6 Best Free Website Builders to Check Out in 2023 [+Pros & Cons]

In my half-decade arsenic an SEO contented marketer, I’ve spent a bully chunk of my clip either testing aliases moving pinch immoderate number of free website builders: CMS Hub, WordPress.com, WordPress.org, Wix, Weebly, Webflow, you sanction it.

These website builder devices person been basal for maine to people content, either for my existent employer aliases for my broadside projects. I’ve truthful been capable to get good acquainted pinch their capabilities complete time.

But if you’re caller to nan website builder game, you mightiness beryllium confused astir wherever to start. What is nan champion prime if you don’t cognize how to code? Which 1 would springiness you nan astir bang for zero bucks? And which options see a good domain name, versus a garbled, messy subdomain?

I’m going to screen that and more, but first, let’s spell complete nan basics.

If you’ve been considering building a website for immoderate time, past you’re apt acquainted pinch nan options you have. The astir communal method is to bargain a web hosting scheme and a domain name, and past instal your preferred CMS connected your website, specified arsenic WordPress.org aliases Joomla.

The problem pinch that action is that erstwhile you instal WordPress aliases Joomla retired of nan box, it comes pinch nary handbook aliases content. When I’ve utilized this method before, I recovered that my website was virtually for illustration a blank page, which meant that unless I hired a developer aliases spent a batch of clip building it, nan extremity consequence would look rather unfinished and unprofessional.

When I was testing retired free website builders specified arsenic CMS Hub aliases WordPress.com, I recovered that I was capable to shorten my workflow considerably. The themes came pinch placeholder matter and images, for instance, that made my website consciousness much complete than if I’d started pinch an out-of-the-box CMS.

How I Tested nan Best Website Builders

When trying to find nan champion website builders for this post, I considered workflow to beryllium nan astir important factor. Is it easy to group up a website from nan start, aliases do you request extended clip and acquisition to do it?

Chances are, if you’re looking for a free website builder, you’d for illustration nan group up to beryllium painless and seamless. For that reason, I chose devices that had:

• The modular required features: placeholder content, blogging tools, SEO tools, and templates and themes
• A afloat free action pinch beardown capabilities retired of nan container — nary request to upgrade astatine each turn
• A comparatively easy workflow from signup to completion

With that, let’s spell complete nan absolute champion website builders I’ve utilized and tested before.

1. Best Free Website Builder for Growing Businesses: HubSpot Drag-and-Drop Website Builder

Get started pinch HubSpot's free drag-and-drop builder!

I usage HubSpot’s drag-and-drop website builder (inside CMS Hub) arsenic a contented marketer connected nan HubSpot blog team, and person utilized it for 2 of my broadside website projects.

Hands down, this is 1 of nan champion website builders disposable for free — not only because of nan easiness of signing up, but besides because it includes built-in devices for a fistful of different functions, specified arsenic trading and sales.

The website creation process is truthful easy, anyone could do it — chiefly because nan setup dashboard includes an interactive checklist for you to build your tract step-by-step. I loved this signup workflow erstwhile I was building a fewer broadside projects. It’s 1 of nan champion successful position of user- and beginner-friendliness.

Once you instal a free theme, you tin correct distant commencement customizing nan tract pinch your preferred colors and fonts. At nan apical of nan page is simply a barroom that shows you wherever you are connected nan setup workflow, which is supremely useful for skipping betwixt tasks. Note that this is only progressive during nan onboarding phase.

After you’re finished, you’re taken correct backmost to nan personification guide, wherever you tin statesman exploring HubSpot’s suite of devices for business. You besides person nan action of connecting a civilization domain, which is free. All you person to do is bargain nan domain done a domain registrar specified arsenic GoDaddy, past spell done nan domain relationship process.

This mightiness beryllium nan astir difficult portion of signup owed to nan verification step. But you tin ever move guardant pinch a free HubSpot domain name, which looks for illustration this:

[randomly generated token].hs-sites.com

It’s not beautiful, and decidedly my slightest favourite feature, truthful I’d urge moving guardant pinch a civilization branded domain.

Now, it’s clip to edit our site. The website editing process is simply a small much compartmentalized than successful different tools. Whereas others mightiness correct distant return you to nan page editor, HubSpot takes you to nan entirety of its suite dashboard, allowing you to entree its marketing, sales, and work devices successful summation to its website devices (located nether nan “Marketing” menu).

