Top 8 Website Builders For Small Businesses In 2024

In this article, we’ll show you the best website builder for small businesses in 2023, equipping you with the tools to establish a professional and captivating online platform that drives success for your venture.

Key Takeaways

• Top 8 business website builders include Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Square Online, GoDaddy, Hostinger, Jimdo, and IONOS.
• Shopify stands out as the top choice for creating a professional business website due to its combination of high-quality features and affordability. With its impressive array of tools, businesses can establish a stunning online presence and leverage built-in e-commerce capabilities with marketing methods to excel in the digital realm. 

8 Best Small Business Website Builders

An ideal website builder should be easy to use, allow quick setup, and provide excellent SEO tools. Additionally, it should offer affordable price plans that can scale with the growing needs of the business.

Here are the 8 best website builders for small businesses, offering user-friendly interfaces, powerful features, and customizable templates to help you create a professional and impactful online presence for your business.

Shopify

Shopify is an excellent choice for small businesses aiming for growth over time, particularly for those focused on online selling and inventory management, as it offers a robust suite of ecommerce tools.

Pricing

Shopify offers a range of subscription plans for creating an ecommerce store, with prices varying from $39 to $2000+ per month. If you opt for an annual subscription, you can save 25% on upfront fees. Remember that these prices are for the US, and fees may differ in other regions. 

To get started, you can enjoy a three-day free trial, followed by a special deal of just $1 per month for the first 1 month. This allows you to explore and test Shopify’s features at a minimal cost during the initial period.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• All-in-one e-commerce solution
• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface for easy customization
• More than 150 ready-made themes for web design
• Unlimited bandwidth, products, and storage space
• Built-in payment gateways and over 100 third-party providers
• Shopify POS for every plan
• Unlimited dropship products
• Over 8,000 apps on the Shopify app store for functionality enhancement
• Cart abandonment recovery
• Free 10,000 email marketing/month
• SEO optimization and blog pages
• 24/7 phone support, live chat, and email support

Cons:

• No free plan
• Transaction fees if not using Shopify’s built-in payment gateway – Shopify Payments
• Premium themes come with an additional cost

Website features

Shopify offers a highly user-friendly website-building experience with its drag-and-drop interface. This intuitive tool allows you to create and design your website effortlessly without coding skills.

Customizing your website to reflect your branding identity is made simple with Shopify’s versatile customization options. From choosing the perfect color scheme to adding your logo and selecting fonts, you have full creative control to build a website that perfectly aligns with your brand and showcases your unique identity.

Besides, Shopify provides a wide range of ready-made themes to speed up website development. It has a selection of 135 professionally-designed templates. 12 of these themes are free, while the remaining options require an investment ranging from $180 to $360 for a one-time payment.

Shopify also offers unlimited storage for all your website content. Whether you have an extensive product catalog or use high-resolution images and videos, you can upload and showcase your content without limitations. Additionally, Shopify excels in its product page options, as it allows easy addition of all essential information, enabling customers to filter products quickly.

Ecommerce features

Shopify is the perfect choice for small businesses aiming for long-term growth. It is especially recommended for businesses focused on selling online rather than just promoting their brand and products because Shopify provides a wealth of tools to manage inventory effectively.

With unlimited product listings, you can showcase your entire product catalog without restrictions. Plus, Shopify’s in-house payment gateways offer seamless transactions with no additional fees, ensuring a smooth shopping experience for your customers.

Especially managing your online store has never been easier with Shopify’s single dashboard management. This centralized hub gives you complete control over your entire store, from product management and inventory tracking to order processing and customer data. 

With inventory management tools, you can efficiently track stock levels and stay on top of product availability. In contrast, customer management features enable you to build and maintain strong relationships with your clientele.

Integrations with over 8,000 apps expand your store’s functionalities, Shopify helps small businesses to enhance everything from marketing and analytics to shipping and customer support. As your business grows, its scalability ensures your online store can handle increased traffic and sales.

Sales & Marketing features

Shopify provides a comprehensive toolkit to boost your online business. With the Point of Sale (POS) system, you can seamlessly manage in-person sales, bridging the gap between your physical store and online presence. The Abandoned Cart Recovery feature helps you recover potentially lost sales by sending automated reminders to customers who leave items in their carts.

