WordPress is an open source content management system (CMS) that has been available since 2003.
WordPress is primarily used as a drag and drop website builder and blogging platform but also offers commercial capabilities that more and more companies are gravitating towards.
Thanks to WordPress’s ease to use, open source (free!) nature and incredible versatility, the platform has catapulted itself to almost immeasurable levels of popularity.
There is estimated to be around 60 million websites that are built on the WordPress platform, attracting over 400 million people every month!
One of WordPress’s most innovative features is its “Plugins” setup. WordPress developers and users have access to over 50,000 free plugins that add all sorts of functionality and features to their websites.
Because of this, nearly every WordPress site is completely unique and website builders have an amazing level of freedom to craft exactly what they need.
Why Look For an Alternative Website Builder?
With WordPress being such a powerful and accessible website builder, why would you want to use another platform?
Well, even though WordPress is capable across many different website types, it isn’t always the very best option.
There are quite a few extra costs that come into play when you use WordPress to build a professional website. You’ll typically have to purchase a domain name and subscribe to a web hosting provider.
Some of WordPress’s advanced features and plugins also need to be paid for, unlike some other web design platforms.
Finally, you might just not enjoy the WordPress platform. Although many people find WordPress relatively easy to use, it’s definitely not the simplest CMS out there.
With all this being said, let’s dive into some of our absolute favourite WordPress alternatives.
DIY Website Builders
It’s fair to say that WordPress itself falls into this category, so if we’re looking for a great WordPress alternative then it’s important to find something that’s just as powerful and has the same all around functionality.
Wix
Wix is an extremely popular website builder that has attracted millions of users since its release in 2006.
It’s free to use nature has brought it into direct competition with WordPress and the debate over which one is best continues to rage on.
Even though Wix and WordPress are quite similar, they are also designed and targeted towards different goals and websites.
Where WordPress might offer users the freedom to adjust every part of their site, Wix takes a more structured approach that aims to make website creation as easy and intuitive as possible.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t craft a unique website with Wix though. The platform is packed with useful features and design options that allow users to transform their website into something that is highly functional and suitable for customers or browsers.
Key features
Wix is built around an interesting “templates” idea, which lets users choose a base design and then add whatever they need on top of it.
There are over 800 free templates available and more can be accessed if you’re willing to pay for a premium design.
Once you have a template set up, then you can add a range of “apps” to your site to improve its functionality.
Apps can do anything from implementing a Live Chat feature to transforming your site into an eCommerce store.
There are around 200 apps available, some are free but others may require a subscription or one-off payment to use.
Wix also provides users with a free domain, meaning they can get their own website on the internet without any extra charges.
However, using this free version of Wix means that adverts will be placed on your website which you can’t control.
If you’re going to be using your website professionally, then it’s likely that you’ll want to upgrade to a paid plan to remove the ads.
Additionally, upgrading will mean you can change to a custom domain name, which is important if you want web users to be able to find you easily.
One of Wix’s biggest attractions is how easy it is to use. You’ll struggle to find a platform that is more simple and intuitive than Wix’s own drag and drop editor set up.
Within minutes users can build a website that is packed with functionality and ready for customers to browse.
Pros:
- Incredibly intuitive and easy to use
- Decent selection of templates and apps
- Can set up a site for free if you don’t care about adverts
Cons:
- Using premium apps and templates can incur extra costs
- Not as much creative freedom as WordPress and other platforms
Who should use Wix?
If you like the sound of WordPress but want something a little bit easier to use, then Wix is definitely an option to consider.
The choice of templates and apps means you’ll have loads of customisation options and you’ll also be able to set up a site for free if you want to save some cash.
That said, with Wix it’s always worth remembering that premium templates and apps, as well as the removal of ads will add some extra costs.
Even with this taken into account, Wix is still one of the best WordPress alternatives for anyone requiring a do-it-all website builder.
Squarespace
Another great all around web development tool is Squarespace. Squarespace has burst onto the scene over recent years following huge marketing campaigns and promotional events.
Squarespace takes a similar approach to Wix when it comes to website building – clean, sleek website templates, intuitive functionality and a very modern aesthetic.
