Price your website like a business expense
We rank builders on real monthly cost, launch speed, and whether the phone rings.
See the ranked boardThe ranking at a glance
Five builders, scored on the bill
Each builder gets a score out of 10 and its starting monthly price on annual billing. Read the price, then read the catch underneath it.
1 · Score 8.6/10
Wix
$17/mo Light, annual billing
Best overall for a service business. Taking payments needs the $29 Core plan.
2 · Score 8.3/10
Squarespace
$19/mo Basic, annual billing
Best-looking result. Booking is a separate Acuity subscription from $16/mo.
3 · Score 7.9/10
Hostinger
$2.99/mo intro, 48-month prepay
Cheapest credible all-in-one bundle. Renews at $10.99/mo after the prepaid term.
4 · Score 7.2/10
GoDaddy
$9.99/mo year one
Easiest if your domain already lives there. Intro pricing lasts only the first term.
5 · Score 7.0/10
Durable
$22/mo Launch
Fastest possible launch for local services when the page has to be live today.
Headline prices are not year-two prices. Prices were checked in August 2026 on annual billing. For the full ranking and reasoning, see the best website builder for small business review, or compare a Wix vs Hostinger for small business head-to-head.
Three tests, no art critique
Every builder on this site runs through the same three tests, the way you would read any recurring expense. We ignore the template gallery and ask whether the site pays for itself.
1. Cost per month, all-in
We count the year-two bill, not the intro sticker: renewals, forced plan upgrades and business email included. Hostinger's $2.99 is a four-year prepay that renews at $10.99.
2. Time to launch
We count the documented setup steps between signup and a live five-page site. Your evenings are finite, so every extra step counts against a builder.
3. Lead capture
Forms, bookings, chat and a contacts panel where enquiries actually land. A site that does not produce calls is a brochure you are renting.
Which builder fits your trade
Pick the builder by what your business has to do on the site. A plumber who needs bookings and quote requests has different needs from a shop that just needs to be found and looks right. Here is how we would sort it, from best overall down to the situational picks.
Wix: service businesses that need bookings and quotes
Wix scores 8.6 out of 10 and gives you bookings, quote forms and a contacts panel. Taking paid bookings or payments needs the Core plan at $29/mo, not the $17/mo Light tier.
Squarespace: when the look sells the work
Squarespace (8.3) makes the most polished site of the five, from $19/mo. Booking runs on Acuity, a separate subscription from $16/mo, so a salon can expect about $35/mo before email.
Hostinger: the cheapest credible bundle
Hostinger (7.9) starts at $2.99/mo, but that is a four-year prepay of $143.52 that renews at $10.99/mo. Appointment booking sits on the Unlimited tier at $3.99/mo intro.
GoDaddy: when your domain already lives there
GoDaddy (7.2) is the easiest path if your domain is already registered with them, from $9.99/mo in year one. Check the renewal figure, because intro pricing lasts only the first term. Read our full GoDaddy small business review.
Durable: when the page has to be up today
Durable (7.0) is the fastest route to a live service page, at $22/mo on Launch. Choose it when the deadline decides the matter; for deeper lead tools, Wix still comes out ahead.
For the full reasoning behind each score, read the best website builder for small business ranking.
Do you even need a website?
A free Google Business Profile does more than most owners expect, and less than they hope. For some shops it is enough on its own for a season. A website earns its line on the bill when it does the things a listing can't: take a booking, collect a quote request, and answer questions while you are closed.
A cheap one-page site is a valid place to start. Create your free Google Business Profile this week regardless of what else you buy. Read our breakdown of when a website is worth paying for.
Know the bill before you sign up
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