Creating a professional website is easier than ever, and with a wide variety of affordable website builders on the market, even beginners can feel confident getting started without breaking the bank.
That’s right: You no longer need coding skills or a big budget to get your business online. These tools let you build a credible, customized website without hiring a developer or sacrificing quality.
Today, 71% of small businesses have a website. But for new businesses who don’t want to spend $5,000-$10,000 on custom website development, website builders are a smart, effective and budget-friendly solution.
- Website builders under $20/month offer professional features previously available only to big-budget businesses.
- The best platform depends on your specific needs: e-commerce, design showcase, quick setup or growth flexibility.
- Free plans serve as testing grounds, but paid plans ($10-15/month) deliver credibility and functionality worth the investment.
- AI-powered builders are revolutionizing website creation by eliminating blank-page paralysis for beginners.
CTA: Start building your professional website today with tools designed specifically for small business success. Create a website
What to look for in an affordable website builder
When comparing affordable website builders, don’t just look at the price tag. The cheapest option isn’t always the best value for your business. Think about what you actually need your website to do. Do you need to sell products? Showcase a portfolio? Book appointments?
The right features will save you time and help your business grow, while missing ones can limit your potential.
Consider these essential criteria:
- Go beyond price: The cheapest option isn’t always the best long-term value—prioritize features that align with your business goals.
- Plan for function: Choose a builder that supports what your site needs to do, like selling products, booking appointments or showcasing your work.
- Prioritize mobile responsiveness: Over half of internet users won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site, so your builder should handle mobile optimization automatically.
- Look for built-in SEO tools: Features like custom page titles, meta descriptions and clean URLs help your site get found on search engines.
- Think about future growth: Even if you’re not selling now, pick a builder with e-commerce options so you’re ready to scale later without switching platforms.
- Check support quality: Some builders offer live chat or 24/7 help, while others rely on articles—choose based on how much tech support you’ll need.
- Understand limits: Know how your plan handles storage and bandwidth—some upgrade you automatically (and charge for it), while others pause your site until you upgrade manually.
1. Vista x Wix: Best all-around platform for beginners
Vista x Wix offers an easy yet powerful way to create a business website on a budget. The drag-and-drop editor and built-in AI tools make it super beginner-friendly, helping you launch quickly with minimal effort.
With over 200 million sites powered by Wix, the platform is backed by proven tech and small business insights. Vista’s integration ensures your website matches your other marketing materials, keeping your brand consistent across everything from business cards to your online presence.
- Cost: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $17/month.
- Best for: First-time website creators who want professional results without the learning curve.
- Standout feature: AI-powered site creation that eliminates blank-page paralysis.
Create your small business website with Vista x Wix
2. WordPress.com: Best for growth and flexibility
WordPress.com is a flexible platform that can grow with your business. While it takes a bit more time to learn than drag-and-drop builders, it offers much more freedom and customization.
Powering 43% of all websites, WordPress.com is trusted by everyone from bloggers to large businesses. The .com version handles hosting and maintenance, making it easier for small businesses to use without managing the tech side. With plans starting around $4 per month, it’s an affordable option for long-term growth.
- Cost: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $4/month.
- Best for: Businesses planning significant online growth or content marketing.
- Standout feature: Unlimited customization potential without outgrowing your platform.
Build an affordable website with WordPress.com
3. Squarespace: Best for design-focused businesses
Squarespace is a great option for creative businesses like designers, photographers or food brands who need a visually-driven type of website. Its sleek templates prioritize clean typography, site layout and image display, helping you build a polished result without design experience.
With nearly 5 million users, it’s a popular choice among creatives who want their websites to look professionally made. While it costs a bit more, the design quality and ease of use often justify the price. Most users can build a site in just a few hours to a couple of weeks, depending on how much content they add.
- Cost: 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $16/month
- Best for: Creative businesses, restaurants, photographers, and design-focused services.
- Standout feature: Award-winning templates that maintain visual sophistication across all devices.
Build a strong visual-based website with Squarespace
4. GoDaddy: Best for quick setup
GoDaddy’s website builder is designed for speed, making it ideal for busy small business owners. Its streamlined setup helps most users launch a site within an hour of starting a free trial.
Using artificial design intelligence, it builds a complete website based on your business type, including suggested content and images. This fast, low-effort process lets many users finish their entire site in just one afternoon. While it’s less customizable than other platforms, the time savings are significant.
- Cost: Paid plans start at $9.99/month.
- Best for: Time-pressed business owners who need immediate online presence.
- Standout feature: One-hour website creation from start to launch.
Build a website quickly with GoDaddy
5. Shopify: Best affordable e-commerce option
Shopify is built specifically for selling, making it a smart choice if e-commerce is your main focus. While it costs more than general builders, its sales tools—like inventory tracking and abandoned cart recovery—are built in, rather than bolted on.
With over 1.7 million businesses using it, Shopify has a strong track record in the e-commerce space. It handles everything from payment processing to mobile-optimized checkout, reducing setup headaches. For many online sellers, the real question is whether they can afford not to use it.
- Cost: Most paid plans cost $1/month for your first three months. Costs then start at $29/month after that.
- Best for: E-commerce businesses and service providers adding online sales.
- Standout feature: Comprehensive e-commerce tools built for conversion optimization.
Build an e-commerce website with Shopify.
