Search Engine Optimization is fundamental in driving organic traffic to your website.
So, you may be wondering, what does that have to do with choosing a good website builder?
SEO rankings are determined by the quality of your website and the content that is on it. Subsequently, if you would like to achieve higher rankings, it is best to start with a website builder that is optimized for SEO in the first place.
That said, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario. Different website builders are ideal for different needs.
Entrepreneurs, for instance, may prefer Shopify due to its instinctive and user-friendly web-building tools. It makes creating an e-commerce site a walk in the park while also offering all the support you need for SEO success.
If you have been looking for a helpful guide to SEO, look no further. In this review, we explore different website builders, compare their qualities, and offer you tips on how to choose from among the best website builders for SEO based on your needs.
Top Web Builders at a Glance
Wix
Squarespace
Shopify
Customizable Meta Titles
Yes
Yes
Yes
Image ALT Attributes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Social Media Integration
Yes
Yes
Yes
Keyword Support
Yes
Yes
No
Integration with Google
Yes
Yes
Yes
Average Plan Price (MYR)
52.97 MYR/month
72.68 MYR/month
122.89 MYR/month
Best Pick: Top 7 Best Website Builders for SEO Reviewed & Compared by SEO Experts
Understanding the traits of leading website builders could go a long way in helping you pick a suitable one for your project.
To this end, let us take an in-depth look at the features of 7 of the best website builder options in the market.
1. Wix
Source: Wix
Wix is filled with outstanding SEO-friendly tools. Whether you need to add canonical tags, customize URLs, or edit metadata, you will find all the relevant tools on the Wix Dashboard.
Notably, Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) built websites also link seamlessly with Google Analytics and Google Search Console. [1]
This is a priceless feature as these two Google apps would give you informative feedback about how your website is performing, making it one of the best website builders.
What’s more, you can subsequently use the information to further optimize your site if necessary.
Features
Pros
Cons
Its drag and drop interface is very easy to use and does not require coding
It is an easy to use web builder even for beginners
You can not transfer a Wix website to a different platform
Wix offers lots of extra freebies like HTTPS and payment options support
The Wix Dashboard provides all the necessary tools and hence you will not need any 3rd party apps or plugins
The entry-level plan is beneficial but comes with Wix advertising and branding
The vast template collection provides numerous design options
Wix websites generally load quickly which gives you a better chance at SEO rankings
On the Wix Unlimited plan, you can only access premium features on one website
You can build mobile-friendly sites using the Wix Mobile App
Wix support services are helpful and reliable
Recommended For: Beginner website builders looking to achieve good SEO rankings
2. Squarespace
Source: Squarespace
Squarespace features and functions are not as simplified as you may encounter on Wix and some coding may be required especially when adding complex SEO provisions.
This does not mean that it is not a user-friendly website builder. Rather, it would be a better choice if you are more seasoned in SEO and are a bit tech-savvy.
Features
Pros
Cons
Configuration boxes allow you to edit URLs, meta titles and meta descriptions on each webpage.
The 14-day free trial gives you time to weigh Squarespace features before you commit
The editor is rather complicated to use even for the tech-savvy
Squarespace offers a free SSL certificate with each subscription and also automatically adds an XML sitemap
Squarespace lets you create freely with design flexibility
Compared to other website builders on this page, Squarespace packages are expensive
You can customize the aesthetics and layout of your website by inputting your own code
Squarespace provides multi-channel subscriber support
You can only edit SEO titles and descriptions on each page which is quite restrictive
Squarespace websites can be submitted to Google Search Console for indexing
You can export most of the non-proprietary content from your Squarespace website
Squarespace provides seamless integration with most social media platforms and G-Suite
Recommended For: E-commerce sites and tech-savvy users
3. Shopify
Source: Shopify
Shopify is highly popular among e-commerce users and rightfully so. It offers all-inclusive hosting services complete with backup for your website and other crucial backend solutions that make running an online store super simple.
Better still, while it runs a wide range of functions and is highly customizable, Shopify does not require you to add any code.
Features
Pros
Cons
It offers plenty of appealing themes with both paid and free options
Shopify is user-friendly and provides dependable security features
While it offers value for money, Shopify plans are comparatively expensive. Users are also billed per transaction
It supports a wide range of online payment options
Shopify plans make it is easy to scale your business from a small start-up with a buy button to a fully-fledged online store
Shopify is a highly e-commerce-centric web builder and you may need to complement it with other apps for SEO
Marketing, inventory, cart management among other e-commerce appliances are all supported
Shopify themes and websites are appealing and the platform offers a fair level of creative control
It has a simple drag and drop user interface
You can pair Shopify with useful apps from its store as well as independent sources to boost your SEO hosting
You can customize page titles, meta descriptions, image alt text using keywords
Recommended For: E-commerce entrepreneurs
4. GoDaddy
Source: GoDaddy
The impactful SEO features on GoDaddy are only available on the Standard plan and those above it. However, they may be worth the higher fees.
