Getting a website used to be complicated and expensive. Not anymore.
You don't need coding skills or a big budget. And with the introduction of AI, the process has become even easier.
Durable merges ease of use with a powerful AI website builder to give you a quick and effective way to launch your online presence. With Durable, you can have a website up and running in 30 seconds for $0.
However, to help you find the best fit, we have compiled a list of the 8 easiest website builders for beginners for 2024.
What are the Easiest Website Builders?
- Durable
- Wix
- Shopify
- Webflow
- Squarespace
- GoDaddy
- Hostinger
- IONOS
Let’s take a look at each.
1. Durable
Best overall website builder for small business owners and solopreneurs.
Durable uses advanced AI technology to make creating a website incredibly simple and fast. Durable is made for you if you're a small business owner, especially one without any technical background.
It takes 4 simple steps to generate an entire website, and the whole process can take 30 seconds
Step 1: Click on Generate Your Website and Choose Your Industry
Click “Generate your website”. Next, you'll need to specify what kind of business you have.
As you start typing in the box, you'll see a dropdown list appear with various industry types like "Retail," "Healthcare," or "Consulting." Simply click on the one that best matches your business.
If you're not sure what category your business falls into, we have a feature called "See some suggestions." By clicking on this, our AI will give you a list of different types of businesses to help you decide.
If the first suggestions don't fit, click "regenerate" to see additional options.
Choosing the right industry is important as it helps the AI tailor the website to meet the specific needs of your business.
Step 2: Add Your Location
After you've chosen your industry, it's time to add your business location. This is crucial because it helps customers find you more easily and improves your website's visibility on search engines.
We integrate the map of your location on your website.
In this step, you also have the option to change the language of your website. By default, the language is set to English, but if you want your website in another language, you can easily change it here. Just look for the language option and select the one that you prefer.
Step 3: Add Your Business Name
The next prompt will ask you for your business name.
If you're unsure what to name your business, click on the "See some suggestions" feature here.
When you click on this, Durable AI will generate a list of potential business names for you. You can choose one from the list or use it as inspiration to create your name.
TIP: Want to find the perfect name? Check out our business name generator.
Step 4: Durable Will Generate Your Website
After you've filled in all the necessary details, let Durable do its work. In about 30 seconds, a fully functional website will be created specifically for your business.
TIP: You receive a free custom domain when you sign up with us.
Features and Benefits
- Ability to Add Pages to Your Website
- AI Assistant
- AI CRM
- Google Ad Writer
1. Ability to Add Pages to Your Website
Once your basic website is up and running with Durable, you may want to expand it with additional pages. Maybe you'd like to add a blog or detailed “Services” page to showcase everything you offer.
Here's how to add a page:
- Open your Durable editor
- On the top right-hand side, next to “Home”, click the “+” sign
- Choose from pre-made templates tailored to various needs like blogs, galleries, testimonials, etc. Click “Add+” to add it to your website.
- After selecting a page, the new page will automatically populate with text and images.
You can add as many new pages as you want within the platform. And just like with your initial website setup, you don't need any coding skills to do this.
2. AI Assistant
Having an extra set of hands can be invaluable.
If you have a question like "How do I increase my website engagement?" you can ask the AI Assistant. You don't have to go researching and reading tons of articles. The AI assistant will give you actionable tips immediately.
You can also save the conversations you have with the AI Assistant. For example, if the Assistant provides a recommendation that helped increase your website's engagement, you can save that tip. Later, you can easily go back to these saved conversations. This helps you to track what strategies worked well for you.
3. AI CRM
Imagine you're swamped with tasks, and a potential customer reaches out via your website. Our AI CRM doesn't just notify you. It also instantly sorts this lead into the right category (like “New Inquiry” or “Product Question”) and sends a timely, personalized response. You won't lose precious time, and the lead feels acknowledged immediately.
With our AI CRM, you can:
- Respond to leads quickly
- Categorize your contacts effectively
- Automate client communications
The system can automatically send scheduled emails or reminders to your client list. The CRM personalizes these communications based on the customer's history and preferences.
