How to build a website 2022 | Step-by-step guide for beginners
Although there are many ways to create a website, there are two that we find easiest: using a website builder or using WordPress. If this is your first rodeo, we recommend a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, or Shopify to build your site - it's the best option for tech beginners.
Given the current economic climate and uncertainty, website builders are also the cheapest route, hosting costs are included, and you'll likely have to spend more with WordPress to get expert support.
However, WordPress is still a popular choice, so we'll take you through the build process. No matter which option you choose, by the end of this post, you will be able to create a website in less than an hour if you follow our seven easy steps.
How do we know? Well, we were where you are now. Since then, we've done hours of research on website building so that we can provide the most accurate and relevant instructions to help you get your site up and running. Why don't you read and try it out for yourself?
Which Website Builder Should You Choose?
Choosing the right website builder is very important because different builders serve different needs. Don't worry, we are here to help you! We've done in-depth research so we can confidently highlight the best website builders. Personal experience with website builders is all well and good (and we have plenty of them), but we test builders with people just like you. So when creating your website, you can rest assured that we have you covered.
Our team conducts user tests and interviews and tracks hundreds of features across dozens of products to provide you with a comprehensive view of the market. We want you to find builders that fit your needs. With that in mind, here's the lowdown on the best developers for creating websites today.
Our research crowned Wix as the best website builder with a score of 4.8 out of 5, which isn't surprising considering it's one of the most popular website builders on the market. Wix has exceptional website features, including an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that makes website creation feel like child's play. In fact, it came first in our ease-of-use search, scoring 4.4 out of 5. And if you want to sell online, Wix's eCommerce plans are perfect for small online stores.
In the second place, we have Squarespace with a score of 4.7 out of 5! If the beautiful design is a top priority for you, then Squarespace may be the perfect choice for you, although you'll need to take the time to get it right. Squarespace has some of the best templates, and its easy-to-use interface makes it easy to set up your dream website, but its customization tools are lacking compared to Wix. However, Squarespace's support and support options, as well as its design features, are unbeatable.
For those of you who don't have time to waste, GoDaddy's ADI job will create an engaging website using a short survey, so you can get your site up and running in no time! With a score of 4.4 out of 5, GoDaddy is a solid all-around choice, and it really shines when it comes to design features and usability. In fact, GoDaddy ranks third in each of these areas of research, scoring 4.3 points for design and 4.1 out of 5 for ease of use.
After completing our top four, we have Shopify - the most suitable platform for online stores with an inventory of 10+ products. It has great sales features built right into the platform and a huge app library to take advantage of, with a score of 4.5 out of 5 in our testing of its sales tools. While it's a great option for growing businesses, it's worth noting that Shopify's design tools are less impressive and more restrictive than the other best builders on this list.
Sign up for a plan that fits your needs and budget
Once you've settled on a website builder, you'll need to sign up for a plan. Website builders tend to offer multiple plans. Different sites have different needs, and the plans ensure that you don't pay for features or tools you don't need.
Website building plans vary in price, but will generally cost between $8 and $40 per month, which is all-inclusive. If you're on a tight budget, either stick with a free plan (although it does have its drawbacks, which we'll get to soon), or check out our roundup of the cheapest plans.
This is a huge plus for website builders compared to web developers. A web developer can cost anywhere between $300 and $1,000 to customize a template alone, and a fully customized website built from scratch can often cost thousands. In the meantime, building your own website with a fully functional website builder allows you to get it up and running for less than the price of a coffee.
- Wix
Wix gives you plenty of options to choose from with its eight paid plans - and if you're just starting out or need very basic features, you can test out the website builder with its free plan! Plans start at $16 per month, and dedicated e-commerce plans start at $27 per month. Take a look at the full list of plans below (billed annually):
- Combo: $16 a month
- Unlimited: $22 per month
- Pro: $27 a month
- VIP: $45 per month
- Business Essentials (e-commerce): $27 per month
- Business Unlimited (e-commerce): $32 per month
- VIP Business (e-commerce): $59 per month
- Enterprise: custom pricing
However, when it comes to value for money, Wix is one of the more expensive website builders, scoring 3.4 out of 5 in our research. But, as we've discussed, Wix has some of the best features and customization tools on the market, so if you're happy to splurge a bit more on the website builder of your choice, Wix is a solid choice.
- Squarespace
Squarespace has four paid plans to choose from, and an additional 14-day free trial to take advantage of, so try it out before you buy! And if you use our code "WBE", you can save 10% on all Squarespace plans.
Among our best website builders, it comes in second for value for money, scoring 4 out of 5 in our research - just behind GoDaddy. Let's take a closer look at Squarespace's plans (billed annually):
- Personal: $16 per month
- Labor: $23 per month
- Basic Trade: $27 per month
- Advanced Trade: $49 per month
If you're just starting out, the Personal plan and the Business plan are good choices, but if you want to take online store management seriously, you'll need to upgrade to Squarespace's Basic Commerce plan to unlock more tools.
- GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a great option if the value for money is an important factor for you, beating other website builders on this list with a score of 4.3 out of 5 in our research. GoDaddy's plans are affordable and cheap, especially compared to Wix or Shopify, starting at just $9.99 per month with the Basic plan. Additionally, you can explore the platform first with its free plan to see if it's right for you.
Here's an overview of GoDaddy's paid plans (billed annually):
- Basic: $9.99 per month
- Premium: $14.99 per month
- Trade: $16.99/month
- Commerce Plus: $29.99 per month
You see, GoDaddy's plans have pretty cheap introductory costs, especially given the wealth of features you unlock with each upgrade, but make sure you're aware of renewal prices before you commit. We don't want you to have a bad surprise in the future!
- Shopify
You can give Shopify a test first with its 14-day free trial, but if you're ready to stick with a paid plan, Shopify has three to choose from. Take a look at the annual rates below:
- Basic: $29 per month
- Shopify: $79 a month
- Advanced: $299 per month
Shopify plans look pretty pricey when compared to GoDaddy, for example, and only score 3 out of 5 on the value-for-money test. But given that Shopify is a dedicated eCommerce platform, you pay for specialized features and expertise to help your online store thrive.
Can you create a website for free?
You can create a website for free, but there are free advantages for website builders. Website builder's free accounts have a lot of important features. You cannot use custom domains, and your free site will contain ads for that website builder. If you're looking to learn more about creating websites, the free options are well worth a look. However, if you want a professional and feature-rich site, you will have to pay at least a few dollars per month.
Of the four website builders we mentioned, GoDaddy has the cheapest introductory pricing and is the best value-for-money option. But, if you prefer the look of one of the others, you can check out the free Wix plan, or take advantage of the 14-day free trial offered by Squarespace and Shopify.