Which Professional Web Design Software Is Best for You?

Having a sleek, functional website isn't a luxury in 2025 - it's a necessity as well, especially for those using popular web design tools. Whether you’re running a local café in Bristol, a vintage shop in London or managing a consultancy firm in Manchester, your online presence becomes the front door to your business.

The good news is there's no need for you to have a big budget unless you require complex integrations or workflows like those offered by HireDynamicsDevelopers. With the help of the right professional web design software, even the smallest of UK firms can set up a polished website and bring in results.

Why Is Professional Website Essential?

Your website is actually not just a marketing asset, it’s a digital extension of you and according to the 2025 UK Digital Presence Survey by Statista:

86% of customers trust businesses with professional websites more indirectly
94% of British consumers first search online before they actually make a purchase
A professional site adds to credibility, is an outreach platform and best of all it's your 24/7 sales tool

And no, Facebook or Instagram alone isn't enough. That space should be 100% yours.

What Makes Web Design Software “Professional”?

Not all tools are made the same, so defining a professional web design software is possible even at a budget-friendly price.

User-Friendly Interface: Easy design updates without too much technical expertise
Responsive Design: The website should look cool and handy, even on mobiles or tablets
Customization Options: Appearance of the site aligns with your brand identity
SEO Optimization: Sites rank higher in search engine results pages [SERP]
eCommerce Capabilities: Essential if you plan to sell products or services online
Reliable Customer Support: Prompt assistance when encountering issues or if guidance is needed

Best Web Design Software For Beginners

The biggest concern of every user is value for money, below are some quick ways to compare alternatives and features:

1) WordPress [Elementor]

WordPress combined with Elementor, provides a powerful, flexible website-building solution with drag-and-drop ease, perfect for those who want both simplicity and depth. Ideal for companies looking for flexibility and scalability without extensive coding.

Hosting: from £5/month
Elementor Plugin Cost: $60 or $84/year

Recommended for:

Up-and-coming brands, portfolio sites, content-heavy pages
Website builder for small businesses
Self-employed & individuals

✅ Top Features:

Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
Vast ecosystem of plugins & themes/templates
Excellent SEO options and marketing access
Platform scalable for growth

❌ Weaknesses:

Customization might be overwhelming for beginners
Can become costly with premium plugins
Medium learning curve for newbies
Require regular maintenance and updates

2) Wix

Wix features a drag-and-drop builder with more than 500 wonderful templates that let people create everything from small businesses to portfolio pages without any experience in coding. They have a basic package design for free use, but functionalities can be enhanced as the business grows.

Plan Cost: £9 or £16 or £25/month

Recommended for:

Beginners with limited tech knowledge
Small & local business-minded
Freelancers needing an easy-to-manage site

✅ Top Features:

Easy to use and launch pages
Extensive template library list
Regular updates and new features

❌ Weaknesses:

Templates cannot be changed after going live without rebuilding
Additional costs for premium features & functionalities
Lacks creativity and visual appeal
Limitations encountered with free web design

3) Shopify

The platform is built specifically for online stores, selling products in various categories. It's an eCommerce powerhouse, whether you’ve got 5 products or 5,000, thanks to its scalable and flexible solutions. Shopify offers a comprehensive suite of tools and features designed to help businesses succeed in the digital marketplace.

Plan Cost: £25 or £65 or £344/month
Templates: free to $500

Recommended for:

Anyone planning to sell products online
Online shops of all sizes

✅ Top Features:

Customisable templates & supporting apps
Easy setup with secure, reliable hosting
Payment gateways, inventory, shipping tools

❌ Weaknesses:

Higher monthly costs [annual plan recommended]
Transaction fees without Shopify Payments
Limited customisation without coding knowledge

4) Weebly

Best for novice builders, this site builder is totally free and simple. Excellent for personal sites, blogs and small business sites needing little technical knowledge. Its drag-and-drop interface makes web design accessible without coding or development experience.

Plan Cost: £7 or £12 or £22/month
Templates: free to £55

Recommended for:

First-time website creators
Budget-conscious beginners
Small businesses needing a basic online presence

✅ Top Features:

Affordable pricing structure
Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
Mobile-responsive templates
Free hosting and domain (premium plans)

❌ Weaknesses:

Limited design flexibility for complex sites
Basic marketing & SEO features
Less frequent platform updates
Storage limitations on lower-tier plans

5) GoDaddy

GoDaddy offers a one-stop shop for those who want to get online quickly since it marries domain registration with website building tools. It has long been a provider of domain services and has branched out into user-friendly website creation tools with a slant toward small business solutions.

