The best church websites are beautiful, easy to navigate, and highly functional. But can you build amazing church websites on a budget…and without a coder?
Absolutely–with a church website builder.
In the following article, we'll take a look at 10 website builders for churches and how they can help you build a homepage that's both useful and well-designed.
<a href="#list-1" class="toc-link">Tithely</a>
<a href="#list-2" class="toc-link">Wordpress</a>
<a href="#list-3" class="toc-link">Web.com</a>
<a href="#list-4" class="toc-link">Sharefaith</a>
<a href="#list-5" class="toc-link">Ministry Designs</a>
<a href="#list-6" class="toc-link">Nucleus</a>
<a href="#list-7" class="toc-link">Wix</a>
<a href="#list-8" class="toc-link">Squarespace</a>
<a href="#list-9" class="toc-link">GoDaddy</a>
<a href="#list-10" class="toc-link">FaithConnector</a>
A church website platform is a tool that helps you to build your own church website without code or design knowledge.
These tools typically rely on church-specific templates that simplify the creation process by delivering features such as an event calendar, sermon recordings, and tool for receiving online donations.
Running a church is complex enough. You can't afford to spend tons of time and money on building and managing your church website. A church website platform helps you build a website, deliver church-specific features, and make updates with minimal effort.
Church website platforms usually include design templates and helpful features that are wired for running a church community. These may include:
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Extra features on a church web design platform may include a built-in media player for watching church online or listening to audio sermons, a search bar, and an email signup for receiving church newsletters.
Website builders are critical tools for you to build an awesome website with ease and confidence.
There's a wide range of creation tools out there. Choosing one platform can be a challenge–especially when many websites include customizable templates and design flexibility.
To choose a platform that works for your church, consider websites that rate high in terms of design quality and functionality. The best church website companies offer the ability to build a website that’s simple to maintain and comes without a high monthly cost.
To evaluate the best church website platforms, we took a look at several factors: ease of use, pricing, design quality, and range of features.
The best church website design software includes a range of design tools and high-quality features. These website builders can help churches deliver an awesome experience for church visitors and church admin.
Tithe.ly is a digital church platform that can help you build an excellent church website with minimal effort. For church staff, Tithe.ly sites are simple to set up and manage. For website visitors, Tithe.ly sites are easy to navigate.
Tithe.ly provides drag-and-drop functionality for building a website that's right for you. With a Tithe.ly website, you can go beyond the basics with an embedded media player, search engine optimization, prayer wall, site-wide search, and online forms.
Tithe.ly not only helps you create a beautiful website with built-in features for creating a great user experience; it helps you ensure that your church website is found on search engines with an SEO tool. It provides secure backup, unlimited user accounts, and unlimited storage.
Tithe.ly costs a one-time setup fee of $149 and a super low ongoing monthly fee of only $19 per month.
Tithe.ly's website builder is super easy to use (One user reports, “This is the third website that I've had to work with… and it is by far the easiest to use.") It comes with a wide range of functionality at a very low price.
If you're looking to code your own website, then Tithe.ly isn't a great option for you.
WordPress is one of the original website builders, and requires a bit of experience and knowledge to navigate.
WordPress sites include a range of features depending on the website template you choose. It's important to note that WordPress is not designed for churches, and as a result, does not necessarily highlight church templates. Extra features may be included with WordPress apps.
WordPress can help you build a very basic, no-nonsense church website for free.
WordPress does have a free plan, but increases in cost with even a small degree of customization.
With a wide range of customization options, WordPress can be highly flexible depending on the technical savvy of your admin staff (and your budget).
WordPress is not a drag-and-drop website builder (unless you use an app), and it doesn't include built-in features for churches
Web.com is simple to use and offers a basic, no-nonsense church website experience for churches looking to build a homepage.
Web.com includes features for integrating with other services (such as WordPress or email marketing tools). With a bit of elbow grease, Web.com can help you build a church website that helps you welcome new guests and engage with your members.
Web.com can help you build a basic, no-nonsense church website at a minimal cost.
After WordPress, Web.com has the cheapest plan, with a startup fee of less than $2.
Web.com may be easier to use than WordPress, with a basic drag-and-drop builder and intuitive design templates.
Though Web.com may be one of the cheapest options, it doesn't come with built-in features for churches. That can make it difficult for churches to easily build a website that really fits their needs.
Some users say that Sharefaith offers a decent user experience for churches looking to build websites. However, some users report that Sharefaith is not entirely intuitive as a creation tool.
Sharefaith includes crisp, responsive templates and specific features for churches–include a donations platform, a blog feature, and event calendar.
Sharefaith is a viable option for churches looking to create an online presence with design flexibility.
Sharefaith is a bit on the pricier side, costing up to $50 per month for the full package.
Sharefaith is one of the stronger church website providers, with helpful features that are specifically designed for churches.
Sharefaith is one of the more expensive options available, and includes limited storage.
Ministry Designs makes it easy to create well-done church websites with drag-and-drop functionality.
