# Website builder statistics 2026: who runs what and who's gaining

Published October 30, 2026 by Peter Pietta. Source: https://www.runsonwhat.com/blog/website-builder-statistics

> We scanned public records of 1,824,525 companies to see which website builders they run, by size, industry and country, and which tools are gaining.

Website builder tools appear on 44% of the company websites we scanned, and WordPress is the clear leader. It is the most used builder at every company size and in every industry we broke out, far ahead of Shopify, Wix, Webflow and Squarespace.

## Key takeaways

- WordPress is the most used website builder by a wide margin: 602,137 companies in our scans run it.
- Just under half of the companies we checked run at least one of the website builders we track (44%).
- WordPress leads in every company size band and in all ten industries we broke out, and its lead grows with company size.
- Webflow is the startup pick. It shows up on 19% of the Y Combinator startups we checked, more than any other builder.
- Adoption is still growing: companies started using one of these builders 9,594 times in the last 90 days, and stops were far rarer.
- Duda is the only builder in our set that lost more companies than it gained recently.

- **800,175** companies running at least one website builder tool we track
- **44%** of all companies we checked
- **75%** of them run WordPress, the most used
- **3.7%** run two or more website builder tools at once

## What is website builder software, and how many companies use it?

Website builders run a large share of company homepages. Here is what the category includes, how many companies show one, and why our counts differ from market-share figures you see elsewhere.

### What counts as a website builder?

A website builder is software that lets a company create, publish and run a site without coding it from scratch, usually with templates, a visual editor and hosting included. For this page we track nine tools that companies use for that job, from hosted builders to open source publishing platforms.

The set is deliberately broad. [Wix](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wix), [Squarespace](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/squarespace), [Webflow](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/webflow), [Framer](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/framer) and [Duda](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/duda) are builders in the classic sense. [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) and [Ghost](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/ghost) are open source publishing platforms, [HubSpot CMS](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/hubspot-cms) is the content tool inside HubSpot, and [Shopify](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/shopify) is a commerce platform that also builds the storefront.

Plenty of statistics pages blend builder and CMS figures without saying which they mean. We count these together on purpose, because a company choosing a website tool weighs them against each other.

### How many companies use a website builder?

Just under half of the companies we checked run a website builder we can see. In our scans, 800,175 companies run at least one of these tools, which is 44% of everyone we checked.

These counts are companies with a public trace of a tool: a DNS record, a script on the site, or a custom domain pointing at the vendor. They are not market share, revenue or paying-customer counts, and one company can run more than one tool.

The ranking is lopsided. WordPress sits far ahead, and the other eight tools form a cluster well below it.

**Website builder tools by companies running them**

|  | Companies |
| --- | ---: |
| [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) | 602,137 |
| [Shopify](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/shopify) | 60,122 |
| [Wix](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wix) | 51,646 |
| [Webflow](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/webflow) | 35,324 |
| [Squarespace](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/squarespace) | 33,880 |
| [HubSpot CMS](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/hubspot-cms) | 33,541 |
| [Duda](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/duda) | 6,689 |
| [Framer](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/framer) | 6,143 |
| [Ghost](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/ghost) | 878 |

_Companies with a public trace of each tool in our scans. A company can run more than one._

The table gives each tool's company count and its share of builder-using companies, the closest thing to a share-of-category figure our data supports.

**Share = share of the 800,175 companies running any of these tools. Size = most common employee band. Starts and stops: last 90 days.**

| Tool | Companies | Share | Size | Top industry | Started | Stopped |
| --- | ---: | ---: | --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) | 602,137 | 75% | 11–50 | IT Services | 8,386 | 275 |
| [Shopify](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/shopify) | 60,122 | 7.5% | 11–50 | Retail | 339 | 106 |
| [Wix](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wix) | 51,646 | 6.5% | 11–50 | IT Services | 187 | 57 |
| [Webflow](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/webflow) | 35,324 | 4.4% | 11–50 | Software | 200 | 70 |
| [Squarespace](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/squarespace) | 33,880 | 4.2% | 11–50 | Health, Wellness and Fitness | 126 | 36 |
| [HubSpot CMS](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/hubspot-cms) | 33,541 | 4.2% | 11–50 | Software | 259 | 162 |
| [Duda](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/duda) | 6,689 | 0.8% | 11–50 | Real Estate | 10 | 38 |
| [Framer](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/framer) | 6,143 | 0.8% | 11–50 | Software | 80 | 16 |
| [Ghost](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/ghost) | 878 | 0.1% | 11–50 | Software | 7 | 7 |

