Author website builders are absolutely everywhere, and most authors (me included!) love to have their own little corner of the internet to call their own. Having your own author website is great for many reasons, but personally? Having your own corner where you aren't at the mercy of ever-changing social media rules is the best part.
That said, it can be difficult figuring out what author website builders are the best, and which will leave you with nothing but headaches. I've experimented with dozens of different website providers, and here are three that I think you might love!
Payhip
Whilst not specifically an author website builder, Payhip is a versatile, free platform for anyone looking to sell online. If you're interested in selling your eBooks directly, then Payhip offers a super simple way to do that, and if you're looking to handle your own subscriptions, Payhip offers that, too.
Payhip's a great eCommerce platform, and it's what I use to handle Covers by Kristen and Mock and Muse. As a website builder, it's pretty simple to get set up and start selling. If SEO if something you're interested in, Payhip has options for that, too. Whether you're looking to set up a store for eBooks, paperbacks, a subscription, or even courses, Payhip has it all covered. And the best part? If you're looking to get an author website free, then Payhip is completely free. They offer a subscription service, but it's free to connect a custom domain (I get mine through Namecheap) and start selling.
For those looking for complete control over their design and layout, though, Payhip is a little lacking, especially on the blog side of things. The builder is drag and drop, but there's limited customisation beyond the blocks they provide. In terms of payments, Payhip supports both PayPal and Stripe.
Wordpress
Arguably the best known name when it comes to author website builders, Wordpress is a tried-and-trusted service (and what I used before I migrated to Payhip). Most people find Wordpress simple to use once you get used to the backend, and you can often find great deals through places like Ionos on a yearly subscription.
Wordpress is highly customisable, and for those that are tech-savvy, you can build some really amazing author websites with all the bells and whistles you might need. If you'd prefer something simpler, you can even get plug-ins like Oxygen and WPBakery to help make the design part simpler.
Technically, Wordpress is completely free. Unfortunately, you'll probably find yourself limited by things like the lack of custom domains, and despite thousands of free plug-ins being available, the most tested and reliable plug-ins are subscription-based, which I'm personally not fond of.
Canva
Most people think of Canva as solely a design website. Canva's actually pretty powerful, and as far as author website builders go, Canva is a solid option for those either on a budget, or already comfortable with the tools provided in Canva.
For authors who need a simple website to direct readers to without much fuss, Canva is simple, reliable, and provides the tools to create a very basic landing page. This is great for those who don't want to handle direct sales, and if you're already experienced with Canva, it's even better!
Unlike the others on this list, Canva is very limited. There are no author website templates built in, and you'll rely on workarounds to have a multi-page website. However, there are people out there to sell author website templates designed for Canva, though they aren't super common. Domains are available through Canva, though they're more expensive than going through other domain merchants. For authors who are concerned about SEO, blogs, and direct sales, Canva won't be enough.
Honorable Mention: Carrd
I couldn't get through a list about author website builders without mentioning Carrd! Carrd is a tried and tested one-page website builder that's free, easy to use, and can be used to funnel people to other platforms (such as your Amazon store, series-specific website, etc). It's super customisable and has plenty of features to help you make your very first author website. If you're just testing the waters (or just need a landing page to tell people about you and where to buy your books), Carrd's a no-fuss option.
If you've tried any of the above, let me know! I'm a big fan of all three, but Payhip has become my favorite website builder, and I encourage any author looking for a simple website to give it a try!
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