Ready to hire a web designer for your real estate site? Hold that thought. A custom website can cost thousands of dollars, and you might have to wait for weeks before it goes live. If you’re a small business, there are smarter, more affordable options available.
One solution is to use a website maker like Wix to save time and money without compromising on quality. Select a template, then customize it to your liking through a drag-and-drop interface. It’s that simple.
By comparison, a web designer or developer will charge around $1,000 to $7,000 or more for a small business website. Plus, you may have to pay extra for ongoing maintenance, hosting, and future design changes.
Given these aspects, you might be better off with a website builder. Here’s what you should know—and how to choose a user-friendly platform that won’t break the bank.
What Is a Website Builder?
To date, DIY website builders have powered more than 25 million websites—and counting. Over eight million, or roughly 10%, were built with Wix, followed by Squarespace (8%) and GoDaddy (6%).
But what exactly is a website builder? At its core, it’s an online tool that enables users to create websites and web pages without writing code. Some require minimal coding knowledge, but most come with ready-made templates you can customize using a drag-and-drop interface.
These templates usually include placeholder text and images, which you can preview in demo mode. When it’s time to customize, you simply swap them out by dragging and dropping your photos, videos, block quotes, customer reviews, and other elements into place.
In May 2025, All About Cookies surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers, about one-third of whom had previously built a website. Of those, nearly 75% used a website builder and 32% coded their site from scratch.
Method | Percentage | What it means |
Consumers who used a website builder | 74% | The majority preferred DIY platforms |
Coded from scratch | 32% | Built their site manually with code |
Hired a web designer/developer | 18% | Outsourced website development. |
Website builders are accessible and convenient, giving you full control over the design process. However, features vary across providers, so it’s important to explore your options before committing to a subscription.
This brings us to the next point…
Top Template Website Builders for Real Estate Agencies
Most website builders look similar at first glance, but beneath the surface, they differ in functionality, ease of use, pricing, and overall value. For example, some include built-in hosting, security features, and SEO tools, while others don’t.
With that in mind, let’s compare the seven best website builders for small real estate agencies:
1. Design.com
Design.com is one of the best website builders for real estate professionals seeking a fast, visually stunning online presence. With over 1 million design templates and advanced AI technology, the platform creates fully-branded, mobile-responsive websites in just minutes. Design.com has earned a solid 4.7-star Trustpilot rating from over 3,000 reviews, delivering a comprehensive digital ecosystem where your brand colors seamlessly flow through every page, template, and design element.
Real estate agents who sign up with Design.com gain access to:
- Free website builder with advanced, mobile-responsive templates designed for real estate
- AI-powered design suite including website builder, logo generator, business card creator, and 50+ additional tools
- Automatic brand consistency with your logo colors applied across all website pages and templates
- Built-in domain registration to secure your professional web address instantly
- SEO-friendly website structure to help your real estate business rank in local searches
- Seamless integration of property listings, contact forms, and lead capture tools
- Free digital business cards and link-in-bio pages
- Complete suite of marketing materials, including social media graphics, presentations, and flyers
Pros
- AI-driven platform makes professional website creation incredibly fast and simple
- Largest template library (1M+) ensures your site stands out from competitors
- All-in-one ecosystem eliminates the need for multiple design subscriptions
2. BrandCrowd
BrandCrowd has established itself as one of the top website builders in the industry, backed by an exceptional 4.8-star Trustpilot rating from over 9,000 verified customer reviews. With over 350,000 vetted templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, even agents with no technical experience can launch a polished website in minutes.
With BrandCrowd, real estate agents can access:
- Free website builder with professionally-designed, mobile-responsive templates
- 350,000+ professionally vetted design templates checked for originality and quality
- AI tools, including a logo generator, a business name generator, and a background remover
- Automatic brand consistency with colors flowing seamlessly across your entire website
- SEO-optimized website structure to improve visibility in search results
- Integrated contact forms and lead capture functionality for client inquiries
- 50+ design tools for business cards, social media content, presentations, and marketing materials
- Voting poll feature to gather feedback from team members or clients on design choices
- Domain registration services built into the platform
Pros
- Proven quality backed by thousands of verified 5-star customer reviews
- Professional vetting process ensures all designs meet high commercial standards
- Collaborative features like voting polls perfect for team decision-making
Wix
Wix is an all-in-one website maker for individuals, businesses, and creative professionals. It features over 2,600 pre-built templates, including 40 designed for real estate agencies. All of them are customizable, responsive, and SEO-friendly, enabling users to create fully functional websites with just a few clicks.