The Squarespace website itself is a great example of the style you can expect to recreate when you build your own site.
Squarespace also allows users to build different kinds of websites including blogging platforms, eCommerce sites and portfolio pages.
Whatever you need a website for, you can almost guarantee that Squarespace will be able to provide the tools that you need.
Key features
You can build a custom website for free on Squarespace by using their 14-day trial.
This trial period allows you to see whether or not the platform is going to work for you and gives you time to really understand the potential that your Squarespace site is going to offer.
After the trial period ends, you’ll have to purchase one of the monthly subscription plans to keep your site up and running.
The cheapest of these is called the “Personal” plan, but you’ll need one of the more expensive plans if you want to integrate eCommerce capabilities.
On the plus side, building eCommerce stores on Squarespace is an almost seamless experience.
In fact, we’d probably go as far to say that Squarespace offers the easiest way to sell products online and does so in an attractive and professional quality manner.
The platform has a number of payment options built in and adding products to your store is a very simple process.
Squarespace’s template range and customisation options are excellent. Simple drag and drop interface mechanics allow users to insert complex functionality with the click of a mouse.
It’s also really easy to make a website look great on Squarespace and you’ll never have any trouble with mismatched fonts, image insertion or text placement.
Another important aspect of a business website is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Squarespace has a range of SEO features built in to help improve the website’s ranking.
Impressively, site owners can add SEO components to individual products in their eCommerce stores. These advanced marketing tools are likely to attract customers and generate more sales.
Pros:
- Easily craft sleek and attractive websites
- One of the best eCommerce integrations we’ve seen
- Complex marketing tools made easy
Cons:
- No option for a free plan after the 14-day trial
- Difficult to delve into your website’s code if you wanted to
Who should use Squarespace?
Squarespace has clearly been designed with the modern professional in mind.
For those looking to create a website that is attractive, powerful and filled with innovative features, Squarespace is going to be an excellent option that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.
Even though it’s not a free website builder, the subscriptions are reasonably priced, especially if you’re looking to create an online business or store.
Weebly
Our final recommendation in the “do-it-all” website builder section is Weebly. Weebly is another drag-and-drop website builder that has clearly been designed with ease-of-use as one of the main concerns.
Building a website with Weebly is a great experience that would be perfect for beginners.
Weebly is mainly geared towards small business and portfolio websites. It has all the tools you’ll need to build a business website or online store, but the platform might struggle to accommodate very large, high traffic creating professional websites quickly.
Because of this, we’re going to focus on what Weebly is best at – small and bespoke business websites.
Key features
Just like Wix and Squarespace, Weebly websites are built around customisable templates. The selection of themes that Weebly offers all look great, but are also easy to use and understand.
A cool feature of Weebly is that you can switch between templates, even after you’ve added content to your website. This is a great way to test out different themes and find out which works best.
Even though Weebly purposefully keeps the customisation options quite simple for their users, you do have the opportunity to make more drastic adjustments by delving into the Code Editor.
However, it’s likely that anyone looking for a drag and drop site builder won’t have an in-depth understanding of coding and the vast majority of users will never make use of this feature.
Weebly users can add an impressive range of features to their websites using the built-in App Store.
In fact, Weebly has one of the most extensive app selections around – if there’s a function you want to add to your pages, you can almost guarantee that there’ll be a Weebly app to get the job done.
Weebly is also amongst the most affordable website builders and even offers a free plan that includes a free domain.
Of course, there are paid options that provide more flexibility, allowing users to dictate a custom domain name, as well as add eCommerce capabilities.
Finally, there are some nice SEO features built into every Weebly website to give your pages a gentle boost.
The Weebly help centre also provides a load of helpful advice for anyone looking to take their SEO a step further.
Pros:
- An extremely accessible and affordable website builder
- Impressive App Store
- Integrate SEO features without any prior knowledge
Cons:
- If you don’t know how to code, then the customisation options can feel limited
- Templates aren’t as sleek as something like Squarespace
Who should use Weebly?
If you’ve found WordPress alternatives such as Wix and Squarespace attractive, but are put off by their price tags, then Weebly is definitely something to try.
Weebly also offers options to delve into the code that underpins the website, which you can’t really do with Wix or Squarespace.
