Every website builder advertises a low monthly number, and almost nobody pays it. The real question in 2026 isn't "what does the cheapest plan cost" — it's which plan you actually need before the builder stops getting in your way. That tier is where the real comparison happens, and it ranges from $8 to $49 a month.
CloudMart tracks pricing for the major no-code platforms. Here's the honest comparison across Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Framer, and WordPress.com — plus when you should use none of them.
Entry prices vs. the plan you'll actually need
| Builder | Cheapest plan | The plan most people need | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com | Personal — $4/mo | Premium $8 or Business $25 | Plugins (the reason to pick WordPress) need Business |
| Framer | Mini — $10/mo | Basic $20 | Mini is landing-page-only (limited pages) |
| Wix | Light — $17/mo | Core $29 | Light has no e-commerce and tight storage |
| Webflow | Basic — $18/mo (free Starter exists) | CMS $29 | Content sites need the CMS; Business $49 at scale |
| Squarespace | Personal — $25/mo | Business $36 | Personal blocks custom code and advanced blocks |
Prices as tracked on June 12, 2026, monthly billing. Annual billing typically shaves 20–30% off — check the live No-Code marketplace for current numbers.
The short version of each
WordPress.com — content and ownership
The cheapest real entry point ($4–8/mo) and the most flexible ceiling (50,000+ plugins on Business). Steepest learning curve of the group, and the low tiers are deliberately limited. Pick it for blogs, publications, and anything you might want to migrate or own long-term.
Framer — design-forward landing pages
The best-looking output per hour of effort, with proper animations and a Figma-like editor. Weak CMS and e-commerce. Pick it for portfolios, product launches, and marketing pages where motion design sells.
Wix — fastest from zero to live
Largest template library and the gentlest editor for non-technical users; the AI site generator gets you live in an hour. The trade-off is lock-in — Wix sites don't export. Pick it for local businesses and first-time site owners.
Webflow — professional control without code
Pixel-level design control, clean exportable code, and a real CMS. The learning curve is closer to a design tool than a website builder. Pick it for agencies, design-led brands, and content sites that need to look custom.
Squarespace — polished with zero effort
The most consistently good-looking templates with the least design skill required. Less flexible than Webflow, fewer integrations than WordPress. Pick it for photographers, restaurants, consultants — anyone who wants "done and beautiful" over "customizable."
Selling online changes the math
If e-commerce is the point of the site, the builders above are the wrong starting place. Shopify's Basic plan at $39/mo costs more than any builder tier here, but its checkout, payments, shipping, and app ecosystem are what every "commerce add-on" is imitating. Shopify's $5 Starter plan is also the cheapest way to sell anywhere — it skips the storefront and gives you checkout links you can drop into social bios.
And when to skip builders entirely
If you want a web app — accounts, logic, data — rather than a web site, AI app builders like Lovable ($25/mo) generate a working React + Supabase application from a plain-English description. And if you're a developer, a free Vercel or Netlify tier plus a template beats every option on this page on price.
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Find my platform →Related: what's genuinely free in cloud hosting — including the static-hosting tiers that make personal sites cost $0.