Best Website Builder for Small Business in 2023

In today's digital age, a strong online presence is non-negotiable for small businesses aiming to thrive and succeed. With an ever-expanding array of website builder options at your fingertips, choosing the right platform has never been more crucial.

A well-designed website is not just essential for small businesses; it is the digital storefront that opens the door to a multitude of possibilities, enabling you to capture leads and expand your customer base like never before.

Let's explore the tools and platforms that will empower your small business to make a big impact on the web this year.

Best Website Builder For Small Business

WordPress

WordPress, a name synonymous with web development for over a decade, continues to be a leading choice for small businesses in 2023. With its robust features, user-friendly interface, and a vast ecosystem of themes and plugins, WordPress empowers entrepreneurs and business owners to create dynamic, professional websites without the need for extensive coding knowledge.

Advantages:

• Budget-friendly due to its no-cost nature.
• Simple to use and highly adaptable.
• You have complete ownership and control over all web content.
• Utilizes open-source CMS software.
• Offers a selection of over 55 plugins, including both free and premium options to choose from.
• Access to a vast library of 10,000 themes.
• Enables the creation of multilingual websites, supporting 65 languages through input and translation.
• Well-suited for building websites for a wide range of niches and business categories.

Disadvantages:

• WordPress can become complex when customizing extensively or troubleshooting issues. 
• WordPress sites can be vulnerable to security threats if not properly maintained.
• Not all plugins are regularly updated or well-maintained.

Webflow

Webflow is a robust and versatile web design and development platform that has gained popularity for its unique combination of visual design capabilities and code-level control. It caters to a wide range of users, from novice designers to experienced developers, offering a flexible solution for creating modern and responsive websites. 

Advantages:

• Webflow's visual design interface makes it accessible to designers and individuals with no coding background. 
• Designing for different screen sizes is straightforward in Webflow, ensuring your site looks and functions well on various devices.
• Webflow provides hosting services, simplifying the deployment process and reducing the need for third-party hosting providers.
• Webflow provides a user-friendly interface for clients to manage content and updates after the site is built.
• The wide array of website templates available in Webflow addresses diverse design preferences and meets various business requirements, providing users with ample choices for their projects.

Disadvantages:

• While it offers a free plan, more advanced features and hosting can become costly, especially for larger websites or e-commerce sites.
• Only one person can make edits at a time.

Wix

Wix consistently excels in nearly all the small business research categories we've explored, establishing itself as a dependable choice for any business seeking to enhance its online presence or engage in online sales.

Wix provides you with complete creative autonomy over your website and brand identity. Its sophisticated e-commerce features, such as inventory management tools and shipping solutions, position it as a formidable website builder in the market.

Advantages:

• It stands out as one of the most straightforward drag-and-drop builders available.
• No coding skills required.
• Even with the free version, it offers an extensive selection of design choices and templates.
• You can enhance its capabilities with add-ons like Wix form builders.
• It boasts exceptional customer support services.

Disadvantages:

• The free plans do not offer the ability to personalize the domain.
• Only one person can make edits at a time.

Shopify

Shopify stands out as a remarkable platform tailored for e-commerce enterprises, offering comprehensive POS capabilities and encompassing all the essential features required for an e-commerce website within a unified platform.

Thanks to its adaptable product category functionalities and the capacity to seamlessly integrate with a multitude of other applications, Shopify is widely acknowledged as the premier choice for e-commerce businesses and the creation of online stores. It also merits consideration as one of the foremost alternatives to e-commerce platforms like Webflow.

Advantages:

• Seamless integration with an extensive array of third-party applications.
• Designed specifically for the development of e-commerce websites.
• Multilingual support with a choice of up to 20 languages.
• Highly suitable for dropshipping enterprises.
• Intuitive and easy-to-navigate front-end and back-end development interfaces.

Disadvantages:

• Shopify operates on a subscription-based model, and the monthly fees can add up, especially when considering additional apps and transaction fees. 
• Shopify's blogging features, while present, are not as robust as those in dedicated blogging platforms like WordPress.

Canva

The renowned design tool, Canva, is at your disposal to assist you in crafting your one-page website effortlessly!

With Canva Website Builder, you can swiftly announce business events or enhance your personal brand through its elegant templates and user-friendly editor.

Canva Website Builder offers custom, mobile-responsive one-page website templates designed to serve various purposes, making it an excellent choice for those lacking technical skills or coding knowledge who aim to create a simple one-page website.

