If you watched the Super Bowl this year, not only did you get to witness an exciting come from behind victory, but you also got to see all of those commercials. As in recent years, the most notable advertising participants for us were GoDaddy and the website Builder companies Wix and SquareSpace.

Watching these Super Bowl commercials reminded us that the main focus for a lot of potential website owners is the ability to create a site quickly and easily. Many people are bypassing a web hosting plan for a website package. And, there are definitely a growing number of alternatives to buying a web hosting plan. Before we dive into our list of website builders, let me state that I still use traditional web hosting for my own sites. I still prefer the control and flexibility, among other things, that you get with a web hosting plan.

However, there are some advantages using a website builder package. And if you’ve made the decision to go for a website instead of web hosting, here are the top alternatives in 2017.

Website Builders

• BoldGrid
• ClickFunnels
• GoDaddy GoCentral
• RainMaker
• DreamHost Remixer
• Shopify
• SmugMug
• SquareSpace
• StudioPress Sites
• Web.com
• Wix

BoldGrid

BoldGrid is the innovative product from InMotion Hosting that provides an easy drag and drop interface for creating professional looking Wordpress websites. BoldGrid is actually a WordPress plugin you get with InMotion’s hosting. We’ve written a detailed review here. Besides being able to create WordPress websites quickly, the other big advantage with BoldGrid is that you can actually use it with any web host that offers WordPress.

Features:

• WordPress Platform
• Includes Domain Name
• You Have 100% Ownership of Your Website
• Easy Drag and Drop Interface
• Changes can be previewed with Staging Site
• Includes Helpful Tutorial Videos
• Can be hosted by others as Well

Click Here for More Details on BoldGrid

BoldGrid Pricing

ClickFunnels

For affiliate marketers, selling online often involves creating email campaigns, landing pages, websites, and more. ClickFunnels contains all of these features and more. In fact, ClickFunnels aim is to be a single alternative to having to purchase all of those separate services.

Features:

• Landing Page Builder
• Funnel Builder
• A/B Split Testing
• Membership Sites
• Conversion Tracking and Stats
• Email Opt In Form Builder
• Complete Email Campaigns
• Custom SEO

Click Here for More Details on ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels Pricing

Standard: $97 mo.
Full Suite: $297 mo.

GoCentral

GoCentral is the website builder from GoDaddy. If you saw their Super Bowl commercial, the “Build a website in less than one hour” refers to GoCentral. You can choose from four different GoCentral plans: Personal, Business, Business Plus, and Online Store.

Features:

• Responsive Mobile Design
• Quick Website Builder
• Integrated Marketing Tools
• PayPal Integration*
• SSL*
• Search Engine Optimization*
• Email Marketing*
• Social Media Integration
• Online Store*

*Requires Business or Online Store Plan

Click Here for More Details on GoCentral

GoDaddy GoCentral Pricing

Online Store: $29.99 mo.
Responsive mobile design
Website hosting
24/7 support
PayPal integration
Security (SSL)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Email Marketing
Social Media Integration
Globally-Optimized Speed
Built-in shopping cart with fast checkout
Accept credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and more
Configure shipping and tax rates
Abandoned cart recovery
Text notifications when orders are placed

RainMaker

$145 mo.
The RainMaker platform is a complete premium online solution that includes not only a hosted website but also responsive HTML 5 themes, content creation and landing page tools, email marketing, SEO, analytics, and more.

Features:

• WordPress Based
• StudioPress Themes based on Genesis Framework
• Integrated Email
• Landing Page Builder
• Marketing Automation
• Blogging Tools
• A/B Testing Tools
• Podcasting Tools

Click Here for More Details on RainMaker

Remixer

Remixer is the new website builder from DreamHost. With Remixer, you start by selecting a responsive theme. You can then add your content and customize your theme to make it more unique. Then, you can publish your site with a single click. Remixer is free to use, but when you’re ready to publish your website, you need to sign up for a hosting plan and domain.

Features:

• Responsive Themes
• Royalty Free Image Library
• Click to Edit Interface

Click Here for More Details on Remixer

DreamHost Remixer Pricing

Shopify

Shopify is the perfect solution for individuals and small businesses that need to create an eCommerce website. Shopify simplifies and streamlines the eCommerce site creation process, including everything from website templates, product inventory, shipping charges, and online payment processing. Whether you use Shopify for selling your own products or as a drop shipping tool, it’s a great alternative to having to deal with all of the website creation and online merchandising aspects of an eCommerce site on your own.

Features:

• Choose from Hundreds of Website Themes
• No Website Design Skills Needed
• Greatly Simplifies and Streamlines the eCommerce Website Process
• Manage Unlimited Products
• Unlimited Bandwidth
• Accept Credit Cards with Shopify Payments
• Free 14 Day Trial

Click Here for More Details on Shopify

Shopify Pricing

SmugMug

SmugMug is a website solution specifically geared toward photographers and photo enthusiasts. With SmugMug, you get everything from photo storage to photo commerce solutions.

Features:

• Photo Centric Design Templates
• Customizable Photo Galleries
• Safeguard Photos via Password Protection and Watermarks
• Restrict Access to Photos
• Cloud Storage for Photos
• Sell Photos Online
• Mobile App Connects to your Site

Click Here for More Details on SmugMug

SmugMug Pricing

Basic: $3.99 mo.
Safe Home for your Photos

Power: $5.99 mo.
Gives Advanced Control of How your Site Looks

Portfolio: $12.50 mo.
For those Ready to Start Selling Photos

Business: $25.00 mo.
For Photography Business: Includes Workflow and Client Tools

SquareSpace

With their celebrity driven television ad campaigns, SquareSpace is one of the better known website building companies. They have plans for both personal and business sites.

Features:

• Free Domain
• Mobile Optimized
• Web Analytics
• SSL
• Integrated eCommerce

SquareSpace Pricing

Personal: $12 mo.

Business: $18 mo.

StudioPress Sites

StudioPress is one of the most respected companies in the WordPress community. Like BoldGrid, StudioPress Sites is an alternative to SquareSpace and Wix that uses WordPress as its platform. StudioPress Sites includes themes based on the Genesis Framework.

Features:

• WordPress Optimized Performance
• StudioPress Themes Based on Genesis Framework
• Free SSL
• Advanced SEO
• Theme and Plugin Maintenance
• Choose between Content and Commerce

Click Here for More Details on StudioPress Sites

StudioPress Sites Pricing

Content: $27 mo.
For Personal or Small Business Websites
Great for Bloggers, Podcasters, and Affiliate Marketers

Commerce: $37 mo.
For Selling Physical Products, Digital Downloads, and Memberships

Web.com

$144.95 mo. and up
Web.com is one of the pioneers in the website builder field. Their ‘get a website for free’ promotion has been around for quite a while. Unfortunately, there are many costs that go along with your website here.

Features:

• Design geared specifically for your business.
• Monthly Marketing Submissions to search engines and directories.
• Monthly Website Updates

Wix

Along with SquareSpace, Wix is the other well-known website creation companies. Wix is ideal for online brochure types of websites, but you can also create eCommerce and other types of sites as well.

Features:

• Easy Drag and Drop
• Over 500 Design Templates
• Image Editor
• Online Store

Wix Pricing

Compare Website Builders