How to Create a Website with Hostinger Builder in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-Step Website Tutorial
How to Create a Website with Hostinger Builder
Creating a website does not have to involve coding, complicated server settings, or manually building every page. Hostinger Builder provides AI-assisted website creation and a visual editor that lets you design and publish a website through a guided process.
Whether you want to create a portfolio, business website, blog, landing page, or small online store, this guide explains how to get started, customize your design, connect a domain, configure basic SEO, and publish your website.
Before starting:
Hostinger currently offers AI Builder with two modes: Manual mode for visual drag-and-drop editing and Agentic mode for AI-assisted creation and changes. The steps below focus on the current builder workflow. Some dashboard labels and features may vary by plan or account.
1. Prepare Before Creating Your Website
Before opening the website builder, decide what you want your website to achieve. A little preparation can help the AI generate a more relevant starting design and reduce the amount of editing you need later.
Decide the purpose of your website
Start by identifying the type of website you want to build.
Business website
Present your company, services, contact information, and customer information.
Portfolio website
Showcase your work, skills, projects, experience, and contact details.
Blog or content website
Publish articles, tutorials, guides, and other useful information.
Online store
Display products, manage orders, and accept payments using supported ecommerce features.
Prepare your website materials
Business or website name.
Short description of your website.
Logo and brand colors, if available.
High-quality images and project photographs.
Website text, service descriptions, or product information.
Contact email and other business details.
Domain name, if you already own one.
Tip:
You do not need to have every page written before starting. However, preparing your website name, purpose, target audience, and main services will help you create a more useful first draft.
2. Open Hostinger AI Builder
After preparing your materials, log in to your Hostinger account and open the website creation dashboard.
Open the Websites section in the Hostinger dashboard.
Locate the hosting plan where you want to create your website.
Click Create site.
Select AI Builder from the available website types.
Hostinger may offer a free trial to eligible users who have not used AI Builder before. Check the current trial conditions and hosting requirements in your account.
Check your hosting plan:
AI Builder availability depends on the hosting plan and current product requirements. Confirm that your plan supports the builder before starting the setup.
3. Choose Manual or Agentic Mode
After selecting AI Builder, choose how you want to create and edit your website. Hostinger provides two main workflows.
Mode
How it works
Best for
Manual
Edit text, images, sections, and layouts using the visual editor.
Users who want direct control over the design.
Agentic
Describe changes through an AI conversation and let the builder apply them.
Users who prefer AI-assisted website creation and editing.
Choose Manual mode if...
You want to arrange website sections yourself.
You prefer visual editing controls.
You want to adjust text, images, colors, and layouts directly.
You enjoy making design changes step by step.
Choose Agentic mode if...
You want to describe your website in ordinary language.
You want AI to help generate and update website content.
You prefer requesting design changes through a conversation.
You want to explore supported AI-assisted website or app creation.
Which mode is better?
Neither mode is automatically better for every project. Manual mode gives you a more direct visual workflow, while Agentic mode can reduce some manual editing. Choose based on how you prefer to build and maintain your website.
4. Describe Your Website to AI
If you choose the AI generation workflow, Hostinger asks you to describe your website or business. The platform uses this information to create an initial website design and content.
What should you include in your description?
Website or business name.
Type of website you want to create.
Your products or services.
Your target audience.
Your preferred design style.
Important pages and website functionality.
Example AI prompt for a business website
Create a modern website for a digital marketing agency named BrightPath Digital. The agency provides SEO, social media management, website design, and content marketing services to small businesses. Use a clean professional design with navy blue and purple colors. Include Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Testimonials, and Contact pages. Add clear service descriptions, a contact form, and prominent buttons for booking a consultation.
Example AI prompt for a portfolio website
Create a professional personal portfolio website for a computer science student. Include Home, About Me, Skills, Projects, Resume, and Contact sections. Use a clean modern layout with dark navy and blue accents. Add project cards with descriptions, technology tags, GitHub links, and a contact section. Make the design responsive and easy to navigate.
Hostinger's website description field has a limit of 700 characters, including spaces, according to its current AI Builder instructions. Keep your prompt focused and include the most important information first.
Use reference materials if needed
The prompt interface may also let you provide supporting materials through its attachment menu, such as:
Images that show a preferred website design.
