Key takeaways:
- Every website builder has their own unique value propositions, so you must choose one that best suits your specific use case.
- The best website builders now come with built-in marketing for broader site management.
- Free plans exist, but usually come with trade-offs and limitations.
Running a business means wearing a dozen hats, and the idea of building a polished website can feel like wearing another hat. But here’s the truth: If your small business isn’t online, you’re practically invisible to the customers looking for you.
According to recent reports, more than 73% of small businesses in the U.S. have a website, and US eCommerce sales alone are expected to hit $1.70 trillion by 2027. That means if you’re still relying on word of mouth or a Facebook page, you’re holding yourself back from more sales and engagement opportunities.
The good news is that website builders have completely changed the game. With AI design assistants, drag-and-drop editors, and ready-to-use website templates, you can create a site in a weekend. No coding or endless trial and error—the challenge right now is choosing the right website builder.
That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll walk through the best website builders for small businesses in 2025, compare their strengths, and highlight who they’re best for. By the end, you’ll know exactly which option fits your business and your budget.
How we developed this list
Small business owners like you don’t have time to sift through flashy marketing claims, so we cut through the noise and leaned on real experiences instead. Here’s how we built this list:
- Customer reviews first. We reviewed 80 actual customer reviews on platforms like Capterra, G2, Trustpilot, Reddit, and Quora to hear directly from business owners. These are people using builders for everything from coffee shop menus to bookkeeping services.
- Patterns matter. If dozens of users complained about slow customer support or praised an intuitive dashboard, we took note.
- Evaluation criteria. Our evaluation criteria included pricing, ease of use, customization, eCommerce features, SEO tools, scalability, and support.
Disclaimer: These prices and features are accurate as of Q4 2025, but they can change without prior notice. Always double-check before you avail.
Comparison of the best website builders for SMBs in 2025
These no-code platforms make it possible for small businesses to compete online without hiring expensive development teams. Here are some of the best site builders available now:
- Network Solutions
- Wix
- Squarespace
- Shopify
- WordPress.com
| Platform | Starting price | Key features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network Solutions | $1.99/mo, renews at $16.99/month | All-in-one AI builder, domain, email, and SSL | Small businesses (SMBs) needing speed + simplicity |
| Wix | $17/mo (billed monthly) | Drag-and-drop, 800+ templates, AI builder, app marketplace | Versatile all-around use |
| Squarespace | $16/mo (billed monthly) | Award-winning designs, blogging tools | Creatives and design-focused SMBs |
| Shopify | $39/mo | eCommerce-first, 100+ payment options, inventory tools, abandoned cart recovery | Online stores |
| WordPress.com | $9/mo (billed monthly) | Content-focused platform with blogs, themes, basic customization | Blogs and resource-heavy websites (plugins available on higher tiers) |
Network Solutions
Network Solutions has been part of the web since its early days and continues to evolve with small business needs. In 2025, it launched AI-powered website building tools to help entrepreneurs set up professional sites faster. Unlike builders that emphasize flashy design extras, Network Solutions leans more into practicality and reliability.
Key unique features
- All-in-one platform: domain registration, hosting, email, and website builder under one roof.
- AI builder: creates a tailored site in minutes, no tech knowledge required.
- Built-in security: SSL certificates, daily backups, and strong uptime guarantees.
- Business-ready templates: designed with service providers and small retailers in mind.
Who it’s best for
- Small businesses that want one provider for domain, hosting, and site builder.
- Owners who prioritize uptime, security, and professional credibility.
- Non-technical entrepreneurs who want to launch a site fast.
What users are saying
Users often highlight the peace of mind that comes with Network Solutions, especially small businesses looking for simplicity. Some note for more modern templates, but most value reliability and support over flashy design.
Other users also commented on Network Solutions’ comprehensive and prompt response to website issues, such as errors or site setup. According to one customer, the platform was “very helpful” and had “fast response times.”
