Beginner friendly features
Nov 05, 2024 by Admin
Billions of users browse the internet every day to search for information or shop online. Whether you are a blogger, marketer, content creator, or a business - having a professional website is essential to tap into such a vast potential of prospects.
However, startups and small businesses often lack the resources to hire an in-house team or an external agency to build their website.
So, what recourse do they have?
Enter the cheapest website builders like Wix, WordPress, Shopify, and many more. These website builders are saviours for those who do not possess the skills or manpower to build custom websites. These platforms allow you to create websites with simple drag-and-drop features. You also get customisation options without possessing any design skills.
If you are looking for the cheapest website builders in 2024, you are at the right place. At VicDigit Technologies, we have tested dozens of builders and shortlisted the best 5 options.
You do not need any tech skills to establish your online presence with these builders.
While most contain similar features, they differ in performance. Let us dive deep into the details of each:
The Cheapest & Best Website Builders in 2024
Wix has achieved the top spot in our rankings. This all-rounder web builder is priced at $16-$45/month and offers great features like booking an appointment, multiple payment gateway options, and more
However, the platform you choose majorly depends on the type of business. For e-commerce and retail chains, Shopify may be the best value for money to scale up and target a broader audience range.
1. WIX
What we like:
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Low-to-mid price range
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A wide array of templates
Our comprehensive testing on Wix has earned it the top spot as the best website builder on a budget. The sheer range of features this platform provides is the best in its class. From booking appointments to selling unlimited products, you can expect all the latest features at affordable prices.
For beginners, Wix offers a vast range of templates more than any other builder on this list. You can create a well-functioning and beautiful website yourself with no design skills.
If you have prior experience with designing, you can use its editor and create a custom website easily.
Our Recommendation: As the top web design company in Lucknow, we recommend Wix to health and fitness brands. Apart from its customer touchpoint and sales features, it also allows you to create and host community groups on its Fit By Wix app.
Pros
- Multiple payment gateway options
- User-friendly
- Sell unlimited products
- No commission on sales
Cons
- Limited storage
- Commission on ticket sales
- Slow loading speed
- Cannot migrate to other platforms
Pricing
Wix has several plans to choose from. Its premium plan has a 14-day free trial period.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Light | $15 per month |
|
| Core | $30 per month |
|
| Business | $44 per month |
|
| Business Elite | $179 per month |
|
| Enterprise | Variable |
|
2. Shopify
What we like:
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Inventory syncing across multiple locations
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Innovative AI features
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Superb Diversification Options
Shopify is the most famous web builder globally for retail brands, and for good reason!
Focusing on retail and inventory management, Shopify offers diverse customisation options. Its simplified dashboard keeps you in total control of order management and products and sales channels. You can also link Shopify to Shopify POS and other point-of-sale hardware.
Lately, Shopify has also introduced its AI assistant and features to boost retailers. Shopify Magic allows you to create product descriptions with a few keywords. You can customise the tone and create unique product descriptions.
Its latest AI tool Sidekick is an assistant that can carry out tasks such as adding discounts and generating reports on request.
Shopify also allows you to create product bundles and if you have Shopify Plus, you can use the Shopify API to create custom bundles.
Our Recommendation: Shopify has the best online and in-store selling features. Best suited to retailers and e-commerce brands, Shopify simplifies order management, transaction processing, and sales. With its newly introduced AI features, Shopify makes it much easier to run your online store with automated capabilities.
Pros
- Easy-to-use
- Supports multiple e-commerce business categories
- Multiple themes and payment processing options
- SEO and marketing features
Cons
- Levies transaction fee
- Limited customisation options
- No auto-backups
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Starter | $7 per month |
|
| Basic Shopify | $56 per month |
|
| Shopify | $149 per month |
|
| Advanced Shopify | $575 per month |
|
| Shopify Plus | $2000+ per month |
|
3. WordPress
What we like:
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9,000+ free templates
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Unlimited pages & contributors
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Customization options
You have probably heard of or even used WordPress at some point. It is the platform to create professional websites for absolutely free. It has the simplest user interface and offers a host of themes and plugins to customize your website. Whereas Wix has an editor option, WordPress goes a step further and lets you upload your own design layout. Just one of the many reasons that 43% of all websites today are built on WordPress.
The main benefit of WordPress is that you can seamlessly edit, upload, and manage all content on your website without needing a professional web designer. Utilise a plethora of built-in features, add-ons, and plug-ins that WordPress offers for no cost. When it comes to obtaining value for money, WordPress is the platform to create your website.
