When it comes to finding the right website builders for your small business, it can feel like there are endless options to choose from.
As a small business owner, you want a solution that’s easy to use, affordable, and helps you create a professional online presence without requiring technical expertise.
In this blog, we’ll break down the best website builders for small businesses, helping you find the right one for your needs. Whether you’re building your first site or looking to switch to a better platform, we’ve got you covered.
Want to skip to the good part? Build your website with Durable now —>
What Makes the Best Website Builders for Small Businesses?
When selecting the best website builder for your business, a few key factors will help you make an informed decision.
Here are the most important aspects to consider:
- Ease of Use: Look for a builder that offers an intuitive interface. You don’t need to be a developer to create a website, but you do want something that’s simple to navigate and customize.
- Responsive Design: With over 62% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s crucial that your website is mobile-friendly. Ensure the builder offers website templates that work well on all screen sizes.
- SEO Tools: To help your site rank higher in search engines, you’ll need built-in SEO features or easy integrations with SEO tools.
- Third-Party Integrations: Look for website builders that connect easily with tools you already use, like email marketing platforms, payment gateways, or CRM systems.
- Affordability: As a small business, you need to keep your costs low. Look for website builders that offer flexible plans and value for money.
- Templates and Design Options: A variety of design templates is key, allowing you to pick a look that reflects your brand and industry.
- Reputation and Reviews: Check customer reviews and ratings to gauge the quality of the builder and see what others are saying about it.
Tip: If you're looking for a simple, hands-off website builder that ticks all these boxes — look to Durable! It offers an AI-driven Website Builder that gets your business online in just 30 seconds, complete with AI-generated copy and images.
Best Website Builders for Small Businesses
- Durable: The best option for service-based small businesses looking for a quick, easy, AI-powered website builder that creates a website in 30 seconds with automatic content and images.
- Wix: For businesses seeking a variety of templates and features with a flexible drag-and-drop editor.
- Squarespace: For creatives like photographers, artists, and designers, offering visually appealing templates.
- WordPress.org: For businesses needing a highly customizable platform, especially for content-heavy websites and blogs.
- Weebly: For small online stores with little technical know-how.
- GoDaddy: For small businesses needing integrated marketing tools.
- Shopify: For e-commerce-focused businesses seeking comprehensive online store tools.
Let’s take a closer look at these website builders and see why each one deserves a spot on this list.
#1. Durable – The Best Overall AI Website Builder for Small Businesses
When it comes to building a website quickly and effortlessly, Durable is hands down the best option for small business owners. Sure, we might be a little biased with this one, but it’s hard not to be when you’ve seen first-hand how impactful Durable can be in the lives of small business owners.
With Durable's AI Website Builder, you can go from idea to launch in just 30 seconds — no design experience or coding skills required. It’s the perfect solution for small businesses looking for a fast, easy way to get online without the usual time and complexity.
Durable’s AI doesn’t just build any website — it crafts a fully functional, customized website with the content, layout, and images tailored to your specific business needs. Whether you're starting a local service-based business, a personal brand, or anything in between, Durable’s AI has your back.
The best part? It’s incredibly user-friendly, with minimal effort on your part. Simply enter a few details about your business, and Durable does the heavy lifting.
For busy entrepreneurs who need a professional website up and running fast, Durable is the clear winner. It takes care of the complicated stuff, so you can focus on what really matters — running your business.
Durable Feature Highlights:
- Effortless Website Creation: With Durable, you can have a fully functional website, complete with text, images, and layout, in less than a minute. It’s the simplest and quickest way to launch your site.
- Intelligent AI Personalization: Durable’s AI customizes your website based on your business, making it easy to personalize. Even though the website is automatically generated, it’s already tailored to fit your industry, and you can adjust the design and copy to suit your needs.
- Built-in SEO Optimization: Durable understands the challenges small businesses face when it comes to getting found online. That’s why it automatically optimizes your website’s content to help you rank for relevant keywords. From local search terms to industry-specific phrases, Durable’s built-in SEO tools ensure your site is ready to attract traffic.
- AI Blog Writer: Content is key for building trust and growing your online presence, but writing blog posts can be time-consuming. Durable’s AI Blog Builder makes it easy to generate fully written, SEO-friendly blog posts in minutes. Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, Durable’s AI helps you create valuable content that drives traffic and establishes your authority in your niche.
- Comprehensive Suite of Tools: Beyond the website builder, Durable also includes essential tools for small businesses. Manage customer relationships, track invoices, and automate your marketing — all from within your website dashboard. It’s the complete package to help you run your business smoothly and efficiently.
- Pricing: Durable offers great value, with pricing starting at just $12/month. The combination of AI-powered tools and ease of use makes it an excellent choice for small businesses on a budget.
