It’s always important to use the right tools for the job.
When it comes to creating a website, there are literally thousands of different tools available for the dozens of different tasks, both one-time and every day, that you will perform.
Figuring out which of these tools is right for your website can be tough, though, and no matter how much effort you put into it, there’s always a chance you’ve missed a great one.
Creating a website is difficult enough. Why stress over the little things?
That is why we’ve compiled the ultimate list of the best and easiest to use website building resources.
- Website Building Guides
- DIY Website Builders
- Content Management Systems
- Online Web Hosts
- Graphic Design Services
- License-Free Photos
- Photo Editing Software
- Marketplaces
- Domain Tools
Website Building Guides
Our resource guide begins with a listing of additional guides that you can refer to before you begin your website-building journey. They will provide you with not only the things you need to know but also the highest rated services as ranked by a team of experts in the field.
1. The Best Website Builders List
The first step in creating a website is choosing the platform on which it will be built.
Forget all of your preconceived notions about making your own website with our guide to the top website builders. It not only lists our favorite services but also includes everything you need to know about this extremely popular and growing option.
2. The Best eCommerce Website Builders List
Not all website builders are created equal and some cater to more niche market segments. If you want to make an eCommerce website, there is no better tool than a website builder designed specifically for that purpose.
Our guide ranks our favorite eCommerce builders, provides you with everything you need to know about this popular option, and even contains a feature-by-feature list of the things you should look out for when deciding on one that works for you.
3. Choosing the Best Web Hosting Solution
Most website builders include their own hosting service, but if you opt for one that does not, or for a content management system (CMS), you will need to find a host.
Before you do that, however, it is important to know exactly what services a host provides, your options within those services, and, most importantly, which providers can best serve you.
4. The Definitive Guide to Website Templates
A website is naked without a template, but choosing the right one can be difficult; especially with so many options available to you. Our website template guide breaks down the ins and outs of choosing a theme that is easy to customize and which your visitors will love.
If you are willing to pay for a premium template to give your website that extra flair, I also recommend our popular lists of top themes for WordPress, Weebly, Wix, and Shopify.
DIY Website Builders
If you’re on this page, it’s probably because you are looking into creating a website of your own using a website builder. There are many options out there and knowing which one is best for you is obviously no easy task.
I recommend looking at my complete ratings and reviews, but if you just want to get started now, here are the three you should be looking at.
5. Wix
There is no better website builder than Wix. Period.
This website creation tool is first in its class, with features that most others simply can’t match. These include:
- Wix AI assistant for automatically building your site.
- Some of the best templates in the industry.
- An app store loaded with different add-ons you can use on your website.
If you only try out one website building platform, make sure it’s Wix.
6. SiteBuilder
Although Wix is – no doubt – the best all-around website creation platform, SiteBuilder’s software gives it a run for its money.
That’s because it enables users to follow three simple steps to make and publish a website of their own. It also offers:
- A free domain.
- A free email address.
- 10,000+ themes and templates.
If that’s not enough, it’s also one of the best-priced services that I have encountered.
7. Web.com
My last choice is not a website builder at all. It’s much more.
Web.com is an all-around website-creating behemoth, with services that range from web design to marketing. Their do-it-yourself plan offers:
- Unlimited storage and web transfers.
- A catalog of thousands of stock images.
- The backing of one of the leading website services companies on the net.
If you want the whole package, consider Web.com.
Content Management Systems
Website builders are great for anyone who lacks prior website creation experience or for those who simply don’t have the time to learn a more complicated platform. For everyone else, the most popular way to build a website is by using a CMS.
CMSs can be used on any web host and often offer expandability via thousands of apps, plug-ins, and themes.
8. WordPress
If there is one name that is synonymous with content management systems, and even the internet itself, it’s WordPress.
WordPress is the premiere free and open-source CMS platform on the market. It supports over 60 million websites and it continues to grow larger every year.
If there is one thing that makes WordPress so popular, it’s probably the simple user interface. All of the tools you need to create, edit, and maintain your website are available at a glance on its intuitive side panel.
