Everyone knows how time consuming it can be to build an entire website from scratch, and most don’t have the coding skills to do so. Thankfully, website builders exist and offer a comprehensive list of features to help you launch, scale, and show off your work to prospective customers. This article goes over the top six most competitive website builders and their offerings.

The Top 6 Best Website Builders for Portfolios

  1. Wix – Best Overall
  2. Weebly – Best for Beginners
  3. Squarespace – Best for Professionals
  4. GoDaddy – Best for Speed Builds
  5. Jimdo -Best for Simplicity
  6. Zyro – Best for Growth and Scale

1. Wix – Best Overall

PRICING: Varies from $16 per month for personal use, and goes all the way up to $500 per month for enterprise level websites. Please refer to the website for further information to pick the plan that works best for you. A 14-day money back guarantee is available.

Wix pulls out all the stops to help you create a website you are proud of. For its over 200 million users, it offers various ways for you to build your platform. Choose from artificial intelligence that perfectly builds you a website based on a few questions, hiring a professional to collaborate, or simply DIY with countless design tools and templates. The platform even offers business growth solutions to help get your portfolio in the spotlight.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Artificial Design Intelligence.
  • Choose from blog templates and implement online services.
  • Built in CRM.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Great selection of ecommerce tools to build an online store.
  • Drag and drop editor to unleash your creativity.
  • Social media integration.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Designs are permanent once published. You’ll have to start from scratch if you want a change.
  • Numerous design choices can be daunting for some.

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2. Weebly – Best for Beginners

PRICING: From free to $26 per month, depending on your needs.

Weebly brings your vision to life with their website builder. With a focus on growing your business, the platform provides step-by-step guidance to help you hit the ground running in no time. After you launch, Weebly’s SEO tools will make your content memorable for potential clients. It also seals the deal seamlessly with E commerce by Square pay. So, not only can you build your own website, but you can rest easy knowing you are building your way to success as well.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Build a mobile version of your site.
  • Embed video and gallery elements.
  • E Commerce and branding tools.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Powerful SEO tools complete with guides.
  • Great value for money across all plans.
  • Users appreciate the free option.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Mobile formatting is lacking.
  • There is a lack of creative mobility within the builder.

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3. Squarespace – Best for Professionals

PRICING: From $19-$65 per month depending on your needs. Extra savings apply when you commit annually. A 14-day free trial and money back guarantee is available.

Squarespace is the most versatile website builder on the market. Not only can you beautifully present your portfolio, but it’s even able to host your blog, link to your social media, and offer commerce features. Features such as comment implementation, page locking, password protection, email listing, and more help you have full control over your business while also blowing your customer base away with a polished website.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Mobile application to manage your site on the go.
  • Lightbox presentation to display your portfolio in full high definition.
  • Add playable audio to any page or piece of your portfolio.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Robust marketing features.
  • Templates optimized for desktop and mobile usage.
  • Excellent customer service and support.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No autosave capabilities.
  • More customizability is needed outside the preset window.

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4. GoDaddy – Best for Speed Builds

PRICING: Starts at $16.99 per month and goes up to $49.99 per month. Extra savings apply when you commit annually. A 1-year free trial and basic free build is available.

GoDaddy is a domain powerhouse that helps over 20 million site owners grow their online presence, and you’re next. The platform will save you time by using its ADI (artificial design intelligence) editor, and earn you more money with their SEO optimization tools. Using the new and improved design functionality, you can create a professional looking website whatever your profession.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Integrated with Google analytics for free analysis on who is landing on your website.
  • Hosts WordPress.
  • Easy to use website builder templates.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free domain transfer.
  • Backup and restoration insurance.
  • Easy and quick solution to get up and running.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Some say the templates are too creatively restrictive and not as visually appealing as competitors.

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5. Jimdo – Best for Simplicity

PRICING: Jimdo offers many plans with various different features all ranging from $0-$14 per month. Please refer to the website to choose the best one for you. Keep in mind the minimum commitment for paid plans is 12 months.

Jimdo is great for those who are just starting out. Ideal for small businesses across the globe, there are numerous options to choose from when showcasing your work to prospective customers. Because it is so easy to use, users won’t have to worry about having any coding knowledge. Simply choose a template and prepare to launch, all without breaking the bank.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Create your own logo within the app or upload your own.
  • Copyright free stock images.
  • Subscriber notification to keep customers updated on what is new with your business.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Use a range of image formats and layouts to completely customize your gallery.
  • Unlimited storage on business plans or higher.
  • Beginner friendly.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Support team is lacking.
  • Not ideal for SEO.

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6. Zyro – Best for Growth and Scale

PRICING: Starts at $8.99 per month for a website, and goes up to $25.90 per month for ecommerce tools and setup. A 30-day money back guarantee is available.

Zyro is your website builder if you are planning on making sales through your portfolio. If you are a photographer or artist, Zyro is likely to exceed your expectations in terms of ecommerce. The software has made the selling and growth process easy and seamless. With countless AI implementations, marketing tools, SEO keyword maximization, and a mobile-ready interface, Zyro will not disappoint.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Free cloud hosting and automatic scaling so your website grows with you.
  • AI text generator and branding tools for unique content throughout.
  • Powerful integration tools to ultimately target the right audience for your business.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 100% commission free on sales.
  • Drag and drop grid designer.
  • Provide and enjoy a speedier experience with 99.9% uptime in the cloud.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Design decisions are final once saved and launched. You cannot go back and edit/change anything design wise.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need To Know How To Code To Build My Own Website?

Not at all. Most if not all website builders have a certain level of design tools that do not require coding skills to implement. However, they are not all created equal. Some offer no coding, minimal coding, or give you the option to use both if you have the skillset. It all comes down to how much creative freedom to require. If you or your team have coding knowledge and want to have more customization, go with a builder that offers that flexibility. If you are fine with the templates and tools provided by certain builders, then choose your favorite and make it your own.

Do I Need A Website To Showcase My Portfolio?

It depends on your profession and what stage you are at in the game; but in the long run it’s a good idea. You could absolutely use social platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin, but keep in mind not everyone has social media. However, most people have access to the internet, so it may be more profitable to launch a website in order to reach more people to grow your business.

Isn’t It Easier To Hire A Web Designer/Developer?

Not by much to be honest. Unless you have money to spend, it is definitely more worthwhile to build a website yourself. The options listed above have all been designed to make the process easy, fast, and even fun for you. Additionally, you will be in full control of how your website will look like. Hiring a web designer does not give you that assurance, and you may end up spending even more if there are edits or tweaks to be made.

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References and Links