You can build a website yourself using a website builder, without writing any code

A website builder is software that lets you create and publish a website by dragging elements around on a visual canvas instead of writing HTML or CSS. You pick a template, add your own text and images, arrange them the way you want, and the builder handles all the code behind the scenes. The most common builders — Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com, and Weebly — let you start free or for a low monthly cost, publish your site in a few hours, and update it yourself whenever you want.

The main decision is whether you want a builder that handles everything for you (called a hosted builder) or one where you rent server space separately and install the software yourself (called self-hosted). Hosted builders are simpler and faster to start. Self-hosted gives you more control and is usually cheaper long-term, but requires more setup and some comfort with file management.

Key Takeaways

  • Hosted builders like Wix and Squarespace let you start when ready with a template and publish within hours, with no server or domain knowledge needed.
  • Self-hosted WordPress requires you to rent server space and install WordPress yourself, but costs less per month and gives you more control over your site's appearance and function.
  • Every builder charges for a custom domain name (usually $10 to $15 per year) and most charge monthly for features beyond the free tier.
  • You will need to decide what your site is for — a portfolio, a blog, a small business listing, or an online store — because different builders work better for different purposes.

Hosted builders: the fastest way to start

A hosted builder owns the servers your site lives on, so you do not have to rent space or manage technical details. You sign up, choose a template that matches what you want your site to look like, and start editing when ready. Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, and WordPress.com all work this way. You can have a basic site published in a single afternoon.

The trade-off is that you are locked into that builder's tools and design system. If you want a feature the builder does not offer, you cannot add it yourself — you either pay for an upgrade, hire someone to build a custom solution, or switch to a different builder and start over. Hosted builders also own your site's underlying code, so moving to a different platform later is harder than it sounds.

Hosted builders charge a monthly fee for anything beyond the free tier. Free plans usually include a subdomain (like yourname.wix.com) and basic features. Paid plans start around $5 to $15 per month and include a custom domain, more storage, and removal of the builder's ads. If you want to sell products, you will pay more — usually $20 to $30 per month for e-commerce features.

Self-hosted WordPress: more control, more setup

WordPress.org (different from WordPress.com) is free software you install on a server you rent. You pay for the server space — usually $3 to $10 per month from hosts like Bluehost, SiteGround, or Kinsta — and WordPress runs on it. You get the same drag-and-drop editor as WordPress.com, but you own the code and can install plugins (add-ons) that extend what your site can do.

The setup takes longer. You have to choose a hosting company, buy a domain name, install WordPress, and configure basic settings before you can start building. Most hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installation to make this easier, but you still need to understand what a domain is, what a server is, and how they connect. If something breaks, you are responsible for fixing it or paying someone to fix it.

Self-hosted WordPress is cheaper per month than most hosted builders, especially if you plan to keep your site for years. It is also the right choice if you want to add custom features later — you can hire a developer to write code that integrates with your site, or install thousands of free and paid plugins. Many small businesses and blogs use self-hosted WordPress for this reason.

What you need before you start building

Every website needs a domain name — the address people type into the browser, like yourname.com. Domain names cost $10 to $15 per year and you buy them separately from your builder or hosting company. Some builders include a free domain for the first year if you pay for an annual plan, but you will pay for it eventually.

You also need to decide what your site is for. A portfolio site to show your work has different needs than a blog, which has different needs than a small business listing, which has different needs than an online store. Some builders are better at one than the others. Wix and Squarespace are strong for portfolios and small business sites. WordPress is strong for blogs. Shopify is built specifically for online stores. Thinking about your purpose first saves you from rebuilding later.

Finally, gather your content before you start. Write out the text for each page, collect the images or videos you want to use, and think about how many pages you need. You do not have to have everything perfect — you can edit it after you publish — but having it ready makes the building process much faster.

Step-by-step: building with a hosted builder

Start by visiting the builder's website and clicking the sign-up button. You will create an account with an email and password. The builder will ask you a few questions about what your site is for and what style you like, then show you a list of templates. Pick one that is close to what you want — you can change colors, fonts, and layout later, so do not spend too long choosing.