WordPress is also the most expandable CMS, with tens of thousands of free and premium themes and plugins.
Because of its prevalence, there are support forums and even companies dedicated to helping beginners and experienced users navigate the platform.
WordPress truly stands in a class of its own as the dominant – and well deserved – market leader. Did I mention it’s FREE?
9. Joomla
Not everyone thinks the world of WordPress. In fact, there are some areas for which it is not the best option.
The great thing about the internet is that it provides users with many methods of performing a single task.
Like WordPress, Joomla is an open-source CMS.
It is the second most widely used CMS and is used as the basis for sites like The Hill and Harvard University.
Joomla! requires slightly more skill, but it capable of creating more customizable websites.
10. Magento
If you’re looking for a CMS on which to build an eCommerce store, you may opt for Magento.
That’s because it is built with eCommerce in mind.
The free platform enables you to add shopping features that other CMS platforms only dream of.
With brands like Coca Cola, Ford, and Warby Parker using Magento, you will be in good company as a user of the platform.
Online Web Hosts
If you decide to use a CMS, you will need a host on which to install the software and upload your website.
Online hosting services are so common that there are thousands of new companies popping up every year.
Thankfully, reputation still means something and my experiences throughout the years have enabled me to assess the best ones.
11. Bluehost
When choosing a host, two things matter most: speed and uptime.
Bluehost provides the best service with tons of freebies at a competitive price. The company is most notable for:
- Being the #1 hosting recommendation by WordPress.org.
- Free domain and site builder software.
- Unmetered bandwidth.
Still not impressed? The service also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
12. HostGator
HostGator offers users just about every service imaginable in their standard plans.
If you sign up for HostGator, expect to receive:
- Hundreds of dollars in ad credits.
- Automatic backups.
- A modern server architecture with 2.5x faster load times.
The company is also known for their excellent customer service and fair refund policy.
13. SiteGround
Finally, there’s SiteGround, the most customer-beloved service of them all.
It may be because of their unmatched customer service, which is always willing to help you solve problems (even if they’re unrelated to their core hosting service). Top features include:
- Free SSL certificates for your websites.
- One of the most stable hosting platforms.
- Solid state servers.
If you opt for SiteGround, you won’t be disappointed.
Graphic Design Services
Taking your website to the next level requires custom graphics and a branding language. Although it is possible to create these things on your own, if you do not have a professional background, the results might be disappointing.
There are numerous online services that can connect you with some of the top designers in the world at prices that won’t break the bank.
14. 99designs
If you are looking for a high-end experience from start to finish, there is no better option than 99designs. This is because the company has a well-established community of designers and a system that enables you to communicate exactly what you are looking for.
The process begins with building a design brief. This will act as a guide that literally dozens of designers will take a stab at. Depending on which design package you choose, you can reach a greater number of designers at varying levels of experience.
Once your contest is completed, you will be able to choose from a number of designs. When you pick your favorite, you can work with the winning designer to refine the design until it is exactly what you want.
You will own the full copyright of the completed work.
15. Fiverr
Fiverr is a micro job directory, focused on producing results for clients quickly. You can use the service to request everything from a logo, to an illustration, to an infographic, all starting at just $5.
The quality of the service varies, but if you find a designer with whom you share a voice, it can become an invaluable resource for future projects.
The website makes it easier to find professionals based on requirement and everyone is ranked based on previous performances through a star-based system. You can sort services based on customer reviews to ensure that the profile you’re viewing belongs to someone who has worked hard to gain community trust.
The best part is that many users provide a time frame so you know exactly when your work will be delivered.
License-Free Photos
I always recommend taking your own photos, if only for the added value they have for both your users and SEO purposes. Sometimes, however, it’s not that easy, especially if you’re writing about celebrities, political figures, or far-off places. Thankfully, there’s always someone in the right place at the right time who is also willing to provide their photos for free of charge on one of many license-free photo aggregating websites.
Thankfully, there’s always someone in the right place at the right time who is also willing to provide their photos for free of charge on one of many license-free photo aggregating websites.
