Thinking of launching a business for your side hustle, startup, or hobby but don’t want to pay a developer $1,000s to do so? Luckily, it’s 2024, and you can build and maintain your own website at a fraction of a developer’s cost.
“Wait — don’t you need to be a code-savvy techie to build your own website?” you ask. The answer is no: Today, you can make your very own website without a single shred of technical knowledge by using a no-code website-building platform.
A no-code website-building platform allows anyone who can open a social media account to create a website. However, many options are available, and some aren’t as good as others.
That’s where I come in — since 2014, I’ve reviewed and recommended hundreds of no-code tools and website builders. In this article, I’ll share my 5 favorite no-code website builders.
The Top 5 No-Code Website Builders
What is a No-Code Website Builder?
Anyone can use a no-code website builder to create all the components of a website. All no-code website builders leverage the following, making building your website super easy:
- Building Interface: This is the primary toolkit you’ll use to build your website. And you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to use it: A no-code website builder’s building interface is similar to PowerPoint. You’ll cobble your website together by dragging and dropping pictures, text boxes, and more.
- Templates: Before creating your no-code website, you’ll choose a template. Templates come preloaded with all the website’s pages (Home, About Us, Blog, Contact, etc), text boxes, pictures, and other elements. Or, if you’re a creative type, you can opt to make your website from scratch by starting with a blank template.
- Customization: Do you like the layout of your selected template but want to change the pictures and background colors? No-code website builders let you do so! You’ll have the power to customize your website to your brand’s style, colors, and theme with a few clicks of the mouse.
Using a no-code website builder is much more cost-effective than hiring a developer. On average, they cost about $40/month ($480 annually).
The total costs for hiring a developer far outweigh those of using a no-code website builder. For instance, developer fees start around $10,000 but can exceed $50,000 for ongoing support, maintenance, and implementation of new features.
What To Look For in a No-Code Website Builder
As I said earlier, not all website builders are created equal. When selecting the website builders for my list, I ensured they checked the following boxes:
- 100% No-Code: Sometimes, you’ll sign up for a “no-code website builder,” but before you start creating your website, the tool will ask you to “enter parameters.” What the heck does this mean? Such a platform is not no-code…it’s low code.
Rest assured that the platforms on this list are all no-code. You won’t need to know any programming language or technical knowledge to use them.
- Free Version or Free Trial: You never buy a car without taking it for a test ride, and the same logic applies to no-code website builders. Each no-code website builder on my list has either a free version or a free trial, which you can use to get a feel of how each website builder works.
- Flexibility: All no-code website builders should be able to create any type of website, such as one for a clothing store, a commodities trading company, a personal blog, and any profession or hobby under the sun.
No matter how you earn your livelihood, you can create a website to showcase your business, side hustle, or hobby using any of my top 5 no-code website builders.
- Modern-Looking: Each no-code website builder on my list provides good-looking templates with modern themes and elements. When you use one of the tools on my list, you won’t have to worry about your website looking like something from the late 1990s — you’ll have the power to create a trendy and slick-looking website.
#1 The Best Overall No-Code Website and Native Mobile App Builder
Adalo
What is it?
Adalo is a no-code app builder that lets you create web apps, which are the same as websites, and native mobile apps, which your users can download directly to their phones.
Why do I like it?
Because it leverages one of the easiest drag-and-drop interfaces, Adalo is super simple to learn. But it doesn’t sacrifice any power for this simplicity. When you build with Adalo, you can add almost any functionality like secure logins, APIs, PDF readers, and more.
After you finish building, you can publish your site to the web. And because Adalo is an app-building platform, you’ll also be able to publish your site as a native mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Doing this will potentially get your website and app in front of millions of eyes, which can help grow your business or brand.
Who is it best for?
Over the years, I’ve recommended Adalo more than any other no-code website or app builder. Adalo has the power to meet the needs of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small and medium businesses.
Pricing
Get started with Adalo for $36/month.
Features
- Adalo is packed with several pre-loaded templates with everything you need. For instance, if you want to make a site for your restaurant, you’ll have all the pages for a menu, ordering, and more.
- Want to take payments from your site? You can do so with Adalo’s Stripe integration.
- Building your app and website with Adalo is done with one simple click. When you make a website with Adalo, its building interface will also produce your native mobile app without any extra effort.
#2 A No-Code Website Builder for Beginners
Wix
What is it?
Wix is a versatile no-code website builder that lets you create custom, professional-quality websites through a super simple building interface.
Why do I like it?
Wix is known for having a very low learning curve. Users without experience on the platform can create professional-looking websites that look like they were made by veteran developers.
Wix also boasts intuitive design capabilities and robust features like a built-in content management system (CMS) that caters to all needs. You’ll also find one of the largest template selections of any no-code website-building platform: Wix has over 900 templates in its library.
Who is it best for?
If you’re a beginner to no-code and want to make a website, Wix is a good option. You won’t have to spend too much learning the building interface, meaning you can start building your site in no time.
