Use the filters to find the best website builder for you
There isn't a single best website builder as it depends entirely on your specific needs.
While advanced platforms offer more features, beginners might find them overwhelming, whereas professionals might require all available customization options.
This is why filtering is crucial. What are your priorities?
Here are some key factors to consider.
Open source
Open source platforms provide complete control over hosting, costs, and compliance. This independence protects against vendor price increases and enables self-hosting for regulatory requirements or cost optimization.
Export capabilities
Full export functionality prevents hosting lock-in by allowing migration of all content and data. Many platforms limit exports by excluding crucial elements like blog posts, forms, and dynamic content, effectively forcing continued platform use.
Free tier considerations
While itβs easy to find a free website builder, the features vary significantly β from single-page restrictions to unlimited pages. Many platforms require you to use their subdomain, making the free tier unsuitable for professional use cases.
Filter by free platforms with custom domainsDesign customization
CSS is the design language of the internet. When you make text red, it's using CSS under the hood, even if you aren't coding it directly. Basic platforms offer common properties sufficient for simple sites, while advanced ones provide complete CSS control for ultra-custom designs and complex layouts.
Maintenance requirements
Zero-maintenance platforms eliminate plugin updates, server management, and potential breaking changes. This allows teams to focus entirely on content and design rather than technical upkeep and troubleshooting.
CMS integration
Many companies already store data in systems like Airtable, WordPress, and others. If your website builder allows it, you can integrate the systems you already use and love. This enables you to save time and choose the best tools for the job. You can even integrate multiple systems.
Reusable styles
Reusable styles are great for maintainability and consistency. For example, when you create a testimonial and need another, simply duplicating it will leave styles detached. What happens if you want to update the font size? Without reusable styles, you'd have to duplicate your efforts. With reusable styles, when you change the styles of one testimonial, it changes them all.
Dynamic
Dynamic capabilities enable advanced features like filtering, search, and real-time updates. This extends beyond static content to create interactive, data-driven experiences.