Best Website Builders for Real Estate

Overview

The best website builders for real estate help agents, brokerages, and property managers launch lead-focused, MLS-integrated sites without heavy development work. This comparison looks at five practical options - Wix, Squarespace, WordPress (self-hosted with Elementor), Webflow, and Placester - and evaluates them by MLS integration and IDX support, lead capture and CRM connectivity, customization and SEO, cost, and ongoing maintenance.

Key decision criteria are: how well the builder integrates with MLS/IDX feeds, how easy it is to capture and manage leads (native CRM or integrations), the level of design control (templates vs full custom), cost for the features you need, and your comfort with technical maintenance. Quick summary: Wix and Squarespace are fast and low-friction for solo agents and small teams; WordPress + Elementor is the most flexible and cost-efficient for tech-savvy users who want advanced plugins and SEO; Webflow is for designers who want pixel-perfect custom sites and performance; Placester is a vertical solution built around MLS/IDX and lead conversion for agents and brokerages that want real-estate-specific tools.

Best Website Builders for Real Estate

This section lists the full options covered in detail below, then the article moves into side-by-side comparisons, pricing breakdowns, a decision checklist, and FAQs.

• Wix
• Squarespace
• WordPress (self-hosted) with Elementor
• Webflow
• Placester

Wix

Overview and Positioning

Wix is a general-purpose, hosted website builder with a drag-and-drop editor and hundreds of templates. It is aimed at small businesses and solos who want quick setup and an intuitive editor without hosting or plugin maintenance. For real estate, Wix supports IDX/MLS integration through third-party apps available in the Wix App Market.

Key Features and Strengths

• Visual editor with instant drag-and-drop design and responsive templates.
• App Market that includes IDX/MLS integrations (e.g., Wix-compatible IDX apps like iHomefinder or third-party widgets) and CRM/lead capture forms.
• Built-in hosting, SSL, and a growing SEO toolset (custom meta tags, structured data snippets).
• Affordable business/ecommerce plans for accepting payments or booking.
• Fast onboarding for non-technical users and built-in templates for real estate.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• True MLS/IDX integration often requires third-party apps that may cost extra and can be less flexible than native IDX solutions.
• Less developer control compared with WordPress or Webflow - custom code is possible but limited.
• As sites grow, heavy templates and apps can lead to slower page loads compared to optimized custom builds.

Pricing and Value

• Free plan (Wix ads and wixsite.com domain) - not recommended for professional real estate use.
• Combo/Personal tiers: from about $16/month (annual billing) - fine for brochure sites.
• Business Basic (recommended for lead capture and forms): about $27/month.
• Business Plus/VIP: $32-$59/month for higher limits and more features.
• IDX app costs: many IDX providers charge $25-$80+/month on top of Wix plan.
• Typical real estate-ready setup: $30-$100+/month depending on IDX and apps.

Best For

Solo agents and small teams who want a quick, visually driven site and are comfortable adding an IDX/lead app. Good when ease of use and low setup time matter more than deep customization or enterprise CRM integration.

Squarespace

Overview and Positioning

Squarespace focuses on polished design and simplicity. It offers high-quality templates, integrated blogging and basic SEO features, and an easy content management experience. For real estate, Squarespace supports lead capture and can integrate MLS/IDX via third-party services or embedded widgets.

Key Features and Strengths

• Best-in-class templates for visual polish and mobile responsiveness.
• Built-in analytics, SEO basics, and commerce features.
• Easy content and listing pages - good for property portfolios and blogs.
• Integrated forms and integrations via Zapier allow CRM or email automation connectivity.
• Reliable hosting, free SSL, and easy domain management.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• No native IDX/MLS out of the box - requires third-party providers or custom embeds.
• Limited deep customization compared to Webflow or self-hosted WordPress.
• Slightly less flexible for complex listing filters and advanced search UI.

Pricing and Value

• Personal: about $16/month (no commerce features).
• Business: about $23/month - adds basic commerce and more customization.
• Basic Commerce: $27/month and Advanced Commerce $49/month for full ecommerce features.
• Third-party IDX providers will add $25-$80+/month depending on vendor.
• Effective cost for a functional real estate site with IDX: commonly $40-$100+/month.

Best For

Agents or boutique brokerages who prioritize professional templates and a clean brand presentation, want fast setup, and don’t need heavy custom listing functionality.

