Once upon a time, I used WordPress.

Sorcerers had tricked me into believing it was necessary for a truly professional site. They convinced me that a drag-and-drop website builder could only produce sites that looked clunky and generic.

Edits were more like quests than simple tasks. Changing a header meant searching the dashboard for the right field. I had to battle dragons anytime I wanted to adjust the layout, and each plugin required a negotiation with powerful forces beyond my understanding.

Sure, the possibilities were endless. They tend to be in dark, mythical realms.

Switching to an easy drag-and-drop website maker was the right choice. With beehiiv, I have a gorgeous site that is a pleasure to develop. There are a few trade-offs — which I'll address below — but the quality is exceptionally high.

And the gains in time and sanity? Immeasurable.

While timelines vary widely, it usually takes about 10-14 weeks for a developer to build a new site from scratch.

But building a website doesn't have to be a massive undertaking. Drag-and-drop website builders simplify the process, making it possible to create something polished without writing a line of code — or (in the WordPress realm) poring over lengthy tutorials.

From the start, you can click, drag, and drop elements exactly where you want them. You can gain confidence as you quickly get the hang of the tools.

The other big selling point is flexibility. With drag-and-drop builders, you’re not locked into rigid layouts or forced to wrestle with behind-the-scenes settings just to adjust spacing. Everything happens visually, so you can experiment with your theme and layout.

I value efficiency and simplicity. My to-do lists are long, and website design will never be one of my passions.

But with beehiiv's website builder, this one-time chore is now a pleasure.

The process to set up a beehiiv website is streamlined. The website builder directs you to the most important pages and style elements so you can launch quickly.

Remember: you can always add to your website after you publish it. I started with the basics and recommend doing the same.

I kicked things off by choosing my template. I wanted one with additional predesigned pages, so I picked the Atlas Collective template.

Then I tweaked the layout, using the drag-and-drop capabilities. I also edited the navigation menu. One feature I appreciate: you can change the navigation options, hiding certain links, so that logged-in subscribers and newcomers see different menus.

You can also add gated landing pages to reserve content for subscribers or premium members of your site.

Removing or swapping out sections is also straightforward, so nothing has to stay if it doesn't fit.

beehiiv makes it as easy to perfect your website design as to create the best email designs.

Upfront style choices make it easy to focus on big-picture style decisions without getting lost in endless customizations. After picking my template, I paired it with a color palette and typefaces that reflect my brand.

What stood out most was how easy it was to maintain focus on the elements that matter. beehiiv kept me from overthinking every minor detail. It's easy to create a professional design that's both creative and accessible.

beehiiv groups critical features like SEO, social settings, and signup flows together. The setup feels cohesive and organized. 

It's easy to configure SEO meta descriptions, URLs, and more. Social integrations are just as seamless, with easy connections to key platforms.

Finally, it's easy to set up a signup flow and take advantage of all beehiiv's tools for newsletter growth. Setting up the signup flow was the best surprise of all. Within a few clicks, I had a clear pathway for collecting subscribers and analyzing data.

If there’s one thing I’d tweak, it might be offering more in-depth guidance for first-time users experimenting with advanced settings. The process was smooth, but a few extra prompts or tips would make it even more beginner-friendly.

A drag-and-drop website builder brings a lot to the table, but it isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

They're the perfect tool for some users — and very affordable — but others may need something that offers more behind the scenes.

Need a functional, sharp website without the headache? Drag-and-drop tools make it easier to build and launch without waiting on anyone else. For solo builders, it’s a breath of fresh air—everything you need is right there.

Small teams will find the collaboration surprisingly smooth. Assigning tasks is easy, and teammates without technical backgrounds can pitch in. Whether it’s adding copy, images, or a last-minute tweak, the process is instantly accessible.

You don’t have to waste time on backend messes or troubleshooting confusing settings. With these tools, your energy goes where it counts: your content and your audience.

The combination of a website and email tools—with best-in-class email deliverability—is all a small business really needs.

No tool is perfect for everyone. Drag-and-drop builders are designed for speed and simplicity, not for those needing to chip away at every backend detail.

If you find yourself wanting advanced code tweaks, complicated integrations, or a massive library of plugins, you might bump into some walls. These platforms trade total flexibility for ease of use.

For users who want to control every element—down to the tiniest pixel or special effect—options may feel limited. Development teams and advanced users might be left wishing for more power.

While beehiiv pairs AI email marketing tools with a drag-and-drop website builder, it lacks some of the integrations and functions you might get with bespoke development.

You should try a drag-and-drop website builder if you want to launch quickly, collaborate easily, and skip over technical hurdles.

You might want to explore other options if you need deep customization, advanced integrations, or highly specialized features.

Create a beehiiv account and open the included drag-and-drop website builder.

Don’t worry about building out an entire site right away. Start with something small, like a landing page or a welcome section. See how the pieces fit together, experiment a little, and let the process demystify itself as you go.

There’s no better way to learn than by doing. A test run will give you a feel for the builder and whether it meets your needs.

Sign up for a free trial today to give all of beehiiv's premium growth and publication tools a try.

Why Trust Me

I put my money where my mouth is. I’m not just part of the beehiiv content team. I’m a satisfied customer of beehiiv’s tools.

beehiiv blends simplicity and powerful features. Unlike traditional platforms, beehiiv streamlines the design process so anyone can launch a polished site in minutes.

It gives you user-friendly blocks, intuitive layout options, and built-in tools for newsletters, SEO, and audience growth.

If your goal is building a website, beehiiv is second to none for drag-and-drop simplicity and audience tools. For mobile apps specifically, platforms like Adalo or Glide are strong options, giving users a no-code way to launch apps quickly.

Yes, Wix offers a drag-and-drop editor