5 Best Free Website Builders In Canada

Website builders are tools that empower anyone to build an entire, functioning website from scratch or using a template. They let you go through the entire process, start to finish, usually without writing a single line of code. Most modern website builders are intuitive, user-friendly, and powerful applications that make it easy to bring your ideas to life. Some website builders are free, while others are paid, but in either case, there are dozens and even hundreds of options to choose from.

What Is The Best Website Builder?

There are plenty of resources to help you build a website, but you may need help choosing the one most suited to your needs. In this post, you'll find the best free website builders any Canadian can use to start creating amazing digital experiences for their audience. Whether you want to start an online store or simply want to share your thoughts with the world through a blog, you'll find a solution for you.

But first, a small disclaimer. Running a website implies more than just building it. You can easily build a working site for free using any of the builders you'll find on the list below, but you'll need to host it on a server so others can access your content. This website hosting service can be free, but if you want your unique domain, it's usually paid.

Pro tip: A website is essential to your business, whether you run it remotely or in person. Choosing the right website builder isn't just about making it look pretty. It should have the functionality you need now and the potential to expand and add more later.

#1 Wix—Best For Beginners

Wix is a website builder that is simple enough for a novice to use yet powerful enough to let you do anything you want with your site. It has various functions and is relatively easy to use because of its drag-and-drop editor and intuitive interface.

When comparing website builders, Wix is by far the most popular option. BuiltWith claims that over 110 million active websites were created using Wix.

This well-liked website builder is at the top regarding features, flexibility, and convenience. With a simple interface, you can quickly and easily customize one of the many accessible templates to create a stunning website. Mobile-optimized tools and widgets provide more customization and functionality.

Powerful e-commerce platforms enable companies to market subscriptions and digital content. Having a website with a 99.98% uptime means you never have to worry about it being down.

There is a reason why Wix is one of the most widely used website builders: it caters to a wide variety of users. When creating and growing a website, Wix has you covered from the ground up with everything from enterprise-grade backend and business capabilities to cutting-edge search engine optimization and marketing applications.

Wix Features

• Thanks to its extensive app market, you can install hundreds of free and premium integrations on Wix with just one click.
• Wix's ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) editor is great for novices since it asks you a few simple questions and then creates a basic site for you in a few minutes.
• Wix's basic editor gives you access to a drag-and-drop website builder and more than 500 professionally designed templates, allowing you to get your site up and running quickly and easily.
• Boost your site's organic traffic with the help of built-in SEO tools, editable meta tags, and more.
• Add depth to your website using scrolling effects like parallax, reveal, zoom-in, and fade-in.
• To improve your site's visibility in search engines like Google, Wix's SEO Wiz tool will generate a custom action plan for you to implement.
• Your site comes with a free SSL certificate to keep user data safe, prove that the site belongs to you, stop attackers from making a fake version of your site, and show users that you can be trusted.
• The Wix Ascend marketing suite integrates email marketing, live chat, and Wix automation into a unified platform built and maintained by Wix.

Pros Of Wix

• You may choose from more than 500 pre-made templates crafted by professional designers.
• The cutting-edge drag-and-drop website builder allows you to create a site precisely how you see it.
• More than a hundred fonts are included, and you may even upload your own.
• The first year of any Wix premium plan includes a free domain name.
• Users may construct a site in several languages when the Wix Multilingual app is installed with Wix ADI.
• Wix customer service is available 24/7 in English and features a live chat feature.
• Wix dashboard has basic SEO features and integrates with Google Analytics and Search Console.
• Wix has a wide variety of professionally-oriented website designs that are entirely editable.
• Wix offers a free plan and a 14-day money-back guarantee on all premium plans.

Cons Of Wix

• Low-cost plans have a lot of Wix adverts that appear on the page.
• If you wish to modify the look of your website after you've picked a template, you must start again.
• E-commerce, tracking, and analytical features are reserved for the premium plan.

Wix Pricing

• Wix Connect Domain $4.50. Wix's most basic plan with ads includes 500MB of storage space and 1GB of bandwidth.
• Combo $8.50. Ideal for personal use and comes with 2GB bandwidth and 3GB storage space, and it is the cheapest plan with no ads.
• Unlimited $12.50. Ideal for entrepreneurs and freelancers and includes unlimited bandwidth and 10GB storage space; plus, you get a free site booster and analytics app for 1 year.
• Business Basic $17. The cheapest e-commerce package, however, lacks the capability for subscriptions and multiple currencies.
• VIP $24.50 for the Website and $35 for eCommerce. Ideal if you want all of the services and priority customer care.