On the Standard plan, for example, you would have access to keyword suggestions. Whereas, on the Premium plan, you can provide information about the nature of your website and request the GoDaddy support team for targeted keywords.
Features
Pros
Cons
Upper-tier plans offer access to keyword recommendations
The GoDaddy builder does all the heavy lifting which makes web-building fast and easy
It costs more to access any beneficial advanced SEO provisions
The dashboard is equipped with tracking gadgets to monitor your website’s performance on search engines
Keyword recommendations are helpful as they help you optimize your SEO content
The builder does most of the work and thus could limit your creative preferences
E-commerce functions are supported and are easy to add
You can get instant feedback on the quality of your website using GoDaddy Insights and improve it before launching
GoDaddy websites can be rather rigid-looking which can be attributed to its limited web design features
For $6.99/month, you can outsource website design and SEO services to experts through the GoDaddy SEO services feature
A free website SSL Certificate is included in all business plans
Recommended For: Small to mid-scale e-commerce or anyone that would prefer delegating SEO to professionals
5. WordPress
WordPress offers lots of SEO-centric options. Source: Pixabay
Today, WordPress has solidified its place as one of the best CMS for SEO but it has been years in the making. Since its launch, the platform has undergone numerous improvements to improve its functions. It is also important to mention that there are two versions of WordPress:
- WordPress.org is a free version but requires some tech skills to use. This is because, like other open-source software, it would require significant customization for it to fit your application.
- WordPress.com, on the other hand, is a paid-access web builder that would be easier for most users to manage. However, because the web builder is programmed to handle most processes, you would have less creative freedom.
Features
Pros
Cons
SEO hosting and content management appliances are provided in plenty
WordPress is a code-based website builder and thus offers you more design flexibility
If you are not adept at coding, WordPress might be a challenging website builder for you to use
WordPress plans are designed to cater to different budgets and customer tech capabilities and preferences
WordPress tools are highly useful for SEO
WordPress site themes are not as dazzling as those offered by Shopify and other website builders that offer multiple templates
WordPress plugins are applicable and can be used to add or boost a variety of functions
You can use plugins and code to gain both the e-commerce and SEO advantages of a WordPress site
To access more functionalities you would have to install plugins. Such third-party access could make your website vulnerable to security attacks
Recommended For: Businesses that put up blog posts and bloggers
6. Weebly
Source: Weebly
Weebly is a great option for both web design and SEO content writing. It incorporates its helpful SEO tools into its page editor as opposed to having a dashboard.
Nevertheless, they are still easy to use and make it possible to edit/customize website details for each SEO page.
A distinct feature of Weebly is its SEO checklists that take the guesswork out of web-building for SEO.
Features
Pros
Cons
Weebly allows you to edit/customize details such as URLs and metadata page by page
It supports SEO blogging
The support you receive depends on the plan that you are on
User-friendly SEO blogging mechanisms allow you to add captions and alt tags to photo and video media with keywords
Unlike Wix, you can migrate from Weebly if you feel it no longer meets your needs
Your domain designation would have to include ‘Weebly’ if you are on the free plan
The Weebly Mobile App is optimized for a responsive design and allows you to edit your website from your mobile devices
It offers many theme options and you can upload your own too
The blogging functions are limited and compared to other advanced editors like WordPress and require some getting used to
The Weebly app center provides optional add-ons that you could pick based on your preferences
A Weebly website can be linked to Google Analytics
Recommended For: Small-scale e-commerce businesses or websites that require a simple blogging platform for SEO
7. Web.com
Source: Web.com
If you are looking for a website builder on a budget, web.com is certainly worth considering. The best part is, even with it being affordable, it still offers a valuable list of tools.
The e-commerce web-building gadgets, in particular, make web.com ideal for creating a start-up enterprise SEO platform. You can list up to 50 products and add display galleries, customer reviews, social media icons, payment options, among other helpful details.
Features
Pros
Cons
You can add unlimited pages to your website and edit each of their metadata and URLs individually
Affordability
It is not possible to your website from web.com
Each subscription earns you a free custom domain name, an email address, autosave, and security provisions
Unlimited customer service is available to all subscribers
The basic SEO elements do not offer much creative flexibility
Website analytics tools are provided
No SEO coding is required and free SEO tools are provided
Your business may outgrow web.com when you start to scale
Custom web-building services are available if you prefer to have a pro design your website for you
All web.com templates are compatible with mobile device interfaces and can be customized to suit other device types too
Recommended For: Small businesses
Tips on Choosing the Best Website Builder For Website Design and SEO Services
The good news is that there are numerous website builder options and each of them caters to a particular set of needs.
