The Best Website for Small Businesses 2024

If you are a small business owner, you know how important it is to have a website in 2023. A website can help you reach more customers, showcase your products or services, and grow your brand online. But how do you choose the best website builder for your small business needs? There are many factors to consider, such as ease of use, design options, features, pricing, and support. In this article, we will compare and contrast the best website builders for small businesses in 2024.

Wix: Best Overall

Wix is the best overall website builder for small businesses, offering superb customization options and e-commerce functionality. The easy-to-use platform covers a wide range of industries, meaning you can confidently set up an online store and establish your brand. Wix has over 800 templates to choose from, or you can create your design from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor. You can also add features such as booking systems, contact forms, blogs, newsletters, and more with the help of Wix’s app market. Wix has a free plan that lets you create a basic website with a Wix-branded domain, or you can upgrade to one of the premium plans that start from $16 per month.

Pros:

• Easy to use and customize
• Wide range of templates and features
• Ecommerce functionality
• Free plan available

Cons:

• Wix ads on the free plan
• Limited storage and bandwidth on lower plans
• Difficult to switch templates once published

Examples of small businesses using Wix:

• Kismet, a Los Angeles-based restaurant
• FullyRaw, a lifestyle brand by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram
• Industrial Jewellery, a London-based modern jewelry designer

Customer reviews and ratings:

• Trustpilot: 4.1 out of 5 stars (based on 2,849 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 stars (based on 6,021 reviews)
• G2: 4.3 out of 5 stars (based on 1,035 reviews)

Squarespace: Best for Creative Businesses

Squarespace is the best website builder for creative businesses, such as photographers, artists, designers, and bloggers. Squarespace is known for its stunning templates that showcase your work professionally and elegantly. You can also customize your site with Squarespace's powerful design tools and integrations with third-party services such as Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and Instagram. Squarespace has a 14-day free trial that lets you test out its features before committing to a paid plan. The paid plans start from $16 per month, and include a free domain name, SSL security, unlimited storage and bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.

Pros:

• Beautiful and responsive templates
• Advanced design and editing options
• Ecommerce functionality
• 14-day free trial

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• No free plan
• Limited app market

Examples of small businesses using Squarespace:

• Girlboss, a media company by Sophia Amoruso
• Fat Choy, a New York-based vegan restaurant
• Knapsack Creative, a web design agency

Customer reviews and ratings:

• Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 stars (based on 1,088 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 stars (based on 2,248 reviews)
• G2: 4.4 out of 5 stars (based on 1,139 reviews)

Godaddy: Best cost website hosting and creation platform

If you are looking for a reliable, fast, and affordable platform to create and host your website, you might want to consider GoDaddy. GoDaddy is the world's largest domain name registrar and one of the leading web hosting providers, with over 20 million customers and 80 million domains under management. GoDaddy offers a variety of plans and features to suit your needs, whether you want to build a personal blog, a professional portfolio, an online store, or anything in between. You can choose from hundreds of templates and customize them with your content, or use the GoDaddy Website Builder to create your site from scratch with drag-and-drop tools and AI-powered guidance. GoDaddy also provides 24/7 customer support, security monitoring, SSL certificates, email marketing, SEO tools, and more. With GoDaddy, you can get your website up and running in minutes, and enjoy the benefits of a powerful and cost-effective web hosting and creation platform.

Pros:

• Easy and quick to set up
• AI assistant and guidance
• Online booking and payment feature
• Free plan available

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• No e-commerce functionality
• GoDaddy ads on free plan

Examples of small businesses using GoDaddy:

• Grette, a personal trainer and fitness coach
• The Cool Club, a card game company
• Wendy Ju, a professor and researcher

Customer reviews and ratings:

• Trustpilot: 4.1 out of 5 stars (based on 7,519 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.1 out of 5 stars (based on 6,821 reviews)
• G2: 3.9 out of 5 stars (based on 1,023 reviews)

Shopify: Best for Online Stores

Shopify is the best website builder for online stores, offering dedicated sales features and e-commerce functionality. Shopify is designed for selling products online, whether physical or digital. You can create your online store with Shopify's drag-and-drop editor or choose from over 100 themes that are responsive and customizable. You can also manage your inventory, orders, shipping, taxes, and payments with Shopify's powerful dashboard. Shopify has a 14-day free trial that lets you explore its features before signing up for a paid plan. The paid plans start from $29 per month and include a free SSL certificate, unlimited products, discount codes, abandoned cart recovery, and 24/7 support.

Pros:

• E-commerce-focused platform
• Wide range of themes and features
• Easy to use and scale
• 14-day free trial

Cons:

    • Expensive compared to other builders

    • Transaction fees for non-Shopify payments

    • Limited design flexibility

Examples of small businesses using Shopify:

• Mikaela Reuben, a culinary nutritionist and chef
• Harper Wilde, a bra company
• FullyRaw, a lifestyle brand by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram

Customer reviews and ratings:

• Trustpilot: 2.4 out of 5 stars (based on 3,421 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 3,734 reviews)
• G2: 4.3 out of 5 stars (based on 4,062 reviews)

What Is the Best Website Builder for Small Businesses in 2023?

As you can see, there are many website builders to choose from for your small business in 2023. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on your industry, budget, and goals. However, we recommend Wix as the best overall website builder for small businesses in 2023. Wix offers the most flexibility, features, and value for money for any type of small business website. Whether you want to sell products online, showcase your portfolio, or book appointments with clients, Wix has everything you need to create a stunning and professional website.

If you want to try Wix for yourself, you can sign up for a free plan or a premium plan with a 14-day money-back guarantee.