This shows the monthly renewal prices for yearly contracts.

Best For

• Wix is perfect for small businesses and beginners.

#2 WordPress.com—Best For Writers And Bloggers

If you're looking for a website builder with all the tools you'll need to manage a successful blog, WordPress.com is your best bet. In addition to being more affordable than WordPress.org, these functionalities also come with a more intuitive interface for creating blog posts and pages.

It's essential to clarify that WordPress.com is not WordPress in the way most people think of it. Instead, WordPress.com is a service provided by Automattic Inc. based on the open-source software found at WordPress.org.

Although WordPress.com's website builder is comparable to others, its primary target audience is writers and bloggers. While WordPress' website editor isn't as feature-rich as other options, it's simple to set up and provides all the essentials for blogging. Additionally, it's not a drag-and-drop website builder like Weebly or Wix.

Features

• You can modify any of the hundreds of available themes, and more are added weekly.
• Quickly and easily make your site mobile-friendly, or use one of their responsive themes.
• Get expert help from their support team, which is always available 24/7.
• The WordPress.com editor is quick, easy to use, and saves your work every few seconds, so you never lose any of your work.
• Insert photos, music, video, and more with a simple drag and drop into your posts and pages.
• You can make changes to your website from anywhere with apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux.
• Discover who visits your site, when they come, what they read, and more with detailed analytics.
• Send new blog entries to social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and more, and provide readers with sharing buttons.
• Integrate sitemaps and other search engine optimization tools to make it simple for new followers to discover you.

Pros Of WordPress.com

• You can build and publish your blog for free or pay a small fee to unlock more capabilities.
• A wide selection of tools makes creating and maintaining a blog easier.
• WordPress.com provides blog-friendly designs and functionalities.
• The process is fully automated, so there is no need for manual installation or maintenance.
• The live chat support is swift to resolve issues.
• WordPress stores up to 25 versions of each post or page, making it easy to restore lost content.
• There is no bandwidth limit for visitors or file transfers.

Cons Of WordPress.com

• Limited SEO out of the box, so you’ll need a plugin for complete control, and this requires a Business or Ecommerce plan.
• A plugin is required for a multilingual website, and using plugins requires a Business or Ecommerce plan.
• The editor is not as user-friendly as Wix.

WordPress.com Pricing

• Free. Ad-supported plan only offers 1GB of storage, a handful of premade themes, and no customization options or plugin support.
• Personal $4. Without ads and includes 6GB of storage space and 24/7 tech support.
• Premium $8. Includes more design tools, plugins, and features like Google Analytics integration and 13GB of space.
• Business $25. Adds custom plugins, access to all available themes, 200GB of storage, and live support.
• eCommerce $45. The powerful WooCommerce plugin comes pre-installed on the plan.

This shows the monthly renewal prices for yearly contracts.

Best For

• WordPress.com is built for blogging.

Pro tip: If you want to start a successful blog, you must ensure that you publish quality content 100% of the time. This implies proofreading everything before you hit “Publish” to catch typos, spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors and to make sure the formatting is how you want it to be. Learn the trade of proofreading like a pro with the Proofread Anywhere course.

#3 Shopify—Best For eCommerce

Shopify is an excellent website builder for online stores, and the fact that it's a Canadian company is a bonus. It lets you sell digital and physical goods and comes with various “themes” to choose from.

Shopify is a platform that helps people who don't know how to code, be able to build their online stores. However, the platform is also friendly to programmers since it offers complete support for Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and Liquid.

With the release of Shopify Online Store 2.0 comes a brand new, user-friendly editor that makes it a breeze to adjust a website's layout. In the past, modifying a template would need to go into the source code, but today it can be done with a few mouse clicks. It's also considerably easier to add new applications and features without involving programmers.

Shopify Features

• A complimentary 256-bit SSL certificate protects Shopify stores.
• Useful Shopify app for your mobile device.
• Due to its flexible backend editor and robust inventory system, Shopify is well-suited to manage and expand larger stores.
• You can sell through many channels, like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and eBay.
• Shopify has an incredible library of more than 3,000 apps and third-party extensions.
• Shopify offers over 100 payment methods and has its payment gateway, Shopify Payments.
• Shopify provides extensive, 24/7 support to its customers.