Wordpress (Self-Hosted) with Elementor

Overview and Positioning

Self-hosted WordPress combined with a page builder like Elementor (or Divi) is a flexible, scalable solution. It requires more setup and management but delivers the most extensibility - full control over themes, plugins, SEO, and IDX/MLS integrations via plugins or feeds. This route is the industry standard for real estate sites that need custom features and CRM integrations.

Key Features and Strengths

• Unlimited customization with themes, Elementor for visual design, and custom code.
• Strong ecosystem of IDX plugins (iHomefinder, dsSearchAgent, IDX Broker) that provide deep MLS integrations, listing search, and lead capture.
• Full control over SEO, performance optimization, and structured data for property listings.
• Wide choice of CRMs and marketing tools integrations (HubSpot, Mailchimp, Zapier, CRMs).
• Cost-effective scaling if you manage hosting and maintenance or hire a developer.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Requires technical maintenance: hosting, backups, plugins, security updates, and occasional troubleshooting.
• More initial setup time and potential developer costs for advanced functionality.
• Quality varies with chosen theme and plugin stack; poor choices can cause performance issues.

Pricing and Value

• Hosting: $5-$40+/month depending on provider (shared vs managed WordPress hosting). Examples: Bluehost $6-12/mo, SiteGround $6-20/mo, WP Engine $25+/mo for managed.
• WordPress.com Business: about $25/month if you prefer hosted solution with plugins enabled.
• Elementor Pro: starts at $59/year for 1 site (2024 pricing).
• IDX plugins: $25-$100+/month depending on vendor and MLS rules.
• Typical total: $15-$150+/month depending on hosting quality and IDX/CRM costs. One-time developer fees $500-$5,000 if custom work is needed.

Best For

Teams, brokerages, and tech-savvy agents who want full control, advanced MLS/IDX features, deep SEO, and the ability to scale or customize complex search and lead workflows.

Webflow

Overview and Positioning

Webflow is a visual design and hosting platform aimed at designers and developers who want pixel-level control without managing servers. Webflow sites are highly performant, with strong CMS features and fine-grained styling. IDX/MLS integration requires third-party services or custom API work.

Key Features and Strengths

• Visual editor with production-quality HTML/CSS output and clean, performant code.
• Powerful CMS and the ability to build custom listing templates, dynamic collections, and filtered searches (with some work).
• Hosting included with global CDN, SSL, and fast page speeds.
• Good SEO controls and interactions/animations for modern property showcases.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Steeper learning curve compared with Squarespace or Wix - better suited to designers or agencies.
• IDX integration typically needs custom embedding of third-party widgets or a developer to integrate MLS data.
• CMS limits and pricing can rise quickly for multiple editors or high-traffic sites.

Pricing and Value

• Site plans: Basic $18/month, CMS $29/month, Business $49/month (billed annually, prices approximate as of mid-2024).
• Account/Workspace plans add per-user fees for collaborators; ecommerce adds cost if selling.
• IDX providers add $25-$80+/month; developer time for custom integrations often needed.
• Typical effective cost: $30-$150+/month depending on plan, IDX, and development.

Best For

Design-forward brokerages or agents working with a designer/developer who want pixel-perfect control, better site performance, and an advanced CMS without relying on WordPress.

Placester

Overview and Positioning

Placester is a vertical website platform built specifically for real estate professionals. It provides MLS/IDX integration, lead capture, CRM tools, and templates designed for property marketers. Placester aims to minimize the technical overhead of integrating MLS feeds and lead management by providing packaged solutions.

Key Features and Strengths

• Native MLS/IDX support in many markets with prebuilt listing templates.
• Lead capture, basic CRM, and lead routing bundled into the platform.
• Templates tailored to agent and brokerage workflows, with property search, saved searches, and alert functionality.
• Focused features: single property pages, seller landing pages, and open house support.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Less design freedom than Webflow or WordPress; customization is limited to what the platform supports.
• Costs are higher than general builders when you include lead tools and MLS access.
• Market coverage depends on MLS partnerships - confirm IDX availability for your MLS.

Pricing and Value

• Placester pricing historically started around $79-$99/month for websites, with lead-gen/MLS-enabled packages commonly $99-$199+/month. Some plans for brokerages or advanced CRM features can run higher.
• Setup/installation fees or onboarding services may apply.
• Typical cost for a fully IDX-enabled agent site: $100-$250+/month including lead tools and support.

Best For

Agents and small brokerages who want a turnkey real estate site with integrated MLS/IDX and lead tools and who prefer to avoid assembling plugins or developer work.

