Whether you want to start a personal blog, build an online store, or create a portfolio, this guide covers the best free and paid options.
Free Resources
These are the tools and resources you can get for free:
Builder | Best For |
• Wix | Free website builder with Wix ads and domain. Great for beginners and portfolios. |
• Weebly | Free site with Weebly branding. Easy drag-and-drop for small business websites. |
100% free, very basic websites. Good for internal projects or school sites. | |
• Carrd | Free single-page sites. Ideal for landing pages, link-in-bio pages, or portfolios. |
• Framer | Simple one-page landing sites. |
Free Notion pages + optional free tier of Super for turning a Notion doc into a simple website. | |
Free hosting for static websites. Best for developers and tech portfolios. |
These services were free when this page was published (May 2025). This may change over time.
Comparison Per Use Case
Choosing the right website builder is a critical first step. This section breaks down the top options I’ve explored, organized by use case, to help you find the tool that best fits your goals and your comfort level:
This site, for example, is built with WordPress and hosted by Hostinger. But because I’m using WordPress (downloaded from WordPress.org), the site is said to be “self-hosted”, meaning I own the content and can move it to another host at any time.
Hostinger also offers its own proprietary website builder, which, like Wix or Squarespace, is intuitive, beginner-friendly, and excellent value if you’re launching your first site.
However, it’s important to note that websites which aren’t self-hosted often tie you to a single platform. Migrating away later usually means rebuilding your site manually on a new platform.
That’s why I’ve evaluated each option not just by features, but by flexibility, portability, and long-term sustainability.
All-in-One Website Builders
(Best for Beginners)
These tools are easy to use, all-in-one platforms ideal for small business owners, personal brands, or anyone starting a site without technical skills.
Builder | Best For | Starting Price |
AI powered. Beginners wanting speed and simplicity | $2.99/mo | |
• 10web | AI powered. Similar to Hostinger | $10/mo |
• Wix | Drag-and-drop site building | $16/mo |
Clean design-focused sites | $17/mo |
Prices listed here reflect the publication date of this page (May 2025) and may change over time. This table contains affiliate links (learn more).
Simple & One-Page Builders
Great for landing pages, link-in-bio tools, or quick projects with no fluff. These ones are fast, focused, and often free to start.
Builder | Best For | Starting Price |
• Framer | Simple one-page landing sites | Free |
• Carrd | One-page landing sites | $9/year |
Quick business sites | $16/mo | |
• Dorik | Simple, fast, multi-page sites | $18/mo |
Prices listed here reflect the publication date of this page (May 2025) and may change over time.
Self-Hosted Platforms
(WordPress – Recommended!)
For full control and long-term flexibility, WordPress is still the gold standard. These hosting platforms make it easy to get started, even if you’re not a developer.
Builder | Best For | Starting Price |
Fast, budget-friendly WordPress hosting | $2.99/mo | |
• Bluehost | Official WordPress.org recommendation | $4.59/mo |
Speed and support for growing sites | $4.99/mo | |
• 10web | Similar to Hostinger | $10/mo |
Prices listed here reflect the publication date of this page (May 2025) and may change over time. This table contains affiliate links (learn more).
Advanced Builders
(For Website Designers & Developers)
These platforms offer more control and customization: ideal if you want to fine-tune your layout or export clean code.
Builder | Best For | Starting Price |
• Webflow | Designers building pixel-perfect sites | $14/mo |
Responsive layouts with precision (a more advanced version of Wix) | $18/mo | |
• Framer | Design-first websites with interactions | $20/mo |
Prices listed here reflect the publication date of this page (May 2025) and may change over time.
The above website builders all have their strengths, and the best one is the one you’ll actually enjoy using. Pick the one that fits your workflow—and don’t be afraid to switch later as your needs evolve.
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