Are you an Australian who wants to create a website but doesn’t know where to begin? You’re in luck! In this guide, I will review the 15 best website builders in Australia, so you can get started on building your own website in no time.
Let’s dive in!
1. WordPress + BlueHost: The Best All-Round Website Platform for Aussies
Without a doubt, WordPress had to be at the top of my list as it currently powers 34% (including this website) of all websites on the internet. The best part is, there’s no coding required!
WordPress is a completely free CMS/website builder, all you need is a web host, making it incredibly affordable. Personally, I recommend Bluehost (which this website uses), as they are WordPress’s #1 recommendation. They offer 1-click WordPress installations, a free .com domain name, unlimited bandwidth, 50GB storage, they charge in AUD, and have 24/7 support.
While WordPress has many built-in features for designing your website, users can also add extra website builder plugins such as Divi, Beaver Builder, and Elementor to utilize drag and drop functionality. Additionally, there are 10,000+ themes and templates to choose from!
You can make any type of website under the sun with WordPress + Bluehost, from blogs, eCommerce stores, small business websites, coaching websites, forums, and many more!
If you want to use the most popular website platform in the world, then you can’t go wrong with WordPress!
- WordPress is Free and Open-Source
- BlueHost is WordPress’s #1 Recommendation
- 1-click WordPress Installation
- Free .com Domain Name
- Charges in AUD
- Professionally Designed Templates
- User-Friendly Website Builder
- Affordability
- Drag-and-Drop Interface
- SEO-Friendly Features
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Mobile-Responsive Sites
- Drag-and-Drop Functionality
- Social Media Marketing Tools
- Unlimited Storage
2. Wix: The Easiest Website Builder to Use
At the top of my list is Wix.com, which you’ve probably seen a lot of if you watch YouTube. Fortunately, Wix backs up their large advertising budget with an amazing website builder, which in my opinion, is a trifecta of a service.
Firstly, Wix has over 300 professionally designed templates for almost any type of website. From small businesses to photographers, restaurants, cafes, blogs, forums, eCommerce, events, CVs, landing pages, and the list goes on.
Secondly, I have found Wix to be the easiest website builder to learn and use. Simply claim your free .com.au or .com domain, install a template, then adjust it to your liking. It’s that simple!
Lastly, Wix is extremely affordable for those on a tight budget, with their beginner plan starting at only $14.50AUD/mo. This plan includes a free domain name (for 1 year), 2GB bandwidth, 3GB storage, 30 video minutes, and access to their 300+ templates.
For ease of use, great templates, and affordable prices, you can’t go wrong with Wix!
3. Weebly
Founded in 2006, Weebly has grown to become one of the most popular website builders with over 48 million users worldwide.
Weebly can be thought of as the Aldi of website builders – providing a comparable product to its competitors at a much more affordable price. Weebly plans start at just $6AUD/mo, which is an incredibly cheap option for businesses or individuals looking to create simple websites or blogs. While their inclusions may be somewhat limited, they still manage to get the job done effectively.
Weebly’s beginner plan includes a free domain, 500MB storage, and SEO features, making it a great option for those starting out in the digital space. Their platform is highly user-friendly with a simple drag-and-drop interface for adding modules, photos, maps, contact forms, or choosing from hundreds of their templates. Moreover, Weebly is owned by Square Payments, which is great news for small businesses in Australia.
Overall, if you are looking for a no-frills, extremely affordable website builder, Weebly is a fantastic place to start.
4. Site123
Site123 is an excellent option for those looking for a website builder that covers all the bases. They offer free web hosting, custom email addresses, free-to-use images, eCommerce functionality, and more.
While Site123’s templates are well-designed, customization options are somewhat limited, and creative control is not as extensive as with other website builders like Wix or Weebly. Nevertheless, Site123 provides considerable amounts of storage (10GB) and 5GB of bandwidth, which is ideal for medium-traffic websites.
5. SquareSpace
SquareSpace is renowned for its stunning, responsive templates and exceptional design. It has attracted millions of customers who use it for portfolios, online stores, small businesses, weddings, real estate, restaurants, blogs, and more.
