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Best Website Builders in Australia
These days the web is the place to be, connecting customers with products and services across the world. Part of staking your claim on the web is setting up a website, one that has all your key elements and attracts visitors.
With a website builder, even those who are not well-versed with technology can create a website and get it live in no time.
Check out my list of the best website builders to create breathtaking sites for desktop and mobile, even if you’re on a budget.
Table of Contents:
- What Is a Website Builder
- How We Chose the Best Website Builders
- The Best Website Builders on the Web
- 1. Hostinger
- 2. Wix
- 3. WordPress
- 4. Weebly
- 5. Webflow
- 6. Bluehost
- 7. GoDaddy
- 8. Shopify
- 9. HostGator
- 10. Squarespace
- Choosing Your Perfect Website Builder: Buyer’s Guide
- The Pros and Cons of Using a Website Builder
- Final Thoughts
What Is a Website Builder?
A website builder is a program that allows users to create a website quickly and easily. They typically feature a dashboard, filled with drag-and-drop options to make building a breeze, as well as web page templates for creating a full-faceted website in no time at all.
Most website builder platforms work both online and offline, leaving builders to add elements and other software to their website at any time from anywhere.
The Best Website Builders in Australia
Now that you know what to expect from a solid website builder, it’s time to get acquainted with some great ones.
I’ve done some digging around the web and now have a list of 10 of the top website builders for 2024.
Check out their features and pros and cons, finding the one to use to create your masterpiece.
1. Hostinger Website Builder – Our #1 Best Site Builder in 2024
Key Features:
- Solid uptime guarantee
- Simple to use editor
- SSL certification is included with all packages
- Integrated logo maker, perfect for branding
Pros
- Great pricing
- Beginner-friendly
- AI-powered tools
- Tons of integrations
Cons
- Photo editing options are basic
- No free options
As an overall testament to the platform’s commitment to improvement – and the reason we’ve selected it as our top choice – the Hostinger Website Builder is the new and improved Zyro, complete with an intuitive interface that’s great to look at and easy to use for both rookies and seasoned designers looking to create their perfect web page.
While Hostinger lacks a few advanced options that other web designers include, all of those features they do have are solid.
Its integrated SSL certificate is just the thing to help builders secure their websites, and its logo makers can help with branding.
It also has some cool SEO tools, some of which will generate content and even write articles to help move you up on the top search engines.
Even though there is no free option, the Hosting Website Builder provides pretty great pricing that starts as low as $2.99 per month.
Even the most basic plan comes with great tools perfect for building websites, and you can add features as you need them to customise your experience.
2. Wix – Best Website Builder for a Range of Templates
Key Features:
- 500+ themes to choose from
- Free domain + unlimited bandwidth
- Useful automation tool
- Advanced tools
Pros
- User-friendly platform
- Economically priced
- Tons of tools to get the website you want
- Automated website builder available
Cons
- Customer care is mediocre
When it comes to website builders on the web, Wix is definitely one of the more advanced options that we’ll be covering throughout this list. It has a ton of building tools, all of them set up to help users of all technological savviness build their perfect website. From desktop versions to adding special features that are compatible with today’s top mobile platforms, Wix has it all.
Widgets are abundant and adding them to your website is quick and simple. You can choose from a long list of templates, all of them perfect for adding the perfect final touches to your website. Lists included those for business websites and even personal blogs, just to name a few.
One of my favourite features is its drag-and-drop feature, which allows you to edit your website simply by clicking, dragging, and dropping objects to their preferred place, meaning that there is never any coding to write and run in order to get things done.
3. WordPress – Best Web Designer for Customisation
Key Features:
- Social media integrations
- Free options available
- Home to open-source software
- Simple to use
Pros
- Tons of plans that offer flexibility
- Abundant template options
- A long list of plug-ins
- Perfect for beginners
Cons
- There are a lot of updates that users will have to keep up with
WordPress also deserves a top spot on the list, earning its name as one of the most used website builders on the web. It has free web-building plans perfect for those who want to create a website without having to spend a fortune.
Beginners and pros will love their templates, of which there are well over 1,000 to choose from. Browse and try them on for size, picking the one that best represents your company or personal web page. All of its tools are open source, making it a great option to use to carve out the small details that make your website unique.
For designers who are looking for a challenge, or beginners who are ready to take their knowledge up a notch, WordPress comes with tools to modify CMS – creating a full-featured website that works with both desktop and mobile and includes all of the most important parts of the website in the most user-friendly way.
