In the past, you needed to either know how to code a website from scratch or use some expensive (and sometimes complicated) software to build one. Those days are long gone, with website builders now offering a solution that’s as simple as anything else you do online. There are some great options out there, which is why I’ve spent some time researching and using many of them, narrowing the list down to a handful of the best website builders.
It’s not vital to have a website builder as part of your web hosting plans but it sure does make life easier for you. You still need your website builder to include useful features like SSL, high reliability, and regular backups, so I’ve taken that into account. A free domain sweetens the deal, too.
From Wix and Hostinger to Squarespace and Shopfiy, I’ve put a few website builders through their paces. Read on and I’ll take you through my experiences with each so you’ll know what to sign up to.
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How I tested
I spent considerable time checking out each of the entries below (and others not featured). I went through each step of the process from signing up to creating a basic website through each website builder’s method, and then seeing how easily I could tweak and customise it.
During this testing time, I also looked at what features each website builder provides and evaluated how useful they actually are. I researched prices for each plan and learned the market so I could determine what was good value. There are more details on the testing process at the bottom of this article.
The best website builders in 2026 are:
- Best website builder overall – Wix: From £9 per month, Wix.com
- Best budget website builder – Hostinger: From £2.99 per month, Hostinger.com
- Best creative website builder – Squarespace: From £12 per month, Squarespace.com
- Best ecommerce website builder – Shopify: From £19 per month, Shopify.com
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Wix website builder
Rating: 5/5
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Best: Overall
Plans: Website builder
Storage: 2GB to unlimited
Backups: Automatic
Domain included: Yes, for one year on all but the Light plan
Why we love it
- Incredibly beginner-friendly
- Quick actions panel is genuinely helpful
- Great business tools
Take note
- Can get expensive
- A bit limited
Wix is that rare thing – a website builder that I’m confident you could hand over to anyone and they could figure it out. It’s the most beginner-friendly option out there. Starting out, you can follow some AI insights to create a website but I preferred the design site option where you can drag and drop elements to create your site. Whichever method you use, it’s very intuitive and logical.
Even better, Wix isn’t just about static websites. It easily slots in plugins such as video content, a bookings system, or an online store. It’ll happily make suggestions based on your plans too so if you forget something, Wix will likely remember it for you. Another useful feature is its Quick Actions panel which means you can quickly create a blog post, add other content, or even set up marketing campaigns. Interestingly, you can also get it to create AI-generated content.
Wix isn’t perfect because it’s rather limited. Unlike a conventional web hosting service, you can’t upload your own website nor can you use WordPress or other services. You’re tied into the Wix way of doing things, which is good but could feel restrictive eventually. It’s also a little more expensive than most but I think it’s ideal if you want to launch your website quickly (and for it to look great).
Buy now £9, Wix.com
Hostinger website builder
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: Budget website builder
Plans: Web hosting, website builder, cloud hosting, VPS hosting
Storage: 20GB to 400GB
Backups: Daily, weekly, and on demand depending on plan
Domain included: Yes, for one year
Why we love it
- Very flexible
- Inexpensive
- Varied options for website building
Take note
- Not quite as user-friendly as a dedicated website builder
- Need to commit to a long time for best discount
Hostinger is one of the best web hosting services around, and it also has a very comprehensive handful of website builders. Rather than just focusing on one website builder, it has three options if you sign up to its web hosting. There’s the WordPress-based blog approach which uses AI prompts to create a neat looking template for your site. It also suggests plugins that may be relevant to your needs.
Additionally, there’s the dedicated website builder which creates things based on prompts and Horizons which is a truly advanced model. The latter takes a little time as you watch the code and design be made in your browser based on the information you give it. You can provide Horizons with a lot of insight into what you want and it does a pretty good job of translating that into something that looks attractive. Customisation is as simple as telling it to change a colour or move something around.
Away from its website builder elements, Hostinger is also a very useful web host provider. You can easily upload your own files, and develop your site in a more traditional way. If you want to learn website design but get something online quickly, it’s a good mixture of elements so that both can be achieved on a timeline that works for you.
