8 Open-Source Website Builders You Should Check Out

Drawing on extensive experience in web development, this article unveils eight top-notch open-source website builders.

These builders have been carefully chosen for their remarkable balance of functionality, user-friendliness, and customization capabilities, ensuring that beginners and experienced users can effectively create and manage their websites.

Benefits Of Open-source Platforms In Website Building

Open-source platforms offer significant benefits:

• Flexibility: Open-source website builders offer a wide range of customization options. Users can craft websites that precisely meet their unique needs, avoiding the constraints of rigid templates and reflecting their distinct identity.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Open-source platforms, being freely accessible, eliminate licensing fees, providing a cost-effective alternative that allows strategic allocation of resources to other development areas.
• Robust Community Support: A notable strength of open-source projects lies in their vibrant and engaged communities. Enthusiastic developers actively contribute to the platform enhancement and maintenance, ensuring continuous updates, timely bug fixes, and integration of new features.
• Flexibility and Control: Users have full control over their websites, from the hosting choices to the specific functionalities they wish to implement.
• Integration Capabilities: They offer the flexibility to integrate with a wide range of tools and technologies, enhancing the website’s functionality.

8 Best Drag-and-drop Website Builders For Beginners

Now that we understand the advantages of open-source platforms, let’s delve into the eight best open-source website builders.

WordPress

WordPress is the ideal choice for beginners looking for an open-source website builder. Its easy-to-use interface, coupled with a vast selection of themes and plugins, enables users to build attractive websites without coding expertise. Serving as a versatile platform, WordPress turns creative ideas into dynamic websites. With the existence of AI website builder options in the market, people could easily start and grow their website with WordPress.

Pros:

• A content management system that is both free and open-source.
• High level of flexibility and customization.
• Extensive selection of themes available, including both free and premium options.
• Ability to enhance functionality by integrating third-party plugins.
• A vast community of support and resources

Cons:

• A learning curve for beginners.
• Potential conflicts arise from various plugins.
• Expenses increase post-purchase, including hosting, premium themes, and plugins.
• Requirement for regular updates and maintenance.

Pricing: WordPress provides a range of six subscription plans, starting with a free option and to a custom-priced plan, offering a variety of features and capabilities to suit different user requirements.

Web Builder Features:

• Drag-and-drop functionality: WordPress offers a user-friendly interface that allows users to easily drag and drop elements to create and customize their website.
• Themes and templates: With a wide range of themes and templates available, users can choose from various designs and layouts to suit their website’s needs.
• SEO optimization: WordPress provides built-in tools and plugins to optimize websites for search engines, improving visibility and organic traffic.
• E-commerce capabilities: The platform offers plugins and themes specifically designed for e-commerce, allowing users to create online stores and manage products and payments.
• Media management: Users can easily upload and manage images, videos, and other media files within the WordPress platform.
• User management: WordPress allows for multiple user roles and permissions, making it easy to collaborate with others and assign specific tasks and responsibilities.
• Multi-language support: With its extensive plugins and features, WordPress enables effortless translation and localization, empowering websites to serve a global audience by providing content in multiple languages.
• Wide range of plugins: WordPress supports over 58,000 plugins, providing users with a vast array of options to enhance their website’s functionality and features.

Best For:

• Bloggers and content creators, individuals or businesses focused on content creation.
• Small to medium-sized businesses in retail, services, hospitality, etc.
• Individuals or businesses who want to sell products or services online.
• Non-profit organizations

Adobe Commerce (Magento)

Formerly known as Magento, Adobe Commerce now holds the 2nd position on our top list of open-source website builders. The platform is recognized for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set, making the website creation more accessible and enjoyable. It is particularly suitable for users seeking visually appealing websites without needing advanced coding skills. This software’s versatility caters to a wide range of users, from beginners to seasoned professionals, enabling them to effectively realize their creative ideas.

Pros

• Flexible customization
• Scalability
• Advanced e-commerce features
• Supportive community

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Resource intensive

Pricing: Quote-based pricing

Web Builder Features:

• Responsive Design: Adobe Commerce (Magento) offers responsive design capabilities, ensuring that websites are optimized for viewing on different devices, such as desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Drag-and-Drop Page Builder: With a user-friendly drag-and-drop page builder, Adobe Commerce (Magento) allows users to easily create and customize web pages without any coding knowledge.
• Advanced Content Management: Adobe Commerce (Magento) provides robust content management features, enabling users to create and organize content efficiently, including products, categories, blog posts, and more.
• SEO Optimization: The platform includes built-in SEO tools and features to optimize websites for search engines, helping to improve organic visibility and drive more traffic to the site.
• Scalability and Performance: Designed to handle high-volume stores, this platform offers scalability and performance optimization for websites with a large number of products and concurrent users.
• Multi-store Management: Adobe Commerce (Magento) allows users to manage multiple online stores from a single admin panel, streamlining operations and making it easier to handle different brands or regions.
• Personalization and Customer Segmentation: It allows users to create personalized shopping experiences and target specific customer segments based on preferences, purchase history, and demographics.
• Internationalization: Adobe Commerce (Magento) supports multiple languages, currencies, and tax regulations, making it suitable for businesses operating globally or targeting specific international markets.