Once you pick a template, you land in the editor. The editor shows your site on the left and a toolbar on the right. Click any text or image on the site to edit it. To add a new section, look for an "Add" or "Insert" button — different builders call it different things — and choose what you want to add: text, image, button, form, or whatever else the builder offers. Drag sections up and down to reorder them.

Edit your site's basic information in the settings menu: the site title, the text that appears in browser tabs, and the description that search engines show. Add pages by clicking "Add Page" or a similar button, then build each page the same way you built the first one. When you are ready to publish, click "Publish" or "Go Live" — the builder will ask you to buy a domain name if you have not already, then your site is live on the internet.

Step-by-step: building with self-hosted WordPress

First, choose a hosting company and buy a domain name. Bluehost, SiteGround, and Kinsta are popular choices. During checkout, the hosting company will ask where you want your domain to point — tell them to point it to your new hosting account. Most hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installation, which takes a few minutes. Log in to your hosting account, find the WordPress installer, click it, and follow the prompts.

Once WordPress is installed, log in to the WordPress dashboard using the username and password the installer gave you. Go to Appearance → Themes and pick a theme — this is WordPress's version of a template. Install it and set up it. Then go to Pages and create your first page. Click "Edit" and you will see the block editor, which works like other builders: click to add text, images, or other content blocks, and arrange them on the page.

Create all your pages the same way. Then go to Settings → General and fill in your site title and tagline. Go to Settings → Reading and choose whether your home page shows your latest posts (good for a blog) or a static page you created (good for a business site). When you are happy with how it looks, your site is already live — WordPress publishes pages as soon as you create them.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The biggest mistake is choosing a builder based on price alone. A builder that costs $5 per month is not a bargain if it does not do what you need. Spend 15 minutes exploring each builder's free trial or free plan before you commit. Try adding the kind of content you actually plan to use — if you want to sell products, test the store features. If you want a blog, test the blog features.

The second mistake is publishing before your site is ready. You can always update your site after you publish, but the first impression matters. Spell-check your text, make sure all your images are the right size and quality, and test every link and button before you go live. Ask someone else to look at it and tell you what does not work.

The third mistake is not backing up your site. Hosted builders usually back up automatically, but self-hosted WordPress does not. If you use self-hosted WordPress, install a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup and set it to back up weekly. If something breaks, you can restore from the backup instead of rebuilding from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my site from one builder to another later?

Moving from a hosted builder like Wix to WordPress is possible but difficult — you have to manually recreate your pages and content on the new platform because the builders do not have a direct transfer tool. Moving from self-hosted WordPress to another self-hosted platform is easier because you can export your content. If you think you might switch later, self-hosted WordPress is the safer choice.

Do I need to know HTML or CSS to use a website builder?

No. Website builders are designed so you never have to write code. You drag and drop elements, type text, and upload images. If you want to customize something beyond what the builder's visual tools allow, you can usually add custom code in an advanced settings area, but it is not required.

How much does it cost to keep a website running?

A hosted builder costs $5 to $30 per month depending on features, plus $10 to $15 per year for a domain. Self-hosted WordPress costs $3 to $10 per month for hosting, plus $10 to $15 per year for a domain. If you want premium themes or plugins, add $5 to $50 per year. The cheapest option is self-hosted WordPress; the easiest option is a hosted builder.

What if I want to add features my builder does not offer?

Hosted builders have limited options — you can usually pay for premium add-ons or hire the builder's support team to build something custom, but you cannot install third-party code. Self-hosted WordPress lets you install plugins and hire developers to write custom code. If you know you will need custom features, start with self-hosted WordPress.

Can I build a website for free?

Most builders offer a free plan, but it includes a subdomain (like yourname.wix.com) instead of a custom domain, and limits on storage or features. You will eventually want to pay for a custom domain and remove the builder's branding. Self-hosted WordPress is free software, but you have to pay for hosting and a domain, so the total cost is similar to a paid hosted builder plan.