While SquareSpace is a bit more challenging to use as a website builder, users have more control to edit and adjust almost anything, making it an excellent option for those with design experience. Their beginner plan starts at $16AUD/mo and includes a free domain name, unlimited bandwidth/storage, website metrics, free SSL, 24/7 support, and SEO.
Overall, SquareSpace is an ideal option for those seeking a visually appealing website builder with unlimited bandwidth.
6. Shopify
When it comes to creating a comprehensive online store, Shopify is the perfect place to start, particularly for small Australian businesses looking to sell their products online.
Although all of the website builders mentioned above have eCommerce functionality, none of them can compete with the range of features that Shopify provides.
At first glance, Shopify boasts hundreds of store templates, inventory tracking, merchant analytics, coupon creation, payment portals, shipping estimates, and an extensive list of other capabilities.
When these features are combined, merchants can sell a variety of items, including digital products, drop-shipping, physical products, print-on-demand, services, and more.
In addition, Shopify offers 24/7 support via a local Australian phone number.
To learn more about eCommerce platforms, please see my comprehensive guide here.
7. Jimdo
Next on my list of top website builders for Australia is the powerful yet lesser-known Jimdo.
Founded in 2007, Jimdo has been gradually gaining popularity due to its $1AUD/month discounts and easy-to-use website builder.
While we’re on the subject of price, this introductory rate is only valid for the first year. After that period, prices will rise to around $15-$25AUD/month, depending on the plan you choose. So be prepared for a significant price increase.
Like any good website builder, Jimdo’s plans include a free .com.au domain, free SSL, no overlay ads, no coding required, fast loading times, built-in payment methods, SEO tools, website statistics, and much more.
In terms of templates and setup, users can have a new website up and running in just three minutes with Jimdo’s minimalist templates.
8. SiteBuilder.com
When it comes to stock-looking templates, SiteBuilder.com takes the crown, making it an excellent choice for quickly setting up a small business website.
While some might argue that SiteBuilder’s templates are dull, they serve a purpose for businesses such as dentists, carpenters, plumbers, maintenance companies, cafes, restaurants, and more.
Therefore, while other website builders focus on stunning themes, SiteBuilder prioritizes the functional aspect of a website and delivers what internet users are searching for.
As far as pricing is concerned, plans start at $7.50AUD/month and include a free custom email address, domain name, free hosting, and drag-and-drop website builder.
9. BigCommerce
As the name suggests, BigCommerce caters to big brands and enterprises, but don’t let the name intimidate you.
In reality, BigCommerce has a reasonably affordable plan for startups and small Australian businesses.
For example, their entry-level plan costs $29AUD/month and includes no transaction fees, unlimited bandwidth/storage, point-of-sale, coupon creation, real-time shipping quotes, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and a variety of other features.
Therefore, although BigCommerce is on the pricier side of the market, it offers an extensive eCommerce website builder platform that enables online stores to scale with ease.
10. ConstantContact
ConstantContact is one of the popular email outreach tool providers known for its exceptional services. However, you might be wondering what ConstantContact has to do with website builders. In the last two years, the company has made an aggressive move into the website builder landscape and offers it as a complementary service to its customers.
The company has gone a step further and revolutionized the way websites are built by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI). The AI literally makes a website in front of your eyes in a matter of seconds, which is impressive.
To test the AI site builder, I chose the landscaping category, and to my surprise, a new website was in front of my eyes in less than five seconds. I then added my brand name, selected colours, and my website was ready to go.
11. Webs.com
Webs.com is a lesser-known website builder compared to the big players like Wix and Squarespace. However, they still offer most of the essential features and tools.
One of the standout features of Webs.com is their social media integration, which seamlessly connects with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms. This makes it ideal for businesses with a strong social media presence.
However, their templates can do with an update as they seem quite dated.
12. Ukit
If you want to get online for as little as possible, Ukit is a great option, with plans starting from only $3.50AUD/mo. Despite the low cost, users get a lot of features, including daily backups, unlimited disk space, a free domain, 200+ templates, and more.
Ukit has a strong emphasis on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with integration with Google Maps, meta tags, meta descriptions, and SEO titles. However, the templates could be improved to match the expected standard in 2019.
13. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a free blogging/website builder platform that needs no introduction. Unlike WordPress.org, which is a Content Management System (CMS) for websites, WordPress.com is an individual platform, much like Tumblr or Blogger.
Users get a subdomain like myblog.WordPress.com instead of having their own individual domain name. Although it is a good platform to learn about website building, it is limiting for those who want to create a website with their domain. It is also challenging to rank a WordPress.com website in Google search results.
Nevertheless, considering it is a free platform, users cannot complain.
14. Webnode
Webnode, a website builder platform that has been serving customers since 2008 and boasts of over 25 million users, is another noteworthy option for Australians. Although renowned for their free website building services, they also offer a wide range of eCommerce and business solutions.
15. Strikingly
Strikingly is a drag-and-drop website builder that is perfect for crafting one-page websites. With a plethora of themes available, new users can begin customising their website straight away. The platform also provides parallax effects to give the website a contemporary look and feel.
Best Website Builders Australia Picks 2019
Our top website builder picks for 2019 in Australia include Wix, Weebly, Site123, SquareSpace, WordPress, Shopify, and Jimdo.
As an experienced SEO and copywriter, I can understand that selecting the right website builder is crucial when creating your first website. To help you make an informed decision, I’ve compiled a list of important considerations that I took into account when evaluating various website builders. Below is a breakdown of what I believe makes the best website builders in Australia.
Easy-to-Use Platform
If you’re new to website building, it’s important to choose a website builder that’s simple and easy to use. With that in mind, I’ve focused on platforms that don’t require coding or any technical skills. Instead, I’ve identified website builders that offer drag-and-drop functionality, which makes designing a website a breeze.
Drag & Drop Features
In addition to easy-to-use platforms, I’ve selected website builders that offer drag-and-drop features for effortless customization. While not all drag-and-drop builders are made equal, I’ve included platforms that offer both simple and advanced customization options to cater to all users’ needs.
Affordable Pricing
Many website builders are affordable, but it’s important to consider the ongoing payment structure when selecting a platform. I’ve included a range of website builders with prices ranging from $3AUD/mo to $29AUD/mo to cater to all budgets.
Hosting & Bandwidth Inclusions
It’s crucial to consider the hosting and bandwidth inclusions of website builders to ensure that your website runs smoothly. I’ve identified website builders that offer high storage limits and ample bandwidth to support website growth.
Great Selection of Professional Templates
Professional templates are a great way to make a website stand out. To ensure that your website stays up-to-date with modern design trends, I’ve selected website builders that update and upgrade their templates regularly.
SEO Integration
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is essential for getting a website to rank high on Google’s search results. Therefore, I’ve selected website builders that offer Google Search Console access, analytics, meta descriptions, image descriptions, permalink structures, Google maps, alt tags, and SEO titles.
Analytics Tracking
Finally, I’ve included website builders that offer internal metrics platforms to help website owners understand their visitors’ demographics, behavior, and preferences. By analyzing this data, website owners can improve their website’s sales and traffic.
To conclude, the website builders I’ve selected offer easy-to-use platforms, drag-and-drop features, affordable pricing, hosting and bandwidth inclusions, professional templates, SEO integration, and analytics tracking.
eCommerce Functionality and Features
Although not relevant to everyone, I have included website builders that offer eCommerce functionality built into their platform. This enables websites to list their own products, keep track of inventory, manage fulfillment, shipping, coupons, and more.
I have also searched for providers that charge reasonable transition fees that are manageable for beginners. For more information, you can read my full post on the best eCommerce platforms for Australians.
Compatibility with Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
In 2019, social media remains one of the biggest drivers of engagement and traffic. As it is such an important aspect of any website, I have only chosen website builders that seamlessly integrate with social media platforms.
This integration should allow users to embed YouTube videos right within the content, as a header or as a featured video. Additionally, there should be a simple connection to showcase an Instagram account within a website, post, or page.
While many website builders have these features baked into their service, others may require a third-party app or plugin to activate these features.
Nevertheless, most providers in the above reviews will be excellent for connecting to social networks.
