Written by Sabrina Dougall Reviewed by Natasha Willett Updated on 9 January 2023 On this page Best for customer support: Wix Best for a beautiful website: Squarespace Best for getting online quickly: GoDaddy Best value for money: Weebly Best Free Website Builder The Best Website Builder for SEO The Best Portfolio Website Builder Expert Verdict How We Test Website Builders FAQ Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. Our research identified Wix as the winner of the best website builders, due to its huge array of features and flexible design tools.But what are the best website builders for Canadian businesses today? With the sheer mass of website builders available, it’s easy to feel lost in the wilderness without a map.Instead of wasting hours trudging through a forest of confusing marketing materials, why not take a look at our handy guide for direction? Whether you’re running a large enterprise, a consulting business, a charitable organization or another professional service, you need a website that’s robust yet adaptable.We asked test users their opinions on dozens of web builders’ functionality, features, ease of use, value for money and customer support. Using their responses along with our 15+ years of experience, we gave each web builder a score out of five. We’ve also looked at the best portfolio website builders and the best website builders for SEO.Though they both scored a near-perfect 4.8/5, Wix came just ahead of Squarespace owing to its improved features score – up 18% compared to the previous research round.The Best Web Builders, Rated Out of 5:Wix (4.8)Squarespace (4.8)Godaddy (4.2)Weebly (3.9)Here’s a helpful comparison chart so you can compare the best website builders at a glance. For in-depth comparisons, simply keep reading. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Wix Squarespace GoDaddy Weebly Score 4.8 Score 4.8 Score 4.2 Score 3.6 Best For A website that works well Best For A beautiful website Best For Speedy website launch Best For Beginners Lowest Price CAD$7.50/month Lowest Price CAD$22/month$19.80/month with code “EM10” Lowest Price CAD$11.99/month (first year)CAD$14.99/month (afterwards) Lowest Price CAD$0/month Free Plan Free Plan Free Plan Free Plan Free trial Free trial Free trial Free trial Try Wix Try Squarespace Try GoDaddy Try Weebly Looking for ecommerce platforms? If you’re looking to sell products online you should look into our ecommerce platforms guide. This page is just for websites without payments features, shopping carts and “buy” buttons. Wix 4.8/5Would suit your business if you are not a tech expert Wix We found that Wix has the most features to get a decent website up and running no matter your skill level. Although it’s a little pricier than other platforms, there is huge scope for creative design. On top of this, as we covered in our Wix review, the provider has a particularly useful preview function, which allows you to check out your website from a user’s point of view.For those who are new to website creation, Wix offers the best customer support of any platform. If you run into problems while building, you can reach out to Wix customer support either via the onsite editor, social media, live chat or the knowledge centre. There is also a phone support option, which Squarespace does not currently provide.Better yet, Wix ADI (artificial design intelligence) can generate a brand new website for you in minutes, after you’ve answered a few questions about the type of site you want.On the downside, Wix does not allow you to switch templates once you publish your website, which can be quite restrictive. Pros Huge choice of design templates Best help and support Wix ADI builds a website in minutes Cons Cannot switch templates after publishing Adding apps can increase costs Wix PricingWix has four plans for building websites. Connect Domain is not a full premium plan – instead it simply allows you to add a custom domain name to your website. For Wix’s premium features, you’ll need to sign up to at least the Combo plan at CAD$15per month.Wix also has a free plan, but it comes with Wix adverts on every page, plus a ‘.wix.com’ subdomain – which can make your site look unprofessional. For that reason, we’d recommend the premium plans for building your business website: Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Price (Paying Monthly) Connect Domain Price (Paying Monthly) Combo Price (Paying Monthly) Unlimited Price (Paying Monthly) VIP Price (Paying Annually) CAD$7.50 per month$6.75 per month with “TAKE10” code Price (Paying Annually) CAD$15 per month$13.50 per month with code “TAKE10” Price (Paying Annually) CAD$20 per month$18 per month with code “TAKE10” Price (Paying Annually) CAD$44 per month$39.60 per month with code “TAKE10” Key Features 1GB bandwidth500MB storageFree SSL certificateBranded URL: “…wixsite.com/”Wix adverts on every page Key Features 3GB storage30 minutes videoFree SSL certificateFree domain for one year (with annual purchase) Key Features Unlimited bandwidth10GB storage1hr videoSEO app free for one yearVisitor analytics free for one year Key Features 35GB storage space5 hours videoPriority customer support Key Features Key Features 3GB storage30 minutes videoFree SSL certificateFree domain for one year (with annual purchase) Key Features Unlimited bandwidth10GB storage1hr videoSEO app free for one yearVisitor analytics free for one year Key Features 35GB storage space5 hours videoPriority customer support Wix is our top choice for businesses looking to expand customer markets.If you’re looking to build out your customer base in other countries, Wix is the way forward. A big reason Wix scored higher in our research this time around is the improvements made to blogging and internationalization. Wix translates sites into 100 languages, far more than any other platform we know of. Blogs are a great way to raise brand awareness and Wix supports blog analytics, social sharing and blog-specific SEO.Be sure to look into our Wix pricing feature so you can compare the plans in detail. Get all the website support you could wish for Try Wix now Squarespace 4.8/5Would suit your business if you want a beautiful website Squarespace As the best website builder for design, Squarespace is the closest you’ll get to professional web designer quality. It offers the best templates on the market, and powerful design tools.Due to this creative complexity, Squarespace is harder to use than Wix. If you struggle with tech or have little interest in spending hours – or days – designing your website, then you should try Wix or Weebly instead.That said, you’ll end up with a beautiful website if you stick it out with Squarespace. Also, as we mentioned in our Squarespace review, the company has the best design tools to help your website shine online. Pros Best templates Powerful design tools Mobile app to create on the go Cons Steeper learning curve than Wix No auto-save feature Squarespace PricingSquarespace offers a 14-day free trial, and has two website builder plans to choose from. Remember that Expert Market readers can save 10% on Squarespace by using code EM10 at checkout. