➤ 8+ Best Web Design Software for Authors

What is the best website creation tool for authors?

1. Zyro.

Unrivaled ease of use and clean, logical models that are perfect for the essentials ($2.90/month with exclusive discount).

Zyro is an easy to use website creation tool that offers lots of clean and elegant templates. While this platform doesn't offer as many features as the best website builder tools like Wix and Squarespace, it is much more affordable than most others and offers the basic features you need to create an author website.

The templates are extremely easy to edit, even for those who have no technical skills.

However, the level of customization is not very high, which means that the platform is perfect for new website creation tools that want a simple and professional website.

If, on the other hand, you want to add your personal touch to your brand image, you can consider using one of the website creation tools listed above.

Features

High quality models : Zyro models have clean lines and a modern look. You can easily customize them by dragging and dropping different items.
Commission-free plans : The platform offers e-commerce plans without commission, which means you can keep 100% of your profits.
AI branding tools : There are a few optional branding tools based on artificial intelligence that you can choose from to make your work easier.

Benefits of Zyro

Easy to use template editor
Clean and logical models for authors
Great sales and marketing features
Affordable plans for authors on a budget
No commission fees for e-commerce sites

Pricing

The plans of Zyro are among the most affordable in the sector. For only $2.90/month, you can set up and launch a personal website.

They also offer unlimited bandwidth and storage, a free domain for one year, free email tools for 3 months, SSL security, and the ability to connect your own custom domain, among other features.

What are people saying?

“I've just started a small business and the website was one of the most important items on my to-do list. I tried a few other website builder tools, but they were too hard to learn, had terrible interfaces, or weren't well suited for mobile devices. So I told myself I was going to try Zyro. I was very satisfied. Their customer service is the best. I had a few problems with domains and they helped me even at 10 in the evening. I am happy that I chose Zyro.” A.C. - Administrator in the construction sector.

Get started with Zyro

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2. Webflow.

Ideal for authors who don't want to bother creating a site ($12/month).

Webflow is not a simple drag-and-drop site creation tool. The platform combines an intuitive visual creator with powerful CMS capabilities, which is one reason it has become such a popular choice among authors.

With Webflow, you have total control to create a responsive website without having to learn any code. Choose your fonts, styles, themes, and more with a simple click and a swipe of the mouse.

One feature that authors will find useful is dynamic content, which allows you to create and reuse templates and other elements to ensure consistent design across your website without wasting a lot of time.

Features

Simple editor : Webflow's website builder allows you to create a personalized and professional website using a simple visual canvas.
Incredible customization options : The platform allows you to control every aspect of your site design, including responsiveness, interactions, style, and more.
Accessibility : The website builder also focuses on accessibility with built-in features such as visual impairment simulations, smooth scrolling, and the audit panel.
SEO : The SEO under Webflow is very optimized and simple

Benefits of Webflow

A huge user community
Over 100 hours of tutorials for novice website creation tools.
Growth-oriented premium plans
Reliable and trouble-free hosting network

Pricing

What are people saying?

“I like how easy it is to create sites on Webflow, and with everything related to CSS style classes, the designs remain pretty clean compared to other “drag n drop”/WYSIWYG editors. I like the “Visual CMS” design feature, which has helped me design CMSs for my clients that are tailored to their business.” Calvin H. - Producer

Getting started with Webflow

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3. Weebly.

The most intuitive website builder, ideal for authors on a budget (starting at Free).

Weebly makes it easy for anyone to create a website, even if they have no development knowledge or technical skills. The platform has an intuitive interface and the drag-and-drop editor is unrivaled in ease of use.

This service is specialized ine-commerce, making it an attractive option for authors who want to sell a large number of books.

The platform even offers a professional product photography service in case you need eye-catching images from your books, merchandise, and other promotional materials.

Weebly also has a membership area (a feature that authors will appreciate) and the themes are very responsive and adapt perfectly to tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices.

Features

Drag-and-drop design : The platform's drag-and-drop website builder makes website design easy and is one of Weebly's main selling points. Using this DIY feature allows even beginners to build a website with ease.
Application center : There are hundreds of applications you can choose from to integrate different features into your website and extend its functionality.
E-commerce : If you want to sell books from your own website, you can easily market, sell, and accept payments with Weebly.

