Best Website Builder for Nonprofits (Free & Paid Options)

Nonprofits have unique website needs that most generic builders don't address well. Donation processing, event management, volunteer signup forms, grant information pages, and impact storytelling require more than a basic business template. Finding the best website builder for nonprofits means finding a platform that supports your mission without draining your limited budget.

The good news is that many major website platforms offer significant discounts or entirely free plans for registered nonprofits. In this guide, we'll compare every major option, break down the features that matter most for nonprofit organizations, and help you decide whether a DIY builder, nonprofit-specific platform, or custom website best serves your mission.

What Nonprofits Need From a Website

Before comparing platforms, let's define what a nonprofit website actually needs to accomplish. Unlike business websites focused on selling products or services, nonprofit websites serve multiple audiences with different needs: donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, grant makers, media, and the general public.

Beyond features, nonprofits need platforms that understand the constraints they operate under: limited budgets, volunteer-run teams with varying technical skills, and the need for trust-building design that encourages donations.

Google for Nonprofits (Free Tools Suite)

Google for Nonprofits isn't a website builder itself, but it's the foundation every nonprofit should start with. Eligible organizations get free access to Google Workspace (email, docs, drive), $10,000/month in Google Ads credit through the Ad Grants program, and YouTube Nonprofit features including donation cards on videos.

Why it matters for your website: The $10,000/month in Google Ad Grants alone can drive significant traffic to your site. Professional Gmail addresses (you@yournonprofit.org) build credibility. Google Analytics helps you understand what's working on your website. And Google Workspace gives your team collaboration tools that would otherwise cost $6-$18 per user per month.

Eligibility: Must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (in the US) or equivalent in other countries. Political organizations, hospitals, and schools are generally excluded. Apply through Google for Nonprofits and verify through TechSoup or your local validation partner.

Cost: Completely free. No reason not to apply if you're eligible.

WordPress: Best Overall for Nonprofits

WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, and it's the most popular choice for nonprofits for good reason. The flexibility is unmatched. There are dozens of nonprofit-specific themes, hundreds of plugins for donation processing and event management, and a massive community of developers familiar with the platform.

Strengths: The GiveWP plugin turns any WordPress site into a powerful fundraising platform with customizable donation forms, donor management, recurring giving, and detailed reporting. For events, The Events Calendar plugin (free version available) handles event listings, registration, and calendar views. WordPress is also the best platform for SEO, which is critical for nonprofits that rely on organic search traffic and Google Ad Grants.

Weaknesses: WordPress requires more technical knowledge than drag-and-drop builders. You'll need to manage hosting, updates, security, and plugin compatibility. For volunteer-run organizations without tech expertise, the learning curve and maintenance burden can be significant. WordPress sites are also more vulnerable to security issues if not properly maintained.

Cost: WordPress.org itself is free. Hosting runs $5-$30/month. Premium themes cost $30-$80 (one-time). Premium plugins add $50-$300/year. Total: approximately $100-$600/year for a solid nonprofit site. Some hosting providers like DreamHost offer free hosting for nonprofits.

Wix: Best for Ease of Use

Wix is the friendliest website builder for non-technical teams. The drag-and-drop editor requires zero coding knowledge, and the platform includes several templates designed specifically for nonprofits and charitable organizations. For organizations run primarily by volunteers who need to update the site without calling a developer, Wix is hard to beat.

Strengths: Genuinely easy to use, even for complete beginners. Wix offers a 50% discount for verified nonprofits on annual plans. The built-in donation app (powered by PayPal or Stripe) handles one-time and recurring donations. Wix Events handles event creation, ticketing, and RSVP management. The Wix blog feature is clean and simple for sharing impact stories and updates.

Weaknesses: Less flexible than WordPress for complex functionality. Donation processing options are more limited. Once you choose a template, you can't switch to a different one without rebuilding. Page speed can be slower than competitors, which affects both user experience and SEO rankings. Advanced features require paid apps from the Wix App Market.

Cost: Business Basic plan at $17/month (approximately $8.50/month with nonprofit discount). Includes free domain for the first year, donation button, and basic e-commerce for merchandise sales.

Squarespace: Best for Visual Storytelling

If your nonprofit's work is visual, whether you're an environmental organization, arts charity, animal rescue, or community development group, Squarespace's design quality is a major advantage. The templates are beautiful out of the box, and the image handling is best-in-class. Compelling visuals drive donations, and Squarespace makes it easy to create an emotionally engaging site.

