6 Best Website Builders of 2026

Website builders help you set up a site without coding or design experience. The best website builders help you maintain and optimize your site once it’s live.

Choosing the right website builder can have a big impact. The ecommerce automotive company UroTuning, for example, saw 50% increases in both sales and conversion after moving to Shopify. 

This article covers key features to look for when choosing a website builder and compares six of the most popular platforms for 2026.

6 best website builders

• Shopify
• WordPress
• Wix
• Squarespace
• Webflow
• Big Cartel

The platforms below all allow users to build multipage websites without coding. They have preset themes or templates, app integrations with third-party software, and ratings of 4.2 and higher on the software review site G2. 

Shopify

Shopify is the world’s leading ecommerce platform. With affordable plans, beautiful designs, and powerful selling tools, Shopify is the easiest, most reliable way to bring your business online. Their comprehensive website builder has helped millions of businesses sell online, in person, on social media, and on marketplaces.

Use the AI store builder to create a free store design in minutes or get started with one of many ready-built themes. Each Shopify store comes with unlimited product listings, the world’s best-converting checkout, shipping and fulfillment tools, analytics, access to more than 8,000 apps, and 24/7 customer support.

Plans and pricing

Shopify plans range from $5 to $399 per month. Start your Shopify free trial, no credit card required. Get three days free, then the first three months for $1 per month.

Features

• AI tools: Use Shopify Magic to streamline your store design process, create landing pages and product listings, and receive guidance on everything from shipping to analytics.
• Integrated payment processing: Shopify Payments is an integrated payment gateway that accepts all major payment methods. Plus, it’s compatible with more than 100 third-party payment providers.
• Extensive app store: Access the Shopify App Store for more than 8,000 add-ons and integrations.
• Customizable checkout: Offer customers a variety of payment options, including express checkout, in-store pickup, discount codes, and Shop Pay—the internet’s highest-converting checkout option.
• Shopify POS: Integrate with physical retail through Shopify POS, blending online and offline sales channels.
• Shipping and fulfillment: Built-in order, inventory, and shipping tools generate labels, collect import taxes, provide tracking information, manage returns, and more.
• Abandoned cart recovery: Shopify includes automated tools for recovering abandoned shopping carts.
• Advanced analytics: Track sales, customer behavior, and other essential ecommerce metrics with analytics and reporting features.
• Advanced customization and API access: While coding isn’t required, you can tailor your storefront and back-end systems to meet your needs with customization options and API support.
• Omnichannel and multichannel commerce capabilities: Ensure a consistent customer experience and manage inventory across desktop, mobile, social media, marketplace, and in-person retail.
• 24/7 customer support: Enjoy round-the-clock support via email, live chat, and phone.
• G2 rating: 4.4

WordPress

WordPress started as a content management system (CMS) in 2003 before introducing full site editing in 2021. 

WordPress is open source, which means you can use it as a free website builder by downloading the source code from WordPress.org. If you go this route, you’ll need to secure a web host for your site and maintain site security yourself. 

If you want a hosted solution with security and updates taken care of for you, you can purchase a monthly plan through WordPress.com.

If you choose the open-source option or one of WordPress.com’s cheaper paid plans, you’ll need to buy paid plug-ins to add functionality like ecommerce (the WooCommerce plug-in adds this), appointment booking, subscription sales, and digital product sales. More expensive plans include some plug-ins.

Plans and pricing

Paid WordPress plans range from $9 to $70 per month, with enterprise pricing upon request. Ecommerce functionality through WooCommerce is included at the $70 per month plan. WordPress.com has a free plan, but it comes with display ads.

Features

• AI website builder
• More than 20,000 themes and templates
• Sell digital products and subscriptions through plug-ins
• Integrations with WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal payments, and other major payment processors
• More than 65,000 plug-ins
• Support guides
• G2 rating: 4.4

Wix

Wix caters to individuals and small businesses creating simple ecommerce stores or portfolio websites. It has an AI site builder, free themes, and 24/7 customer support. Wix has ecommerce website features and functionality in its higher-tier plans.

If you plan to sell things on your Wix site, note that the platform charges transaction fees of 2% to 4% on top of regular payment processing fees. You’ll need to upgrade to the $159 per month plan to remove them. 

Plans and pricing

Paid Wix plans cost between $17 and $159 per month. Ecommerce functionality starts at $29 per month. Wix has a free plan with a wixsite.com domain and Wix branding.

Features

• AI website builder
• More than 2,000 templates
• Sell digital products and subscriptions
• Integrated payment processing with Wix Payments 
• More than 800 available apps
• Free tutorials to get started 
• Advanced analytics
• 24/7 customer support
• G2 rating: 4.2

Squarespace

Squarespace comes with 200 templates to help you get your site up and running and a drag-and-drop editor for quick customization.

The platform supports ecommerce on all plans, but sales may come with transaction fees depending on your plan. For example, with the basic plan, physical products incur a 2% transaction fee and digital products and memberships carry a 7% fee. Appointment booking functionality requires a paid plugin that starts at $16 per month.

Plans and pricing

Squarespace plans cost between $25 and $99 per month. You can try it with a 14-day free trial.

Features

• AI website builder
• 200 templates 
• Sell digital products and subscriptions
• Integrated payment processing with Squarespace Payments
• 48 extensions
• Paid appointment booking integration
• Guides and tutorials
• Advanced analytics
• 24/7 customer support
• G2 rating: 4.5 

Webflow

Webflow is a no-code site builder known for its design customization features. The platform has ample learning materials and more than 7,000 templates to get you started.

Webflow has different plans for ecommerce and content-based websites. 

Ecommerce plans start at $42 per month, but come with a 2% transaction fee unless you upgrade to the $84 per month plan. 