Drive organic traffic and improve search engine visibility with Shopify’s built-in SEO tools. Your online store will be mobile-friendly, ensuring a smooth and responsive shopping experience for customers on various devices. It maximizes customer engagement with 10,000 free email marketing sends monthly, allowing you to create targeted campaigns and promotions.

Besides, Shopify enables you to sell directly on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, tapping into a vast audience and increasing brand exposure. It fully supports dropshipping by cooperating with many suppliers including AliExpress, Alibaba, SaleHoo, Worldwide Brands, Doba, Sunrise Wholesale, etc. to start a business without the hassle of managing inventory, packaging, or shipping.

Shopify Shipping also simplifies small businesses’ shipping and fulfillment process, offering discounted rates, label printing, and tracking options. This feature ensures seamless and efficient shipping, enhancing customer satisfaction and boosting sales.

Customer support

Shopify is a website builder that offers 24/7 phone and live chat assistance, social media support, a community forum, email support, and access to advanced specialist support in multiple languages. This comprehensive approach ensures that Shopify caters to a diverse global audience and empowers merchants worldwide to thrive in the e-commerce landscape.

Customer satisfaction

Shopify receives an impressive rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 on Capterra and 4.4 on G2. Most customers provide positive feedback, praising Shopify as “a user-friendly eCommerce platform” and “an excellent choice for merchants and app developers.” Reviews highlight its efficiency in managing and optimizing online orders, making it a perfect fit for startups and businesses of all sizes.

Which type of small business should use Shopify?

Shopify is an ideal platform for businesses selling their products or services online rather than just focusing on brand promotion, such as

• Retail Stores
• Online Boutiques
• Handmade and Craft Businesses
• Dropshipping Businesses
• Beauty and Cosmetics Stores
• Electronics and Gadgets Stores
• Food and Beverage Businesses

Wix

Taking the second spot on our list of the best website builder for small businesses is Wix, a remarkably user-friendly website builder that offers an excellent solution for all types of small businesses.

Pricing

Wix offers a variety of pricing options to cater to different needs and budgets. They provide five plans with price ranges from $16 per month to custom pricing, depending on the specific plan and features you choose. 

If you’re just getting started or want to experiment with the platform before committing, Wix offers a completely free plan. However, it comes with visible Wix ads on your website. Wix offers a 1-day free trial for those who want to explore the selling capabilities risk-free, you can try out their e-commerce features without any cost. 

Wix Payments incur a fee of 2.6% per transaction, while other Wix Payments methods have a 2.9% + $0.30 fee. 

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Affordable plans
• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
• 900s template for web design
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Over 70 other payment gateways
• Flexibility in automatic tracking of stock levels
• Manual inventory status setting for specific products
• Free 200 emails per month
• Abandoned cart recovery
• SEO optimization and blog pages
• Phone support, live chat, and email support

Cons:

• Storage limitations for some plans
• Unoptimized responsive
• POS’s limited payment acceptance in the US and Canada
• Limited dropship products
• Need to edit the site from scratch when switching templates
• Advanced features only available in higher priced plan

Website features

One of Wix’s notable features is the built-in membership area, allowing website owners to create exclusive content accessible only to members. This feature benefits businesses or organizations looking to offer premium content or restricted access to specific sections of their website.

With Wix’s drag-and-drop interface, building a website becomes intuitive and effortless. Users can easily add, rearrange, and customize elements on their web pages without coding knowledge.

Customization is key to establishing a strong branding identity, and Wix excels in this area. Their platform offers easy-to-use tools that enable users to customize the appearance and design of their website to align perfectly with their brand identity. 

Wix provides a vast collection of more than 900 ready-made templates for those seeking to start quickly. These professionally designed templates cover various industries and styles, making it convenient for users to select a template that suits their needs. Users can then personalize the template to fit their brand, saving time and effort in the website creation process.

Ecommerce features

Wix’s Ecommerce offers robust features designed to help businesses establish and manage their online stores successfully. One of the key features is the ability to use custom domains, allowing businesses to have a professional and branded web address. This enhances credibility and brand recognition, which is crucial for attracting and retaining customers.

With Wix, online stores can list and sell up to 50,000 products, providing ample space for businesses of all sizes to showcase their entire product range. Whether you’re a small boutique or a large-scale retailer, Wix’s Ecommerce platform can accommodate your inventory needs.

