- Rebecca Tomasis
- Jul 29
- 14 min read
Updated: Jul 30
These days every business needs a website, and website builders make it easy to create one fast. They’re designed to be simple so anyone can make a website from scratch without needing tech skills or outside help.
TL;DR: What is a website builder?
A website builder is a platform that helps you create a website without coding. It provides drag-and-drop editing, ready-made templates and hosting so you can design, update and launch your site in one place. This makes it ideal for small businesses, creators and anyone who wants a professional site without the technical hassle.
To choose one, focus on your goals, budget and how much flexibility you’ll need as you grow. Pay attention to things like ease of use, hidden fees and update tools. AI builders can save time on setup but they still rely on your input to make smart choices.
In 2025 it was estimated that upwards of 18 million live websites were built with website builders. Wix websites accounted for 45% of those sites.
What you need in a website builder
Who you are | Website builder features to focus on |
|---|---|
Service provider (coach, freelancer, consultant) | Booking tools, client forms, mobile design, fast load speed |
Online store owner | Inventory tracking, payment options, low fees, product layout options |
Blogger or content creator | SEO tools, blog layout flexibility, category tags, easy updates |
Beginner with limited time | Simple templates, AI design help, strong support, no-code editing |
Designer or creative professional | Full design control, custom fonts, animation, video support |
Local business owner | Location maps, business hours, call buttons, local SEO settings |
Growing team or business | Page scaling, app integrations, team roles, user permissions |
Building fast for testing | Quick setup, ready-made templates, free trial, drag-and-drop editor |
What is a website builder, exactly?
A website builder is a tool that allows you to create a website without needing to write code. These platforms provide all the necessary components to design, build and launch a website, making them an ideal solution for businesses looking to establish an online presence quickly and efficiently. Well-known examples include Wix.
What you get with a website builder
A website builder comes with everything you need to get your site online without using separate tools or services. Most combine design, hosting and management in one place so you don’t have to piece things together yourself.
Most website builders include:
Ready-made templates you can customize
Drag-and-drop editing for pages and layouts
Built-in hosting so your site is live without extra setup
Domain connection or registration options
Mobile-friendly design tools
Ecommerce features for selling products or services
SEO tools to help your site show up on Google
Integrations with apps for email, payments or bookings
Who website builders are best for
Website builders work well for anyone who needs a professional website quickly without dealing with coding or complex setup. They’re especially useful if you want to manage your own updates and keep costs low.
They’re a great fit for:
Small businesses that need an affordable, all-in-one solution
Freelancers who want a portfolio or service-based site
Creators or bloggers who need a simple way to share content
Local businesses that want to be found online
Online sellers starting with a small eCommerce store
Nonprofits or community groups that need an easy-to-maintain site
Not sure why you need a website? Our guide can help.
What's the difference between an online and an offline website builder?
Generally when we refer to a website builder, we mean an online one. It's web-based and can be used from your browser with an internet connection. This is the most commonly recognized definition of a website builder, an online one. You can make a website from any connected device with it.
On the other hand, offline website builders are software programs that need to be downloaded and installed on a local computer. You can create a site without being connected to the internet but then will need to manually upload your site to a web host once it's done. This is a process that requires technical knowledge and isn't accessible to everyone.
How does a website builder work?
Website builders typically offer a drag and drop editor and interface, allowing you to select elements like text boxes, images and buttons and place them on your webpage. This makes it easy to customize the layout and design of your website according to your preferences.
Being easy to use doesn’t mean website builders hold you back. They offer plenty of design options and powerful features, letting you create blogs, eCommerce websites, online stores, service business websites and much more.
Learn more:
Why use a website builder?
Building a website used to mean hiring experts or learning to code. Today, website builders make it simple for anyone to create a professional website quickly and affordably. They handle the tricky parts so you can focus on growing your business or sharing your passion. Here are some of the main reasons why using a website builder makes sense for most people.
Cost-effectiveness
Website builders are a budget-friendly option for small to medium businesses. They eliminate the need for hiring professional web developers (learn more: website builder vs web developer), which can significantly reduce costs.
