Plan and set up a simple website: how to do it with AI
Last checked 2026-10-16
How this page was checked
Prices and plan details come from each tool’s official vendor pages, linked on the tool pages below. Last checked 2026-10-16. We don’t do hands-on testing. Spotted a mistake? Report an error.
Beginner 🏪 Small business
A first website for a small business or side project needs a clear plan more than fancy code: who it's for, the 3 to 5 pages it needs, and the words on each page. AI is a good planning partner and copywriter. You still choose the website builder and click publish.
Step by step
- Write two sentences: who your visitors are and the one thing you want them to do (call, book, buy, sign up).
- Ask the AI for a simple sitemap: usually Home, About, Services or Products, and Contact.
- Have it draft the text for each page, then edit it so it sounds like you.
- Pick a website builder or host yourself, and compare their current prices on their official sites.
- Ask for a launch checklist: domain, contact form test, mobile check, privacy page, and page titles.
- Before launch, open the site on your phone and send the link to two people to try.
Copy-paste prompts
Replace the [brackets] with your details.
I'm making a website for [business] in [city] for [type of customers]. The main thing visitors should do is [action]. Suggest a sitemap of 3-5 pages, what goes on each page in bullet points, and the single most important sentence for the homepage.
Write homepage text for [business]: a headline under 10 words, a one-sentence subheading, 3 short benefit blocks, a call-to-action button label, and a 2-sentence trust section using these facts: [years, reviews, guarantees, only real ones]. Friendly, plain English.
Give me a step-by-step launch checklist for a small website built with [builder name], for a non-technical owner. Group it into Before launch, Launch day and First week, and flag anything that needs a legal or privacy check.
Which tool to pick, and why
- ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex): Free plan verified for chat. It lists docs, slides and spreadsheets plus image generation, so it can draft a simple logo idea too. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗
- Claude (incl. Claude Code): Free plan verified for chat. Artifacts can preview a simple page layout so you can see the structure before you build it. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗
- Google Gemini: Free plan verified for chat, with Canvas for drafting pages side by side. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗
Reasons come from the capabilities, free-plan details and prices we've checked on official pages, not from hands-on testing. Sources: chatgpt.com/pricing · claude.com/pricing · gemini.google/subscriptions/
Common mistakes
- Starting with design before you've decided what the site is for.
- Publishing AI text with made-up reviews, awards or years in business.
- Choosing a builder based on an AI's price claims instead of the builder's own pricing page.
- Forgetting mobile: most visitors will see it on a phone.
- No contact method that you've actually tested.
Privacy tip
Don't paste customer lists, passwords or your hosting login into a chatbot. If your site has a contact form, you'll need a privacy page; the AI can draft it, but have it checked for your country's rules.
ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex) setting · Claude (incl. Claude Code) setting · Google Gemini setting
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Professions with related small business tasks: Accountant · Small business owner