Webflow has a free plan that comes with a webflow.io domain. Custom domains start at $25 per month but don’t include CMS tools or analytics.

Plans and pricing

Webflow plans cost between $15 and $2,500 per month, with ecommerce features available starting at $42 per month. Webflow also has a free plan with limited features.

Features

• AI website builder
• More than 7,000 templates
• Sell digital products and subscriptions
• More than 300 apps
• Appointment booking apps
• Free tutorials 
• Advanced analytics available as a paid integration
• 24/7 customer support
• G2 rating: 4.4 

Big Cartel

Big Cartel is a website builder designed for independent artists and creators selling crafts and fine art. It has 12 customizable templates and a limited library of 40 integrations. 

Big Cartel caps product listings on its paid plans at 50 or 500, depending on the plan. You can add five or 25 images per product on those plans.

Plans and pricing

Big Cartel paid plans cost $15 or $30 per month. There is a seven-day free trial for the $15 per month plan. There’s also a free plan for sites with five or fewer listings.

Features

• 12 templates 
• Sell subscriptions natively and digital products through an app
• Payment gateway integrations with PayPal and Stripe
• 40 curated apps
• A few video tutorials
• 24/7 customer support
• G2 rating: 4.2 

How does a website builder work?

Website builders let you create and manage a website without coding expertise or design know-how. Some site builders, like WordPress, specialize in creating CMS websites. Others, like Shopify, excel in developing ecommerce websites for making sales.

Website builders offer templates and AI site builders that help create a professional website without getting into design details. They also include app libraries that make it possible to extend your site’s functionality without coding or hiring a developer.

All the website builders above (other than the open-source version of WordPress) include website hosting. This means they store your website’s data securely online, letting you offload technical elements like security and site speed to them. 

When you’re getting started with most website builders, the platform usually gives you a subdomain that includes the platform’s name (i.e., yoursitename.myshopify.com). Some let you publish your subdomain site on a free plan. 

When you’re ready to upgrade from a free domain to your own custom domain, you can either register a domain name through your website builder or import one from an existing website or domain registry service. 

Once your site is up and running, you can use your website builder’s analytics tools to monitor website performance metrics like traffic and sales numbers.

Key website builder features

• Templates
• AI tools
• Extensive documentation
• Integrations
• Analytics
• Scalability

Here are a few core elements to consider as you’re narrowing down your search for a website builder or considering a web developer option:

Templates

Templates provide standard layouts for multipage websites and let you create a professional-looking site without needing to hire a web developer. Even if you plan on customizing your site down the line, a template can help you get started.

“I’ve seen so many success stories where someone starts with an existing Shopify theme and they get as far as they can out of the box,” says Sara Mote, creative director of web design agency Mote. 

When working on a custom site with a longer lead time, Sara will often advise clients to start with a premade theme (her team are fans of the free Dawn theme). The theme can then serve as a website mockup and a “shared visual reference” that helps the client identify exactly what they want from their custom build.

AI tools

AI website builders simplify the process of creating your own website. Shopify’s AI store builder, for example, lets you create a website from scratch in minutes. You enter an AI prompt describing your business, and the AI generates personalized store designs.

Other AI tools, like the text generator and assistant Sidekick, help you generate AI product descriptions and other website copy. Sidekick also answers questions and applies changes to your site, like altering font color or making images bigger or smaller.

Extensive documentation

Comprehensive help documentation is another feature of easy-to-use platforms. Website builders like Shopify have detailed video tutorials and guides to help you set up and run your site. 

More popular platforms such as Shopify and WordPress also have active community support in forums. You can ask questions yourself or browse answers to questions similar to your own.

Integrations

Before you choose a website builder, verify whether the platform is compatible with software you currently use or plan to use in the future. If it is compatible, look at whether you can simply download an app or whether you need to add customer code through an API. Check reviews to see how other users rate the API integration.

Then check how many integrations are available: More compatible software gives you more options down the line, like features for subscription selling features or appointment booking. More integrations can also help you save money.

“The resources and the functionalities that you want to implement into your business—you can almost always find a Shopify app for it,” says JJ Follano, cofounder of Zero Waste Store, on Shopify Masters. “Which is huge for somebody that doesn't want to pay a developer.” 

For example, Zero Waste Store uses the Zendesk app for live chats with customers. 

Analytics

Built-in analytics tools like Shopify’s analytics compile information like returning customer rate, gross sales, and number of orders fulfilled into easy-to-read dashboards. They also provide information on who and where your customers are, which can help you tailor your marketing—and even plan retail business expansions.

For example, when Kristen Pumphrey, founder of P.F. Candle Co., decided to open a new brick-and-mortar location, she used Shopify data to see where her online customers lived. Brooklyn was a major hub.

“Without the data that we saw using Shopify, I don’t think we would’ve had the guts to go and open it,” Kristen says on Shopify Masters.

Scalability

If you plan to expand your business, consider whether your website builder has the features you need to streamline your growing operations. 

Choosing a scalable ecommerce platform can help you save money in the long run. Consider which features are included for free and which will require you to upgrade your plan or pay for à la carte add-ons. Here are a few features to look for:

• Product listing limits. Some plans limit the number of product listings you can create. If you plan to increase your inventory, consider whether a higher-priced plan is still within your budget.
• Transaction fees. Some platforms offer lower-cost plans with higher transaction fees. These fees can add up if you experience rapid, unexpected growth, like from a viral TikTok video.
• Bandwidth and memory limits. Some website builders limit memory and bandwidth by plan, which can affect site load times and performance. Confirm the website builder has sufficient bandwidth and storage to handle increased content and traffic as you grow.