For anyone sizing this market, the total matters more than any single slice. With close to half of checked companies already running a recognizable builder, a seller is often pitching a switch rather than a first website.

### Is this the same as website builder market share?

No. Market share usually means a share of websites or of revenue, while our figures count companies whose public records show a tool. A company whose builder leaves no public trace doesn't show up at all, so every rate here is a lower bound.

We also don't publish market-size or revenue estimates. Research firms put out very different figures for this market, often with little stated method. What our data adds is the part those reports skip: which companies actually run which builder, split by size, industry and country, and which ones are switching.

## Which website builder is the most popular?

WordPress, then Shopify, then a tight pack of Wix, Webflow, Squarespace and HubSpot CMS. The order says a lot about who buys each tool.

### What is the most used website builder in the world?

WordPress is the most used website builder in our data, and nothing else comes close. In our scans, 602,137 companies run it, which is 75% of all companies running any builder we track.

WordPress is an open source content management and publishing platform built on themes and blocks, aimed at everyone from solo creators to enterprises. Its records show up at organizations as different as [Creative Commons](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/creativecommons.org), [PubMatic](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/pubmatic.com) and [Forter](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/forter.com). Around it sits an ecosystem of add-ons such as [WooCommerce](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/woocommerce), [Yoast SEO](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/yoast) and [Elementor](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/elementor), plus managed hosts like [WP Engine](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wpengine).

For buyers, that lead means a huge installed base of sites like yours. For competitors, it means the site they're trying to replace is usually a WordPress site.

### How do Wix, Squarespace and WordPress compare?

Wix is the larger of the two big hosted builders, and both sit far behind WordPress. Wix accounts for 6.5% of builder-using companies in our data, while Squarespace accounts for 4.2%.

Both target individuals and small businesses that want a site from templates without code; Wix adds AI tools, domains and booking pages to that pitch. In our records, [wiki.gg](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/wiki.gg) runs on Wix, while [Podscribe](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/podscribe.com) and [Linkplay Technology](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/linkplay.com) show Squarespace.

One detail most rankings miss: HubSpot CMS runs almost level with Squarespace in our counts, carried by software and business-services firms rather than shops and studios.

### Which website builder do online stores use most?

Shopify is the most used dedicated commerce platform among the nine tools we track, and the second most used tool overall. Even so, WooCommerce running on WordPress appears on more companies than Shopify does, so Shopify is not the single biggest route to an online store.

Shopify describes itself as a commerce platform for selling online and in person, built for everyone from new sellers to large brands. In our scans, 60,122 companies run it, Retail is its most common industry, and its records show up at [Ring](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/ring.com) and [Wyze Labs](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/wyzecam.com). Its companies are 14.2x more likely than the average company to be in Apparel & Fashion, the strongest industry tilt of any builder we track.

WooCommerce is an add-on rather than one of our nine builders: 13% of WordPress companies run it. If you're counting stores, count both routes.

### Why do companies pick one website builder over another?

The vendors aim at different buyers, and our size and industry data broadly match those descriptions. Here is who each tool says it is built for:

- Wix and Squarespace: owners who want templates and no code.
- Webflow: marketing, design and development teams, plus agencies.
- Framer: designers launching marketing sites, with an AI agent working on a canvas.
- HubSpot CMS: businesses already running HubSpot.
- Duda: agencies managing client sites at scale, with white labeling.
- Ghost: writers and publishers who want newsletters and paid subscriptions built in.

Start by deciding who will edit the site after launch, then shortlist the tools built for that person.

## Does website builder use change with company size?

It does, in two ways. Mid-sized companies use builders most often, and WordPress's grip tightens as companies grow. The chart shows the adoption rate in each size band.

