, all research and content was overseen by Bruce Hogan, SoftwarePundit’s Co-founder & CEO. Bruce has more than a decade of experience researching, building, and reviewing the world’s best software products. His technology advice has been featured on a wide range of media sites such as AngelList, CMSWire, Dental Economics, iPhone Life, Reader’s Digest, Thrive Global, U.S. News, and the Zapier Blog.

How We Selected the Best Website Builder Software

We selected the best website builder software tools to review based upon a number of criteria. The most important criteria were each software tool’s features, usability, price, and customer support. The details of our analyses are captured in the in-depth reviews we publish about each software tool.

There are a handful of critical features that you should look for in website builder software. We prioritized the following features in our analysis:

  • Drag & Drop Website Builders
  • WYSIWYG Blog Editors
  • Ecommerce Add-ons
  • Online Search & SEO Optimization
  • Digital Marketing Tools
  • Traffic, Sales, & Visitor Engagement Analytics

How We Evaluated Website Builder Software

We used the same rigorous process to evaluate accounting software as all other software categories. For the website builder category, Amy invested several weeks researching, testing, and writing about the tools.

We prioritized interviewing actual users of the software tools we reviewed above. Our conversations with these customers included questions about the product, features, advantages, disadvantages, customer support, and usability. This provided Amy with the opportunity to ask detailed questions and dig deeper into the functionality of each solution.

Amy also obtained either a free plan or free trial of each software solution listed above. She spent several hours testing nearly every feature in each software product as if she needed a website builder herself. This allowed us to validate the features described by each product, and gain an understanding of the software’s ease of use.

  • Kelly Shoul: Kelly Shoul is the co-CEO of In Love and Adventure - Elopement Photography and uses WordPress for her website needs.
  • Shantay Williams: Shantay Williams is a realtor in Birmingham, Alabama who uses GoDaddy to build her website.
  • Jacob Lehrer: Jacob Lehrer is an architecture student who uses Wix for his personal website.
  • Pablo Thiermann: Pablo Thiermann is the owner CinePablo and uses Webflow for his business’s website.
  • Kendall Horn: Kendall Horn is the Online Marketing Director at Fleet Lending Solutions uses WordPress for the business’s website.
  • Rohan Kadam: Rohan Kadam is the founder of Vital Feedz and uses WordPress for his blog.
  • Nick Moussa: Nick Moussa owns a mobile car detailing company called Hot Ride Auto Detailing and uses Wix for his business’s website.