3 Powerful Wix Alternatives in 2023

If you’re looking to set up a website, Wix is one of the most popular website builders you’ll find. It’s a straightforward and user-friendly option. However, there are a number of drawbacks to using this website builder, including its subscription-based pricing model, generic templates, and lack of analytical tools.

Fortunately, you can use a Wix alternative that might better suit your website requirements. For example, you can find free platforms like WordPress to create a completely custom website. Or, you may want to explore feature-rich web builder options like Squarespace and Weebly.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at why you might consider a Wix alternative. Then, we’ll discuss three of the best options in 2023. Let’s jump right in!

The State of Wix in 2023 

Wix is the most popular website builder available. It excels for creating everything from a personal website to a large online store. You’ll get access to a user-friendly drag and drop builder to design your web pages. Plus, you can choose from a range of beautiful website template options if you lack design or technical skills. 

Meanwhile, Wix provides tons of advanced features (for certain plans) including integrated payment options, an online logo maker, and automated responders. And, even the free plan comes with great customer support:

However, there are some drawbacks that might lead you to consider some Wix alternatives. For instance, Wix uses a subscription-based pricing model, so you’ll be charged a monthly fee for all Wix services.

While this can work out great for large online stores, it isn’t best for small business owners that want to create a simple website and don’t require extra features. Additionally, the premium plans only support a single Wix website. So if you run multiple sites, you’ll need to purchase separate premium plans, which gets expensive. 

What’s more, Wix isn’t the most flexible website builder on the market. Once you’ve chosen a website template, you’re locked into this design. Plus, the cheaper plans have no access to analytics tools, which can make it difficult to identify areas for improvement. 

3 Powerful Wix Alternatives in 2023

Now that you know the limitations of using Wix to build your custom website, let’s discuss three powerful Wix alternatives. 

1. WordPress

WordPress websites account for 43 percent of all websites. So it should come as no surprise that this popular content management system (CMS) is one of the best alternatives to Wix. 

When it comes to WordPress, you’ll find endless customization options thanks to plugins and customizable themes. This makes it easy to create an online store, a membership website, a portfolio, and much more.

Even better, certain WordPress themes enable you to utilize user-friendly blocks when website building. Alternatively, you can install a plugin to get a true drag and drop builder.

Unlike Wix, WordPress enables you to own all your own content and retain complete control of your site. However, because of this, you’ll need to purchase a custom domain name and choose a web hosting provider to store your website files.

Fortunately, there are tons of web hosting options for your WordPress site. SirsteveHQ is a quality web hosting provider that offers dedicated WordPress hosting plans.

This way, you’ll get WordPress pre-installed, which is super convenient. Plus, you’ll get free backups and updates for improved security. And, SirsteveHQ provides free Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates with all plans, which is great for ecommerce stores. 

Additionally, WordPress is an open-source Wix alternative. That means it has an active community of developers and users. And, most plugins and themes are regularly updated. Plus, you’ll find documentation and forums to help you easily resolve any issues you have with WordPress websites.  

Pricing and Setup Information

WordPress is one of the few free Wix alternatives, so it’s great if you’re on a budget. However, you will need to pay for web hosting and a custom domain name. Plus, if you want to use any premium themes and plugins, this will cost extra (although you can find tons of free add-ons).

The easiest way to set up WordPress is to get started with a WordPress hosting plan. That way, your web host will take care of the installation for you.

Otherwise, you’ll need to download WordPress and manually set it up, which can be complicated for beginners. Of course, customer support will depend on your hosting provider, so you’ll want to carefully research before you pick one.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace is an excellent alternative to Wix. It provides one of the most intuitive website builders, as well as a collection of existing templates. Plus, you can utilize additional features to transform your sites into blogs, restaurants, bookings sites, or online stores.

For example, you can create a community website where you can feature virtual workshops, newsletters, video series, and more. Meanwhile, if you want to set up an online store, you’ll find tons of ecommerce features like easy order management and integrated payment options.

Additionally, this Wix alternative comes with tons of built-in features to help you grow your business. For instance, you can set up email campaigns that reflect your unique branding. Plus, you can create impressive social content (with beautiful templates) using the Unfold app.

Pricing and Set Up Information

Part of what makes Squarespace one of the best Wix alternatives is that you can try out the website builder for 14 days (without providing credit card details). Then, there are four plans to choose from – all of which come with a free domain name.

The Personal plan is the cheapest option, but it is very limited. For small business owners looking to create an online store, the Commerce plan may be the best option, since this avoids the three percent transaction fee. This costs $27 per month, but you can save 17 percent by paying annually. 

It’s also worth noting that all plans include 24/7 customer support. This is great for beginners, just in case you need help when setting up your site.

3. Weebly

What makes Weebly one of the best alternatives to Wix is that it provides one of the most sophisticated website builders. You can design a professional website using a range of stunning templates which are easy to customize.

Unlike Wix, Weebly offers plenty more advanced features even with its cheaper plans. With this Wix alternative, you can build unique email campaigns using a drag and drop editor. Plus, you can add video backgrounds, edit images on the fly, and schedule content ahead of time in the website builder.

For online store owners, Weebly is slightly more expensive, but the package is full of useful options like shipping automation tools and inventory management. Additionally, you can display customer reviews, create vouchers, and support various payment methods. 

Like the other Wix alternatives in this article, you’ll find plenty of integrations to extend your website. In the App Center, you can install Weebly add-ons to create a FAQ section or display upcoming events. Meanwhile, you can utilize third-party apps that provide SEO tools, social media tools, and more.

Pricing and Set Up Information

Although you can get started with some Wix alternatives for free, Weebly’s free plan has limited features. You’ll lack certain ecommerce features like shipping calculators and shipping labels. Plus, you won’t be able to connect a custom domain or remove Square ads from your web pages.

If you’d prefer to proceed with a paid plan to access advanced features, prices range from $5 to $20 billed annually (monthly plans are slightly pricier). For online stores, plans begin at $10, but this includes free SSL, a free domain, and much more. 

In terms of customer support, the cheaper plans offer email and chat. However, the Professional and Performance plans both include phone support as well.

Conclusion

While Wix is one of the most popular website builders available, there are some limitations that might make it unsuitable for your website (and budget). Instead, you can find Wix alternatives that are more affordable, intuitive, and offer the features you need.

To recap, here are three powerful Wix alternatives in 2023:

1. WordPress: A completely free option that enables even beginners to design custom websites.
2. Squarespace: A great web builder option for online stores with built-in ecommerce tools and third-party extensions.
3. Weebly: A feature-rich choice that supports video backgrounds, animations, and custom fonts.

Do you have any questions about using Wix alternatives for website building? Let us know in the comments below!