Weebly benefits

Weebly offers growth-oriented features
Tons of applications and widgets to integrate into your site
An affordable option for unlimited e-commerce
Cheap plans offer authors great value for money
Integrated SEO tools and guides for a faster ranking
Easily integrate Google Analytics to track website data.

Pricing

What are people saying?

“This Weebly platform stands out for its simplicity compared to the competition and is designed for people who don't want to spend time designing a website or who simply don't have the knowledge to design a page from scratch. The entire platform has a large functional unit that focuses on dragging and dropping elements to place them where you want them. This is an advantage over WordPress.org or Wix, which, while intuitive, are not designed to provide a 100% user-friendly experience.” Betty V. - Senior IT project/program manager.

Get started with Weebly

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4. Squarespace.

Best selection of models, ideal for modern authors ($12/month).

Squarespace offers dozens of stylish, modern templates that you can use to create an exceptional author website.

While none of them are designed specifically for this, they are all 100% customizable, which means you can build your pages and website exactly the way you want them to be.

The platform also has a wide range of tools and functions that you can easily integrate into your website to extend its functionality. These include event calendars, email capture, e-commerce, and marketing automation tools.

There are a lot of website creation tools available today, but Squarespace is among the best website builder tools, designed with ease of use in mind so you can set up and launch your website in just a few hours.

Features

SEO functions : Squarespace has top-notch search engine optimization, which is great for authors looking to secure a spot on the first page of Google.
Social networks : Social media is another important marketing channel for authors, and Squarespace makes it easy to integrate your website with all major platforms.
Mobile application : Squarespace has a companion mobile app that you can use to easily manage and edit your website on the go.

Squarespace benefits

Advanced e-commerce features
Great blogging platform
Embedded emails, social media, and analytics.
A selection of elegant models for authors
Lodging managed, backed up, and updated for you.

Pricing

Squarespace doesn't offer a free version, but there is a 14-day free trial that you can sign up for on the website. The plans start at $12/month and include 24/7 customer support, a free custom domain name, and unlimited bandwidth and storage.

What are people saying?

“I like that there are great templates — add a few words, a few high-quality images, and you can create a decent website quickly. It won't be mind-blowing, but it will do the trick. I also like the simplicity of their pricing, which makes it easy for the people I've worked with to choose the right package. I also like the fact that it's all in one place - you can get your domain, your hosting, all of that in one place, rather than having it all spread across different services.” A.R. - Retail administrator.

Get started with Squarespace

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5. Wix.

Best global website platform with templates and features for authors and writers ($14/month).

Wix is ideal for new and established authors. It is a popular platform that will help you create a stunning website to make your next publication a success.

The platform has an intuitive design and excellent customer support. It's perfect for anyone who wants a professional-looking website without having to spend hours learning to code.

There is a simple “drag and drop” editor that you can use to build your site pages by simply clicking on different elements such as images, text, videos, etc. and dragging them onto a page.

Wix also offers tons of author site templates for you to choose from, so you don't have to start building your site from scratch.

Features

Selling downloads : This is a feature of the Wix platform that allows you to sell e-books, news, and other digital documents directly on your site.
FlipFolio : This feature is fantastic for authors and allows you to add 3D animated pages that look like books to your website.
Members' area : Site members can log in, place orders, and manage payments, bookings, etc., making it easier for authors to work.

Benefits of Wix

Easy to use platform, suitable for beginners
Personalized assistance for the SEO of your website
Over 800 models to choose from
Full customization features
Wix offers a free plan (ideal for small projects).
Des built-in Wix SEO features

Pricing

You can use Wix for free. However, to remove Wix ads and brands, and To unlock more advanced features, you can sign up for one of the paid plans that range from $14/month for the Combo to $39/month for the VIP plan.

What are people saying?

“Wix helps me a lot because I can design from my device. The interface is broad, it has multiple tools that make it possible to generalize a good spectrum of operations. I can make brochures, advertise on social networks, and any type of original creation. It does not have slow speed problems like other similar software.” Richard B. - Small business owner.