Cost of Plans: £12.99 or £17.99 or £22.99/month

Recommended for:

Users who prefer a one-stop solution - domain & website
Startups that want a quick & cheap presence online

✅ Top Features:

Domain registration and management
Time-saving AI writing
Easy-to-use web design tools
Rapid customer support, available 24/7

❌ Weaknesses:

Limited design freedom & customization options
Very basic web design platform
Outdated design templates & web pages
Overwhelming in upsells or add-ons

6) Webflow

Unlike any other visual web applications, Webflow combines professional design capabilities with no-code accessibility into a strong platform for designers and creative professionals. This gives unprecedented control over the aesthetics and functionality of websites with very limited coding knowledge. It is the best website builder for small and large corporations.

Plan Prices: $18 or $29 or $49/month
Templates: from $49 to $149

Recommended for:

Professional designers and agencies
Businesses that want to stand out
Creative personal or business approach

✅ Top Features:

Pixel-perfect design control
Advanced animations and interactions for good website design
CMS capabilities for dynamic content
Clean, export-ready code generation

❌ Weaknesses:

Learning curve steeper than any other web builder
Pricy for eCommerce functionality
Overwhelming for beginners to use and update
Limited third-party integrations compared to WordPress

How to Build a Website: Step-by-Step

Whether you are launching a personal portfolio, a blog, or an online presence for your business, it is more than creating a template and clicking "Publish."

1. Domain Name

- Your Address on the Web

The domain is your web address, like www.fitdesignldn.com, which users type in their browser to find your site.

Why it matters: A memorable, brand-friendly domain boosts credibility and makes your site easier to share and promote.

Choose something short, relevant, and easy to spell
Use .co.uk or .com for professional appeal in the UK
Avoid hyphens or numbers if possible

Domain Providers & Costs:

Register directly through your website builder (e.g. Wix, Squarespace)
UK domain providers: 123 Reg, Names.co.uk, or GoDaddy UK
Expect to pay: £10–£20/year

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2. Web Hosting

- Your Site’s Home on the Internet

Hosting is the server space where the content of your website (text, images, and code) is stored.

Why it is important: Reliable hosting ensures that your website is available for access, has a quick loading speed, and is secured.

Hosting Types:

Inclusive - platforms like Wix, Shopify & Webflow have hosting included. Great for beginners as no setup is needed.
Standalone - more control, but requires setup and technical know-how.

Best Web Hosting Providers:

SiteGround UK - Known for speed and support
Krystal Hosting - UK-based, eco-friendly hosting
Bluehost - Great for WordPress beginners
Dreamhost - Well known and highly recommended

Expect to pay: £5 – £15/month (if hosting separately)

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3. Website Builder or CMS

- Your Design Toolkit

Web design software tools are essential for anyone looking to create a visually appealing and functional website. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned power apps developers, having the right software can make the process smoother and more efficient.

What it is: It is a site builder or content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and support your website without the need to know how to code.

Choices for Different Needs:

Beginners & small businesses: Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy
Advanced design & coding skills: Webflow, WordPress
eCommerce websites: Shopify, WooCommerce (for WordPress)
Universal website templates: Wix, Webflow, Shopify

What to Look for:

Website design software & template that meets your goals
Mobile responsive UI design elements
Built-in S E O tools, scalable third-party applications
Free version or free trial web development
E-commerce or booking tool support (if applicable)

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4. Design Assets

- Make Your Website Look Professional

The success of your website will largely depend on the assets you use. Are they high quality, are they compresed, do you they reflect your brand?

Why it matters: Professional design assets establish credibility, strengthen brand identity and create a memorable user experience that builds trust with site visitors.

