AI website builders: are they worth it in 2026?
Gen-AI current state
In 2026, artificial intelligence is not only present into the well-known chat assistants (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot...). More and more platforms are incorporating generative AI features into their websites and applications.
Web design and development is no exception to this trend. The main web hosting platforms promote their own AI-powered website builders like a definitive solution for anyone who needs a website.
How much of this is actually true? Is it really possible to achieve professional results in seconds as many sites claim?
In this article, we will analyze the most popular AI website builders, analyzing how its use affects the end customer and comparing this technology with other available options.
How did we make our tests?
We have tested AI website builders from the most popular platforms on the market: Wix, Hostinger, Squarespace, and WordPress.
To put them to the test, we wrote a description of a coffee shop specifying brand identity, services offered, and a desired visual aesthetic.
After analyzing the first version of each design, we requested the necessary corrections to test the editing capabilities of these platforms.
You can see a summary of the results in the following sections.
First impressions
The initial results show how much this technology has advanced in recent years: the AI builder can design a basic website that, in general terms, matches the proposed idea.
The result is far from outstanding, but it can be acceptable in many cases (something completely unthinkable just a few years ago).
The generated website would be an excellent foundation on which to build something more professional and complete. However, this is where the main issue we identified lies: the results don’t improve much beyond this first version.
What if I want to modify the results?
Although most of the platforms we tested allowed us to manually edit many text elements, there were several instances where the only option was to use the AI chat to make those changes.
From what we observed, this leads to two potential problems:
- The model struggles to fix specific errors. In our case, there were important elements that we couldn’t modify as needed (for example, the business location on the map).
- The number of requests is limited. To increase this limit, you’ll need to spend more money on a premium subscription.
Visually, the platforms generate simple and functional (but generic) designs. The same issue appears here: when we asked to adjust the website’s style to better match our business, our specific requests were ignored and replaced with slight variations of the original design.
How many features can my AI-generated website have?
Available features and pricing vary depending on each platform’s specifications. Certain features (such as booking calendars) can be added through extra monthly payments, while others are simply not included.
If you decide to use this type of platform, we recommend you to carefully review which features are available in each case. We also suggest you to ask yourself what are your possible long-term needs, because if they are not supported by your chosen platform, you may end up having to rebuild your website from scratch using a different technology (without recovering the time and money previously invested).
Is it economically worth it?
For your AI-generated website to remain published, you will need to keep paying a subscription to these platforms, so the answer to this question will depend on how long you want your site to be online and the features you want it to have.
Building a website with this technology is one of the options with the lowest upfront cost, which can make it a good alternative for tests or short-term projects. However, if you want your website to last for years, the accumulated costs will likely end up exceeding what it would cost to develop and maintain a custom-built website.
For example: the most popular Horizons subscription (Hostinger’s AI website builder) costs around $170 per year.
After 6 years, the total amount spent exceeds $1,000 (not including extra costs such as the domain), and if paid monthly, it can reach $1,400.
By comparison, a professional custom web development is usually done with a one-time payment, involving a higher initial investment but much lower recurring costs (at Alius, we have provided quotes starting from $650 with a maintenance fee of $19 per year).
The other side of AI generated content
The standardization of these types of tools allows anyone to create simple websites quickly. This may seem like an opportunity for businesses looking to establish an online presence, but it could become their biggest problem.
The huge volume of designs and texts generated by artificial intelligence (all very similar to each other) is starting to overwhelm many users. It is increasingly unlikely that an AI-generated website will surprise anyone or, worse, inspire the trust needed in a potential customer.
In this new landscape, it will be more important than ever to stand out and differentiate yourself, especially for businesses and projects that want to last for years.
Comparison with other options
From what we have observed, websites created with these platforms resemble classic templates with automatically generated text. If you don’t mind having a basic website and want a bit more control, you could consider using WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace without their AI builder. That said, keep in mind that you will need to invest some time and will still depend on subscriptions (and possibly paid plugins).
On the other hand, if you are looking for a more professional result or plan to use your website for years, custom web development will give you the best outcome and full control over your site with minimal time investment. The initial cost will be higher, but you will save money in the long run and only pay for what you actually need.
Conclussions
From our perspective, AI website builders are not something to ignore. We believe they are a tool worth considering if you have a temporary project or one that does not need to compete with others.
However, if you are planning a serious or long-term project, we do not recommend relying on this type of technology, because:
- Long-term costs may exceed those of custom development.
- You will likely need changes over time that might not be supported by the platform.
- A generic-looking website is a competitive disadvantage and may even create distrust among potential customers.
It is important to weigh the pros and cons when making a decision about your business or project’s website, as it will likely accompany you for years to come. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact us: we will be happy to explain all the available options in detail so you can make the best decision.