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Price (Paying Monthly) Personal Price (Paying Monthly) Price (Paying Annually) CAD$21/month Price (Paying Annually) $31/month Key Features Free custom domainUnlimited bandwidth and storage24/7 customer support Key Features Sell unlimited number of productsProfessional Google accountGoogle Ads extra creditSell gift cards Build the most beautiful website Try Squarespace now GoDaddy 4.2/5Would suit your business if you want to get online quickly GoDaddy GoDaddy is a solid all-round choice for businesses. It’s user-friendly thanks to its ADI feature, and has recently improved its design functionality by offering sleeker templates and greater customization. It also offers the quickest and most efficient website building experience.However, as we pointed out in our GoDaddy review, the ADI feature sacrifices originality for time – your store will get built in a few minutes, but it may look generic because these sites are carbon copies of each other.We were also impressed by GoDaddy’s SEO Wiz, which helps you optimize your website in order to appear higher in the search engine results pages. All in all, GoDaddy is a safe pair of hands.GoDaddy is the quickest and most efficient route to building a website. Pros Quickest and most efficient way to build a website Excellent SEO features to increase your site's visibility on search engines Generous free trial period of 30 days Cons Your site risks looking generic due to the ADI function Restrictive design interface Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Build a web store Price (Paying Monthly) $16.99/month Price (Paying Monthly) Standard Price (Paying Monthly) $26.99/month Price (Paying Monthly) $29.99/month Price (Paying Annually) CAD$11.99/month(Renews at $14.99/month after first year) Price (Paying Annually) CAD$15.99/month(Renews at $19.99/month after first year) Price (Paying Annually) CAD$22.99/month(Renews at $27.99/month after first year) Price (Paying Annually) CAD$27.99/month(Renews at $39.99/month after first year) Best For Getting started with a website, marketing and payments Best For A small business website Best For Taking online appointments and boosting your marketing Best For A small store Key Features SSL security100 email marketing sends monthly5 social posts on one platform monthly Key Features Everything on Basic, plus:SEO support3 social media platforms20 social posts per month500 email marketing sends per month Key Features Unlimited social postsUnlimited marketing emailsRecurring appointmentsEmail and text appointment reminders Key Features List 5,000 productsSend 25,000 marketing emails monthlyFlexible shipping optionsAdd discounts and promos24/7 support Get your new website running today Try GoDaddy now Weebly 3.9/5Would suit your business if you want value for money Weebly Weebly is another popular drag-and-drop website builder, meaning you can place elements wherever you like on each page.It offers affordable price plans and plenty of apps to help you grow your business, as well as strong SEO features to help your website appear higher up on the search engine results pages, making Weebly great value for money.That said, Weebly can’t match Wix for creative freedom, and it does not have an ADI option. Its templates are also less impressive than Squarespace’s, but Weebly is still a good option for small business owners who lack technical skill.Weebly offers superb value for money and can help your business grow online. Pros Really useful SEO guides and tips Large app market to help you bolster your site Best value for money website builder Cons Lacks the creative freedom found on Wix No ADI feature No personal restore option (the support team will have to restore your site for you) Weebly PricingWeebly has three website builder plans to choose from. Like Wix, it has a free plan, but it comes with Weebly adverts on each page, which can make your site look amateurish. We recommend signing up to one of these price plans instead: Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Price (Paying Monthly) Personal Price (Paying Monthly) Professional Price (Paying Monthly) Performance Price (Paying Annually) CAD$7 per month Price (Paying Annually) CAD$15 per month Price (Paying Annually) CAD$30 per month Key Features Free SSL security500MB storageConnect a custom domainChat and email support Key Features Unlimited storageRemove Weebly adsSite search barPhone supportAdvanced site stats Key Features Unlimited storageShipping costs calculatorAbandoned cart emailsAccept all major credit cards and online payments Create your gorgeous new website for a low price Try Weebly now The Best Free Website Builder for Canadian BusinessesWix is the best free website builder because it offers the most features and free apps.That said, free website builders aren’t the best option for a business that wants to be taken seriously. Our test users felt that free options offered extremely limited functionality, and they disliked the ubiquitous branding. By contrast, paid tools offer the chance to craft your own domain name and present a more professional image.Price-conscious companies would be best off opting for a cheap premium option – for example, it’s well worth looking out for half price Wix premium offers that periodically crop up. These put the Wix Unlimited plan at CAD$10 per month and Wix VIP at CAD$22per month. The Best Website Builder for SEOWhen it comes to attracting new customers online, SEO is