Blogging Platforms
WordPress is one of the most widely used blogging platforms in the world. However, many people find the service to be quite confusing for blogging, which has led them to search for an alternative to WordPress.
Luckily for us, there are plenty of WordPress competitors out there for us to experiment with.
Medium
Medium has a user-friendly design that has attracted many writers to the platform over recent years.
Medium revolves around its very intuitive editor. Users can easily hop onto Medium, write their latest blog post and get it uploaded without any stress whatsoever.
Medium also has a “built-in audience” who you can target your posts towards. People specifically head to Medium to read popular content and posts from people who they follow.
This is quite a stark difference from WordPress, where it’s down to you to get the word of your blog out and attract readers.
Key features
Medium is a blogger’s paradise. The editor is kept as clean as possible to reduce distractions and it’s incredibly easy to engross yourself in your work and get your words down on paper.
Despite the editor’s simplicity, you’re still able to manipulate your text in a variety of ways to add character to your pages.
The platform also has integrated social media tools to help bloggers share their work far and wide.
When this is combined with Medium’s own browsing community, it’s clear to see that using Medium is one of the best ways to reach a large audience.
The trade-off for this easy promotion is that users aren’t given full ownership and control of their websites.
For the most part, you’re not really able to alter how your site looks and it’s quite difficult to make your blog stand out from others on Medium.
It’s best to think of Medium as a place to publish your work, rather than a place to build a personal website.
Pros:
- Powerful and distraction free blogging tools
- Access to Medium’s “built-in audience”
Cons:
- Very limited site customisation options
- No way to directly monetise your content
Who should use Medium?
Medium is designed for people who love the thrill of writing and are not really bothered about the business side of things.
If this is you, then Medium is going to be a compelling option – you can instantly share your posts to socials and it’s likely that your posts are going to be enjoyed by the Medium community itself.
As long as you recognise the limitations of this publishing platform and understand what it is designed to do, then we’d definitely recommend Medium as one of the best blogging alternatives to WordPress.
Blogger
Blogger is currently the second most widely used blogging platform behind WordPress and many WordPress users have made the switch to Blogger thanks to its writer specific tools and features.
Like Medium, it’s best to consider Blogger as a simple publishing tool, rather than a complete CMS like WordPress.
Of course, WordPress is going to be a much more versatile choice, but if you just want to get your work out there without having to learn anything complicated, Blogger might be for you.
Blogger offers a decent amount of website customisation options, which is an area Medium lacked in.
It’s also easier to monetise your posts through Blogger than Medium, which can be a big advantage for a lot of people.
Key features
When you sign up to Blogger’s free service, you’ll be given a domain and free hosting.
If you want a more personalised you can look for a third party web hoster, but the fact that you can do everything for free is a big plus for Blogger.
This is especially true when compared to WordPress, where costs can quickly rack up without much warning.
Blogger gives users a limited set of templates to build their websites around. Even though the templates are quite basic, they all look fine and it’s nice to have a bit of creative freedom to make your site look unique.
You can also add gadgets to your Blogger site to improve the experience for readers. Gadgets can add functionality such as a contact form, advertising and subscription links.
Again, the features you can add are fairly simple, but when you compare what’s on offer to Medium, it becomes clear that Blogger actually has a reasonable amount of design options to choose from.
Blogger is actually owned and operated by Google. As a result, website security is completely taken care of and there’s little reason to worry about losing any sensitive information when you use the platform. This also means that some of Google’s cool technologies are automatically integrated into your site.
Having said that, since Google provides Blogger for free, the company doesn’t offer a good support network for Blogger users.
If you have a problem with your Blogger site, then it can be difficult to find a solution and you’ll usually have to rely on external guides to fix it.
Pros:
- Simple, no-nonsense WordPress alternative for blogging
- More customisation options than Medium
- Completely free to use
Cons:
- No custom domain option without using a third party
- Limited support
Who should use Blogger?
Blogger is a great choice if you’re looking for a purpose built blogging tool with a reasonable level of customisation options included.
It’s not quite as easy to use as a platform like Medium and support is limited. However, it’s popularity speaks for itself and we’ve got no problem recommending Blogger as a solid WordPress alternative.
