In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial for small businesses. A website allows companies to showcase their products or services, connect with customers, and increase search visibility. With numerous free website builders available, creating a new website has never been easier or more accessible.
Selecting the right website builder is key for businesses seeking an easy-to-use platform with features like web design tools, analytics, social media integration, and content management. Options like GoDaddy, WordPress Wix, Mailchimp, and Weebly offer free plans with varying capabilities for building an online store, custom domain, and more .
GoDaddy: Best Overall
GoDaddy is an excellent choice for users with limited technical knowledge, those seeking an easy website building experience, and businesses or brands aiming to leverage online marketing tools. Its user-friendly interface and AI-powered tools make it a beginner-friendly platform for quickly getting a website online.
Key features of GoDaddy include:
- Social media integration
- Branded content creation tools
- Email marketing (up to 100,000 emails per month)
- Comprehensive SEO tools
- Booking and appointment features
- Ecommerce capabilities on the Commerce plan.
GoDaddy’s AI tools are particularly noteworthy, including:
- Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) for building custom templates
- AI-powered branded content creation
- Domain name suggestions using ChatGPT.
However, GoDaddy may not be the best fit if you require total creative control over your website, need specific apps or plugins, require advanced ecommerce features, or want a completely mobile-responsive site.
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Beginner-friendly site editor, ecommerce, unlimited storage & bandwidth (50-page limit) |
| Basic | $10.99 | – |
| Premium | $14.99 | – |
| Commerce | $20.99 | Advanced ecommerce features |
Prices increase after the first year.
While GoDaddy offers over 200 templates with 20 theme customizer options, its AI-generated designs can sometimes appear generic or outdated.
WordPress
WordPress.com is an excellent choice for developers, bloggers, and those seeking a fully customizable website with low-cost plans to connect their domain. It offers a free plan that includes beautiful themes and patterns, unlimited pages and users, built-in newsletters and RSS, brute-force protection, smart redirects, and a 10% transaction fee for payments.
- The Starter plan ($4/month) adds a free domain for 1 year, access to dozens of premium themes, an ad-free experience, extremely fast DNS with SSL, email support, and an 8% transaction fee for payments.
- The Explorer plan ($8/month) includes live chat support, access to all premium themes, the ability to customize fonts and colors, a 4% transaction fee for payments, 4K video uploads with VideoPress, unlimited automatic social shares, a site activity log and in-depth analytics, and 13 GB of storage.
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Beautiful themes, unlimited pages/users, newsletters, RSS, brute-force protection, 10% transaction fee. |
| Starter | $4 | Free domain for 1 year, premium themes, ad-free, fast DNS with SSL, email support, 8% transaction fee. |
| Explorer | $8 | Live chat, all premium themes, font/color customization, 4% transaction fee, 4K video uploads, analytics, 13 GB storage. |
| Creator | $25 | Install plugins/themes, unrestricted bandwidth/visitors, 24/7 support, CDN, managed security, 0% WooCommerce fee, backups, SEO tools, 50 GB storage. |
| Entrepreneur | $45 | Optimized WooCommerce hosting, premium store themes, design tools, unlimited products, marketing automation, inventory management, shipping integrations. |
WordPress.com provides resources like support, news, website building tips, a business name generator, a logo maker, daily webinars, and WordPress learning materials. Its website builder offers a drag-and-drop interface, customizable layouts, fonts, and color palettes, and the ability to add multimedia content Wi.th over 50,000 plugins and add-ons available, users can expand their website’s functionality. WordPress.com also provides features for marketing, monetization, custom domain names, built-in forms, and the ability to earn ad revenue through the WordAds program. Higher-tier plans offer optimized hosting with fast speeds, security, unlimited bandwidth, real-time backups, one-click restore, and 24/7 expert support. Professional website design services are available for those who want an expert-built site.
Wix: Best for Local Businesses
Wix is an excellent choice for local businesses seeking an all-around website builder with an easy-to-use interface and a wide range of features. It offers over 800 templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it accessible even for those with limited technical expertise.
One of Wix’s standout features is its AI builder, which simplifies the website creation process. Additionally, Wix provides advanced SEO tools on its free plan, helping local businesses improve their online visibility and discoverability.
Key features that make Wix ideal for local businesses include:
- Free web hosting and secure content storage.
- Ability to create a custom domain name and business email address for a professional online presence.
- Intuitive design tools to customize the website according to business needs.
- Integrated tools and features to support business growth, such as:
- Dropshipping
- Secure payment processing
- Invoicing
- Social media and SEO tools
- Live chat
- Email marketing
- Analytics
- Mobile app.
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 800+ templates, drag-and-drop editor, AI tools, advanced SEO features. |
| Combo | $22 | Free domain for 1 year, 3 GB storage, ad-free experience, site analytics. |
| Unlimited | $27 | Unlimited bandwidth, 10 GB storage, professional logo, site review. |
| VIP | $49 | Priority support, advanced security, visitor analytics, professional logo, site review. |
With over 220 million users growing their businesses online, Wix has established itself as a reliable platform for local businesses. Its websites are designed for performance, with fast loading speeds, built-in SEO capabilities, and enterprise-grade security. Additionally, Wix websites are accessible and inclusive, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
Mailchimp: Best for Solopreneurs and Microbusinesses
Mailchimp is an excellent choice for solopreneurs and microbusinesses seeking an all-in-one platform for website building, email marketing, and e-commerce capabilities. Its free plan offers a range of features tailored to the needs of small businesses and independent entrepreneurs:
- Integrated Email Marketing: Mailchimp’s free plan includes powerful email marketing tools, allowing users to create and send marketing emails, set up automated campaigns, and track performance metrics.