This feature helps you stay organized and be more efficient, all without the need for any technical expertise.
4. Google Ad Writer
Writing ad copies can be frustrating if you’re not experienced. The AI-powered Google Ad Writer makes creating compelling ads to promote your business quick and easy.
All you need to do is input basic details about your business, like the name, the services you offer, and how you want the ad to sound. Our system then generates persuasive text tailored to help you get the clicks and conversions.
The idea here is to make it as easy as possible for you to grow your business; effective advertising is an essential part of that.
You don’t have to be tech-savvy to build your website. All these features make Durable one of the easiest website builders for beginners.
Durable pricing
The Free plan is perfect if you just want to get your business online quickly.
For those ready for the next step and access to Durable’s suite of AI tools, you can choose The Startup ($12/mo) or Business plan ($20/mo).
2. Wix
Best for creative professionals and general websites.
Wix comes second to Durable as the easiest website builder. It’s known for its user-friendly design options and versatile functionality.
Wix offers a variety of templates and customization options to build anything from personal blogs and portfolios to more complex websites for businesses or e-commerce.
Features and Benefits
- Wix Editor
- Wix ADI
- Velo by Wix
1. Wix Editor
The Wix Editor is designed for users who prefer a hands-on approach to website creation. It offers drag-and-drop functionality, which allows elements like text and images to be moved around freely. This feature provides users with a high degree of customization but might require time investment to get things right.
Wix has a range of pre-designed templates catering to different industries and aesthetics.
2. Wix ADI
ADI stands for Artificial Design Intelligence. By answering some simple questions about your business and preferences, Wix ADI generates a website for you. It's a quicker route for those who want an online presence without designing a website from scratch.
3. Velo by Wix
Velo is designed for more technical users who want to build web applications. It's an open development platform that provides serverless computing and more complex features and interactivity on your website.
This is the feature to explore if you want to create, manage, and deploy more advanced web projects.
3. Shopify
Best for e-commerce and online retailers.
Shopify is an e-commerce platform designed for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. With Shopify, you can sell products directly through your website without extensive technical knowledge.
The platform offers a range of themes to use as a starting point for your online store. These themes are divided into various categories to suit different types of businesses. You can customize the themes according to your brand's color scheme, fonts, and logo, providing a personalized shopping experience for your customers.
Features and Benefits
- App Store
- No-Code Website Builder
- Access to POS
1. App Store
One of the strong points of Shopify is its high-quality app store. Apps like Infinite Options and Tabs Studio can help you improve how products are searched for and found on your website.
These apps can customize your search options, filter results, and even offer personalized product suggestions to your customers. This makes it easier for customers to find what they're looking for, increasing the chances of a sale.
2. No-Code Website Builder
Shopify makes it simple to set up a website without diving into coding. If you do have coding skills, you have the option to edit HTML and CSS files. However, it's not necessary.
The platform offers a straightforward drag-and-drop feature. With this, you can add images, text, or anything else you need by dragging items where you want them.
3. Access to POS
Shopify offers a Point Of Sale (POS) system. This means you can use Shopify to manage sales in a physical store location and online.
The POS system integrates with the online store, so everything stays in sync.
For example, if someone buys the last of a particular item in your physical store, the inventory on your online store will automatically update. This is great for online and offline businesses, as it connects all your sales channels..
4. Webflow
Best for design-centric businesses and developers.
The Webflow platform is geared toward individuals and businesses, prioritizing design and visual aesthetics. You can create websites by taking control of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a visual canvas.
It bridges the gap between a traditional Content Management System (CMS) and advanced design software. You can manage your website content, add eCommerce features, include complex animations, and even generate code for every part of your website.
Features and Benefits
- Clean Exportable Code
- CMS API
- Cloneable Websites
- White-labeling
1. Clean Exportable Code
Webflow creates a website that follows the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) rules. This means the code generated is clean and works well across web browsers.
One big benefit here is that you can download this code as a ZIP file. This is useful if you want to move your site to another platform or for developers who want to do more advanced stuff with the code.