4. Weebly – Best SEO Tools Available
Key Features:
- Free options available
- Social media integrations
- Great SEO tools
Pros
- Tons of templates to choose from
- Solid customer care
- eCommerce options and integrations
Cons
- Limited with customisable features
For those who are looking to build a website where they can sell their product, look no further than Weebly. Its free options and wide range of advanced tools are just the things that eCommerce enthusiasts need to set up shop and start selling quickly.
With Weebly, you’ll find templates galore to choose from, along with social media integrations. All of these together can create a profitable selling experience, along with options to make websites compatible with all of today’s hottest mobile platforms.
All users that sign up have access to a free domain and customer care via live chats, email support, phone support, and more. It has a great uptime guarantee and even ensures that inventory is tracked with a built-in tracker for those looking for eCommerce options.
5. Webflow – Best Web Builder for Veteran Designers
Key Features:
- Template library
- Extensive design control
- Supportive community
- Website building without coding
- Professional audience
- SEO challenges
Pros
- Great features for pros, but you don’t need to be one to get use out of Webflow
- Impressive range of templates
Cons
- Requires research to get the most out of the platform
- Not the best option in terms of content management features
- Fairly limited options for SEO
Next on our list, we have Webflow, which, although it primarily caters to the more experienced designers out there, is also the perfect platform for creating websites without any kind of formal experience when it comes to coding or web design.
For the seasoned designers reading, though, expect to find a pretty extensive range of options that you’re able to customise – whether it’s the ability to adjust padding, margins, border radius, or even line height to match whatever preferences you have for yourself or your business.
If you’re not interested in spending the time to provide your website with a personal, you’re also able to use a selection of templates for a fairly small fee.
Having said this, although you don’t need to be super experienced to use their platform, the interface of this website builder might feel a little bit complex if you’re looking to move outside of the templates and build your own website completely from scratch – requiring you to invest a pretty substantial amount of time in learning and researching how to adjust small details.
Still, you’ve got all the tools you need directly via Webflow’s large community and readily available learning resources, so you don’t need to feel intimidated if you’re blown away by the selection of web design tools you have at your disposal.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that if your primary reason to build a website is for marketing reasons, it’s best to choose one of the other options on our list that excel more in search engine optimisation features; we found Webflow to be slightly tricky when it comes to things such as content publishing and setting up SEO.
6. Bluehost Website Builder – Best Web Designer for Creating WordPress Websites
Key Features:
- An alternative interface to WordPress
- Seamless WordPress integration
- Plenty of resources available for learning
- Emphasis on the overall WordPress ecosystem
- Reliable web hosting
Pros
- Gives you an opportunity to become more comfortable with the WordPress CMS
- Pretty extensive selection of stock photos and templates that you can use to build your website
- Comes with WooCommerce storefront options
- Impressive uptime that’s rarely ever down
- Great selection of AI tools to expedite the overall web-building process
- Comes with a free SSL certificate
- Excellent customer support team
Cons
- Unfortunately, there isn’t any free subscription tier
- You don’t have the most advanced options when it comes to image editing
- Unable to switch between various templates
- It is not the most organised or intuitive platform to get started on
Generally speaking, all the best website builders out there aim to make the process of creating websites as simple as possible – regardless of what particular skill level you have when you first start using their platform.
Fortunately, Bluehost is one of the best examples on this list for a service that excels in this regard – offering you an alternative interface to the already widely used WordPress platform that’s far less clunky and easier to create websites with. As such, Bluehost is probably best for anyone who’s looking to become part of the WordPress ecosystem rather than opting for a more independent and less spoon-fed solution.
WordPress already comes with plenty of quality eCommerce options, but the content management system can be incredibly complicated to come to terms with if you’re only a newcomer to web design in general.
So, by utilising Bluehost, you’re ultimately able to take advantage of all the same features without needing the same in-depth understanding of how it all works – and if you are looking to improve your knowledge, Bluehost provides plenty of different resources to help you learn as well.
Moreover, aside from essentially just being a web-design arm of WordPress, Bluehost already has a pretty solid reputation as a reliable traditional web hosting service; its site-building tools only further make the platform valuable for existing users.
7. GoDaddy Websites + Marketing – Best Website Builder for Search Engine Optimisation Tools
Key Features:
- Seamless integration with GoDaddy domains
- Unlimited monthly data transfers and storage across all subscription tiers
- Access to e-commerce features for creating online stores (available in select premium plans)
- Built-in marketing tools embedded directly into the platform
- Comprehensive SEO functionality to enhance website visibility
- User-friendly website builder for easy site creation
- Support for promoting websites, businesses, or online presence efficiently
Pros
- Can create fairly impressive websites regardless of what device you use
- Unlimited monthly data transferring storage options
- Perfect for SEO and other marketing tools
- Extensive selection of templates available – over 100+ options
- Generally constant uptime and comes with a reliable customer support team
- Exciting range of AI tools to take advantage of
- Free plans that are still useful
Cons
- Not the most customisable option in terms of website layouts
- eCommerce-related tools do not come with every subscription tier
Moving forward, we have GoDaddy’s website builder, which actually works fairly similarly to Bluehost in that it’s meant to be used as a way of complimenting your pre-existing web domain.