- Appointment Scheduling: The platform provides a built-in appointment scheduling tool, enabling businesses to streamline their booking process and manage appointments efficiently
- E-commerce Capabilities: Mailchimp’s free plan supports basic e-commerce functionality, allowing users to set up an online store and sell products or services directly from their website.
While Mailchimp’s free plan offers a comprehensive set of features, it does have some limitations. For instance, the free plan restricts users to a maximum of 2,000 contacts and 10,000 monthly email sends. Additionally, advanced features like custom domains, removal of Mailchimp branding, and third-party integrations are only available on paid plans.
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2,000 contacts, 10,000 email sends/month, Mailchimp branding, limited integrations. |
| Essentials | $11 | 50,000 contacts, unlimited email sends, custom domains, A/B testing, custom branding. |
| Standard | $17 | Advanced audience insights, custom templates, send-time optimization, behavioral targeting. |
| Premium | $299 | Unlimited audience, multivariate testing, advanced segmentation, priority support. |
For solopreneurs and microbusinesses seeking a comprehensive platform with email marketing, appointment scheduling, and basic e-commerce capabilities, Mailchimp’s free plan can be an attractive option. However, as businesses grow and require more advanced features, upgrading to a paid plan may become necessary.
Weebly: Best for Free Online Stores with Square
Weebly is a free online website builder that offers ecommerce features through integration with Square. It provides customizable webpage designs and tools to help businesses build and grow their online presence. Key features of Weebly include step-by-step guidance, professional website design options, all-in-one ecommerce tools, and integrated marketing tools.
Weebly offers a free plan to get started with building a website, and paid plans with additional features are also available.
| Plan | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Free | Unlimited ecommerce for up to 5 products, 500MB storage |
| Professional | $12/month, free domain, unlimited storage, advanced site stats |
| Performance | $26/month, high-res video uploads, HD audio player, $200 ad vouchers. |
Weebly is now part of the Square product suite, allowing businesses to never miss a sale and let customers pay how they want. The Square integration enables payments and order management for both online stores and in-person sales. Weebly users will need to create a Square account to continue using the product and access additional features . which is free, and users can link their existing Square account if they have one.
Square Online automatically syncs inventory, sales, and customer data across all Square tools. It offers more search engine optimization features, a modern mobile-friendly design, faster editing, and integration with social media. The Square Online site editor is optimized for ecommerce, with customizable sections instead of themes and drag-and-drop elements. Users can access a wider range of apps and integrations through the Square App Marketplace, but the Square Online site editor is not compatible with the Weebly App Center.
Conclusion
In today’s digital landscape, having an online presence is essential for small businesses to thrive. The various free website builders discussed offer diverse features and capabilities tailored to different business needs, ranging from user-friendliness and AI-powered tools to e-commerce integration and marketing functionalities. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a local business, or a growing venture, platforms like GoDaddy, WordPress.com, Wix, Mailchimp, and Weebly provide accessible and cost-effective solutions to establish a professional online presence.
Ultimately, the choice of a website builder depends on your specific requirements, technical expertise, and long-term business goals. By carefully evaluating the features, pricing, and limitations of each platform, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your brand’s vision and growth trajectory. With the right website builder, businesses can leverage the power of the internet to connect with customers, showcase their offerings, and unlock new opportunities for success in the digital realm.
FAQs
Choosing the Best Free Website Builder for Your Small Business
1. What is the top free website builder for small businesses in 2024?
The leading free website builders for small businesses in 2024 include:
- GoDaddy: Best overall option.
- Wix: Most suitable for local businesses.
- Mailchimp: Ideal for solopreneurs and microbusinesses.
- Weebly: Top choice for free online stores integrated with Square.
- WordPress: Perfect for developers and bloggers.
- Webflow: Excellent for startups focusing on minimal content publishing.
2. Which free website builder is recommended the most?
The question of the best free website builder is subjective and depends on the specific needs of the user. The list provided in the first answer highlights various builders that excel in different areas.
3. What is the best website builder for small business shops in 2024?
For small business shops in 2024, the top website builders are:
- Weebly: Best overall.
- GoDaddy: Ideal for service providers.
- IONOS: Recommended for startups.
- Squarespace: Perfect for creatives.
- HostGator: Great for simplicity.
- Wix: Best for code-free customizations.
- Shopify: Excellent for dropshipping.
- Zyro: Most affordable option.
4. Which type of website builder is most suitable for small businesses?
For small businesses, the best website builders in 2024 include:
- Wix: Best for overall performance.
- Weebly: A simple builder for small business websites.
- Shopify: User-friendly and powerful for online stores.
- Squarespace: Ideal for stylish site designs.
- HubSpot, Hostinger, and GoDaddy: Also highly recommended for their respective strengths and offerings.