your best friend. Certain web builders have better SEO-specific features than others. If you want your business website to appear higher on SERP (search-engine results pages) it’s best to choose a web builder with this in mind from the outset.We found the best website builders for SEO are:WixSquarespaceWordPressWix offers a full suite of SEO tools, including best practice prompts – which Squarespace and WordPress do not include. Nevertheless, all three are very strong in SEO capabilities, according to our test users. Squarespace is the only one of the three to actually provide keyword support. The Best Portfolio Website BuildersA digital portfolio is now a must-have for any artist today. In order to showcase your talents to their fullest, it’s critical to select a reliable portfolio website builder. Fortunately for you, we’ve included portfolio-specific analysis in our research.The best portfolio website builders are:SquarespaceWixGoDaddyOur researchers graded portfolio builders according to their affordability, ease of use, design and SEO functions. We selected these criteria given their paramount importance to creative professionals who need to showcase their work clearly and carefully.Squarespace achieved a staggering 97% overall in our tests, mainly thanks to its wide range of design templates and top notch customer support. Expert verdictThe best website builders are Wix and Squarespace, both scoring an impressive 4.8/5. While they achieved the same points score, Wix is aimed at beginner website builders, whereas Squarespace would suit someone looking to flex their creative skills.For those looking for an efficient and effective website, Wix is the solid choice. You can get a Wix project up and running within hours! However, if you’re set on creating a stunning web space, Squarespace certainly offers a more advanced creative toolkit.Remember, if you’re looking to sell products online you’ll need a dedicated ecommerce platform. Our recommended ecommerce provider Shopify’s price plans spread across five tiers so you’re highly likely to find a plan that suits your budget. How We Test Website Builders for Small BusinessesWe tested 10 market-leading website builders to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, accuracy, and aesthetics so we can make the most useful recommendations to Canadian businesses in 2023.Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in six main categories of investigation and 33 subcategories – this means 251 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and that's our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!Our main testing categories for website builders are:Website Features: the capabilities and functionalities offered by a website builder, e.g. blog functionality, SEO capability, and marketing capacity.Design: the aesthetic appeal and visual layout of a website created using a website builder. It encompasses aspects such as page templates and customizable themes.Customer Score: external customer opinion; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular website builder – the market position and reputation a website builder holds.Ease of Use: how user-friendly and intuitive a website builder is for people with varying levels of technical expertise.Value for Money: the balance between the cost of a website builder and the benefits it provides. It considers factors such as pricing plans, subscription models, and available features.Help and Support: the assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using a website builder. This can include tutorials, knowledge bases, and email or chat support. FAQ What's the easiest website builder? GoDaddy’s web builder is the easiest. No particular technical experience is necessary – one test user said it’s best for those who “want something quick, clean and professional”.It’s a user-friendly program with a design-assisted format and really simple layout. Plus, GoDaddy has recently improved its design functionality by introducing better templates and customization options. What is the number one website builder? The Wix website builder is the best according to our research. Wix has the most features to help you get a decent website up and running no matter your skill level. It also offers the best customer support of any platform. If you run into problems during your build, you can reach out to Wix customer support via the onsite editor, social media, live chat or knowledge centre. Wix ADI (artificial design intelligence) can generate a brand new website for you in minutes. What is the best website builder for free? Wix is the best free website builder, but it’ll put Wix adverts on your site. This is very important to bear in mind for Canadian businesses, because you may appear less professional or trustworthy due to Wix’s branded banners. It is also worth remembering that while Wix has a decent free website builder, it offers many apps for certain functionalities, and these will incur extra costs. What is the best paid website builder? Wix is the best paid website builder. It includes options for website makers with varying levels of skill, including an ADI (artificial design intelligence) program, which generates a website using machine learning after a user answers a few questions. Wix offers a range of customer support options including advanced specialist support, community forums and phone calls for premium members. Written by: Sabrina Dougall Web Marketing Expert Sabrina is a business journalist whose career began in news reporting. She has a master's in Investigative Journalism from City University London, and her work has appeared in The Times, The Daily Express, Money Saving Expert, Camden New Journal, Global Trade Review, and Computer Business Review. She specializes in writing about SEO (search engine optimization). Having run her own small business, Sabrina knows first-hand how critical digital marketing is to building a client base and local reputation. Reviewed by: Natasha Willett Head of Research For over 9 years Natasha has worked as a mixed method researcher working across a range of sectors from insurance and policy development, to business services and software. As a member of the Market Research Society, Natasha is an advocate for high ethical, commercial and methodological best practices.