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Hubspot AI website builder — A comprehensive review

By David NgeLast Updated: October 16, 2024

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The HubSpot AI Website Builder is one of the free tools included in Hubspot's Free Marketing plan.

Basically, you can use it to create a website using a combination of artificial intelligence and smart templating in minutes—without touching any code or dealing with complicated design tools.

Imagine this: you input a few details about your business, like your industry and goals, and then HubSpot’s AI gets to work, generating a fully functional website for you.

Here I've detailed the step-by-step guide to build your AI-powered website with Hubspot if you want to check it out.

What makes this builder stand out is the way it leverages AI to streamline the entire process.

It takes the guesswork out of designing, writing copy, and organizing your site, which means you’re left with more time to focus on your actual business.

In this review, we'll go over:

Let's dive right in.

Who Is It For?

Hubspot AI home page
Hubspot AI home page

HubSpot’s AI Website Builder is built for — non-tech users, especially small business owners and freelancers —basically anyone who needs a professional website but doesn’t have the time or expertise to build one from scratch.

If you’re looking for something quick, simple, and intuitive, then you want to check out this tool (since it's free!). It’s great if you need a quick, simple site without hiring a designer or developer.

How HubSpot AI Website Builder Works

To create a website with HubSpot AI, the tool will first gather a bit of information about your business and the type of site you want:

  1. Describe Your Business: The first step is to describe your business. Based on your description, the AI will generate the text for your site, tailoring it to your specific needs.
First question - describe your business
First question - describe your business
  1. Set Your Goal: Next, you’ll be asked about your main goal for the website. This helps the AI decide which sections to include. For example, if your goal is to generate leads, it might add a sign-up form to the homepage.
Identify your website goals
Identify your website goals
  1. Choose Your Style: Finally, you’ll choose a style for your site. This step mostly impacts the font and color scheme, giving your site a look that matches your preferences.
Choose a style for your site
Choose a style for your site

As you answer these questions, you’ll see a live preview of your site on the right side of the screen.

Once you’ve completed these three steps, the AI will generate your homepage in about 30 seconds.

General Impression of Hubspot's AI-Generated Website

Here's my objective view of the AI-generated website from Hubspot. I'll explain my thinking with these considerations:

1. Design Quality

first impression of the AI-generated site from Hubspot
first impression of the AI-generated site from Hubspot

The overall design can feel a bit "boxy".

While the format might work well for general business sites, it can lack the kind of uniqueness you’d want to stand out.

There's a lack of color palettes used and zero animation or interactive elements on the site, which means that the design often feels uninspired without further customization.

The customer and "why choose us" section of the site
The customer and "why choose us" section of the site

The good news is that you can make significant improvements to the overall design by adjusting elements such as font size, alignment, and spacing.

While you can't edit every little detail like you might in more flexible platforms like Webflow, the options available are sufficient for most small businesses and professionals.

2. Content

Sample content from the AI-generated site
Sample content from the AI-generated site

One of the common issues with AI-generated content is its generic nature.

Even when specific prompts are provided, HubSpot's AI often generates short, surface-level subheadlines and text.

For example, instead of compelling, high-impact calls to action, you may end up with bland headlines that sound more like placeholders than real business value propositions.

Luckily, the AI content assistant can be used to enhance or regenerate more engaging copy.

You can specify tone, expand on ideas, or rewrite the text entirely using built-in AI tools.

However, it’s worth noting that you’ll likely need to spend some time tweaking this AI-generated content for it to resonate more deeply with your target audience.

3. Images used

some of the images used in the site
some of the images used in the site

If you're creating a website in a niche industry, it might use stock photos that do not fully match your industry.

For instance, despite inputting relevant details, the AI may pull unrelated stock photos that fail to match your industry or brand.

That said, replacing images is simple. You can upload your own or select from over 60,000 stock images via the platform.

Customization is relatively flexible here, allowing you to adjust image placement, alignment, and even add background images for sections like the hero area.

4. User Experience

Checking mobile view of the site
Checking mobile view of the site

The website comes with a mobile-optimized design, which is crucial for delivering a seamless experience across devices.

You'll may need to review and adjust the site’s responsiveness if necessary.

Also, the formatting could use some fine-tuning, with text blocks that sometimes feel a bit dense.

Common issues might include large blocks of text that aren't easy to skim, improper alignment of sections on mobile, and awkward spacing between elements.

Overall, while HubSpot does a decent job of auto-generating a responsive version, certain elements (e.g., text size or image placement) might still require fine-tuning to improve the overall user experience.

5. Customization Options

Customization options in the editor
Customization options in the editor

Customization is somewhat limited in HubSpot's AI builder compared to other platforms like Webflow or Wordpress.

For a basic business website, the customization options are more than sufficient, especially for users with limited technical knowledge.

While it’s easy to adjust layouts, replace images, and tweak some content, more granular control over page elements like animations, spacing between modules, or adding entirely new design elements isn’t possible without extra coding or advanced settings.

So if you’re aiming for a highly unique or branded experience, you might find the builder’s pre-defined limitations a bit restrictive.

HubSpot AI Website Builder Key Features

AI-Powered Content Creation — HubSpot's AI, called Copilot, helps users quickly create or refine content like website pages, blog posts, CTAs, emails, and social media posts.

Generate a social post using AI
Generate a social post using AI

With simple prompts, you can generate things like headings, paragraphs, or even entire sections. The AI can also help rewrite, expand, or condense existing content, while adjusting the tone to fit your brand's voice.

Tailored Brand Voice — HubSpot’s AI lets you personalize the brand voice to keep your content consistent. You can set up predefined elements for your brand’s tone, whether you want it to be friendly, professional, or witty, and the AI will adjust the content to match.