2. CMS API
Webflow has a Content Management System (CMS) API. You can manage your website's content through code commands, which you can run directly from your computer's terminal.
This makes automating tasks like adding new products to an online store or updating blog posts easier.
3. Cloneable Websites
Another neat feature is the ability to use website designs created by others using Webflow.
You can take these designs and make them your own, saving you much time. If you're proud of your website, you can let other people use your design as a starting point for their projects.
4. White-labeling
This feature is helpful for agencies or freelancers who create websites for other businesses. White-labeling means you can remove the Webflow branding from the website and instead put your or your client's branding.
5. Squarespace
Best for creatives and bloggers.
Squarespace is popular among creative professionals like photographers, artists, and bloggers due to its visually appealing templates and user-friendly interface.
Like many other website builders, Squarespace offers a drag-and-drop interface. You can add or rearrange elements like images and text boxes by clicking and dragging them where you want.
Features and Benefits
- Squarespace App
- AMP Integration
- Podcast Support
1. Squarespace App
The Squarespace app is available for both Android and iOS devices. With the app, you can do a variety of tasks. You can add new pages or edit existing ones.
The same goes for uploading new images to your galleries or writing blog posts. You can make style changes and manage your online store with the app.
2. AMP Integration
For those concerned about how fast their website loads, especially on mobile devices, Squarespace has AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) integration.
This means it can create lighter versions of your blog posts, loading them quickly on mobile phones. Faster loading times are crucial for keeping visitors engaged and can help with ranking search engines.
3. Podcast Support
If you're into podcasting, Squarespace has built-in features to support this form of content.
It offers audio block and blog post options tailored for podcasts. These features make it easier to distribute your podcast episodes on platforms like Apple Podcasts.
6. GoDaddy
Best for quick and hassle-free website creation.
Known primarily for domain registration and hosting services, GoDaddy has expanded its offerings to include this user-friendly website builder.
The builder comes with an array of pre-designed templates, an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and built-in marketing features for e-commerce and informational sites.
GoDaddy platform has competitive site speed and SEO features.
Features and Benefits
- GoDaddy Studio
- Promo Banners
- Data-Driven Recommendations
1. GoDaddy Studio
GoDaddy Studio is a feature that focuses on content creation. This is helpful for business owners who need to make various types of content for different platforms.
You can use the Studio to create content for social media, email campaigns, or any other digital platform.
It offers a selection of templates, fonts, and graphics to create visually pleasing and cohesive content.
2. Promo Banners
This feature lets you easily display banners on your website to highlight sales, promotions, or special events.
This makes catching visitors' attention to your site easier and can contribute to increased sales or event attendance.
3. Data-Driven Recommendations
GoDaddy's data-driven recommendations feature aims to provide advice tailored to your industry. The recommendations are based on data from over a million GoDaddy customers, offering potentially valuable insights for your business.
For instance, if you're in the e-commerce industry, you might receive tips on optimizing your online store for better sales.
7. Hostinger
Best budget-friendly solution for small businesses and freelancers.
Hostinger is geared towards small businesses, freelancers, or anyone looking to have an online presence without breaking the bank.
The website builder includes several straightforward tools to help you make a website or design your online store. Hostinger also offers an AI Website Builder to generate a custom site based on your description, saving you time and effort.
Hostinger also offers good web hosting features. It has a server response time of 0.45 seconds compared to Wix, which has a response time of 1.3 seconds.
Features and Benefits
- AI Logo Maker
- Heatmap Analytics
- Easy-to-Use Editor
1. AI Logo Maker
Hostinger Website Builder includes an AI Logo Maker that can generate a unique logo for your website.
You start by providing basic information, such as your business name, and describing your desired logo and design.
The artificial intelligence then takes that information and creates various logo options for you. You can customize your logo with different colors, shapes, and fonts.
2. Heatmap Analytics
The heatmap analytics tool shows you how visitors interact with your website.
You can see what areas of a page are getting the most clicks, how far people are scrolling, and other engagement metrics.
