We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links. Advertising Disclosure
Developer-centric tools like WordPress and Joomla provide a high level of flexibility, but they’re often code-based or use a CMS (Content Management System) that’s less visual. If you want to avoid dealing with themes and plugins, a WYSIWYG web builder is a code-free, user-friendly alternative to traditional site builders.
However, not all WYSIWYG website builders offer a smooth experience. If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to choose one that has plenty of well-designed templates and an easy-to-use interface. You’ll also want to have a great degree of creative control so you can personalize your design and create a unique site.
Luckily for you, I’ve put together a list of the best beginner-friendly WYSIWYG website builders that have just those features – and the best part is, you can try their editor for free, either through a free plan or a free trial.
Wix tops my list because it’s beginner-friendly and affordable, while giving you complete creative freedom to build the website you want. You can try Wix for free, or read on to learn more about my other recommendations.
What We Look For in the Best WYSIWYG Website Builders
To narrow down my list of WYSIWYG website builders, I focused on these user-friendly features:
Ease of use. The purpose of WYSIWYG platforms is to make website building accessible, so I looked for interfaces that even complete beginners can navigate with ease. Many of these builders feature drag-and-drop editors, which allow you to place your various site elements virtually anywhere you want.
AI tools. Most of the WYSIWYG web builders on my list offer AI-powered features. These can enhance your site design, support your site content, and help you get online quickly.
Attractive (and functional) templates. I looked for builders that offer well-designed templates for various website categories. I also checked whether the builders have mobile-responsive templates and useful features such as galleries and social media apps already built in. This can save you a lot of time, especially if you’re a beginner.
Customization options. A great template will do most of the work for you, but you also want your website to have a unique look. I looked at WYSIWYG builders that offer numerous opportunities to experiment with fonts, colors, and layouts, allowing you to personalize your site.
Customer support. No matter how user-friendly the platform is, chances are you may run into a bump in the road – especially if you’re new to building websites. You’ll want help to respond as quickly as possible, so my list includes website builders with efficient customer support that’s always available and ready to help.
WYSIWYG Website Builders vs. Content Editors
A WYSIWYG web builder lets you design an entire site, including layout, navigation, pages, and styling. It often comes with features such as built-in hosting, a drag-and-drop layout editor, templates, SEO tools, and more. It allows you to create a comprehensive, fully functional website.
On the other hand, content editors are used to create content (e.g., a blog post or a page) inside an existing site or CMS. Some popular choices include WordPress Gutenberg editor, TinyMCE, and Medium’s editor. With these tools, you can format text, images, tables, or media within a web page or post.
Wix’s templates include useful features such as built-in social media integrations
Wix has the most intuitive interface of all the WYSIWYG website builders. Wix’s flexible drag-and-drop editor allows you to position your site elements anywhere you want on the page, while still providing alignment recommendations to ensure your site is aesthetically pleasing.
Since you probably don’t want to start from a blank page, you can choose a template from the 2500+ fully customizable designs. Just remember that once you’ve picked your template, you can’t switch to a different one, so you’ll need to do your research before making your decision.
If you’re looking for a free WYSIWYG web builder, Wix is a great option. The free plan provides 500 MB of storage and access to nearly every feature available with the paid plans. That said, you won’t be able to connect a custom domain. Upgrading is worth considering – you’ll get more storage and marketing tools.
AI website builder. If you’re in a hurry, you can have Wix AI create a site for you. All you have to do is answer a brief questionnaire and AI will generate a full website for you, complete with text and images you can tweak later if you wish.
Wix Ascend. For an additional fee, Wix offers a suite of business (and user-friendly) tools you can access from a single dashboard. These include a social post builder, a video maker, analytics and reporting tools, and more.
Mobile site editing. Wix allows you to edit the mobile version of your site in a separate (also WYSIWYG) editor. This means you get total creative control over your website’s look across devices.
Pre-installed apps. Many Wix templates include built-in apps that give you additional functionality for particular website categories. For example, restaurant templates come with online reservation apps, while photography templates come with Wix Pro Gallery to showcase your work. If you need more, you can browse through 800+ apps in the Wix App Market.
