Explore The 5 Best Wix Alternatives
By Sam Nguyen
This post will delve into website-building platforms by exploring the five best Wix alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify, Squarespace, Square Online, GoDaddy, and WordPress are considered strong alternatives to Wix due to their diverse features, user-friendly interfaces, customizable templates, and robust e-commerce capabilities.
- Shopify is the premier Wix alternative, offering a comprehensive solution for e-commerce and general website creation.
Top 5 Wix Alternatives You Should Know
When seeking alternatives to Wix, these five options stand out as compelling: Shopify, Squarespace, Square Online, GoDaddy, and WordPress.
Shopify
Shopify is an exceptional option for individuals or businesses with long-term growth objectives. This is especially true for those who prioritize online sales and efficient inventory management, as Shopify provides a comprehensive array of powerful e-commerce resources.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- All-in-one e-commerce solution
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for effortless customization
- 150+ pre-designed themes for web creation
- Limitless bandwidth, products, and storage
- Integrated payment gateways and 100+ third-party options
- Inclusive Shopify POS across all plans
- Infinite dropshipping products
- 8,000+ apps on Shopify’s app store for enhanced functionality
- Recovery for abandoned carts
- Complimentary 10,000 monthly email marketing
- SEO optimization and blog integration
- Round-the-clock phone, live chat, and email support
Cons:
- No free plan
- Non-Shopify Payments transaction fees
- Extra charges apply to premium themes
Pricing
Shopify provides 5 subscription plans, 4 of which are tailored for establishing an ecommerce store, spanning from $39 to $2000+ per month. Choosing an annual subscription grants you a 25% upfront fee reduction. It’s important to note that these rates are applicable in the US, and variations might occur in different regions.
You can start with a three-day free trial and, after that, get an exclusive offer of just $1 per month for the first three months. This allows you to fully experience and evaluate Shopify’s features with a low upfront cost.
Web design
With its drag-and-drop interface, Shopify delivers an exceptionally user-friendly website construction experience, eliminating the need for coding skills.
Thanks to Shopify’s adaptable customization features, tailoring your website to mirror your brand identity becomes seamless. From selecting the perfect color palette to incorporating your logo and handpicking fonts, you wield the complete creative authority to craft a website that harmonizes flawlessly with your brand, presenting your distinct persona.
Furthermore, Shopify offers an extensive array of pre-designed themes, numbering over 150 in free and paid options, expediting website development.
Shopify’s unlimited content storage capacity nullifies storage concerns. You can manage extensive products or integrate high-resolution multimedia elements. It also guarantees that your website maintains a seamless and optimized display on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, bringing effortless navigation and engagement.
Features
Shopify allows you to use a free domain, transfer your existing domain name, or purchase a new one directly through the platform. This integrated approach eliminates the need for third-party domain providers and simplifies the setup process.
For businesses or individuals eyeing sustainable growth, Shopify mainly caters to them focused on online sales. The platform empowers you to efficiently manage inventory, ensuring that your product offerings remain organized and up-to-date.
With an expansive library of over 8,000 apps, Shopify facilitates seamless integrations to enhance your store’s functionalities. These apps cover a broad spectrum, from marketing and analytics to shipping and customer support, equip users to tailor their store to their unique needs and scale as they expand.
Shopify Shipping provides discounted shipping rates of up to 88%, streamlined label printing, and reliable tracking options. This feature significantly simplifies the logistical complexities associated with shipping, contributing to a smoother customer experience and ultimately bolstering sales.
The Shopify Point of Sale (POS) system bridges the gap between physical and online sales, while direct selling on platforms like Facebook and Instagram expands your reach. The platform also simplifies dropshipping by working with well-known suppliers like SaleHoo, AliExpress, and Alibaba. This means you can start a business without dealing with inventory management challenges.
Its built-in SEO tools empower your store to gain visibility in search engine results. This ensures your online store is well-optimized for search engines, driving organic traffic and increasing discoverability. Additionally, Shopify’s mobile-friendly design enhances user experience across various devices, making shopping on your store convenient and engaging.