Most platforms offer affordable subscription plans that include hosting, domain registration and design tools. Many also have free plans with basic features, perfect for testing or personal sites. Wix offers a free plan, while paid plans start at $19 per month and include a customizable domain name plus more features.
Learn more:
Drag and drop functionality
One of the standout features of website builders is their drag and drop functionality. This allows you to easily arrange elements on your site without any coding knowledge. Additionally, customizable options enable you to tailor your website's appearance and functionality to match your brand identity.
"As a creator or entrepreneur, you’re often wearing multiple hats. You’re designing the website and optimizing for SEO. This means you need a website builder that makes it easy and intuitive for you to do all those things on the same platform while still delivering results as if you were working with experts in those fields." Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix
Quick setup and launch
With a website builder, the timeframe from concept to launch is significantly shortened. You can have your website up and running in just a few hours or days, depending on the complexity of your design — shortening the time it takes to build a website. This rapid deployment is ideal for businesses eager to establish an online presence swiftly.
What are some key features to look for in a website builder?
Not all website builders are created equal. Knowing which features matter can help you pick one that fits your needs and saves you time and frustration. Here’s a look at the key features to keep an eye on when choosing a website builder.
Customizable design
Having access to a wide range of website templates is crucial. These templates serve as the foundation of your website, allowing you to choose a web design that aligns with your brand. The ability to customize these templates ensures that your website stands out and reflects your unique business identity. Wix, for example, has over 2000 customizable templates that can be used for a wide range of uses and businesses.
Learn more: Should I use a template to make my website?
Design flexibility
Look for website builders that offer flexibility in design elements. This includes options to adjust colors, fonts and layouts, enabling you to create a visually appealing site that captures the attention of your audience.
Mobile-friendly
Today, having a mobile-friendly website is essential. A responsive design is what determines if your site looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones. This capability improves the overall user experience on your site.
eCommerce functionality
If you're planning to sell products or services online, e-commerce functionality is vital. Website builders should offer tools for setting up an online store, including product listings, shopping carts and secure payment gateways. Effective e-commerce platforms provide inventory management and order tracking features. These tools help streamline operations and ensure smooth transactions for both you and your customers.
Blogging capabilities
If part of your plan is to share updates, publish articles or grow your site through content marketing, look for a website builder with strong blogging features. Some platforms offer only a basic text editor, while others include tools for adding categories, tags, featured images, scheduled posts and SEO settings for each blog entry. These features make it easier to organize your content and improve how it appears in search results.
A good blogging setup also helps keep visitors engaged. Check if you can enable comments, add social sharing buttons or include things like related posts and email signup forms. If your blog is a big part of your marketing or brand strategy, make sure the builder you choose supports regular publishing without extra effort.
Tools and apps integrations
The ability to integrate with other tools can enhance your website's functionality. These integrations allow you to add features such as analytics, marketing automation and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Some website builders include some of these tools within their editors, examples include Wix Analytics.
"Choose a website builder that allows you to make fast pivots based on your business needs. If, from one day to the next, you need to add events or an online store, make sure your website builder makes that possible for you." Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix
Explore the Wix app market for more options.
Site infrastructure
The website infrastructure of the builder you use is essential when it comes to the security and performance of your site. You should prioritize a website builder that includes enterprise grade website security for all sites, including SSL certification, 24/7 monitoring and automatic updates.
You also need to know that your builder includes secure web hosting, domain name registration and guarantees such as high uptime. Wix delivers 99.99% for example.
"What often gets forgotten when talking about choosing a website builder is the capabilities of the infrastructure that’s promised to you—the reliability of the hosting, the level of security in place to protect your visitors’ data and, of course, your site's speed. Even if infrastructure is not the first thought that comes to mind when creating a website, if it’s not robust enough, it can cause major headaches for website owners when trying to scale a website later on." Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix
Multi-language or international websites
If your business serves customers who speak different languages or live in different countries, a website builder with multi-language support can save you a lot of time. Some platforms offer built-in tools to create language versions of your site, while others require third-party apps. These features help you show the right language to the right visitor automatically, making your site feel more local and personal.