Wish List Item:
- E-commerce Capabilities: While Durable is perfect for service-based businesses, it’s not quite as ideal for businesses focused on selling products online. While it offers basic functionality for e-commerce, those needing advanced tools (such as inventory management and complex shipping integrations) may find they’re missing something.
Ready to launch your business online in no time? Durable’s AI Website Builder is the quickest, easiest way to build a professional website — without the hassle. Try it today and see for yourself how simple it can be to get your business online.
Get started now with Durable’s AI Website Builder →
#2. Wix
Wix is a popular website builder that offers a flexible platform for small businesses looking to create a unique online presence. Known for its easy drag-and-drop interface, it provides a combination of AI-driven tools and customizable features to help businesses get started quickly.
Wix is a good option for those who want to add a more personal touch to their website but might find it slightly more complex for beginners. The platform also offers various pricing plans, with some features locked behind higher-tier options.
Key Features:
- Customizable Design: Wix offers detailed customization options, allowing business owners to tweak their website until it matches their vision.
- Built-In Business Tools: Wix integrates business tools like scheduling, online stores, and event management, making it an all-in-one solution for businesses with diverse needs.
What’s Missing:
- Complex for Beginners: Wix’s flexibility can sometimes be a double-edged sword. While it offers a lot of creative freedom, new business owners may find the platform a bit overwhelming. You might need some time to get comfortable with its interface, especially if you’re looking for a fully hands-off experience.
- Higher-Cost Plans for Full Access: While Wix offers a wide range of templates, some of the best options and features are reserved for higher-tier pricing plans. If you’re on a budget, you may find yourself limited in terms of templates and functionality, and you might want to look at alternatives.
- Time-Consuming Edits: Although Wix’s AI-powered setup gets you started, it often requires additional tweaks and revisions to get the website just right. This can be a bit time-consuming for small business owners who are looking for a quick, effortless website-building experience.
Price: Starts at $17/month.
Explore the differences between Wix and Durable ->
#3. Squarespace
Squarespace is a well-known website builder that emphasizes design, making it a top choice for small businesses in creative industries like photography, art, and design.
With its AI-powered website builder and Design Intelligence features, Squarespace helps users create visually stunning websites with minimal effort. However, while it’s an excellent option for creatives, it may be a bit too expensive and time-consuming for businesses on a tight budget or those who need top-notch SEO performance right out of the box.
Key Features:
- Built-In Email Marketing: Squarespace makes it easy to manage email marketing campaigns with pre-made templates that save time and effort, perfect for small businesses looking to grow their email list.
- Layout Switcher Tool: This tool allows users to quickly and easily switch between different layout options, keeping their website design fresh and cohesive without needing any advanced design skills.
What’s Missing:
- Higher Pricing: While Squarespace offers a beautiful design, the platform can get pricey, especially if you want to access advanced features like e-commerce and marketing tools. The price ranges from $16/month for the basic plan to $50/month for more advanced business features, which might not be ideal for smaller businesses with limited budgets.
- SEO Capabilities: While Squarespace is strong in design, its SEO tools aren’t as strong as those found in other website builders. If ranking on search engines is a top priority, you may find yourself needing to do extra work to optimize your content or look for Squarespace alternatives with more robust SEO features.
Price: Starts at $16/month.
Explore the differences between Squarespace and Durable ->
#4. Wordpress.org
WordPress.org is a popular choice for businesses that require complete customization and flexibility when building their website. Known for its open-source nature, WordPress allows users to create any website imaginable — from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites.
However, WordPress can be overwhelming for small business owners with no technical experience. The learning curve is steeper compared to drag-and-drop builders, and managing hosting and security can add to the complexity. For those new to website building, it might take some time to fully grasp all the features WordPress has to offer.
Key Features:
- Highly Customizable: WordPress offers thousands of themes and plugins that allow users to build and modify their website in any way they wish. Whether you need advanced e-commerce functionality or a unique design, WordPress provides the tools to create it.
- Extensive Blogging Features: WordPress was originally built as a blogging platform, making it ideal for small businesses that want to regularly publish content. With features like post scheduling, category/tag organization, and custom post types, managing a blog is seamless.
What’s Missing:
- Steep Learning Curve: While WordPress offers complete control, it also requires a solid understanding of website management. For small business owners without technical skills, it may take time to set up, configure, and maintain a website properly.
- Ongoing Maintenance: WordPress sites require regular updates for plugins, themes, and security patches. If you don’t have the time or expertise to manage this, you might want to look at WordPress alternatives or need to hire a developer, which can add extra costs.
- Hidden Costs: While WordPress itself is free, you’ll still need to pay for hosting, domain registration, and potentially premium themes or plugins. These costs can add up quickly, making WordPress a less affordable option for some small businesses.
