How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- The cheapest credible starts: Google Sites (free), WordPress.com Personal ($4-$5 first year) and Wix's free plan, with Wix Light at $17/month when you need a custom domain.
- Intro discounts are the real deals: WordPress.com offers up to 69% off on 3-year plans, and hosting deals like Hostinger ($2.99/month) and DreamHost ($1.99/month) make self-hosted WordPress cheap.
- Budget on the renewal price, not the intro price: Bluehost renews at $9.99/month after a $3.99 intro, SiteGround at $17.99 after $2.99.
- Squarespace ($19/month annual) and Wix ($17-$29/month annual) cost more than WordPress hosting but include maintenance, security and support.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Wix | Beginners who want the easiest path to a live site | $17/month (Light plan, billed annually) | Yes (free plan on a Wix subdomain) |
 Squarespace | Beautiful sites with minimal setup effort | $19/month (Basic, billed annually) | Free trial (14 days) |
 WordPress.com | The cheapest hosted start with real discount depth | $4-$5/month first year (Personal plan) | Yes (free plan shows WordPress.com ads) |
 WordPress.org with Hostinger hosting | Full ownership at the lowest long-term cost | Free software; Hostinger hosting from $2.99/month (intro, renews at $10.99) | Yes (the software itself is free) |
 GoDaddy Website Builder | Buyers who want domain, hosting and phone support in one account | $21-$35/month (Commerce range, reported) | Free trial |
 Weebly (Square) | Simple sites connected to Square payments | $13/month (paid plans, billed annually) | Yes |
 Webflow | Designers and agencies that want professional-grade sites | $29/month (Standard site plan, billed annually) | Yes (limited, Webflow subdomain) |
 Hostinger Website Builder | Budget buyers who want AI building at hosting prices | $2.69-$5.99/month (introductory) | No |
 Google Sites | Free simple sites, portfolios and team intranets | Free | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best deals on website builder software
"Best deals on website builder software" is really a question about total cost: the intro price, the renewal price, and what you can never take with you. A $2.99/month hosting deal that renews at $17.99 is not the same deal it appears to be. These nine options are ranked by the real value behind the sticker price.
#1
Wix
Best for: Beginners who want the easiest path to a live site
Visit wix.com
Starting price$17/month (Light plan, billed annually)
Free planYes (free plan on a Wix subdomain)
Wix's deal structure is simple: start free, pay $17/month (annual) for Light with a custom domain, $29/month for Core when you need ecommerce. Annual plans include a free domain for the first year, and Wix runs 10 to 50% discounts for new users and students. The free plan is genuinely usable for testing.
The lock-in is the catch: Wix sites cannot be exported, so leaving means rebuilding. And the Light plan is limited; most business sites land on Core or Business ($39/month). For a first site built fast, the value is strong; for a site you might outgrow, price the exit.
What we like- Free plan to start
- Light at $17/month is the cheapest paid entry among major builders
- AI builder and strong templates speed up launch
Watch out for- Free plan shows Wix ads and uses a Wix subdomain
- Selling needs the $29/month Core plan
- Sites cannot be exported if you leave
Starting price$19/month (Basic, billed annually)
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Squarespace's deal is quality per dollar: $19/month (annual) for Basic, $29 for Core, $49 for Plus, $99 for Advanced, all checked on the pricing page in October 2026. Every annual plan includes a free domain for the first year. The Basic plan's built-in ecommerce (with 2% fee) makes it the cheapest way to sell online among the big three builders.
Discounts are rarer than on Wix or WordPress.com, so the sticker price is closer to the real price, which is honest but means fewer bargains. Like Wix, sites cannot be exported. For design-led small businesses, the template quality justifies the price.
What we like- Best-looking templates at this price
- Basic includes ecommerce with a 2% transaction fee
- Free domain for a year on annual plans
Watch out for- No free plan, only a 14-day trial
- Fewer discount promotions than Wix or WordPress.com
- Template switching is limited
#3
WordPress.com
Best for: The cheapest hosted start with real discount depth
Visit wordpress.com
Starting price$4-$5/month first year (Personal plan)
Free planYes (free plan shows WordPress.com ads)
WordPress.com wins the discount game outright: up to 69% off standard pricing on 3-year plans, which can bring even the Commerce plan down to around $31.50/month. The Personal plan starts at $4-$5/month in year one, the cheapest paid entry anywhere here. Annual plans include a free domain for the first year.