Content Management Systems
A CMS is simply a piece of software that allows users to create and manage content on a website without needing any complicated coding skills.
Not every website builder is a CMS, but there are some excellent WordPress alternatives available that do have this capability. Here are two of our favourites:
Ghost
Ghost is quickly becoming one of the most popular WordPress alternatives on the market.
This is mainly down to its philosophy of keeping everything as simple and straightforward as possible but still offering opportunities for keen coders to get creative.
Ghost takes a pure approach to content management and describes itself as “just a blogging platform”.
Many people see Ghost as filling the space that WordPress used to occupy, before that platform was flooded with loads of additional features.
Key features
With Ghost, all the blogging is done via Markdown. Markdown is basically a simpler version of HTML, but you’ll still need a decent understanding of how it works before you can start writing.
Once you’re competent with Markdown, you can create content very quickly.
When you use WordPress, you’ll often find yourself cycling through the “Blocks” and “Plugins” if you want to add images and certain text.
Markdown allows you to manipulate text with ease and without clicking away from your workspace.
A big advantage of Ghost over WordPress is the ease of sharing posts.
Ghost has integrated a selection of social media features that let users quickly spread the word about their latest content.
WordPress users typically have to install third party plugins to make this happen.
Ghost has a range of themes to choose from that can be personalised to suit your blog.
The customisation options definitely aren’t on the same level as WordPress, but there’s still plenty to play around with.
Ghost is free to download and use, but you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan after 14 days. There are 4 plans available, ranging from around $9 to $199 USD per month. You’ll also have to cover web hosting, but this is typically a relatively small expense.
Pros:
- A simple, distraction-free WordPress alternative
- Range of payment plans available
- Perfect if you prefer to write in Markdown
Cons:
- Doesn’t have the flexibility of WordPress
- Only a few third-party apps can currently be integrated
Who should use Ghost?
It’s fair to say that Ghost is quite a different platform than WordPress. WordPress has “become a do-it-all” platform and many people just want something that they can use for blogging without complications.
Ghost fills this role perfectly and is ideal for anyone after a simple, yet powerful blogging platform.
Joomla
Joomla is the second most popular CMS and powers approximately 3% of all the websites on the internet!
Unfortunately, Joomla’s user numbers have waned over the last few years and this is partly down to WordPress continuing to add features to their website builder.
However, Joomla still has a lot to offer and many people prefer the platform over WordPress.
Importantly, Joomla offers a range of advanced features that go beyond the WordPress equivalents.
If you enjoy using WordPress but sometimes feel held back, then Joomla could be a viable way to get more ambitious with your web design.
Key features
Joomla’s admin screens are truly a sight to behold. You customise absolutely everything about your website from the menu layouts to the metadata settings.
If your aim is to craft a unique and personal site, then you’re bound to be impressed by what Joomla has to offer.
Joomla also has an impressive 8,000 extensions that can be used to improve the functionality of your website.
Just like WordPress, Joomla is a free and open-source CMS platform. If you want your website to be found on the internet though, then you’ll need to invest in a domain and some sort of web hosting.
Actually using Joomla for content creation and blogging is pretty easy. The editor is very similar to the one on offer with WordPress and there’s no requirement to know any complex coding procedures.
It’s also straightforward to manipulate your text and make it look exactly how you want on the page.
Pros:
- Huge selection of extensions to add website functionality
- Completely free to build a blog or website
- Incredible depth of customisation
Cons:
- Web hosting and custom domain must be acquired separately
- Security measures aren’t as updated as other platforms
Who should use Joomla?
In general, we’d recommend Joomla to people who have an existing level of web design.
This doesn’t mean that Joomla is inaccessible to beginners, but the depth of customisation that Joomla provides is sometimes too overwhelming for newcomers.
Don’t be put off by Joomla’s dwindling user base! The platform is definitely a great WordPress alternative that anyone building a website should be considering.
eCommerce Platforms
There are loads of options when it comes to both building websites, hosting and looking after your eCommerce business.
WordPress is always a good option for eCommerce online stores, but you’ll typically have to invest in expensive premium plugins to make it work.