To entree it, simply spell to Marketing > Website > Website Pages.

Then, click Create. Something I loved present was nan action to create either a website page aliases a landing page. This makes HubSpot a awesome fresh if you’re utilizing your tract to thrust leads successful immoderate capacity.

After you create your first page, nan process is past easy and familiar. You tin take a template, but beryllium judge to instal a taxable first (which is portion of nan setup workflow).

The free themes and templates are very good, and location are plentifulness of options successful nan HubSpot marketplace. That said, astir themes are business-oriented; if you’d for illustration to build an artsy aliases eclectic website, different website builders see much "fun" designs.

One point I loved was that you tin move betwixt themes and operation and lucifer them. Other devices don’t let you to usage different themes connected nan aforesaid site, truthful if you’re concerned astir constricted creation options, CMS Hub is simply a awesome choice.

Once you’ve chosen your template, you’re fresh to statesman editing. CMS Hub pulls successful demo contented truthful you tin spot what your page will look for illustration erstwhile you’re finished. I can’t show you nan magnitude of times I’ve utilized a template connected WordPress, only to get a afloat blank page pinch nan “Hello World!” heading. The demo contented is simply a definite plus.

Finally, nan drag-and-drop page builder is thing to scoff at. The page builder useful based connected modules, which you resistance onto nan page. It past creates a unrecorded constituent you tin edit directly, allowing you to spot your changes successful existent time, arsenic opposed to having to unfastened a preview tab.

Another point I loved is that it’s easy capable to usage for a beginner, but besides gives developers nan expertise to create precocious civilization modules and tinker pinch nan site’s root code. For instance, successful your settings, you tin upload a civilization CSS stylesheet.

Here’s nan awesome part: For each of its simplicity and user-friendliness, HubSpot’s website builder is much than equipped to grip business-level demands, pinch marketing, sales, and service software already built-in. Most of those are free to usage astatine nan basal tier, allowing you to nonstop an email a month, for example, and usage HubSpot CRM without paying a azygous cent.

Of course, it comes pinch everything you request to build a website, including content guidance strategy (CMS) tools, themes and templates, information features, and a built-in contented transportation web (CDN) to guarantee pages load quickly. Overall, I can’t urge this instrumentality capable for immoderate type of business that wants much than a basal website builder.

Core Features

• CMS tools
• Themes and templates
• Built-in information features (malware scanning, website monitoring, and web exertion firewall)
• Free SSL certificate
• Ability to link to a custom domain

Advantages

• Includes web hosting
• Personalization (thanks to HubSpot’s CRM)
• Security
• Responsive themes and templates

Disadvantages

• The free type displays HubSpot's branding
• If you want to build civilization modules and templates, you’ll request to study HuBL, HubSpot’s templating language

Pricing

A constricted free scheme is available. The premium CMS plans pinch further features commencement astatine $23 a period erstwhile billed annually.

Brands Using HubSpot

• Botkeeper
• ProArch
• Eternal Works

2. Best Free Website Builder for Beginners: WordPress.com

I can’t count nan number of WordPress.com sites I’ve built for fun. It’s easy to motion up, it’s free, and its included domain sanction is not arsenic disfigured (and much recognizable) than others connected this list. “Brandname.wordpress.com” has a bully ringing to it, right?

First, though, I’d for illustration to constituent retired that WordPress.com is different from WordPress.org. WordPress.com is simply a free, fully-hosted website-building service, whereas WordPress.org is simply a contented guidance strategy you tin instal connected your website.

If you’re looking for a elemental free website builder, WordPress.com is nan measurement to go. But if you person a small spot of website improvement knowledge and are consenting to study nan ins and outs of WordPress hosting, WordPress.org is simply a awesome choice.

For this list, though, I urge WordPress.com. Why? It’s an all-in-one action that doesn’t require you to bargain abstracted WordPress hosting aliases trial retired different WordPress page builders.

It’s not arsenic customizable arsenic WordPress.org, but it’s much than capable for beginners, bloggers, and hobbyists. Due to nan free tier’s limitations connected bandwidth and deficiency of CDN, business owners should astir apt see different tool.

Just for illustration CMS Hub, mounting up your website connected WordPress.com is very easy. As it guides you done nan setup process, WordPress will inquire you astir your goals and instantly punctual you to take a free taxable for your website.