Wix’s Ecommerce features include advanced shipping capabilities, enabling businesses to set up various shipping methods, rates, and rules. This level of customization ensures that shipping processes align with the business’s specific needs and requirements, offering customers a seamless and reliable experience. 

It also supports multiple payment gateways and currency options to facilitate smooth and secure transactions, allowing businesses to cater to customers globally by accepting payments in different currencies and through various payment methods. Whether it’s credit cards, PayPal, or other online payment systems, Wix ensures a seamless checkout experience for customers worldwide.

Sales & Marketing features

One standout feature is the abandoned cart recovery, which allows businesses to recover potentially lost sales by automatically sending reminder emails to customers who abandoned their carts during the checkout process. This feature helps to re-engage customers and encourage them to complete their purchases, ultimately increasing conversion rates.

Wix empowers businesses to expand their reach by integrating with multiple sales channels, enabling businesses to sell their products on their website and various platforms, including social media, marketplaces, and other online sales channels. 

The “Buy now” and “Add to cart” buttons are essential components of Wix’s Sales & Marketing features, ensuring customers a smooth and user-friendly shopping experience. 

Another beneficial feature is dropshipping, which allows businesses to expand their product offerings without needing inventory. Wix facilitates dropshipping by integrating with third-party suppliers like Salehoo, Worldwide Brands, Modalyst, Inventory Source, DSM Tool, Printful, Printify, and AliExpress. This reduces the burden of inventory management and upfront costs, making it an attractive option for small businesses looking to scale their operations.

Customer Support

Wix’s Customer Support offers 24/7 assistance via phone and social media, along with a Community Forum, video tutorials, and email support. 

Customer satisfaction

It scores 4.2 out of 5 in our customer satisfaction category on G2, putting the builder in second place behind Shopify. The majority of reviews on this platform claim that:

• “Wix is great Website building for the Expert Beginner”
• “The overall design is fundamentally practical, but also easy to use and understand”

It is said to be extremely amazing and optimal because of its ease of use. However, many people also have problems uploading media files because Wix storage is only unlimited for premium plans.

Which type of small business should use Wix?

Wix is particularly well-suited for small businesses in their early stages of growth seeking to enhance their business visibility with professional portfolios, such as

• Service-based businesses like photographers, consultants, personal trainers, and freelancers
• Restaurants and Cafes
• Creative Professionals
• Local businesses

Squarespace

Squarespace stands out as a top choice among website builders for small businesses, particularly when seeking a perfect blend of style and substance.

Pricing

Squarespace provides pricing plans tailored to business and e-commerce needs, with packages ranging from $23 to $65 per month. 

Squarespace has a flexible approach depending on the plan chosen. For the “Website Business” plan, there is a 3% transaction fee applied to the final order total for each transaction. However, for the “Commerce Basic” and “Commerce Advanced” plan, no transaction fees are charged, making it an appealing option for businesses focused on e-commerce.

Squarespace is confident in its product and offers a standard 14-day trial period for users to test their platform. Squarespace provides extensions to extend the trial period for those needing more time to build their website. Additionally, users can enjoy a generous 24% to 30% discount if they opt to pay for their subscription annually, adding further value to their pricing structure.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Affordable plans
• Free transaction fees for some plans
• User-friendly experience drag-and-drop interface
• Over 100 professionally-designed templates to choose from
• Unlimited bandwidth
• 30 minutes of video storage
• SEO optimization and blog pages
• Chat and email support

Cons:

• No inhouse payment gateways and under 10 third-party payment providers
• POS’s limited payment acceptance in the US
• Only two options for dropshipping
• Limited inventory management functions
• Only 32 extensions

Website features

Squarespace’s web design capabilities are centered around simplicity and accessibility. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, creating a stunning website becomes a breeze, and there’s no need for any coding knowledge. This empowers users of all levels, even those without technical expertise, to easily design and customize their websites. 

The platform offers a wide range of beautifully designed themes that automatically adjust to various screen sizes, ensuring a responsive and seamless browsing experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

Another standout feature is Squarespace’s support for memberships and subscription solutions. Businesses can easily set up membership areas, exclusive content, and subscription plans to engage with their audience and generate recurring revenue. This feature particularly benefits businesses seeking to offer premium content or create recurring revenue streams.

Ecommerce features

One notable ecommerce feature is the provision of free custom domains, allowing businesses to establish a professional and branded online presence. This enhances credibility and brand recognition, which is crucial for attracting and retaining customers.

