Shaking Hands with the Titans: A Review of the Top 7 Free Website Builders for 2024
The democratization of web design continues with various free website builders increasingly simplifying the process.
Wix, the reigning king, offers a toolkit for beginners and advanced users alike, ranging from SEO to an AI-design assistant, backed by extensive customer support.
Shopify Lite emerges as the budget-friendly solution for launching an ecommerce platform, equipped with features to manage inventory, track orders and integrate payment gateways.
Weebly, while no longer a standalone solution after integration with Square, remains a robust option offering unlimited storage and a free custom domain.
WordPress.com's free plan provides a foothold in the world's largest blogging community, supplemented with indispensable tools for content marketing.
Zyro's USP is its AI-driven tools including AI Writer and AI Heatmap, with the limited design flexibility countered by extremely economical premium plans.
BigCommerce, despite a steep learning curve, wins brownie points for native features that make it a one-stop shop for creating a comprehensive ecommerce business.
Squarespace, the last but not the least, earns praise for its pre-built website designs, superb customer support, and a full breadth of blogging tools.
Web design trends imply that it's become a game of the many, as opposed to a few select gurus. As conventional barriers to entry crumble, more individuals can now craft websites with negligible coding knowledge. An array of free website builders have stepped in to meet this transforming landscape. Wix, the undisputed leader, caters to both novices and tech-savvy professionals with its suite of features. From SEO guides to an AI-assisted design function, backed by 24/7 customer support, Wix stands tall.
Next, Shopify Lite creates an affordable, streamlined path to ecommerce entrepreneurship with tools to manage inventories, process orders, and integrate payment gateways. The subscription fee, which is a fraction of Shopify's standard plan, is certainly money well spent.
Weebly, although now part of Square, still offers a top-notch solution for businesses of all sizes. With unlimited storage and a free custom domain, Weebly delivers value for money while ensuring design is never compromised.
On the other hand, WordPress.com's free platform provides an opportunity to join a blogging community that dominates the internet. Complementarily, it equips users with vital tools such as social sharing features, customisation options, and access to WordPress's extensive theming landscape.
Additionally, Zyro embraces its unique identity with AI-driven features. Although its design flexibility might feel a tad restricted, Zyro redeems itself through cost-effective premium plans. The AI Writer crafts engaging copy whilst the AI Heatmap predicts visitor behaviour on the website.
BigCommerce, while it can be a bit steep for beginners, should be recognised for its sheer breadth of integrated features. The platform eliminates the need for additional ecommerce tools, turning your website into a wholesome online store.
Rounding off the list, Squarespace proves consistency is a winning strategy. The platform impresses with its modern pre-built website designs, extensive customer service, and a complete range of blogging tools that can convert the greenest of bloggers into maestros.
From a web designer's view, it's exhilarating to witness this shift towards democratisation. With free website builders such as Wix, Shopify Lite, Weebly, WordPress.com, Zyro, BigCommerce, and Squarespace, there's a roadmap to design success for all. These platforms with their distinctive perks are enabling diverse aspirations — from entrepreneurs to bloggers, digital marketers to designers. Closing the technical gap, they've made web designing an accessible art, shaping the WWW canvas — one website at a time.