Most website builders allow you to start creating your website from the moment you visit them. Others ask you to download software, a simple enough task, in order to get started. While most people prefer the first option, some are quite happy to download something, so here is a selection of those from which to choose.
Some website builders that require you to download software do not charge but others do, sometimes after a limited free trial. This is OK if you decide that the one you pay for meets your needs but, if there’s a choice between a paid-for package and a free one, most would prefer not to pay, at least while they are simply reviewing the various options. You also need to be aware that not all of these website builders allow you to keep your website forever once you have paid; some of them ask you to commit to a plan involving monthly or annual payments.
Once you have downloaded the software, these website builders are not much different from any of the others, apart from the fact that you will not be able to see a preview of your website, and you will also need to pay for hosting to ensure that you can be found on the internet. Some of them provide hosting, for others you will need to look elsewhere, and pay a further charge. Most of them offer a reasonable range of templates and design options, Flash, tutorials, and, in some cases, free support. Some do not automatically provide templates; you have to download them, which is a bit of a disadvantage, if all you want to do is get on with building your site with the minimum of fuss.
If you choose one of these website builders, you will, after having downloaded software and reviewed their charges, end up with your own website, but there are less complicated ways to achieve this, especially if you just want to get your website up and running as soon as possible.