The themes are modern and mobile-optimized — I was amazed to find that I liked rather a fewer of nan designs. When I’ve utilized WordPress successful nan past, I recovered nan themes lackluster, but it seems to person updated its library.

From there, WordPress will return you to an abbreviated checklist that’s akin to HubSpot’s. By nan clip you’ve picked your theme, you’ve already completed nan first 3 steps. All you person to do is people your first blog post, edit nan website’s design, and motorboat your site.

Keep successful mind that nan tract is still successful nan bare minimum stages — you still request to spell into nan dashboard and adhd pages and content. Unfortunately, connected nan free version, you can’t instal plugins, including nan HubSpot WordPress trading plugin.

Now, let’s talk astir nan resistance and driblet page builder. WordPress.com’s is overmuch much minimal than different options connected this list, and that’s because it chiefly includes plain contented formats specified arsenic paragraphs, headings, lists, and tables. It’s besides not a unrecorded editor; if you want to spot your chances connected nan page, you person to preview it connected different tab.

That said, its simplicity makes it a awesome action for beginners conscionable starting to build their first website — nary request to fiddle pinch analyzable modules.

If you are looking for much built-out modules — specified arsenic banners, headers, pre-built sections, and much — you’d beryllium amended disconnected pinch a website builder that offers these options connected nan free tier, specified arsenic HubSpot’s CMS Hub aliases Webflow.

Core Features

• Large postulation of themes
• Mobile-friendly and optimized for SEO
• Managed website hosting and security

Advantages

• Customizable
• Flexible
• Mobile and desktop apps available

Disadvantages

• The free type displays ads
• More limitations compared to WordPress.org
• Although intuitive, it’s much difficult to study than different drag-and-drop builders

Pricing

A constricted free scheme is available. Premium plans commencement astatine $4 a period erstwhile billed annually.

Brands Using WordPress.com

• Anytime Fitness Australia
• Activity Hero Blog
• Outsource School

3. Best Free Website Builder for Ecommerce Websites: Weebly

Weebly is simply a classical website builder that offers a unsocial bundle of web hosting, domain registration, web design, and built-in ecommerce functions. This past characteristic is of note. For instance, connected WordPress, you’d person to instal an ecommerce plugin to commencement a shop, and moreover connected CMS Hub, you’d request a third-party integration.

On Weebly, you tin unfastened up a shop arsenic portion of nan sign-up process. For that reason, I highly urge it if you’d for illustration to build an ecommerce website. This website builder is already integrated pinch Square, a celebrated online costs gateway.

As portion of my test, I chose to create a website for an online store. What I liked astir this portion of Weebly’s setup is that it’s truthful elemental — you don’t person to spell connected and connected astir your goals aliases nan type of website you’d for illustration to build.

During nan adjacent fewer phases, you’ll beryllium capable to take a sanction for your store, arsenic good arsenic designate nan type of products you’ll beryllium selling. I’m not judge what this measurement is for — it must beryllium for metadata aliases for Wix’s search purposes, but it’s bully to capable retired either way.

As pinch CMS Hub and WordPres.com, you’ll beryllium prompted to take a theme. If you’re mounting up an ecommerce website, Weebly will automatically benignant nan themes truthful that you get storefront options first — nary request to spell hunting for them.

I did find nan taxable action a small little divers than different options connected this list, but for a free ecommerce tract builder, nan options are reasonable.

As I was testing this website builder, I besides recovered that it offers a nifty merchandise listing instrumentality that allows you to group up your inventory for waste immediately. I loved really easy and elemental this was. It could make a awesome fresh for personification who’s trying ecommerce retired for nan first time.

If you deliberation Weebly will time off you without thief aliases guidance, I person bully news. Like nan erstwhile tools, it includes a checklist for you to activity done truthful that you tin group up your shop correctly.

I’ve utilized Weebly earlier and person abandoned it owed to a laggy page editor. During my trial this clip around, I recovered that nan drag-and-drop editor is still somewhat laggy but much serviceable than erstwhile I was utilizing Weebly for fun.

It includes nan modular text, image, and rich | contented modules, pinch much assortment and complexity than WordPress.com’s options. It besides features adjuvant SEO devices and resources to get you started pinch an SEO strategy.