**Website builder adoption by company size**

|  | Any of these tools | WordPress |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| 1–10 employees | 38% | 25% |
| 11–50 employees | 46% | 34% |
| 51–200 employees | 49% | 39% |
| 201–1,000 employees | 45% | 37% |
| 1,001+ employees | 35% | 29% |

_Share of companies of each size we checked that run any of these tools, and that run WordPress. Companies with a known size only._

### Do small businesses use website builders?

Yes, though the smallest firms use them less than slightly larger ones. Among companies with 1–10 employees, 38% run one of these builders, against 46% of companies with 11–50 employees.

Our data can't say why the smallest firms trail. Possible reasons include tools outside this set, builders that leave no public trace, or no real website at all. If you sell to micro-businesses, the gap points to companies that haven't settled on a builder yet.

### Which company size uses website builders the most?

Companies with 51–200 employees have the highest builder adoption, at 49%. The rate falls to 35% among companies with 1,001+ employees.

Part of that drop likely sits on the data side. Our set doesn't include enterprise content platforms or fully custom sites, which large companies are likely to run. HubSpot CMS bends the pattern: its companies are 1.4x more likely than average to have 51–200 employees, which fits a tool sold alongside a CRM to growing teams.

### Does WordPress dominate more at larger companies?

Yes. WordPress is the most used builder in every size band, and its share of builder users climbs with company size, from 66% at 1–10 employees to 83% at 1,001+ employees.

The smallest companies are where challengers do best. Framer's companies are 3.7x more likely than average to have 1–10 employees, and Ghost's are 5.4x more likely. Framer and Ghost are relatively more common among tiny teams, so that is where alternatives already have a foothold.

## Which industries use website builders the most?

Construction leads by a wide margin, and WordPress is the most used builder in all ten industries we broke out. The table ranks them by adoption rate.

**Rate = share of the companies in each industry we checked that run any of these website builder tools. Industries with 500+ companies checked.**

| Industry | Checked | Run one | Rate | Most used |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | --- |
| Construction | 26,500 | 19,241 | 73% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Healthcare | 64,683 | 30,132 | 47% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Health, Wellness and Fitness | 46,467 | 21,043 | 45% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Management Consulting | 55,671 | 24,255 | 44% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Marketing and Advertising | 87,420 | 33,439 | 38% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Software | 79,511 | 29,122 | 37% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Financial Services | 63,409 | 23,000 | 36% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Real Estate | 69,771 | 25,273 | 36% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| IT Services | 174,344 | 59,001 | 34% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |
| Retail | 77,535 | 25,854 | 33% | [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) |

### Why does construction use website builders so much?

Construction has the highest builder adoption of any industry in our breakdown. Across the construction companies we checked, 73% run one, which is 19,241 companies.

A likely reason is the shape of the work. Contractors need a credible site with project photos and a contact form, rarely a custom web app, and a template-driven tool covers that. Construction is among Duda's most common industries in our data. Healthcare comes second in adoption, at 47%.

### Do tech companies use website builders less?

Yes, by rate. Software companies sit at 37% and IT Services at 34%, both in the lower half of the industry table.

One possible reason is that tech companies build sites with their own frameworks, which this set doesn't count. When they do pick a builder, they choose differently: Webflow's companies are 2.5x more likely than average to be in Software, and HubSpot CMS's are 2.9x more likely. IT Services is still the largest group by raw count, simply because it's the biggest industry we checked.

### Which website builder does each industry favor?

WordPress leads everywhere, so the useful signal is where other builders over-index, meaning their companies show up in an industry far more often than the average company does:

- Shopify: Apparel & Fashion and Food & Beverages (5.2x for the latter).
- Squarespace: Restaurants (5.3x) and non-profits.
- Duda: Individual & Family Services (9.3x) and Medical Practice.
- Wix: Health, Wellness and Fitness and Management Consulting.
- Webflow: Software and Internet.

Retail is the surprise. It has the lowest builder rate in the table, at 33%, even though Shopify is built for retailers. Many retailers may run commerce platforms outside this set or sell mainly through marketplaces.

