How to Make a Website with AI in 2026 (Complete Beginner Guide)

Building a Website with AI: What Changed in 2026

AI website builders have evolved beyond simple templates. In 2026, you can describe your website in plain English and get a fully functional site in minutes. These tools handle design, copywriting, SEO basics, and even generate custom images — all from a single prompt.

Whether you need a business website, portfolio, online store, or blog, there’s an AI builder that fits your needs and budget.

Best AI Website Builders Compared

Tool	Best For	AI Features	Starting Price
Wix AI	Small business websites	Full site generation, AI text	$17/mo
Hostinger AI Builder	Budget-friendly sites	AI site builder + hosting	$2.99/mo
Framer	Modern portfolios	AI layout + animations	Free (basic)
Squarespace	Design-focused sites	AI content + design assist	$16/mo
Durable	Fastest generation	Full site in 30 seconds	$12/mo
10Web	WordPress with AI	AI-powered WordPress	$10/mo

Step 1: Choose Your AI Website Builder

Your choice depends on three factors:

• Budget — Hostinger is cheapest at $2.99/mo; Framer has a free tier
• Website type — E-commerce needs Wix/Squarespace; portfolios suit Framer
• Technical comfort — Durable is simplest; 10Web gives most control

Step 2: Generate Your Website with AI

Most AI builders follow a similar flow:

1. Enter your business name and type
2. Describe what your business does
3. Select style preferences (colors, fonts, mood)
4. AI generates a complete website with pages, content, and images
5. Review and customize the generated site

With Durable, this takes under 30 seconds. With Wix AI, about 2-3 minutes. Both produce surprisingly professional results.

Step 3: Customize Your AI-Generated Site

AI gets you 80% there. Spend time on these key customizations:

• Replace placeholder images with your own photos or AI-generated visuals
• Edit headlines and copy to match your brand voice
• Add your contact information and business details
• Set up your navigation — keep it to 5-7 main pages
• Connect your domain — purchase or transfer your custom domain

Step 4: Essential Pages Every Website Needs

• Home — Clear value proposition and call-to-action
• About — Your story and team
• Services/Products — What you offer with pricing
• Contact — Form, phone, email, address
• Blog — For SEO and content marketing

Step 5: SEO and Performance Setup

Most AI builders handle basic SEO, but verify these elements:

• Page titles include your main keywords
• Meta descriptions are compelling and under 160 characters
• Images have alt text descriptions
• Site loads in under 3 seconds (test with Google PageSpeed)
• Mobile version looks good and is functional

Free vs Paid: What You Actually Need

For a professional website, expect to spend $3-20/month. Free plans typically show the builder’s branding, limit your domain to a subdomain, and restrict features. If you’re building a business website, the paid tier is worth it.

Can AI Build an E-Commerce Store?

Yes. Wix AI and Squarespace both support AI-generated online stores with product pages, shopping carts, and payment processing. Shopify also offers AI features for product descriptions and store setup. For a full store, budget $25-40/month.