Core Features

• Drag-and-drop editor
• Integrated CMS solution
• Free SSL certificate
• SEO tools
• Analytics and reporting

Advantages

• Helpful SEO assets tools
• Good action of paid and free apps successful nan app center
• The free scheme has ecommerce functionality

Disadvantages

• Limited prime of themes
• The free and basal paid plans show ads
• Limited SEO functionality

Pricing

A constricted free scheme is available. Premium plans commencement astatine $6 a period erstwhile billed annually.

Brands Using Weebly

• Caribeans Coffee and Chocolate
• Kerlin BBQ
• Argyle Yarn Shop

4. Best Free Website Builder for Web Developers: Webflow

Webflow is simply a awesome free website builder for those who person much coding acquisition and who’d for illustration a much customizable website builder tool. Because of its expertise to see aggregate workspaces and aggregate websites for clients, I particularly urge it for freelance web developers and agencies.

(And if you hap to beryllium a instrumentality of Adobe Creative Cloud, you’ll find that Webflow has a akin UX — different plus.)

Webflow is simply a victor erstwhile it comes to nan setup workflow. Straightaway, you’ll person nan action to build a website for your company, your clients, aliases yourself. I chose “Clients” to trial its capabilities for freelancers and agencies.

Next, you’ll beryllium asked to place nan type of website you’re building. Blog websites are an option, but if you’re readying to commencement a blog, I urge CMS Hub aliases WordPress.com instead. Both of those connection powerful blogging options and a overmuch much beginner-friendly interface.

I was amazed to spot that Webflow includes different workspaces, thing I didn’t tally crossed successful different devices (except CMS Hub, which allows you to person entree to different portals). This makes Webflow an fantabulous prime for ample teams wherever you mightiness person different workspaces depending connected permissions aliases occupation function.

The free taxable action successful Webflow is, though limited, very good. I told nan instrumentality I wanted to create a portfolio website, and it automatically suggested a portfolio taxable for maine to try.

After you take a theme, you’ll beryllium taken consecutive distant to nan website builder. Webflow’s page builder is analyzable and nan learning curve is steep. While nan instrumentality does see a setup checklist, it’s not arsenic elemental to travel arsenic others connected this list.

For instance, correct away, you’ll beryllium prompted to alteration CSS classes — which tin beryllium daunting if you’re caller to web development.

The existent page builder, though, is beautiful familiar. You tin adhd HTML elements specified arsenic sections, containers, divs, lists, buttons, headings, and truthful on. The instrumentality does see much method language, truthful you’ll brushwood position specified arsenic “V Flex,” which refers to a vertical flexbox.

I tin spot this being difficult for beginners and moreover intermediate users, truthful if you place arsenic either of those, you mightiness want to opt for different tool. (Or you tin usage Webflow to study web improvement terms!)

One point I loved that could make Webflow a bully fresh for beginners is its inclusion of “Libraries.” If you’re astatine each intimidated by nan connection and nan learning curve, you tin simply import pre-designed components and sections without needing to tinker excessively pinch nan instrumentality itself.

Webflow includes a free domain for you to use, but it only publishes to a staging environment — different logic why this instrumentality is specified a awesome fresh for developers. The only point you’ll request to acquisition erstwhile utilizing Webflow is simply a domain you tin people your tract to.

Core Features

• A drag-and-drop website builder
• Widgets to adhd features for illustration maps and media
• Third-party integrations

Advantages

• Offers complete power complete your site’s design
• Drag-and-drop what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) builder
• Responsive interface

Disadvantages

• After building a website connected Webflow, you request to transportation it to a contented guidance system
• Requires immoderate knowledge of HTML and CSS to entree afloat features
• It has a analyzable free and paid scheme structure
• You request to motion up for some a Site and Workspace plan

Pricing

A constricted free scheme is available. Premium plans commencement astatine $12 a period erstwhile billed annually.

Brands Using Webflow

• Michael Kors
• Craft.do
• Hologram.io

5. Best Free Website Builder for Local Business Owners: Wix

Wix is 1 of nan astir celebrated free website builders, and astir apt 1 of nan first options you thought of erstwhile you first started researching tools. The easy-to-use, fully-hosted level offers an easy drag-and-drop editor, an extended postulation of apps, and professional-looking templates.

I first utilized Wix successful 2010-2013, erstwhile it was still conscionable a elemental website builder pinch a estimation for being laggy and poorly optimized. It’s now turned into 1 of nan astir robust options connected nan market.

