You can’t have a business without having a website. This is the current reality that we live in. We know, starting a business is not exactly a walk in the park. So, it is understandable you don’t want to add more to your to-do list.
But there is no escape. So, we are here to make this task as easy as possible for you. In this article, we will teach you how to build a website, what web hosting is, and what the best website builder for small businesses is.
Let’s dive in.
Top 5 best website builders for small businesses
Here’s the top 5 best website builders on the market, all good fits for small business owners, their needs, and their budget:
- Hostinger – Best AI website builder
- Bluehost – Best website builder with free hosting
- Namecheap – Best budget-friendly website builder
- IONOS – Best website builder with marketing & SEO tools
- GoDaddy – Best fast website builder for creating a website in minutes
Best 5 website builders for small business: Our review
Now, let’s dive deep into our 5 picks of the best website builders for small businesses. All these tools are affordable – some even free – easy to use, and packed with useful features.
Hostinger: Best AI-powered website builder
Hostinger website builder is our top choice. It is the best AI website builder on the market, which makes it one of the best website builders for small businesses.
If you are short on time, have insecurities due to a lack of technical knowledge, or just don’t want to deal with endless drag-and-drop menus, this is the right tool for you.
Its interface is incredibly beginner-friendly. It will ask you a few simple questions to understand your preferences and build your website all on its own.
Don’t worry, you can edit things you don’t like. You can also generate multiple versions of your site if you want to see different styles before deciding.
- Hostinger pricing: starting at $2.69/month
- AI website builder: Yes
- Ease of use: 9/10
- Mobile editor: Yes
- Our overall score: 10/10
[GET YOUR WEBSITE ONLINE IN A FEW MINUTES]
Bluehost: Best website builder with free hosting
If you are looking for a quick, all-in-all solution, you need a website builder and website hosting. In that case, you should go with Bluehost. It includes a free website builder and free hosting in all its website builder plans, which makes it a perfect starter bundle.
Bluehost also offers an AI website builder. It guides you step-by-step, asks you questions to understand your business and style, then creates multiple options for your website. You can choose one and continue with editing specifics.
- Bluehost pricing: starting at $2.95/month
- AI website builder: Yes
- Ease of use: 8/10
- Mobile editor: Yes
- Our overall score: 9/10
[BUILD YOUR WEBSITE WITH THE HELP OF AI TODAY]
Namecheap: Best budget-friendly website builder
If your primary concern is the price, Namecheap is one of the most budget-friendly website builder options in the market. You can build and host a fully functional small business website for less than $2 a month.
Namecheap’s website builder is called SiteMaker, and it’s super user-friendly. It may not be the most advanced tool on the market, but it gets the job done. You pick a layout, edit a few areas, and you’re ready.
- Namecheap pricing: starting at $1.58/month
- AI website builder: No
- Ease of use: 10/10
- Mobile editor: No
- Our overall score: 7/10
[BUILD A WEBSITE FOR LESS THAN $2]
IONOS: Best website builder with built-in marketing & SEO tools
If ranking high on search engines is your primary concern, IONOS is the right choice for you. It comes with great built-in marketing and SEO tools, making it ideal for small business owners who want to get found online and grow fast.
IONOS also includes a step-by-step AI assistant to help you create a website. It also includes email marketing integration, performance tracking, and basic SEO tools like title/meta editing. IONOS would be especially helpful to any e-commerce website.
- IONOS pricing: starting at $0.90/month
- AI website builder: Yes
- Ease of use: 8/10
- Mobile editor: Yes
- Our overall score: 8/10
[PUT YOUR WEBSITE ONLINE FOR $1 – NO PROGRAMMING SKILLS NEEDED]
GoDaddy: Best website builder for a fast online launch
If you are a bit more comfortable with budget and want to launch your website today, GoDaddy is the fastest and easiest option for you.
It comes with AI tools to create content and design layouts for your website, and its editor is designed for convenience. With GoDaddy, you can build and publish a functional site in under an hour, no tech skills needed.
- GoDaddy pricing: starting at $9.99/month
- AI website builder: Yes
- Ease of use: 9/10
- Mobile editor: Yes
- Our overall score: 8/10
How to create a website?
In practice, creating a website is a lot easier than you think. A good website design company prioritizes a simple user experience, which means no coding, no tech jargon, and no need to hire a developer.
Here’s how to build a website, in simple steps:
1. Pick a website builder
Pick a reliable website builder, like the ones we recommended above, to help you design and run your website. Each one comes with different strengths, prices, and features.
Choose yours and start to design your website today.
2. Get a domain name: This is your web address (like bestdaily.com). Most website builders let you choose your domain name during the setup process.
A good domain name is short, easy to read, and connected to your brand.
💡 Tip: Always go for .com unless you have a specific reason (like .org, .io).
3. Choose a hosting plan( if it’s not included in your builder)
4. Choose a template and customize it
These are pre-designed layouts for website. A good template gives you a solid structure and design starting point, saving you tons of time.
They often come with a color palette and editable zones on the page, and there are also pre-designed options for niches like photography, e-commerce, blog, etc.
💡 Tip: Prioritize mobile responsiveness (meaning that it should look good on a phone screen as well) and clean design.
5. Start with the main pages:
The first pages you should design must be the crucial ones for putting the website online, like the home page. Here’s a list that can help:
- Home: welcoming intro, highlight key offerings.
- About: your story, mission, team.
- Services or Products: clear, detailed.
- Contact: form, email, social links, and map.
- Blog (optional): helps with SEO and engagement.
💡Tip: Use AI writing tools to help if you’re stuck.
6. Final settings and publish it!
If everything is set, preview and test it. After everything is OK, hit the publish button and show your website to the world.
Don’t worry, you can still go back and make changes whenever you want.
[PUBLISH A WEBSITE IN MINUTES WITH HOSTINGER]
Your Website, Your Business, Your Move
All businesses, big or small, need a website. Whether you’re looking for speed, affordability, AI tools, or marketing features, there’s a perfect fit for every small business.
We’ve narrowed the list for you. All that’s left is to pick your builder, hit publish, and let your website work for you!
FAQs
1. What is the easiest website builder for beginners?
Hostinger is one of the easiest tools for beginners, thanks to its AI setup and simple interface.
2. Do I need web hosting to use a website builder?
Not always. Website builders like Bluehost, Hostinger, and GoDaddy include hosting in their plans, so you won’t need to buy it separately.
3. Can I build a website for free?
Some platforms like Wix offer a free plan, but it comes with ads and limited features. Paid plans are more professional and still budget-friendly.
4. Is Wix good for small businesses?
Yes. The Wix editor gives you full design freedom with drag-and-drop controls, and Wix pricing starts at just a few dollars a month, making it a solid pick for creative small business sites.
5. Which builder is best for SEO and marketing tools?
IONOS is a great choice. It has built-in SEO tools, analytics, and email marketing features right out of the box.
6. How long does it take to launch a website?
With AI tools like Hostinger or GoDaddy, you can build and publish a site in under an hour. Adding content might take a bit longer.
What is a Web Hosting service? Do I need one?
Web hosting is the service that stores your website’s files and makes them accessible on the internet. So yes, you need it. But if you use a website builder like Bluehost or Namecheap, hosting is included.