Imagine you’re a sculptor, but instead of chiseling away at stone, your material is as malleable as air and responds to your every command, shaping itself to your vision. That’s what it feels like to use an AI builder to create a new website.
AI website builders are user-friendly tools that seamlessly generate websites according to your ideas and needs, without requiring design skills or technical knowledge. The technology has evolved dramatically in recent years, making it easier than ever to create a professional online presence. According to a Gartner report, AI will be used to build 60% of new website and mobile apps by 2026.
Here's how these AI-powered website creators work, along with the best options available today.
What is an AI website builder?
An AI website builder uses artificial intelligence to create websites based on your vision Building a website used to require choosing templates and manually designing each element. Now, AI builders can generate complete websites from simple descriptions of what you want.
Think of it as having a digital designer and developer rolled into one—except this one works instantly, doesn't charge by the hour, and is available 24/7. You provide the vision and content, and the AI handles the technical aspects of bringing your website to life.
The best AI website builders combine the speed and efficiency of artificial intelligence with the flexibility to customize the results. This gives you the perfect balance: quick setup with the ability to make your site uniquely yours.
How do AI website builders work?
An AI website builder starts by gathering information about your website’s purpose, target audience, and visual style. Providing this information might involve answering questions, selecting keywords, or providing examples of similar websites.
The AI site generator then uses algorithms to craft a website framework that includes your requested content, design, and functionality. For example, an AI website builder might generate a page layout and suggest design themes with relevant color schemes, fonts, and images. Depending on your AI builder’s capabilities, it might also recommend features like contact forms, photo galleries, or an ecommerce checkout.
When you use an AI website builder, artificial intelligence generates the initial framework, but you’re not stuck with its suggestions. Most builders let you customize the design and layout, add features, and edit content.
Getting the most from AI prompts
The secret to using an AI website builder is knowing how to communicate your vision. When describing what you want, be specific about:
- What your business does and who it serves
- The feeling you want your website to evoke (professional, playful, luxurious, etc.)
- Key features you need (online store, booking system, contact form)
- Colors, images, or styles that reflect your brand
For example, if you're building a website for your plant shop, you might tell the AI: "I run a boutique plant shop in Seattle that specializes in rare houseplants for urban apartments. Our customers are mostly young professionals who value sustainability, and our brand colors are sage green and terracotta."
The more detailed you are, the closer the result will be to your vision.
Best AI website builders
Here are some of the best AI-enabled website builders, according to customer reviews:
Shopify
Shopify now has an AI store builder tool, allowing entrepreneurs to use a description of their business as the basis for an entire website. To use, simply enter a prompt about your company or products and watch your business spring to life.
With the ability to create a fully functioning website in minutes, business owners can redirect time saved towards crucial activities like product development, marketing, and sourcing products.
Once you have your new storefront, you can use Shopify’s website builder to create your landing pages and product listings. Shopify users also gain access to Shopify Magic and other AI features that offer guidance on everything from setting up shipping to generating reports. .
All Shopify users can access the new AI store setup for free, plus hosting, a subdomain, SSL encryption, and ecommerce tools. Try Shopify’s AI website builder with a free trial.
Appy Pie
Appy Pie is a cloud-based platform with various AI tools for app development, website creation, and business solution development. It has a free AI website builder with basic features, limited storage space, and an Appy Pie subdomain.
Bookipi
Bookipi uses AI to simplify site creation for small businesses, freelancers, and solopreneurs who need a basic portfolio website. It starts by gathering information about your business through a questionnaire, asking for details about your industry, target audience, and desired website features.
Bookipi then drafts a general website framework, generating text for various sections of your website and suggesting color schemes, fonts, and stock images.
Bookipi offers a free plan with essential tools and pricing tiers with additional features.
Duda
Duda caters to agencies and web design professionals. Its AI assistant generates content for various website sections, including page titles and descriptions, saving time and ensuring SEO best practices. It can also translate website content into multiple languages, making it easier to reach international markets.
