Choosing a website builder – Things to consider and top options
A website builder is a perfect tool for entrepreneurs, individuals, and businesses to create and launch their websites. Unlike the traditional method, in which several hours of coding are required to create a website, today, you can quickly develop and customize your site without hiring a developer. Before you know it, the site will be ready for customers. However, here are a few key things to consider for choosing the best website builder software.
Things to consider
You should choose a builder that checks a few essential boxes. A few factors to consider are:
Budget: Each software is priced differently and comes with a unique set of features. Some website builder tools can offer their basic packages at no cost or a free trial. Based on your budget, you should account for all the features that justify the price of the tool. For example, you should check if the tool offers free SSL, free domain, free business email, or free eCommerce features apart from the basic monthly service. If these freebies are unavailable, you must consider additional costs for such features before picking a tool.
Exportability: People often pick a website builder software without checking if their website can be exported to another program in the future. While the website creation software you pick could seem like a good option at the time, you might want to migrate to another website builder company in the future. If the program does not offer exportability, you might have to redesign your website when you move to a different program.
Integration options: Many website builders offer quintessential tools, but the software can miss out on certain features you may require from time to time. So when you get a builder, you should go for the tool that offers seamless integration options. A good website-building tool should be able to integrate with third-party applications.
Customer support: This is one of the most vital aspects of website-building software, like all other businesses. While the company may offer stellar sales service, its after-sales customer service can be problematic. So before purchasing the tool, factor in 24/7 customer support availability and check out reviews. A helpful customer support team is essential to help you resolve issues while using the software, including dealing with the setup, bugs, and integration.
Easy of use: A website-building tool may have the best features, however, if the tool is not easy to use and navigate, then it can get challenging to make the most of these features. Certain tools can come with a complex interface. So, before narrowing down your favorite software, you should opt for the free trial to assess if the program is easy to understand and can quickly execute tasks.
Top website builders
Once you have a clear idea of all the features you need, you can move on to selecting suitable software for your website. To help you save time, here is a list of popular website-building tools:
Shopify: If you are looking for an e-commerce website builder, Shopify should make it to your top three picks. The innovative tool offers free design themes that you can edit and customize as much as you like. You can also choose from over 8,000 apps to create a unique online experience. Further, Shopify offers a credit card processor called Shopify Payments, so you do not have to purchase and install third-party payment apps. Multi-Currency and Shopify Pay enable customers to pay for items with local currency and save details for quicker checkouts. The company offers a free three-day trial that does not require entering your credit card details. After the trial period, you can pick from plans ranging between $29per month to $299 per month.
Wix: Wix is a trustworthy website builder that offers a range of prices for creating websites starting at $16/month. Wix’s Business and eCommerce Plans start at $27/month. If you run an enterprise, you can contact them directly for a quote. As for customizability, the tool offers over 500 pre-designed templates, and you can build your website with a drag-and-drop editor. You can also answer a couple of questions on their website to let Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) create a personalized website for you.
WordPress: WordPress is one of the oldest and most popular website builders. The tool is perfect for small businesses, bloggers, and large enterprises. The software features simple tools so users can drag and drop widgets and other features onto the website. You can also choose from personal, premium, business, and e-commerce packages, ranging from $9 to $70 per month. If you pick annual payment, you can get the plans for just $4 to $45 per month.