The Best Website Builders for NZ Small Businesses (2026 Update)
Picture yourself as a small business owner in Aotearoa — perhaps you manage a café in Tauranga or operate a boutique tour company in Queenstown. You recognize the need for a website, but you're having trouble picking the right platform. Should you opt for something basic and fast, or something more adaptable and robust? Given the many choices, you might feel a bit lost.
Here's some good news: website builders aren't all the same, and the one that suits you best depends on what you want to achieve, how comfortable you are with tech, and your plans for growth. In this 2026 update, we'll guide you through the top website builders for small businesses in New Zealand, including WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and others — helping you understand which option fits your business, both now and down the road.
At Wild Sea Creative, we help Kiwi small businesses build a meaningful online presence — this could be a simple brochure site, an online shop, or a platform full of content. (Check out our digital services on our My Services page.) We've seen the good and bad points of the most popular website builders over time — things like speed, cost, design freedom, SEO, and how flexible they are in the long run.
Let's look at the platforms that stand out for NZ business owners in 2026.
Reviewing the Top Website Builders
In this section, we'll look at the main players — WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and a few others. We'll point out what makes each one stand out (and where they might not be so great) for small New Zealand businesses.
WordPress
What it is: WordPress (WordPress.org) is an open-source content management system (CMS). Unlike "snapshot" builders, WordPress gives you total control — you host it yourself, pick your hosting provider, add themes and plugins, and can change almost anything.
Why small New Zealand businesses might like it:
Flexibility & scalability: You have more than 60,000 plugins and tens of thousands of themes to choose from.
SEO power: When you set it up right (like using SEO plugins), WordPress can boost your search rankings — perfect if you plan to grow through content marketing.
Ownership: You're in full control of your site and content, and you can switch hosts if you need to.
Things to keep in mind:
Learning curve: For non-tech people, it might seem trickier than drag-and-drop builders.
Maintenance: You'll need to handle updates (themes, plugins, core), backups, and keep things secure.
Cost of extras: WordPress itself doesn't cost anything, but hosting and fancy plugins or themes will set you back some cash.
When WordPress is the way to go:
If you're planning for big growth down the line (blog, membership, lots of visitors)
If you want to be in the driver's seat and have lots of options
If you don't mind some upkeep, or you team up with a design company (like Wild Sea Creative) to set up and look after things.
Squarespace
What it is: Squarespace serves as a complete website builder that's hosted. It's well-known to have an impact on users with its eye-catching, designer-quality templates and user-friendly interface.
Why Kiwi small businesses might love it:
Attractive templates: Perfect to use for creative businesses (photographers, designers, consultants) that aim to present a refined professional image.
Included features: Blogging online stores, scheduling appointments — all come as part of the package.
Simple to use: You don't need to think about updates, hosting, or security — Squarespace takes care of these for you.
Things to think about:
Less flexible: Compared to WordPress, it has limitations on customization.
Scalability: While it's strong for many businesses, very complex or big sites might feel restricted.
Monthly cost: Templates cost extra, and higher-tier plans (for online stores) can be pricey.
When Squarespace is the best choice:
If you value design and looks
If you want a website that seems professional from the start, without much tech hassle
If you don't plan to grow into a huge tailored platform soon
Wix
What it is: Wix is a web-based, drag-and-drop website builder that tries to make web design easy for everyone.
Why Kiwi small businesses might like it:
Easy to use: Its visual editor is simple to grasp even for people who aren't tech-savvy.
Templates & apps: Lots of templates and a big app store let you add things like forms, booking, or shops.
AI tools: Wix's AI builder can help you create a website fast.
Things to think about:
Design lock-in: After you pick a template and your site goes live changing templates can be tough.
Scalability: For complex high-traffic sites, Wix might not give you the same flexibility as WordPress.
Cost: While you can use it for free, this plan doesn't offer much. Premium plans for business or online stores cost more.
Wix works best when:
You need to build , without much setup
You don't mind working in a closed system
You like drag-and-drop ease over dealing with backend details
Other Builders to Check Out
While WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix top the list for NZ small businesses other options deserve attention:
Rocketspark: A New Zealand–friendly platform offering local support and business-focused templates.
Hostinger Website Builder: A very cheap option especially if money is tight.
Shopify: The go-to choice for small businesses focused on online selling.
What to Do Next (With Wild Sea Creative)
Now that you have a better idea of the top website builders here's how you can use this information — and how Wild Sea Creative can help you:
Set clear goals: What do you want your website to do? Is it a simple brochure site, a blog, or an online store?
Pick the right builder: Based on your goals and budget, choose the platform that suits you best.
Get help from experts: You don't have to build a website by yourself. Wild Sea Creative can help you design, build, and maintain a site that fits your business. Check out our portfolio to see what we've done.
Grow your business: After your site goes live, we can help with its digital marketing — SEO, content creation, and more. Find out more about our Digital Marketing Services.
If you're ready to create a great-looking high-performing website that truly shows off your Kiwi business, reach out through our Contact page. We're excited to help you bring your online presence to life.
Conclusion
Choosing the right website builder is a crucial choice — and for small businesses in New Zealand, it can have a long-lasting effect on your brand, growth, and online visibility. By evaluating your objectives, your tech skills, and your financial limits, you can select the platform that prepares you for success.
No matter if you prefer the adaptability of WordPress, the polish of Squarespace, or the ease of Wix, Wild Sea Creative stands ready to help you bring your ideas to life. Get in touch now, and we'll build a website that looks great and works hard — for your company and your clients.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
-
The answer changes based on what you need. WordPress gives you the most control and options, Squarespace creates stunning designs without much hassle, and Wix makes things quick and simple. If you're selling products online, Shopify stands out as a good choice.
-
WordPress has an edge in SEO due to its plugin ecosystem, including SEO-specific tools. That said, Wix and Squarespace come with built-in SEO features that work well for many small businesses.
-
Not always. But teaming up with a developer or a design agency like Wild Sea Creative can help you get the most out of WordPress when it comes to custom themes or advanced features.
-
Prices change: WordPress users pay for hosting, domain, and any top-tier plugins. Wix or Squarespace users pay a monthly fee that covers hosting, upkeep, and designs.
-
You can, but it takes effort. Moving a WordPress site is simpler (you transfer your database, content, etc.), but switching from Wix or Squarespace to a different platform might need you to rebuild parts of your site.