Best For: 

• E-commerce businesses like retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises
• Businesses in the retail industry, including fashion, electronics, home goods, etc.
• High-volume stores
• B2B E-commerce

Joomla

Among the top 8 open-source website builders, Joomla stands out as a powerful and versatile choice. Joomla is renowned for its robustness and flexibility, making it suitable for everything from simple websites to complex online applications. It offers a user-friendly interface with a wealth of functionalities, including extensive customization options through templates and extensions.

 Joomla’s strong community support and regular updates further enhance its appeal, providing a reliable and scalable solution for users seeking a comprehensive open-source website-building platform.

Pros:

• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface for easy website creation.
• Extensive library of templates and extensions for customization.
• Robust community support and documentation.
• Multilingual capabilities for reaching a global audience.
• Scalable and suitable for building complex websites.
• Built-in SEO features for better search engine visibility.

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve compared to some other website builders.
• Customization options may require some coding knowledge.

Pricing: Starts at $99/year.

Web Builder Features:

• Template Library: With a vast collection of templates, Joomla offers various design options for different industries and purposes.
• Responsive Design: Ensure that websites created using its platform are mobile-friendly and adapt smoothly to different screen sizes and devices.
• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Joomla provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to arrange and customize website elements without any coding knowledge.
• Content Management: Joomla’s robust content management system allows users to create, edit, and organize content efficiently, ensuring a seamless user experience.
• Multilingual Support: It supports multiple languages, making it suitable for creating websites with global reach and catering to diverse audiences.
• SEO Optimization: The platform provides built-in SEO tools and extensions, enabling users to optimize their websites for search engines and improve organic visibility.
• Powerful Extensions: With over 8,000 extensions available, Joomla allows users to add additional functionalities to their websites, such as e-commerce, social media integration, forums, and more.

Best For: 

• Small to medium-sized businesses in various industries, including retail, services, hospitality, etc.
• Publishers and news outlets
• Non-profit organizations
• Educational institutions like schools, colleges, and universities
• E-commerce stores with moderate product volumes.

Drupal

Ranked fourth in our list, Drupal is a robust open-source website builder known for its adaptability. It offers a user-friendly interface that skillfully blends simplicity with advanced features, making it a great choice for those seeking aesthetically pleasing websites without extensive coding knowledge.

Pros:

• Excellent for complex content management
• Powerful and flexible framework well-suited for building complex websites and web applications
• Timely and thorough security updates
• Large and active community
• Strong security features
• Extensive customization options 

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Significant effort is required for major updates
• Resource-intensive
• Compared to WordPress, Drupal has fewer themes and modules available

Pricing: Free to download. However, users still have to pay for the cost of development, maintenance, and hosting, which can be higher, especially for more complex sites.

Web Builder Features:

• Flexible Content Management: Drupal offers a robust and flexible content management system that allows users to create and organize content, such as articles, pages, and multimedia, with ease.
• Extensive Module Library: With over 46,000 modules available, Drupal provides users with a wide range of options to extend their website’s functionality and add features like e-commerce, social media integration, SEO optimization, and more.
• Multilingual Support: Drupal has built-in multilingual capabilities, allowing users to create websites in multiple languages and provide a more inclusive experience for international audiences.
• Customization and Theming: Providing extensive customization options, it enables users to create unique designs and layouts using its powerful theming system. This allows for complete control over the website’s appearance.
• Advanced User Management: Drupal offers a comprehensive user management system, allowing administrators to define user roles, permissions, and access levels. This is particularly beneficial for websites with multiple contributors or membership-based platforms.
• Robust Security Features: Drupal has a strong focus on security and regularly releases updates and patches to address vulnerabilities. It has a dedicated security team and a large community that actively works to maintain the platform’s security standards.
• SEO-Friendly Architecture: Drupal is built with SEO best practices in mind, offering features such as clean URLs, customizable meta tags, XML sitemap generation, etc., to help improve search engine visibility.

Best For: 

• Businesses and enterprises across various industries.
• Advanced user management and multilingual capabilities.
• E-commerce retailers looking to create feature-rich online shopping experiences.
• Artists and entertainment industry professionals looking to showcase their work creatively.

