Wix Alternatives 2023: Comparing 11 Website Builders

If you want a web page but lack programming or design skills, website builders like Wix should definitely be on your radar. The intuitive platform offers plenty of creative freedom, access to tons of features, and a well-stocked app marketplace. For these reasons and more, Wix took first place in our comprehensive EXPERTE.com assessment. Still, just because we liked it doesn't mean that it's the best solution for you.

Every website builder has advantages and disadvantages: Even though Wix offers what we feel is the best overall package, several of its competitors excel in areas that Wix doesn't. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at the best alternatives to Wix and will let you how each outperforms the Israeli platform.

A website's design is usually the first thing that a visitor notices. An unappealing layout will put people off even the best content. With Squarespace, templates and appearances are the stars of the show: First-class designs are the platform's calling card, and have propelled it into becoming one of the most popular tools on the market.

Squarespace offers far fewer templates (122) than Wix (more than 800), however, the quality of Squarespace's designs is indisputable. You'll be able to select from five different template types (Online Store, Portfolio, Memberships, Blogs, or One Page), categorized according to topics like "Professional Services", "Entertainment", or "Fashion".

Since most websites created with Squarespace are eye-catching, all you have to worry about is filling your new page with content. All the same, these will have the "Squarespace look" since the platform lacks full drag and drop. This means that users can make fewer changes or adjustments than with Wix. Accordingly, it's difficult to break out of the Squarespace mold and truly customize your website.

Still, Squarespace is a good choice for anyone in the market for a clean, elegant, and visually-driven design for their digital presence. You can find a more in-depth comparison of our two frontrunners in our Wix vs. Squarespace article.

Apart from all-in-one website builders like Wix, there are dedicated ecommerce platforms, like Shopify. These focus entirely on helping users to open and manage a digital business.

In terms of ecommerce, Shopify definitely has some advantages over Wix: Users can sell products in different currencies, access more payment gateways, and integrate more ecommerce apps. When it comes to dropshipping and POS, Shopify also has the Israeli service beat.

Still, Wix is the better option for multi-purpose websites that feature an online shop, since you'll get a better editor at a lower price. Unlike Wix, which charges transaction fees, there's no free version of Shopify.

All the same, Shopify is recommended if you're intending to open a dedicated online store.

Wix isn't the only website builder that gives users full drag-and-drop freedom. MyWebsite by IONOS subscribers will also be able to move and format content to their heart's content and adjust the appearance of their website's front end. As a result, MyWebsite's editor offers more customization than those of Squarespace, Weebly, or SITE123, which only allow limited adjustments.

Beginners will have a tougher time with MyWebsite by IONOS than Wix, owing to its multiple pop-up menus and somewhat confusing settings. Anyone willing to familiarize themselves with the platform will be rewarded with a powerful website builder, nifty features, solid marketing tools, and plenty of customization options.

Among the website builders we reviewed, Webflow is almost in a league of its own. The content management system (CMS)/website builder hybrid is definitely more technically demanding than our other platforms.

This has both advantages and disadvantages. If you want to avoid programming, Webflow likely won't be your cup of tea. The platform is based on coding logic, even though back-end processes are intuitively visualized. As a result, there are fewer restrictions on your creativity with Webflow than Wix, however, familiarity with web design and programming is needed to take full advantage of them.

If you're undecided, the excellent "Webflow University" e-learning center can help. This includes tutorials and courses that help explain the platform's ins and outs. While pretty much anyone can start using other website builders out of the box, Webflow newcomers should be ready to learn. Your diligence and patience are rewarded though, as the platform does almost nothing to limit your creativity or how you manage your site.

Weebly

Weebly is beginner-friendly and distinguishes itself from its competitors owing to its nifty mobile app. This makes building or managing your website on the go easy. In general, Weebly does curb freedom of design with its paint-by-numbers approach to drag and drop. Another weak spot is its template gallery, which in our opinion, could be enhanced and more varied.

SITE123

SITE123 also sets relatively strict limits on how far users can customize the design of their site or its templates. Ready-made layouts can only be slightly modified, and it isn't possible to freely move content around, like with Wix. The upside to this is that beginners can design a website in no time at all with the platform.

Jimdo

Like Wix, Jimdo offers two editors, one of which is an AI-assisted option for beginners that makes creating a website very simple. In our opinion, Jimdo's balancing act between user-friendliness and versatility is less impressive than Wix's approach. Particularly in terms of ecommerce, you'll also have to make do with fewer options. For a comprehensive comparison of the two, be sure to check out our Wix vs. Jimdo article.

Overall Ranking

We tested 12 website builders according to five scored and one unscored criterion. Our final ranking, with Wix in first place, is presented below:

Every website builder has benefits and drawbacks. In our eyes, Wix is the best all-rounder, however, that doesn't make it ideal for you and your needs. Squarespace might be a better option if you value high-quality, elegant designs. Shopify offers more options for purely ecommerce projects, while Webflow seems like the right ticket for anyone with some programming know-how who wants maximum creative freedom.

Since Wix offers a free version of its software, you can try it out before committing to a subscription. In the event that it doesn't match your expectations, don't worry, there are plenty of excellent alternatives just a few clicks away. To consult our reviews for 11 of the best of these, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive website builder comparison.