Top 3 Website Builders of 2024

Looking for the best website builder in 2024? Read our reviews and comparisons to choose the best platform for your needs today

Core Features and Functionality

Squarespace is a hosted website building platform that combines elegant design with user-friendly functionality. The platform offers an all-in-one solution for creating and managing websites without requiring coding knowledge

**Key Features:**
- Drag-and-drop visual editor
- Built-in SEO tools
- Analytics tracking
- Rich image management
- Blogging capabilities
- eCommerce integration
- Mobile optimization
- Connected third-party services

Design and Templates

Squarespace is renowned for its design-focused approach, offering over 100 professionally designed templates across various industries. The platform uses a grid-based editing system that helps maintain clean, structured layouts

Design Capabilities
- Modern, minimalistic templates
- Customizable layouts and styles
- Mobile-responsive designs
- Integration with Unsplash for high-quality photos
- Advanced image editing tools with effects and focal point control[7]

## Ease of Use

Squarespace consistently ranks as one of the easiest website builders to use, though there is a learning curve. The platform uses an intuitive section-based editing system that divides content into manageable blocks

Pricing and Plans

Pricing ranges from $16 to $52 per month when billed annually[5], with different tiers offering:

| Personal | $16 | Basic features, SSL |
| Business | $27 | Marketing tools, 3% transaction fee |
| Commerce Basic | $27 | No transaction fees, eCommerce |
| Commerce Advanced | $49 | Advanced selling features 

Pros

1. Outstanding template designs and aesthetic appeal
2. Comprehensive all-in-one platform
3. Strong image management and editing capabilities
4. No-code editing capabilities
5. Excellent customer support
6. Advanced security and privacy features

## Cons

1. Limited template customization options[2]
2. Higher pricing compared to some competitors[4]
3. Restricted third-party integrations[6]
4. No autosave feature in the editor[5]
5. Grid-based editor can limit creative freedom[5]
6. No free plan (only 14-day trial)[5]

Business Features

Squarespace offers robust business functionality, particularly for creative professionals and small businesses

- Appointment scheduling through Acuity integration
- Marketing tools and email campaigns
- Built-in analytics
- SEO optimization tools
- eCommerce capabilities[3]

AI Integration

Squarespace has embraced AI technology with features like:
- Blueprint AI site builder
- AI-generated content
- Automated email campaigns
- Image block captions
- Product descriptions

Best Suited For

Squarespace is ideal for:
- Creative professionals
- Small businesses
- Portfolio websites
- Basic eCommerce stores
- Bloggers

However, it may not be the best choice for complex eCommerce operations or websites requiring extensive customization

The platform strikes a balance between sophisticated design and user-friendly functionality, making it particularly appealing to users who prioritize aesthetics and don't require complex technical features. While the learning curve and pricing might be deterrents for some, the platform's comprehensive feature set and professional templates make it a strong contender in the website builder market

Squarespace Website Builder

Wix is a leading website builder platform that combines AI-powered features with intuitive design tools. As one of the most popular website builders available, it offers a comprehensive solution for businesses and individuals looking to establish an online presence.

Core Features

Website Editor
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for easy customization
- Over 900 professionally designed templates
- AI-powered site generator for quick setup
- Visual editor with absolute positioning capabilities

Business Tools
- Built-in SEO optimization tools
- Marketing features and email campaigns
- Appointment scheduling
- Social media integration
- Analytics tracking (on higher-tier plans)

Pricing Structure

| Free | $0 | Basic features, Wix ads |
| Core | $17 | Custom domain |
| Business | $27 | eCommerce features |
| Enterprise | Up to $159 | Advanced features |

Pros

1. Extensive template library with over 900 designs
2. Powerful AI-powered features for site generation and content creation
3. Comprehensive all-in-one solution for small businesses
4. User-friendly interface suitable for beginners
5. Robust eCommerce capabilities supporting up to 50,000 products
6. Built-in marketing and SEO tools

Cons

1. Limited storage capacity on basic plans
2. Cannot switch templates after site publication
3. Performance customization is restricted
4. Mobile responsiveness issues due to absolute positioning
5. Advanced features only available on higher-tier plans
6. Limited export options for blog content

Best Suited For

Small Businesses
- Ideal for companies needing an online presence
- Comprehensive marketing and SEO tools
- Integrated appointment scheduling

Personal Users
- Portfolio websites
- Wedding or event sites
- Personal blogs

Mobile Functionality

While Wix provides mobile optimization tools, its use of absolute positioning can create challenges for responsive design. The platform offers a mobile editor to customize the mobile view, but this may require additional setup time to ensure proper display across devices.

eCommerce Capabilities

The platform offers robust eCommerce features, including:
- Support for up to 50,000 products
- Mobile store management
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Dropshipping integration
- Order tracking functionality

## AI Integration

Wix has embraced AI technology with features like:
- AI Site Generator for quick setup
- Content creation assistance
- Automated SEO tools
- Conversational chatbot for site setup

The platform stands out for its balance of user-friendliness and powerful features, making it particularly suitable for small businesses and individuals who need a professional website without extensive technical knowledge. While it has some limitations regarding performance customization and mobile responsiveness, its comprehensive feature set and AI-powered tools make it a strong contender in the website builder market.

WIX Website Builder Site

Weebly is a website builder platform that is now part of the Square product suite, offering an integrated solution for website creation and payment processing. The platform is known for its user-friendly approach and basic functionality, though recent changes have affected its market position

Core Features

Website Building

• Drag-and-drop visual editor
• Customizable webpage designs
• Built-in SEO tools
• Mobile optimization capabilities
• Free SSL certification
• Integrated eCommerce features

Pricing Structure

Pros

1. User-friendly interface for beginners
2. Affordable pricing options
3. Free plan available
4. Integrated payment processing through Square
5. Built-in marketing tools
6. Comprehensive customer support

Cons

1. Limited customization options
2. Performance issues since Square acquisition
3. Poor mobile optimization
4. Outdated design templates
5. Integration problems between Square and Weebly systems
6. Limited eCommerce capabilities compared to competitors

Performance and Speed

Recent tests indicate concerning performance metrics:

• Poor mobile responsiveness
• Slow loading times on mobile devices
• Performance score of 53/100 on mobile
• Limited optimization options

Best Suited For

Small Businesses

• Local businesses needing basic web presence
• Small online stores
• Personal portfolios
• Basic blogs

eCommerce Capabilities

The platform offers basic eCommerce features, including:

• Shopping cart functionality
• Payment processing through Square
• Basic inventory management
• Shipping calculator
• Digital product sales

Customer Support

Support options vary by plan:

• Email support on all plans
• Chat support available
• Phone support limited to premium plans
• Customer Success team assistance

The platform has experienced significant changes since being acquired by Square, with many users reporting deteriorating service quality and integration issues

While it remains a viable option for basic websites, those requiring more robust eCommerce features or advanced customization might want to consider alternatives. The platform's strength lies in its simplicity and affordability, making it most suitable for small businesses or individuals needing a basic web presence without complex requirements

Weebly Site Builder