How I Built My Own Website - Global Home Bazaar

Best Website Builders Compared for Beginners

I went from having no idea how websites worked to building my own from scratch and honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought. In this post, I’ll walk you through my experience and compare platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and Hostinger so you can get started too.

Starting My Website Journey

For a long time, I thought creating a website was only for developers or people willing to spend a lot of money. I pictured endless lines of code, confusing software, and hours of frustration so I kept putting it off.

Eventually, I decided to just start no plan, no technical skills, just curiosity. That’s when I realised how much modern website builders have changed the game. You don’t need to code, spend a fortune, or have everything figured out beforehand. Most platforms are beginner-friendly, letting you learn as you build.

At first, the sheer number of options felt overwhelming. Every platform promised to be the “best,” and it wasn’t obvious which would suit me. So I tested three popular ones: Squarespace, Wix, and Hostinger.

Some made things simple right away. Others offered more freedom but took a bit of patience. A few even pushed me slightly outside my comfort zone in a good way helping me understand how websites work behind the scenes.

In this post, I’ll share my experience with each platform: the highlights, the frustrations, and who I think each one is best for. If you’re wondering where to start with your own site, this guide should make it a lot less intimidating.

Flat lay of a gray felt notebook with a to-do list tag and a small potted plant on a white desk.

SUMMARY

Beautiful, modern templates that instantly look professional

List iEverything is built into one platform (no need for extra tools or plugins)

Clean, structured layouts that are great for blogs and portfolios

Easy-to-use block editor for arranging content

Limited flexibility when trying to customise beyond the template

Can take time to find certain settings or features

Less creative freedom compared to drag-and-drop builders

Pricing is higher than some beginner-friendly alternatives

Drag-and-drop editor made designing intuitive and even fun

Huge template library gave me lots of options without starting from scratch

Creative freedom allowed me to experiment with layouts and content

Built-in tools for SEO and apps helped me add extra features without coding

Felt rewarding to see a site come together exactly how I imagined

List Many options sometimes made me overthink simple design decisions

List Once a template is chosen and published, switching later is tricky

Can get cluttered if I added too much content or too many features

Some mobile adjustments took a little extra work to get right

Very affordable, which made it easy to start without worrying about costs

Everything I needed was included in one place (hosting, domain, SSL)

Drag-and-drop editor was simple and beginner-friendly

List AI tools gave me a helpful starting point instead of staring at a blank page

Let me launch a basic, functonal website quickly

Too many options sometimes made me overthink simple design decisions

Once a template is chosen and published, switching later is tricky

Can get cluttered if I added too much content or too many features

Some mobile adjustments took a little extra work to get right

MY EXPERIENCE

Best for Professional Design

When I first tried Squarespace, the biggest thing that stood out to me was how good everything looked straight away.

I didn’t have to spend hours tweaking layouts or worrying about whether my site looked “professional enough” it kind of just… did. That was a huge confidence boost, especially as someone who was completely new to building websites.

The templates were the main reason I was drawn to Squarespace in the first place. Everything felt clean, modern, and well put together. Even before I added my own content, the structure of the pages made it feel like I was already halfway there.

A lot of website builders give you a blank canvas, which sounds great but can actually feel overwhelming. Squarespace felt different. It guided me without making me feel restricted (at least at the start).

Best for:

Bloggers, creatives, portfolios, and small business websites.

Best for Flexibility and Creativity

When I started building my website, I wanted something that felt fun to use and gave me creative control which is why I tried Wix.

From the moment I opened the editor, it felt like playing with digital building blocks. I could drag, drop, and move elements around without needing to know any code. It didn’t feel like work it felt like experimenting and learning at the same time

Wix lets you start simple and gradually add more features as you go. Some platforms can feel rigid, but with Wix, I could tweak layouts, try different designs, and really make the site my own.

Best for:

Beginners who want full control and enjoy experimenting with design.

Best Budget Option

When I first started looking at website builders, budget was a big concern for me. I wanted something that didn’t cost a fortune but still let me get a professional site up and running. That’s when I tried Hostinger and honestly, its affordability was impossible to ignore.

Hostinger doesn’t just give you a builder it bundles hosting, website tools, a domain for a year, and even SSL security together at a price much lower than most competitors. Its drag‑and‑drop editor and built‑in AI tools helped me get started without stress, which was exactly what I needed as a beginner.

Hostinger felt like a good middle ground between simple builders and more advanced setups. It’s ideal if you want to learn while building.

Best for:

Budget-conscious users and those ready to go beyond beginner tools.

What I Learned From Building My Website

You don’t need coding skills to get started
Simple designs often work better than complex ones
Too many choices can slow you down
The most important step is just starting

There’s no single “best” option just the one that fits your needs.