Pros Of Shopify

• Shopify has excellent starting guides and a lot of information for new users.
• Approximately 170 different mobile-friendly themes are available for use with Shopify.
• Shopify's ease of use makes it simple to set up, modify, change prices, add or remove goods, and so on.
• The Shopify App Store is full of helpful add-ons for your store and has a large community of independent developers and experts.
• Shopify's live chat and phone support are accessible around-the-clock.
• Shopify now offers a variety of payment options, including third-party platforms.

Cons Of Shopify

• Shopify lacks the flexibility of more open-ended website creation tools.
• Shopify adds a transaction fee on top of the payment processor fee if you don't use Shopify Payments.
• Shopify's editor is more complex and takes time to learn.

Pricing

• Shopify Basic $14.44. Access tools like abandoned cart recovery and gift vouchers to sell endless goods. Using Shopify Payments avoids a 2% transaction cost.
• Shopify $39.44. Professional reports and worldwide pricing for e-commerce. The transaction fee is 1% unless you use Shopify Payments.
• Shopify Advanced $147.78. Get advanced shipping reports and pricing. Fees are 0.5% unless you use Shopify Payments.

This shows the monthly renewal prices for yearly contracts.

Best For

• Shopify is best for small online sellers.

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#4 Weebly—Best For Creating A Free Website

Weebly's low price, adaptability, and user-friendliness make it a top contender among website builders. Their free plan is feature-rich and a wonderful alternative for those who need a simple website quickly.

Weebly's drag-and-drop site-building editor and Square's e-commerce capabilities were brought together in 2018 when Square purchased the company. You may now select between Weebly, a popular website editor, and Square, a simple site builder for making online stores.

The editor is one of the easiest website builders, and great-looking sites can still be made with a short learning curve. Weebly is a good choice for people who don't have tech skills or much time to spend on their website, and its e-commerce features are better than those of Wix and Squarespace.

Weebly Features

• Websites can be edited with ease using Weebly's intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
• Whether you're looking for a free or premium app, you can discover it in Weebly's excellent app centre and install it on your website with a single click.
• You can optimize your Weebly site from start to finish with the help of Weebly's superb Ultimate SEO Guide.
• Insights, Weebly's built-in analytics tool, provides real-time information about your site's visitors and performance.
• Weebly provides its users with more than 50 customizable templates that are simple enough for beginners.
• Weebly makes it easy to turn your website into an e-commerce CMS that you can update.
• With Weebly, you may use your existing domain name instead of creating a new one.

Pros Of Weebly

• Weebly is the best site for beginners to construct a free website without spending a fortune.
• The Weebly website builder is intuitive and straightforward to use.
• Weebly's themes look great and work perfectly on mobile devices.
• Weebly has its app store and supports third-party applications, so you can easily add functionality to your site.
• Your website can have multiple editors, so you don't have to do all the work alone.
• You may find new consumers using Facebook advertisements and email campaigns.

Cons Of Weebly

• You don't have as much flexibility regarding where and how you put things on your site as you would with a platform like Wix.
• When compared to its rivals, Weebly's templates seem dated.

Pricing

• Free. There's an ad for Weebly in the footer, and the site doesn't have a proper domain name.
• Connect $5. You may use a custom domain name, but the Weebly footer ad will still appear.
• Pro $12. This package offers eCommerce, allowing you to create shopping carts and take payments using Square and 3rd party suppliers.
• Business $25. In addition to all the benefits of the Pro plan, you now have access to premium business tools.

This shows the monthly renewal prices for yearly contracts.

Best For

• Weebly is best for building a free website.

#5 GoDaddy—Best For Quick Website Creation

GoDaddy is most known for domain registration and web hosting. Still, they also provide one of the easiest-to-use site builders available today.

When it comes to building a website, GoDaddy is by far the most straightforward and quickest option. GoDaddy's already-simple interface is even more user-friendly because of the design assistance. By entering your information, GoDaddy will generate a website you can modify to your liking. You may find various premade layouts for websites (blogs, portfolios, online stores, etc.) to help you get started quickly.

Building a website with them is a breeze because of the templates' minimalist designs and comprehensive instructions for adding custom content.