All SITE123 templates have a simple, clean design
Thanks to its simple dashboard, SITE123 will help you create a website quickly. Though you won’t get extensive customization options, SITE123’s point-and-click editor makes it incredibly easy to modify your page layout. You can also customize your website’s colors and fonts.
SITE123 works particularly well if you need a single-page website, like a landing page or a simple portfolio. All you need to do is move all your content blocks to the homepage, and SITE123 will automatically adjust your site navigation accordingly.
Unlike Wix, SITE123’s free plan doesn’t provide access to all design options and includes 250 MB of storage. If you upgrade to the Basic plan for $12.80 per month, you’ll get a free domain for one year, 10GB of storage, and access to basic online store tools – a great deal considering the cheap price.
Advanced language tools. If you want to reach an international audience, SITE123 lets you display your site in up to five languages. Plus, you get built-in multilingual SEO features to help you rank higher for search engines in your chosen languages.
Guided tour. If you need help getting started, you can take SITE123’s guided tour of the interface. Helpful pop-up windows containing tips and tutorials will walk you through the building process.
Custom form builder. SITE123’s built-in (and easy to use) form tool lets you choose from various form layouts, customize fields, create auto-reply messages, and more.
Quick, multilingual support. SITE123 is incredibly easy to use but if you get stuck, live chat support is available in English (24/7) and in 16 other languages (at various times), including French, German, Italian, Arabic, Ukrainian, and Spanish.
Webador doesn’t have template categories, but all designs are adaptable
Webador may not be the most advanced WYSIWYG web builder, but it lets you build an attractive website fast. Every element you place onto your page automatically snaps into a grid, so you won’t have to worry about your layout looking cluttered.
If you’re interested in blogging for audience engagement, Webador offers a flexible yet beginner-friendly blog editor. You can integrate media like photo albums and videos, categorize your posts, manage comments, and share your posts on social media.
Webador’s free plan includes unlimited storage and access to blogging tools, AI features, and free stock images. However, if you want to remove Webador branding and ads from your site, you’ll have to upgrade to the Pro plan. Still, you’ll get great value with features such as unlimited photo albums and access to Webador’s app store.
Easy SEO settings. You can easily update page titles and meta descriptions within the editor. You can also control whether a page is indexed by Google.
Free stock images. If you don’t have your own images ready, Webador gives you free access to its library of over 100,000 professional stock photos to enhance your site.
Rating system and comments. You can add a five-star rating system and a comment box anywhere on your site, making it easy to interact with your audience – especially if you sell products or services online and want to showcase your reviews.
Built-in media tools. Webador offers useful built-in widgets for media streaming, such as audio and video players.
Squarespace’s templates are visually striking and have simple navigationSquarespace is well-known for its sleek templates that are perfect for creative businesses. That said the templates are flexible enough that you can use them for any project you like. You can customize your layout by adding simple content blocks, such as image galleries, or more complex elements, like e-commerce products.
Squarespace also offers free marketing tools to help strengthen your brand image. If you rely on social media to attract an audience, Squarespace’s free Unfold app enhances your Instagram posts by letting you use custom templates, graphics, and fonts to build your brand.
Squarespace doesn’t offer a free plan, and its plans are slightly pricier compared to some other web building options. However, you can use Squarespace’s 14-day free trial to test the builder out before making a long-term commitment.
Features
Squarespace AI Blueprint. You can build your own template with this feature. AI Blueprint lets you choose pages, sections, colors, and fonts one at a time to build your own template so you can quickly add pages to your site. Plus, you get expert tips to guide you through the process.
Incorporate posts easily. If you want to enhance your story through blogging, Squarespace has an intuitive (also WYSIWYG) blog editor to help you create compelling posts. Like its website editor, you’ll be able to customize your fonts, colors, and layout to fit your brand.
Free logo maker. Squarespace’s completely free and user-friendly logo-making tool can help you build a brand and make your website more recognizable.
Squarespace Extensions. You can easily integrate third-party apps for additional functionality. Some of the popular apps include Weglot for site translation and Printful for print-on-demand merchandise.
Hostinger templates work great for small online stores
Like Webador, Hostinger is a WYSIWYG website builder with a grid-based editor that ensures your layout stays visually attractive. You can customize one of its 150 templates or use the AI website builder to create your site quickly, without sacrificing looks or function.