## How does website builder use differ by country?

Canada, Australia and France have the highest rates in our breakdown, and India the lowest. The table covers the eight countries we broke out.

**Rate = share of the companies based in each country we checked that run any of these website builder tools.**

| Country | Checked | Run one | Rate |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| United States | 465,971 | 240,955 | 52% |
| United Kingdom | 97,750 | 49,478 | 51% |
| India | 130,606 | 37,108 | 28% |
| Brazil | 80,074 | 33,044 | 41% |
| Canada | 48,247 | 27,893 | 58% |
| Germany | 64,764 | 27,486 | 42% |
| Australia | 41,018 | 23,925 | 58% |
| France | 39,739 | 21,735 | 55% |

### Which countries use website builders the most?

Canada and Australia share the highest builder adoption among the countries we broke out, with 58% of companies in each running one of these tools. France comes next, at 55%.

For a vendor, a high rate cuts both ways. Most prospects in these markets already have a builder, so deals are mostly about displacing an incumbent, and WordPress is the most common incumbent overall.

### How does the United States compare with Europe?

The United States has the most builder-using companies in our data by far, 240,955, at a rate of 52%. That rate sits in the upper middle of the table rather than at the top.

The United Kingdom is nearly identical, at 51%. Germany is lower, at 42%, a gap worth knowing if you're planning a European launch for a builder or a builder add-on.

### Why is website builder adoption lower in India?

India has the lowest rate in our country breakdown, at 28%, even though it's one of the largest groups of companies we checked. Our data can't pin down the cause; custom development and builders outside this set are plausible factors.

India is one of Framer's most common countries in our data. Brazil sits in the middle of the table, at 41%, and it's one of Wix's top countries.

## What do the biggest websites and startups run?

The highest-traffic sites and Y Combinator startups sit at opposite ends: big sites rarely use a builder, while startups often do and favor different tools.

**Share of each group we checked that runs each tool. Highest-traffic websites = top 10,000 by traffic rank.**

| Tool | Highest-traffic sites | Y Combinator startups | All companies |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) | 9.4% | 6.9% | 33% |
| [Shopify](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/shopify) | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| [Wix](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wix) | 0.3% | 1.2% | 2.8% |
| [Webflow](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/webflow) | 1.8% | 19% | 1.9% |
| [Squarespace](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/squarespace) | 0.3% | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| [HubSpot CMS](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/hubspot-cms) | 2.2% | 6.8% | 1.8% |
| [Duda](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/duda) | under 0.1% | under 0.1% | 0.4% |
| [Framer](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/framer) | 0.4% | 7.8% | 0.3% |
| [Ghost](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/ghost) | 0.2% | 1.0% | under 0.1% |

### What website builder do the highest-traffic websites use?

WordPress is the most common builder on high-traffic sites, but only a minority of them run any builder at all. Among the highest-traffic websites we track, 16% run one of these tools, and 9.4% run WordPress.

A likely explanation is that very large sites run custom or enterprise stacks outside this set. Shopify comes next on these sites, then HubSpot CMS. If you're quoting builder statistics for an enterprise audience, use this segment rather than the all-company rate.

### What website builder do Y Combinator startups use?

Webflow is the most used builder among Y Combinator startups, the only segment in our data where WordPress doesn't lead. Among the YC startups we checked, 19% run Webflow, against 6.9% for WordPress.

Framer comes second among startups. [Anthropic](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/anthropic.com) shows Webflow in its records, and [Twingate](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/twingate.com) shows Framer. Both tools give design-led teams a visual way to ship a marketing site without tying up engineers. Startups are an early read on where buying habits are heading, which is why these two deserve attention despite far smaller totals.

## Is website builder adoption growing?

Yes. In the last 90 days, companies started using these tools far more often than they stopped. The chart shows starts and stops for each tool.

