Millions of non-churchgoers visit church websites every year. In fact, most of your first-time visitors checked your church's website before walking through the door.

That means your church website is people's first impression of your church. But...

...is it a good impression?

If not, the church website builders listed below will give you the tools you need to give your church website a facelift, no matter your church budget or size!

Best Value Church Website Builder: Weebly

If you're looking for the most bang for your buck, Weebly is the church web builder for you.

What I love most about Weebly is that even its basic plan is more than just "basic." The features they offer even at their lowest tiers are really impressive.

Other platforms may offer even more powerful resources and modern designs, but your church can at least use this platform to get a great website up and running with plans to upgrade to a more powerful platform later.

Honorable Mention: Squarespace

Squarespace is another great platform and still a good value. I've used it for my business and loved it. Content management is a breeze and making a great-looking website for your church is easier than any other platform I've used. I prefer it to Weebly. However, with their monthly prices starting at $25 and no free option, Weebly is a better value.

Best Customizable Church Website Builder: WordPress.org

We've already written a whole post about how great WordPress for churches can be. Check that out for a deep dive.

The short version is that your church can have a great website with WordPress.org using the Astra theme and the Elementor plugin.

Using the Elementor plugin with the Astra theme makes customization a simple drag-and-drop process, but creates a beautiful website that will impress potential visitors. You can't lose with this combo.

Best Website Builder for Small Churches: WordPress.com

No, I didn't just repeat myself!

WordPress.com is a different product than WordPress.org. WordPress.com is an option for churches that don't have the time or technical know-how to self-host a website and fully customize it.

WordPress.com gives you thousands of great templates to choose from that are easy to customize and manage.

You can create a church website for free, though the domain name will be branded by WordPress. A fully customizable domain (and other great features) can be yours for just $4/month*. That's probably the most affordable paid option on the market, making it the best small church website builder by far.

*Read the "What About the Church Domain" section below before purchasing the domain via WordPress.com

Best FREE Church Website Builder: Church Connect

At ChurchTrac, we know that your ministry needs a great online presence to stand out. We also know how tough it is for most churches to juggle designing a website and managing their ministry at the same time.

That's why we created Church Connect! It's a church website, smartphone app, and member portal rolled into one easy-to-use feature in the church management platform.

Church Connect comes at no extra cost. You get a church website builder in the same program you're using to manage your ministry.

It doesn't get any better than that!

Best Premium Church Website Builder: The Church Co

The Church Co is a platform that specializes in giving churches like yours an awesome, easy-to-manage website. I'm really impressed by their templates and their reviews speak for themselves.

However, no free plan and the cheapest subscription starts at $29/month. They'll help you migrate from your old church website to their platform and will even help you with local SEO and Google grants. But all of this comes at a steep cost. This is the most expensive option listed in this post.

But the end results speak for themselves. They offer the most modern church website templates and they all look amazing. Having local SEO assistance can be a real game changer.

Best Church Website Builder Overall: WordPress

I've spoken to many church leaders who use WordPress. All of them love how easy it is to get started and manage.

Whether you have the technical know-how to create a church website from scratch with WordPress.org or want a turnkey process with WordPress.com, this platform will help you create a great church website.

Key Church Website Builder Features

When choosing a church website creator, consider the following questions or features:

Is it user-friendly?

No matter your skill level, the church website builder you choose has to be user-friendly. There's no use choosing a platform that leaves you frustrated.

That's why we recommend adding the Elementor plugin if you choose WordPress.org. This turns a complex process into a simple drag-and-drop website building experience.

Themes

Always check the themes or templates before choosing a church website maker.

Make sure they are modern and simple, yet give you space to add the content you want.

Support

I've seen some platforms hide support behind their more pricey tiers. Others have long wait times before you get the answer you need.

Choose a platform that offers support no matter what subscription level you choose. Great support is critical for any software platform for your church.

Integrations and Extensions

It's best to avoid bogging down your site with too many plugins and widgets, so use them sparingly. However, you still need a website that allows you to connect your calendar, online giving, and other important features.

Pricing

You already know this, but it's worth saying: Affordability is crucial

Some platforms cost more than others. Focus on your budget and choose the best option to build a church website within that budget.

What About the Church Domain?

If you don't already own your church domain and need to purchase one... DON'T buy or register your church domain through a web host.

Why?

If you ever want to switch to a different church website builder/web host, switching your domain purchased through them to another can be a hassle! I've spoken with church leaders who had to wait multiple days for their domain to be released from that vendor so they could use it on another platform. Some had so much trouble they just gave up and purchased a new domain!

Buy a church domain from a reputable site like Namecheap or Godaddy to avoid this issue.

Yes, it is an added step to register a church domain separately. But the customization and ease of switching to different hosting providers will trump the 10 minutes of time savings you get from purchasing everything together at a single provider.

Church Website Builder FAQs

What website builder do churches use?

Popular website builders for churches are:

• WordPress
• Squarespace
• GoDaddy
• Weebly
• Your ChMS

How to create a website for a church?

Ideally, you would use the church website builder included with your church management software, like Church Connect. That's the easiest and most affordable option.

But any of the website creators above will help you create an awesome church website. Just choose the best platform for your church to get started.

Is Wix a good website builder for churches?

I've talked to many church leaders who use Wix and love it. It's worth looking into for your church.

However, Wix works best for eCommerce businesses. In my opinion, of all the website-building platforms, Wix is least suited for churches.

Can I create a church website for free?

Yes, and there are a couple of ways to make that happen.

Some website builders, like WordPress, allow you to get started with a free account. However, free subscriptions are typically very limited in what you can do and customize.

Or you can use the website builder included in your church management software, like Church Connect! This is the easiest option because it means you have a website without adding another platform to learn.

Should a church have a website?

Absolutely

A website can be a huge value add to your church. It will appear in a Google query if someone searches "churches near me," making it more likely that they will visit your church. That's free advertising!

So long as you keep the site updated and implement local SEO, a church website is a homerun.

How many pages should a church website have?

Every church is different. There is no one-size-fits-all number of pages your site should have.

But there are 8 pages that almost every church website should have. These are:

• Service times and location
• About us
• Meet the staff
• Mission and vision
• Statement of beliefs
• Prayer requests
• Connection form or Contact page
• Sermon Archive

Build a Church Website to Spread the Gospel

Building a church website that leaves a great first impression has never been easier. Just evaluate your budget and your skillset, then choose one of the website design platforms above to get started.

No matter the platform you choose, create a website that helps your community know your church better and encounter the power of the Gospel!

Matt Church Engagement