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The Cheapest Website Builders In 2021 Revealed (With Pros & Cons)
By Rodney Laws | Design
Looking to create a website? There are numerous ways to establish your online presence, but finding the cheapest website builder that suits your needs is up there with the best.
Website builders are valuable toolboxes, allowing relative beginners to set up a site people love to use. Read on as we help find the best website builder for you.
Using a website builder is the quickest and easiest way to get your small business online.
Ecommerce is booming as of late and consumer trend experts predict up to 95% of all purchases will be made through the web in the not-so-distant future — this means your small business needs to establish a robust online presence to sell and market your brand.
For owners looking to make an impact in the world of ecommerce, leveraging the help of a website (or online store) builder is the most effective and affordable option. Here’s why:
✅ They get your website live quickly: create a professional website without wasting time
✅ They cost less than a designer: fit your ecommerce plants into a tight budget
✅ They give you control over the look and feel: get a hands-on approach to branding
✅ They mean you don’t have to be a tech whizz: no need to learn code
Website builders are a fantastic way for beginners (and those working on a tight budget) to experience the benefits of having a strong online presence.
Here we focus on finding you the cheapest website builder without cutting back on quality or losing any features important to your operation’s success.
Not being online leaves a lot of money on the table small businesses can’t afford to miss out on, especially when building an online store is quicker and cheaper than ever before.
Website builders are an affordable way to create a functional site that meets users expectations — but that’s not to say every cheap plan offers value for money.
In this section we list our favourite cheap website builders:
While each platform has its pros and cons, these are among the best and cheapest website builders your business can leverage for online success. Read on as we help you decide which builder provides the right support for setting up your website.
Shopify is an ecommerce giant, powering millions of online stores across the web.
Established in 2004, nowadays, this cloud-based store builder is among the world’s more recognisable ecommerce brands, supporting over 1.2 million active users worldwide.
As one of the most complete, out-of-the-box toolkits for online selling, you can set up your website and turn your platform into a lucrative sales channel with ease.
Image: shopify.co.uk
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Shopify Lite is really affordable | ❌ Some features are expensive |
| ✅ Tonnes of templates for crisp design | ❌ Abandoned cart feature can be improved |
| ✅ Lots of useful, easy to install add-ons | ❌ Too many pricing options |
| ✅ Intuitive and simple dashboard |
Shopify offers a ton of features geared towards selling. Here are some useful features to take note of:
You can also install powerful add-ons that improve the experience both for you and the site’s users — this means there is no need to create a solution when it’s likely one already exists.
Shopify’s pricing structure varies depending on what monthly plan you go for (and there are lots to choose from). Here are the main options:
The platform offers a fourteen-day free trial if you want to play with features and get a feel for the software before committing to a specific plan.
Shopify is a complete package for solopreneurs and small businesses looking to make an impact in ecommerce. Not only is the platform packed with useful features at an affordable price, but beginners also get access to Shopify University — an extensive learning resource — to help you get to grips with the software.
For more information, check out our five-star Shopify review.
WordPress is one of the best-known web builders. Since 2003, it has helped create 75 million websites — and a further 409 million people view a WordPress page each month.
Image: wordpress.com
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Super flexible website design | ❌ Tricky for beginners to use |
| ✅ High-performance web builder | ❌ Need to regularly update |
| ✅ Fully developed CMS for blogging | |
| ✅ Search engines love WordPress |
WordPress offers you a lot of value for money when it comes to building a great website. Here are some of its standout features:
But as a specialist at building websites, WordPress isn’t particularly adept at web hosting — so you’ll have to look elsewhere for separate hosting solutions if you go for this impressive and affordable builder.
WordPress pricing depends on what you’re looking to do with the website.
Whether you’re setting up a personal blog to explore your passions and interests, or looking to build an effective online store — WordPress has a suitable plan for you.
Personal (£3): lacking in business tools, but great for personal use
Premium (£7): Basic business support, which is ideal for freelancers
Business (£20): Better business support and SEO tools for small operations
eCommerce (£36): Everything and more for full online stores
WordPress also offers a free version of the platform so users can build a functional website with stripped back and basic features.
Wix has gone from strength to strength since 2006, appealing to over 200 million users — likely because of its super simple drag and drop approach to site design.
Image: wix.com
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Secure pages | ❌ Lacking significant SEO tools |
| ✅ Variety of plugins/add-ons | ❌ Ads on the free plan |
| ✅ Smooth drag and drop editor | ❌ Generic themes/templates |
While not ideal for the average ecommerce site due to a lack of SEO tools, Wix comes into its own when you’re looking to rank in a low competition niche or establish a platform for personal use. Here are some features we think might appeal to you:
If you’re not a seasoned web developer, then a builder like Wix is a perfect way to dip your toes into the world of site design.
Wix pricing plans offer a lot for your money. Here are some of the options available for bloggers, freelancers, and solopreneurs:
Image: wix.com
And here are some options geared more towards business and ecommerce operations:
Image: wix.com
Wix’s overall simplicity and affordability make it one of the best WordPress and Shopify alternatives for novice web designers looking to get their site up and running without a hitch.
Looking for another cheap website builder? There are plenty of alternatives on the market worth checking out.
Website makers come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some top alternatives to keep an eye out for:
Some cheap website builders are better than others, but it’s all about tailoring what they offer to suit your needs.
Whether you’re looking to grow your small business and enter the world of ecommerce or simply run a great blog, site builders can get you up and running on the web for whatever you need to do.