Customers can start with a free plan to get a feel for the platform, or sign up for a premium plan that includes:
Custom domain name
Multi-cloud hosting
AI creation tools
Marketing tools
Website analytics
24/7 customer support
Depending on the plan you choose, you may gain access to advanced features like built-in eCommerce tools, mobile bookings, subscriptions, customer accounts, online payments, and more. Plus, every plan includes a free domain name for one year, regardless of your membership level.
Pros
All-in-one platform with marketing, eCommerce, and industry-specific tools
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
2. Squarespace
Squarespace offers more than 180 pre-built templates, including 11 for real estate agents. The templates are visually stunning and can be easily customized via a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
If you’re new to Squarespace, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial to test its features. After that, select one of the four subscription plans available. All plans include the following:
Built-in SEO tools
Invoicing tools
Video hosting
Web analytics
Squarespace Extensions
Audience management tools
Online memberships
24/7 customer support
Squarespace keeps things straightforward with a streamlined interface and a focus on sleek designs. By comparison, Wix offers a more hands-on experience, giving you the freedom to tweak nearly every aspect of your site.
Pros
Visually appealing templates with a sleek design
Unlimited storage and bandwidth
3. GoDaddy
Real estate agents who sign up with GoDaddy can choose from 13 industry-specific templates. These are customizable, though not as flexible as those offered by Wix or Squarespace.
GoDaddy’s drag-and-drop interface is ideal for non-technical users, enabling them to build a professional-looking website in minutes. Plus, all plans include helpful features like:
Intuitive website editing tools
AI writing and content creation tools
Web analytics
Unlimited storage
Free professional email
This website builder is designed with speed and simplicity in mind. Though it doesn’t have as many features as Wix, Squarespace, or similar platforms, it’s fast, convenient, and easy to use.
Pros
Fast and intuitive
Solid marketing tools
4. Placester
Placester is one of the few website builders designed specifically for real estate professionals. Its 30 templates feature over 5,000 customization options, including interactive maps, area pages, custom forms, and live previews of available properties.
With Placester, you can connect your website to your CRM system and marketing tools, set up triggers for lead generation, and integrate your MLS database. You can also choose to have a Placester expert set up your site for you—or simply assist whenever you need help.
Pros
Ready-made templates with over 5000 customization options
Built-in IDX capabilities
5. Easy Agent PRO
Easy Agent PRO offers fully customizable templates tailored to the needs of real estate businesses. Users can showcase their services and listings, add lead-capture forms, and display dynamic content based on visitor behavior.
The platform also comes with various add-ons that enhance its functionality. For example, you can automate lead nurturing, promote open houses, or create neighborhood pages.
Just like Placester, Easy Agent PRO has a team of experts who can build and customize your website. However, this service involves significantly higher costs compared to the DIY approach.
Pros
Seamless integration with all major CRMs
Industry-specific features, such as IDX mapping and open house templates
Which Website Builder Is Best for Your Real Estate Business?
Each website builder has its own strengths, offering a distinct experience compared to its competitors. That’s why it’s important to consider your technical proficiency and what matters most for your real estate business.
If you run a small agency and want to keep costs low, go for an affordable, user-friendly option like Wix or Squarespace. The starter plans from Placester or Easy Agent PRO are solid picks, too, especially if you’re aiming to grow quickly.
Our advice? Start by assessing your specific needs. Once that’s clear, make a list of must-have features—like IDX integration, mobile responsiveness, lead capture tools, or customizable templates. Next, compare at least three website builders that fit your budget and offer those features.
Note that most platforms include a free plan or free trial. If that option is available, take advantage of it before jumping all in.
FAQs
What is a website builder, and how does it work?
A website builder is an online tool that allows users to create websites and web pages without needing to write any code. It typically offers ready-made templates that can be customized using a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels. Users can replace placeholder text and images by dragging and dropping their own content, and most builders even provide demo modes for previewing changes.
Which website builders are recommended for small real estate agencies?
The article recommends several website builders for small real estate agencies, including Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Placester, and Easy Agent PRO. Each of these builders has its strengths, such as Wix’s extensive template selection and customization options, Squarespace’s visually appealing designs, and Placester’s industry-specific features for real estate professionals.
What features should I look for in a website builder for real estate?
When selecting a website builder for your real estate business, consider must-have features like IDX integration (to display property listings), mobile responsiveness, lead capture tools, customizable templates, built-in SEO tools, and comprehensive analytics. Assessing your specific needs and comparing features across different builders can greatly influence the effectiveness of your website.
Can I try a website builder before committing to a subscription?
Yes, most website builders offer a free plan or a trial period that allows you to test their features before making a financial commitment. Taking advantage of these options is a smart strategy to ensure the platform suits your needs and preferences without risking your budget upfront.