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Website | $1.99/mo, renews at $16.99/month | • AI-powered website builder • 1-year free domain & domain privacy • 3 months free professional email • 1 month free SSL • 1-hour expert design support; logo builder & design studio |
| Website + Marketing | $3.99/mo, renews at $21.99/month | Everything in the Website plan plus: • Appointment scheduling • Social media & email marketing • Google My Business listing |
| eCommerce | $9.99, renews at $29.99/month | Includes everything in Website + Marketing plus: • Secure checkout on your domain • Ability to sell products across channels like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, etc. |
For many SMBs, the Essential plan strikes the right balance between affordability and business features.
Wix
Wix is a solid choice for small businesses that want both ease and customization. Its drag-and-drop editor makes designing approachable, letting you can arrange elements directly on the page without code. For those who want to start quicker, the Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) can generate a basic site in minutes after answering a few business-related questions.
Key unique features
- 800+ templates, many built with SMB niches in mind like salons, cafés, consultants.
- Built-in booking systems for service-based businesses.
- eCommerce tools with inventory management and product galleries.
- App Market with hundreds of add-ons for marketing, SEO, and social media.
Who it’s best for
- Service businesses that need booking and scheduling.
- Local shops needing a professional, mobile-friendly presence.
- Entrepreneurs who want freedom to customize without coding.
What users are saying
Small business owners praise Wix for its versatility, especially their intuitive drag-and-drop editor and broad template selection. One customer said, “The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and the template selection gave me a strong starting point.
Users also point out that the platform “can be overwhelming at first”; still, they appreciate that it scales as their business grows. However, many users report its high scaling cost, which can be expensive for small businesses.
Some also noticed that when they choose a template, they can’t easily switch to another without rebuilding the site.
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price (billed monthly) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | • Access to 800+ templates • 500 MB storage • Wix-branded domain and ads |
| Light | $17/month | • 2 collaborators • 2 GB storage • Custom domain included for free in the first year • Remove Wix ads |
| Core | $29/month | • Basic eCommerce features (invoicing and order management) • 50 GB storage • 5 collaborators • Basic marketing suite, site analytics |
| Business | $39/month | • 100 GB storage • More collaborators (≈10) • Standard eCommerce features & analytics, better marketing tools |
| Business Elite | $159/month | • Unlimited storage/storage not capped in practice • Advanced marketing suite & deep site analytics • Many collaborators (large teams) • Full eCommerce features for larger stores, advanced tools |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | • Tailored features • Dedicated support, custom integrations, etc. |
For most SMBs, the Core or Business plans offer the right balance of price and features.
Squarespace
If you’re the creative or artistic type of person, you may lean more into Squarespace. Its templates resemble glossy magazines making it appealing to photographers, artists, and boutique brands. Its features include the following:
Key unique features
- Polished, mobile-responsive templates designed for visual storytelling.
- Built-in blogging and content management.
- eCommerce options with product galleries and checkout flows.
- Integrations with marketing tools like email campaigns.
Who it’s best for
- Creative professionals like photographers, designers and architects.
- Lifestyle brands that want a high-end visual identity.
- Service providers who value branding as much as functionality.
What users are saying
Users consistently praise how beautiful their sites look right out of the box. The downside is that customization is more limited compared to Wix; one user from Capterra noted that it’s “good depending on your budget”.
Some users also point out some missing features in the web builder, specifically adding forms to files or adding table blocks. A creative director, in her words, says that “it’s not terribly intuitive and getting the right result can often be a little hard to do.”
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price (billed monthly) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $14/mo | • Drag-and-drop editor; stylish website templates • Free custom domain for one year • SSL security • Basic SEO tools; mobile-responsive design |
| Business | $20/mo | • All Basic features • More commerce tools: lower transaction fees; better analytics; possibly some custom code (CSS/JS) access • Unlimited contributors |
| Commerce (Basic) | $24/mo | • Enhanced eCommerce features: better store tools; lower payment processing fees; features for membership/digital content • More video storage; more advanced analytics and marketing tools • Reduced “digital product fee”, etc. vs lower tiers |
| Commerce (Advanced) | $44/mo | • Full eCommerce toolkit: lowest transaction fees; no digital product fees in some cases • Advanced shipping & checkout options; stronger checkout customization • Possibly unlimited video storage; enhanced commerce analytics, and possibly third-party integrations or advanced code blocks • Best for high-volume sellers or stores needing scale. |
For most SMB creatives, the Business or Basic Commerce tier will fit their business goals.