Our Recommendation: The sheer versatility of options and free services makes WordPress stand apart in a league of its own. It has a free version plan where you can build a basic website for creating and publishing content effortlessly. From publishing articles to shareable blogs, WordPress is the only platform content creators and bloggers need.
Pros
- Excellent content publishing features
- Multiple integration options with external sources
- Built-in malware protection
Cons
- Limited storage
- Coding required for some customization
Pricing
You can select the free basic plan and start building your website instantly. But if you want superior performance and scalability, purchase its premium plan and build like a pro.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Free | $0 per month |
|
| Personal | $5 per month |
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| Premium | $10 per month |
|
4. Hostinger
What we like:
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Up to 100 websites
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AI writing tool
Hostinger is a lesser-known site builder than WordPress or Shopify. Though primarily a hosting provider and domain registrar, it also offers secure website-building capabilities. A distinct feature of Hostinger is daily and weekly data backups with restoring options.
Another benefit of Hostinger is that you can create up to 100 websites with unlimited SSL certificates. What's more, you can add up to 500 products on each website with AI assistance.
Our Recommendation: For a web hosting and security platform, Hostinger’s site editor exceeds expectations. Hostinger offers top-notch safety features and allows you to create up to 100 websites. It also has AI tools that simplify site management. But there are downsides as well. You cannot post social content from your Hostinger website, and there are no blog archives or comment features.
Overall, Hostinger is a cost-efficient solution for those who need to scale quickly
Pros
- Advanced security
- Free domain up to 1 year
- Create up to 100 websites in foreign languages
Cons
- Only 500 products per website
- Not ideal for content creation or blogging
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
| Single | $1.99 per month |
| Business | $3.99 per month |
| Cloud Startup | $9.99 per month |
4. GoDaddy
What we like:
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User-friendly
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Cheaper than most web builders
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Email marketing features
GoDaddy is also a domain registration and hosting provider, which makes their websites fully stable and secure. Its website builder is easy to use, probably the most hassle-free experience you will find compared to other platforms on this list. It is more economical than others, but there is a catch - its cheaper plans do not provide free add-ons, even for basics like accepting payments for appointment booking. It also has a dedicated e-commerce plan suitable for small businesses.
Compared to other website builders here, we find GoDaddy limited in some aspects. It lacks business features, design options, and selling features than Wix or Shopify. But what truly surprised us was being a domain registrar, GoDaddy does not offer a free domain for a year, as Wix does. However, it is much simpler to use and does not burn a hole in the pocket.
Our Recommendation: GoDaddy may lack the perks of its competitors, but its low-cost plans and ease of usability make it a priority inclusion for the cheapest website builders. Our web design consultants recommend GoDaddy to entrepreneurs facing a time crunch. It is not, however, suitable for large or ambitious businesses looking for scalable solutions.
Pros
- Easy-to-use
- Fast load speed
- Stock image library
- Industry-specific templates
Cons
- Basic e-commerce features
- Inefficient SEO tools
- Poor third-party integrations
Pricing
GoDaddy is unbeatable when it comes to pricing. It offers a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied. Choose from the following GoDaddy price plans:
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Basic | $13.95 per month |
|
| Standard | $17.95 per month |
|
| Premium | $24.95 per month |
|
| E-commerce | $26.95 per month |
|
Which Website Builder Should You Choose?
We tested 5 market-leading websites based on features, usability, design, and value for money so we can recommend and use the best platform for businesses. We have rigorously tested all these builders and have created stunning websites tailored to our client's businesses, needs, and budgets.
The option you choose depends on your business, goals, and budget. We have listed each website builder and their suitability to different kinds of businesses to make your choice easier:
- Wix -
Best for hospitality and fitness
- Shopify -
Best for e-commerce & SMB retailers
- WordPress -
Best for publishers & content creators
- Hostinger -
Best for businesses looking to scale with multiple websites
- GoDaddy -
Best for small businesses and time-poor entrepreneurs
It is quite clear from the above that you have several options to create your website for free, as long as you do not mind the limitations. But regardless of the platform, we do not recommend staying on a free plan forever. You may be frustrated by your site performance down the road as you scale.
If you want a professional web design company in Lucknow to relieve you from the stress, contact VicDigit Technologies. We will create a fast, user-friendly, and responsive website that excels in design and features.