Which no-code tool to use for your startup's website?

It’s something I keep getting asked these days. I honestly don’t think the tool matters as much as most people assume. The structure, content, and overall appeal of the site matter far more, no matter where they're built.

That said, here’s my take on no-code tools:

It's really about finding the balance of flexibility and convenience that’s right for your skillset.

Too much flexibility for your capabilities and you’ll likely spend a lot of time figuring out some annoying detail, possibly making design mistakes like breaking the responsiveness of the site.

Too much convenience, and you might get something too generic that doesn’t convey what you want. Worse, if you’re using a very rigid tool or template you can end up changing your narrative or brand just to fit the format.

The tools I typically recommend depending on your background:

Framer and Studio

These are my personal go-to tools, and what we use to build most websites at nowthen. If you have a solid background in UX/UI or digital design, they’ll feel easy and intuitive, allowing you to build pretty much anything you want. Framer is more flexible overall and handles animations and video better than Studio, plus it has a stronger community and support system. But since Studio is a Japan-based company, I often use it when collaborating with Japanese startups in case they need to use the interface in Japanese. They both require a good understanding of how the web works, so I’d recommend either one to teams or founders with a solid UX/UI background.

Webflow

Webflow is by far the most flexible and sophisticated no-code tool out there, but I think you still need to be fairly technical to use it comfortably. You can pretty much do anything in webflow, and it now has a strong community, tones of templates, plug-ins and integrations.

I don’t recommend using Webflow for simple landing pages unless the team has web development skills, is willing to invest time to learn the tool, or if the site is expected to become more complex in the future.

Squarespace

For teams or founders with minimal design or technical expertise, I usually recommend Squarespace. Simply select a template and customize it with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It can be a bit pricey, but given its ease of use and the quality of the templates, it’s, in my opinion, the tool that minimizes hassle and potential design faux pas for less skilled teams.

There are lots of other great tools out there, and new ones popping up every day. The ones above are just my personal selection. To reiterate: the tool isn't as crucial as the content of the site itself! Choose the one that feels most comfortable for you, and focus on what truly matters—your message and how you present it.

There are numerous excellent tools available, with new ones emerging constantly. The ones I've mentioned are simply my personal favorites. To emphasize: the tool you use isn't as critical as the content of your site! Choose the one that feels most intuitive for you, and concentrate on what truly matters—your message and how you convey it.