Duda offers various pricing plans based on available features and the number of websites you need to manage.
Jimdo
Jimdo personalizes the website building process based on your input, with tools for mobile and SEO optimization, as well as online store features. Jimdo has a free AI website builder plan with limited tools, while paid plans offer more storage, bandwidth, and a custom domain name.
Hostinger
Hostinger focuses on usability and offers AI tools like a heat map and a logo maker. The AI heat map tool identifies areas where visitors spend time on your website, so you can optimize your layout for better engagement.
The AI-powered logo maker lets you generate logo concepts based on inputs like your company name and industry keywords.
Hostinger offers a free AI website builder plan with limited features and branding. Paid plans provide more storage, bandwidth, and the ability to connect your own domain name.
SITE123
SITE123 has all the tools for basic SEO optimization and integrates with popular business apps. Its TextAI app can generate product descriptions and add features or services to your website.
SITE123 offers a free AI website builder plan with limited features or paid plans with more storage, bandwidth, and custom domain names.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s user-friendly interface offers tools for mobile and SEO optimization, plus ecommerce features for online selling. Its AI tool suggests designs based on your preferences.
Squarespace offers a free trial of its AI website builder, with paid plans providing various levels of features, storage, and bandwidth.
Webflow
Webflow offers a blend of a visual design interface and code export capabilities, allowing for greater design flexibility and customization than other AI website builders. Webflow’s search functionality uses AI to help you find website elements, assets, or tutorials quickly. It includes a built-in content management system and ecommerce features.
Webflow has a free generator plan with limited features and projects. Paid plans provide more features, website projects, and CMS collections.
Wix
Wix’s AI web builder creates a customized website based on your answers to a brief questionnaire and offers a simple drag-and-drop editor for easy customization. It includes all the tools for SEO optimization, ecommerce functionalities, and built-in marketing apps.
Wix offers a free AI-assisted website plan with limited features (although your website will display Wix branding). Paid plans offer more storage, bandwidth, and custom domain names.
WordPress
WordPress’s user-friendly platform includes some AI-powered features in its free plan, like theme suggestions. There is a large plug-in and theme library, allowing for extensive customization and functionality.
WordPress offers a free plan with limited features, storage, and customization options. Paid plans include custom themes and plug-ins.
AI website builder FAQ
Can you use AI to build websites?
AI website builders use artificial intelligence to simplify the website creation process. They work via user-friendly prompts that allow anyone to create a website or online store. While AI website generators suggest a page design and foundational features, users can customize their website using the tools found in most website builders.
Is there a free AI website builder?
There are several free AI website builders, including Bookipi and WordPress. Shopify’s AI store building features are free for all subscribers. Free standalone website generators offer basic layout and content generation, but may restrict access to more advanced features.
Can ChatGPT design a website?
ChatGPT can generate parts of a website, like snippets of code, website ideas, blog posts, or product descriptions. But it can’t generate a full website. To design and create a real website using AI, you’ll need to use an AI website builder like Shopify.
How much does an AI website builder cost?
Most AI website builders offer tiered pricing based on what you need. Most offer free plans to get you started, though they typically show the builder's branding on your site and have limited features. For small businesses, expect to pay between $10-50 per month for premium plans that remove branding and add more capabilities. If you need advanced features or higher performance, plans can range from $50-100+ monthly.
Do AI website builders create SEO-friendly websites?
Yes. AI website builders create sites with clean code, fast loading times, and mobile-friendly designs. Many also include built-in tools to help you optimize your content, headings, and metadata for better visibility in search results. Some even analyze your content and suggest improvements to help you rank higher.
Can I move my existing website to an AI website builder?
AMany AI website builders have tools to import your existing site. The process is usually as simple as entering your current website address and letting the AI analyze and recreate your site on the new platform. The AI preserves your content and overall structure while often improving the design and underlying code.
