Wix is a well-known and highly regarded website builder, though that doesn’t mean it the only good site builder out there. On the contrary, there are dozens of great site builders that make it easy to build a business website, so to help make your decision easy, we’ve narrowed it down to the five best Wix alternatives, which include Squarespace, Weebly, GoDaddy, Shopify, and WordPress.
Tip: If you’re just starting out, then first get all the information you need to build your small business website.
Wix Alternatives Compared
Alternative | Best For |
|---|---|
Design-forward businesses and individuals looking for an easy, all-in-one site solution | |
Small businesses looking for a simple way to build an online store as an additional sales channel | |
Small businesses looking to take online appointment bookings and recurring payments | |
Small businesses looking to set up a dropshipping website | |
Web design-savvy businesses looking to build a highly custom site |
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Squarespace
Best for: Design-forward businesses and individuals looking for an easy, all-in-one site solution
Cost: Plans start at $12 per month
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Squarespace site editing interface
Squarespace is the top Wix alternative. It’s a good choice for nearly any business type of website use, from basic informational sites for brand awareness to online stores. Squarespace is more design-centric and though its site editor offers less design control, for many, this means sites appear more professional. Its plans are also more affordable and it allows users to change templates anytime, which makes it easy to overhaul a design without having to rebuild a site.
Pros:
- Easier to design a professional-looking site
- Change template anytime and all content remains intact
- Cheaper than Wix (especially on plans that accept online payments)
Cons:
- Less design freedom
- Squarespace’s online booking system isn’t as straightforward as Wix Bookings
- Wix search engine optimization (SEO) features are more user-friendly
Tip: Still on the fence between the two? Get a more detailed comparison of Wix vs Squarespace.
Weebly
Best for: Small businesses looking for a simple way to build an online store as an additional sales channel
Cost: Free; Professional plans start at $12 per month
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Weebly site editor
Weebly is a good Wix alternative for those who want an ultra-simple way of building an online store or membership website. Though its site editing interface isn’t a true drag-and-drop editor like the Wix editor, it does have some features that Wix doesn’t, such as the ability to change themes at any time without having to start from scratch (like you would with Wix). Granted, it comes with more ecommerce features, but its ecommerce plans are more expensive than Wix’s.
Pros:
- Simple, beginner-friendly site editor
- Easily create an online store or membership website
- Option to change templates without losing content
Cons:
- Ecommerce plans are more expensive than Wix’s
- Limited customization capabilities
- Templates aren’t as modern
Tip: Interested in learning more about Weebly? Check out this article that explains how to build a small business website using Weebly.
GoDaddy
Best for: Small businesses looking to take online appointment bookings and recurring payments
Cost: Plans start at $10 per month
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
GoDaddy website builder
GoDaddy is a top Wix competitor for those selling services online, such as a salon, consultancy, or fitness center. This is because, like Wix, users can easily create a website with zero coding that accepts online appointments through a booking system. What makes GoDaddy a good choice is that its online booking system offers advanced features, such as the ability to select a specific provider or a particular masseuse for a massage appointment.
Pros:
- Includes a robust online booking system
- Super-easy-to-use site editor
- Option to change your theme at any time
Cons:
- It’s not a true drag-and-drop site editor like Wix
- Plans do not come with a free domain name
- Its ecommerce plan costs more than the Wix ecommerce plan
Tip: Want to see how easy it is to build a GoDaddy website? See the step-by-step instructions on how to build a GoDaddy website.
Shopify
Best for: Small businesses looking to set up a dropshipping website
Cost: Free; Professional plans start at $29 per month
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Shopify site editor
Shopify is a good Wix alternative for those looking to start a dropshipping website. The reason being that while Wix integrates with a number of top dropshipping suppliers, it doesn’t compare to the number of suppliers and ecommerce integrations available with Shopify. One thing to note is that while Shopify is built specifically for selling online, its site editor is much more limiting than Wix’s, so it’s not as customizable.
Pros:
- Tons of built-in ecommerce features
- Widest array of dropshipping integrations
- Abandoned cart recovery comes standard
Cons:
- Super-limited design freedom
- Page builder app required to create well-designed pages
- More expensive than Wix’s entry-level online selling plan
Tip: Want to see what’s involved with building an online store through Shopify? Learn more about you can open a dropshipping store with Shopify.
WordPress
Best for: Design-savvy businesses that need a highly customizable website
Cost: WordPress is a free, open-source platform
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
WordPress editor using Elementor
WordPress is the most popular platform for building websites in the world, so it’s no surprise that it’s a Wix alternative. While Wix’s drag-and-drop editor is one of the most versatile editors for a site builder, it doesn’t compare to the endless customization capabilities of WordPress. Granted, WordPress will be more challenging to use compared to Wix, though it’s best for those who want a highly custom site and have some web design experience or the time to learn.
Pros:
- Complete web design freedom
- Better search engine optimization (SEO) tools
- Nearly endless third-party tools and integrations via plugins
Cons:
- It involves a much steeper learning curve
- Potential to be less expensive
- Requires more maintenance
Tip: Still debating between the two? Get the full breakdown on Wix vs WordPress.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best website builders?
The best site builders are those that make it easy and affordable for nearly anyone to build a professional-quality website. The overall best website builders in 2020 are Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy, Shopify, and WordPress (when used in conjunction with a page builder plugin such as Elementor). Figure out which one is best for you by reading more about the best website builders.
Do Wix plans come with a domain name?
Yes, annual Wix plans come with a domain name. However, many get confused thinking all Wix plans include a domain name and sign up for a monthly plan to find out that only annual plans come with one. If you want to use Wix, but don’t want to sign up for a long-term, annual plan, you can register for a domain name and connect it to your Wix site. Learn more about domain name registration.
Is there a free version of Wix?
Yes, Wix does offer a free plan. Granted, the free version is not sufficient for professional use because it displays Wix ads and does not allow you to connect your own domain name. It does, however, give users a free way to try out Wix to see if they like it without any time constraints, as with a short-term free trial. Learn more about how to build a Wix website.
Bottom Line
The best Wix alternatives provide businesses with quality solutions that enable nearly anyone to easily build and manage a professional website with little to no web development experience at an affordable price. These include Squarespace, Weebly, GoDaddy, Shopify, and WordPress. No matter what your unique website needs are, you’ll most likely find one of our alternatives to be a good choice for your small business website.
Julia MItchell
I think both Shopify and WordPress are probably the best alternatives to Wix, even though Wix have a great human customer service which is not a light head thing when you want to choose your company.
Amanda Norman
Hi Julia,
Thanks for visiting the site and sharing your thoughts!
Best wishes,
Mandy, Moderator