A security-focused comparison evaluates eight website builders across default protections, account security, add-on controls and security programs.
Wix and Shopify tie for the top overall score at 9/10.
The ratings are editorial assessments based on research, not lab tests; some changing certification and capability claims are flagged for verification.
The rating was published on October 11, 2026. It is based on research into each service's security program, default protections, account security, add-on controls, and the history of each platform. No lab tests were conducted, and no platforms paid to appear in the rankings. The scores are the authors' estimates, not the results of technical testing. The rating also notes that some information about certifications and features needs confirmation, as they are subject to change.
The eight platforms
- Wix — 9,0/10: first overall, along with Shopify. It offers automatic login protection and protections built into the platform itself. Users can verify their identity in different ways, and members of a group can have different permissions. Wix also has a program that rewards those who report security issues.
- Shopify — 9,0/10: tied for first place overall and ranked first for online stores. According to the assessment, it meets the highest level of the PCI DSS payment security standard across the platform. It also offers analytics to detect potential fraud and rewards researchers who report issues. Employee accounts and add-on applications remain potential risks that need to be managed.
- Squarespace — 8,6/10: Its limited environment has fewer additional applications, which makes management simpler, but also offers less flexibility.
- Webflow — 8,5/10: The evaluation recommends it for design teams with regulatory compliance needs. Some advanced features are only available in the more expensive packages.
- Duda — 8,3/10: Recommended for companies managing multiple websites. It offers centralized control, as well as different permissions for team members and customers.
- WordPress.com — 8,1/10: Automattic manages the core system, updates, and systems that keep the service running. However, in more expensive plans, users gain access to additional applications, which require separate control.
- Hostinger Builder — 7,8/10: It includes automatic protection at login, company-managed hosting, and user identity verification. The review finds the security program to be less extensive than those of the highest-rated platforms.
- GoDaddy Websites — 7,6/10: combines services for website, domain name and email. The review warns that some additional security services may offer protections that already exist.
What owners should watch out for
Platforms handle tasks like updating and maintaining the systems that keep websites running. But that doesn't automatically protect users' accounts or their add-on apps. The assessment found that stolen passwords, deceptive login pages, and untrusted apps can cause problems, even when the underlying platform has strong protections.
The assessment recommends enabling two-step verification for those with permission to change the website. It also recommends reviewing add-ons every three months and removing accounts of departing partners.
He also suggests protecting the account with the company where the website name is registered and regularly exporting the website content. Before relying on backups, owners should check exactly what they can restore.
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