In addition to AI design features, Hostinger also offers AI content and SEO tools. For instance, you can use an AI text editor to improve your site copy, an AI image generator to enhance your photos, or an AI logo maker to make your brand more recognizable. Additionally, the AI SEO Assistant assists with creating titles, meta descriptions, and keywords for your pages.
Hostinger lacks an app store, so it’s somewhat limited in terms of extra functionality. Still, it offers useful marketing integrations, like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel. There’s no free plan, but I suggest testing out the Business Website Builder with a 14-day free trial. You get all the AI tools and e-commerce features, with prices starting from $3.99 per month.
Features
Mobile editing. Hostinger lets you create your entire site on your smartphone or tablet. The mobile editor is also WYSIWYG, so you can easily make changes on the go.
Cheap e-commerce. On the Business Website Builder plan, you can sell up to 600 products, manage inventory and orders, and schedule appointments. Hostinger doesn’t charge additional transaction fees, so it doesn’t take a cut of your profit.
AI email marketing. With this built-in tool, you can create, send, and track email campaigns with AI. You can use it for one year for free and send up to 200 monthly emails to 100 subscribers.
Built-in analytics. On all plans, you can access Hostinger’s analytics tool from the editor. It displays the number of visitors, their location, and the device they are using, allowing you to tailor your content to better suit your audience.
IONOS templates are clean and minimalistic
Compared to the website builders on this list, IONOS has fewer templates, but all its designs are professional-looking and mobile-responsive. The degree of customization, however, depends on the plan you choose. For example, you’ll get prebuilt page sections and custom color palettes on the Starter plan. You can change colors and fonts and add your own text, images, and videos.
On the other hand, the Plus and Pro plans provide a more flexible editor that lets you customize your layout. You can do this by not only adding content but also rearranging it as you see fit. Additionally, you get a wider selection of elements to choose from, such as animations, image sliders, an online scheduling widget, and more.
IONOS has fairly affordable prices, making it a good option to get online quickly without skimping on quality. You can test all plans risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Features
AI website building. If you’re in a hurry, IONOS’s set of AI tools can create images and SEO-optimized text for your website based on your input.
Built-in image editing. IONOS allows you to crop, resize, or add overlays to your images directly in the integrated and easy-to-use photo editor.
Free business email. IONOS offers a professional email address for free on all plans. That way, your email address can match your domain, helping you market your brand.
Performance checker. With IONOS’s performance-checking tool, you can stay informed on your site’s responsiveness, loading speed, and security.
Shopify has top-notch themes but they can be pricey
Shopify’s theme library is full of modern designs for online stores, but the best-looking options can be costly. Still, even the free themes include attractive features, such as sticky headers for easy navigation and social media apps for staying in touch with your followers.
Even if you’re a beginner, Shopify’s simple interface makes it easy to create your store, from adding products to setting up payment methods. Shopify doesn’t offer advanced customization options, but you can still enhance your site’s design with elements like collages and slideshows – it’s all about keeping your products in the spotlight.
Shopify’s pricing varies, making it a viable option for both new and established businesses. Though there’s no free version, you can use Shopify’s free trial to see if it’s right for you.
Features
In-app guidance. As soon as you sign up, Shopify introduces you to the store setup guide, with steps for customizing your store, adding a custom domain, configuring sales channels, and more.
Design your emails. Shopify’s in-house email marketing tool lets you create branded emails that match your store’s design. You can choose from prebuilt email templates and customize them with a drag-and-drop editor.
Third-party integrations galore. Shopify’s huge app store has over 8,000 free and paid apps you can connect to your site in just a few clicks. You’ll find useful integrations for inventory management, shipping, SEO, and much more.
AI product writer. Shopify Magic is an AI tool that can help you create compelling product descriptions and email subject lines for your mailing list.
Webflow offers free and paid templates in 26 categoriesWebflow offers 7000+ website templates you can customize using the intuitive drag-and-drop editor. It also lets you edit HTML and CSS, making it a good option for more advanced users who want precise control over their site’s design and layout.
However, Webflow has a steeper learning curve compared to WYSIWYG website builders like Wix. While the visual editor is powerful, the interface can feel overwhelming if you’re unfamiliar with design concepts such as flexbox or responsive breakpoints.
