When it comes to creating a website, it can be overwhelming to choose the right website builder tool. With so many options available, it’s easy to stick with what you know and miss out on some great opportunities. However, it’s important to keep in mind that no two website builders are the same. Choosing the right one can make a big difference in the success of your website.
In this article, we’ve taken a look at 10 competitors to Wix to see how they outperform Wix and what their ideal use cases are. We’ve also highlighted their weak points to help you make an informed decision. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of which website builder will work best for you.
Why You Should Consider Looking for Alternatives to Wix?
Wix is a popular website builder, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. Here are some reasons why you may want to consider looking for alternatives to Wix:
- Customization: Not everyone likes a one-size-fits-all approach and generic templates. If you want a unique, custom website, you may need a more hands-on solution.
- Analytics: The cheapest Wix plans don’t give you analytics tools, which are essential to any website owner. Without analytics, you won’t know how your website is performing and what improvements you can make.
- Subscription-based model: Wix uses a subscription-based model. To make the most out of the platform, you’ll need to use it consistently. If you create just one website and never touch Wix tools again, it makes little sense to keep paying $20–$50 every month for it.
- Extra features: Wix is stuffed with extra features that some may consider superfluous, yet they’re included in all business and ecommerce plans, which influences its prices. If you don’t need all these features, you may be paying more than you need to.
- Basic tools: The marketing, design, and SEO tools that Wix offers are still pretty basic and can’t fully substitute professional software. If you need advanced tools, you may need to look elsewhere.
- Ownership: With Wix, you don’t have full ownership of your website. It’s hosted on Wix, and, as a result, if Wix experiences a power outage or suspends your account, your website will suffer.
- Multiple websites: The Wix premium plans cannot be used for multiple websites. You’ll need to purchase a premium plan for each site, which can get uncomfortably expensive very quickly.
- Template limitations: It’s not possible to change a template to a website you’ve already created, so you should be cautious when experimenting with different designs.
To sum it up, while Wix is a powerful website builder, it has its limitations and downsides. If you want more customization, advanced tools, and full ownership of your website, you may want to consider looking for alternatives to Wix.
10 Best and Most Popular Wix Alternatives
If you’re looking for a website builder that’s not Wix, you have plenty of options. Here are the top 10 alternatives to Wix that you can consider:
1. WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular website builders out there. It’s an open-source software that allows you to create all types of websites. In fact, every fourth website is built on WordPress. It’s also the most powerful Wix alternative because professionals worldwide contribute daily by fixing bugs, reviewing documentation, etc.
With WordPress, you truly own your website. Because of that, you need to purchase a domain name and hosting before you start working with the platform. The comprehensive WordPress tutorials and lessons will help you with the rest.
WordPress has over 60,000 plugins and 10,000 themes, which gives you limitless ways to customize and enhance your site. WordPress plugins are add-ons that extend your website’s functionality. WordPress themes are templates created by professional designers — they define the look of your site.
Then, there are tools like SeedProd or Elementor that take the best of both worlds. Elementor allows you to build stunning WordPress websites in a visual editor, completely code-free. It reduces the need for other plugins, gives you an impressive variety of design tools, and offers built-in hosting.
Pricing: WordPress is a free alternative to Wix, but you’ll need to pay for premium themes or plugins, not to mention hosting and a domain name.
Recommended for: Anyone.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is a trendy and easy-to-use website builder that allows you to create tasteful responsive websites using professionally designed templates. You can also use third-party templates and design kits to make your Squarespace site stand out.
When editing, you can add any type of content, form, or button in one click. These are the main Squarespace features:
- Intuitive visual website builder
- Fully-managed cloud hosting
- Link-in-bio site builder
- Domain finder
- Basic analytics and SEO tools
- SSL security
- Email marketing tools
- Video Studio app
- Stock photo library
- Free online logo maker
When it comes to ecommerce, Squarespace offers shipping, pricing, and fulfillment automation along with multiple payment options and intuitive order management. That functionality can be further extended with third-party apps and connected services.
With Zapier, Squarespace connects to over 5,000 apps, which is still less than what WordPress has to offer. However, it’s possible to move from Squarespace to WordPress once you outgrow the platform.
Pricing: If you want to avoid the 3% transaction fee and get full access to the ecommerce suite, you’ll need the Commerce plan, which starts at $27 a month. You can save 25% by paying annually.
Recommended for: Creators, small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers, bloggers, and service providers.
3. Jimdo
Jimdo is a code-free website builder created with small-business owners in mind. With this platform, you can quickly create mobile-optimized websites and customize them to reflect your brand.
Jimdo is a cheaper Wix alternative with a set of familiar tools and features:
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- 100+ modern templates
- SEO tools
- Coding features for deeper customization
- Custom domains
- Online logo maker
- Personalized support
- Legal Text Generator for creating GDPR-compliant websites
Jimdo also has an inspiration gallery. In addition, Jimdo gives its users streamlined access to Facebook’s selling tools. You can automatically sync your Facebook catalog with your Jimdo store products. You’ll also be able to create shoppable posts and Stories on Instagram.
