What makes a no-code website builder worth it?

In this article, I share my first build on Wix, what slowed me down, and the checklist I now use to judge no-code tools. I also discuss why I switched to beehiiv, which helps centralize multiple tools into one—making it my go-to no-code website platform.

Five years ago, I used Wix to build my first portfolio. I wanted a simple site to showcase my work and generate freelance leads.

My one non-negotiable rule when building was to avoid code. Wix positioned itself as a drag-and-drop and beginner-friendly platform, which matched my lack of technical background. So, I gave Wix a try.

I expected a small learning curve—I spent hours in Wix’s help center and watched tutorials to understand the basics of building a site. 

Using one of Wix’s templates and its no-code editor, I published a basic portfolio. It worked for a while.

A few months in, I wanted to tune the site for conversions. That is when the friction started.

Adjusting layouts and design elements in Wix’s editor took longer than I expected. I found using advanced features, such as visual effects or changing page structure, to be confusing. I stalled and stopped editing altogether.

I had a clear picture of what I wanted, but the tool’s complex interface got in the way. That is when I realized I needed a builder made for people like me: content creators, newsletter writers, and small business owners who want to launch quickly, make changes easily, and stay focused on work that grows their audience.

After that experience, I had to rethink what a no-code website tool should do for me as a creator.

I made a list of pain points I ran into with Wix and looked for some alternatives. I narrowed down my search to tools that were built specifically for creators like me and offered an intuitive setup.

Through my hours of research, I jotted down three core features that would make a no-code website builder really helpful to me.

One of the biggest benefits of using a drag-and-drop website builder, especially if you do not have a coding background, is creating a website in under an hour.

Most tools offer pre-made templates that are fully customizable. Set your color palette, choose fonts, pick a domain name or connect an existing one, and add visuals and copy. With a bit of tweaking, you can have a working website within a few hours.

No-code website tools make changes fast and visible. You can update headlines, swap images, move sections, or fix a form and see them reflected in real time.

For example, if a form submission link is broken, you can fix it right away and make the changes live, so your audience is not bouncing off the page because of the long editing loop that comes with the tools that need dev support for little changes like these.

A no-code builder takes care of the behind-the-scenes work, so you can focus on creating. Hosting, security, and software updates run quietly in the background while you write, publish, and send your newsletter.

If something goes wrong, you can restore a previous version in just a few clicks. Speed is handled for you as well. Images are optimized, pages load quickly on mobile, and readers get a smooth experience without extra tools.

After trying other no-code platforms like Framer and Squarespace, beehiiv was the first one that felt like it understood how creators work. It did not just give me a place to have a website. It gave me a setup where publishing, growing my audience, and managing my content live in one clean dashboard.

Here are the core reasons I made the switch to beehiiv.

beehiiv offers a large library of clean, pre-designed website templates that look publish-ready. I swapped colors, rewrote the copy, and had a new homepage ready in under 30 minutes.

Each template includes pre-designed pages and blocks. I can redesign the pages I need, delete the ones I do not, and ship a website without spending time hunting for layouts or page structures.

Another feature that saves me time is beehiiv’s global style settings. Once I set my default color palette and font, the changes apply sitewide.

For example, if I switch the accent color or change the font, every page updates instantly. I no longer waste time tweaking individual sections.

beehiiv offers a lot of functionality, even in the free version. I create my newsletter in less time, it looks better, and I have better insights into what the readers are doing.. ~ Len Pacek, Author of LensLinks

With beehiiv, the site is not just a shell. Every page and element supports my main goal: to grow my audience.

This setup made the site useful from day one and removed the headaches of connecting multiple tools.

With other no-code website builders, I often needed plugins for functions like contact forms or technical SEO. With beehiiv, those features are already in place:

Choose the builder that brings you closer to your goal and ignore the rest. Many no-code tools overlap in features, but not all of them fit your use case.

If my friend is a content creator who wants to grow an audience using their website, I would point them to beehiiv without hesitation. It’s the best no-code website builder because every feature is designed to help creators build an online presence, grow a list, and monetize, if needed.

You can also try it for free for up to 2,500 subscribers, with access to almost all features. Sign up for beehiiv today!