Customize your brand voice on your site using AI
Customize your brand voice on your site using AI

Content Editing Tools — The AI also offers tools to easily refine your text. Whether you need to rewrite, expand, shorten, or tweak the tone of a section, these options let you fine-tune your messaging without starting from scratch. It’s a real time-saver while also enhancing content quality.

Built-in AI Features in the Editor — The AI features are fully integrated into HubSpot’s content editor. This means you can use them right where you’re working—whether it’s for blogs, landing pages, knowledge base articles, or marketing emails. It makes generating or refining content super convenient.

Highlight text to bring out the AI tool or simply click the AI assistant from the side
Highlight text to bring out the AI tool or simply click the AI assistant from the side

AI for Social Media Posts — You can even create social media posts directly from your blog content using AI. With auto-publishing enabled, you’ll have social posts ready to go that align with your main content, saving you time on manual scheduling.

Supports Multiple Languages — HubSpot’s AI supports generating content in different languages. While this feature is still evolving, you can already specify the language for blog posts, pages, and emails to help you reach a global audience.

Create a multi-lingual page for your site
Create a multi-lingual page for your site

Scaling blog content — Although AI speeds up content production, HubSpot recommends proofreading and editing to ensure consistency with your brand and accuracy in facts.

Auto generate blog post outline and content using AI within Hubspot
Auto generate blog post outline and content using AI within Hubspot

With the ability to generate up to 1,000 pieces of content per day, it’s perfect for businesses with high content demands.

Cons — Where it falls short

While HubSpot’s AI website builder is fantastic for getting started, it might not be the best fit for users who want highly customized sites with advanced features.

The builder is designed with simplicity in mind, so if you’re a power user looking for extensive design control or coding options, you might feel a bit limited.

Another drawback is that some of the advanced features, like custom integrations or more in-depth SEO settings, require you to upgrade to higher-tier plans.

So, while the base functionality is great for most small businesses, growing businesses might need to upgrade.

Pricing — Is Hubspot's AI website builder worth It?

Pricing is always a big question, but HubSpot’s AI website builder is part of their Marketing Hub Suite.

Free tools included in the Hubspot Free Marketing Hub
Free tools included in the Hubspot Free Marketing Hub

Free plan

The Free version of Marketing Hub is pretty generous considering you also get access to other tools in their broader tool ecosystem — CRM, sales, operations, etc, including:

There's more, but you have to check out all the features included in the free plan here.

Note: The website you build on the free plan comes HubSpot branding.

If you’re already using HubSpot’s marketing tools, the AI website builder can be a natural extension.

But, if you want more features (like removing HubSpot’s branding, and using more of the advanced tools), you’ll need to opt for one of their paid plans, starting from $15/month.

Starting price if you choose to upgrade
Starting price if you choose to upgrade

The Free Marketing Hub is hands down one of the best value plan in the industry, if you factor in all the other tools that you get.

If you decided to upgrade, the prices can feel steep if you’re comparing HubSpot solely as a website builder, but when you consider everything else you get—like CRM, marketing tools, and automation—it’s still good value for money.

Verdict — Should you use Hubspot's AI website builder?

In my opinion, HubSpot’s AI website builder is a solid choice if you need a free, and functional website without much hassle.

It’s perfect for non-tech users and small business owners who just want to get online quickly.

The integration with HubSpot’s broader tools makes it more than just a website builder—it’s an all-in-one business solution.

If you’re looking for extensive design customization or you’re working with a tight budget, you might want to explore other options. But for ease of use and simplicity, this is one of the best AI-driven website builders out there.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hubspot AI website builder

Is HubSpot's AI website generator free to use?

Yes, HubSpot offers a free plan that includes access to its AI website generator. While the free plan covers most of the essential features, some advanced tools and customization options are only available through paid plans.

Click here to see all the features included in the free plan

Do I need technical skills to use the HubSpot AI website generator?

No, technical skills are not required. The HubSpot AI website generator is designed for users with minimal to no coding experience. It provides step-by-step guidance, making the website creation process accessible for beginners.

Can I connect my own domain to the website I build with HubSpot's AI builder?

Yes, you can connect a custom domain to your website, even with the free plan. You can either purchase a domain through HubSpot or connect one you already own.

What types of websites can I build with HubSpot's AI website builder?

You can create a wide range of websites, including blogs, landing pages, business sites, and portfolio websites. The AI generator offers a variety of templates and customization options tailored to different industries and purposes.

How customizable is the website created by the AI generator?=

While the AI generator builds a site based on your inputs, you have the flexibility to adjust elements such as layout, colors, fonts, and content.

However, the level of customization is more structured compared to other platforms like Wix or Webflow. HubSpot provides predefined customization options to keep the process user-friendly.

How long does it take to build a website using the HubSpot AI website builder?

The time varies depending on the complexity of your site. A basic website can be generated in just a few minutes, though additional customization and content creation may take more time. For example, a demo 4-page website took about an hour to create.

Can I add extra features like forms, chatbots, or email marketing to my HubSpot website?

Yes, HubSpot offers a wide array of built-in tools, including forms, chatbots, ad retargeting, and email marketing. Many of these features are included in the free plan, though advanced tools may require an upgrade.

Click here to see the full list of marketing tools included in HubSpot’s free plan.

David Nge

David is the founder of MakingThatWebsite.com and started making websites for businesses back in 2014. He's a keen learner and wants to share his journey and knowledge with other business owners and freelancers. He launched MakingThatWebsite.com in 2021 to make website building more approachable and scalable for businesses.

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