Odoo

Odoo, holding the fifth position on our list, is a comprehensive choice for website building. It distinguishes itself by integrating various business management applications, making it a complete platform especially suited for entrepreneurs and small business owners. 

Odoo extends beyond typical website creation tools, providing many functionalities. Its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface enables beginners to create visually impressive and professional-looking websites without requiring coding skills.

Pros:

• Integrated with other business functions for a seamless platform experience.
• User-friendly interface
• Various customization options
• A diverse selection of applications.

Cons:

• The free plan is restricted to one application.
• Its extensive features can be overwhelming for smaller businesses or those only looking for a website builder.
• Limited design options and themes

Pricing: 

• Free plan available for one app only
• Paid plans start at $24.90/user/month for access to all apps

Web Builder Features:

• Drag-and-drop website builder: Odoo provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that allows users to create and customize their websites easily without any coding knowledge.
• Responsive design: Websites built with Odoo are automatically optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless browsing experience across different screen sizes.
• Customizable templates: It offers a wide range of professionally designed templates that can be customized to match a brand’s unique style and requirements.
• SEO optimization: Odoo includes built-in SEO tools that help optimize websites for search engines, increasing visibility and driving organic traffic. 
• Integrated applications: This platform provides a suite of integrated applications, allowing users to seamlessly connect their website with other business functions such as CRM, inventory management, and marketing automation.
• Multilingual support: Odoo supports multiple languages, allowing users to create websites in different languages and target a global audience.
• Fast loading speed: Odoo’s web builder is optimized for performance, ensuring fast loading times for websites, which is essential for providing a positive user experience.

Best For: 

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Retail and e-commerce businesses
• Service-based industries, including consulting firms, agencies, and professional services.
• Businesses targeting international markets and requiring multilingual websites.
• Brick-and-mortar stores looking to establish an online presence.
• Startups who want to quickly create professional websites without the need for extensive technical expertise.

OpenCart

OpenCart is a standout choice among the top 8 open-source website builders, particularly renowned for its focus on creating e-commerce sites. This platform is an ideal solution for businesses seeking a powerful yet user-friendly tool to build their online stores. 

With its robust set of features, including extensive product management, multiple payment gateways, and shipping methods, OpenCart caters to the diverse needs of online retailers. Its open-source nature allows for significant customization through extensions and themes, making it highly adaptable to various e-commerce requirements. 

Supported by a strong community of developers and users, OpenCart is a top-tier choice for those looking to develop a comprehensive and scalable e-commerce presence.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• A diverse range of eCommerce templates and designs
• Support for multi-store management
• SEO-friendly
• Extensive customization freedom

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Limited customer support for bugs and fixes
• Full functionality requires pricey add-ons and modules

Pricing: Free

Web Builder Features:

• Responsive Design: OpenCart provides responsive design templates that ensure websites look and function well on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
• Extensive Product Catalog: It supports an unlimited number of products, allowing businesses to showcase and sell a large inventory of items.
• Multiple Payment Gateways: Offering integration with various payment gateways, such as PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, it gives customers flexible payment options.
• SEO-Friendly URLs: OpenCart generates search engine-friendly URLs, helping websites rank higher in search engine results and attract organic traffic.
• Multilingual and Multicurrency Support: This solution supports multiple languages and currencies, enabling businesses to target a global audience and expand their reach.
• Customer Reviews and Ratings: This web allows customers to leave reviews and ratings for products, providing valuable social proof and aiding in the decision-making process for potential buyers.
• Integration with Third-Party Apps: OpenCart offers seamless integration with third-party applications and extensions, allowing businesses to extend the functionality of their websites and integrate with other platforms.

Best For: 

• Small and medium-sized businesses in various industries, including retail, fashion, electronics, and more.
• Online retailers who want to establish a robust e-commerce presence and manage a high volume of products and transactions.
• Startups with limited budgets
• Businesses seeking SEO optimization
• Retailers with diverse payment options

Grav

Grav, among the top 7 in our rankings, stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. Its main advantage is the smooth execution of drag-and-drop functions within a user-friendly framework. This feature makes Grav particularly empowering for beginners, enabling them to build visually attractive websites without needing coding expertise. 

Grav is versatile enough to meet various digital goals, whether for blogging, entrepreneurship, or creative projects. It provides an accessible platform for bloggers to create engaging online spaces, small business owners to establish a strong digital presence, or creative professionals to showcase their work.