The platform also offers advanced analytics, enabling businesses to gain valuable insights into customer behavior, sales performance, and marketing effectiveness. With detailed data and reports, users can make informed decisions to optimize their Ecommerce strategies and drive growth.

Squarespace’s higher-priced plan allows for unlimited products for businesses seeking to scale their operations. This means businesses can showcase and sell a vast product range without limitations, accommodating the needs of both small and large-scale Ecommerce ventures.

Sales & Marketing features

One of Squarespace’s standout features is the abandoned cart recovery, available on the higher-priced plan. This feature enables businesses to automatically send reminder emails to customers who abandoned their carts during checkout, helping to recover potential lost sales and increase conversions.

With Squarespace’s SEO customizations, businesses can optimize their websites for search engines, enhancing their online visibility and attracting more organic traffic. The platform provides tools to customize meta tags, titles, and descriptions, empowering businesses to rank higher in search results and reach a broader audience.

Audience management is another essential feature, allowing businesses to effectively segment and target their audience. By understanding customer behavior and preferences, businesses can create personalized marketing campaigns, increasing customer engagement and loyalty.

Squarespace offers a POS system on the higher-priced plan for businesses operating physical stores. This feature enables seamless online and offline sales integration, streamlining the sales process and providing a unified customer experience.

Customer support

Squarespace offers chat and email support, which some users consider a limitation when compared to other website builders that provide more extensive customer support options.

Customer satisfaction

Squarespace ranks 4.4 out of 5.0 on G2, demonstrating the positive attitude of users toward this website builder. The majority of reviews praise this platform:

• “Squarespace was exactly what we needed as a small press”
• “Easiest platform to use”
• “Squarespace is an easy-to-use no-code website creator tool for startups and small businesses”

However, the few who are unsatisfied about the platform claim that “SquareSpace limits the use of web blogs”.

Which type of small business should use Squarespace?

Squarespace is an ideal choice for marketing or creative-type small businesses prioritizing style and substance in their online presence such as

• Artists, photographers, designers, writers, and other creative professionals to showcase their portfolios and work
• Restaurants and Cafes
• Personal and Business Blogs
• Local businesses like fitness studios, beauty salons, and boutique stores

Square Online

Square Online secures the 4th position on the website builder for small businesses listing. It distinguishes itself as a platform that offers a free plan enabling users to sell their products without the need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Pricing

Square Online stands out as one of the best value-for-money website builders available. It offers a diverse range of plans, including a free option for selling but features ads. In addition to the free plan, there are two paid plans: Plus and Premium. The Plus plan costs $29 per month, while the Premium plan costs $79 per month. 

The payment processing fees start at 2.6% + $0.30. Square Online facilitates various payment types, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. However, it’s important to be aware that the free plan does not permit the integration of PayPal as a payment option.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Reasonable price
• Free plan available
• Easy-to-use dashboard
• Product sales and customer journey tracking
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Inbuilt marketing features supporting email marketing and paid advertisements
• Built-in payment gateway
• Built-in marketing features
• Seamlessly sync with Square POS

Cons:

• Limited scope for customization
• Small learning curve for platform beginners

Website features

With the paid plans, users gain access to custom domains, allowing them to create a unique web address that aligns with their brand identity. 

Square Online’s paid plans offer advanced site customization options for those seeking complete control over their website’s look and feel. Tailor your site to align perfectly with your business vision, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience. These enhanced controls allow you to present your products, services, and content in a way that truly reflects your brand.

Ecommerce features

Square Online’s Ecommerce platform comes equipped with a wide array of powerful features designed to streamline and enhance your online business. Manage your inventory efficiently with robust inventory management and order processing tools, ensuring you stay on top of stock levels and fulfill customer orders seamlessly.

With in-house and integrated payment gateways, Square Online ensures smooth and secure transactions, providing your customers with a hassle-free checkout experience. To cater to diverse customer preferences, you can confidently accept various payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

You can expand your business’s reach with the ability to manage multiple sites and locations from a centralized dashboard. The platform’s unlimited product capacity enables you to showcase your entire product catalog, providing customers with an extensive selection to choose from. 

Catering to a global audience is effortless with Square Online’s multi-currency support. Square Online also helps you save on shipping costs with shipping rate discounts, allowing you to negotiate better rates with shipping carriers. This feature is especially beneficial for businesses that deal with high shipping volumes.