The best WordPress alternatives for eCommerce will be easy to use, affordable and offer a seamless experience for your customers that keeps them coming back for more.
Shopify
Shopify is amongst the most well-known eCommerce platforms and has been built from the ground up with selling in mind.
Everyone will have purchased something from a Shopify site, whether they know it or not. In fact, there are over 1 million merchants currently selling through a Shopify site.
Shopify is packed with specific ecommerce features that offer easy management of products, simple payments and a seamless experience for buyers.
However, some people are confused by the different versions of Shopify that are available.
Hopefully, this overview will help you understand which Shopify plan is going to be best for you and the type of features you can expect to be able to use.
Key features
Building an eCommerce store with Shopify can be done for no expense whatsoever. Using the 14-day free trial, you’ll be able to experiment with the platform’s extensive features and decide whether or not Shopify is something that you want to continue using.
If you do want to commit to the eCommerce platform, then you’ll have a few different paid plan choices.
These are Basic Shopify, Shopify and Advanced Shopify. As you go up the pricing ladder, you’ll have access to more functions and also benefit from reduced fees for every sale.
Customisation wise, Shopify offers more than enough options to craft a unique and exciting storefront.
There are only 9 free themes available, but you can make a range of adjustments to separate your site from the rest.
You can also choose to invest in one of the 64 paid themes if you’d like something a little bit more special.
Shopify’s menus and editing processes are also extremely intuitive and accessible.
It’s clear that the Shopify developers have put a lot of effort into developing these aspects of the platform and it has definitely paid off.
Although Shopify might fall behind WordPress when it comes to flexibility, if you’re building a strictly eCommerce store then you’re not going to need all of the extras that WordPress offers.
Shopify gives you everything you could possibly need for selling online, without distracting you or making things too complicated.
Pros:
- One of the best platforms to create eCommerce business sites
- Excellent support network
- Relatively affordable, especially for larger businesses
Cons:
- Only really designed for building eCommerce stores
- Difficult to access the code of the website if you want to make adjustments
Who should use Shopify?
You should only use Shopify if your goal is to build an eCommerce store.
The way that Shopify manages to simplify complex and time consuming processes is truly impressive and can be a savior for business owners.
Shopify’s easy subscription plan also means users don’t have to deal with finding web hosting and domains, which can be costly.
Overall, Shopify is a compelling option for anyone who needs a reliable, powerful eCommerce store that they won’t have to spend loads of time sorting out.
To find out more on Shopify capabilities, talk to one of our Shopify developers.
BigCommerce
This platform is similar to Shopify, but BigCommerce only focuses on eCommerce, which makes it a great WordPress alternative if you want something that is more specialised.
BigCommerce has been designed to be accessible for new business owners, as well as established merchants who are looking to expand into the online realm.
As a result, it’s packed with useful features that make online selling a piece of cake.
We’ll try and compare these two platforms as much as possible to help you out if you’re deciding between the two.
Key features
BigCommerce includes of a range of eCommerce specific features. These include things like abandoned cart recovery, bulk ordering and the seamless integration of API.
We’d actually say that BigCommerce probably has a more impressive range of features than Shopify, especially if you decide to go with one of the lower priced plans.
There are 4 different subscriptions available, which pretty accurately mirror the ones on offer at Spotify.
For example, the “Standard” version of BigCommerce is priced exactly the same as “Spotify Basic”, but BigCommerce Standard has some extra features that you won’t find with Spotify Basic.
A review and rating system, a page builder and real-time shipping estimates are a few examples.
Another big benefit of BigCommerce over Shopify and WordPress eCommerce plugins is that you don’t have to pay any fees on sales.
The 0% fee applies across all of the BigCommerce paid plans, so even users on the Standard setup will have this advantage.
Crafting a website on BigCommerce is also fairly easy, but you might not find it quite as intuitive as something like WordPress.
You’ll still have a range of adaptive and beautiful themes to choose from though and you’ll still be able to put your own spin on the themes if you want to.
Another key aspect of BigCommerce is its SEO integration. If you do want to delve deeper into SEO, then you’ll have the opportunity to edit the metadata and URLs of your web pages.
