Website builder for an author who wants a book page and a blog

For an author who wants a book page and a blog, I’d start with Squarespace. It’s a good fit if you want a polished, easy-to-maintain site with a book page, retailer links, and a built-in blog. Its current Basic plan is listed at $19/month when billed annually in the U.S. (squarespace.com)

Other good options:

• WordPress.com — best if blogging is the main focus or you want room to customize over time. It includes unlimited pages and posts, even on its free plan; a custom domain requires a paid plan. (wordpress.com)
• Wix — worth considering if you want more freedom to arrange and customize the design; it has a free starting option, though you’ll need a paid plan for a custom domain. (wix.com)
• Tertulia for Authors — author-focused, with book pages and a blog built in; consider it if you want a site designed specifically around your books. (authors.tertulia.com)

Simple recommendation: Choose Squarespace for ease and presentation, WordPress.com for a blog-first site, or Tertulia for author-specific features. If you just want to promote the book rather than sell it yourself, a book page with clear links to retailers is enough.

The best choice depends on whether you want a blog-first site or a simple book page that you'll update rarely. For most authors who want both, Squarespace is the strongest default. Its templates and layout tools are polished, and it handles blogging and email signup without extra setup. One review calls it the best overall website builder in 2026 for most authors, though another notes that's not the right answer for every writer.

Here's how the main options compare:

• Squarespace (best all-round): Good for a polished look with a blog and book pages. It is a platform combining designer templates, drag-and-drop editing, mobile-optimized pages, SEO controls, and analytics. Expect to pay a monthly subscription.
• Wix (best free start and flexibility): Its free plan includes 15+ author templates, a flexible drag-and-drop editor, and blogging features. It suits you if you want more design freedom than Squarespace offers.
• WordPress (best for heavy blogging): If you plan to publish often, it's the strongest long-term choice. One guide says it has unmatched flexibility, plugin support, and SEO capabilities. The tradeoff is more maintenance, and you'll need to pay for hosting.
• Carrd (cheapest single page): If you only need one book page with buy links and a sign-up form, it's very inexpensive. It won't handle a real blog, so it's a poor fit if you want both.
• BookBub or Tertulia (free, author-specific): BookBub's free tool auto-imports your books, reviews, and author photo from their database. Tertulia imports books from Amazon, pulls in reviews, and includes a built-in blog and mailing list signup. These are quick to set up, but offer less design control.

My suggestion: if you want a blog and a polished book page and can pay a monthly fee, choose Squarespace. If budget is the main constraint, start with Wix's free plan. If you expect to blog a lot and want to own everything, choose WordPress.

Tell me your budget, how often you plan to post, and whether you want to sell books directly, and I can narrow it to one recommendation.

Choosing the right website builder depends on your technical comfort level and how much time you want to spend managing the site versus writing books.

For most authors who need a clean, professional book page and a reliable blog, Squarespace and Wix are the most recommended platforms.

Top Recommendations at a Glance

Detailed Breakdown

1. Squarespace (The "Designer" Choice)

Squarespace is widely considered the "default" for authors who want a beautiful, professional-looking site without needing to be a web developer.

• Pros: Its templates are highly aesthetic and mobile-responsive. The blogging interface is robust, clean, and very user-friendly. It handles security and software updates automatically.
• Cons: Less "custom" functionality compared to WordPress. Direct e-commerce (selling books yourself) requires a higher-tier plan.

2. Wix (The "Creative Freedom" Choice)

Wix is excellent if you have a specific vision for your site and want to move elements around exactly where you want them.

• Pros: Offers a true drag-and-drop interface, making it very intuitive for beginners. It includes helpful AI features that can assist in writing book descriptions or blog posts.
• Cons: Because you can move anything anywhere, it is sometimes easier to accidentally "break" your design compared to the more rigid structure of Squarespace.

3. WordPress.org (The "Total Control" Choice)

If you plan to blog heavily, build a complex author platform, or want full ownership of your data, WordPress is the industry standard.

• Pros: Unmatched flexibility. You can add plugins for almost anything (mailing lists, SEO, bookstores). You own your site entirely.
• Cons: Steep learning curve. You are responsible for your own hosting, security, and updates, which can be time-consuming.

Questions to Ask Before You Start

To make your decision, try answering these three questions:

• Do I want to sell books directly? If yes, ensure the platform supports e-commerce (like Squarespace’s Commerce plan or WordPress with WooCommerce). If you just want to link to Amazon or bookstores, any of these will work.
• How much time do I have for maintenance? If you want to "set it and forget it," go with a hosted builder like Squarespace. If you enjoy tinkering and want deep control, WordPress is better.
• Is blogging my priority? If you plan to write long-form content regularly, both Squarespace and WordPress have excellent blogging engines.

My Recommendation: Start by looking at Squarespace templates. Most authors find that it strikes the perfect balance between professional appearance, ease of use, and effective blogging tools without the technical headache of managing a server.

For an author who needs a book page and a blog, Squarespace is a strong all-in-one choice: it offers polished templates and includes blogging, so you can feature the book, add purchase links, and publish posts on one site. Its Basic plan is listed at $19/month with annual billing and includes a custom domain for the first year; there’s a 14-day trial. ¹

Other good fits:

• WordPress.com — worth considering if blogging is the main focus or you want a lower-cost starting point. It has a free tier, and its Personal plan is listed at $4/month for the first year with annual billing; renewal pricing may differ. ²
• Wix — a flexible drag-and-drop option with blog features and a free plan. Its Light plan is listed at $17/month with annual billing for a custom domain and an ad-free site. ³

Quick recommendation: Choose Squarespace for the easiest polished author site; choose WordPress.com for a blog-first site and budget flexibility. Prices can vary by location, billing term, and promotion, so check the current checkout price before deciding.

¹ Squarespace pricing
² WordPress.com website cost guide
³ Wix pricing overview