Whether you're an entrepreneur crafting an online menu, a content creator developing event pages, or simply a side hustler building your portfolio, Canva Website Builder caters to a diverse range of needs.

Advantages:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
• Engineered to be user-friendly, making it accessible to individuals with limited technical know-how.
• Incorporates built-in design tools, enabling users to effortlessly add text, images, videos, and other elements to their websites.
• Offers a diverse selection of templates that users can personalize to suit their specific requirements.

Disadvantages:

• Offers fewer features and functionalities compared to other website builders or custom-coded websites.
• Certain features require an upgrade to Canva Pro.
• Provides less design flexibility when compared to coding a website from scratch.
• May not be well-suited for larger or more complex websites.

Squarespace

Squarespace serves as a website construction and hosting platform, empowering users to create and oversee their websites without the need for extensive technical expertise.

Squarespace equips users with a diverse array of customizable templates, intuitive drag-and-drop tools, and integrated functionalities, including e-commerce capabilities, facilitating the development of a polished and professional website. 

Additionally, the platform encompasses hosting services, domain registration, and round-the-clock customer support, offering a comprehensive solution for website creation and maintenance. Squarespace is a favored choice among small businesses, photographers, artists, and individuals aiming to establish their online presence.

Advantages:

• Particularly well-suited for photographers and visual artists.
• Allows for domain transfer.
• An all-inclusive platform capable of managing blogs, e-commerce, domain hosting, and more.
• Contemporary and sophisticated templates.
• Allows for domain transfer.
• Features a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and an array of design possibilities.
• An all-inclusive platform capable of managing blogs, e-commerce, domain hosting, and more.
• Offers robust SEO tools.

Disadvantages:

• Lacks a built-in multi-language approach.
• E-commerce capabilities may not be as extensive as those of competing platforms that offer plugins and enhanced features.
• Access to potent features, such as custom code, necessitates a business plan. 
• Offers fewer add-ons and applications compared to similar tools.

Weebly

You could consider Weebly as a fusion of Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify all rolled into one cohesive platform. Indeed, it embodies these traits.

Weebly boasts contemporary and aesthetically pleasing themes, complemented by a diverse range of e-commerce integrations. It also stands out for its affordability and boasts an exceptional user interface, simplifying the process of customizing and designing websites. Much like Wix and Squarespace, it offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop feature that enables you to swiftly and conveniently create your website.

Advantages:

• Exceptional technical support and feature set.
• User-friendly interface.
• High-quality customization options, including custom video backgrounds.
• Dependable hosting, available at no cost.
• Budget-friendly pricing.
• Capability for image optimization and the creation of personalized slideshows, backgrounds, and galleries.

Disadvantages:

• The editor doesn't grant the freedom to relocate elements with complete flexibility.
• It has limited SEO capabilities.
• While the drag-and-drop feature offers convenience, it lacks the precision element placement options.

Bigcommerce

BigCommerce places its emphasis on e-commerce, serving as a platform that empowers small business proprietors and merchants to construct their websites without the need for coding.

It furnishes a range of functionalities, including customizable templates, website design utilities, product and order management, and integrated payment processing.

Advantages:

• It facilitates sales in various currencies, expanding market reach.
• The platform provides an extensive array of features even within its basic-tier offerings.
• BigCommerce doesn't impose transaction fees when utilizing one of the available third-party payment gateways.
• Seamless integration with numerous marketplace platforms enhances sales channels.

Disadvantages:

• Design and editing capabilities exhibit limitations.
• Page content takes a few seconds to load, potentially affecting user experience.
• The standard pricing plan does not encompass abandoned cart functionality.
• Design and editing capabilities exhibit limitations.

Big Cartel 

If you're an artist seeking an alternative to Etsy and wish to establish your online presence with a custom domain, Big Cartel is tailor-made for you. Setting up your online store is straightforward, and what sets it apart is that it's crafted by artists themselves, meaning they've thoughtfully incorporated all the essentials you might need to successfully showcase and sell your creative work on the web.

Advantages:

• Big Cartel offers a cost-free plan for those with up to five products, making it an excellent choice for small businesses taking their first steps into online sales.
• Setting up your website with Big Cartel is not only straightforward but also remarkably speedy.
• You have the flexibility to choose from Big Cartel's ready-made themes for a swift setup or, if you prefer, take full control and design your entire site using custom code access.

Disadvantages:

• The technical SEO configuration is lacking. 
• There isn't a tool to save abandoned shopping carts. 
• The available point-of-sale (POS) features are rudimentary.