Shopify
Shopify is designed specifically for selling online. Unlike Wix, which offers a broad set of tools, Shopify focuses on eCommerce and provides specialized features for online stores.
Key unique features
- Support for physical and digital products.
- Inventory management with stock alerts.
- 100+ payment gateways, including Apple Pay, PayPal, and BNPL.
- Abandoned cart recovery to boost sales.
- App ecosystem with tools for dropshipping, loyalty programs, and marketing.
Who it’s best for
- SMBs selling products online, from handmade goods to full retail shops.
- Entrepreneurs scaling up from platforms like Etsy or farmers’ markets.
- Businesses planning to expand into international or multi-channel sales.
What users are saying
Shopify users consistently praise its reliability and eCommerce-specific tools, with one customer saying that it has “the highest conversion rate of any eCommerce checkout”. Many small retailers note that moving from Etsy to Shopify gave them more control and higher margins.
The common drawback with the platform is that costs can pile up quickly when adding apps. There have also been reports on security issues and poor customer service within the web builder, leading to several negative reviews on different rating platforms.
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price (billed monthly) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $25/month | • Full online storefront • Unlimited products and order tracking • Theme customization • Sales channels (Facebook, IG, etc.) • Abandoned cart recovery • Limited staff accounts (or none, depending on region) • Lower shipping discounts vs higher plans |
| Grow | $65/month | • More staff accounts (≈5) • Better shipping discounts, more fulfillment/location options • Lower transaction fees vs Basic • Same storefront tools, expanded reporting, more support |
| Advanced | $399/month | • More staff accounts (≈15) • Real-time shipping rates from external carriers • Advanced international selling tools: pricing by country, duties, etc. • Custom reports, analytics upgrades • Lower transaction fees, better shipping discounts |
| Plus (Enterprise tier) | Starts at $2,300/month | • Unlimited staff & advanced checkout customization • Multi-store front assets, B2B features, wholesale tools • Priority support, APIs, etc. |
For startup SMBs, the Basic plan is often enough to start. Upgrade as the business scales or whenever necessary.
WordPress.com
Because of its reliable content management features, WordPress.com is popular among small businesses that rely on blogs or knowledge hubs to attract clients. Unlike Wix or Squarespace, WordPress sites are known less for “drag-and-drop” ease and more on flexibility and long-term scalability.
Key unique features
- A vast library of plugins for SEO, marketing, and customization (available on Business plan and higher)
- Flexible blogging and content management—ideal for resource-heavy website pages.
- Built-in social sharing and RSS feeds for audience engagement.
- Scalable hosting so you can start small and grow without migrating.
Who it’s best for
- SMBs using content marketing to drive leads (consultants, educators, coaches).
- Businesses running resource hubs, FAQs, or tutorials.
- Owners comfortable learning the basics of a more advanced platform.
What users are saying
Many SMBs note how WordPress “grows with them.” Many start with a simple blog, then expand to a full site with more tools and add-ons. The trade-off is a learning curve to it, which explains why beginners find the dashboard intimidating at first.
Many users also describe it as versatile and flexible—a user-friendly way to manage all aspects of a website. One even noted that it “opened up a lot of possibilities for me to quickly ramp up new publications.”
