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.
Read more: Best VPS hosting 2026, reviewed by a tech expert
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