Customer support
Shopify provides a comprehensive support system that includes 24/7 phone and live chat aid, assistance through social media, a community forum, email support, and access to advanced specialist help in various languages.
Shopify is best for
Shopify is accessible to everyone, whether you’re a novice seller or a significant enterprise. All that’s required is an idea, a product to offer, and an internet connection – enabling you to establish an online store swiftly.
Squarespace
Squarespace stands out as a top choice among Wix alternatives if you seek a perfect blend of style and substance at a reasonable price.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Affordable plans
- Fee-free transactions for specific plans
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for ease of use
- Wide selection of 100+ professional templates
- Endless bandwidth
- 30-minute video storage
- SEO optimization and integrated blog pages
Cons:
- No in-house gateways, under 10 third-party payment providers
- Limited US payment acceptance for POS
- Only 2 dropshipping options
- Limited inventory management
- Just 32 extensions
Pricing
Squarespace is one of the cheaper Wix alternatives. tailors its pricing plans to suit business and e-commerce needs, offering packages from $23 to $65 per month.
Squarespace has a standard 14-day trial period for platform testing. Additionally, users opting for annual subscription payments can enjoy 24% to 30% discounts.
Web design
Squarespace’s web design capabilities are centered around simplicity and accessibility. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, creating a stunning website becomes a breeze, and there’s no need for any coding knowledge.
The platform offers a wide range of beautifully designed themes that automatically adjust to various screen sizes, ensuring a responsive and seamless browsing experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
Features
Squarespace allows businesses to establish a distinct online presence through free custom domains. This empowers businesses to create a professional and branded image, heightening credibility and brand recognition.
Squarespace’s Ecommerce includes advanced analytics, providing insights into behavior, sales, and marketing. Comprehensive data and reports empower informed decisions, optimizing strategies for growth.
The higher-tier plan supports unlimited products, which is ideal for scaling businesses to showcase and sell extensive inventory seamlessly.
Squarespace also excels with its abandoned cart recovery in the higher-priced plan, sending reminders to customers who left their carts. This boosts conversions, recovering sales, and retaining customers. Additionally, it enhances SEO through customized meta tags, titles, and descriptions, elevating visibility and organic traffic. This strategy improves search engine rankings, expanding reach to a broader audience.
Squarespace’s versatility extends to app integration and shipping. The platform harmoniously integrates with various third-party applications, enriching the functionality of your website.
Customer support
Users can reach out to Squarespace’s dedicated customer support team through email, available 24/7,
For those seeking real-time support, live chat is available during business hours, offering instant help for pressing inquiries.
Squarespace is best for
- Small businesses with a focus on both style and substance in their online presence
- Artists, photographers, designers, writers, and other creative professionals showcasing portfolios and work.
- Restaurants and cafes.
- Personal and business blogs.
- Local establishments such as fitness studios, beauty salons, and boutique stores.
Square Online
Ranked third among Wix alternatives, Square Online sets itself apart by providing a free plan that allows users to sell products without requiring an upgrade to a paid subscription.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Reasonable price
- Free plan available
- Easy-to-use dashboard
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Inbuilt marketing features supporting email marketing and paid advertisements
- Built-in payment gateway
- Product sales and customer journey tracking
- Built-in marketing features
- Seamlessly sync with Square POS
Cons:
- Limited scope for customization
- The small learning curve for platform beginners
Pricing
Square Online presents 3 plans, including a free plan, albeit with ads, and two paid plans: Plus and Premium. The Plus plan is priced at $29 per month, while the Premium option is $79 per month.
Web design
Square Online’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows users to easily create and customize their websites without coding skills.
Square Online paid plans allow users to secure custom domains, enabling the creation of distinct web addresses harmonizing with their brand essence. They also extend advanced site customization choices, catering to those desiring comprehensive authority over their website’s aesthetics. Shape your site to match your business vision, fostering an immersive and captivating user journey.
Features
Square Online’s comprehensive features are tailored to elevate and streamline your online business. Manage your inventory seamlessly with powerful tools for inventory management and order processing.
Square Online assures secure and smooth transactions through integrated and in-house payment gateways, delivering a hassle-free checkout experience. Diverse payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, cater to varied customer preferences.