The first-year pricing is the trap to watch: renewals run higher, so model year two before committing. And the cheap Personal plan restricts design customization; real control needs Premium ($8-$9/month) or Business ($25-$28/month). For bargain hunters willing to prepay, nothing beats the 3-year deals.
What we like- Up to 69% off on 3-year plans, the deepest discount of any major builder
- Personal starts at $4-$5/month first year
- Free plan available
Watch out for- First-year prices renew higher, so budget on renewals
- Design customization needs the $8-$9/month Premium plan
- 3-year prepay is a long commitment
#4
WordPress.org with Hostinger hosting
Best for: Full ownership at the lowest long-term cost
Visit wordpress.org
Starting priceFree software; Hostinger hosting from $2.99/month (intro, renews at $10.99)
Free planYes (the software itself is free)
Self-hosted WordPress is the cheapest serious website long-term: free software plus hosting intros like Hostinger at $2.99/month (48-month term), DreamHost at $1.99/month, or Bluehost at $3.99/month. Year-one totals can run $90 to $515 including domain and email, per 2026 cost analyses.
The renewal math matters most here: Hostinger renews at $10.99, Bluehost at $9.99, SiteGround jumps from $2.99 to $17.99. And you own the maintenance burden. But nothing else gives you a portable site, full plugin ecosystem and zero platform fees at this price. For anyone comfortable with light technical work, it is the best deal in website building.
What we like- The software is free and you own everything: files, database, domain
- Hosting intros from $1.99-$3.99/month across major hosts
- No platform lock-in ever
Watch out for- You handle updates, backups and security
- Renewal prices are 3-5x the intro rates
- Total cost depends on themes and plugins
#5
GoDaddy Website Builder
Best for: Buyers who want domain, hosting and phone support in one account
Visit godaddy.com
Starting price$21-$35/month (Commerce range, reported)
Free planFree trial
GoDaddy's pitch is consolidation: register the domain, host the site, run email and get phone support from one vendor. The website builder with commerce features runs in the $21 to $35/month range per 2026 analyses. Setup is fast with AI assistance, and support answers the phone, which matters to non-technical owners.
The builder itself is less flexible than Wix or Squarespace, and the price is higher than WordPress hosting. It suits buyers who value one throat to choke over maximum design control.
What we like- Domain, hosting, email and site in a single account
- Phone support included
- Quick AI-assisted setup
Watch out for- Less design flexibility than Wix or Squarespace
- Pricing sits above budget builders
- Lock-in similar to other hosted builders
#6
Weebly (Square)
Best for: Simple sites connected to Square payments
Visit weebly.com
Starting price$13/month (paid plans, billed annually)
Free planYes
Weebly, now part of Square, remains one of the cheapest paid builders at $13/month (annual) with a free plan for testing. The Square integration suits small retailers: the website, online store and point of sale share one system.
Development pace has slowed since the Square acquisition and the templates show their age. For a simple site tied to Square payments, the price is right; for a brand-forward website, Wix or Squarespace deliver more.
What we like- Free plan available
- Paid from $13/month annual
- Integrates with Square for payments and POS
Watch out for- Now part of Square with slower product development
- Template selection is dated
- Fewer features than Wix or Squarespace
#7
Webflow
Best for: Designers and agencies that want professional-grade sites
Visit webflow.com
Starting price$29/month (Standard site plan, billed annually)
Free planYes (limited, Webflow subdomain)
Webflow sits between DIY builders and hand-coding: visual design with professional output, CMS collections and interactions that Wix cannot match. The free plan covers learning and staging; paid site plans start at $29/month (annual) with a 2% transaction fee on the Standard ecommerce tier.
The learning curve is real, and the price exceeds the beginner builders. For designers, freelancers and agencies selling websites to clients, the output quality justifies it. For a simple business site, it is more tool than needed.
What we like- Professional design control without code
- Free plan for learning and staging
- CMS and interactions built in
Watch out for- $29/month Standard is pricier than Wix or Squarespace entry
- Steeper learning curve
- Ecommerce needs higher tiers
#8
Hostinger Website Builder
Best for: Budget buyers who want AI building at hosting prices
Visit hostinger.com
Starting price$2.69-$5.99/month (introductory)
Free planNo
Hostinger's builder bundles AI-assisted site creation with hosting from $2.69/month introductory (per 2026 comparisons), making it one of the cheapest ways to get a custom-domain site live. The AI builder handles layout and copy drafts, which speeds up launch for simple sites.
