We built the same website on 5 different AI platforms. The performance gap was significant: one loaded in 1.1 seconds with a PageSpeed score of 94, while another took 5.8 seconds and scored 48.
That's not a minor difference. It's the gap between keeping a visitor engaged and losing them before your homepage loads. According to Google's Think with Google research, 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Website performance directly affects SEO rankings, and slow sites get penalized in search results.
After extensive testing across every major AI website builder, we identified which platforms deliver agency-quality results and which underperform despite their marketing claims. We also found one platform that breaks the subscription model entirely, paying for itself in under two years while producing the best design output.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- Which AI builders produce genuinely professional designs (and which feel generic)
- How performance differences affect your SEO rankings and user experience
- The real cost of each platform over 1, 3, and 5 years
- Which builder makes sense for your specific situation
How We Tested: Our Ranking Methodology
We built 23 complete websites across 5 platforms over 3 months:
- 10 portfolio sites (photographers, designers, artists, filmmakers)
- 8 small business sites (consultants, restaurants, services, retail)
- 5 landing pages (product launches, lead generation)
For each site, we measured:
- Time from signup to publishable site
- Google PageSpeed Insights scores (mobile and desktop)
- Design quality assessed against agency benchmarks
- SEO fundamentals (meta tags, sitemaps, load speed)
- Total cost over 1, 3, and 5-year periods
Our weighted scoring criteria:
- Design Quality (30%): Can output compete with professional agency work?
- Ease of Use (25%): Can someone without technical skills succeed?
- Performance (20%): PageSpeed scores and real-world load times
- SEO Capabilities (15%): Built-in optimization features
- Value for Money (10%): Results relative to cost
Quick Comparison: AI Website Builders at a Glance
| Feature | Framekit | Wix | Squarespace | Webflow | Framer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PageSpeed Score | 92-96 | 44-58 | 60-72 | 70-85 | 65-75 |
| Design Quality | 8.4/10 | 4.9/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | 7/10 |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Easy | Medium | Hard | Hard |
| Starting Price | $0 | $17/mo | $16/mo | $14/mo | $10/mo |
| Lifetime Option | $349 | No | No | No | No |
| Best For | Most users | App integrations | Template lovers | Developers | Designers |
1. Framekit: Best Overall AI Website Builder
Overall Score: 9.5/10
Framekit takes a different approach than other builders. Instead of offering thousands of mediocre templates, every Framekit template was designed by senior designers with 10+ years of experience. The AI doesn't just swap colors. It understands visual hierarchy, typography pairing, and conversion-focused layout.
What Sets Framekit Apart
AI Trained by Senior Designers
Framekit's AI was trained by designers with decades of experience, so you get genuinely professional results without needing design skills yourself. The system understands what makes designs work: proper spacing, typography hierarchy, color relationships, and visual balance.
Instant Template Pages and Components
Need to add a new page to your site? Browse Framekit's library of complete template pages and add them instantly. Every page is professionally designed and adapts automatically to your existing color scheme and typography. The same applies to individual components: testimonials, pricing tables, feature sections, galleries, and more. Add any component from the library and it matches your site's look immediately.
Design from Inspiration
This is where Framekit gets interesting. Found a design you love on Pinterest, Dribbble, or a competitor's site? Upload the image and Framekit's AI can reference and adapt that design style for your site. You can combine elements from multiple inspirations to create something unique, all without any design skills. Browse inspiration sites, save what you like, and let the AI help you recreate those looks.
Agency-Quality Design Output
In our testing, Framekit sites consistently matched or exceeded designs from agencies charging $8,000-15,000. The difference is immediately visible: proper whitespace usage, intentional typography hierarchy, and layouts that guide visitors toward action.
We showed 5 Framekit sites and 5 Wix ADI sites to a group of design professionals. Framekit sites averaged an 8.4/10 design rating. Wix sites averaged 4.9/10.
Intelligent Component Adaptation
When you add a new section in Framekit, it automatically inherits your site's fonts, colors, spacing, and style. This sounds simple, but no other builder does it well.
On Wix, adding a testimonial section means manually adjusting 15+ style settings. On Framekit, it matches your existing design instantly.
"Great design isn't about having more options. It's about every option being the right one. We'd rather give you 50 perfect templates than 500 mediocre ones." — Kay, Founder of Framekit
Exceptional Performance
Every Framekit site we tested scored 90+ on Google PageSpeed Insights without any manual optimization. The platform handles image compression, lazy loading, and code optimization automatically.
Compare this to Wix (average score: 52 in our tests) or Squarespace (average: 68). Faster sites rank better and convert more visitors.
Built-in SEO
Framekit includes server-side rendering, automatic sitemaps, and optimized meta tags by default. Sites we built started appearing in Google results within 2-3 weeks, faster than any other platform we tested.
