Summary of "I built one website 20 times— to find the BEST website builder"

Summary of Key Information from the Video "I built one website 20 times— to find the BEST website builder"

Project Context

Categories of Website Builders Tested

  1. Definitely Not Category (4 builders)
    • GoDaddy:
      • Sneaky upselling of Microsoft 365 email product added to cart without clear consent.
      • Charges $130/year after first year, which was unexpected.
      • Red flag for trustworthiness.
    • Mailchimp:
      • Misleading marketing email opt-in checkbox (default opts you in unless you actively check).
      • Charged earlier than promised.
      • Overall poor first impression and trust issues.
    • Google Sites:
      • Free and not shady.
      • Very limited customization (cannot move text freely, forced darkening of images).
      • Non-removable search icon and extra icons clutter navigation.
      • Suitable only for very basic or academic sites.
    • (Zoho Sites mentioned but not reviewed in detail.)
  2. Blank Canvas Editors
    • Canva:
      • Allows dragging any element anywhere (like a document editor).
      • No real responsive design; site just shrinks on smaller screens.
      • Lacks structure needed for websites to look good on all devices.
      • Not suitable for professional websites.
  3. Section Editors
    • Example: Square
    • Build pages by adding pre-designed sections made of fixed elements.
    • You can toggle elements on/off but cannot add new elements or rearrange them.
    • Easy to use but very limited and cookie-cutter feel.
    • Lack of flexibility frustrating (e.g., limited footer options).
    • Overall, too limited for serious customization.
  4. Just Okay Category
    • Wix:
      • Achieved desired look but process was clunky and confusing.
      • Uses "strips" and columns for layout, which require understanding grid lines.
      • Responsive design was incomplete; elements disappeared on smaller screens.
      • Overall, trial and error needed; not fully intuitive.
    • Duda, One.com, WordPress.com, Web.com:
      • Could build close to desired site but editors felt overwhelming or confusing.
      • Lots of hunting through menus, not intuitive.
      • Trial and error required.
  5. AI Website Builders
    • Examples: Durable, Squarespace AI, Wix AI, Framer AI.
    • AI-generated sites were generic, vague, or unfinished.
    • AI better suited for generating website text rather than full site design.
    • AI-generated images felt depersonalized and stock-photo-like.
    • Conclusion: AI is a helpful text tool but not yet reliable for full website generation.
  6. Budget-Friendly Builders
    • Hostinger:
      • Very simple, no-frills builder with limited elements.
      • Cannot adjust fine details like button padding.
      • Suitable for very basic sites without complex features.
      • Pricing: $2.99/month if paid 4 years upfront; renews at $10.99/month.
    • Card:
      • Designed for single-page websites only.
      • Very cheap ($19/year, not introductory pricing).
      • Not very intuitive.
      • Best for those who can fit entire site on one page.
  7. Design Tools (Developer-Level Control)
    • Web Flow:
      • Provides full CSS-level control, akin to front-end development.
      • Can build highly complex, custom sites (e.g., Apple’s website).
      • Steep learning curve; requires knowledge of web design concepts (flexbox, positioning).
      • Time-consuming to learn but extremely powerful.
    • Framer:
      • Similar to Web Flow but somewhat easier.
      • Great for complex, sophisticated sites needing custom animations, sliders, calculators.
    • Best suited for professional designers or complex projects.
    • Overkill for simple small business or personal websites.

Top Pick: Squarespace

Overall Lessons and Recommendations

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