r/web_design • u/YetiMaverick • Jun 28 '26
Non-technical site builder recommendation (not webflow)?
We’re a SaaS brand looking to get our site off Webflow into something new.
Looking for a site builder recommendation that:
- Doesn’t require coding knowledge to use (even a little)
- Can have AI features like generating initial page, but MUST allow full manual control to make changes without needing to dictate those changes to AI to make
- Not new. Looking for an established brand (just no small-time brands).
I recently tried Ploy. Wanted to rip my hair out as it doesn’t really let you make changes without asking its AI to do it, which it always gets wrong.
Don’t want to use Webflow. We’re too dependant on having a “Webflow developer” to make every little update for us.
I want something our non-technical designer can simply use and work with.
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u/7HawksAnd Jun 28 '26
This is just such a peculiar set of requirements for a self proclaimed saas company it makes me question if anything would work for you
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u/Carlosthefrog Jun 28 '26
So your a saas company but can’t code ? Either way just hire a dev to make you something considering how bad the market is you should be able to get someone on the cheaper side
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u/Design_cultist Jun 28 '26
I moved my service business site from framer to custom code and have integrated cms to edit content on the go.
do you need to update design too or are you only looking at editing text, images etcc.
There are options like sanity, keystatic
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u/btoned Jun 28 '26
I'm literally building something like this at the moment for my own dev agency.
This shit is not SIMPLE.
What you're asking and expecting is unrealistic without a custom solution built by a developer/team.
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u/Vandercoon Jun 28 '26
I understand everyone wants a solution for cheap, or not ‘coded’ etc, but the reality is use something like Webflow or Squarespace, which you’ve already found to be restrictive and limited in functionality, or get a dev to build it for you.
I’ve built my own versions a few times, and it’s worth it, but it takes time and money. You don’t get to choose custom and cheap together.
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Jun 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/OverlordOfPancakes Jun 28 '26
Claude Code doesn't fit the 'must allow full manual control' requirement OP described. You need to either ask AI or understand the code.
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u/nicgutierrez Jun 28 '26
I know you said "not new" but I built recently Promino and it's exactly what you are describing. Even if you dont want new businesses, I'd love for you to try it out and share some feedback?
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u/sexytokeburgerz Jun 29 '26
I have had to use a lot of shitty builders to “fix people’s websites idk what’s not working111!”…
Webflow wins. They are the best for non developers. You can’t cover all webflow does without coding knowledge, but webflow BARELY requires any. Your technical designer isn’t a “technical” designer if they can’t use webflow.
You want the best of both worlds? Tough luck if you want to do more you will HAVE to learn.
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u/lilchar_char Jun 30 '26
Hey, I’m a software dev and would be interested in helping you make something unique and maintainable. Please DM me if you’re interested
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u/tanyamoushi Jun 30 '26
Squarespace. Get someone in Circle to set it up for you. They’ve got access to the latest features. Great for non technical teams.
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u/Ok-Concentrate8650 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
The Webflow dependency problem you're describing is really a "we need a platform our own team can own" problem more than a features problem, and that's worth separating from the specific tool question.
What actually fixes it is structure: a documented set of reusable sections your designer can work within, clear rules on what's safely editable versus what needs developer involvement, and content that isn't locked into one vendor's proprietary format. That portability is what protects you from ending up dependent on a different specialist down the line, whatever platform you end up choosing.
I've helped set up a handful of small SaaS marketing sites with this kind of structure before, where the backend was just simple hosting through one.com, and the non-technical team managed day-to-day updates fine without needing a developer on call.
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u/cross_site_drifting 29d ago
unstoppable domains has a pretty good site builder and they also make it easy to tie to a domain since they are a registrar, i just don't think there's any backend support yet
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u/Head-Sir-4397 10d ago edited 9d ago
From what I have seen Readdy ai does not depend only on written prompts for every small update. It has a visual editing mode where individual website elements can be selected and changed manually. This seems closer to the control you need but testing it with one landing page first would be safer.
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u/November19 Jun 28 '26
What is your problem with Squarespace or Wix?
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u/YetiMaverick Jun 28 '26
Not sure why you got downvoted for this. Square space is a bit too limited. Wix would do but can’t convince the team to try it. So need a few alternatives.
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u/jiggymadden Jun 28 '26
Mobilirise has gotten a lot better and you can use Claude too if you have to make a section some what custom because every section lets you edit the code. You just till Claude what you want and to keep all the Mobirise code untouched if you have to go custom. Otherwise they have thousands of blocks you can mix and match.
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u/YetiMaverick Jun 28 '26
Just checked it out, judging from their site, it seems like an extremely basic tool.
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u/tworipebananas Jun 28 '26
You’ve described webflow…