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price (billed monthly) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | • WordPress hosting included • Unlimited pages, posts, users, and visitors • Free themes & patterns • 1 GB storage for media files • WordPress ads shown; no custom domain • Basic support via community/forums |
| Personal | $9/mo | • Everything in Free • Custom domain name + free domain for one year • Removal of WordPress.com ads • SSL certificate included • 6 GB storage • Upload audio files • Extra themes beyond free selection |
| Premium | $18/mo | • All Personal features • More design tools: Styles, custom fonts/colors/themes beyond free set • Upload video content • Google Analytics integration • More storage (≈ 13 GB) • Monetization options, ads etc. via WordAds etc |
| Business | $40/mo | • All Premium features • Ability to install plugins & third-party themes • Custom code access (CSS/JS) • Advanced SEO tools • More storage (≈ 50 GB) • More advanced performance/security features • Enhanced support options |
| Commerce | $70/mo | Everything in Business Unlimited product listings, digital & physical, coupons Abandoned cart recovery, shipping integrations Store-oriented themes/merchandising tools Accept payments in many countries Advanced analytics for stores |
| Enterprise/WordPress VIP | Starts at $25,000/year | Standard: Urgent ticket response time SLA 60 minutes Non-urgent ticket response time SLA 24 hours Uptime SLA 99.95% Enhanced: All Standard features + Urgent ticket response time SLA 30 minutes Non-urgent ticket response time SLA 12 hours Uptime SLA 99.99% Engagement Boost (AI optimization for SEO) APM Browser Monitoring APM Synthetics Monitoring Debugging Database Backup Shipping GitHub Codespaces Failover for Disaster Recovery Application Downtime Monitoring Signature: All Standard features + Urgent ticket response time SLA 15 minutes Non-urgent ticket response time SLA 4 hours Uptime SLA 99.99% Engagement Boost (AI optimization for SEO) APM Browser Monitoring APM Synthetics Monitoring Debugging Database Backup Shipping GitHub Codespaces Failover for Disaster Recovery Application Downtime Monitoring Technical Account Management Specialized, Proactive Support Resources Additional Communication via Slack and P2 |
For content-driven SMBs, the Business plan offers the right balance of features and value.
Best free website builders for small businesses
Free plans sound tempting, especially for small businesses, but they come with cons. Here are some platforms that offer free plans for website building:
- Wix: Offers great templates but shows ads and a Wix-branded domain.
- Weebly: Solid for testing, but storage is limited.
- WordPress.com: Best for blogs but includes ads.
For serious business use, free plans can affect your credibility and branding. For example, handing a client a business card with “yourname.weebly.com” on it can be off-putting.
Free website builders make sense though if you’re testing ideas or managing personal projects that don’t require a polished domain.
Frequently asked questions
WordPress.com’s paid plans start at $9/month, while Weebly and GoDaddy also offer low-cost tiers.
Network Solutions includes strong built-in SEO tools; WordPress.com with plugins excels, though.
Most SMBs do fine with a builder. Developers are best for custom projects.
Yes, but it usually means rebuilding your site manually.
What to consider before choosing a website builder
The website builder you choose can shape how easily your business grows online. Aside from key features, you should also consider factors such as AI tools, developer alternatives, and scalability before you commit.
How AI is reshaping website builders in 2025
AI is reshaping the way small businesses get online. Builders like Wix and Network Solutions now use it to suggest layouts, generate content, and even fine-tune SEO—helping busy owners launch faster with less trial and error. When you’re weighing your options, it’s worth giving extra consideration to site builders that offer AI tools.
Website builder vs. web developer
Hiring a developer gives you full customization, but it can cost thousands. For most SMBs, a website builder covers most of what they need at a fraction of the price. It’ll mean less custom coding, but far more control for the owner.
Future-proofing your website choice
Think about what you need today, but be open to potential scaling. Choose a platform with upgrade paths so you’re not forced into a costly rebuild down the road. For example, if you’re thinking of setting up a portfolio site first, then expanding to eCommerce later on, consider web builders that can handle both needs.
Final thoughts
The best website builder for your small business depends on your priorities. Each builder has its own strength, so weigh them carefully before choosing one for your business website:
- Network Solutions: Suitable for small businesses that want a reliable all-in-one solution.
- Wix: A versatile all-rounder with flexibility for different industries.
- Squarespace: Ideal if design and visual branding are top priorities.
- Shopify: Purpose-built for eCommerce, from small shops to scaling retailers.
- WordPress.com: Strongest option for content-heavy sites and blogs.
If you’re looking for a reliable and business-first solution, Network Solutions’ AI Website Builder is worth a try. It brings your domain, hosting, security, and email together in one package—ideal for small businesses that don’t have time for tech hassles.
Don’t wait. Every day your business goes without a website is another day competitors pull ahead. Start building today and give your business the professional presence it deserves.