Wix’s astir noteworthy characteristic is its attraction connected providing each nan devices basal for business owners to get their business up and moving online.

When you’re mounting up your site, you will person nan action of choosing nan type of business you run. Unlike connected different website builders, wherever this accusation is utilized for soul cataloging purposes, Wix creates a customized dashboard depending connected nan type of business you choose.

I group up a blog, an online store, and a brick-and-mortar shop, and each 3 had different checklists and integrated apps connected their dashboards.

For this test, I chose to group up a section shop. Instead of correct distant taking maine to nan website builder, nan Wix setup adjunct tried to get arsenic overmuch accusation astir “my business” arsenic possible.

I was thoroughly impressed by nan effort to get my business’ accusation successful a beginner-friendly questionnaire. The accusation would later beryllium utilized for Wix’s Point of Sale instrumentality and connected my website. This makes Wix a specially bully fresh for section businesses who want to group up an robust online presence, but don’t want to messiness pinch different devices to do so.

Depending connected your answers to immoderate of nan questions connected nan questionnaire, Wix will see different widgets, tools, and checklist items connected your dashboard. For instance, below, I told nan instrumentality I wanted to judge online and in-person payments, nonstop automated emails, and more—

—and erstwhile I went to my dashboard, Wix had created a checklist that allowed maine to group up everything I wanted, including signing up connected its Point of Sale tool. A section business proprietor would find this highly convenient and seamless. That said, nan database tin beryllium overwhelming to look at.

I was possibly half an hr into nan setup, and Wix had yet to punctual maine to commencement designing my website. The first fewer steps successful nan checklist, successful fact, each person to do pinch soul management and finance.

That tells maine that Wix wants to beryllium nan 1 management portal for business owners to negociate their online beingness beyond designing a website.

When you do yet statesman to group up your site, Wix gives you nan action of either manually choosing a template aliases utilizing Wix’s creation assistant. This is simply a unsocial characteristic I’ve yet to tally into successful my tests. It will apt beryllium a crippled changer for section business owners who are short connected time.

I chose nan action for Wix to create a tract for me. It past prompted maine to prime a taxable and began preparing location page designs based connected my preferred aesthetic.

Since I chose “Fresh,” it past delivered earthy and cleanable designs. The action is limited, but bully for a section business.

After, you person nan action of adding pages to your tract pinch demo contented already imported.

My slightest favourite facet of Wix is nan page builder itself. It’s cluttered, difficult to navigate, and overly complicated. That could perchance lengthen nan learning curve connected this tool.

Another facet I recovered unusual is that erstwhile you insert a caller element, it doesn’t threat to nan grid. Instead, it stays correct wherever you spot it. That intends it could beryllium difficult to reliably align different elements pinch nan nonstop aforesaid magnitude of padding and margin. But if you don’t adhd caller elements and simply edit nan demo content, this shouldn’t beryllium overmuch of a problem.

Core Features

• A drag-and-drop editor
• A ample postulation of apps and templates
• Analytics and reporting

Advantages

• Easy to use
• Large postulation of apps and templates
• Optimized for mobile

Disadvantages

• The free type displays salient ads
• The premium plans are pricey erstwhile compared to others connected this list
• The only measurement to alteration templates is by creating a caller tract and transferring your premium scheme to it

Pricing

A constricted free scheme is available. Premium plans commencement astatine $16 a period erstwhile billed annually.

Brands Using Wix

• Cotton’s Restaurant
• Cau Steakhouse
• P.S. & Co.

6. Best Free Website Builder for No-Fuss, Short-Term Websites: Google Sites

Google Sites is Google’s proprietary website builder and perfectly worthy a spot successful this list, if only for its ease-of-use and for nan truth that it’s 100% free — nary upgrade required. You tin usage it conscionable arsenic you would Google Docs, Google Sheets, aliases Google Slides. Simply spell to sites.google.com, take a template from nan list, and commencement editing.

Google Sites offers different types of templates for employees, mini businesses, individuals, and students. Due to nan constricted features and deficiency of integrations, I wouldn’t urge this website builder for immoderate type of business, whether freelance, local, small, aliases enterprise. Google Sites is simply excessively constricted for a business’ demanding needs.

