Is AI the Future of Web Design? Explore Our Top Picks Inside!

AI-powered website builders are changing how websites are built, offering faster and smarter solutions. But let’s be clear: while they have impressive features, they aren’t quite the ‘magic wand’ that busy business owners or agency experts need. They’re still time-consuming and better suited for DIYers who have the bandwidth to explore and manage the process themselves.

We will also explore what the incumbents like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and others are doing with AI, but Let’s first dive into our picks amongst the AI-first tools and see what they really bring to the table!

AI First Tools in Web Design

Let’s take a look at AI-first tools and how they’re revolutionizing the way we build websites.?

Check out the top AI tools we’ve handpicked:

1. Durable

Who's it for??

Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners who need a quick, AI-driven solution for creating functional websites.

What's cool about it?

• AI-powered website in seconds: Durable boasts an incredibly fast website creation process using AI.
• AI Images for Website: Automatically generates high-resolution images for each page.
• Bonus features: Includes a CRM, online invoicing, and AI tools for content creation and branding.
• Add Widgets: Allow users to start a chat on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messenger.
• Simple User Interface: Its simple and user-friendly interface makes it ideal for beginners.

What are the downsides?

• Integrating Google Analytics and Meta Pixel to track website traffic is complex.
• Its proprietary CMS lacks the flexibility and plugin support of platforms like WordPress.
• Limited design flexibility compared to more manual builders.
• May not be suitable for complex websites or e-commerce needs.

When to use this tool??

Ideal for those who need a website up and running quickly with minimal input, especially small businesses with a limited budget and time.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: Not Available
• Capterra Rating: Not Available
• Socio Rating: 4.6/5

2. Pineapple Builder

Who's it for??

Non-coders, startups, and entrepreneurs looking for simple website building with an AI edge.

What's cool about it?

• AI-powered website generation: Describe your business and Pineapple Builder will create a website in minutes.
• Goal-Oriented websites: Choose a goal (growing traffic, leads, affiliates, and so on) while creating, and AI will create websites optimized for that goal.
• AI marketing and sales tools: AI adds USPs, brand voice, and functionality to create a robust website.
• Simple & powerful editor: The powerful editor makes it easy to make edits and adjustments to the website.

What are the downsides?

• It only uses the stock templates to design websites which may result in less original designs.
• It has its own CMS so It is not as powerful as other established CMS like Wordpress.
• Limited control over design elements compared to more advanced builders.
• Less robust features for larger or more complex websites.

When to use this tool??

Best for individuals needing a professional-looking website without a steep learning curve or hiring a designer.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: Not Available
• Capterra Rating: Not Available
• Socio Rating: 4.6/5

3. Framer

Who's it for??

Designers, developers, and agencies that want complete control over design, animations, and interactions with AI assistance.

What's cool about it?

• AI-powered websites: Framer's AI helps design interactive websites that are highly responsive.
• Component-based design: Get the widest range of options to choose pages, menus, navigation, page sections, etc.
• Advanced AI Elements: Add media, forms, icons, and advanced interactive elements in a single click.
• Advanced collaboration tools: Real-time collaboration and handoff features streamline teamwork on complex projects.
• Figma Integration: Import your website from Figma effortlessly.

What are the downsides?

• Ensuring consistent experiences across different web browsers can be challenging.
• AI does not assist with editing; each section must be manually adjusted.
• Complex interface and steeper learning curve compared to other options.
• May not be suitable for beginners or those on a tight budget.

When to use this tool??

Ideal for teams building complex websites with advanced design features and collaboration needs.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: 4.5/5
• Capterra Rating: 4.5/5
• Socio Rating: 4.5/5?

4. Stunning

Who's it for??

Beginners, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking for a quick and easy website solution.

What's cool about it?

• Super-fast setup: Answer a few questions, and Stunning uses AI to build your website in minutes!
• Right Tone for Right Audience: Wide variety of brand tones, from professional to playful, quirky to optimistic.
• Easy customization: Besides AI-powered creation, Stunning allows you to personalize layouts, colors, and images using simple prompts.
• Regenerate Sections: Refresh individual sections effortlessly by asking the AI to regenerate them.

What are the downsides?

• Image regeneration can be glitchy, and the stock image library is also limited.
• Updating the theme's color palette requires manual knowledge—AI doesn’t handle it.
• Limited third-party integrations compared to competitors.
• Fewer customization options for highly specific design needs.

When to use this tool??

