Best web design software in 2024

Duda is the only purpose-built web design solution for agencies. It provides a complete toolkit for three to unlimited team members. Predesigned and customizable templates, intuitive editing tools and access to code make Duda the best web design software for creating client websites.

A content library stores data from existing websites, and Duda users can access millions of free and premium images. The DudaFlex editor and reusable templates help agencies build sites quickly. Yet, we appreciate that Duda gives full access to code for advanced customization.

Duda also streamlines collaboration by supporting client feedback collection and offering customer management tools. However, entry-tier subscriptions cost more than WordPress or IONOS and don’t include an online store. Only Agency and White Label plans have chat and phone support.

Learn More: Read our full Duda review.

WordPress.com is a popular blogging tool that offers a drag-and-drop, block-based editor. Whereas competitors provide a predesigned template, WordPress.com gives users a blank page and lets them add blocks to build their layout. It’s a bit of a learning curve for new users, so we recommend WordPress.com as the best web design software for bloggers with some technical experience.

Creators can personalize their sites with free and premium themes, extended color schemes and access to website CSS (cascading style sheets). WordPress.com has over 50,000 plugins and add-ons. In addition, all plans (including the free version) allow paid subscriptions and content gating.

But you’ll pay high commission rates on top of standard processing fees for selling through WordPress.com unless you purchase the Commerce package. Unlike Strikingly, WordPress.com doesn’t offer multiple websites with plans. Nor does it have duty and import tax tools like Shopify.

Learn More: Read our full WordPress.com review.

Strikingly is the most affordable web design software for building multiple sites. It allows unlimited free websites with a simple store with one product. Paid subscriptions support two to five sites (and unlimited free ones). Although monthly pricing starts at $12, Strikingly offers better value for longer terms. Customers who sign up for a five-year plan save $528 over paying monthly.

We found Strikingly’s zero-code tools simple to use and created a website using a template in minutes. If we switch templates, we won’t lose our data. The drag-and-drop layout mode lets us customize pages, although not nearly as much as WordPress.

While Pro and VIP plans provide unlimited bandwidth, neither version has unlimited storage and only VIP has unlimited products. The Pro version allows 300 items, which might not work for larger e-commerce stores or dropshippers.

Learn More: Read our full Strikingly review.

Sales and marketing teams that want the best web design software for conversion choose ClickFunnels. It offers excellent design and sales features, including a no-code drag-and-drop editor. Your team can collaborate in ClickFunnels to edit site pages, store or countdown funnels, blog posts and landing pages. Plans support three to 15 users.

With unlimited workflows and email sequences, businesses can automate marketing tasks and increase site traffic. Plus, they can ditch the third-party email service and run campaigns through ClickFunnels. The editing tools and templates also simplify online course management. You can customize pre-built designs to ensure brand consistency.

We also liked the customization options for the checkout page and the predesigned layouts. But, ClickFunnels hasn’t expanded its e-commerce store features, which is disappointing, considering the high cost. Only VIP users can create multiple sites and no subscriptions include custom domain names.

Shopify’s web design software is our top pick for global e-commerce sales. Business owners can localize their online store through the administrative portal. It has tools for adjusting payment methods, local currencies and languages. Sites are easy to personalize with fast-loading and fully customizable design themes.

All themes include built-in features to capture emails and recommend products. In addition, the Shopify App Store has over 8,000 apps to personalize your store. Options include store designs, landing pages and marketing apps. However, Shopify is less suitable for those in the professional services industry. It doesn’t have online booking and calendar features like GoDaddy offers.

We wish Shopify gave users a longer free trial. The $5 Starter plan offers simple order management tools and an integrated fulfillment network. Shopify has built-in payment processing or you can use a third-party provider. However, using third-party services adds transaction fees.

Learn More: Read our full Shopify review.

Wix is a feature-packed platform with over 900 free templates and tons of customizable design elements. It’s the best web design software for small businesses wanting to build a custom site quickly. After you answer a few questions, Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) creates a complete site with content and images.

Alternatively, you can use the Wix Editor to personalize every design aspect with tools to recolor, resize and rotate objects. We were also impressed with Velo, Wix’s development platform. It has a visual user interface editor and developer tools.

Wix works for businesses in multiple industries. The online store allows up to 50,000 products and has abandoned cart recovery tools. But Wix doesn’t have advanced international features like Shopify or unlimited automated tax calculations on all subscriptions. Although Wix lacks a free plan, it offers affordable plans for hotels, restaurants, event management, fitness companies and independent creators.

Learn More: Read our full Wix review.

With zero startup costs or monthly fees, Square is the best free web design software. Budget-conscious companies can get online fast with the free plan, which enables local delivery, in-person pickup and mobile payment options. Simply choose between a multi-page e-commerce site or an online ordering page, then personalize your order fulfillment methods.

Unlike Strikingly’s free version, which limits users to 5 GB of bandwidth, Square provides unlimited bandwidth with all subscriptions. Retailers can add unlimited products, too, whereas Strikingly’s free plan is for a single product. Although Square doesn’t have international market management tools like Shopify offers, we appreciate its built-in fraud controls available on free and paid packages.

However, businesses wanting predesigned themes and layouts will need a paid plan. Square’s free version doesn’t support subscriptions. WordPress.com would be a better fit in this case.

GoDaddy’s web design software offers designer-made templates and theme filters to instantly change your fonts, colors and layouts. The AI-enabled website generator builds a site within minutes and all plans include the content creation studio with a drag-and-drop editor for creating branded social media posts. However, GoDaddy stands out for its robust online booking tools.

Entrepreneurs can require deposits when clients book services or send a pay link through text or email. We appreciate the option to send reminders and set up recurring appointments for classes or workshops. Professional email addresses and built-in marketing tools help personalize messages to valued customers.

Although we recommend GoDaddy for online appointments, it offers fewer e-commerce features on Basic and Premium plans. For example, these packages lack automated tax calculations and product listings. GoDaddy also has fewer design templates than Wix, which could make the software less customizable.

IONOS provides a three-step AI-powered website builder and integrated AI features, which speed up site content creation and image generation. Its design grid and easy-to-edit sections make it the best web design software for creating simple sites. Professionals can choose from over 17,000 licensed images categorized by industry or use AI to create custom photos.

The search engine optimization (SEO) text generator tool develops page titles and descriptions for websites. Aside from editing features, IONOS has a great dashboard with competitor and review tracking capabilities. It alerts businesses about new activities, from social media posts to Google rankings.

IONOS enables a quick start, but the templates are less refined than Squarespace’s. The rates are affordable. Yet, no plans include more than one email address or e-commerce capabilities. Online store functions add $12 to $32 monthly.

Squarespace develops designs only for the Squarespace platform and doesn’t allow third-party designers to sell layouts. The stylish pages are easy to navigate and customize. Individuals can add sections and choose font packs or designer color palettes. Its flexible sections and central management hub make Squarespace the best web design software for portfolio websites.

The platform integrates with social media channels and lets professionals send branded emails. We like that we could import email lists and send welcome messages to new subscribers. Between web design features and audience management tools, we found it easy to inform network connections of updated resumes and publications.

However, Squarespace’s entry-tier plans cost more than WordPress.com. Although portfolio tools come with all packages, only Squarespace Commerce users can sell recurring subscriptions.

Learn More: Read our full Squarespace review.