I tested the most popular AI website builders—here’s what I found

I wanted to see how far AI website builders have come, so I tested some of the most well-known free options. Most let you generate a site without paying, but some, like Hostinger and 10Web, lock editing behind a paywall, which is frustrating if you’re just exploring.

For my test, I used this prompt:

“Generate a presentation website for my pastry business called Dolce Pastry, also, I want it to have a colorful theme.”

Overall, AI tools are great for quickly generating a starting point, they work best as a time-saver for getting an initial structure in place, but you’ll likely want to refine the design and content to better fit your needs.

Pricing: Mostly Free, paid plans for advanced features like custom domain or AI Credits.

Pros:

• Fastest tool I tested—site was generated in under 30 seconds.
• Gives you a structured, editable layout without forcing a rigid template.
• Fast editing process with the AI Assistant.
• Free subdomain available.

Cons:

• More focused on functionality than pure aesthetics—you may need to tweak the visuals.

Verdict: Best for builders who want an AI-generated structure but still need flexibility to customize.

Pricing: Free to generate, paid plans start at $6/month.

Pros:

• Asks smart follow-up questions to refine the design.
• Strong integration with other Wix tools (e.g., booking, etc).
• Generally polished and easy to use.

Cons:

• Designs can feel a bit generic/safe—lacking personality.

Verdict: Good for beginners who want a no-fuss solution with minimal effort.

Pricing: Free to generate, editing requires a paid plan.

Pros:

• Gets the basics right—no major issues with structure or layout.
• Simple and efficient for small business sites.
• Reliable customer support if you run into issues.

Cons:

• Feels like a repackaged template rather than truly AI-generated.
• Editing experience is limited unless you pay.

Verdict: Decent if you need a basic site, but not worth it for customization.

Pricing: Free to generate, $15/month for full editing access.

Pros:

• Handles functionality well—correctly adds forms and sections based on the prompt.
• Onboarding is smooth.
• Great for those who want a simple website with minimal customization hassle.

Cons:

• Designs feel very “cookie-cutter,” lacking uniqueness.
• The paywall for editing makes it hard to justify over other options.

Verdict: Does the job, but the cost isn’t worth it unless you’re locked into their ecosystem.

If you’ve tried any of these (or other AI site builders), what was your experience like?