Get started with Wix

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6. WordPress (with Thrive Themes).

Best platform for creating a personalized experience ($228/year).

WordPress is the original software for creating websites for non-developers. It can be downloaded and used free of charge and comes with a wide range of plugins that you can choose from for advanced optimization options for SEO.

Thrive Themes is a set of extremely fast templates, plugins, and widgets designed to work with WordPress sites. You can also create uploads for all sorts of content, including videos, podcasts, review pages, blog posts, and more.

Even better, you can import content that was previously published on blogging platforms like Tumblr, Medium, and Blogger. For the 21st century author, this is a real blessing that makes managing content between sites a breeze.

Together, these two tools will help you create an engaging, conversion-oriented website that will allow you to increase book sales.

Features

Focused on conversion : The main selling point of Thrive Themes is that it's heavily focused on driving conversions, which is great for authors looking to sell more books.
Free training : If you've never built a website before, you can learn everything you need to know about creating an effective website from Thrive University.
Fully responsive : The platform's page creator, as well as all the templates, are 100% responsive and are displayed perfectly on all devices.

Benefits of Thrive Themes:

Hundreds of beautiful page templates for authors
Intuitive and easy to use user interface
Simple drag-and-drop editor.
Great third party integrations
Perfect for WordPress.com websites
Use custom domain names with ease
Integrate your author site with dozens of web hosting platforms

Pricing

Thrive Themes is an all-in-one suite of tools that includes the Thrive Theme Builder, Thrive Architect, Thrive Quiz Builder, Thrive Comments, and more. You can get access to all of these tools for only $19/month paid annually ($228).

What are people saying?

“I used different tools and plugins to personalize my websites and those of my customers, and in the end, it was a super complex task to keep everything up to date without breaking something. Every time a major WordPress update came in, or a major change in the visual editor I was using, things would break. Thrive is an all-in-one solution that works, and they send out versions every three weeks that feel like Christmas because of all the new features they provide. “ Juan G . - CEO.

Get started with Thrive Themes

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7. Site123.

Good for languages with amazing help and support (starting at Free).

Site123 is a simple website builder with an easy to use drag-and-drop editor that will allow you to create and launch a website in just a few minutes.

The platform attaches great importance to languages. The editor is available in over 20 different languages, including Romanian, Arabic, and Turkish, and the platform also offers multilingual websites.

If you are an author who deals with multilingual content, then this website builder could be perfect for you. The platform offers responsive support and a decent free plan that's great for smaller projects, but it comes with ads in the footer.

Features

Ease of use : Site123 is one of the easiest options in this article, making it ideal for people who are just learning how to build a website.
Design flexibility : While not on the same level as Wix or Squarespace, Site123 has basic tools to help you create a simple but professional looking website.
A strong call to action : The templates are designed to include a clear call to action (for example, “Buy my books here”) to encourage visitors to take action.

Site123 benefits

24/7 live chat support
Very easy to use for beginners, ideal for computer novices.
Free plan available
A favorable construction process
Multilingual websites

Pricing

You can use Site123 for free and for as long as you want. The free plan includes 250MB of storage and 250MB of bandwidth. You also benefit from a subdomain.

The premium plan costs $12.80/month and includes a free domain for one year, e-commerce features, 10GB of storage, and 5GB of bandwidth.

What are people saying?

“This is by far the easiest and most user-friendly web designer I have dealt with. The online help desk technicians are very professional and make it easy to create a great website. As soon as I found SITE123, I stopped looking!” Christi Prettyman.

‍Get started with Site123

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8. Jimdo.

A complete and solid package with a cheap ad-free plan (starting at Free).

Jimdo is an increasingly popular website builder that currently powers over 20 million online websites.

The platform prides itself on its ease of use and recently introduced Jimdo Dolphin, which requires no development skills to create beautiful websites in under three minutes.

The platform is ideal for small businesses, and authors can use it to create a fully responsive website that has all the features needed to market and sell their books online.

There's a basic online store that you can add to your site, and since the platform offers a free plan, that means you can try Jimdo risk-free.

