Top 5 Website Builder Applications

WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and Webflow?

Choosing the right platform to build your website can feel a bit like navigating a maze. There are so many options out there, each boasting its unique features, quirks, and benefits. But if you’ve narrowed your search down to WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and Webflow, you’re on the right track! These are among the most popular website builders available today, and for good reason. However, they each have their own advantages, disadvantages, and ideal use cases.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through a comparison of these five heavy-hitters in the website-building world, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each one. By the end of it, you’ll be able to confidently choose the one that’s best for your project.

WordPress

WordPress is the big name in website creation, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. When people talk about WordPress, they’re often referring to the self-hosted version found at WordPress.org, but it’s worth noting there’s also WordPress.com, which is a simpler, hosted version with fewer features.

Advantages of WordPress

1. Unlimited Customisation: WordPress is incredibly flexible, thanks to its open-source nature. This means you can tweak almost every element of your website, given you have the right know-how or a great developer.
2. Thousands of Themes and Plugins: There are over 55,000 plugins available for WordPress, which can help you add just about any feature you can dream up—from SEO tools to eCommerce capabilities. If you want it, there’s probably a plugin for it. Similarly, there are thousands of themes, both free and premium, to help you get started.
3. Great for SEO: WordPress is an SEO-friendly platform right out of the box. Plugins like Yoast SEO and RankMath make optimising your content a breeze, giving you a head start on climbing Google’s rankings.
4. Full Ownership: When you use the self-hosted version of WordPress, you truly own your website. You have complete control over your content, your domain, and your site’s files.
5. Scalable: WordPress is scalable, meaning it can grow as your business grows. Whether you’re running a personal blog or a large corporate site, WordPress can handle it.

Disadvantages of WordPress

1. Steeper Learning Curve: Unlike some drag-and-drop builders, WordPress isn’t a plug-and-play platform. Beginners may find it overwhelming, especially when setting up hosting, managing backups, and handling updates.
2. Security Risks: Since WordPress is open-source and widely used, it can be a target for hackers. It’s essential to stay on top of security updates and consider using a security plugin.
3. Maintenance: You’ll need to handle the hosting, backups, updates, and overall upkeep yourself. This can be a burden for non-tech-savvy users unless you hire help.
4. Can Be Expensive: While WordPress itself is free, the costs can add up when you factor in hosting, premium plugins, themes, and development help.

Ask Us About Your Next WordPress Design

Wix

Wix is one of the simplest website builders on the market, famous for its drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create a professional-looking site without any coding knowledge. You can check it out at Wix.com.

Advantages of Wix

1. Easy to Use: Wix is one of the most beginner-friendly platforms out there. You can drag and drop elements like text boxes, images, and buttons directly onto your web page, making it easy to design a site exactly how you want it.
2. No Coding Required: You don’t need to touch a line of code to build a great-looking website with Wix. Everything is done visually.
3. Wide Range of Templates: Wix offers hundreds of templates to choose from, so you can start with a pre-designed website and just add your content.
4. App Market: Wix has an app market where you can add extra functionality to your website, like chatbots, booking systems, and analytics tools.
5. All-in-One Solution: Wix takes care of hosting, domain registration, and security for you, so you don’t need to worry about the technical stuff.

Disadvantages of Wix

1. Limited Flexibility: Once you pick a template on Wix, you can’t change it. If you decide later that you want a different look, you’ll have to rebuild your site from scratch.
2. Not as SEO-Friendly: While Wix has improved its SEO capabilities, it still doesn’t offer the same level of control and flexibility as WordPress does when it comes to optimising for search engines.
3. Less Control: With Wix, you don’t have the same level of ownership over your site that you do with WordPress. If you ever want to switch to a different platform, you’ll have to rebuild your site from scratch, as there’s no easy way to migrate.
4. App Costs Can Add Up: While Wix’s basic plans are affordable, the costs can start to rise if you need to add several paid apps to your site.

Ask Us About Your Next Wix Design

Squarespace

Squarespace is known for its sleek, minimalist designs and ease of use, making it a popular choice for creatives and small business owners. You can explore its offerings at Squarespace.com.

Advantages of Squarespace

1. Beautiful Design Templates: Squarespace is renowned for its stunning templates. These are perfect for showcasing visual content like portfolios, photography, or design work.
2. Ease of Use: Like Wix, Squarespace uses a drag-and-drop builder, making it easy to create and customise pages without needing any coding knowledge.
3. All-in-One Platform: Squarespace provides hosting, a content management system (CMS), and even eCommerce tools under one roof. You don’t need to worry about handling these separately.
4. Responsive Designs: Every Squarespace template is responsive, meaning it will automatically adjust to look great on mobile devices, which is crucial for modern web users.
5. Solid Customer Support: Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support, which can be a huge help for non-technical users.

