Best Free Website Builders
Are you a small business owner or an entrepreneur on a tight budget looking to build an ecommerce store without breaking the bank? One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to do so is by using a free website builder. Whether you are looking to build a simple portfolio or a fully functional ecommerce site with all the bells and whistles, there's something for everyone on our list of the top 17 best free website builders to check out in 2023.
3. WordPress.com
One of the most popular and versatile platforms on our list, WordPress.com is a free website builder that offers everything from pre-designed templates to customizable themes and a user-friendly interface. With its robust set of features, including built-in SEO, social media integration, and ecommerce capabilities, it's easy to see why so many people choose WordPress as their go-to website builder.
Website Builder Features You Need
Before you pick a website builder, it's essential to figure out what features you need to make your ecommerce store run smoothly. Here are 14 website builder features you should consider when making your decision:
1. Themes and Templates
The best website builders offer a wide variety of themes and templates to choose from, allowing you to give your ecommerce store a professional look and feel without hiring a graphic designer.
2. Media (Video, Photo, Audio, and Graphics)
From product photos to promotional videos, a website builder with robust media capabilities can help you showcase your products in the most effective way possible.
3. WYSIWYG Editor
A What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editor is a user-friendly interface that allows you to create and edit your ecommerce store's content easily.
4. Malware Scanning
Keeping your ecommerce site free from malware is essential to protecting your customers' sensitive information, so make sure your website builder offers regular malware scanning and removal.
5. Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) helps protect your ecommerce site from unwanted attacks, such as injection attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, and other forms of malicious traffic.
6. Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) improves the speed and performance of your ecommerce site by delivering cached content from a nearby server instead of the origin server.
7. Web Hosting
Reliable web hosting is essential to keeping your ecommerce site up and running smoothly, so choose a website builder that offers low downtime and high uptime guarantees.
8. Storage
Make sure your website builder offers enough storage space to accommodate your ecommerce store's needs, including product photos, videos, and other media.
9. Blogs
Blogs are a great way to improve your ecommerce store's SEO and connect with your target audience, so choose a website builder with robust blogging capabilities.
10. SEO Capabilities
Choose a website builder that offers built-in SEO tools, such as meta tags, keyword research, and backlink tracking, to help improve your ecommerce site's search engine ranking.
11. Customer Support
From technical issues to general questions, reliable customer support can make or break your ecommerce store, so choose a website builder that offers 24/7 support via phone, email, or live chat.
12. Ecommerce Capabilities
Make sure your website builder offers ecommerce capabilities, such as product listings, shopping carts, and payment gateways, to help you sell your products online.
13. Third-party Integrations
Integrating your ecommerce store with other third-party services, such as social media and email marketing platforms, can help you reach a wider audience and improve your conversion rates.
14. Analytics and Reporting
Tracking your ecommerce store's performance is essential to improving its overall success, so choose a website builder that offers robust analytics and reporting tools to measure your site's traffic, engagement, and sales.
Picking Your Website Builder
Once you've assessed your ecommerce store's needs and compared all the features of our 17 best free website builders, it's time to narrow down your choices and make a final decision. Remember, the best website builder for your ecommerce store ultimately depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget, so take the time to choose the right one for you.