If you’re a small business owner who can’t afford to add yet another business productivity tool to their list of company expenses, you’ll be happy to know that the free subscription plan that GoDaddy Websites + Marketing comes with is more than enough to provide you with a stunning website.
Either way, regardless of whether you opt for the free plan or one of the more expensive premium options, GoDaddy Websites + Marketing will allow you to make as many data transfers per month as you desire – not to mention unlimited storage. Obviously, there are plenty more benefits if you sign up for the premium plans, though, such as the various eCommerce features that you can use to help set up your online store.
Ultimately, what really sets this tool apart in comparison to some of the other options we’ve covered is its focus on marketing – It’s not just about building websites; GoDaddy’s builder gives you the tools you need to boost your site’s visibility.
Furthermore, GoDaddy has you covered as far as marketing and SEO features go, so it’ll be a brilliant option if you’re looking for a tool that’ll help drive natural traffic towards your website.
8. Shopify – Best Web Builder for eCommerce Businesses
Key Features:
- Varied payment plans
- All-in-one website building platform with hosting services
- Extensive template selection for visual enhancement
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for customisation
- Shopify Payments for secure online transactions
Pros
- Relatively easy platform to use regardless of skill level
- Unmatched in terms of eCommerce capabilities
- Comes with integrated payment solutions
- Build your website with one of the 100+ templates or via the drag and drop model
Cons
- Relatively expensive in comparison to other options
- It can take a while to get used to
When it comes to eCommerce, Shopify is undoubtedly the best option out there, but it can still feel slightly pricey compared to some of the other alternatives we’ve covered already on this list, like Wix or Hostinger Web Builder. In addition, it might take some time to get used to using Shopify at first, but this is generally a fairly short learning curve.
Still, it’s only particularly complicated to use because of how many features Shopify is packed with – handling things from hosting and automatic updates to backups.
Design-wise, you’ve got plenty of templates to choose from, so you can make your online store look exactly like you want it to by simply dragging and dropping a few text boxes and images. Plus. Shopify works quite well with other third-party developers, so you can integrate a range of other business management software you may already be using.
Finally, there’s also a built-in payment system with their Shopify Payments system, but you can obviously still use any other payment gateways you want – not to mention the POS solutions Shopify offers.
9. HostGator – The Web Builder with the Best Features
Key Features:
- Amazing uptime
- Perfectly laid out interface
- Pricing is amazing
- Templates that are bold and modern
- Collection of royalty-free photos
Pros
- Switchable themes
- Beautiful template options
- Affordable pricing tiers
- Advanced features that make customisation a breeze
Cons
- No free options
- No options to schedule blog posts
With HostGator, one of my favourite features is the switchable template. In case you get tired or just want a change from your current setup, all you’ll need to do is switch up the template and voila, you’ve given your website new life.
It offers strong uptime and a long list of advanced features that are there to help you create the website of your dreams in no time. From royalty-free photography to its gallery of cool and modern templates, you can create dazzling websites, all of which take little to no time to build.
While no free plans are available, users will find that prices are excellent and affordable, even those packed with advanced features. Customer care is a breeze to get a hold of, and you can create an eCommerce website that accepts payments starting from the lowest pricing tier.
10. Squarespace – Best Website Builder with Unmetered Storage
Key Features:
- All plans come with a free domain
- SSL certification included with all plans
- No limits on storage or bandwidth
- Perfect for eCommerce
Pros
- Great pricing
- Perfect for bloggers, businesses, and eCommerce
- Highly customisable
- Easy app integrations
Cons
- More complicated interface
Using Squarespace might take some getting used to, though I promise it will be worth it. Top reasons including the fact that this website builder offers solid features with its base package includes a free domain and SSL certificate.
It also offers a useful feature that saves all changes and creates backups, making sure that if there is an issue with a page, a previous version can easily be retrieved. The platform sections off all different pages of the website, making it simple to keep organised when making changes to the integrations and appearance.
There is a little something for every kind of website, including businesses, bloggers, personal pages, and even eCommerce. Those who have a Squarespace account can make changes to their webpage and automatically post details of those changes to social media, for easy advertising and promoting.
Choosing Your Perfect Website Builder: Buyer’s Guide
If you’ve been wanting to create a webpage, you’ve likely scoured the web looking for ways to do it. A lot of people out there get the wrong idea that website builders have to cost a fortune or you have to have coding experience to use them.