For businesses seeking more control over their delivery process, Square Online offers in-house delivery options. You can manage and execute deliveries directly, ensuring timely and reliable customer service.

Sales & Marketing features

With multi-channel selling capabilities, you can expand your reach across various platforms and marketplaces, tapping into a broader customer base.

The Abandoned Cart Recovery feature is a powerful tool that helps you regain potential lost sales. It automatically sends targeted follow-up emails to customers who abandon their carts, encouraging them to complete their purchases and increasing conversion rates.

Besides, Square Online’s integration with a robust POS system allows for seamless synchronization between your online and in-store operations. This feature streamlines inventory management, sales tracking, and customer data, providing a unified and efficient retail experience.

With the Coupon Creation feature, you can run enticing promotions and special offers to attract and retain customers. Generate customized discount codes or deals to incentivize purchases, boosting customer engagement and loyalty.

Customer support

Square Online provides comprehensive customer support options during business hours, users can access phone and chat support for immediate assistance. For those on the highest-price plan, 24/7 phone support offers round-the-clock expert assistance for uninterrupted operations.

Customer satisfaction

Square Online ranks 4.7 out of 5.0 on Capterra. The majority of customers are satisfied with this platform. They have left positive reviews:

“A godsend for the restaurant industry.”

“Square has been a great place to grow my online presence through the years”

“Square Online-Best Solution for Small Business ECommerce”

“Easy to use, flexible and intuitive”

“A thoughtfully-designed and feature-packed site builder that is painless to navigate!”

Which type of small business should use Square Online?

Square Online is particularly well-suited for 

• Businesses in the restaurant or food-based industry
• Artisans and Craftsmen
• Home and Personal Care Services
• Freelancers and Consultants
• Nonprofit Organizations

GoDaddy

GoDaddy is the perfect website builder for small businesses seeking a swift and seamless start to their online ventures.

Pricing

The platform’s paid plans, from $11.99 to $44.99 per month, provide excellent value for money, making it an attractive option for individuals and businesses looking for cost-effective web builder solutions.

Compared to its major competitors, GoDaddy Payments transaction fees for e-commerce start at 2.3% + $0.30 per online transaction and 2.3% per in-person payment.

Additionally, GoDaddy offers a free plan, albeit with limited features. This free option is particularly beneficial for individuals or businesses on a tight budget, allowing them to explore the platform and get started without any upfront costs. However, upgrading to a paid plan may offer a more comprehensive and customized web-building experience for those requiring more advanced features and functionalities.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Speedy and easy solution for website creation.
• Site content automatically reformats when switching themes.
• One of the easiest builders to use.
• Affordable pricing plans compared to competitors.

Cons:

• Limited creative freedom available.
• Restrictive block elements.
• Some features lack depth.
• Sites may not be as visually appealing as other builders.

Website features

GoDaddy’s Website features include a powerful website builder that empowers users to create stunning and professional websites effortlessly. With an intuitive interface and a wide range of customizable templates, building your online presence has never been easier.

Another key feature is connecting a custom domain to your website. This ensures that your site reflects your unique brand identity, enabling you to establish a strong and memorable online presence. Say goodbye to generic URLs and hello to a personalized web address.

Moreover, GoDaddy offers responsive design options, ensuring that your website looks great and functions seamlessly on various devices, from desktop computers to smartphones and tablets.

Ecommerce features

GoDaddy’s Ecommerce features offer a comprehensive solution for small businesses, allowing them to showcase and sell from 5,000 to an unlimited number of products, depending on the plan. This scalability ensures that businesses can easily expand their product catalog as they grow.

One of the standout features is the auto inventory and product sync across various sales channels. With this functionality, businesses can effortlessly manage their inventory and product listings across multiple platforms, saving time and avoiding discrepancies in stock availability.

Furthermore, GoDaddy provides discounted shipping options, which are particularly beneficial for higher-tier plans. By partnering with leading shipping carriers, GoDaddy enables businesses to offer cost-effective shipping solutions to their customers, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Sales & Marketing features

With the highest-tier plans of GoDaddy, businesses can seamlessly tap into various online marketplaces and social selling platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, Google, Instagram, and Facebook, expanding their reach and potential customer base.

Moreover, GoDaddy provides a reliable POS system, enabling businesses to process transactions efficiently in-store or on the go. This integrated point-of-sale solution streamlines operations enhances customer experience and ensures smooth payment processing.