Price: WordPress is free, but you'll need to pay for hosting (starting at about $3-$10/month), domain registration, and any premium plugins or themes.
Explore the differences between WordPress and Durable ->
#5. Weebly
Weebly is a beginner-friendly website builder for small businesses with little to no technical expertise. The platform offers a simple drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to build and launch a website without needing to know how to code.
While Weebly might not offer the same depth of design flexibility as other platforms, it gets the job done for basic business websites and small online stores. However, businesses that need advanced features or a highly customized design may find it somewhat limiting.
Key Features:
- Ease of Use: Weebly’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create a website quickly, with no design or coding skills required.
- Affordable Pricing: With plans starting as low as $6 per month, Weebly is a cost-effective solution for businesses on a budget.
- Integrated E-commerce: Weebly provides built-in tools to create an online store, making it ideal for small retail businesses looking to sell products online.
What’s Missing:
- Limited Design Flexibility: While Weebly is great for simple websites, businesses that want advanced customization options might find it restrictive.
- Limited Features on Lower Plans: Some of Weebly’s more advanced features, like e-commerce tools, are only available on higher-tier plans, which can drive up costs as your business grows.
- SEO Limitations: While Weebly does include some SEO tools, it’s not as robust as other website builders when it comes to search engine optimization. You may need to rely on third-party tools for advanced SEO needs.
Price: Starts at $6/month.
Explore the differences between Weebly and Durable –>
#6. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is known for offering an easy and affordable way to get your business online. With an intuitive website builder and integrated marketing tools, it’s ideal for small businesses that want a simple setup without a steep learning curve.
However, while GoDaddy offers a solid set of features, it may not be the best option for businesses that need advanced customization or a more complex website. It’s more suited for businesses looking for simplicity over design flexibility.
Key Features:
- Built-In Marketing Tools: GoDaddy offers marketing features like email campaigns, social media integration, and basic SEO tools, helping you grow your online presence.
- Simple, User-Friendly Builder: The website builder is easy to navigate, making it quick to create a site without technical experience.
What’s Missing:
- Limited Customization Options: While GoDaddy is easy to use, it doesn't offer the same level of customization as some other website builders. Businesses looking for more design flexibility might find it restrictive.
- Lack of Advanced Features for Growing Businesses: As your business scales, you may find that GoDaddy’s features are too basic for more advanced needs, especially for e-commerce or larger content management.
- SEO Tools Are Basic: The built-in SEO tools are quite limited compared to other website builders. For more serious SEO efforts, you might need to look at GoDaddy alternatives or rely on third-party tools.
Price: Starts at $6.99/month.
#7. Shopify
Shopify is a popular choice for businesses focused on building an online store. With its wide range of e-commerce features, it’s designed to make it easy to sell products online, handle payments, and manage inventory. However, Shopify's strong focus on e-commerce means it might not be the best fit for small businesses that don't prioritize selling products or need a broader range of services.
If your business is centered around physical goods and you need a dedicated platform for managing sales and payments, Shopify could be a solid option. But for service-based businesses, or those seeking a more general website-building tool, you may find Shopify’s features to be a bit more than you need.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive E-commerce Tools: Shopify is built specifically for e-commerce, offering features like inventory management, secure checkout, and easy payment integrations to help you sell online.
- Ease of Use: Shopify's platform is designed to make it easy for anyone to create and manage an online store, even without technical experience.
- Scalability: Shopify’s robust infrastructure allows you to scale as your business grows, adding new products, features, and integrations as needed.
What’s Missing / On My Wish List:
- Not Ideal for Service-Based Businesses: Shopify is best suited for businesses that sell products online. Service-based businesses may find it lacks features for handling bookings, appointments, or client management.
- Higher Pricing: Shopify’s pricing starts at $29/month, which can be on the higher end for small businesses, especially those just starting out. As you scale, the costs can increase significantly with add-ons and transaction fees.
- Limited Customization Without Coding: While Shopify offers a lot of design flexibility, to fully customize your store's appearance or functionality, you may need coding knowledge or a developer, which could add to your costs.
Price: Starts at $29/month.
Ultimately, the best website builder for your small business depends on your specific needs. Whether you're looking for something quick and easy, like Durable, or need a platform with more advanced e-commerce features like Shopify, there are options available to suit your business model.
It's important to weigh factors like your budget, the type of website you need, and your level of technical expertise before making a decision.
At the end of the day, your website is often the first impression customers will have of your business, so investing in a platform that helps you build a professional, functional site is a must. With the right website builder, you can focus on what you do best — running your business — while your website works hard for you.
Ready to get started? With Durable, you can have your website up and running in minutes, without needing any technical skills.
Whether you need a simple home page or a full-fledged online presence, Durable’s AI-powered tools make it easy to get online and grow your business.