How to Choose

Choose based on five practical criteria:

1. MLS/IDX requirement: If you need deep/official MLS integration and saved-search features, prioritize Placester or WordPress with a reputable IDX plugin. Wix and Squarespace require third-party widgets that may be less feature-complete.
2. Design control vs speed: If you want rapid setup with good-looking templates, choose Squarespace or Wix. If you need pixel-perfect custom designs, choose Webflow or WordPress with a designer.
3. Budget and ongoing costs: For the lowest monthly outlay and DIY approach, Wix or Squarespace are predictable. WordPress can be cheaper long-term but requires more hands-on work; Placester often costs more but bundles IDX and lead tools.
4. Technical capacity: Self-hosted WordPress and custom Webflow implementations require more technical maintenance or developer support. Use hosted builders (Wix, Squarespace, Placester) if you lack technical resources.
5. Growth and CRM needs: If you need advanced lead routing, email automation, and team management, pick WordPress with integrated CRM plugins or a platform that supports CRM connections. Placester offers built-in lead features; larger brokerages might need kvCORE or enterprise CRMs (outside the scope of this article).

Checklist

• Do I need MLS/IDX and are there vendor-approved integrations for my MLS?
• How important is custom design or brand control?
• What is my target monthly budget for hosting, IDX, and apps?
• Do I have technical resources to manage WordPress updates or custom integrations?
• What CRM and lead workflows do I need now and in 12 months?

Quick Comparison

Feature | Wix | Squarespace | WordPress + Elementor | Webflow | Placester — | —: | —: | —: | —: | —: Pricing (site plan) | $16-$59/mo | $16-$49/mo | Hosting $5-$40+/mo + plugins | $18-$49/mo | $79-$250+/mo IDX/MLS support | Third-party apps/widgets (extra cost) | Third-party apps/widgets (extra cost) | Full IDX plugins available ($25-$100+/mo) | Widgets/custom integrations (developer work) | Native IDX/MLS support (market dependent) Customization | High (drag-and-drop) | Medium | Very high | Very high (designer-focused) | Medium (real-estate templates) Best for | Solo agents wanting ease | Agents needing polished brand sites | Teams/brokerages wanting control | Design-led sites and performance | Turnkey MLS-enabled sites

Pricing notes: All prices approximate (annual billing) and can vary by billing cycle, vendor promotions, and regional MLS fees. IDX providers and CRMs usually add monthly fees.

FAQ

Do I Need an IDX/MLS Integration on My Site?

If you list properties from an MLS or want searchable, up-to-date listings on your site, yes - IDX/MLS integration is necessary to display active listings and let users search MLS data. Without IDX, you can show manually entered properties or sold inventory but not a live MLS feed.

Which Builder Gives the Best SEO for Real Estate Listings?

WordPress offers the most comprehensive SEO control through plugins (Yoast, Rank Math) and fine-grained structured data control for property listings. Webflow also produces clean, performant code and good SEO controls. Squarespace and Wix have adequate SEO features for small sites but less extensibility for complex schema and mass listing optimization.

How Expensive is IDX Integration?

IDX typically costs an additional $25-$100+/month depending on the provider, MLS rules, and features (saved searches, lead capture, CRM). Some real estate-specific builders bundle IDX into higher-tier plans, which can raise monthly costs but simplify setup.

Can I Switch Platforms Later Without Losing My SEO Rankings?

Yes, but you must plan redirects and preserve URL structures where possible. Moving from one platform to another requires 301 redirects, replicating schema markup, and ensuring page-level content continuity. Hiring a developer or SEO specialist for migration helps preserve organic traffic.

Is Wordpress More Secure than Hosted Builders?

Security depends on management. Hosted builders (Wix, Squarespace, Webflow) handle hosting and platform security for you. WordPress can be secure if you keep core, themes, and plugins updated, use secure hosting, and implement backups and security plugins; however, it requires active maintenance.

What About Lead Management and CRM Integration?

All platforms can integrate with CRMs via built-in features, plugins, or Zapier. Placester and some IDX providers include CRM-like lead routing. WordPress provides the most choices for tight CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce, Follow Up Boss), while Wix and Squarespace connect via apps and Zapier.

Further Reading

• Real Estate Website Builders for Agents and Brokers
• Website Builders for Real Estate Guide
• Wordpress Website Builders - Choose Build Launch
• Best Seo Website Builders for Small Businesses