The challenge, however, lies in picking the right site builder from this sea of options.
To help you cross that bridge, here are some tell-tale features that could help you identify and get your website builder that works best according to different needs.
Ease of Use
Code-based website building requires refined tech skills. Source: Interaction Design Foundation
Ease of use varies from person to person. For example, if you are tech-savvy, you may enjoy the creative freedom offered by a code-based platform for SEO.
In contrast, if you are not adept at coding and other design tasks, website builders like Wix and Shopify may be more ideal. Suffice to say, it is best to choose an option that is simple for you to use based on your needs and capabilities.
Scalability
Aim for an SEO platform that can accommodate your needs when you scale up. Source: eduCBA
Do you intend to grow your online business to a bigger scale in the future? If you employ a customer-driven marketing strategy or run a content-centric website, do you anticipate some growth in your subscriber base?
If your answers are in the affirmative then it is advisable that you aim for a website builder that can meet your scaling requirements.
This is especially crucial if the website builder does not allow site migration because you would need to start afresh if you have to move to another platform to scale up.
Design
Themes and templates make designing easy. Source: OVTT
A site builder that offers quality templates, themes, and layout options can make it easy for you to build a website that’s appealing.
Alternatively, if you prefer a highly customized web design, aim for a platform that offers more creative flexibility through coding or third-party apps.
Support
Reliable customer support is essential for troubleshooting. Source: Martech Zone
Reliable customer support makes building your website less stressful. It also comes in handy when you face operational challenges like downtime or compromised security.
Subsequently, it would be ideal to choose a website builder that responds promptly to troubleshooting requests and offers support through convenient channels.
Pricing
Aim for a website builder within your budget. Source: Business2Community
Contrary to popular opinion, the priciest website builder is not always the best SEO solution.
A better approach would be to find a web builder that is within your budget but also offers value for money in terms of advanced features and functionality.
Security
Website insecurity negatively impacts SEO rankings. Source: Velocity Consultancy
Site security should be a priority for you regardless of whether you are creating an e-commerce platform or a content-driven website.
Search engines such as Google can detect insecure websites and this could negatively impact your SEO efforts and rankings. [2]
Wrapping Up
All factors and traits considered, we would recommend:
-
Wix- if you prefer an easy-to-use website builder with SEO provisions. Weebly can be an alternative to this but its features are not as robust as those on Wix.
-
Shopify– for appealing and effective-commerce websites
-
Web.com- for entry-level site-building and SEO features on a budget
-
GoDaddy- if you need help or would prefer to entirely outsource SEO
-
Squarespace- for broader creative freedom with an option to export your content
-
WordPress- for a robust content management system and superior SEO hosting
A website builder can best be described as a set of design tools. Subsequently, the site builder that you choose will determine whether you have the right instruments to create the type of website you want and achieve your SEO goals.
It would be helpful to keep this in mind as you make your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions on The Best Website Builder Tools For SEO To Boost Your Website Rankings
1. Why is SEO Important?
For your website or online business to be successful, you will need to draw your target market’s attention towards it. High traffic boosts your online presence, raises your odds of making sales, and could help you achieve more conversions.
It is possible to gain traffic through a well-curated digital marketing strategy comprising social media interactions and other forms of advertising. However, studies indicate that over 90% of traffic to websites emanates from search engines. [3]
The best way to benefit from that wave is, therefore, through Search Engine Optimization.
Given all the dynamics involved, it is understandable that starting your SEO journey can seem daunting and overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be that hard though.
We, at One Search Pro, offer a full range of SEO services in Malaysia. From keyword research and local SEO to content management and SEO audits, we channel all our expertise towards ensuring that your website achieves the high rankings it deserves.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you stand out from your competition.
2. Are Website Builders Worth It?
Yes, they are. The functions they provide make it easy to design your website in a short time.
More importantly, they are well-researched and could help you achieve your SEO objectives.
3. Is it Better to Code Your Own Site or to Use a Website Builder?
If you are an experienced coder, coding your own site could be a viable option and may even offer more room for creativity and customization. However, it can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.
You may also not be able to achieve complex functions like integration to Google marketing tools unless you are highly skilled.
In comparison, many website builders in the present day offer you convenient tools that have already been optimized for you. Some site builders like Squarespace also allow you extensive customization options.
4. Which Website Builder is the Easiest to Use?
This may vary from one user to another. However, in this review, Wix is the simplest website builder to use.
It offers SEO prompts, its drag and drop editor does not require any coding skills, and most of the tools you will need are consolidated in the Wix Dashboard.
5. Can I Switch My Website Builder Software Later?
Squarespace and Weebly, for example, allow the transfer of non-proprietary site content compared to Wix, Shopify, and web.com that do not.