PDFs or documents containing business information.
HTML files used as design references.
A link to an existing website for inspiration.
Hostinger's current instructions allow up to 10 attached files, with a maximum size of 20 MB per file. The available attachment options may change.
5. Choose a Ready-Made Website Template
You do not have to generate a website using AI. Hostinger also provides ready-made templates that you can select and customize.
Open the AI Builder setup screen.
Scroll to the available template selection area.
Browse templates related to your website type.
Choose a design that matches your preferred layout.
Open the selected template in the editor.
How to choose the right template
Check whether the homepage layout suits your website.
Look for the pages and sections you need.
Choose a readable typography style.
Check how the template looks on mobile devices.
Prefer a design that needs fewer major changes.
Remember that a template is only a starting point. Replace its sample text, images, business information, and other placeholder content before publishing.
6. Customize Your Website
Once the initial website is generated or a template is selected, you can begin customizing it. The exact controls depend on the selected building mode.
Customize using Manual mode
Open your website in the visual editor.
Select the text or image you want to change.
Use the available editing controls to update its content.
Add or remove sections as required.
Adjust the page layout, spacing, colors, and fonts.
Preview the updated page before publishing.
Customize using Agentic mode
In Agentic mode, you can describe the changes you want through the AI interface. Be specific about the page, section, content, and design direction.
Update the homepage hero section. Use a shorter headline, add a clear description of our services, and make the main call-to-action button more prominent. Keep the existing navy and purple color scheme and maintain a clean professional layout.
Review the proposed changes and any confirmation steps shown by the platform before applying them. AI-generated changes should always be checked for accuracy and visual quality.
Design elements to review
Colors
Use a consistent color palette that matches your brand and maintains readable contrast.
Typography
Choose readable fonts and maintain a clear hierarchy between headings and body text.
Spacing
Keep enough space between sections, headings, images, and buttons.
Navigation
Make the menu easy to understand and keep important pages accessible.
7. Add and Organize Website Pages
A useful website should have a clear structure. Create only the pages that support your website's purpose, and organize them so visitors can find information easily.
Common pages for a business website
Page
Purpose
Home
Introduce your business and explain what you offer.
About
Share your business background, team, or experience.
Services
Describe your products or services.
Portfolio
Show completed work, examples, or case studies.
Contact
Provide contact details and a way to reach you.
Privacy Policy
Explain how visitor information is handled where applicable.
Organize your navigation menu
Keep the navigation simple. Place the most important pages in the main menu and avoid adding too many items. If you have several related pages, organize them into logical groups where the builder supports it.
Before publishing, open each page and check its heading, content, images, and links. Remove empty pages and placeholder sections that are not relevant to your website.
8. Add Text, Images, and Other Content
Your website content explains what you offer and helps visitors decide what to do next. Replace all sample content with accurate information about your business, project, or personal brand.
Write clear website headlines
Use headings that tell visitors what each page is about. Your homepage should quickly explain what the website offers and who it is intended for.
Use relevant images
Use clear images that support the page content.
Compress large image files before uploading.
Use descriptive filenames where practical.
Add meaningful alt text to informative images.
Avoid using copyrighted images without permission.
Add useful buttons and links
Use calls to action such as Contact Us, View Projects, Get a Quote, or Shop Now where they make sense. Make sure each button opens the correct page or destination.
Check contact forms
If your website includes a contact form, test it before publishing. Confirm that submissions reach the correct email or management area and that visitors receive an appropriate confirmation message.
Remove placeholder information:
Do not publish generated phone numbers, addresses, testimonials, customer names, business claims, or product details unless you have verified them. Replace every sample element with real information.
9. Check the Mobile Design
Many visitors browse websites on smartphones and tablets. A design that looks good on a desktop may need adjustments on smaller screens.
Mobile design checklist
Check that headings fit within the screen.
Make sure text is comfortable to read.
Check that buttons are easy to tap.
Verify that images do not overflow their sections.
Review the mobile navigation menu.
Check forms and contact details.
Look for unnecessary horizontal scrolling.
Use the builder's preview options and, where possible, open the website on a real mobile device. Test the homepage and the most important internal pages.
10. Connect Your Domain to Hostinger Builder
Your domain is the address visitors use to access your website. You can use a temporary preview domain while building, or connect a custom domain before publishing.
