I’m weirdly passionate about author websites, mostly because my own has been a cornerstone of any “success” (← in quotes because most days I feel like an imposter) I’ve had in 10+ years as a published author. It’s how Inside Edition found me (leading to my very first TV appearance!), and how The Wall Street Journal discovered me and reached out for an interview. And it receives thousands of visitors every month, and I like to think of each one a potential book buyer.
That said, I’ve backed off preaching about it over the years. I’d gotten the sense … nobody cares. Increasingly, I see authors neglecting their website or getting rid of them altogether because they can’t justify the expense, and honestly? I really get that. The cost of having a professional-looking website has gone up dramatically in recent years, and it can be hard to measure the ROI.
But lately I’ve found myself hanging out over on Threads a lot, specifically within the writer and author threads, and I’ve been delighted and surprised to see how many writers are wanting to create an author website! The general consensus is that most writers don’t know where to start, and I thought, “Wait, I can help with this!”
Not only am I an author, but for years I’ve had a side hustle building author websites,* I have Opinions. They’ve also evolved, so this is a refreshed 2026 assessment of the best website platforms for writers.
*I still do build author websites with my husband via Last Word Designs if you’re looking for a premium “done for you” author website, but it’s overkill if you’re simply looking for a professional online presence as a debut.
Recommended
Carrd
If you’re just starting out, on a tight budget, or want a website that’s professional-looking enough to give you some credibility but requires minimal maintenance, Carrd is the way to go. Carrd allows you to build really stunning single-page websites with a custom domain (i.e., www.yourname.com) which is instantly more impressive than a URL with a Linktree (plus, you don’t have any third-party branding, which is never a professional look…)
The best part for us authors is that they have a ton of integrated icons, so you can send people to Amazon, Goodreads, BookBubs, TikTok, whatever, and look sleek doing so.
If you’re just looking to have a professional vibe that gets people to your Substack, Audible, TikTok, whatever, this is a great option.
Here’s an example of my non-author landing page so you can see how pretty they can look!
Try Carrd (← affiliate link)
I’ve also made a contemporary, professional single-page card template for romance authors that you can purchase below:
Squarespace
This has long been my go-to recommendation for authors, and it’s what my current site is built on (though I’ve had plenty of flirtations with Showit!).
It’s still my top recommendation, though I’ll be the first to admit that the price has gone up dramatically over the years. The functionality has too, but the trick is that most author websites don’t need tricked-out functionality.
That said, I still recommend it, because it really is the best “all-in-one” option. It’s incredibly easy to have a blog (or multiple blogs), to sell books direct, and create book pages with fun behind-the-scenes content, all without fussing with plugins or code. If you can type and drag things with a mouse, you can use Squarespace.
Also, one thing that helped me reconcile the cost was realizing that their Core plan (has everything authors need) ends up being less than a dollar per day if you purchase their annual plan. Thinking of it that way, an author site is a no-brainer if you’re serious about your career.
Showit
I love Showit. In fact, if you don’t want a blog (you can blog with Showit, but I find it a pain), and you don’t want an e-commerce book shop, I’d actually recommend it over Squarespace for authors, especially if you have a lot of book series. Showit makes it easy to create “canvases” for various series, or categories of books, and install them on any page of your website with just a single click!
I built Jennifer Probst’s website on Showit, and it gives you an idea of just how “wow” Showit sites can be, if I do say so myself :)
Not Recommended
WordPress
This is a hot take, but I actually don’t recommend WordPress unless you’re extremely tech-savvy and/or know how to code. Yes, it’s “free.” And yes, it powers nearly half of the websites on the Internet. So I’m not saying WordPress is bad; I’m saying that in order to have a website that actually looks good on WordPress, you’re going to need to hire a skilled designer, or get your hands and wallet dirty with premium plugins, templates, and maybe a little code.
Wix
I’m just not a fan. Yes, they have base pricing a little cheaper than Squarespace or Showit, but I think it shows in the final product. That said, some people adore it, and I generally speaking, I think a Wix website is better than no website!
Framer
Framer can create some amazing websites, but the learning curve is steeper than others on the list. Proceed only if you’re very tech-savvy.
Webflow
Even steeper learning curve than Framer (but it’s powerful, if that’s what you’re looking for!)
Indifferent
Canva
I know Canva sites are gaining in popularity lately. I don’t hate what I’ve seen, though I still think Carrd is going to give you a cleaner, more professional site for less money. Unless, of course, you’re already a Canva power user, in which case it might be the way to go!