Not all website builders offer this, so it’s worth checking how the platform handles translation. Can you customize text on each version? Does it support right-to-left languages like Arabic or Hebrew? If you plan to grow internationally or already have a global audience, this can make a big difference in how professional and trustworthy your website feels.
User roles and permissions
If you're the only person managing your website, this might not matter much at first. But as your business grows, you may want others to help—like a writer, designer or marketing person. Some website builders let you create different user roles so you can control what each person can do. For example, you might let someone edit blog posts but not change the design.
Without user roles, you may have to share your login with everyone, which isn’t secure. Having the option to give limited access helps protect your site and makes collaboration easier. Check if the builder offers role settings like admin, editor or viewer, and if it’s included in your plan or costs extra.
Accessibility compliance
Accessibility means making sure your website works well for people with disabilities—like those using screen readers or needing high-contrast text. Some website builders include tools that help you meet accessibility standards (like WCAG), such as reminders to add image alt text, choose readable fonts or check your site’s contrast levels.
Even if you don’t know much about accessibility, a builder with built-in checks can help you create a more inclusive site. This not only improves the experience for more people but can also protect your business from legal issues in some countries. Look for builders that highlight accessibility as part of their features or templates.
Backups and version history
Mistakes happen. You might accidentally delete a page, change something that breaks your layout or lose work during an edit. A good website builder will automatically save backups of your site and let you roll back to a previous version if needed. This can be a lifesaver when something goes wrong.
Not all platforms offer this, especially on lower-priced plans. Check if the builder has version history, automatic backups or a manual way to save your site. It’s one of those things you hope you never need—but you’ll be glad it’s there when you do.
Customer support and help resources
When you're building a website, questions come up—whether it's how to add a section, connect a domain or fix something that isn’t working. Fast and helpful customer support makes a huge difference, especially if you're not a tech expert. Some builders offer live chat or phone support, while others only offer email or community forums.
It also helps to have clear tutorials, FAQs or video guides built into the platform. Before choosing a builder, check what kind of help you can expect and if it’s available 24/7. If you run a business and need to fix problems quickly, strong support can save you time, money and frustration.
Scalability
You might be starting small, but your website should be able to grow with your business. Some builders make it easy to add new pages, open an online store, launch a blog or accept bookings—all without starting from scratch. Others may be more limited, especially on basic plans.
Think about what you may need six months or a year from now. Will you want to offer memberships, run events or add more team members? Choosing a website builder that supports those features now—even if you don’t need them yet—can save you the hassle of moving to a new platform later.
How to choose the right website builder
Understanding what matters most helps you choose a website builder that fits your needs perfectly. This makes creating and managing your site simpler, faster and way less stressful from start to finish.
Set your website priorities
Start by figuring out what your website needs to do. Think about the type of website you want — a simple info page, a blog or an online store. Knowing this helps you pick a website builder with the features you actually need, so you don’t waste time or money on extras you won’t use.
Also, consider what you might want to add later, like booking tools or memberships. Some builders work better for certain types of sites, so choose one that fits your current goals and can grow with you.
Keep your budget in check
Set a budget for building and running your site. Website builders come with plans ranging from free to premium. Make sure you check what’s included at each price level and pick one that fits your budget but still gives you the features you need.
Don’t forget ongoing costs like domain names, apps or eCommerce fees. Knowing these ahead of time helps you avoid surprises and keeps your website running smoothly. For more tips, check out maintaining your website.
How to tell if a website builder’s worth it
Test the editor before committing: Try building a sample page to see if the editor is easy to use and responsive. A clunky editor wastes time and causes frustration.
Watch for hidden fees: Review plan details carefully. Some builders charge extra for domains, removing ads or eCommerce tools, which can add up fast.
Time investment required: Think about how much time you can spend learning and building. Some platforms offer fast setup with templates, others take longer but give you more control.
Customer support quality: Look for builders with fast, helpful support through live chat, phone or detailed guides so you don’t get stuck when problems come up.