Strengths: Gorgeous templates with excellent photo and video presentation. Built-in donation blocks accept one-time and recurring gifts through Stripe or PayPal. Clean, professional design builds donor trust. Excellent blogging platform for impact stories and updates. All-in-one pricing with no hidden plugin costs.

Weaknesses: No official nonprofit discount (some users have negotiated discounts by contacting sales). Less flexible than WordPress for complex functionality. The donation processing is basic compared to dedicated platforms like GiveWP. Limited third-party integrations compared to WordPress or Wix. Event management requires third-party tools or workarounds.

Cost: Business plan at $33/month (required for donation processing). Personal plan at $16/month works for information-only sites without donations. No nonprofit-specific pricing.

Other Options Worth Considering

Classy (by GoFundMe): A dedicated nonprofit fundraising platform that includes website pages, campaign landing pages, peer-to-peer fundraising, and event registration. It's more expensive than general builders but purpose-built for fundraising. Best for organizations where online fundraising is the primary website function. Pricing starts around $117/month.

Bloomerang: Primarily a donor management CRM, but their website builder creates clean, donation-focused pages that integrate seamlessly with their donor database. Best for small nonprofits that want an all-in-one donor management and website solution.

Weebly (by Square): Offers a free plan and low-cost paid plans. Less powerful than WordPress or Wix, but extremely simple to use. The Square integration makes donation and payment processing straightforward. Good for very small nonprofits or those just getting started online.

When a Custom Website Makes Sense for Nonprofits

Template builders serve many nonprofits well, but there are scenarios where a custom-built website delivers significantly more impact and is worth the higher investment.

You need complex donation workflows. If your organization accepts different types of giving (one-time, monthly, planned giving, stock donations, tribute gifts, matching gifts), a custom donation system tailored to your specific workflows converts better than generic donation plugins. Custom donation pages typically see 20-40% higher conversion rates than template-based alternatives because every element is optimized for your audience.

You manage multiple programs or locations. Large nonprofits with multiple programs, chapters, or service locations need websites that organize complex information intuitively. A custom site architecture ensures donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries find what they need quickly, regardless of how many programs you run.

Your donor base expects a premium experience. If you're courting major donors, corporate sponsors, or foundation grants, your website is often the first thing they review. A custom site signals organizational maturity and professionalism that templates can't match. For organizations with annual budgets above $1 million, the website investment typically represents less than 1% of the budget while influencing a significant portion of fundraising success.

Tips for Building a High-Performing Nonprofit Website

Regardless of which platform you choose, these best practices will help your nonprofit website drive more donations, recruit more volunteers, and tell your story more effectively.

Make the donate button impossible to miss. Your donation call-to-action should be in the main navigation, the hero section, and repeated throughout every page. Use a contrasting color that stands out from your site's color scheme. The word "Donate" should be visible without scrolling on every single page.

Lead with impact, not need. Donors want to see what their money accomplishes, not just that you need it. Instead of "We need $50,000 to continue operations," try "$50 provides clean water for a family for an entire year." Specific, tangible outcomes drive more donations than general appeals.

Reduce donation friction. Every extra click or form field between "I want to donate" and "donation complete" loses potential donors. Pre-set suggested amounts ($25, $50, $100, $250). Offer multiple payment options (credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay). Enable one-click recurring donation setup. The fewer barriers, the more donations you'll receive.

Build trust with transparency. Display your financial information, annual reports, charity ratings (GuideStar, Charity Navigator), and board of directors prominently. Donors research organizations before giving. Making this information easy to find increases giving by building confidence that their money will be used responsibly.

For a deeper look at nonprofit-specific design strategies, explore our website design services for nonprofit organizations to see examples of sites we've built that drive real fundraising results.

Final Thoughts

Your nonprofit's website is more than a digital brochure. It's your most important fundraising tool, volunteer recruitment platform, and public face. The best website builder for your organization depends on your team's technical skills, your budget, and the complexity of your needs.

For most small nonprofits, WordPress with free hosting and the GiveWP plugin offers the best balance of power and cost. If your team is non-technical, Wix with the nonprofit discount gets you online quickly and affordably. And if your organization has grown beyond template limitations, a custom website is an investment that pays for itself through increased donations, better donor retention, and a professional presence that attracts major funders. Whatever you choose, remember that the goal is to make supporting your mission as easy and compelling as possible for everyone who visits your site.