Best Website Builders for Australian Small Business (2026)

What Australian Small Businesses Actually Need

Before comparing platforms, let's get clear on requirements:

• Australian hosting — for fast local load times
• Simple setup — you're running a business, not learning web design
• Affordable — not a $5,000 agency project
• Mobile-friendly — most customers browse on phones
• Contact forms — to capture leads
• Looks professional — not an obvious template

The Contenders

1. Squarespace

Good for: Creatives, photographers, artists who want beautiful templates.

Pricing: $16-$65/month AUD

Pros:

• Beautiful templates
• Good for portfolios
• Built-in e-commerce

Cons:

• US-hosted (slower for Aussie visitors)
• Still looks "Squarespace-y" — many sites use the same templates
• Learning curve for customisation

Verdict: Great for visual creatives, less ideal for service businesses.

2. Wix

Good for: DIY builders who want drag-and-drop flexibility.

Pricing: $17-$49/month AUD (plus domain)

Pros:

• Lots of flexibility
• App marketplace
• ADI (AI builder) option

Cons:

• Can get cluttered and slow
• Templates often look dated
• US-hosted

Verdict: Flexible but easy to end up with a messy site.

3. WordPress

Good for: Those who want full control or have a developer.

Pricing: Free software + $10-50/month hosting + themes/plugins

Pros:

• Maximum flexibility
• Huge plugin ecosystem
• Own your site completely

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Security and updates are your problem
• Easy to break things

Verdict: Powerful but overkill (and risky) for most small service businesses.

4. Shopify

Good for: E-commerce businesses selling products.

Pricing: $39-$399/month AUD

Pros:

• Best-in-class e-commerce
• Great checkout experience
• Handles payments, inventory, shipping

Cons:

• Expensive for non-e-commerce sites
• Overkill if you're not selling products online

Verdict: Essential for online stores, unnecessary for service businesses.

5. Onboard

Good for: Australian service businesses — tradies, cafés, photographers, salons, fitness, construction.

Pricing: Free preview, $49/month to launch

Pros:

• Australian servers (fast local loading)
• Ready in minutes, not days
• Custom-looking design (not obvious templates)
• Built specifically for service businesses
• Everything included (hosting, SSL, forms)

Cons:

• Not for e-commerce
• Less DIY customisation than WordPress

Verdict: Best choice for Australian service businesses who want professional results fast.

Quick Comparison

Our Recommendation

For Australian service businesses (trades, hospitality, health, beauty, fitness, creative services):

→ Onboard is the best fit. Fast setup, Australian hosting, fair pricing, and purpose-built for your market.

For online stores selling products:

→ Shopify is the clear winner for e-commerce.

For portfolios and visual creatives who want maximum design control:

→ Squarespace still has the prettiest templates.

For complex sites with custom functionality:

→ WordPress with a developer, if you have the budget and ongoing support.