If you’d for illustration to build a website for immoderate different reason, though — for a project, a individual update, aliases an FAQ — Google Sites is simply a awesome choice. Once you take a template, you’re taken correct to nan editor, wherever you tin commencement editing nan demo content.

The interface is arsenic seamless and acquainted arsenic you’d expect from Google. No overly analyzable motto and nary overabundance of options, but what it does connection is plentifulness capable to build a beardown site. The learning curve is very mild.

(In fact, nan learning curve is truthful mild that I would really not urge this arsenic a learning instrumentality for those building a tract for nan first time. To genuinely study really to create a website, see a much robust instrumentality that includes accepted web creation elements.)

Like pinch immoderate different Google tool, you tin collaborate pinch others and limit permissions. That makes it a awesome action if you request to build a squad tract for immoderate reason.

Once you deed publish, it will beryllium published to a subdirectory of a subdirectory connected Google’s domain. For instance, here’s nan URL I published my tract to erstwhile I was doing my test:

https://sites.google.com/hubspot.com/tinasmithphdtest/about

There is nary action to link a civilization domain done nan Google Sites portal, but you tin ever acquisition a civilization domain (I urge utilizing Google’s ain domain buying service, domains.google.com) and mounting up a 301 redirect.

Core Features

• A drag-and-drop editor
• The accepted Google Workspace interface
• Analytics and reporting (through Google Analytics)

Advantages

• Very, very easy to use
• Simple to group up for existent Google users
• Optimized for mobile

Disadvantages

• This is simply a constricted instrumentality for immoderate benignant of business need
• The templates skew toward outdated
• Custom domains can’t beryllium connected via Google Sites; 301-redirect needed

Pricing

Free.

Brands Using Google Sites

No brands that I cognize of usage Google Sites — this instrumentality is champion for individual projects.

Website Builder Features You Need

Choosing a website builder instrumentality is easier erstwhile you cognize what you're looking for. Here are nan features to look retired for.

1. Themes and Templates

The supra drag-and-drop themes are disposable successful CMS Hub — motion up for free.

Having an assortment of afloat customizable themes and templates connected nan website builder’s taxable marketplaces makes it easier for users to alteration their site’s look.

In that sense, website builders should person taxable options that cater to circumstantial niches truthful users don't discarded clip creating caller templates from scratch. For example, nan website builders connected our database person options for blogs, portfolios, ecommerce websites, and more.

Templates should beryllium pre-structured and pre-populated pinch images, text, and different elements commonly recovered connected websites. For example, each tract needs a location page, astir page, and interaction page. All you request to do is prime 1 and switch nan sample contented pinch your own.

Themes and templates should beryllium easy to customize — pinch aggregate options for backgrounds, layouts, fonts, and colors.

2. Media (Video, Photo, Audio, and Graphics)

Solely having matter connected your website tin beryllium monotonous, truthful including different forms of media helps break up matter and tin thief accusation stick. Fill retired your website pinch highly engaging multimedia contented and graphics to support captious accusation and prosecute users.

You tin easy bring your website to life utilizing ocular immunodeficiency and mediums for illustration banal photos, vector images, inheritance images, banal video footage, sound effects, and video editing templates. There are tons of websites that supply media resources that are free to usage for content. Freepik is simply a well-known website that provides illustrations and images.

Many sites besides incorporated icons into their sites for illustration wrong nan call-to-actions and resources sections. Flaticon is simply a awesome root of icons.

Using these resources will toggle shape your website into thing memorable and visually appealing, while besides providing a user-friendly experience.

Some website builders connection much robust media capabilities, pinch aggregate assemblage layouts, customization options, and editing features.

3. WYSIWYG Editor

Besides an assortment of themes and templates, nan champion website builder devices make it easy for users to customize their websites pinch drag-and-drop devices and what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editors.

There’s nary request to study really to codification erstwhile you tin update your tract successful a fewer clicks. Simply resistance and driblet elements to nan page and spot nan changes implemented to your website immediately.

4. Malware Scanning

Security is simply a apical information erstwhile choosing a website builder.

Security features alteration depending connected nan website builder instrumentality you select, but see it a keeper if it offers malware scanning. Automated malware scanning allows you to reside threats earlier they advancement into thing catastrophic.

5. Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A web exertion firewall (WAF) is different must-have information feature.