Ministry Designs offers block edit technology (basically, a drag-and-drop builder), event landing pages, and search engine optimization.
Ministry Designs offers an all-in-one central hub for churches to build an awesome website to engage new visitors and members.
Ministry Designs is one of the pricier options, starting at $57 per month and going up to $97 per month for the full package.
Ministry Designs is one of our favorite website builders, with a comprehensive package of features and functionality for churches.
Ministry Designs isn't a viable option for churches on a budget. To take full advantage of their functionality, you'll need to pay nearly $100 a month.
Nucleus makes it easy to build a beautiful website quickly and conveniently.
Nucleus is designed specifically for churches and has a wide range of features, including custom colors, drag-and-drop freedom, SEO control, app integrations, and a powerful search bar.
Nucleus' drag-and-drop editor works uniquely with "cards" to help you make edits to your site with ease.
Once Nucleus' 30-Day Free Trial ends, you'll be charged $99 a month at minimum–making this one of the pricier options.
Nucleus can help you build a beautiful, customizable website. It may be a fantastic choice for churches with big budgets and money to spare on their online presence.
Nucleus is very expensive.
Wix is a great choice for ease of use. Think of Wordpress, updated for simplicity.
Wix provides easy-to-use templates and an app store for adding specific functionality. Like Wordpress and web.com, it's not designed for churches. To add features specific to churches, you may need to stitch together multiple apps.
Wix makes it simple and inexpensive to put up a clean, aesthetically pleasing website.
Wix is free to use initially, but will cost you to optimize and customize.
In terms of design and ease of use, Wix rates high.
Wix is not designed for churches. And once you choose a theme, Wix makes it very difficult to change your mind.
Squarespace is a popular website builder that's intuitive and inexpensive.
With Squarespace, you can build a customizable website with a responsive homepage, menu bar, donation tool, contact form, and more.
Squarespace can help you build a clean, responsive website without a lot of effort.
Squarespace costs $14 for a personal website, and $23 for a business website (churches will most likely use the latter plan). The full suite of features can cost up to $49 per month.
Squarespace is easy to use, and can be an inexpensive choice for churches looking to create a very simple website.
Squarespace does not necessarily include church website templates, and will demand additional work to tailor a website to a church.
GoDaddy is best known for offering custom domains. That being said, you can now use GoDaddy to build a custom website. Like other options, GoDaddy offers simply drag-and-drop functionality.
GoDaddy offers a wide range of themes and an easy-to-use website editor.
GoDaddy can help you build a customizable, mobile-friendly site for free.
GoDaddy's most basic plan is free.
A GoDaddy website may be a viable option for a church looking to build a super simple website at an extremely low cost.
The GoDaddy website builder offers limited functionality for churches, and you can't switch back and forth between themes.
FaithConnector's "Flex Editor" makes it simple for you to build a church website without a background in coding.
FaithConnector offers features for customized design and an easy drag-and-drop interface.
FaithConnector can help you build an aesthetically pleasing church website with minimal effort.
FaithConnector starts at only $18 a month, but if you want to use their upgraded features (such as increased storage and a calendar), the monthly fee is $45.
FaithConnector has great customer support and a long history of building church websites.
FaithConnector's premium plan is $45 a month, and their setup fee is $250.
Your church website is not an afterthought. It's a key part of building your community, reaching out effectively to others, and engaging your membership with online resources. Your church website is also one of the primary places where you'll receive tithes and offerings. It should be clear and intuitive to navigate, on both desktop and mobile.
That being said, it's critical that you choose a church website builder that helps you build and manage a site that fits your needs. In 2022, that tool shouldn't have to cost a lot.
For churches looking to create a clean, responsive site with fresh graphics, a full set of features, and templates designed just for churches, Tithe.ly's website builder is a fantastic choice. Not only does Tithe.ly offer the tools and feature sets that churches need to thrive; it's easy to use and has a low startup/monthly cost.
While there are multiple church website providers, Tithe.ly provides the best value. With Tithe.ly's website builder, you can easily set up a site with the features, look, and functionality that you need. Regardless of your experience with website building, Tithe.ly provides you the tools you need to create a site that you–and your church community–will love.
Here are just a few features that Tithe.ly's website builder offers:
Plus, Tithe.ly websites only cost $19 a month to run.
A church website builder is a tool that can help you build a site without code. Typically, church website builders offer features such as online giving, a sermon series feature, and an event calendar.
If your church website is difficult to navigate, non-responsive on a mobile phone, or looks like a website from the early 2000's (Lots of text, no banner graphic, and very few graphics), then it's time to upgrade. Or, if you're missing features such as online giving or live streaming, then it's time to consider a tool that will help you offer those features.
Building a church website can be super expensive, especially if you hire a designer or agency to do it for you.
But it can also be very cost-effective. Tithe.ly’s website builder costs only $19 a month, with a $149 setup fee…making it a very affordable option for churches of every size!
