The Best Website Builder for Beginners; Even Your Grandma Could Use It

If you’ve ever tried to build your own website but ended up with a stink face saying, “HUH?” We get it.

One minute you’re trying to upload a hero image, and the next you’re wondering what “a header” means.

Well, we’ve found the best website builder for beginners. We've included a step-by-step tutorial, a mini-glossary of some website terms and much more.

What To Expect In This Blog

• A breakdown of what “beginner-friendly” really means
• A detailed review of 4 best website builders for beginners
• Our top pick on the BEST website builder for beginners
• A simple 4-step guide on how to create your website
• Answers to some common questions most beginners have regarding their website builder
• Access to free resources like image sites, logo creators and copywriting tools to build your website
• A mini glossary of website building terms

What Makes a Website Builder Beginner-Friendly?

You’ve definitely heard the phrase “beginner-friendly” but it ended up needing a bit of a learning curve.

But when WE say beginner-friendly, we mean:

• No coding or technical skills AT ALL
• You click on something, drag it to a new spot and release it there
• Easy-to-follow tutorials and in-app guidance
• Many customer support videos and articles to help IF needed
• Responsive customer support for QUICK help
• Affordable pricing plans

This is our criteria for choosing the best website builder for beginners.

4 Best Website Builders for Beginners (with Honest Pros and Cons)

We researched and tested these website builders so you don't have to. You have our word that they truly cater to beginners like you:

• ILN
• Wix
• Squarespace
• Weebly

1. ILN

ILN is not just one of the best website builders for beginners, it’s also one of the best FREE website builders for beginners. Here’s why:

• Why it’s great for beginners:

  ILN is the best small business website builder for anyone who needs something simple yet professional.

  It has a super easy-to-use editor where you can click on elements and move them around the page—no coding needed. They also give you AI tools to manage your projects, time, and content all in one place. If you find ChatGPT helpful, you’ll find ILN helpful too.

  If you’re confused about something (which is unlikely), their customer service is very responsive. Plus, they have hundreds of help articles and YouTube videos to help out.

• Ideal for:

  Anyone that isn’t a big corporation. So, entrepreneurs, students, small business owners, stay-at-home mums, you name it. As long as you need a website, ILN is the best website builder for you.

• Cons:

  If you only need a very basic website and don’t want the extra business or self-management features, ILN might feel like an overkill. But if you’d need the extra support, it is worth it.

2. Wix

Wix is second on our list of the best website builders for beginners. Here’s why:

• Why it’s great for beginners:

  If you’re just starting out and want something really simple, Wix is an amazing choice. It’s got an easy-to-use website builder with click-and-place functionality. Even if you have zero tech experience, you’ll figure it out.

  Plus, there are plenty of step-by-step tutorials and in-app tips to guide you through every part of the process, so you never feel lost.

• Ideal for:

  Beginners who want to create a professional-looking website without any technical hassle. Perfect for personal sites, small businesses, or portfolios.

• Cons:

  While Wix is awesome for beginners, the free plan includes ads. The premium plans, on the other hand, can get really pricey if you decide to add more features. But if you’re okay with starting small, you can always upgrade later.

3. Squarespace

• Why it’s great for beginners:

  Squarespace makes it easy to build a beautiful website, even if you’re not a tech expert. Their templates are perfect for beginners. The editor is simple to use—you just click to add, adjust, and rearrange elements on the page. Plus, there’s a lot of support, from tutorials to customer service, so you’ll never feel stuck.

• Ideal for:

  Those who want to create a stylish, professional-looking website quickly and easily. It’s perfect for creatives, bloggers, or small business owners who want to look polished right out of the gate.

• Cons:

  It’s a bit more expensive than other options, so it might not be the best choice if you’re on a very tight budget. But if you’re okay with a small investment for a beautiful site, it’s totally worth it.

Recommended: ILN vs. Wix vs. WordPress vs. Squarespace

4. Weebly (by Square)

• Why it’s great for beginners:

  Weebly is one of the easiest website builders out there, especially for beginners. The editor is self-explanatory. You can simply click on elements, place them where you want, and customize them with a few simple steps.

  It’s a great choice if you want to get your site up and running without worrying about any technical stuff.

• Ideal for:

  People who want a straightforward, budget-friendly website. If you’re looking to create a simple personal website or even a small online store, Weebly has everything you need to get started.

• Cons:

  If you want to add a lot of custom features later on, you might find Weebly a little limiting. But if your main goal is to get a basic website up fast, you won’t have any problem.

Quick 4 Step Guide on How to Build Your Own Website

To get started, we’ll walk you through how to create your website using any of the best free website builders for beginners.

In this case, we will use the ILN.

Step 1: Sign up. Create and verify your ILN. Then, complete your onboarding process.

Step 2: Choose a theme and template. They’re all beginner friendly.

Step 3: Customize your website as you will. Add text, images, and buttons. It’s a simple click and select process.

Step 4: Preview your website and go live with one click.