Buy now £3, Hostinger.com
Squarespace website builder
Rating: 4/5
Best: Creative website builder
Plans: Website builder
Storage: 30 mins of video to unlimited
Backups: Automatic
Domain included: Yes
Why we love it
- Beautiful website designs and templates
- Beginner-friendly dashboard
- Extensive free trial
Take note
- Restrictive
- Potentially expensive
Squarespace works a lot like Wix in that it’s a dedicated website builder that takes out the technical side of things. It produces some beautiful and elegant results with you simply typing in a few prompts and Squarespace guiding you through the steps of building a website. It offers a solid free trial that means you get to see most of what’s to come too, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Squarespace leans a little bit into the idea that your website is to sell something, with various plugins added to help you promote and sell your products, but you can also use it as a portfolio. In either case, choose a template or get the Blueprint AI builder to create something more bespoke. Once you’ve finished the basics, you can edit the site through the drag-and-drop interface to get things looking just how you want them. Squarespace also offers up an extensive to-do list reminding you to tweak SEO features and do various things that mean you’ll be noticed and your site will look more professional.
It’s a very neat system but one that has the same issues as Wix. It’s fairly restrictive compared to conventional web hosting which may or may not be a problem, depending on your intentions. It’s also generally more expensive than Wix and slightly more expensive than regular web hosting so it’s good to be aware of that before committing.
Buy now £12, Squarespace.com
Shopify website builder
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: ecommerce website builder
Plans: Solo entrepreneurs, small teams, complex businesses
Storage: Unlimited
Backups: Automatic
Domain included: Yes
Why we love it
- Perfect for small businesses
- Extensive online store features
- 24/7 support
Take note
- Only suitable for online selling
- Expensive
Shopify is a comprehensive website builder for small businesses. Its sole focus is on making it easy for you to sell your products, either online or in-store. Rather than working as a conventional website builder, you’re left to customise your store’s template which works pretty well. It’s reminiscent of the WordPress way of doing things but more stylish most of the time. Editing is easy to do and AI assistance is always readily available to help you achieve your aims.
Adding a product is just as easy. If you’ve ever used eBay to list anything, it’s a very similar process so no technical knowledge is needed. Just make sure your product photos look great. You can also add customers and companies (such as the clients you deal with), while there’s areas for marketing and applying discounts, too. It’s all very shop-front focused and that’s why I like it. Analytics and Shopify’s finance section means you can quickly see how well your store is doing, and leaves you in control.
If you want an online presence only online, you don’t need Shopify. However, if you want to use a social media presence to channel people to your store, this is the builder you’re going to want. It truly is packed with every feature imaginable. It’s a little pricey at first glance (but a free trial exists along with offers), and if you want to make money online, this is a good route to pursue.
Buy now £19, Shopify.com
The verdict: Best website builders 2026
The best website builder for most people is undoubtedly Wix. It’s incredibly easy to use even if you’re not great with technology, and its results typically look great. You’ll have a website up in no time and Wix offers plenty of ways to help you refine it and also improve your SEO – which is crucial for being high on Google search rankings.
However, if you want flexibility, go for Hostinger. Hostinger is fantastic too and it’s much more affordable in many cases. Its website builders are still very good (if not quite as attractive as Wix’s offerings), and being able to upload files via the file manager and create your website the traditional way is useful.
If you have more specific needs such as highlighting an attractive portfolio of work or selling products, that’s where Squarespace and Shopify come in. Shopify is the website builder that any online store needs, while Squarespace looks beautiful. Both cost more than either Wix or Hostinger, but you get good features in exchange.
How the best website builders were tested
When spending extensive time with the best website builders, I had to consider a few key elements to make sure that they were tested the right way. Here are the factors I considered while evaluating what constituted the best website builders:
Why you can trust our reviews
Jennifer Allen is an expert in tech and websites, and has reviewed everything from VPS options to email hosting services. She also writes gaming and console reviews for IndyBest. During her testing process, Jennifer evaluated everything from website building features and changing a hosting package to value for money.
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