Template quality and flexibility: Pick builders with modern, industry-specific templates you can fully customize to match your brand and style.
Hosting and domain services: Check if hosting and domain registration are included and managed by the builder or if you need to handle them yourself.
eCommerce fees: If you sell online, check if the builder charges transaction fees on top of payment processor costs to avoid surprises.
Brand style support: Look for features that support rich media, custom fonts, animations and video backgrounds so your brand stands out.
App and tool integrations: Check if the builder connects smoothly with marketing, CRM, analytics and payment tools you use or want to add.
What to know about AI website builders
AI website builder speeds up the process of getting online by removing much of the guesswork. Instead of picking templates or dragging elements manually, you’re guided through a short setup where you answer questions about your business, design preferences and goals. The AI then generates a personalized site layout—sometimes with written content, matching images and suggested pages based on your industry. This can save hours, especially for first-time users or busy business owners who just need a solid starting point.
What sets one AI builder apart from another is how flexible the result is. Some let you fully edit everything after the AI setup, while others lock in certain layouts or design elements, making it harder to change later. Another factor is how well the AI handles essential features like mobile design, SEO tools or image optimization. If those are treated as afterthoughts, you may still need to do a lot of manual cleanup. Also, check if the AI offers ongoing suggestions to improve your site or if it’s just a one-time helper.
"I think the biggest game-changer is the fact that you can easily create a stunning website, and you don’t need to understand layout, design or anything to get a great working website. You can get the creative juices flowing with AI’s help and Wix’s expertise until you get exactly what you want." Yaara Asaf, head of product (Wix Editor)
Learn more: Traditional vs AI website builders
How to use a website builder like Wix
Sign up: Visit Wix and create an account. You can sign up using your email or social media accounts.
Choose a template: Browse through Wix’s extensive library of templates and select one that fits your business style and needs.
Customize your site: Use the drag and drop editor to add elements like text, images and videos. Adjust colors, fonts and layouts to match your brand identity.
Add features: Incorporate additional features such as contact forms, social media links or an online shop if needed.
Preview and publish: Once satisfied with your design, preview your site to ensure everything looks perfect across devices. Then, hit
Tips for using a website builder effectively once your site is live
SEO optimization
Keyword research: Identify relevant keywords related to your business and incorporate them naturally into your website content, titles and meta descriptions.
Quality content: Create informative and engaging content that provides value to your audience. Regularly update your site with fresh content to improve search engine rankings.
On-page SEO: Use headings, alt text for images and internal linking to enhance the structure of your site.
Regular updates and maintenance
Regularly update your website’s content to keep it relevant and engaging for visitors. This includes blog posts, product listings and company news. Monitor your website performance using analytics tools to identify areas for improvement, not just site speed but traffic and engagement as well.
What is a website builder FAQ
What does a website builder do?
A website builder helps you design, build and launch a website quickly. It handles layout, structure, hosting and sometimes SEO and eCommerce, so you don’t need to manage everything manually.
What’s the easiest website builder for beginners?
Most builders are beginner-friendly but look for ones with drag-and-drop editors, clear templates and good support. Ease of use matters more than the number of features.
Do I need coding skills to use a website builder?
No. Most builders are designed for people with no coding experience. Some offer custom code options but they’re optional.
Are free website builders worth it?
Free plans are fine for testing but they usually come with ads, limited features or no custom domain. For a professional site, a paid plan is better.
What’s the difference between a CMS and a website builder?
A CMS (content management system) gives you more customization options but often requires technical skills or developer help. A website builder is more beginner-friendly, offering drag-and-drop tools, templates and built-in features that make setup fast and easy.
Do I need a website builder to make my website?
Not necessarily. You can build a site using a CMS or by coding it yourself but a website builder is the fastest and easiest option—especially if you want to avoid technical setup.
Should I pay for a website builder?
Free plans are useful for testing but paid plans offer more features like custom domains, ad-free pages and eCommerce tools. If you want a professional-looking site with room to grow it’s worth paying.
Comments