3 Best Tools for Website Building

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November 04, 2025

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3 min read

For this post I am taking a more freeform approach to the suggestions. Normally in these tools posts I tend to take a strong stance. That you should use "X" tool, and not "X" tool. However that just simply isn't the case here. When I built PolyInnovator.space for example I used WP.com, then Wix, then Medium, then Wordpress.org, then Ghost CMS. I had to try many tools to find what was right FOR ME.

I think that for you it might be the same way, but if I can save you time (and trying out less tools) then that is what I hope for!

#3 - WebFlow/Webstudio/Framer

I decided to group these all together for this, as they all essentially function the same. While the CMS in Webflow is better than Framer, webstudio has some benefits too, and they all cover each other's weaknesses.

I tried Framer to build the PolyTools directory, but between the crappy cms and the slow theme I couldn't really make it work.

Webstudio is a bit funky in some ways, but I think for some people it could be a great alternative to Webflow.

Then Webflow is sort of the OG in the space, and since it has been around longer there has been more refinement to it.

#2 - Ghost CMS/Substack/Beehiiv

Again grouping together as they fill the same function. This being creating a newsletter/blog website. Now I would point out that Ghost is best, but for some people the automations of the other two are more important.

As of late I actually rebuilt my Substack for the PolyTools brand if you want to check it out. Now called the Content Polymath.

I compared them all again on this post here:

#1 - Whatever tool gets you to do it.

I know this is sort of a cop out, and to be honest I kind of hate that I am writing this. I absolutely loathe wordpress, and I love Ghost for example. I'd love to put Ghost as #1, and I probably would for those who are curious.

However! If you are not a writer, then what is the point of the Ghost CMS? There are a FEW quite good Podcast themes, and that works. There's even micro-blogging themes, so if you wanted to essentially share your "tweets/threads" on your own portfolio, then I could see that being a use case.

However if you can afford it, and the feature set is right for you, for a portfolio I might suggest Squarespace or even Wix (I'm not fan of these two as they generally are slow/clunky). My point though is that in comparison to all of the other PolyTools categories, this one is truly subjective.

What really matters is that you don't waste too much time designing your site, and you just put it out there to the world. Might I suggest Notion to Website?