Hostinger Website Builder Review The Budget-Friendly Version of Wix?
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Hostinger has been around for quite a while, providing web hosting services, email accounts, and domain names. Back in 2019, they introduced their website builder, which used to be called Zyro, to help folks build sleek websites without any technical know-how.
Hostinger's Website Builder has a bunch of handy AI tools that make setting things up a breeze, and it won’t break the bank. Still, it's good to check out the quality of their templates and how easy it is to use the service, along with a few other things...
In this review, I'm gonna share what I think about Hostinger after using it for a few weeks.
Hostinger Website Builder Review: Summary
While it started out with limited features, they’re slowly expanding as you can see in their public roadmap. For instance, when the website builder first launched they didn’t have ecommerce plans, which they have since introduced.
They’ve got some work to do; they’re missing a few things that others already have. Like, they don’t have an app store, email sending features, and there’s no free plan either.
Videos
- Hostinger Website Builder Video Review
Hostinger Website Builder Screenshots
Hostinger Website Builder Pricing
Premium Website Builder
Build up to 100 websites. Suitable for building a small business website or professional portfolio. Includes AI website builder.
Business Website Builder
Adds ecommerce features and the full range of AI tools, including image generator, writer, heatmap, and SEO tools.
*Big discounts apply in the first term.
The prices listed are for 1-year subscriptions after renewal. Please be aware that they offer big discounts for the first term, so you can get their website builder at half the price. And if you choose to go with Hostinger for a longer term (e.g. 24 or 48 months), the price will be significantly lower.
Pros and Cons of Hostinger Website Builder
- Pros
- Cons
Pros
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Low prices
Hostinger offers great deals for long-term commitments–particularly when compared to Wix.
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Fast and easy editor
With its grid-lock section, all you really need to do is literally drag the “element” and let it drop into place. It is also possible to resize and adjust every part of the template you choose.
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AI Website Builder
Its intuitive AI website builder can generate a decent-looking website design with very few prompts.
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Multilingual websites
Adding a language switcher and translations to your site is a straightforward process.
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Excellent live chat support
Aside from reaching out via email or a contact form, reading the knowledge base, you can access support faster via live chat.
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Templates
Hostinger’s creator offers more than 100 stylish templates that you can customize to fit your needs perfectly.
Rating Details
A More Detailed Look at Hostinger Website Builder’s Features
Choosing Hostinger Website Builder for Ecommerce
In spite of its limitations when compared to other popular website builders, Hostinger is ready for anyone who wants to sell online. The platform offers website templates, a drag and drop editor, and AI tools (logo generator, image generator, and even AI writer). You can sell physical and digital products, as well as services (plus, accept donations). All of these are very handy for budding entrepreneurs looking to set up their online presence.
But there is one major drawback. Hostinger Website Builder offers only basic ecommerce functionality and allows for up to just 500 products, which makes it suitable for small stores only.
With that in mind, let’s see what ecommerce options are available:
Number of products: Supports 500 products with up to 50 variants each.
Payment options: 20+ online payment options. You can see the variety of online payment methods Hostinger accepts here.
Features: Email notifications, order management, inventory management, and secure online payments are included in each ecommerce plan. More advanced features like shipping and tax management, as well as the ability to add discount codes, are also available.
Overall, we think it’s a decent, affordable option if you’re looking to run a small store with local/national shipping only. If you’re looking to run a larger store targeting an international audience, solutions like Wix and Shopify have stronger capabilities and a longer track record in this market.
Beginner’s Guide to Using Hostinger Website Builder
To create your Hostinger website, you can start from scratch, use a template, or use the AI Website Builder.
You have access to over 150 templates, distributed across 18 categories including Fashion, eCommerce, Restaurants, and Portfolio. They look professionally designed (as they are) but lack the crisp, clean style and character found in design-focused platforms such as Wix or Squarespace. This is the price you pay for the platform’s simplicity and ease of use.
Although you can edit your template to your liking, you can’t switch to a new template without having to start over.
If you want a change of template you’ll need to transfer the content manually to the new site. That’s a drag if you want to overhaul your site’s look. When using Hostinger, however, this can be a real stumbling block.
If you’re not happy with the template, opt for the AI website generator. All you need to do is enter your brand name, select website type, and add a description of your brand or project. You can also select your preferred website style and color palette. You’ll get a complete website design that’s ready to edit instantly. If you’re not happy with the design, you can request to regenerate it. Simple!
Clicking on the “Create a website” button will direct you to the editor. Since the screen is very bare, it can be intimidating. But there’s a fun Quick Start Guide that walks you through nine key steps to get started.
Hostinger Website Builder Editor: Zippy and Intuitive
Hostinger’s editor is definitely one of its coolest features. Unlike Wix, it feels way less overwhelming and has a neat layout. You’ve got a sidebar that lets you add elements, tweak navigation, style things up, and even access AI tools.
In each element’s category, you’ll see the main features and settings you’ll need. Once you get used to it, it’s a breeze to use. There are clear icons for duplicating, uploading, moving things around, undoing, redoing, and switching between the desktop and mobile editors.
You can easily flip between the mobile and desktop versions. The mobile editor helps you tweak elements, so your website looks great on all those devices.
