The Best Web Builders in 2026 [Tested]

We've tested over 20 different web builders and think Wix is the best. Wix offers best-in-class web building tools, including a complete AI web builder, a user-friendly experience for all skill levels, and the features you need to run an ecommerce store. 

Other web-building platforms have standout merits for specific needs. Hostinger is ideal for businesses that need affordable long-term web hosting, plus a top-of-the-line AI suite to build and manage a small online business. Squarespace is a versatile web builder that offers an array of ecommerce tools as well as comprehensive features for websites that rely on content creation. 

IONOS pairs a basic AI builder with some of the cheapest hosting available, but it doesn't skimp on ecommerce essentials like PCI compliance and integrated online booking. Square Online is best for stores that already use the Square POS system, as it allows for easy integration and scalability. Meanwhile, Shopify is an ecommerce titan that's a good fit for dropshipping businesses.

If you're interested in starting your own online business in 2026, you'll want to learn about the good, the bad, and what will help you build your perfect ecommerce website.

Wix: Best for beginners

Who it's best for

If you're new too website building and running your own online business, we found Wix to be a powerful tool for beginners. The smart AI created a beautiful, professional website for us in under 5 minutes, and the upgraded tools were enough to help us start a business from the ground up.

What we liked

AI tools: We're not AI enthusiasts who want it for everything, but we do appreciate the intuitive, valuable AI tools that come with Wix. The AI web builder process is incredibly simple, and after answering about five questions, Wix built our site. We were so impressed with how easy it was to get started.

Usability: Wix provides easy startup tools and an easy way to edit your site. It also offers business apps, widgets, and integrations, as well as page and image editing, which is especially useful if your site includes blog posts and image galleries. Overall, Wix is incredibly user-friendly.

What we didn't like

Pricey for ecommerce tools: We're big fans of Wix, but we don't think it's advanced enough to take you into an enterprise-level online business unless you're willing to pay. Wix has many valuable features that make it a smart choice for beginners, but people looking to scale their business might find that it doesn't offer enough on the lower-tier plans. 

Score summary

Hostinger: Best for fast, affordable startup

Who it's best for

Hostinger is a reliable platform for small business owners with tight budgets looking to launch their online store quickly. Hostinger bundles a comprehensive AI web builder with affordable hosting, making it a viable long-term platform.

What we liked

Robust suite of AI tools: Like Wix, Hostinger offers a top-of-the-line AI-powered web builder that can create a website in minutes. Higher-tier plans also include cutting-edge AI tools like Horizons, which allows you to create no-code apps, and Kodee, an AI assistant that can help run your online store. Hostinger has really leaned into its AI offerings, aiming to help small business owners launch and maintain their online stores with ease.

Value: Hostinger is known for its affordable long-term rates and outstanding discounts. Website owners can lock in a low starting rate for 36 to 48 months with Hostinger, depending on the deal. We're talking $2.99/mo, which is a steal. Hostinger's pricing doesn't go as low as what IONOS offers, but you get a better web builder, a user-friendly control panel, and a variety of built-in tools to help you run a small business. And unlike typical all-in-one web builders like Wix and Squarespace, Hostinger lets users build their site with either WordPress or its proprietary AI web builder.

What we didn't like

Not PCI-compliant: Honestly, the biggest drawback we see for ecommerce stores is that Hostinger sites are not PCI compliant. That means you'd have to use a third-party payment processor like Stripe or PayPal to conduct financial transactions. Other popular web builders, like Wix, Squarespace, and IONOS, are PCI compliant and adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) for handling payment information. 

Score summary

Squarespace: Best for content creators

Who it's best for

Plenty of businesses blend ecommerce and blogging into a successful brand. Squarespace is especially good for businesses with content (including professional photographers) because you have beautifully designed templates, plenty of space for blogging, and powerful ecommerce tools.

What we liked

Features: When testing Squarespace, we found that the tools were easy enough for beginners but also robust enough to carry a business. The templates were beautifully designed, and we could easily edit any element. We also appreciated the more advanced blogging features, which help businesses boost their SEO rankings and online presence with helpful content.

Ecommerce tools: The ecommerce tools vary significantly based on your site's goals. Squarespace is a useful resource whether you're selling physical products, services, or event tickets. The ability to use Squarespace for anything made it stand out for us.

What we didn't like

Editing tools: Squarespace has no photo editing tools. You'll either need to import photos just as they are or edit them in another program before uploading them to the site. We were also surprised that we couldn't change the template once we chose one. Instead, we had to edit the individual elements on the page, which took much longer.