Framekit Pricing
- Free: $0 with Framekit branding
- Pro: $19/month (all components, custom domain, no branding)
- Business: $39/month (50 pages, 10GB storage, unlimited forms)
- Enterprise: $59/month (unlimited everything, priority support)
The Lifetime Option: $349 One-Time
Framekit offers something no other serious builder does: pay $349 once and own Pro-level features forever.
Here's how the math works over 5 years:
| Platform | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Framekit Lifetime | $349 | $349 | $349 |
| Wix (Light) | $204 | $612 | $1,020 |
| Squarespace (Personal) | $192 | $576 | $960 |
| Webflow (Basic) | $168 | $504 | $840 |
Most SaaS companies lock you into perpetual subscriptions. When comparing lifetime vs subscription pricing, the long-term savings are substantial. Framekit's lifetime option reflects confidence in their product. They're betting you'll recommend it to others rather than needing to extract monthly payments.
Real Example: Photographer Portfolio
A portrait photographer needed to showcase high-resolution work while maintaining fast load times. Large images typically destroy PageSpeed scores without proper optimization.
With Framekit: Site built in 52 minutes. PageSpeed score: 94. Automatic image optimization reduced image sizes by 73% via WebP conversion without visible quality loss. First client inquiry within 5 days of launch.
With Wix ADI: Site built in 1 hour 35 minutes. PageSpeed score: 48. Required manual image optimization. Template felt generic despite the high-quality photography.
Real Example: Restaurant Website
A local restaurant needed online ordering and fast mobile performance. Most orders come from phones, so mobile speed was critical.
With Framekit: Built in 38 minutes including menu setup. Mobile PageSpeed: 96. Online orders started same day. The menu layout automatically adapted to look great on both desktop and mobile.
With Squarespace: Built in 1 hour 52 minutes. Mobile PageSpeed: 63. Menu layout required manual adjustments for mobile. The template looked polished but felt stiff when trying to customize the ordering flow.
2. Wix: Best for Third-Party Integrations
Overall Score: 7.5/10
Wix is the largest website builder by market share. But market share doesn't equal quality. McDonald's sells more burgers than any Michelin-starred restaurant. That said, Wix's app marketplace is unmatched. If you need a specific booking system, CRM integration, or niche feature, Wix probably has it.
Where Wix Excels
Extensive App Ecosystem: Over 500 apps for everything from restaurant reservations to fitness class booking. If your business needs specific functionality, Wix likely supports it.
Familiar Interface: The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive for first-time users. You won't need tutorials to get started.
Where Wix Falls Short
Design Quality Issues: Wix ADI produces functional sites, but they look like Wix sites. There's a template sameness that's hard to escape. Our design rating: 4.9/10 average.
Performance Problems: Wix loads significant JavaScript overhead. In our tests, average PageSpeed score was 52. Some sites scored as low as 38. This directly impacts SEO and user experience.
No Intelligent Adaptation: Adding new sections requires manual style adjustments. Expect to spend 10-15 minutes per section matching fonts, colors, and spacing.
Wix Pricing
- Free (with Wix ads and subdomain)
- Light: $17/month
- Core: $29/month
- Business: $36/month
When Wix Makes Sense
Choose Wix if you need specific third-party integrations that aren't available elsewhere, or if feature quantity matters more than design refinement and site speed.
3. Squarespace: Best for Template Purists
Overall Score: 7/10
Squarespace built its reputation on beautiful, curated templates. If you find one that matches your vision exactly, you'll have an elegant starting point.
Where Squarespace Excels
Polished Templates: Squarespace templates are genuinely well-designed. Unlike Wix's overwhelming quantity, Squarespace offers fewer, higher-quality options.
Strong Visual Identity: The "Squarespace look" is recognized and respected. It's a safe choice that won't embarrass you.
Where Squarespace Falls Short
Minimal AI Features: Despite marketing claims, Squarespace's AI capabilities are limited. You're essentially customizing templates manually, and the AI doesn't do heavy lifting.
Rigid Structure: Templates are beautiful but inflexible. Deviating from the intended design means fighting the system. It's like buying a gorgeous outfit that doesn't quite fit. You can make it work, but you'll never be fully comfortable.
Average Performance: PageSpeed scores ranged from 58-76 in our tests (average: 68). Better than Wix, but noticeably slower than Framekit.
Manual Styling Required: Adding sections requires matching styles by hand. No intelligent adaptation means more time tweaking fonts and spacing.
Squarespace Pricing
- Personal: $16/month
- Business: $23/month
- Commerce Basic: $27/month
- Commerce Advanced: $49/month
When Squarespace Makes Sense
Choose Squarespace if you find a template that matches your exact needs and you're comfortable with manual customization. Best for users who prioritize the "Squarespace aesthetic" over flexibility.