Pros:

• Lightweight and fast
• Easy to use
• Flexibility and modularity
• Markdown-based content creation
• Extensive plugin ecosystem

Cons:

• The steeper learning curve for advanced customization
• Not ideal for complex websites
• Limited support for e-commerce

Pricing: 

• Free to download
• Paid products/tools start at $20

Web Builder Features:

• Intuitive Admin Panel: Grav’s web builder boasts a user-friendly admin panel that simplifies website creation and management, even for beginners.
• Responsive Templates: Grav offers a wide selection of responsive templates, ensuring that websites created with the web builder look great on all devices.
• Customizable Designs: Users can personalize their websites with customizable designs, including colors, fonts, and layouts, allowing for a unique and branded online presence.
• SEO Optimization: Grav’s web builder includes built-in SEO tools, helping users optimize their websites for search engines and improve visibility online.
• Plugin Integration: The web builder seamlessly integrates with various plugins, expanding the functionality and features available for users to enhance their websites.
• Social Media Integration: Grav’s web builder allows users to easily integrate social media platforms, enabling visitors to engage and share content across different social channels.
• Form Builders: Users can create interactive forms using the web builder, facilitating communication and capturing valuable data from website visitors.
• Analytics and Tracking: Grav’s web builder supports the integration of analytics and tracking tools, providing users with valuable insights into their website’s performance and visitor behavior.

Best For: 

• Local businesses, such as restaurants, salons, or fitness centers.
• Startups with limited budgets
• Small to medium-sized businesses
• Publishers and bloggers who want to create and manage their content-rich websites, delivering news and information to their audience.

GrapesJS

GrapesJS, the last on our list, is an open-source website builder designed for beginners who want to create visually striking websites without the complexity of coding. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it an accessible tool for creative expression. GrapesJS stands out with its extensive customization options, easily transforming creative ideas into digital realities. 

Pros:

• Intuitive interface for users
• Visual editing
• Wide range of customization options
• Responsive design
• Community and support

Cons:

• Limited e-commerce functionality
• Sightly slower loading times 

Pricing: Free

Web Builder Features:

• Responsive design: GrapesJS allows users to build websites that are optimized for different screen sizes and devices, ensuring a seamless user experience.
• CSS styling options: Users have the flexibility to customize the appearance of their website using CSS properties and styles.
• Pre-designed blocks and templates: GrapesJS offers a collection of pre-designed blocks and templates that users can choose from, saving time and effort in building their websites from scratch.
• Code editor: Advanced users can access the built-in code editor to make custom modifications to the website’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code.
• Image and media management: GrapesJS provides features to upload, resize, and manage images and other media files within the web builder itself.
• Mobile preview: Users can preview and test their websites in real time, ensuring that the design and layout are visually appealing and functional on mobile devices.
• Component library: GrapesJS offers a library of reusable components, such as buttons, forms, sliders, and more, making it easy to add interactive elements to the website.
• Integration with external tools: The web builder can be integrated with external tools and services, such as analytics, social media, and e-commerce platforms, to enhance the website’s functionality.
• Collaborative editing: Multiple users can work on the same project simultaneously, allowing for seamless collaboration and faster website development.
• SEO optimization: GrapesJS provides options to optimize websites for search engines, such as adding meta tags, optimizing headings, and managing URLs.

Best For: 

• Entrepreneurs and startups
• Small to medium-sized businesses
• E-commerce and retail businesses
• Education and non-profit organizations
• Marketing and advertising agencies

How To Make The Most Of These Open-Source Website Builders

Now that you’ve immersed yourself in an insightful overview of some of the most exceptional open-source website builders, it’s time to delve deeper into strategies that will empower you to maximize your experience and create an outstanding website tailored to your needs. 

1. Thorough Research and Evaluation:

Beyond a cursory glance, delve into features, ease of use, scalability, and compatibility with your project requirements. Assess customization options, available templates, and community support robustness.

2. Strategic Website Planning:

Prioritize strategic planning before diving into website building. Define structure, content architecture, and design aesthetics to ensure a streamlined and user-friendly final product.

3. Exploration of Plugins/Extensions:

Explore plugins and extensions offered by open-source platforms. Choose those that align seamlessly with your project goals, whether for e-commerce, SEO, or user interactivity. A strategic selection can significantly enhance functionality.

4. Regular Updates:

Establish a routine for regular updates of your website builder and associated plugins/themes. This proactive approach ensures security, addresses bugs and maintains optimal performance.

5. Engagement with the Community:

Actively engage in forums and online communities associated with your chosen platform. Beyond troubleshooting assistance, community engagement provides valuable insights, fosters networking opportunities, and serves as an inspiration hub.

By integrating these strategies, you’re not just using open-source website builders; you’re orchestrating a comprehensive and strategic process. This commitment ensures your website meets immediate needs and dynamically evolves with the latest trends in the digital landscape.

Final Thoughts

This article introduces 8 best options for open-source website builders, you should explore them to identify the most suitable one for your business. Embark on building your website now to unleash countless possibilities.

FAQs