Setting up websites is not as difficult as it used to be a few decades ago when you would need advanced coding knowledge and experience to create basic web pages. Today, anyone with the right software can create stunning and responsive websites with lots of functionalities. While many website developers still like to hard-code their websites from scratch, with the right website software you can build equally impressive projects without coding.
If you start searching online for website software, you could easily get overwhelmed because there are countless numbers of them out there. In this post, we take a look at some of the best website software in the market today. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you so you won’t have to.
6 Best Website Software
- Wix – Best Beginner-friendly Website Software
- Weebly – Best Website Software for startups
- Dreamweaver – Best Website Software for Customization
- WordPress – Best Website Software in terms of versatility
- Google Sites – Best Website Software for simplicity
- Webflow – Best Website Software for Professionals
1. Wix – Best Beginner-friendly Website Software
PRICING: Starts at $4.50 a month
Wix is one of the most popular website software solutions today. Their video and text ads are everywhere you turn on YouTube and many social media platforms. Well, that’s because they have a unique selling proposition that appeals to many groups of internet users and business owners. Wix allows users to get started for free and you can literarily have a website up in minutes. Whether you are looking for a one-page landing page, a blog, or a full-fledge website, Wix has got it all. One of the things you would love about Wix is the fact that it is super easy for anyone to get started.
While Wix is free, you may need to pay a small monthly fee if you want some more premium features and functionalities. Also, if you want to add a custom domain name to your website, it will cost you a few extra bucks – usually less than $15.
KEY FEATURES
- Responsive templates
- Custom domain name
- Customizable logo files
- Free SSL certificates
- Analytics
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Storage space
REASONS TO BUY
- Sleek and responsive templates
- Intuitive interface
REASON TO AVOID
- Additional cost for third-party plugins
2. Weebly – Best Website Software for startups
PRICING: Starts at $5 a month
If you are looking to put up a website to start showcasing your products and services within minutes, Weebly may be a great choice to consider. One of the things users love about Weebly is the fact that it allows them to get started for free. Also, there are lots of design and customization options within the Weebly interface that make it easy to ensure your website stands out from your competitors’. With Weebly, you can set up a blog, landing pages, capture pages, or full-fledged websites with lots of functionalities. This website software solution also has eCommerce functionality that allows users to easily set up their store to sell their products.
Weebly has hundreds of customizable templates that you can tweak to reflect your business and brand. If you want advanced features and more control, you may need to pay for the premium package, which is still highly affordable, by the way.
KEY FEATURES
- Editable templates
- Customizable forms
- Drag and drop website builder
- In-built SEO processor
- Custom headers
- Custom domain
REASONS TO BUY
- Free version
- Custom templates
REASONS TO AVOID
- Limited customization options
- The free version leaves a banded Weebly logo on your website’s footer
3. Dreamweaver – Best Website Software for Customization
PRICING: Starts at $20.99 a month
Dreamweaver is a robust and flexible website software solution from Adobe. It is particularly suited to users who want to create beautiful and responsive websites without writing endless lines of code. Dreamweaver is more of a visual editor with lots of drag and drop functionality. This website software is one of the best choices for website designers because it allows them to take full control of their designs. Dreamweaver has loads of customization options. You can also use it to create responsive mobile and desktop websites.
KEY FEATURES
- Flexible coding
- Dynamic display
- CEF integration
- GIT support
- JavaScript refactoring
REASONS TO USE
- Highly flexible
- WYSIWYG visual editor
REASON TO AVOID
- It has a Steep learning curve for new users
4. WordPress – Best Website Software in terms of versatility
PRICING: Free
If you have been online for a while, the chances are that you have heard about WordPress. It is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create responsive blogs, websites, and landing pages. WordPress is the most popular CMS with unlimited customization options. There are two versions of WordPress though. There’s the WordPress.com version which is completely free and it can help you host your site while you get to use its domain extension. There’s also wordpress.org which is the most popular among webmasters. You will need a domain and hosting to use the latter though.
One thing you would love about WordPress is that when it comes to customization, the options are limitless. There are thousands of plugins to add extra functionality to your WordPress website. There’s also room for those who have coding knowledge to add custom codes to their sites for more advanced customization.
KEY FEATURES
- Unlimited templates and themes
- Post scheduling
- Managed website security
- Rollback versioning and restore deleted pages
- Integrated blog and news posting
- Additional website editors
REASONS TO USE
- Highly flexible platform
- Regular updates
REASON TO AVOID
- New users need to overcome some learning curve
5. Google Sites – Best Website Software for simplicity
PRICING: Free
If you are new to creating websites or you feel you are not tech-savvy enough, Google Sites presents a perfect opportunity for you to create great-looking web pages and sites without hassle. Google Sites, as the name implies, is one of Google’s products, and you know with Google you are always going to get great performance and reliability. Google understands that there’s a huge demand for fast and responsive websites and what they’ve done is simply fill this void. All you need to get started is your existing Google account or a new one if you don’t already have one. The signup process shouldn’t take more than five minutes and you can start editing any of the templates on your dashboard.
When you use Google sites, your website will use Google Sites’ sub-domain. However, you can add a custom domain to your website if you are willing to pay for it. That way, your site looks more professional and it’s a great way to brand your business.
KEY FEATURES
- Editable templates
- Custom domain
- Live editing
- WYSIWYG editor
- Design layouts
- Integration with Google drive
REASONS TO BUY
- Super-intuitive user interface
- Free to use
REASONS TO AVOID
- Limited customization options
6. Webflow – Best Website Software for Professionals
PRICING: starts at $12.00 a month
Webflow is another great website software solution for users who want to build, design, and launch sleek-looking and responsive websites without coding. Webflow is a multi-platform that combines content management, design, marketing, animation, and eCommerce functionalities into one interactive platform. Webflow has become more and more popular over the years because of the level of control and customization options available to users.
KEY FEATURES
- Content management
- Design tools
- Hosting plans
- Rich text editor
- Email integrations
- Editable themes
REASONS TO BUY
- Great web design functionality
- Great customization options
REASONS TO AVOID
- Steep learning curve
- It’s a bit expensive
References and Links
- https://www.techradar.com/news/best-web-design-software
- https://websitesetup.org/web-design-software/
- https://www.isitwp.com/best-web-design-software/
- https://blog.appsumo.com/web-design-software/
- https://www.adamenfroy.com/best-web-design-software
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-website-builder/
- https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-website-builders