Ask HN: What do you expect from a no-code website builder?

[MoElmredi]

I'm trying to build a no-code website builder that can not only build UI but also build APIs it will use modern tech Like Next, Tailwind..., and exports clean code to be extended if needed

I would love to know your perfect no-code website builder and would you pay around $20 - $40 a month to use it?

[muzani]

"and exports clean code to be extended"

This is quite the bold promise and I'd use something like this if possible. But I'd rather just have a prototyping tool that I pay for once.

For a maintainable site, I'm not sure if APIs are needed. Maybe for a blog or ecommerce site that you're making an app for? Squarespace and WordPress already do this though, at a decent price, and it's easy to just hire a WP technician as needed or ask ChatGPT to debug.

Maybe figure out your target market, as there might be conflicting models here.

[ggwp99]

For the website builder this subscription price is not cheap at all, but I would pay for it if it allowed me to create responsive animated websites (the one you see when you google best designs), all websites are mostly simple landing pages, and the more complicated are in need for a developer. I think this can be done though as there is no process too complex that a no code builder could not do.

[phpsecure]

I expect from a no-code website builder that website development will be cheaper for business.

[PaulHoule]

Like $20-$40 once or a month?

[MoElmredi]

a month

[dotcoma]

A month? Seems like a lot of dough to me.

[MoElmredi]

This is including deployment costs btw, a pro plan in vercel is $20 per memeber

[gitgud]

Vercel also offers multiple projects, and many other multi-tenant features too like “preview deploy commenting” by team members

[PaulHoule]

How is it better than Wix?

[MoElmredi]

The ability to see your code and edit it, also build backend functionality

[Gustomaximus]

Wouldn't this be something like Avada/Divi added to wordpress?

By all means go for it but I imagine it's needs a significant team to get close to their product features plus people generally don't want a monthly fee.

[PaulHoule]

Anything that involves hosting is going to involve a monthly fee if it is sustainable and non-toxic. It also seems that a no-code product ought to incorporate hosting in most cases because if you're trying to eliminate hassle and friction, hosting ought to be baked into the product.