Renewals run higher than intros, the template and app ecosystem is thinner than Wix's, and selling online needs the $8.99/month ecommerce add-on. For budget-first buyers who want a decent site fast, the intro pricing is the deal; just note the renewal before the term ends.
What we like- Among the lowest paid prices in the category
- AI builder generates sites fast
- Includes hosting in one price
Watch out for- Intro pricing renews higher
- Fewer templates and apps than Wix
- Ecommerce is a paid add-on ($8.99/month)
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Google Sites is the free floor: unlimited pages, simple themes and Google app embeds at zero cost. For portfolios, event pages, internal wikis and classroom sites, it is enough and the price cannot be beaten.
It is not a business website platform: no real SEO controls, no ecommerce, limited design. But as a free starting point or a companion site, it costs nothing to try and nothing to keep.
What we like- Completely free with a Google account
- Dead-simple editing
- Integrates with Drive, Docs and Calendar
Watch out for- Very limited design control and features
- No real ecommerce
- Custom domains need Google Workspace
How we chose
We compared website builders on the real cost of ownership: intro price, renewal price, free plan limits and exit cost. Prices were verified from vendor pricing pages and October 2026 third-party pricing checks (WPBrigade, VendBuddy, TopSyde). We favored builders with transparent pricing and noted where discounts expire or renewals jump.
The renewal trap: how to avoid it
Nearly every deal here is an intro rate. Hostinger's $2.99/month renews at $10.99, Bluehost's $3.99 at $9.99, SiteGround's $2.99 at $17.99, and WordPress.com's first-year prices renew higher across the board. Before buying, find the renewal price on the vendor's terms page and multiply by your planned years.
Two defenses work: prepay the longest term when the discount is real (WordPress.com's 3-year 69%-off deals), and set a calendar reminder 60 days before renewal to renegotiate or migrate. Domain renewals deserve the same check: the free first-year domain renews at the registrar's standard rate.
Free plans: what you actually get
Wix's free plan gives a real site on a Wix subdomain with Wix ads. WordPress.com's free plan shows WordPress.com ads. Weebly and Google Sites offer usable free tiers; Squarespace offers only a trial. Free plans suit testing, portfolios and side projects. For any business site, budget the cheapest paid tier: custom domains, ad removal and basic credibility start there.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest website builder?
Google Sites is free. Among paid builders with custom domains, Hostinger's builder ($2.69-$5.99/month intro) and WordPress.com Personal ($4-$5/month first year) are cheapest, followed by self-hosted WordPress with budget hosting ($1.99-$3.99/month intro).
Are website builder deals real or just marketing?
Both. Intro discounts are real savings if you prepay the term, but renewals typically run 2-5x higher. The deal is real only if you budget the renewal price or plan to renegotiate before it hits.
Is Wix or Squarespace cheaper?
Wix is cheaper at entry: Light at $17/month (annual) versus Squarespace Basic at $19/month. Both include a free domain for the first year on annual plans. Wix also has a free plan; Squarespace has only a 14-day trial.
Can I build a website for free?
Yes: Google Sites, Wix's free plan, WordPress.com's free plan and Weebly's free plan all work. Free plans use subdomains, show ads and limit features. A professional business site needs a paid plan for a custom domain and ad removal.
What is the catch with $2.99/month hosting deals?
The renewal price, usually $9.99-$17.99/month, and the long prepaid term required to get the intro rate. Also check what is excluded: backups, security and email often cost extra or sit on higher tiers.
Should I choose WordPress.org or WordPress.com?
WordPress.org (self-hosted) is free software plus hosting ($2-$25/month); you own everything and handle maintenance. WordPress.com is managed hosting from $4/month; less work, less control, higher renewals. Choose .org for ownership and .com for convenience.
Sources we checked (13)
- https://www.wix.com/pricing/
- https://www.squarespace.com/pricing/
- https://www.wordpress.com/pricing/
- https://www.wordpress.org/hosting/
- https://www.hostinger.com/pricing/
- https://www.godaddy.com/websites/website-builder/
- https://www.weebly.com/pricing/
- https://www.webflow.com/pricing/
- https://sites.google.com/
- https://wpbrigade.com/wordpress-vs-squarespace-vs-wix/
- https://vendbuddy.io/blog/wix-vs-squarespace-vs-wordpress-for-vending-business
- https://topsyde.com/blog/wix-squarespace-wordpress-small-business
- https://www.stylefactoryproductions.com/blog/wix-vs-squarespace-vs-wordpress-the-essential-comparison
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.