Pros:
- Very cost-effective when compared to other eCommerce platforms
- 0% fees on sales
- Good SEO potential
Cons:
- Not as intuitive as WordPress and Shopify
Who should use BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is another WordPress alternative that would be a great choice for anyone looking for a simple online store solution.
The range of features that BigCommerce offers helps it compete with platforms such as Shopify and might even be a better option for many business owners.
Find out more about this solution through our BigCommerce design services.
Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento)
The last eCommerce platform and final WordPress alternative, we have to show you is Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento).
Adobe Commerce is an interesting option in the eCommerce world and is more comparable to a platform such as WordPress than it is to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Adobe Commerce’s main platform is completely open source and free to use. This gives users an incredible amount of freedom to build their stores exactly how they like them, with little to no constraints placed on them by the software.
Key features
If you do feel like you have the programming chops to deal with Adobe Commerce, then you’re going to have access to a huge range of cool features to build an amazing online store.
Most Adobe Commerce stores look absolutely fantastic if they’ve been properly coded and always give a business a unique feel that helps them stand out from the competition.
You don’t have to do everything from scratch with Adobe Commerce either. If you’d like, you can start from one of pre designed templates in Adobe Commerce’s base themes.
There’s a small selection of free themes available, with a further set of paid themes if you don’t mind making the investment.
Many of the Magento themes are adaptive and mobile responsive, which is an important feature for a professional website.
The only fees you’ll potentially be faced with are those charged by your chosen payment gateway.
However, you should know that you’ll have to find your own domain and web hosting if you use Adobe Commerce, since this is not something that they offer.
Like WordPress, Adobe Commerce has thousands of free and paid extensions that can be added to your website.
If you can think of a feature that you’d like to add to your pages, then you can pretty much guarantee that there’s going to be a Adobe Commerce extension to help you out.
It’s also worth noting that there is a non open-source, premium version of Adobe Commerce.
However, this service can get very expensive and it’s not really suitable for the majority of small businesses.
Pros:
- Users have the freedom to do whatever they want with their online store
- Free, open-source software
- Thousands of extensions to improve site functionality
Cons:
- You’ll have to find a third-party web hoster
- Not very intuitive for beginners
Who should use Adobe Commerce?
If we’re being totally honest, we’d only really recommend Adobe Commerce for business owners who have a web developer or are well-versed in programming themselves.
If you’re a complete beginner, then you’re not going to be able to access the key benefits that Adobe Commerce offers and you’ll be better off choosing something more intuitive such as Shopify or BigCommerce.
Things To Look For In A Drag & Drop Website Builder
When you’re trying to decide between website builders and CMS platforms, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choice.
To help you out, we’ve prepared this short checklist of things you should be looking for when choosing a platform for your custom website:
Ease-of-use
Ease-of-use is one of the most important things to consider. If you’re not comfortable with your website builder, then you’re never going to be able to build the best website you can.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be ambitious. If you’re experienced with web design or just want to push yourself, then don’t be afraid to engage with a complex platform.
As long as you recognise your own limitations and don’t try something too difficult, then you’ll be absolutely fine.
Cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness is another big factor to take into account. A website builder that is cost-effective will offer the best possible set of features for the money, allowing users to build the best possible website for their money.
When it comes to cost-effectiveness, cheapness isn’t always the biggest indicator. A platform might be more affordable than another, but it may not have nearly as much functionality.
Be sure to weigh up and compare price as well as features if you want to make the best decision.
Plugins / extensions
The plugins or extensions are those extra things you can add to your website to improve its functionality.
WordPress is an example of a platform that has a great range of plugins and many of the options featured in this article also give users a range of extensions.
Customisation options
Whether you’re building a simple online store or a full-on business website, it’s likely that you’ll want to customise your pages with your unique flair.
Customisation is one of the best ways to stand out from the competition, so it’s essential that your chosen website builder gives you plenty of options.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a great WordPress alternative, then it’s important to look for something that competes with the impressive features and functionality that WordPress has become famous for.
It’s worth pointing out that for many people WordPress is still going to be one of the best options and should always be a consideration.
That said, if you’re keen to find an alternative to WordPress, then you’re going to have plenty of options to choose from.
To your success,
Jackson
