The landscape of website creation tools continues to evolve as 2026 progresses, with WYSIWYG platforms remaining a dominant force for businesses and individuals alike. According to Hostinger, the best WYSIWYG website builders include Hostinger AI Builder, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, Framer, WordPress.com, Duda, Webnode, and GoDaddy. These platforms share the core principle of “what you see is what you get,” allowing users to create and edit pages visually so the published website closely matches what appears in the editor.
Design capabilities and control vary significantly across the leading platforms. Hostinger AI Builder offers two distinct modes: manual mode functions like a traditional WYSIWYG builder with pre-designed templates, while agentic mode initiates website creation through conversation with the AI. The same account provides access to Hostinger Reach for creating AI-assisted email campaigns, with all plans including hosting and visual or AI-assisted website creation. Ecommerce functionality is available as an add-on at checkout.
Wix provides freeform drag-and-drop control, allowing users to position text, images, buttons, and other elements directly in the editor. With over 2,000 templates available, or the option to use Wix Harmony AI website builder, users can generate an initial design that is then customized visually. Site-wide controls manage recurring styles such as fonts and colors, ensuring changes do not have to be made page by page.
Squarespace pairs professionally designed templates with a visual editor, making it a strong fit for portfolios and business websites built around showcasing work such as photography, design, or architecture projects. Users choose a template as a foundation and then move and resize content directly on the page. Fonts, colors, buttons, and spacing can be adjusted across the site, with the ability to fine-tune desktop and mobile layouts separately. The platform also allows adding animations and movement effects directly in the visual editor.
Webflow distinguishes itself by offering much more control over the underlying page layout than a typical drag-and-drop builder. Templates and AI-generated websites provide ready-made foundations, while a blank site allows building from the ground up. In the visual editor, users can adjust sizing, spacing, typography, positioning, and responsive behavior in detail. However, this level of control comes with a steeper learning curve, as more advanced layouts require an understanding of how page elements are structured, sized, and positioned in relation to one another. Webflow charges separately for collaboration and ecommerce, with workspace plans starting at $19 per month for collaboration and ecommerce plans starting at $29 per month.
Framer offers a freeform canvas for visually designing websites, making it well-suited to landing pages built around a single campaign or product. Users can build from scratch, customize a template, or generate an initial design using AI. Elements sit directly on the canvas where position, size, typography, spacing, animations, and interactions can be adjusted. Separate controls for desktop, tablet, and mobile allow refining the layout for different screen sizes.
Other platforms in the comparison include Shopify, which is designed primarily for online stores with its visual editor working within the structure of an ecommerce storefront. The platform starts with hundreds of themes or AI-generated designs, with responsive layouts adjusting the design for different screen sizes. Webnode and GoDaddy round out the list, while WordPress.com and Duda offer additional options for users with varying needs regarding design control, ecommerce functionality, and agency management of client websites.
When selecting a WYSIWYG website builder, the best choice depends on the specific needs of the project. The best ones provide the right level of design control, keep layouts reliable on mobile, and include the tools a website needs beyond the editor. Many now offer AI tools, templates, hosting, ecommerce, and SEO features on a single platform. Users should consider factors such as the need for ecommerce functionality, the importance of design flexibility versus ease of use, and budget constraints when making a decision.
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Originally reported by Hostinger.
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