Best for individuals looking for a visually appealing, easy-to-build website without the need for coding or extensive customization.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: 4.5/5
• Capterra Rating: 5/5
• Socio Rating: 4.4/5

Final Thoughts

If you’re a busy business owner looking to revamp your website, AI tools simply won’t cut it. For a truly customized, polished result, you need an expert web designer—there's no substitute. These tools are fine for DIY'ers who want a quick fix, but if you’re after a top-tier, professional overhaul, they’re nowhere near enough.

Incumbents in Website Building

Let’s explore how established players in website building are leveraging AI to enhance their processes.

1. WordPress AI Features

AI plugins in WordPress are a game-changer. They can help you with tasks like writing content, creating images, improving your website for search engines, adding live chat, and even coding. With hundreds of options available, we'll be sharing our top picks in a future newsletter.

2. Hostinger AI Builder

Who's it for??

Small businesses, startups, and freelancers looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-use website builder with AI integration.

What's cool about it?

• AI-powered website generation: Answer a few questions, and the AI automatically creates websites by populating content and images.
• Simple setup: AI-assisted onboarding makes setting up your website quick and painless.
• AI Text & Image Generator: Automatically generates high-quality copy and images tailored to your website.
• AI Marketing Tools: Integrated AI tools for SEO optimization, AI-powered heatmaps, and marketing insights help boost your site’s visibility.
• Export to WordPress: Seamlessly export your content to WordPress if you need to switch platforms.

What are the downsides?

• Customization options are not as robust as other platforms, which may be a downside for those who want full design control.
• Best suited for simpler sites, lacking the capabilities for large e-commerce or highly customized websites.

When to use this tool??

Ideal for individuals or businesses with a tight budget who need a website quickly, without complex design requirements.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: 4.4/5
• Capterra Rating: 4.6/5
• Socio Rating: 4.6/5

3. SquareSpace AI Builder

Who's it for??

Creative professionals, small businesses, and those who want visually stunning websites with minimal effort.

What's cool about it?

• AI Design Assistant: Helps create aesthetically pleasing websites based on your preferences and industry.
• Edit with AI: Use AI to write and edit product descriptions, video descriptions, and website copy seamlessly.
• AI Marketing Tools: AI assists with email marketing and SEO, helping to boost your site’s reach and visibility.
• Integrated E-commerce Support: AI can optimize product listings and enhance e-commerce features for online stores.

What are the downsides?

• Only text can be edited using AI; image regeneration is not available.
• Not as flexible as platforms like WordPress for users requiring more advanced customizations.
• Creating or editing individual sections manually can take longer, and there’s no AI to assist with section customization.
• Pricey compared to other AI-powered builders, especially for e-commerce features.

When to use this tool??

Best for creatives and small businesses looking for a stylish, minimal-effort website with built-in marketing and e-commerce features.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: 4.4/5
• Capterra Rating: 4.6/5
• Socio Rating: 4.5/5

4. Wix AI Builder

Who's it for??

Entrepreneurs, artists, small businesses, and anyone who wants a stylish, professional-looking website without coding.

What's cool about it?

• AI Website Generator: Answer a few questions, and Wix’s AI instantly generates a website with personalized design and features.
• AI Text & Image Optimization: AI suggests the right copy and images for your website to match your tone.
• Create Sections with AI: Quickly create new sections for your site with AI-generated layouts.
• Customizable Templates: Once the AI generates the site, you can customize the design with drag-and-drop simplicity.

What are the downsides?

• The AI tool generates only a one-page website, which may not be sufficient for all users.
• The AI-created websites are often simplistic and require manual updates to colors, images, fonts, and text.
• Editing using AI provides simple results that may require further customization.
• Once built on Wix, migrating to another platform is complex.

When to use this tool??

Best for those seeking a quick, visually appealing, and user-friendly website, especially for small businesses or portfolio sites.

Ratings?

• G2 Rating: 4.2/5
• Capterra Rating: 4.4/5
• Socio Rating: 4.4/5

Final Thoughts

Established platforms like WordPress, Hostinger, Squarespace, and Wix are already integrating AI, but it’s still more of an add-on than the main engine driving their process. That said, these incumbents are in a much better position to leverage AI and deliver a comprehensive offering soon. For users looking for powerful websites with deep customization and advanced features, these platforms offer far more than just AI-driven simplicity.

These innovative AI tools are set to create stunning websites in seconds. If you're eager to explore more AI tools that can save you time and boost your productivity, book your complimentary 30-minute AI Learning Session today. We'll help you identify at least 5 game-changing AI tools you can put to use right away.

Schedule Your Free Session Now!

*Disclaimer: We're not affiliated with any of these tools and don't get paid for recommending them. We explore several AI tools every week and wanted to share our learnings with you.