Pricing
Wix offers a 14-day free trial. You can start with $17/month (billed monthly). If you need more storage, opt for Wix’s $29/month plan (billed monthly). This plan offers e-commerce features like payment acceptance and 50 GB of storage space.
Features
- If you’re launching a content strategy, Wix’s SEMrush feature has you covered. You’ll be able to use SEMrush’s SEO-optimization tool and conduct keyword research.
- Wix recently launched its own AI tool that can cobble together your entire site, or just pieces of your site, whenever you command it.
#3 The Most Powerful No-Code Website Builder
Webflow
What is it?
Webflow is a powerful no-code website builder that gives you the design freedom to bring almost any website idea to life.
Why do I like it?
While Webflow’s building interface does come with a bit of a learning curve, once you get over it, you’ll have the power to create any website with nearly any design twist you wish to add.
Webflow comes packed with loads of design features, like interactions and animations, which will give your user experience a modern and unique feel. It also has one of the biggest ecosystems, providing you with tons of third-party tools, plugins, templates, and more.
Who is it best for?
You’ll need to dedicate a little time to overcome Webflow’s learning curve, but once you’ve got it down, there’s no limit to the type of website you can build.
Pricing
Get Webflow's basic version for $18/month (billed monthly). But for those who need more features, like a content management system, which can also be your database, get the $29/month (billed monthly) version.
Features
- If you have difficulties learning the building interface, look no further than Webflow University. This rich source of Webflow tutorials provides the knowledge and tools to overcome any issues you encounter.
#4 A No-Code Website Builder with Tip-Top Aesthetics
Squarespace
What is it?
Squarespace is an easy-to-use, no-code website builder renowned for its visually appealing designs and intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Why do I like it?
Squarespace has some of the most jaw-droppingly sleek templates out there. While its template library isn’t as hefty as Wix’s or Webflow’s, each Squarespace template is second to none in terms of aesthetics.
Additionally, Squarespace offers excellent customer support. If you have any questions, problems, or just need to find information, you can get immediate feedback from Squarespace’s live chatbot.
Who is it best for?
Squarespace targets entrepreneurs and small businesses wanting to create gorgeous websites.
Pricing
After Squarespace’s 14-day free trial, check out the $25/month (billed monthly) version, which gives you access to all of Squarespace templates. For $36/month (billed monthly), you can accept payments and access a website analytics tool to gather info about your visitors.
Features
- Squarespace recently launched a tool that combines its breathtaking templates and design with AI. This tool will help you configure nearly every element of your site quickly.
- When you build with Squarespace, your site will be automatically mobile-optimized, meaning you won’t need to make any changes to either your desktop or mobile version. Just create and launch, and your site will look beautiful on desktops, phones, and tablets.
#5 A Simple No-Code Website Builder for One-Page Sites
Carrd
What is it?
Carrd is a no-code website builder that creates 1-page websites.
Why do I like it?
Do you need a simple, bare-bones website for your business? Then Carrd might be your match. Carrd allows you to make a hard-hitting, to-the-point one-page website in a minimal amount of time.
Carrd’s building interface is insanely simple — it’s designed to let people quickly create a one-page website. With just a press of the button, you can also embed forms for ordering, reserving a table, and more.
Who is it best for?
Businesses that need a 1-page website, like restaurants, e-commerce shops, consultancies, and more, will be right at home with Carrd’s capability to create and launch a site to market their brand.
Pricing
Carrd has a 7-day free trial. After that, you’ll need to pay $9/year for 3 sites. If you want to include forms and get access to web analytics, you’ll need to opt for the $19/year version.
Features
- Carrd comes packed with several integrations, like APIs that can help you gather data from external sources on the web. So, if you want to share weather conditions with your users before they book a table on your patio, Carrd’s got you covered.
- You’ll also be able to accept payments with Stripe and PayPal, which is a major bonus for companies that sell only one or two products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Any No-Code Website Builders Also Build Apps and Tools?
Both Adalo and Webflow can be used to create apps and tools. With Webflow, you’ll need to use Wized, a third-party tool that will help you build your app’s backend (the brain of your app that responds to user commands).
Because it’s a no-code app-building platform, Adalo is the best choice for creating an app, tool, or website. It features a responsive design, so anything you build will be optimized for website viewing on desktop and mobile devices, and native mobile apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
What Is the Cheapest No-Code Website Builder?
Carrd has the cheapest version, at $9/year. However, this plan only gets you 3 one-page websites, so it has a limited audience. Squarespace, Wix, and Webflow all offer monthly-billed versions under $30/month. But if you’re looking for a no-code website builder that also makes apps, Adalo’s $36/month version is a steal.
Which No-Code Website Builder Has the Best Free Version?
Out of all the no-code website builders, Adalo is the only one that offers a free version — all the no-code website builders on my list have free trials. Adalo’s free version is very generous, allowing you to accept payments from Stripe, and publish to the web.