Both of those assumptions are wrong, mostly thanks to website builders. The need to create a great and professional, fully-functioning website is high, which is why you can find services of all kinds.
Before choosing the one for you, consider these key things to find the best one for you and your business.
Your Focus
There are all kinds of website builders on the web. While many of the best ones feature multiple options when it comes to building websites, others are geared toward one area. Before you start to shop, find your focus and only go with those that give you the tools and features that you need.
For example, if you’re into eCommerce, you’ll need tools that offer built-in shopping carts, a checkout page, and iron-clad security to ensure that your customers’ data is safe. On the other hand, if you’re trying to create a blog that’s focused on your interest, integrations like social media sharing, beautiful templates, and the ability to switch templates are all features you want to look for.
User Friendliness
For people without a lot of coding or technical website-building experience, the easier a platform is to use, the better. The last thing you want to deal with is complicated features that are difficult to set up, which is why taking a look for those that are easy to use is recommended.
If you’re new to the entire experience of creating a website and are unsure how your experience will work out, be sure to go with a website builder that has a simple platform, templates, and technical support that you can get a hold of around the clock.
Mobile Sites 📱️
These days, more surfers access the web with their mobile phones than ever before. This means it’s vital to have a mobile-friendly version of your website. Many of the top website builders come with mobile building options, though you may find a few out there that do not. If you want to build a website that generates traffic, you’ll need a site that works on both mobile and desktop.
Social Media Uploads
Social media is one of the top ways to advertise products on the web. You can reach large audiences by making fun posts that drive traffic, and even toy with the possibility of going viral. The top website builders out there know that, and they include options to add content directly to social sites or to schedule posts to make things a lot easier.
If one of your top advertising tools is social media, consider choosing a website builder that has options like plug-ins and options to improve SEO content, to help get you on the map.
Tutorials 📝️
No one is an expert the first time around, especially those who have never before dabbled in the world of website building. If you’re one of those who doesn’t know much about website building, you’ll want to find website builders with tutorials.
These tutorials are there to make life easier and even have both video and interactive forms to provide you with practice before you take off and start building. It can take some getting used to when it comes to creating detailed sites, which is why tutorials can save the day.
Your Budget 💵️
Just like with other business decisions, choosing a website builder should take your budget into account. While you can find free versions, some of them lack key features that can improve your building experience. It’s better to look at all pricing tiers and plans, choosing one that comes with the features you need at a price you can afford.
You might be able to shop around and find website builders with more or fewer features, using them as a way to tailor your budget to the experience that you need. Make sure that whichever you choose, the website builder has the options you need, offers security, and doesn’t charge you more than you can afford.
The Pros and Cons of Using a Website Builder
Before taking off and choosing the website builder that’s perfect for you, read through these pros and cons. Consider if it’s more of a positive move for your website needs or whether you should look for other ways to establish yourself on the web.
The Pros
No coding required ✔️
It should come as no surprise that the top advantage that comes with using a website builder is the fact that no coding skills are needed.
Coding can get complicated, especially if you’ve never done it before. Website builders offer simple templates and design tools that anyone can use.
Fast and cost-effective ✔️
When you need a website fast and don’t have a ton of funds, website builders are a solid option. Anyone can create a good-looking website in a matter of minutes, going live and getting up on the web in no time.
Simple to export ✔️
Business domains and web pages don’t always stay in the same place. Still, when it comes to making changes and moving around the web, exporting your site can get complicated.
Website builders are typically easy to export, coming with simple templates that are exportable to other platforms.
The Cons
Lack of uniqueness ✖️
If there is one disadvantage that’s above them all, it’s the fact that there is less opportunity to be creative. Templates are cool but, there is a chance that another page will use the same layout.
Customers love to see new and unique websites, something that you might not get too much of with a website builder.
Not for all users ✖️
For the professionals out there, a website builder might not be the answer. Not that you can’t make it work but, professional websites need a wide range of features and will work better if those features are embedded. In the case of super professional sites, it may cost you more in the long run if you take shortcuts.
Slow loading times ✖️
While this isn’t the case with all web builders, some of the free and low-cost options out there come with very slow loading times. In a fast-paced world, a slow-loading website can cost your business and drop your reputation down a few notches.
There are some web builders with quick loading times, though you may have to go with a higher-priced plan to achieve it.
Using a Web Builder: Final Thoughts 💡️
If you’re still on the fence about using a web builder, it could be worth it to try one out and see how it works.
If you need a website fast and are looking for a cost-effective way to get one up and running, a web builder could be your best bet, giving you the opportunity to get prime web real estate faster than you thought possible.
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