Expand your business’s horizons by managing multiple sites and locations from a centralized dashboard. With an unlimited product capacity, you can showcase your complete product catalog, granting customers a vast range.
To cater to a global audience, Square Online offers multi-currency support, while shipping rate discounts aid in cost-saving by negotiating favorable rates with shipping carriers. This is particularly beneficial for businesses dealing with substantial shipping volumes.
Square Online’s Abandoned Cart Recovery feature is a potent tool to recoup potentially lost sales. Automated targeted follow-up emails are dispatched to customers who abandoned their carts, encouraging them to finalize their purchases, thereby elevating conversion rates.
The integration of Square Online with a robust POS system ensures seamless synchronization between your online and in-store operations. This integration streamlines inventory management, sales tracking, and customer data, creating a cohesive and efficient retail experience.
Customer support
Square Online ensures thorough customer support options available during business hours, offering users phone and email assistance from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST Monday – Friday. The highest-price plan even provides 24/7 phone support, ensuring around-the-clock expert assistance to maintain uninterrupted operations.
Square Online is best for
- Restaurants and food-related enterprises
- Artisans and craftsmen
- Home and personal care services
- Freelancers and consultants
- Nonprofit organizations
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is an excellent alternative to Wix, ideal for those pursuing a quick and smooth launch for their online endeavors.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Rapid and effortless website creation solution.
- Automatic content reformatting when changing themes.
- Among the most user-friendly builders.
- Cost-effective pricing options in comparison to rivals.
Cons:
- Restricted creative liberty present
- Constrained block elements.
- Depth lacking in certain features.
- Site visual appeal potential is lower than competing builders.
Pricing
The platform offers four pricing tiers, starting from $9.99 to $29.99 per month, and if you choose the yearly plan, you can save up to 33%.
Web design
GoDaddy’s website functionalities encompass a robust builder, empowering users to craft stunning and polished websites effortlessly. Equipped with an intuitive interface and an extensive selection of customizable templates, establishing your online footprint has never been simpler.
Another important feature is the ability to connect your own custom domain to your website. This ensures that your site reflects your unique brand identity, making creating a strong and memorable online presence easier.
Furthermore, GoDaddy provides responsive designs, ensuring impeccable aesthetics and flawless functionality across diverse devices.
Features
GoDaddy’s Ecommerce features offer a holistic solution for small businesses, accommodating product catalogs ranging from 5,000 to unlimited, depending on the chosen plan. This scalability allows businesses to expand their offerings as they progress seamlessly.
The auto inventory and product synchronization across diverse sales channels are exceptional attributes that empower businesses to effortlessly oversee their inventory and product listings across multiple platforms, saving valuable time and eradicating stock discrepancies.
GoDaddy goes the extra mile by offering discounted shipping options, mainly available in higher-tier plans. Additionally, businesses can seamlessly tap into many online marketplaces and social selling platforms like Amazon, Etsy, Google, Instagram, and Facebook. This expansion broadens their reach and potential customer base, enhancing market presence.
Moreover, GoDaddy equips businesses with a reliable POS system, enabling smooth in-store and on-the-go transaction processing. Its Email marketing feature facilitates sending from 100 to an impressive 100,000 emails per month, contingent on the chosen plan. It fosters customer engagement and nurtures relationships through impactful email campaigns.
Customer support
GoDaddy provides chat and email support, which certain users perceive as a constraint in contrast to other website builders offering more comprehensive customer assistance alternatives.
GoDaddy best suits
- Freelancers and individual entrepreneurs
- Creative experts
- Small-scale retailers
- Personal blogs and websites
- Real estate agents
WordPress
WordPress is a widely used open-source content management system for creating and managing websites and blogs.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The customizability of website design
- Complete access to its codes
- Over 59,000 plugins Infinite possibilities for building a website
- Open-source platform with a vast community of developers and users
- User-friendly CMS
- SEO optimization
Cons:
- A substantial learning curve requirement for the extensive customization options.