Features

Jimdo Creator : In addition to Jim Dolphin, the platform also offers Jimdo Creator, a classic page editor with basic development functions for those who prefer it.
ADI function : Just like our top three website builder tools, Jimdo has artificial design intelligence that can create your website for you.
Free eCommerce Plan : You can sell up to 5 products, such as books, merchandise, etc. with Jimdo's free plan.

Jimdo benefits

Choose your favorite editor
Simple but effective models
You can sell your books on the free plan
Responsive help and support
Cheapest ad-free plans

Pricing

What are people saying?

“It was easy to use from the start, customizing and organizing the items I needed and offering great add-ons that will make it easy for my customers to find what they need. I liked the integrations and the ease with which you can create a store with e-commerce items and payment portals. You can also buy your domain and hosting through them for a low annual price.” Tina S. - Certified aromatherapist.

Get started with Jimdo

Features to look for in a website creation tool for authors

As you can see, there are a large number of website creation tools to choose from. But, to help you make the best choice for your needs, here are the characteristics to look for in the best website builder for authors.

1. Well designed models

Your website represents you as an author, so it should be appealing. Choose a website creation tool that offers the most attractive templates created specially for authors.

2. Ease of use

The platform you choose should not require you to have any development or technical experience (unless that's what you prefer). Otherwise, choose a website builder that has a simple and easy to use page editor.

3. Customization options

In addition to getting beautiful designs, you also need to be able to customize them to match your brand and reflect your own personality. So choose a platform with solid customization capabilities that will allow you to create landing pages, landing pages, blogs, and much more.

4. Additional functions for the author

Opt for a website creation tool that allows you to improve your site by adding additional features, such as a blog, an online store, reader reviews, comments, and more.

5. Tarif

This is an important factor as you will need to maintain your website for a long period of time. So be sure to choose a pricing plan that is affordable and has no hidden extra costs.

6. Reliable support

Before registering, always check the type of support offered by the platform (live chat, phone, email, forums, etc.) to make sure you get the help you need in case of a problem.

7. Free trial

While most free website builder tools leave a lot to be desired, most high-end website builder tools offer a free plan that allows you to test the platform first. If the platform doesn't offer a free plan, it should at least offer a free trial (without having to enter credit card data). At the very least, go for a platform that offers a solid money-back guarantee policy.

8. Blog functionality

While you may be an author and not a blogger, blogging is a great way to get your work known to a wider audience. It not only makes it possible to create shareable content, but also to show off your writing skills.

9. Content management system

Most website creation tools have features that allow you to manage your content.

Some of them are very simple and include a simple publication. Others are more intensive and can easily integrate offsite channels like social media and email.

FAQs

Why does an author need a website?

A website is a crucial marketing tool for authors. It not only allows them to showcase their expertise and sell their works online, but also helps them build an audience around their work and develop an email list. It also offers authors numerous networking opportunities.

Can I sell books on my website?

With the right website builder, you can add an online store to your site. It's a great way to promote your books directly to your target audience and avoid depending on retailers like Amazon. It also means that you can keep 100% of your profits (after processing fees).

What other services can my website offer as an author?

There are a multitude of other services that you can offer on your website. These include writing services, ghostwriting, consulting, etc.

As an author, you should strive to build an audience and sell your books online, which means you're likely to develop social networking, email, and other skills. digital marketing techniques that you can also offer as services on your website.

You can also create a page with contact forms and other communication methods. Building a personal relationship with your fans has never been easier.

Summary

We've come to the end of this article about the best website creation tools for authors. Hopefully now you know how to make the best choice based on your needs.

My number one recommendation is Wix. It is the best website platform that is easy to use and has templates and features specially designed for authors.

For authors who want to create a completely personalized experience, WordPress with Thrive Themes will help you create a unique website to highlight your next bestseller.

If you're on a tight budget, Weebly is a great option that will help you create a simple but professional-looking website for free.

While creating a website comes with a learning curve, you can easily overcome any difficulties by choosing these three website builder tools or any other website builders on this list. The truth is, you don't have to be a professional web developer to create a quality website. All you need is a few hours and the desire to grow your audience.