WAFs beryllium betwixt your web server and nan net to protect your website from communal attacks. You’ll beryllium capable to debar SQL injections and cross-site scripting (XSS) by filtering, monitoring, and blocking malicious postulation from entering nan network.

WAFs tin travel successful nan shape of software-as-a-service (SaaS), and you tin customize them to meet your website’s unsocial needs.

6. Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Besides tract security, you should besides consider optimizing for page speed. After all, it affects everything from customer acquisition to conversions and revenue.

According to Portent, a tract that loads successful 1 2nd has a conversion complaint 5x higher than a tract that loads successful 10 seconds.

There are galore ways to amended page speed, and a contented transportation network (CDN) is 1 measurement to do so. CDNs shop dense and fixed contented connected distributed servers located worldwide and load nan cached contented from a location nearest to nan personification to velocity up its delivery.

7. Web Hosting

What bully are website builders erstwhile they can't get your website online?

Some solutions only connection website builder devices to make your site. You person to salary separately for web hosting services to get your tract online.

The champion website builders make it convenient to commencement websites by offering web hosting. Free website builders connection constricted bandwidth and retention conscionable for individual use. You tin upgrade to shared, dedicated, aliases managed hosting for an further fee.

8. Storage

Web hosting useful by providing 2 services: bandwidth and disk abstraction (or storage).

Most free website builders connection ample (limited) retention for a beginner tract but require you to acquisition further retention should you request it.

9. Blogs

People often confuse websites and blogs pinch each different — they're akin but not nan same.

A blog is simply a type of website that contains accusation astir different topics. They're often updated pinch caller articles aliases posts, while websites only person updates erstwhile needed. In a nutshell, each blogs are websites, but not each websites are aliases person blogs.

Organizations build websites for different reasons: to sell, showcase a portfolio, aliases pass — and for those reasons, a blog tin beryllium helpful.

Blogs can thief your website by:

• Increasing visibility done SEO.
• Generating caller leads.
• Building spot and loyalty.
• Creating marque awareness.

Most free website builders travel pinch basal blogging devices and station creation and remark guidance features.

10. SEO Capabilities

According to BrightEdge, 53% of postulation comes from integrated search. If you want to bring successful much postulation and views, your website needs to beryllium hunt engine-optimized.

Most website builders thief with method SEO by offering free SSL certificates and supporting schema markup and XML sitemaps. They besides support on-page SEO by allowing you to participate and modify URLs, meta tags, and image alt attributes.

11. Customer Support

While utilizing website builder tools, you’ll apt tally into a problem you can't troubleshoot. That’s where customer support comes in.

Customer support assists you pinch thing you request thief pinch — technical, sales, billing, payments, aliases experiences. Depending connected nan website builder, assistance tin travel successful immoderate (or a mix) of nan pursuing channels:

• FAQs.
• Chatbot support.
• Live support.
• A knowledge base.
• Video tutorials.

The champion website builders support a operation of channels and reply inquiries promptly.

12. Ecommerce Capabilities

Are you readying connected trading beingness aliases integer products successful nan future? Consider choosing a website builder pinch ecommerce capabilities.

There are dedicated ecommerce website builders, but these are often paid solutions pinch robust functionality specified arsenic apps for costs and shipping.

Free website builders often merge pinch a third-party ecommerce exertion aliases support a elemental built-in store.

13. Third-party Integrations

There’s thing worse than realizing your existing tech stack doesn’t activity pinch nan website builder you chose. Thus, it’s important to see whether a website builder allows third-party integrations.

Your website builder should merge pinch outer tools, specified arsenic email marketing, ecommerce, and societal software.

14. Analytics and Reporting

Your website builder should besides person an analytics and reporting usability to measurement important metrics for illustration nan site’s celebrated pages, bounce rate, mean long per visit, and more.

Alternatively, you tin way your website metrics successful an analytics and reporting tool. When you bring your web analytics together pinch different cardinal chimney metrics for illustration tests aliases activation complaint onto a dashboard, you springiness everyone connected your squad nan expertise to research your information and uncover insights.

Picking Your Website Builder

There you person it! Since astir of these website builders are free, effort retired a mates if you're unsure of nan champion fit. In particular, return statement of what you really want to get retired of your tract to guarantee your needs will beryllium met by 1 of these builders.

Editor's Note: This station was primitively published successful November 2018 but has been updated for comprehensiveness.