Divi’s free landing page template includes pages for a blog, a shop, and moreDivi is a WordPress theme and a visual page builder that allows you to edit your site without code. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, thousands of templates (which Divi calls “layout packs”), and AI tools to help you get online quickly.
While Divi works well for WordPress users, switching to a different theme or builder later on can be challenging. Additionally, Divi can cause your pages to load slowly, so it’s essential to optimize your site’s performance to ensure fast loading times. This makes it less ideal for beginners seeking a straightforward, all-in-one solution.
These Are the Best WYSIWYG Website Builders
All the WYSIWYG website builders listed above provide quick and easy ways for you to build a website by yourself. Each one offers different benefits to help you successfully launch your site, so the right choice for you will depend on your specific requirements.
If you want a balance between ease of use and creative freedom, Wix is my top choice for a WYSIWYG web builder. Wix offers 2500+ templates to choose from, which you can tweak as much as you like using its powerful yet beginner-friendly editor.
On the other hand, if speed and simplicity are your top priorities, SITE123’s easy-to-use editor has what you need. SITE123 is an excellent choice for single-page websites, with fast customer support in 16 languages.
If you want to cut costs considerably while still keeping things straightforward, Webador’s suite of tools is worth considering. Webador’s free plan includes unlimited storage, but paid plans offer extra perks like integrations while staying fairly affordable.
If you’re still deciding which platform is best for you, here’s a quick comparison of the different builders I tested.
Free Plan
Best Feature
Best For
Starting Price
Wix
✔
Intuitive editor with tons of customization options
Unlike HTML, WYSIWYG website builders allow you to create a website and make drastic design changes even if you don’t have a technical background. For example, Wix makes it easy to create a unique look by letting you customize individual elements until you achieve the results you want.
Is Wix a WYSIWYG editor?
Yes. Wix is a WYSIWYG editor that allows you to create any layout you want by dragging and dropping site elements onto your page. You can immediately preview any changes you make. You can build a website from scratch using a blank template, or you can modify one of Wix’s 2500+ existing templates.
Is there a free wysiwyg web builder?
Wix’s free plan provides access to nearly every feature available with paid plans, but it comes with limited storage. If you don’t need extensive customization options, Webador’s free plan includes unlimited storage and access to free stock images and blogging tools.
What is the easiest website builder for beginners?
Most WYSIWYG website builders have intuitive editors that are suitable for beginners. However, SITE123 is extremely easy to use thanks to its simple dashboard that includes a guided tour with tips and tutorials on how to get started.
Which is the best WYSIWYG for the web?
The best WYSIWYG website builder for you will depend on your needs and preferences. To compare the top website builders on ease of use, customer service, and value for money, we tried to build the same site on each platform – check out our results to help you compare your options.
Ana specializes in writing about web building platforms, project management software, and other digital tools. She has been a freelance writer for 7 years, and has published countless product reviews and comparisons in that time. Ana has a passion for language and all things tech, and she combines the two to provide accessible and insightful resources for anyone interested in building websites or managing projects.
With an extensive background in editing, website and graphic design, and a love for all things tech, it was only a matter of time before Christine would find her way to Website Planet. After living several lives in the real estate and financial industry – both in a creative and administrative capacity – Christine has finally come full circle as Website Planet’s Managing Editor for credit card processing and project management software.
where is the 100% free options? all of them are paid or with premium plans...
normalguy
August 17, 2025
Reply
Reply
Monika - WSP Team
August 17, 2025
Wix, SITE123, and Webador all offer completely free plans. There are premium options for more advanced features or if you need a custom domain name and no builder advertising, but the free plans allow you to create and publish a site, and you can use them for as long as you need.
Thank you, - your reply was submitted successfully!your comment was submitted successfully!
We check all user comments within 48 hours to make sure they are from real people like you. We're glad you found this article useful - we would appreciate it if you let more people know about it.
Share this blog post with friends and co-workers right now:
Thank you, , your comment was submitted successfully!
We check all comments within 48 hours to make sure they're from real users like you. In the meantime, you can share your comment with others to let more people know what you think.
Thank you for signing up!
Once a month you will receive interesting, insightful tips, tricks, and advice to improve your website performance and reach your digital marketing goals!