**Companies that started each tool in the last 90 days**

|  | Companies |
| --- | ---: |
| [WordPress](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wordpress) | 8,386 |
| [Shopify](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/shopify) | 339 |
| [Wix](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/wix) | 187 |
| [Webflow](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/webflow) | 200 |
| [HubSpot CMS](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/hubspot-cms) | 259 |
| [Squarespace](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/squarespace) | 126 |
| [Framer](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/framer) | 80 |
| [Ghost](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/ghost) | 7 |
| [Duda](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/duda) | 10 |

_A start is a tool found on a company's latest scan that its previous scan, done the same way, didn't find._

### How many companies started or stopped using a website builder recently?

Starts beat stops by a wide margin. Across these tools we recorded 9,594 starts and 767 stops in the last 90 days.

A start means a tool appeared on a company we had scanned before without it; a company's first scan is only a baseline and never counts. These are real adoption events, not new companies entering our data, which makes them the closest thing to a growth rate public records can give.

### Which website builders are gaining companies?

WordPress gained the most companies on net, and seven of the nine tools grew. Here is every tool with a net gain, largest first:

- WordPress: +8,111
- Shopify: +233
- Wix: +130
- Webflow: +130
- HubSpot CMS: +97
- Squarespace: +90
- Framer: +64

Webflow matched Wix on net gain despite a much smaller base, and Framer posted 80 starts on a small footprint. Design-first builders are pulling in new companies.

### Which website builders are losing companies?

Duda is the only builder in our set with a net loss, at -28, with stops outnumbering starts. Ghost was flat, with starts and stops matching exactly.

Duda is built for agencies that manage client websites, so its numbers can swing on agency decisions: when an agency moves its roster, many sites can move together. HubSpot CMS stayed positive but had more stops than any tool except WordPress, 162, which is a lot of churn for a tool its size.

### Are AI website builders growing?

Our data can't isolate AI builders, but the AI-positioned tools went different ways: Framer and Wix gained companies while Duda lost some. Framer describes an AI agent that designs and builds sites on a canvas, Wix advertises AI tools, and Duda calls itself AI-assisted.

Our scans detect the builder, not whether a company used its AI features. Why these three diverged is a question the data leaves open.

## Do companies run more than one website builder?

Rarely. The add-ons each builder runs with say more about how it's used than overlap between builders does.

### How many companies use two website builders at once?

Few do. In our scans, 29,356 companies run two or more of these tools, which is 3.7% of companies with any builder.

Possible reasons include a Shopify store beside a WordPress blog, a Framer or Webflow landing page next to an older main site, or a migration caught halfway. Our hypothesis is that some of these companies are mid-decision, which would make them worth a closer look for sellers.

### What tools do companies run alongside their website builder?

Each builder has a companion stack that reveals what the site is for. On WordPress, SEO is the standard add-on: 52% of WordPress companies also run Yoast SEO, with [Rank Math](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/rankmath) as the alternative. HubSpot CMS is almost never used alone: 96% of its companies also run [HubSpot](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/hubspot).

Some pairings come from the platforms themselves. Most Wix companies show [Sentry](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/sentry), and most Squarespace companies show [Adobe Fonts](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/adobe-fonts); these likely reflect how the platforms serve sites rather than owner choices.

The rest point at the audience. The most common add-ons on Duda sites are accessibility and consent tools such as [AudioEye](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/audioeye) and [Termly](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/termly). Framer companies pair it with [PostHog](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/posthog) and [Intercom](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/intercom), Ghost sites with [Tinybird](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/tinybird), and Shopify stores with [PageFly](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/pagefly) and [Rebuy](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/rebuy).

## What should you take from this if you're choosing or selling a website builder?

The data is most useful as a check on your shortlist and as a signal about prospects.

### Which website builder should a small business choose?

For most small businesses, the choice is between WordPress, Wix and Squarespace, with Shopify if selling products is the main job. WordPress is the safe default because it leads at every size, so plenty of businesses like yours already run it.

Wix and Squarespace suit owners who want to manage the site themselves from templates. Squarespace's tilt toward restaurants and Wix's toward wellness and consulting show where each one lands well.

### Which website builder fits a startup or marketing team?

Startups and marketing-led teams often choose Webflow or Framer, and companies already on HubSpot often keep their site in HubSpot CMS. The Y Combinator numbers make the first point clearly, and both Webflow and Framer added companies on net in the last 90 days.