Features

• GoDaddy offers live chat, a call centre, social media, a forum, and self-service support 24/7.
• Your mobile-friendly website has built-in marketing features.
• You can set up your online store for free using professional e-commerce templates. Then, to start selling, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
• GoDaddy Studio allows you to create aesthetically pleasing branded content for your online marketing needs.
• For example, a picture gallery, menu, or pricing list may be added or edited with a single click in seconds and from any device.
• Keep track of customer feedback, order status, and social media activity in one place, accessible from any mobile device.
• With built-in marketing and business development tools, you can start immediately without spending any money.

Pros Of GoDaddy

• It gives you access to powerful tools for search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, and posting on social media.
• The editor has a clean, organized interface.
• You can quickly set up a website.
• When you change your site's theme, the content will automatically be reorganized to fit the new design.
• Compared to some of its rivals, its pricing plans are affordable.
• GoDaddy's web pages load quickly.

Cons Of GoDaddy

• There is no app store.
• Few e-commerce features.
• Lacking creative freedom when building a website.

Pricing

• Free. A godaddysites.com domain is provided; however, advertising is also on every page, and certain functionality is restricted.
• Basic $9.90.It doesn't support advanced SEO and only lets you send out a limited amount of social media updates and emails.
• Premium $14.99. Advanced SEO tools are included, as well as a maximum of 500 email sends and 20 social media posts.
• Commerce $16.99.Additional features for scheduling appointments online include the ability to pay and set up repeating appointments.
• Commerce Plus $29.99. The e-commerce platform supports abandoned cart recovery and payment processing through major credit cards.

This shows the monthly renewal prices for yearly contracts.

Best For

• Best for creating a website fast and easily.

What Is A Website Builder?

Website builders are tools that simplify the creation of websites without the need to modify HTML or CSS directly. You won't need a designer or developer since you can handle everything yourself. The program allows you to rearrange the various components of a webpage using a simple drag-and-drop interface. In addition, many website builders have a library of high-quality, pre-made page templates and sections ready to be customized.

Website builders are the best option for most websites since they streamline the development and maintenance processes. It is possible to utilize a website builder to provide the groundwork for your site and then supplement it with your code to add the functionality you want.

Benefits Of Website Builders

There are a few significant benefits of using a website builder:

• Smart Web Design: You may use one of the many pre-made “themes” or “templates” that come included with most website builders to quickly and easily launch a professional business website. Simply put, it facilitates developing a brand and producing a responsive website for small businesses in a fast and streamlined manner.
• Cost-Effective: It's a good idea to hire professional web developers, but only if you have enough money for the project. To solve this problem, you may use a website builder service online, which is both cheap and easy to use. More than that, there is no shortage of resources to help you create a functional website without spending a dime.
• Fast & Easy: Website builders are created with the sole intention of simplifying the online building and design processes for those who do not have technical or coding expertise. One of the best things about website builders is how intuitive their UI is. There is no need to spend much time learning how everything works.
• Third-Party Integration: You may make a new website with the help of a website builder, which provides a variety of premade templates, streamlined editing tools, and excellent third-party integrations. As they come pre-loaded with a wide variety of professionally designed themes and templates, you can quickly and easily whip up a fully functional, visually attractive multi-page site for your company.

In Summary

Website Builders FAQs

How much does building a website cost?

Many things affect how much it costs on average to build a website. Different types of businesses have different requirements for their websites. For instance, you can create a website on free hosting sites like Wix and Weebly. However, hiring professionals can cost thousands of dollars. Whether you create your own website to save money, or hire a professional and spend more, is up to you.

What is the cheapest website builder?

The cheapest website builder is IONOS, where you can create a professional-looking website for a starting price of $1 monthly.

What is the best free website builder?

The best free website builder is Weebly. Making a website, blog, or online shop with Weebly is a breeze because of its user-friendly, free website builder.

Is a website builder worth it?

Yes, a website builder is worth it because, in general, website builders are a low-cost option for creating a functional website. For a small monthly subscription, you may avoid spending hundreds of dollars on a custom theme and even thousands on a web designer to build up your website.

Are website builders safe?

Yes, a website builder is safe to use. The top website builders usually include built-in security features to help you maintain a safe and secure website.

Are website builders legit?

Yes, website builders are legit because they only provide the tools to construct your website. Unfortunately, there are dishonest web designers out there. There have been times when web designers took the money and ran, leaving websites unfinished.

Can I build a website for free?

Yes, you can build a website for free. Nowadays, many people use free website builders. When creating a website, most builders provide a trial or free plan. If you don't want to pay any money, you can make your own website, but it won't have all the features of a premium plan.