Fast Speeds and Reliable Uptime
Slow speeds and unreliable uptimes can be detrimental to websites. Multiple studies show that for every 1 second a website takes to load, there is an 11% drop in visitors. This means that if a website takes 3 seconds to load, there is only a 67% chance that someone will wait around. Even 1-2 seconds of delay can have long-lasting impacts on visitors, sales, traffic, and revenue.
Poor uptime can also affect a website’s growth. Unfortunately, website builders are a closed ecosystem, which means that everything is controlled by the company, including the hosting. While this makes things easier, there are limitations to the performance customizations that can be made. This is why many people choose to use WordPress along with a third-party web host.
Although it is not an ideal situation with web hosting, I have included website builders that focus strongly on fast speeds and have at least 99.98% uptimes.
Server Location
I also considered the location of servers and data centers that these website builders were using. While this is not as important for those in the US or EU, it is something to consider, especially for us here in Australia.
Being geographically isolated, this can result in slower load times for internet searchers in Australia. This is because the data has to travel halfway across the globe. The end result is slower load times for those in Australia.
As this is an important consideration, I have included providers that have servers/data centers as close as possible to Australia. Alternatively, I have chosen providers that have a CDN (Content Delivery Network) installed, which helps with fast load times throughout the world.
Helpful Customer Support
Last but not least on my list of considerations is great customer support! Even when choosing an easy-to-use website builder that is almost impossible to get wrong, there are times when help is needed.
When this happens, it is incredibly helpful to be able to get on the phone and get a quick response to your query. Not only should wait times be low, but customer support should also be knowledgeable and happy to help.
I have also included providers that have toll-free or local Australian telephone numbers that can be called. If not, most platforms provide email, ticketing, and chat support.
Website Builder Vs Hiring a Web Designer: Which One is Right for You?
Are you struggling to decide whether to use a website builder or hire a web designer for your website? The answer ultimately depends on your budget and the amount of time you’re willing to invest.
Hiring a web designer can cost anywhere from $500AUD to $10,000AUD, depending on the complexity and size of your website. For a small 1-page business website, you can expect to pay around $500 to $2,000, while an eCommerce store will typically set you back around $5,000 to $10,000 and take approximately two weeks to build. It’s important to note that ongoing hosting fees and hourly rates for any website edits should also be factored into the cost of hiring a web designer.
Alternatively, users can create their own website using a website builder and save thousands of dollars. However, this does require investing time in learning and building the website yourself. Website builders such as Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace offer plans starting from as low as $5AUD to $30AUD per month, depending on the platform you choose. The time it takes to create a website using a website builder can range from two hours to two weeks, depending on your skill level and the complexity of the website.
Creating your own website using a website builder has an added bonus of learning a new skill, which is invaluable and repeatable. So, if you’re looking to save money and learn a new skill, creating your own website is a great option.
What Websites Can You Create With Website Builders?
When it comes to the types of websites you can create using a website builder, the possibilities are endless. While many platforms offer hundreds of templates, these are just a starting point from which users can customize and build upon.
Some typical and not-so-typical websites that can be created using a drag and drop builder include consulting websites, restaurant and cafe websites, real estate websites, plumbing websites, dentist websites, law websites, fashion websites, jewellery stores, electronics review websites, publisher websites, event photographer websites, wedding photographer websites, musician websites, DJ and band websites, music promotion websites, architect websites, digital agency websites, wedding invitation websites, conference and meetup websites, resume and CV websites, blogs, and hundreds more.
Website Builder FAQ
Can Wix Be Used In Australia?
Yes, Wix caters to dozens of countries throughout the world, including Australia. However, Wix does not have a local Australian number to call, but they do offer email and chat support for customer service.
How Much Does Wix Cost In Australia?
Wix Australia pricing starts from $14.50AUD per month and goes up to $39.95AUD per month for their premium website plans, which include GST. For their eCommerce plans, pricing starts from $26.63AUD per month and goes up to $56.22AUD per month.
Can You Use a .com.au With Wix?
Yes, you can use a .com.au domain with Wix, but you will need to purchase it from a third-party domain registrar. Unfortunately, Wix does not include .com.au or .net.au for their free domains upon signup.
Which Is The Easiest Website Builder?
In my experience, both Wix and Weebly are equally easy to learn, edit, and design on.