Option 1: Use a temporary preview domain
Hostinger can automatically generate a temporary preview domain when you create an AI Builder website. This is useful while you are designing and reviewing the website.
Option 2: Connect a custom domain
Open your website in Hostinger AI Builder Manual mode.
Find the Connect domain option near the top-right area of the builder.
Enter the domain name you want to use.
Confirm the domain and continue.
Follow the instructions to point the domain to Hostinger if it is registered elsewhere.
Publish your website after connecting the domain.
If your domain is registered at Hostinger
Hostinger can configure the required connection automatically when the domain is registered and managed in the relevant account.
If your domain is registered elsewhere
You may need to update the domain's nameservers or DNS records at the provider managing its DNS. Follow the exact records shown in your Hostinger dashboard rather than copying generic DNS values from another website.
DNS propagation:
After changing DNS records, allow time for the changes to become visible globally. Hostinger advises allowing up to 24 hours for propagation. You can use the temporary preview domain while waiting, where available.
11. Configure Basic SEO Settings
Search engine optimization helps search engines understand your website and its pages. Hostinger provides SEO-related controls, but you still need to create useful content and organize your website properly.
Write page titles and meta descriptions
Give every important page a unique title and description that accurately summarizes its content. Use your main topic naturally instead of repeating keywords unnecessarily.
Use clear page headings
Organize each page with a clear main heading and relevant subheadings. Headings should help visitors understand the structure of the content.
Optimize image alt text
Add descriptive alt text to informative images. Describe what the image shows rather than stuffing keywords into the description. Decorative images may not need descriptive alt text.
Use meaningful page URLs
Choose short, readable URLs that describe the page. Avoid unnecessary numbers and random characters.
Connect analytics tools
Where supported, connect Google Analytics and other marketing integrations to understand website traffic and visitor behavior.
Check your sitemap and indexing
Review the sitemap generated for your website and submit it through Google Search Console if appropriate. Make sure important pages are accessible to search engines and are not unintentionally blocked from indexing.
SEO does not guarantee rankings.
Website builder SEO settings are only part of search optimization. Content quality, competition, links, page experience, and technical factors also influence search visibility.
12. Add Ecommerce Features If Needed
If you want to sell products or services, check whether your selected Hostinger plan includes the ecommerce features you need.
Set up your products
Add accurate product names and descriptions.
Upload clear product images.
Set prices and available variations.
Review inventory information where applicable.
Organize products into relevant categories.
Configure payments
Choose the payment methods supported for your store's country and account. Complete any required payment provider verification and check the processing fees.
Configure shipping and taxes
Set shipping rules for the locations you serve. Review applicable tax requirements for your business and seek professional advice where needed.
Test the shopping process
Before accepting customers, review the product page, cart, checkout, order confirmation, and customer communication. Make sure the information displayed to customers is correct.
13. Preview and Publish Your Website
Before making your website public, review every important page. Hostinger AI Builder Manual mode and Agentic mode both require an explicit publishing step for the first public launch.
Pre-publishing review
Replaced all placeholder text and images.
Checked the homepage and internal pages.
Verified the navigation menu.
Tested buttons and internal links.
Checked contact forms.
Reviewed mobile and desktop layouts.
Added page titles and meta descriptions.
Connected the correct domain.
Checked the website's SSL and HTTPS status.
Reviewed contact and business information.
How to publish in Manual mode
Open your Hostinger dashboard and go to Websites.
Find your website and click Edit site.
Review the final design in the editor.
Click Publish in the top-right corner.
Wait for the publishing confirmation.
Use the option to view your website and check the live version.
How to publish in Agentic mode
Open the website project in the Agentic editor.
Wait for the website generation or requested changes to finish.
Review the generated pages and content.
Click Publish when the project is ready.
Wait for the publishing process to complete.
Open the live website and verify the result.
Publishing and domain connection are separate tasks.
A website can be published but still not work on a custom domain if DNS records have not been configured correctly or propagation is still in progress. Check both the publishing status and domain connection.
Update your website after publishing
You can continue editing your website after launch. In Manual mode, make your changes and click Publish again. In Agentic mode, review the AI-generated changes and publish them when ready. Check the live website after each important update.
