Best website builders & hosting for UK sole traders 2026
A professional website is no longer optional for sole traders. Here’s how to get one built quickly, cheaply, and without needing to code.
Quick picks
Reviews
Squarespace produces the most professional-looking websites of any drag-and-drop builder, which is why designers, photographers, consultants and other creative sole traders overwhelmingly choose it. Every template is visually polished, mobile-optimised and includes SEO tools, analytics and a simple e-commerce module.
- Most visually impressive templates of any builder
- Strong built-in SEO and analytics
- E-commerce included on all plans
- No transaction fees on Business plan and above
- Excellent portfolio and service site templates
- More expensive than Wix — no free plan
- Less design flexibility than Wix
- E-commerce limited compared to dedicated platforms
Wix has the most flexible drag-and-drop editor available — every element can be placed exactly where you want it. The app marketplace extends functionality with booking systems, live chat and pop-ups. The free plan includes a Wix-branded domain; paid plans add a custom domain and remove ads.
- Most flexible drag-and-drop editor
- Free plan available (with Wix branding)
- 900+ templates across every industry
- Large app marketplace for added features
- Good SEO tools on paid plans
- Free plan shows Wix branding and ads
- Cannot switch templates after site is published
- Editor can feel overwhelming with so many options
Carrd is the unsung hero of sole trader website tools. For sole traders who want a clean, professional online presence without investing days into a complex website, Carrd delivers a polished one-page site in under 30 minutes. The Pro plan at £15 per year is one of the best value tools in this guide.
- Free plan available
- Pro plan is just £15 per year — extraordinary value
- Fast to build — most sites done in under an hour
- Clean, modern templates
- Custom domain support on Pro plan
- Limited to one-page sites — not suitable for blogs or large sites
- Less SEO capability than full CMS
- No e-commerce beyond basic payment buttons
Comparison table
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Custom domain | E-commerce | Blog | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squarespace | From £11 | No (trial) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Portfolios |
| Wix | Free / £9 | Yes (branded) | Yes (paid) | Yes | Yes | Flexibility |
| Carrd | Free / £15/yr | Yes | Yes (pro) | Basic only | No | One-page sites |
| WordPress + SiteGround | From £2.99 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Full control |
| Namecheap | From £1.99 hosting | No | Yes | Via WP | Via WP | Budget hosting |