Cost Breakdown of Each Website Builder

The Best Website Builder for Beginners - Our Pick

ILN is hands-down the best website builder for beginners. If you’ve never built a website before or have faced frustrating challenges, ILN is the solution you need.

Even the sign-up process is simple and enjoyable. It’s a simple storytelling process that feels like an adventure.

Every aspect of ILN is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. Even the most inexperienced users can navigate it effortlessly.

But if you ever need help, ILN has you covered with hundreds of tutorial videos, active community forums, and a very responsive customer support team.

If you’re launching a new business, building your personal brand, or just showcasing your portfolio, ILN makes it easy, fast, and stress-free with AI, content, and project management tools.

So if you’re looking for the best small business website builder, or something that’s beginner-friendly all around, start with ILN.

FAQ - Best Free Website Builders for Beginners

1. Do I Need to Buy a Domain Name Right Away?

No, you don’t have to worry about that. These website builders give you free domains to start your website. It could look like “yoursite.iln.app” or a random URL. Regardless of what it is, your website will work perfectly. However, it is more professional and memorable to have your own custom domain. For example, if your name is Cynthia Ergo, you’ll have cynthiaergo.com. Don’t worry too much about this, you can always get a custom domain whenever you want.

2. What Happens If I Need Help?

All 4 recommended website builders have amazing support. Some have live chats, email support, step-by-step tutorials via blogs or videos, and community forums. ILN, for example, has a plethora of videos and very responsive customer support. So if you ever need help, they’re just a click away.

3. Can I Add a Blog, Online Store or Other Features Later?

Yes! The best small business website builders, like the ones on our list, allow you to add blogs, online stores, or whatever features you need.

4. Are You Sure I Don’t Need to Code?

You do not need to code. These website builders are so designed that you NEVER need to touch a single line of code. Everything is done with just a few clicks.

5. How Long Will It Take To Build My Website?

It depends. For a simple site, you can have it in a few hours, while something more detailed might take a few days. Some website builders are faster than others though. For example, with ILN, you can have your website in less than an hour.

6. What Happens If I Stop Paying For The Builder?

Typically, your website will be downgraded to the free plan which usually has ads. But be rest assured that your website will still exist on the internet. (Squarespace is an exception to this.)

7. Can I Make Money From My Website?

Yes! You could run ads, sell a product, or even add affiliate links. Here’s a detailed article on how to make money from your website.

8. What If I Don’t Like The Template I Chose?

That’s okay! You can switch to another or redesign your website without starting from scratch.

Bonus Tools and Resources

At this point, you should have an idea of the website builder you want. And to make your website creation journey easier, here are some extra tools and resources for you. They’re free too!

Free Stock Image Sites

You will need pictures to enhance your website so check out:

• Pexels
• Unsplash
• Freepik
• ILN’s AI image generator

Logo Creation

You’ll definitely need a logo and a favicon. So you can try:

• Canva

Website Writing

For website copywriting tips, check these out:

• Free website copywriting course
• ILN’s AI text generator
• ChatGPT

Mini Glossary of Website Builder Terms

Domain Name
This is your website’s unique address on the internet. It’s like your home address but online. For example, “www.tesla.com” is where you’ll find everything about Teslas online. Your domain name is what people type into their browser to find your website online.

Hosting
Imagine your website as a house. Hosting is the land where your house is built. It has all your website files and it’s available for everyone to see online.

Template
A template is a pre-decorated room. It comes ready, beautiful, and perfect! But if you need to change a few things, you can. People love templates because you don’t have to start from scratch.

Drag and Drop
This is what eliminates the need for coding. All you have to do is use your cursor to move pictures, text boxes, and buttons around your website.

Responsive Design
When a design is responsive, it means that it’ll look great on any device, whether it’s a big desktop screen, a tablet, or a small phone screen.

SSL
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s a security feature that keeps your website safe for visitors. It makes sure your passwords and payment information are protected. You’ll know a site has SSL if there’s a “padlock icon” in the browser bar.

Widgets
Website widgets are very similar to phone widgets. If you understand how phone widgets work, you’re good to go.

Navigation Menu
This is where people go to “navigate” your website. It’s usually a list of text with links embedded at the top or side of your website.

Favicon
This is a tiny picture (like your logo, but smaller) that shows up in the browser tab when people visit your site.

Hero Image
This is the big, eye-catching picture at the top of your homepage. It’s usually the first thing you see when you open a website. Sometimes, it could be a video.

Header
This is the top part of your website where your logo and menu usually appear.

Landing Page
This is a single page designed for one goal. You can think of it as an ultimate sales page.

Theme
A theme is different from a template. However, they go hand in hand. It includes colors, fonts, and layouts. It’s a simple way to make your website look polished without much effort.

Footer
This is found at the bottom of your website. It usually includes helpful links like the copyright information and social media icons.

Wrap Up

You do not need to be a tech wizard to create a beautiful website. All you need is the best website builder for beginners. We’ve analyzed them in detail, now all you need to do is pick one and you’re halfway there.