Best Website Builder for Authors (2026): 10 Compared

Readers who finish a book they love go looking for the author. They want to know what else you've written, what's coming next and how to hear about it first. An author website is where you catch that moment, and a mailing list sign-up is the most valuable thing on it.

These are ten website builders and publishing platforms in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from newsletter platforms to simple and classic builders. Each description comes from the company's own website, re-checked today. If you also write on LinkedIn, my guide to the best place to publish LinkedIn articles helps you decide where your long posts should live.

Website builders for authors at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the company's own site describes a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
beehiiv	Newsletter platform with websites	Newsletter-led authors	Yes
Carrd	One-page site builder	A single-book page	Yes
Ghost	Publishing platform	Authors who blog and email	Trial only
Jimdo	Website builder	A simple site on a free plan	Yes
Kit	Email marketing for creators	Growing a reader list	Yes
Squarespace	Website builder	Polished author sites	Trial only
Strikingly	Simple site builder	Quick launch sites	No
Substack	Newsletter and publishing platform	Writing in public	Yes
Weebly	Website builder	Basic sites with a store	Yes
Wix	Website builder	Design freedom	Yes

Ten website builders for authors

beehiiv

Best for: Authors who want a newsletter and a simple website together, with growth tools and a free plan.

Carrd

Best for: Debut authors who want one clean page for a book with buy links and a sign-up form.

Ghost

Best for: Authors who publish regularly and want a site, newsletter and memberships on one platform.

Jimdo

Best for: Authors who want a straightforward site with a free plan to get started.

Kit

Best for: Authors focused on building a mailing list with landing pages, sign-up forms and automations.

Squarespace

Best for: Authors who want polished templates for books, events and a blog.

Strikingly

Best for: Authors who want a quick, mobile-friendly site for a launch or event.

Substack

Best for: Authors who want to publish essays or serial fiction and grow subscribers on a network of readers.

Weebly

Best for: Authors who want a basic website with a simple store for signed copies.

Wix

Best for: Authors who want drag-and-drop design freedom, starting on a free plan.

The legal deposit rule UK authors often miss

Here's one for anyone self-publishing in the UK or Ireland. The British Library's legal deposit page says that if you publish anything in the UK and Ireland, you need to give one copy to the British Library. The system has existed in English law since 1662, and it was updated to include electronic publications.

Most traditional publishers handle this for you. If you self-publish, it's your job, so add it to your launch checklist alongside the website update, the newsletter and the buy links. It's also a small piece of literary history: your book joins the national collection.

What readers look for on an author website

• Your books with covers, short blurbs and buy links for each.
• What's next: upcoming releases, events and readings.
• A mailing list sign-up, ideally with a small reward such as a bonus chapter.
• A short bio and photo for readers, press and event organisers.

Building an author site in five steps

1. Decide your main goal: sign-ups, sales or press enquiries.
2. Create one page per book, each with a clear way to buy.
3. Write a reader magnet, such as a short story or bonus scene.
4. Add a press page with photos, bio and contact details.
5. Test buy links and the sign-up form on a phone.

Author website mistakes

• No buy links. Every book page needs a clear way to buy.
• An outdated 'coming soon'. Update it the day a book launches.
• No reason to sign up. Offer something readers can't get elsewhere.
• Hard-to-find contact details. Festivals and podcasts need to reach you.

Plan each launch as a small campaign: a cover reveal, a pre-order page, an email to your list and a few posts. Your website is the hub that every piece points back to, so update it first.

Don't forget the readers who find you through search. A page for each book that uses the title, the series name and the genre in plain words helps search engines understand what you've written, and it's often how a new reader discovers your back catalogue after finishing your latest book.

Growing a reader list

Readers join a list for a reason, so give them one: early chapters, behind-the-scenes notes or first news of new books. For practical ideas on building the list itself, this newsletter growth mini-guide walks through the steps.

Do you make website or newsletter tools for authors? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on website builders for authors

If you write regularly and want readers to hear from you, a newsletter-first platform with a website built in keeps everything simple. If you mainly need a home for your books and events, a classic builder gives you more design control. Debut authors can start with one page and grow from there.

Whatever you choose, make the mailing list the star. A reader on your list is worth far more than a follower on any app.

Frequently asked questions

Do authors need a website?

Yes, even debut authors. It's where readers, press and event organisers look first, and it's the home of your mailing list.

What is the best website builder for self-published authors?

One that makes book pages, buy links and a mailing list easy. Newsletter-first platforms suit authors who write often.

Is there a free website builder for authors?

Several builders here describe free plans, though you'll usually upgrade for your own domain.

What is legal deposit?

The British Library says anyone who publishes in the UK and Ireland needs to give it one copy of the publication.

Should authors blog?

Not necessarily. A regular newsletter often does more for readers than a blog, but either works if you keep it up.

What should an author's press page include?

A short and long bio, author photos, book covers, a list of past events or press, and a contact.