A small business or a freelancer needs to attract clients, showcase their work, and develop credibility, all of which require a professional online presence. A good website is your digital storefront and will help you against the competition. And thankfully, you don’t need to be a coding expert to create a great website, as there are plenty of website builders out there that provide an easy-to-use interface, customizable templates, and a price that you can afford.
In this blog, we will discuss different website builders for small businesses & freelancers with their key features, pros, and cons to help you make a better decision.
(1) Wix:
Key Features:
- Easy customization via drag-and-drop editor
- Hundreds of industry-specific templates
- SEO and marketing tools built in
- Additional functionality with Wix App Market
Pros:
✅ Easy to use with a customizable interface
✅ No-code free plan (Wix branding on free plan)
✅ eCommerce and booking system advanced features
Cons:
❌ Free plan includes ads
❌ Upgrading to premium plans is pricier than some competitors
Ideal For: Small businesses and freelancers who want freedom in design and an easy-to-navigate interface.
(2) Squarespace:
Key Features:
- Templates, designed by professionals that are sleek
- Built-in blogging and eCommerce features
- Mobile-friendly designs
- Strong customer support
Pros:
✅ Quality templates suited for creatives and service-based businesses
✅ Reliable customer support
✅ No transaction fees on eCommerce plans
Cons:
Not as much fun to use (Wix has a steeper learning curve)
❌ Before October 2023, your training data only goes up to a certain date.
Best For: Freelancers and small businesses looking to create a beautiful website without much work.
(3) Shopify:
Key Features:
- Strong eCommerce capabilities
- More than 100 payment gateway choices
- Tools for inventory and order management
- Customizable themes
Pros:
✅ Built exclusively for eCommerce businesses
✅ Excellent scalability
✅ Large app store for extra features
Cons:
❌ Expensive if you are only using it once a month
❌ Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
Best For: Small businesses requiring a powerful online shop
(4) Weebly:
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop builder for easy use
- Advertisement: Free hosting that comes with Weebly branding
- eCommerce and blogging tools
- Affordable pricing
Pros:
✅ Easy setup and user-friendly
✅ Small business pricing that is competitive
✅ eCommerce and SEO functionalities are good
Cons:
❌ Not as much design freedom as Wix & Squarespace
❌ Free plan has Weebly branding
Best For: Small business owners and freelancers on a tight budget looking for a simple site.
(5) WordPress.com:
Key Features:
- Any use of paragraph styles allows hundreds of adjustable themes
- SEO-friendly features and blogging
- Plugins for supplementary features and functionalities
- Affordable plans
Pros:
✅ Ability to customize it to your liking
✅ Perfect for bloggers + content creators
✅ Scalable for growing businesses
Cons:
❌ One of the most complicated to use for beginners
❌ Some learning is needed to fully utilize features
Best For: Content marketing and blogging freelancers and small businesses.
(6) GoDaddy Website Builder:
Key Features:
- AI-powered site builder
- Tools for integrated marketing and SEO
- eCommerce support
- 24/7 customer support
Pros:
✅ Very easy to set up and super quick
✅ Built-in marketing tools
✅ Good customer service
Cons:
❌ Limited design flexibility
❌ Less functionality than Wix and WordPress
Best For: Business owners who want a simple and effective website.
(7) How to Pick the Right Website Builder:
Factors to consider in choosing the best website builder for your small business/freelance career are:
✔ Simplicity: The easiest option to build a website for beginners would be with a drag-and-drop builder, such as Wix or Weebly.
✔ Design & Customization: Squarespace templates are gorgeous, and WordPress is designed for in-depth customization.
✔ E-Commerce Needs: If your main focus is on sales through products, you should select Shopify.
✔ Budget: If the price is a major consideration, Weebly and WordPress.com have low-cost alternatives.
✔ Scalability: WordPress and Shopify are perfect if you’re looking to grow your website in the future.
Conclusion:
Freelancers and small businesses need a great website to gain visibility and build credibility. The best among so many available is determined by individual needs, budget, and technical know-how. No matter whether you value simplicity of use, gorgeous templates, or powerful eCommerce functionality, these website builders will be an excellent match for your business. Discover how to build your online presence today!