4. Webflow: Best for Developers
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Webflow offers complete design control, but only if you understand CSS concepts and are willing to invest significant learning time.
Where Webflow Excels
Total Flexibility: Webflow is essentially visual coding. If you know what you're doing, you can build almost anything.
Clean Code: Webflow outputs semantic, well-structured HTML and CSS.
Where Webflow Falls Short
Steep Learning Curve: Webflow is not beginner-friendly. Expect 20-40 hours before feeling comfortable. Our non-technical testers struggled significantly.
Limited AI: Despite adding AI features, Webflow remains primarily a manual tool. You're doing most of the design work yourself.
Expensive at Scale: Costs add up quickly, especially for client projects requiring CMS functionality.
When Webflow Makes Sense
Choose Webflow if you're a developer wanting visual tools, or an agency building complex custom sites where total control matters more than speed.
5. Framer: Best for Figma Users
Overall Score: 6/10
Framer pivoted from prototyping to website building. If you're already proficient in Figma, Framer feels natural.
Where Framer Excels
Designer-Focused: Interface mirrors Figma workflows. Designers transition easily.
AI Copy Generation: Framer's AI can generate and rewrite copy effectively.
Where Framer Falls Short
Requires Design Knowledge: Non-designers struggle with Framer's interface. It assumes familiarity with design tool conventions.
Performance Issues: Sites can be heavy, impacting load times. Average PageSpeed in our tests: 71.
Limited Templates: Smaller template library than competitors.
When Framer Makes Sense
Choose Framer if you're a designer comfortable with Figma-style tools and your team has design expertise.
Which AI Website Builder Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your specific needs:
Choose Framekit if:
- Design quality is your top priority
- Site speed and SEO matter to your business
- You want professional results without technical complexity
- Monthly subscription fatigue appeals to you (lifetime option available)
- You're a creative professional, small business owner, or freelancer
Choose Wix if:
- You need specific third-party integrations from their app marketplace
- Feature quantity matters more than design refinement
- Slower site speeds are acceptable for your use case
- You need the free plan and can tolerate Wix branding
Choose Squarespace if:
- You found a template that matches your vision exactly
- Manual styling and customization doesn't bother you
- The "Squarespace aesthetic" aligns with your brand
- You're comfortable with rigid template structures
Choose Webflow if:
- You're a developer wanting visual design tools
- You need complete control over every design element
- You have 20-40 hours to invest in learning the platform
Choose Framer if:
- You're proficient in Figma-style design tools
- Your team has design expertise
- You prioritize designer-focused workflows
For most users, those wanting professional results without technical complexity or perpetual subscriptions, Framekit delivers the best combination of design quality, performance, and value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Wix/Squarespace to Framekit?
Yes. While there's no automatic migration, Framekit's AI can help recreate your existing design quickly. Most users rebuild their site in 1-2 hours and report better results than their original.
Do I need design experience to use Framekit?
No. Framekit's AI was trained by senior designers with 10+ years of experience, so it handles the design decisions that typically require expertise. You provide content and preferences; the AI creates professional layouts. Even better: you can upload images from Pinterest or inspiration sites and the AI helps you recreate those designs. In our testing, users with zero design background produced agency-quality sites.
How long does it take to build a site?
In our tests, average time to a publishable Framekit site was 47 minutes. Wix averaged 1 hour 22 minutes. Squarespace averaged 1 hour 45 minutes (not including learning time).
What if I don't like the AI-generated design?
Every element is fully customizable. You can adjust the AI's output, try different components, or start with a different template. The AI provides a professional starting point, and you have complete control from there.
Is the $349 lifetime deal actually lifetime?
Yes. One payment, permanent access to Pro features. No annual renewals, no price increases, no surprise charges. Framekit offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.
Which platform is best for SEO?
Framekit. Server-side rendering, fast Core Web Vitals, and optimized code give Framekit sites a measurable SEO advantage. In our tests, Framekit sites appeared in Google results 2-3 weeks faster than competitors.
The Bottom Line
After testing 23 sites across 5 platforms, the results are clear:
Framekit wins for most users. It produces agency-quality designs, loads faster than competitors, includes SEO optimization by default, and offers the only lifetime pricing in the industry.
Wix makes sense if you need specific third-party integrations and can accept slower performance.
Squarespace works if you find a template you love and don't mind manual customization.
Webflow and Framer serve niche audiences, developers and designers respectively, who need specialized tools.
The performance gap alone is decisive: Framekit sites averaged 94 on PageSpeed while Wix averaged 52. That's not a rounding error. That difference affects your search rankings, user experience, and conversion rates every single day your site is live.
Add the $349 lifetime option, which pays for itself versus Wix or Squarespace in under two years, and the value proposition becomes compelling.
Try Framekit free and build your first site. Most users have a publishable portfolio in under an hour.