Additionally, GoDaddy’s Email marketing feature allows businesses to send anywhere from 100 to an impressive 100,000 emails per month, depending on the plan. This valuable tool enables businesses to engage with their customers, send targeted promotions, and build lasting relationships through effective email campaigns.

Furthermore, GoDaddy’s Sales & Marketing features include SEO optimization, helping businesses improve their online visibility and rank higher in search engine results.

Customer support

GoDaddy offers chat and email support, which some users consider a limitation when compared to other website builders that provide more extensive customer support options.

Customer satisfaction

GoDaddy ranks 3.9 out of 5.0 on G2 and 4.2 on Capterra. This customer satisfaction is lower than the website builders mentioned in the list. As for the positive feedback, users claim that:

• “Easy to use and affordable prices for the domains you need”
• “GoDaddy is the best place to buy domain with Confidence and Ease”
• “GoDaddy has organized itself as a popular name in the website hosting and domain registration”

Some negative feedback is not satisfied about:

• “Slow website hosting and Confusing Platform”
• “Decent Domain Provider – Too Much Upselling”

Which type of small business should use GoDaddy?

GoDaddy is the best-suited website builder for small businesses prioritizing quick setup, simplicity, and affordability for their online presence, such as

• Freelancers and Solo Entrepreneurs
• Creative Professionals
• Small Retailers
• Personal Blogs and Websites
• Real Estate Agents

Hostinger

Hostinger is a versatile website builder for small business offering an excellent solution for showcasing your business and promoting services through a basic website.

Pricing

While there is no free plan, this platform offers a cost-effective solution starting at just $2.99 monthly. This affordability makes it a highly appealing choice for those seeking value for money and not wanting to spend extra time navigating various plans.

The platform’s 30-day free trial adds even more value, allowing users to explore its features before committing fully. Still, this minor inconvenience is outweighed by the opportunity to test the service risk-free.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Strong onboarding experience on WordPress plans for ease of use.
• Affordable hosting plans with low introductory prices.
• Great for ecommerce hosting with helpful plugins for WooCommerce and PrestaShop.

Cons:

• No dedicated hosting plans, limiting scalability beyond VPS plans.
• No phone support, only 24/7 live chat available.
• Limited features for the price.

Website features

Hostinger’s Website features cater to users seeking a user-friendly website-building experience. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, website creation becomes hassle-free, even for those with little technical know-how. Incorporating an AI-powered ChatGPT builder takes it a step further, simplifying the process for beginners without web development experience.

However, it’s important to consider the trade-offs that come with such ease of use. While Hostinger excels in simplicity, it may not be the ideal choice for users who prioritize extensive customization. The platform’s customization options could be limited, which might not be suitable for those looking to create highly personalized and unique website designs.

Additionally, once a website template is published, changing it becomes more challenging. This aspect may pose challenges for small businesses that frequently update their portfolios or wish to experiment with different design concepts.

Ecommerce features

Hostinger’s Ecommerce features are designed to provide a seamless and efficient online store setup experience. With a 1-click install feature for WooCommerce and WordPress applications, starting your new eCommerce venture is quick and hassle-free.

To enhance website performance, Hostinger utilizes LiteSpeed cache for WordPress, resulting in faster visitor page load times. This optimization is especially crucial for a smooth shopping experience, encouraging higher customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

Hostinger’s unlimited bandwidth becomes a valuable asset for businesses anticipating high traffic and product launches. To safeguard your eCommerce store’s data, Hostinger offers daily backups on most of its hosting plans, protecting you from potential data loss and ensuring business continuity.

With multiple data centers located globally, Hostinger guarantees excellent performance and availability for your store, no matter where your customers are located. 

Sales & Marketing features

Hostinger offers a mix of SEO tools to optimize websites, including AI-powered SEO tools and page SEO settings. While these tools allow users to enhance their website’s SEO to some extent, there are limitations, particularly in advanced keyword support, which may not fully cater to users seeking comprehensive SEO strategies.

However, Hostinger excels in integrations with prominent platforms like Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Hotjar, and Facebook Pixel, providing users with valuable data and insights. This enables them to track website performance, understand user behavior, and run effective marketing campaigns, bolstering their online presence.