14. Maintain Your Website After Launch
Publishing your website is not the final step. Regular reviews help keep the content accurate, the design consistent, and the website useful for visitors.
Monthly website maintenance checklist
Review important website pages and update outdated information.
Check contact forms and customer inquiry routes.
Review website traffic and analytics.
Check important pages on mobile devices.
Review broken links and missing images.
Check domain and subscription renewal dates.
Review account security and access permissions.
Test ecommerce checkout and customer communication if applicable.
Keep copies of important website content and original media files. If your project becomes more complex, review whether the builder still meets your needs before expanding the website significantly.
15. Common Hostinger Builder Problems and Solutions
Website is not visible after publishing
Confirm that the publishing process completed successfully. Check whether Coming Soon mode is enabled, verify the domain connection, and allow time for DNS propagation.
Custom domain is not working
Check that the domain is assigned to the correct website and that its DNS records point to Hostinger. If the domain uses an external DNS provider, make changes there rather than in an inactive DNS zone.
Website shows a 404 error
An unpublished AI Builder project may not be publicly accessible. Open the editor and complete the publishing process. If the website is already published, check the domain and website configuration.
SSL or HTTPS error appears
Confirm that the domain points to Hostinger and that SSL has been activated for the website. Newly connected domains may need time for DNS and certificate activation.
AI generation is taking time
Wait for the generation process to finish before publishing. If the editor reports an error, review the message and follow the recovery instructions. Avoid repeatedly submitting the same request while an earlier build is still processing.
Website changes are not visible
In Manual mode, confirm that you clicked Publish after editing. Then open the website in a private browser window. If the issue continues, check whether you are viewing the correct domain or preview version.
1. Can I create a website with Hostinger Builder without coding?
Yes. Hostinger AI Builder supports visual editing and AI-assisted website creation. You can create a starting website using a description or template and customize it without writing code for ordinary design changes.
2. Is Hostinger Website Builder suitable for beginners?
Yes. Its visual editor, templates, and AI tools are designed to make website creation more accessible. Beginners should still review the generated content, test the pages, and learn basic domain and SEO settings.
3. What is the difference between Manual and Agentic mode?
Manual mode lets you edit text, images, and sections directly in a visual editor. Agentic mode lets you describe changes through AI prompts, which the platform uses to update the website.
4. Can I create a website using a template instead of AI?
Yes. Hostinger offers ready-made templates. You can select a suitable design and customize its pages and content instead of generating a website from a written prompt.
5. Can I use my own domain with Hostinger Builder?
Yes. You can connect a domain registered at Hostinger or another provider. If it is registered elsewhere, you may need to update its DNS settings and allow time for propagation.
6. Can I publish my website using a temporary domain?
Hostinger provides a temporary preview domain for eligible AI Builder websites. It can be useful while designing and reviewing your website before connecting a custom domain.
7. How do I publish a Hostinger Builder website?
Open your website in the builder and click Publish in the top-right area. Wait for confirmation, then open the live website to check that it works correctly.
8. Can I edit my website after publishing?
Yes. You can continue editing your website after launch. In Manual mode, publish again after making changes. In Agentic mode, review the AI changes and publish them when ready.
9. Can I create an online store with Hostinger Builder?
Yes. Ecommerce features are available on eligible plans. You can configure products, payments, shipping, and other store settings supported by your plan and region.
10. Does Hostinger Builder include website hosting?
Yes. Hosting is included with the website builder subscription, so a separate hosting provider is not required for a standard website created and published through the platform.
11. How long does domain connection take?
Domains registered at Hostinger may connect automatically when the required settings are available. External domains may need DNS updates, and propagation can take up to 24 hours.
12. Can I move my Hostinger Builder website to WordPress?
Do not assume that a complete builder website can be exported as a ready-to-use WordPress installation. Moving platforms may require recreating the design and functionality and transferring available content and media separately.
Create and Publish Your Website with Hostinger
Hostinger Builder gives beginners a practical way to create a website using AI or a visual editor. Prepare your content, choose the right building mode, customize your pages, connect your domain, and test the website before publishing it.
Editorial note: Hostinger's AI Builder interface, publishing workflow, domain options, plan requirements, and available features can change. Follow the instructions displayed in your current hPanel account. Check plan eligibility and subscription terms before purchasing. This guide is informational and does not claim personal hands-on testing.