Essential Assets You Need:

High-quality product/team images
Professional brand logo
Consistent icons & graphics
Brand-appropriate typography
Color palette that reflects your brand

Where to Get Quality Assets:

Free stock images: Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay
DIY design tools: Canva, Adobe Express
Copywriting: ChatGPT, Claude
Professional help: Upwork or Contra for custom logos/branding

Optimization Tips:

Compress images for faster loading (use TinyPNG or ShortPixel)
Maintain consistent sizing across similar elements
Ensure mobile compatibility for all visual assets
Use SVG format for logos and icons when possible

Expect to pay: £100 – £500 depending on DIY vs professional services

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5. Setup & Ongoing Maintenance

– Don't Set It and Forget It

‍First-Time Users - Setup (3 - 7 days):

Sign up for a builder
Choose template
Add content [copy and images]
Customise layout
Set up domain and website hosting service
S E O basics and site testing
Preview and publish

Ongoing Tasks:

Update content regularly (blog posts, business hours, new products)
Backup your site monthly (most platforms do this automatically)
Monitor performance via Google Analytics or built-in tools
Check for broken links or outdated info
Post on social media channels
Run digital marketing campaigns

Additional Tools to Create a Website

Start simple and add features as you get comfortable. Your first website doesn't need to be perfect - you can always improve it over time!

🎨 Branding & Web Design Tools

Make your website visually appealing and brand-consistent.

1. Canva - DIY Graphic Design

Canva is a beginner-friendly tool that lets you design everything from logos and social media graphics to website banners and PDF downloads — all in your browser.

‍Cost: Free plan available, Pro from £10.99/month

2. Adobe Color – Find Your Colour Scheme

Choosing a colour palette is crucial for brand consistency. These tools help you generate colour combinations that look great together.

‍Cost: Free

3. Google Fonts – Typography

A clean, readable font makes your website feel professional. Google Fonts offers a library of free fonts you can integrate with most website builders.

‍Cost: Free

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✍️ Content Writing & Editing Tools

Make your website sound as good as it looks.

4. Grammarly – Typos

Even the most beautiful website can be let down by spelling errors or awkward grammar. Grammarly checks your writing in real time and suggests improvements.

‍Cost: Free plan available, Premium plan from £25/month

5. Hemingway Editor – Strengthen Your Message

This tool helps you write in clear, easy-to-read language. It highlights long sentences, passive voice, and complicated words so you can fix them.

‍Cost: $25/month

6. ChatGPT – Personal Writing Assistant

Use ChatGPT (yep, that’s me!) to help brainstorm content ideas, write service descriptions, FAQs, landing page copy, or even catchy blog titles.

‍Cost: Free

📸 Image & Media Tools

High-quality visuals make your website more engaging.

7. Unsplash / Pexels / Pixabay – High-Resolution Images

No product shots yet? No problem. These platforms offer free stock photos you can use for your website legally.

‍Cost: Free

8. TinyPNG / Squoosh – Compressing Images

Large image files slow down your website. These tools shrink image file sizes to "webp" without losing quality.

‍Cost: Free (has usage limits)

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🔍 SEO & Analytics Tools

Help people find your website on Google and track how they use it.

9. Google Search Console

This free tool helps you check your site’s health, see what keywords people use to find you, and spot technical issues like broken links or slow pages.

‍Cost: Free

10. Google Analytics

Track how many people visit your site, where they’re coming from, how long they stay, and which pages perform best.

‍Cost: Free

11. Optimise Your Pages

These tools guide you through adding keywords, writing better meta descriptions, and improving your page’s search visibility — even if you’re new to search engine optimisation.

Yoast S E O (for WordPress)
Tiny S E O (for Shopify)
Built-in (Webflow, Wix, Weebly)
Tools: NeilPatel, Semrush, SeObility

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⚙️ Website Testing & Functionality Tools

Ensure your website works perfectly for all visitors.

13. Responsively App – Test Your Site

Check your website across different devices like phone, tablet and desktop simultaneously as over 75% of web traffic comes from mobile devices.

‍Cost: Free

14. WAVE - Accessibility Evaluator

A robust tool designed to help web developers, designers and content creators identify accessibility issues that might prevent people with disabilities from using your website.

‍Cost: Free

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💼 Productivity, Booking & Payment Tools

Boost functionality and keep your website running smoothly.

15. Plan Your Website Project

Stay organised and create task boards, plan your content and set deadlines for each section of your website.

Trello
Notion
Asana
Slack

16. Calendly / TidyCal – Book Appointments Online

Embed a booking system directly into your site, perfect for consultants, tutors, therapists and service providers.

Cost: Free plans available

17. Stripe / PayPal – Accept Payments

Add payment buttons, donation links, or full e-commerce checkout features.

Stripe works beautifully with Webflow, Squarespace, and WordPress. PayPal is a good option for donations or simple one-off purchases.