3. Easy-to-Use Editor
Hostinger is known for its ease of use. The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive. There are also numerous templates, so you can get a head start on your design.
However, it's worth noting that while Hostinger is user-friendly, its features are more limited compared to more advanced website builders like Durable and Wix. This makes it a good fit for simpler projects but may not be the best choice for those requiring more complex or customized features.
8. IONOS
Best for quick, simplified web building.
IONOS focuses on delivering the essentials in web design without overwhelming you with complex features.
The platform offers a selection of template designs, drag-and-drop functionalities, and even some SEO tools to help your site rank better in search results.
It’s a functional website builder with very good customer support.
Features and Benefits
- One Dashboard
- AI Text Generator
- High-Quality Stock Images
This website builder offers basic features to help you quickly build a website.
1. One Dashboard
IONOS provides a centralized dashboard called the Presence Suite, where you can monitor and manage various aspects of your website.
From this single interface, you can see how your site is performing, what needs to be done next, and which tools or apps are currently active.
2. AI Text Generator
This tool can be handy if you're not a writer or just pressed for time. It helps you generate unique content for your website.
This eliminates the need to write your text or hire a content creator.
3. High-Quality Stock Images
IONOS offers access to a vast library of over 6 million stock images. If you don't have photos or need additional visual content, you can search for and add high-quality pictures relevant to your site.
How to Choose the Easiest Website Builder for You
Follow these strategies to help you pick the simplest website builder for your specific needs:
Identify Your Needs and Goals
The first step is to know what you want from your website.
- Are you looking to create an online portfolio, a blog, or an e-commerce site?
- What key features are non-negotiable for your website? (e.g., online store, blog, gallery)
- Do you need to integrate with other platforms or software? (e.g., CRM, email marketing)
- How much customization will you need? Do you want to use templates or start from scratch?
Each website builder has features geared towards different needs. Make a list of what you must have and what would be nice.
For example, an artist might need a website builder for high-quality image uploads and a gallery display feature.
Ease of Use
You want a simple website builder that offers an intuitive interface. Therefore, look for:
- drag-and-drop features
- straightforward navigation,
- uncomplicated settings.
Most website builders offer free trials or demo versions, so take advantage of this to gauge how easy it is.
Durable stands out here as it allows you to generate an entire website with images and text in 30 seconds, making it user-friendly for beginners.
Budget Considerations
Pricing varies significantly between different website builders. Some offer free basic plans with the option to upgrade, while others require a monthly or annual subscription.
Be sure to consider what you’re getting regarding features for the price you’re willing to pay.
See this detailed article that breaks down what exactly goes into the cost of a website.
Templates and Customization
Evaluate the variety and quality of templates offered by the website builder. This will give you a head start in designing your website and save you time.
Check to see how customizable these templates are — can you change colors, fonts, and layout? If you're a restaurant owner, for instance, you'll want a template that lets you include an easily accessible menu and perhaps a reservation system.
Customer Support and Community
Sometimes, things go wrong, and you'll need help. Check the availability and quality of customer support.
Is there a 24/7 chat service, an in-depth FAQ section, or community forums? In addition, look for reviews or testimonials from users regarding their customer service experience.
Scalability
Finally, you'll want to think about the future. If your website gains traction, you may want to add features, increase storage, expand the site’s complexity, or change your website’s outlook altogether.
Ensure the website builder you choose can handle this without requiring you to start from scratch. For example, you cannot change the template on Wix after building your site. You have to start from scratch. However, you can even regenerate your entire site on a platform like Durable.
How Do These Easy Website Builders Compare?
We've graded all eight website builders on important features to make your choice easier.
Getting Started With Durable
What sets Durable apart is a user-friendly interface without sacrificing the range of features. It is made for beginners.
The generated website comes with intuitive, ready-made content for your specific needs.
In addition, Durable’s AI goes beyond website creation. It extends to other business areas, assisting with market strategy and customer relationship management tasks.
So, if you're looking to start a functional and aesthetically pleasing website without the steep learning curve, Durable is a sound choice.