Hostinger’s AI heat map tool is a valuable asset for small agencies. Predicting visitor behavior, it helps identify user preferences, popular content, and areas for improvement on the website. This data empowers users to make relevant updates to their portfolio, tailor offerings, and target potential clients or customers more effectively.

Customer support

Hostinger’s customer support stands out with its 24/7 live chat option. This real-time support proves invaluable for individuals with busy schedules or managing multiple projects, as it allows them to promptly address any technical or website-related concerns and keep their online ventures running smoothly. 

Customer satisfaction

Hostinger ranks 4.4 out of 5.0 on G2, demonstrating the positive attitude of users toward this website builder. The majority of reviews praise this platform:

“Hostinger – a reliable, low-cost web hosting service”

“Amazing hosting service at a killer price”

“Intuitive, easy, and pretty easy on the bank balance”

“Hosting with simplest backend management.”

Which type of small business should use Hostinger?

Hostinger is an excellent website builder for small businesses looking to establish an online presence quickly and affordably, such as

• Educational Institutions
• Personal Blogs and Websites
• Freelancers and Solo Entrepreneurs
• Technology Startups
• Niche Communities and Forums

Jimdo

Like Hostinger, Jimdo provides a user-friendly website builder for small businesses with essential tools at an affordable price.

Pricing

Jimdo’s pricing in the US consists of two paid plans: the Start Plan, priced at $9 per month, and the Grow Plan, available for $14 per month. For those looking to test the platform before committing to a paid plan, Jimdo offers a free plan called Play, allowing users to get started on the website builder and provides basic design templates to create a simple site quickly. 

However, upgrading to a premium-paid plan is recommended for more advanced features and customization options. The paid plans offer additional functionalities and tools to help users create a more professional and tailored website for their needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• ADI-based platform
• Affordable and ad-free
• Simple to navigate
• Mobile optimization

Cons:

• Features and customization limitations
• Suboptimal SEO performance
• Less suitable for the US market
• Sluggish help and support

Website features

Jimdo’s Website features encompass a set of basic tools and functionalities available across all of its plans, including the free option. Users can benefit from an image library, enabling them to access a variety of visuals to enhance their website’s appearance. Contact forms are also included, allowing for seamless communication and interaction with site visitors.

Moreover, Jimdo ensures HTTPS security for all its plans, safeguarding users’ websites and visitors’ data with encryption and protection against potential threats. The AI-powered ADI website builder is another valuable feature, simplifying the website creation process and guiding users through the setup.

Ecommerce features

With Jimdo’s shipping and local pickup options, users can provide flexible choices for their customers, enhancing the shopping experience.

Moreover, the platform enables businesses to streamline their services by allowing customers to book appointments directly on the website. This functionality is particularly beneficial for service-based businesses looking to optimize their scheduling process.

Regarding payment processing, Jimdo supports both PayPal and Stripe, ensuring secure and convenient transactions for customers and simplifying payment management for businesses. With an intuitive order management system, businesses can efficiently handle all their orders in one place, facilitating smooth operations and customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, businesses can drive sales and engage with customers through sales and discounts. The platform empowers users to implement promotional strategies and boost store performance.

Sales & Marketing features

While Jimdo may not offer an extensive range of marketing options, it does provide some basic functionalities to aid businesses in promoting their products or services. In Jimdo Creator’s product menu, users can set a base price, allowing customers to see the price difference during sales or promotions. 

Regarding SEO, Jimdo ensures basic SEO settings are accessible to paying subscribers in both its editors. Users can easily add titles, descriptions, and keywords to their site’s homepage using the SEO menu in Dolphin’s interface.

Dolphin automatically takes care of the SEO settings for subpages and product pages, alleviating the need for manual input. This simplifies the process for users and helps improve their website’s search engine visibility.

Customer support

Jimdo offers a pay-for-support system, meaning better support with higher-tier plans. Support is not available on the free plan. You can search for answers in the Help Center or send a message through your account, but there’s no live chat, phone, or email support.

Customer satisfaction

Jimdo receives the lowest customer satisfaction rating among builders, scoring 3.9 out of 5 on G2. The limited editor, lack of reliable support, and basic features contribute to its mediocre performance as a website builder. Some customer reviews on G2 are as follows:

“Good for portfolio and simple business websites”

“Does not include all necessary functions”

“A really intuitive website development tool.”

Which type of small business should use Jimdo?