Webador

Webador caters to small businesses, offering a range of products including websites, webshops, domains, and email services. It simplifies the process of website creation, design, and domain name integration, making it accessible for small businesses to establish their online presence effortlessly. Webador also provides various solutions like business email addresses, enabling users to start webshops and monitor their success, catering to diverse business needs.

Advantages:

• A wide selection of over 50 templates is available, all of which can be fully customized.
• Responsive design solutions enable the creation of mobile-friendly websites.
• No coding or design expertise is required due to the user-friendly builder.
• A wide selection of over 50 templates is available, all of which can be fully customized.
• Detailed statistics allow you to monitor your business's performance and analyze traffic sources.

Disadvantages:

• The builder's design could be enhanced to adopt a more modern appearance.
• The library of website templates could benefit from expansion and enrichment.

Duda

Duda stands out as a website builder that prioritizes design aesthetics, making it an ideal choice for individuals seeking visually appealing websites with the convenience of templates. It enables swift website creation, widget development, and branding. 

Initially tailored for agencies, Duda has evolved to offer features accessible to a broader user base. For instance, users gain access to a diverse selection of complimentary widgets, or they have the option to construct their custom widgets to incorporate unique functionalities into their websites. Within each template, users have a substantial degree of creative control, making it particularly advantageous for beginners who may not yet have confidence in their website design abilities.

Advantages:

• Duda does not levy additional commission fees.
• Outstanding customer support.
• Provides substantial value at a lower price point compared to the market, making it an excellent choice for small businesses.
• Features a drag-and-drop builder for intuitive design.

Disadvantages:

• There is a need for additional integrations.
• Platforms like Wix and Webflow offer a more extensive range of design controls.
• The website builder may experience occasional slowness.

Volusion

Volusion provides valuable data insights into the performance of your online store. It features its own integrated analytics tools and offers seamless integration with partners such as Fullstory and Google Analytics, ensuring you have access to all the essential information required for the growth of your business.

Advantages:

• With a wide selection of eCommerce templates, you can easily find the perfect one that aligns with your business and brand.
• Volusion provides around-the-clock support with a live representative available when needed.
• Volusion collaborates with approximately 80 third-party apps and services that encompass a wide spectrum of functions, including accounting, CRM, channel management, email marketing, shipping, etc.

Disadvantages:

• The website builder is quite user-friendly. However, if you wish to experiment with design elements, Volusion can become complex rather swiftly.
• Slower load times.

Hubspot

HubSpot's Website Builder is a potent platform engineered to assist businesses in crafting and enhancing their online presence and lead generation through website optimization.

With a user-friendly interface and an extensive array of features, this website builder empowers companies to construct visually appealing, responsive, and high-performing websites without necessitating substantial technical expertise.

Advantages:

• Offers robust analytics and tracking capabilities, delivering valuable insights.
• Effortlessly design and personalize your website using the drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates, eliminating the need for coding or technical skills.
• Seamlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools, facilitating efficient lead capture and management.
• Supports the implementation of SEO strategies to enhance the website's visibility in search engine rankings.
• Automatically optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless user experience across various screen sizes.
• Seamlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools, facilitating efficient lead capture and management.

Disadvantages:

• Premium features and paid plans may come at a relatively higher cost.
• Some users may encounter limitations regarding advanced customization options.
• Beginners might need time to get familiar with its features.

Pixpa

Pixpa serves as a no-code website builder tailored to photographers, artists, and designers. It streamlines the creation and management of professional websites, complete with built-in online stores, blogs, and client galleries.

Advantages:

• Boasts an extensive collection of responsive templates.
• Incorporates robust SEO and marketing tools seamlessly.
• Provides the flexibility to employ custom CSS and HTML code for advanced customization.
• It does not levy commissions on website sales.
• Offers compatibility with over 50 third-party integrations.

Disadvantages:

• No free plans are available.
• Creating a multilingual site may entail some complexity.
• Custom domain names necessitate purchase from a third-party provider.

Conclusion

Creating a website for a small business may pose challenges, but with a suitable website builder, the process can be smooth and uncomplicated.

The website builders covered in this article represent some of the top choices in the market, each offering distinctive features and pricing structures tailored to the unique requirements of small businesses.

Ultimately, determining the ideal website builder for a small business hinges on its particular needs and objectives. Whether it's prioritizing design, user-friendliness, e-commerce capabilities, or a blend of these factors, the website builders highlighted here furnish small businesses with the necessary tools to establish a polished and thriving online presence.