- Must have coding knowledge
- Familiar with HTML/CSS/PHP requirements
- Limited customer support
Pricing
WordPress offers 6 pricing plans with prices starting from $0 to $70 per month (if paid monthly) or $0 to $45 per month (if paid annually). For enterprises, there’s the VIP package starting at $25,000 yearly. It is one of the Wix alternatives that is free and considered cost-effective since even the Free plan provides numerous benefits.
Web design
WordPress.org is a self-hosted, open-source CMS representing the foremost website design platform. It offers full autonomy over your site’s look and function without direct charges.
The platform does provide simple templates in a limited number of industries. You might need to invest more effort to personalize them. The advantage of WordPress is that you can switch to different templates in the future if you want to.
Despite its prominence, WordPress might present complexities for the average user, potentially requiring coding skills or the financial capability to engage a skilled developer.
Features
The intuitive WordPress content management system allows you to log in from any modern browser and make changes without requiring programming knowledge.
It embraces unlimited possibilities with WordPress’s unrestricted approach. You can seamlessly incorporate images, text, files, links, and embedded media into content areas on your pages with no limitations on the number of pages, posts, or products you can add.
You can leverage the built-in potential for news and blog posting, effortlessly adding, editing, or removing content as required. Ongoing news article additions directly from your browser are facilitated.
Customer support
Paid plan users are granted complimentary email and essential live chat support, while those on the free plan can utilize support documentation and forums for assistance.
WordPress is best for
- Individuals and bloggers looking to create and manage their blogs
- Small ecommerce businesses
- Nonprofit organization
Final Thoughts
In the world of website builders, there’s a spectrum of choices regarding Wix alternatives, each with unique features. Among these, Shopify emerges as the premier option, combining robust e-commerce capabilities with seamless design, making it the ultimate choice for those seeking the best Wix alternative.
FAQs
- Set Up a Shopify Account: If you haven’t already, sign up for a Shopify account.
- Backup Your Wix Content: Before making any changes, it’s a good idea to back up all your Wix website content, including images, text, product details, and other relevant information.
- Choose a Shopify Theme: Select a Shopify theme that closely matches the design and layout of your Wix website. Shopify offers a variety of themes to choose from.
- Transfer Content: Manually transfer your content from your Wix website to Shopify. This includes copying and pasting text, uploading images, and recreating your pages on Shopify.
- Product Migration: In Shopify, set up your products, collections, and categories. This might involve re-entering product details, images, pricing, and descriptions.
- Recreate Design Elements: Customize your chosen Shopify theme to replicate your Wix website’s design elements and layout. This might involve adjusting colors, fonts, header/footer styles, etc.
- Configure Settings: Set up your payment gateways, shipping options, tax settings, and any other configurations needed to match your Wix settings.
- Update Links and URLs: Ensure that any internal and external links are correctly updated to reflect your new Shopify website.
- Testing: Thoroughly test your Shopify website to make sure all links are working, products are displayed correctly, and the overall user experience is smooth.
- Launch: Once you’re satisfied with the migration and everything is in place, you can officially launch your new Shopify website.
Moreover, Wix’s restrictions on free access to tracking and analytics tools can hinder your ability to monitor website performance effectively. Migrating data from Wix is a cumbersome process involving manual transfers and complex steps that can discourage users from switching platforms.
Additionally, Wix’s SEO features are limited compared to other website builders like WordPress or Shopify, impacting your website’s visibility in search engines. Hidden fees can also be a concern, as third-party apps and integrations can significantly increase costs.
However, while Shopify can be adapted for these purposes, its specialization in e-commerce might mean that other platforms could offer more tailored features for specific website types. Therefore, while Shopify is versatile, choosing it for non-e-commerce websites should be based on carefully considering your website’s unique requirements.
- Shopify: Customization might be less flexible than Wix, and basic plans have transaction fees.
- WordPress (self-hosted): More complex to set up and manage, requiring hosting and potential compatibility issues.
- Squarespace: Templates are beautifully designed, but customization options and advanced e-commerce features could be limited.
- Square Online: Good integration with Square services, but e-commerce features might not be as comprehensive as specialized platforms.
- GoDaddy: Customization might not match Wix’s depth, and advanced features could require higher plans. Its hosting focus might result in fewer specialized website builder features compared to platforms like Wix or Shopify.