Jimdo is an ideal website builder for small businesses with limited funds, such as

• Small Online Stores
• Creative Professionals
• Personal Blogs and Websites
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Home Services Providers

IONOS

While IONOS may not outperform all website builders in the market, it stands as the top choice for site speed and uptime.

Pricing

IONOS offers three different plans: Starter, Plus, and Pro, with pricing from $1 to $15. However, there is no mention of a free plan or a free trial option, making it challenging for potential customers to fully assess the plans’ features and determine if the pricing aligns with their offer’s value.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

•    Low-cost introductory rates (starting from $1 per month)
•     Unlimited storage (available for Business and Expert plans)
•     Fast website loading speed
•     Free Wildcard SSL certificate

Cons:

• Absence of a free plan or trial
• Confusing navigation experience

Website features

For those who choose IONOS, the platform offers its drag-and-drop website builder accompanied by a vast selection of customizable design templates. WordPress hosting plans are also available, offering even more options for website customization.

Another advantage is the convenience of one-click installations for over 70 popular third-party applications, streamlining the process of adding functionality to your website. While many users find the IONOS dashboard easy to navigate and user-friendly, some tech-savvy users have reported challenges in using the interface for advanced customizations to tailor their websites to specific needs.

Ecommerce features

IONOS provides comprehensive e-commerce solutions, including their e-commerce design services. Skilled IONOS e-commerce site developers will craft an online store tailored to your needs, featuring three pages, up to 10 products, and 10 detailed product pages. This turnkey solution includes seamless payment and shipping setup and integration with Facebook and Instagram Shops. IONOS offers unlimited maintenance, allowing easy edits and updates to keep your online store up-to-date and optimized.

Moreover, IONOS allows any time to add an online store or booking tool functionality. You can start with a basic website and scale up when your business requires e-commerce capabilities.

Sales & Marketing features

Included with every IONOS shared hosting plan are essential marketing tools like SiteAnalytics, Google Sitemaps, and the option to create 10 to 100 mailing lists. These tools empower you to understand your website’s performance better, improve its search engine visibility, and effectively engage with your audience through targeted email campaigns.

Additionally, IONOS prioritizes SEO-friendly design, ensuring your website can achieve maximum visibility on Google and other search engines. By implementing SEO best practices into their platform, IONOS enables your business to attract more organic traffic and potential customers.

Customer support

IONOS takes pride in its comprehensive customer support options, available round the clock. You can contact them via telephone, email, or live chat if you need assistance. 

To further aid their customers, IONOS hosts an extensive online help center and an online community where users can interact with one another. These online resources serve as valuable information repositories, enabling users to find quick answers to their queries without needing personalized help.

Customer satisfaction

IONOS customer reviews are mixed. Positive feedback praises unbeatable pricing, responsive support, and platform stability. Less favorable reviews mention website glitches, billing misunderstandings, pushy upselling, and website launching complications. 

Which type of small business should use IONOS?

IONOS is well-suited for various types of small businesses. It is best for those looking to launch a simple website using IONOS’ basic templates quickly. Startups with budget constraints can also find IONOS appealing as it provides budget-friendly hosting services.

How to Choose The Best Website Builder For Your Small Business

Choosing the best website builder for small businesses is crucial for establishing a strong online presence and attracting customers. Here are some key steps to help you make the right decision:

1. Identify Your Needs: Determine your website’s specific goals and requirements. Decide on the features, functionality, and design elements essential for your business.
2. Evaluate Ease of Use: Look for a website builder with an intuitive interface and a user-friendly editor. The builder should make it easy for you to create and update your site without technical expertise.
3. Check Template Selection: Ensure the website builder offers diverse templates that match your business’s branding and style. Responsive templates are crucial to ensure your site looks great on all devices.
4. Assess Features: Consider the built-in features the website builder provides. Look for tools like e-commerce functionality, SEO optimization, blogging capabilities, and social media integration that align with your needs.
5. Consider Scalability: Think about your business’s future growth. Choose a website builder to scale your business and accommodate increasing traffic and demands.
6. Review Customer Support and Pricing: Check the level of customer support the website builder offers. Additionally, compare pricing plans and features to find the best fit for your budget while meeting your requirements.

FAQs

Final Words

In summary, Shopify stands out as the top-rated website builder for small businesses, offering a wide range of beautifully designed templates that serve as a strong foundation for creating impressive websites.