Outstanding Extra Features: Marketing and AI-Powered Tools
Hostinger’s Marketing Integrations
This website builder connects with Google Analytics, Hotjar, and Tag Manager to help you check out your site’s traffic and how visitors are behaving. Plus, it lets you keep an eye on social media with Facebook Pixel and Pinterest Tag.
Sure, it might not have all the fancy tools that GoDaddy or Squarespace offer, but the integrations give you some great insights to fine-tune your website and tailor campaigns for your audience. You can even chat with them directly using Messenger or WhatsApp.
AI Writer
While creating website content, Hostinger’s AI Writer tool provides creative ideas. It’s not 100% effective, but it gives a good jumping-off point, especially for small business owners who don’t have a content team to save them. By selecting topics and categories, this tool will propose ideas. Let’s say, we want to generate web copy for a massage studio – here’s what AI Writer comes up with:
There’s also an option to “Go Wild.” Type in your ideas with keywords you want to include and click the generate text button to get interesting new suggestions.
Aside from this useful feature, other out-of-the-box Hostinger AI tools include:
- AI Image Generator
- AI Blog Generator
- AI Logo Maker
- AI Heatmap
While the generators work similarly to the AI web content generator, the logo maker and heat map tools are pretty innovative.
The logo maker is great for new entrepreneurs. Similar to other logo makers we’ve tested, it generates generic logo designs, which you can tweak according to your brand vision. Think: Canva. Design elements you can adjust include icon, color, font, and size.
The AI heatmap tool, on the other hand, analyzes images and suggests CTA button placement to maximize conversions. Its goal is to reduce time spent on A/B testing when you design your website.
Hostinger’s heat map tool analyzing Tooltester’s homepage
These AI tools are accessible on the web and are absolutely free. However, for the heat map tool, the suggestions will be visible to you right away when you build a website with Hostinger. This will save you time as you won’t have to upload screenshots for each page.
Hostinger Website Builder vs. Wix: Why The Comparison?
Hostinger and Wix templates are both clean and crisp, but Wix features more options and a more polished design
It’s clear to see that Hostinger Website Builder has taken a lot of inspiration from Wix, as there are many similarities between the two. Both offer modern designs and a fully drag-and-drop editor. Template-wise, however, Hostinger has a lot of catching up to do. Wix has over 900 templates, while they have only 150.
There’s also a similarity in using AI (akin to Wix ADI) to generate custom templates. With a few details about your site and your design preferences, both site builders can provide suggestions tailored to your needs.
What makes Hostinger a good alternative to Wix is its price. If you compare its basic plan to Wix’s Combo plan, you’ll get more value for your buck–from fun AI branding tools to unlimited storage and bandwidth. As far as basic website presence and portfolio are concerned, the Hostinger website builder does an excellent job.
In terms of ecommerce functionality, Wix has the upper hand. It’s got an extensive app market to expand your business tools, more room for products, better templates and customization, and a more robust platform overall. It’s got better-tiered plans geared towards business scalability.
Hostinger Website Builder Review: Conclusion
Hostinger’s website builder is a super affordable choice for whipping up your website. You can even set up an online store, though there might be better options out there for e-commerce.
One of the best things about Hostinger’s builder is the AI features in its editor, which help you design your site, create images, or check out heatmaps, among other handy tools. The templates are stylish, too, giving you plenty of room to get creative.
For now, we wouldn’t recommend it to advanced users and people looking for the most competitive SEO support. But the good news is the company is adding new features regularly, so we might have to upgrade this Hostinger Website Builder review frequently.
> Test Hostinger Website Builder (get extra months for free via this link)
Is Hostinger the Best Website Builder for Me?
- Recommended If
- Not Recommended If
You’re only after a basic online presence
You’re a freelancer needing a website to showcase your portfolio
You want to practice creating beginner sites
Your budget is limited
You want to publish your website in multiple languages
You want a website builder with integrated AI.
FAQ
No, it’s not possible to publish a free version of the site (although it was possible with the previous version, Zyro). Unfortunately, it’s also one of the few website builders that make you pay before you can start making your website.
Yes! It’s actually one of the cheapest website builders that Tooltester has tested so far.
It depends. If you’re running a website to blog, then there are other more adept platforms such as WordPress and Squarespace. But if you’re not planning to post blogs regularly, Hostinger has some useful features that can accommodate that.
Yes. You can connect either a Hostinger-registered domain or one from another provider.
Absolutely not. Like with intuitive website builders, Hostinger templates are visually driven. You can drag and drop design elements with ease. No coding or HTML knowledge required.
For the moment, no, as there is only one plan available. However, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee if Hostinger doesn’t match your website needs.
Hostinger offers a free domain in the first year when you subscribe to their 1-year, 2-year or 4-year plans.
Hostinger Alternatives
We keep our content up to date
05 Aug 2024 - General update
21 Jun 2024 - New prices
10 Apr 2024 - General updates, including new drag-and-drop editor and introduction of Business plan
17 Aug 2023 - New Hostinger Website Builder video
05 May 2023 - Password protection now available
02 Mar 2023 - Pricing changes
02 Feb 2023 - Zyro is now called Hostinger Website Builder
27 Sept 2022 - Zyro video review added
7 Sept 2022 - Withdrawal of Advanced Store plan
THE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THIS REVIEW
This article has been written and researched following a precise methodology.
Our methodology
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