Pricing: Jimdo doesn’t charge transaction fees. The platform has a free plan. The cheapest plan with visitor statistics costs around $16 a month.
Recommended for: Small businesses, independent professionals, and bloggers.
4. Webnode
Webnode is a website builder used for creating responsive blogs, portfolios, event pages, and online stores. It has over 100 editable templates and an extensive knowledge base to help you get started.
Webnode has everything you need to build converting, pixel-perfect websites:
- Scalable hosting
- Website editor accessible from a smartphone
- GDPR-friendly form builder
- Easy backups
- SSL certificates
- Parallax scrolling and other visual effects
- Image and icon gallery
- Easy widget integration
- Unlimited number of pages
- Statistics tools
- Built-in SEO features
- Business email addresses
- Domain finder and anonymous domain registrations
- One-click website publishing
- Multilingual support team
With Webnode, you can sell memberships and offer various payment options. The platform lets you import products in bulk, add product variants, and offer discounts and
Which Is the Best Wix Alternative?
Now that you know your options, it’s time to choose the best Wix alternative for your website needs. Here are some options to consider:
- WordPress: If you want more flexibility and creative control over your website, WordPress is a great choice. It’s a powerful platform that allows you to customize your site to your heart’s content.
- Shopify: For delivering impeccable shopping experiences at scale, Shopify is a top contender. It’s a comprehensive ecommerce platform that can handle everything from product listings to payments.
- Squarespace: If you want to create stunning websites without extra effort, Squarespace is a great option. It offers a variety of beautiful templates and intuitive design tools.
- Square Online or Webnode: To make an online shop for free or test a new ecommerce idea, Square Online or Webnode are great choices. They offer free plans and trial periods so you can test them out before committing.
- WebFlow: If your goal is to deepen your design skills while sticking with code-free tools, WebFlow is a great option. It’s a powerful platform that allows you to create custom designs without any coding knowledge.
Overall, there are many great alternatives to Wix, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to consider your personal and commercial goals when choosing the best platform for your needs.
Can You Move to a Wix Alternative if You Already Have a Wix Website?
If you already have a Wix website but want to switch to a different hosting provider, unfortunately, you can’t transfer your existing Wix site. However, there are workarounds that can help you migrate your Wix site to a different platform.
One of the most popular Wix alternatives is WordPress. With WordPress, you can gain more control over your site and break away from stiff and generic templates. Migrating your Wix site to WordPress is a straightforward process that involves finding a WordPress hosting provider, buying a domain name (if you don’t have one yet), and using a migration service like WordHerd to handle the rest of the migration process.
Overall, while it may not be possible to transfer your existing Wix site, migrating to a different platform like WordPress can be a great way to take your website to the next level.
Summary
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some top free alternatives to Wix for building a website?
If you’re looking for a free alternative to Wix, there are several options available. Some of the most popular ones include WordPress, Weebly, and Jimdo. WordPress is a great choice if you’re looking for a highly customizable platform that offers a wide range of themes and plugins. Weebly is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, while Jimdo is a good option for those who want to create a website quickly and easily.
How does Squarespace compare to Wix in terms of features and ease of use?
Squarespace is another popular website builder that’s often compared to Wix. In terms of features, Squarespace offers a wide range of templates and customization options, but it may not be as user-friendly as Wix. On the other hand, Wix is known for its ease of use and drag-and-drop interface, but it may not offer as many advanced features as Squarespace.
Which website builders are considered better than Wix for business use?
When it comes to business use, there are several website builders that are considered better than Wix. Some of the top options include Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento. Shopify is a popular choice for e-commerce businesses, while BigCommerce is known for its robust features and scalability. Magento is a good option for larger businesses that need a highly customizable platform.
What are common criticisms or limitations associated with using Wix?
While Wix is a popular website builder, there are some common criticisms and limitations associated with using it. One of the main criticisms is that the platform may not be as customizable as some other options. Additionally, some users have reported issues with slow loading times and limited SEO capabilities.
Can you recommend any website builders that offer similar services to Wix at a lower cost?
If you’re looking for a website builder that offers similar services to Wix at a lower cost, there are several options available. Some of the most popular ones include Weebly, Jimdo, and WordPress. Weebly and Jimdo both offer free plans, while WordPress is a highly customizable platform that can be used for free with a self-hosted website.
What do users on Reddit suggest as the most reliable alternatives to Wix?
According to users on Reddit, some of the most reliable alternatives to Wix include WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify. WordPress is known for its flexibility and customization options, while Squarespace is a good option for those who want a more polished and professional-looking website. Shopify is a popular choice for e-commerce businesses that need a robust platform for selling products online.