16. Pixabay
With over one million free stock photos, vector images, and art illustrations, Pixabay is a great resource for finding images of just about anything. The interface is easy to use, quick loading, and often surprises us with just how much free content it provides.
Registered users can like or favorite images to keep them for future reference, but you are not required to sign up for the service to download average-resolution photos. Each photo is clearly labeled under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication.
17. Unsplash
For those seeking a more curated and style-driven service, there’s Unsplash.
Unsplash is run and curated by a community of professional and amateur photographers who are more than happy to share their work for free. Images downloaded from the service can be used for commercial and non-commercial purposes and credit is not required (although encouraged).
Every image includes an irrevocable, non-exclusive copyright license and can be downloaded without registering on the site.
Photo Editing Software
Whether you are using your own photos or ones you find in the public domain, you will probably have the need for a photo editor at some point.
A photo editor can improve your photos and even enable you to create title cards, convey a specific style, and add effects.
Although there are may single-use tools on the market (ie filter software), I recommend becoming acclimated with one that is more fully featured and capable.
18. Gimp
For professionals with hundreds of dollars to spend on an incredibly powerful photo editing app, there’s Photoshop. For the rest of us, there’s Gimp.
Gimp is an open-source raster graphics editor that provides the most popular tools from Photoshop for free.
It can be used to retouch and edit images, draw in free form, change image formats, and perform many of the tasks even advanced users might need.
19. Pixlr
If you want to edit photos in your browser without sacrificing tool selection, Pixlr is your best best.
Similar to photo-editing apps, the in-browser photo editor provides you with a toolbar and navigator that makes creating layers, adding text, adjusting images, and even selecting using a lasso tool a breeze.
The tool is completely free to use and does not watermark your images like many other “free” editors on the market.
Marketplaces
Modern websites can be easily expanded using plugins and themes made by third-party companies. Instead of having to rely on a specific company to provide the add-on you need, the internet has created a free market where many have found success by simply developing supplementary products for websites.
These products are sold on online marketplaces where users can go to find, download, and rank them, helping others to find the best ones.
20. ThemeForest
ThemeForest is, without a doubt, the best place to find website templates and themes on the internet.
Starting at just $2, you can choose from over 35,000 themes design built for every platform – including WordPress and Weebly – and every purpose.
The extended Envato site also sells audio tracks, graphics, photos, 3D models, and plugins, cementing their dominance in the field.
21. Mojo Marketplace
Mojo Marketplace is another great option for finding themes and plugins. Although the selection is not quite as vast as that of ThemeForest, it offers many exclusive templates that you can’t find elsewhere.
In addition to themes and plugins, Mojo Marketplace also sells services. You can select anything from a WordPress plugin install to a WooCommerce training program from beginners.
Domain Tools
Choosing a domain name can be a tricky endeavor. Many of the best names are scooped up en masse by entrepreneurs and companies that understand the value of prime real estate.
There are tools that can help you not only find a domain name based on keyword input but which can also help you determine who owns a domain and start you down the road to negotiating a sale.
22. WHOIS
The most popular and comprehensive tool for determining who owns a web domain is WHOIS.
The search tool enables users to enter any website and get a comprehensive listing of the site’s registrar info, registration and expiration dates, similar domains, registrar data, and site status.
It is worth noting that many people hide their personal information from appearing in the registrar’s data via a proxy registrant. In this case, it is impossible to determine the owner of a website.
23. Name Mesh
With a database of six million words and over 20 generators, there is simply no better way to find a new domain name than with Name Mesh.
Name Mesh allows you to input keywords and can determine, in an instant, which domain names containing those keywords are available.
Results are sorted into Common, Similar, New, SEO, Short, Fun, and more.
If you find a name you like, you can click it and register it right there with one of seven registrars.
I hope this list serves to educate and illuminate. I will work to constantly keep it updated as I continue to discover more exceptional and useful tools.
Is something missing from the list? Feel free to drop us a line if you think I overlooked a great resource.