Disadvantages of Squarespace

1. Limited Customisation: While Squarespace offers excellent templates, the customisation options are somewhat limited compared to platforms like WordPress. If you want to step outside of what the templates offer, you may find it restrictive.
2. Pricey: Squarespace is on the pricier side compared to some other platforms, especially when you factor in eCommerce capabilities.
3. Less Scalable: Squarespace is great for small to medium-sized websites, but if your business grows and you need more advanced functionality, you may outgrow it.
4. No Free Plan: Unlike Wix and WordPress, Squarespace doesn’t offer a free plan. You’ll need to commit to a paid plan after your 14-day free trial.

Ask Us About Your Next Squarespace Design

Shopify

Shopify is the go-to platform for eCommerce, helping users set up online stores quickly and easily. It’s a hosted solution, which means Shopify handles the technical side of things for you. Find out more at Shopify.com.

Advantages of Shopify

1. Designed for eCommerce: Shopify is built specifically for selling online, and it shows. It offers a range of powerful eCommerce tools, including product management, inventory tracking, and payment gateways.
2. No Technical Headaches: Shopify handles all of the hosting, security, and updates for you, so you can focus on running your store.
3. Built-in Payment System: Shopify Payments allows you to accept credit card payments without needing to integrate a third-party payment processor.
4. Mobile-Optimised: All Shopify themes are mobile responsive, which is critical for eCommerce since so many shoppers browse and buy on their phones.
5. Scalability: Shopify can grow with your business. Whether you’re just starting with a few products or running a massive store with thousands of SKUs, Shopify can handle it.

Disadvantages of Shopify

1. Transaction Fees: If you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee.
2. Customisation is Limited: Shopify is a bit more rigid when it comes to customising the design of your site compared to open-source platforms like WordPress.
3. Costs Add Up: Shopify’s plans start at a reasonable rate, but they can become expensive if you need advanced features or add-ons from the app store.
4. Not Great for Non-Ecommerce Sites: If you’re not selling products online, Shopify probably isn’t the best option for you. Its features are heavily geared toward eCommerce.

Ask Us About Your Next Shopify Design

Webflow

Webflow is an advanced website builder aimed at designers and developers who want full control over their site’s design without needing to code. Webflow offers more flexibility and complexity than Wix or Squarespace but is more user-friendly than WordPress. Check it out at Webflow.com.

Advantages of Webflow

1. Complete Design Control: Webflow gives you pixel-perfect control over your site’s design, allowing you to build custom layouts and animations without needing to know code.
2. Visual Coding: While Webflow is more complex than Wix or Squarespace, it still uses a visual interface to build sites. You’re designing the site visually, but Webflow generates clean HTML and CSS in the background.
3. No Plugins Required: Unlike WordPress, where you may need a slew of plugins to add functionality, Webflow has many advanced features built into the platform.
4. Responsive Designs: All Webflow designs are responsive by default, so your site will look great on any device.
5. CMS Capabilities: Webflow includes a content management system, making it a viable option for bloggers or content-heavy sites.

Disadvantages of Webflow

1. Steeper Learning Curve: Webflow isn’t as intuitive as platforms like Wix or Squarespace. It’s aimed more at designers and developers, so there’s a learning curve if you’re new to web design.
2. Pricey: Webflow’s pricing can be steep, especially if you’re building multiple sites or need advanced features like eCommerce or CMS.
3. Hosting is Tied to Webflow: Unlike WordPress, you can’t move your Webflow site to another hosting provider. You’re tied to Webflow’s hosting unless you export your code and rebuild elsewhere.
4. Not Ideal for Beginners: If you’re a beginner, you might find Webflow too complex and overwhelming compared to other drag-and-drop builders.

Ask Us About Your Next Webflow Design

Conclusion: Which Platform is Best for You?

• WordPress is the best choice for those who need maximum customisation and control, especially for large websites or blogs.
• Wix is great for beginners who want an easy, no-code solution to get a simple website up and running quickly.
• Squarespace shines for creatives who value beautiful design and ease of use.
• Shopify is the go-to if you’re looking to run an eCommerce store.
• Webflow is perfect for designers and developers who want full control over their site’s look and feel without writing code.

Choosing the right platform ultimately comes down to your specific needs, budget, and technical expertise. Hopefully, this guide has made the decision process a little easier! If you’re still unsure, feel free to reach out, and we can help you find the perfect fit.

Let us know in the comments which platform you’re leaning towards, or if you’ve had any personal experiences with these website builders!

Happy website building!