Difference: Website Design Agency vs Freelancer

Once you know what you need for your website, the next big question is: “Should I hire a freelancer or go with a web design agency?”

Your decision will depend on budget, project goals, time-frame and, probably, personal involvement in the process. Here is a clear differentiation to help you select an option for your business.

Web Design Agency

Best for mid to complex projects or when you need a team to elevate your brand, especially if you want to get results.

✅ Agency Advantages:

Design skills: A graphic designer, web developer, copywriter and search engine optimization under one roof.
Professional project management: Timelines, deliverables and bespoke web design process.
Wide range of websites: Perfect for scaling businesses that may want custom integrations and CMS pages.
Service & maintenance: Ongoing assistance, retainer packages.

⚠️ Agency Disadvantages:

Higher cost: Overheads are higher, consequently, rates are somewhat higher.
Time-to-completion: More elaborate projects take time to be birthed.
Availability: Every design project has to be scheduled.

UK Cost Guide:

Starter website (5–7 pages): £3,500 – £5,000
Full business site with S E O, blog, CMS: £5,000 – £10,000
E-commerce/advanced builds: £7,000+
Ongoing support/retainer: £70 - £500+/month

For site design, look for agencies via Google – search terms like “web design agency” or "web design London". Google Maps, Clutch.co – directories with verified client reviews.

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Freelance Web Designer

A good option for smaller budgets and personalized attention - if you work with an experienced design and development expert.

✅ Freelancer Advantages:

Budget-friendliness: Normally charge less than agencies.
Direct communication: You speak to the person doing the work.
Flexibility & immediacy: Better for projects where turnarounds are swift.
Custom feel: Best for portfolio sites, startups or one time jobs.

⚠️ Freelancer Disadvantages:

Expertise: Offers limited resources in marketing, SEO, etc.
Knowledge: Lack of skills in versatile graphic design software.
Scalability: Freelancers typically work alone, which can restrict their ability to expand.

UK Costs Guide:

Simple brochure website: £1,000 – £2,500
E-commerce or custom design: £3,000+
Monthly maintenance: £100 – £250

Find the right web designer at Upwork, PeoplePerHour or Contra (look for verified UK talent).

Design a Website Questions & Answers

Want high-end branding, custom animations or optimized content? That’s an agency-level job. Want an affordable, functional site that you can tweak yourself? A freelancer might be perfect.

HOW TO START A WEB DESIGN PROJECT?

Start with a short brief: List your goals, ideal launch date, must-have features and your budget range.
Get multiple quotes: Speak to at least 2–3 providers and compare not just price but communication, style and timelines.
Ask for portfolios: Always look at past work. Bonus points for experience in your industry.
Be realistic with budget vs. expectations: Share your budget you're comfortable with.

WHAT WEB DESIGN SOFTWARE DO PROFESSIONALS USE?

Professional web designers in the UK tend to use a number of industry-standard tools: Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch are the most common for website mockups and prototyping. Figma, in particular, has been gaining more traction due to its collaborative features.

For development, Visual Studio Code is the major choice of code editors, whereas WordPress powers more or less 40% of the websites around the globe.

WHICH SOFTWARE IS BEST FOR WEB DESIGNING?

Currently, Figma enjoys great success in the UK market, thanks to its collaborative facility, cloud-based working environment, and extensive design possibilities. This tool becomes especially valuable for teams located remotely.

For starters, Webflow is excellent as a no-code platform to build professional sites, requiring only minimum knowledge of tech stuff.

HOW MUCH DOES A PROFESSIONAL WEB DESIGNER COST?

Freelancers: £30-£75/hour
Small agencies: £75-£150/hour

A general average in building a business website would be anywhere between £2,500-£5,000, whereas for a complex e-commerce site or custom web application, it can be anywhere between £5,000 to above £25,000.

Conclusion: Build Smart, Not Expensive

Modern-day tools equip small enterprises in the UK to get online and thrive with fairly modest monthly investments or coding experience. However, they don't teach you how to get results and ensure quality over quantity. Working with a professional is key to enhancing your online presence, driving traffic & sales.

By leveraging the expertise of digital marketing professionals, businesses can craft targeted strategies that align with their specific goals and audience. These experts can help businesses navigate the complexities of social media, content creation and other essential digital marketing components that might be overwhelming for small business owners to manage alone.