Score summary

IONOS: Best for budgets

Who it's best for

IONOS is a good pick for small-to mid-sized businesses that want low starting costs, reasonable renewal rates, and a decent web builder to launch their ecommerce site. The IONOS web builder isn't as good as Wix or Hostinger's, but the bundled hosting services offer long-term security and scalability. 

What we liked

Low costs: IONOS offers businesses the chance to get started for as low as $1.00/mo. This may feel like a trap, but the renewal rates are still lower than those of the top competitors. Plus, IONOS is PCI-compliant, and all plans include free security features such as unlimited SSL certificates, malware scanning, and daily backups, making its low pricing even more appealing. 

Valuable ecommerce tools: Despite its simple web builder, IONOS offers valuable ecommerce tools and features. You can sell digital and physical products, sync with a POS for in-person sales, and list products on marketplaces, to name a few. Additionally, IONOS provides specialized AI-building tools for online shops using WooCommerce, Magento, Drupal, marketplaces, and more.

What we didn't like

Limited web-building features: Compared to best-in-class web builders like Wix and Hostinger, IONOS offers a subpar experience. The AI web builder is decent enough to launch a site, and we appreciate the option to build with WordPress. However, there are limitations across the board, including no built-in blog, fewer template customization options, limited third-party integrations, poor mobile responsiveness, no image editing tools, and more.

Score summary

Square Online: Best for stores that use Square POS

Who it's best for

Square Online is the best choice for businesses that use (or plan to use) Square POS. The seamless integration with Square POS makes it an attractive platform for managing sales on multiple online and in-person channels.

What we liked

Intuitive drag-and-drop: Square Online doesn't offer a full AI web builder, but its drag-and-drop interface makes customization easy. The platform uniquely offers a mobile-first experience, with the default view optimized for mobile devices and designed to cater to online shoppers. Although we found the sheer number of features a bit overwhelming at first, Square Online offers user-friendly guides for creating and managing a storefront. 

Robust ecommerce tools: Square Online offers more ecommerce features than Wix or Squarespace, but at a lower price point than Shopify. Square Online is designed for ecommerce and lets you sell anything from subscriptions to physical products. The platform offers everything online stores need to set up shop through multiple sales channels, including marketing tools, built-in analytics, and an expansive app market.

What we didn't like

Limited to the Square POS ecosystem: Square Online offers the most value to businesses that are already invested (or plan to invest) in Square POS. Even though Square Online offers a solid web-building experience, it's not really designed for sites that heavily rely on content creation. Additionally, for businesses just starting out, the platform may be more complicated than it's worth if you don't intend to integrate Square POS. 

Score summary

Shopify: Best for dropshippers

Who it's best for

Shopify is ideal for anyone looking to build a dropshipping-exclusive website. Shopify is a little more technical and has fewer creative elements than other web builders. Even so, it delivers a professional, aesthetically pleasing website.

What we liked

Ecommerce tools: Shopify offers many options and integrations for dropshipping, print-on-demand, and other wholesale opportunities. We liked all the choices drop shippers have when choosing a wholesaler. We also liked that there were additional print-on-demand options for businesses, such as PDF sales, stickers, or custom merchandise.

Features: While other web builders might make you buy a higher tier to add more products to your site, Shopify includes unlimited listings on all its plans. That means you can offer as much or as little as you want right out of the gate. Shopify is scalable and allows you to grow your business as large as you want.

What we didn't like

Usability: Shopify can be confusing and overwhelming if you aren't used to an ecommerce business or setup. It isn't the friendliest web builder if you don't have a lot of startup capital or are starting very small. Out of all the web builders we tested, Shopify was the only one where we had to watch YouTube tutorial videos before we could really get started.

Score summary

Bottom line: The best web builder

We've tested over 20 different web builders and think Wix is the best for online businesses. Wix makes getting started easy, affordable, and low-stress. You can stay on the free plan for as long as it takes to get you comfortable running a site. It's a solid way to start building your website, and beginners will love all the AI assistance. Upgrade to business plans for robust ecommerce features and top-of-the-line tools for creating content, from stunning product images to 30-second trailers. 

Plus, Wix sites are PCI-compliant, which means they can securely process financial transactions. During our in-house testing, we also found that Wix lives up to its 100% uptime guarantee and outperforms top web hosts in terms of performance and page load times. Overall, Wix is a secure, affordable solution for online businesses. 

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