The trade-off is reach. These tools give designers direct control, while WordPress's much larger install base likely means more people who already know how to work on it. [Wiley](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/wiley.com) on Webflow and [Samba TV](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/samba.tv) on Framer show these tools aren't limited to tiny startups, and [DoubleVerify](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/doubleverify.com) and [MediaTek](https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/mediatek.com) show HubSpot CMS in their records.

### How can sales and marketing teams use website builder data?

A company's website builder is a strong signal about its team and priorities. Shopify points to a company selling products, HubSpot CMS to a HubSpot customer, Duda to an agency-built site, and Webflow or Framer to a design-led team.

You can check any company's builder and the evidence behind it with our [company lookup](https://www.runsonwhat.com/lookup). Pair that with start and stop data: a company that just started a builder may be open to add-ons, while one that just stopped may be choosing its next tool.

## What does a website builder detection look like?

Every count on this page rests on a public record like the one below.

```
blog.example.com CNAME exampleorgblog.wordpress.com
```

A CNAME record we found for one company (name replaced with "example"). Records like this, in public DNS, are how a company shows up as running WordPress.

The record is a direct trace, such as a script, a DNS record or a custom domain pointing at the builder's own infrastructure. It proves the company's site was built or served by that tool when we scanned it. It doesn't show what the company pays or which plan it's on.

## How we counted

We checked public records for 1,824,525 companies: DNS records, certificate logs and the code their websites serve. A company counts for a tool when one of those records shows a direct trace of it. The numbers were queried on October 30, 2026.

A start is a tool that appears in a company's latest scan but was absent from its previous scan done the same way; a stop is the reverse. Both use the last 90 days, and a company's first scan is a baseline that never counts as a start.

Size, industry and country are known for only part of the companies, so those rates are among companies where we know them. The highest-traffic websites are the nearly ten thousand companies we track with a traffic rank of ten thousand or better, and Y Combinator startups are those in YC's public directory.

Every statistic here comes from our own scans; this page uses no outside surveys or market-size figures. Counts are companies with a public trace, not market share or paying customers, and a company can run several tools. Builders without a public trace are invisible to us, so all rates are lower bounds. More is in [our research notes](https://www.runsonwhat.com/about#research) and on [our crawler](https://www.runsonwhat.com/bot). If you cite these figures, please credit the runsonwhat Research Team and include the date October 30, 2026.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is WordPress a website builder or a CMS?

WordPress is an open source content management system and publishing platform, but most companies use it as their website builder, creating sites from themes and blocks without writing code. That is why statistics pages often compare it with Wix and Squarespace. In our scans it is the most used tool of its kind at every company size, often paired with Yoast SEO, which 52% of WordPress companies run.

### How many companies use Wix?

Wix runs on 51,646 companies in our scans, making it the third most used website builder we track, behind WordPress and Shopify. Most Wix companies with a known size have 11–50 employees, and they are more likely than average to work in Health, Wellness and Fitness or Management Consulting. These are companies with a public trace of Wix, not counts of paid subscriptions.

### Which website builder is best for ecommerce?

By usage, Shopify is the most used dedicated commerce platform among the builders we track, and the second most used website tool overall after WordPress. It is strongest in Retail, Apparel & Fashion and Food & Beverages. WooCommerce on WordPress also reaches a large number of companies, and it suits teams that already run WordPress and want the store inside the same site.

### What percentage of small businesses use a website builder?

Among companies with 1–10 employees, 38% run at least one of the website builders we track. Companies with 11–50 employees are more likely to, and WordPress is the most used builder in both bands. Because a builder that leaves no public trace is invisible to our scans, the true share is likely somewhat higher than this lower bound.

### Is Webflow more popular than Squarespace?

Webflow runs on slightly more companies than Squarespace in our scans, and it is far more popular with startups: it is the most used builder among Y Combinator companies. The two serve different buyers. Squarespace targets individuals and small businesses using templates, with a tilt toward restaurants and non-profits, while Webflow targets marketing and design teams, especially in Software.