6. Weebly: Best general budget-friendly option
Weebly shows that affordable website builders can still produce professional results. Its simple drag-and-drop editor is easy to use and ideal for new businesses that want to get online without a steep learning curve.
The free plan lets you build your entire site before upgrading, and paid plans—which you’ll need in order to connect a custom domain—cost less than most competitors. While it lacks some advanced features, the simplicity helps you avoid being overwhelmed. For budget-conscious business owners, Weebly is a low-risk way to establish a strong online presence.
- Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $10/month.
- Best for: Budget-conscious businesses needing basic professional websites.
- Standout feature: Generous free plan with upgrade flexibility.
Weebly has a free-forever website builder plan.
7. Hostinger: Best value hosting package
Hostinger combines hosting and website building into one low-cost, all-in-one solution. Unlike many platforms that charge separately for hosting, Hostinger’s pricing is upfront and includes everything you need.
While the builder isn’t packed with advanced features, it’s ideal for simple business websites with fast load times and solid performance. Managing everything in one place keeps costs down and removes the hassle of juggling multiple services. It’s a strong option for those who want speed, simplicity and value.
- Pricing: Complete packages start at $2.99/month.
- Best for: Businesses wanting simple sites with reliable, fast hosting.
- Standout feature: All-inclusive pricing with no hosting surprises.
Hostinger’s website builder is a budget-friendly option for small businesses.
8. IONOS MyWebsite: Best for customer support
IONOS stands out by offering every customer a dedicated personal consultant, providing real, tailored support, not just generic chat help. This makes it especially appealing for first-time website creators who want guidance as they build.
While the MyWebsite builder is fairly simple, the standout feature is the business-focused advice you get from your consultant. It’s like having a web expert in your corner without the high cost. This level of personalized support is included in their base pricing, making it a smart option for beginners on a budget.
- Pricing: Plans start at $6/month with a one-year term. Then, $12/month after that.
- Best for: First-time website creators who want human guidance throughout the process. Standout feature: Dedicated personal consultant for every customer.
Build a website with expert help from IONOS MyWebsite.
9. Webflow: Best for customization without coding
Webflow sits in a sweet spot between simple drag-and-drop builders and custom-coded sites, making it ideal for businesses with unique visual needs. While it takes more time to learn than other builders, it allows for near-total customization without requiring code.
For businesses with unique design needs who can’t afford custom development, Webflow offers an affordable middle path that grows with your design skills.
- Pricing: Free plan available. Basic plans start at $14/month.
- Best for: Businesses with unique design requirements and time to learn advanced features.
- Standout feature: Professional-level design control without coding knowledge.
Webflow is a great affordable website builder for beginners.
Free vs. paid plans: When to upgrade and what you get
Free plans are tempting, but they do come with visible and invisible costs. Most free websites include the builder’s branding and use a subdomain (yoursite.builderwebsite.com) instead of your own domain name.
This can signal “hobby” rather than “serious business” to your visitors. This credibility gap can cost more in lost business than a paid plan costs monthly.
But the real limitations often lie deeper: restricted functionality, limited storage and caps on monthly visitors. For most businesses, the jump from free to a basic paid plan delivers value that quickly pays for itself.
Key upgrade benefits:
- Custom domain names for professional credibility
- Removal of builder branding and advertisements
- Increased storage and bandwidth limits
- Access to e-commerce and booking features
- Professional email addresses matching your domain
- Enhanced SEO tools and analytics
Hidden costs to watch for with low-cost website builders
The sticker price isn’t always the full story with website builders. While $15/month might seem straightforward, watch for these common extras that can more than double your actual cost.
Common hidden costs:
- Premium templates and design elements
- Third-party app integrations and plugins
- Additional storage beyond plan limits
- Higher-tier plans triggered by traffic growth
- Transaction fees on e-commerce sales
- Professional email services
- Advanced marketing and analytics tools
Some builders also charge transaction fees on e-commerce sales, which can be significant as your business grows.
Small business owner designing a website via DepositPhotos.
Should you use an AI website builder?
AI website builder tools ask you questions about your business, then generate complete websites with appropriate structures, suggested text and even color schemes that match your brand.
AI-generated content still requires human review and customization, but the technology provides an excellent starting point.
AI builder advantages:
- Eliminates blank-page paralysis with instant site structure
- Generates business-appropriate content and copy
- Suggests relevant images and design elements
- Creates consistent branding across all pages
- Reduces time from concept to launch dramatically
FAQs about affordable website builders
How much should I expect to pay for a good website builder?
Most quality builders range from $6 to $17 per month. Expect to spend around $15 to $20 monthly for a professional setup with a custom domain and no ads. Add-ons like premium templates or apps can raise costs slightly.
Can I start with a free plan and upgrade later without losing my work?
Yes, you can upgrade without losing content or design. Just know that some features won’t work properly until you’re on a paid plan.
Do I need any technical skills to use these website builders?
No experience needed—drag-and-drop tools are beginner-friendly. If you can use email or Microsoft Word, you can build a site.
How long does it typically take to build a small business website?
You can launch in a few hours to a couple of weeks, depending on the platform. Some tools use AI to speed things up, while others give you more design flexibility.
Can I switch between website builders if I’m not happy with my choice?
You can switch, but it usually means rebuilding your site. Content transfers easily, but design elements often don’t carry over.
