Wix Alternatives: The 5 Best Options To Try in 2024

5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating: 4.8/5

The best choice for creative businesses, Squarespace is fit for aesthetic portfolios and stylish website designs reflecting your brand’s unique identity.

As it stands, Squarespace is ranked only second to Wix in our research with a score of 4.8 out of 5. It’s intuitive editor and stunning designs makes it the best-rated Wix alternative out there. Before we explain the platform’s main differences, here are the key pros and cons to consider:

Squarespace’s Key Differences

Squarespace’s website builder is an apt alternative to Wix if you prioritize design over anything else. As we mentioned earlier, Squarespace is renowned for its beautiful templates that’ll leave visitors with a positive first impression of your website. After all, you want users to keep exploring beyond your landing page.

As soon as you sign up for Squarespace, the quality of its templates are impossible to ignore, ranging from sleek photography portfolios to eye-catching homepage designs. Regardless of your niche, it’ll be easy to find a stylish Squarespace template that best suits your business.

Another strong aspect of Squarespace is its easy-to-use editor. In our hands-on research, we found that users responded positively to its drag-and-drop interface, leading to a 5 out of 5 score for ease of use and making it the easiest website builder to get to grips with. Beginners will find this aspect of Squarespace most useful, since it empowers you to create a showstopping website regardless of your technical expertise.

Dragging elements across your website is easy. Squarespace’s grid overlay will keep your elements in place, so there’s no need to worry about your website looking messy as you experiment with your layout. Also, there’s a wide range of content blocks you can add to your page, ranging from social media integrations to scheduling and digital content.

How Much Does Squarespace Cost?

If you’re curious about Squarespace’s pricing plans, here’s everything you need to know.

Before sticking with a plan, you can sign up for its 14-day free trial – a useful opportunity to test out the builder’s key features. Once your time is up, you’ll need to purchase one of the four premium plans that range from $16 to $49 per month (billed annually). But are these plans worth it?

Our research shows that they are. Overall, Squarespace scores 4.2 out of 5 for its value for money. Unlike Wix, which has a steep price increase from $16 to $159 per month, Squarespace’s plans are much more affordable. You’ll also receive a strong range of features, including a free custom domain, video hosting, Squarespace extensions, and SEO features.

Just remember that Squarespace doesn’t offer a free plan. You’ll need to look into another website builder, such as GoDaddy, if you want to build a website for free.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating: 4.5/5

If you’re most interested in selling goods online, there’s one platform you need to check out before making your decision: Shopify. Although Wix does offer an ecommerce website builder, Shopify’s main features are specifically tailored to merchants who want to set up and scale their business. 

Before we delve into its main features, here are Shopify’s key pros and cons:

Shopify’s Key Differences

The main difference between Shopify and Wix is Shopify’s unparalleled ecommerce inventory capabilities. If you need to scale up your business fast and are most interested in selling physical products, then Shopify will give you everything you need to succeed.

Unlike other ecommerce platforms on the market, your products come first with Shopify. As soon as you sign up and access your dashboard, you’ll be asked to upload your items first, making them readily available for when you start creating pages or customizing your design. These products, then, become the basis of your entire website.

Also, thanks to Shopify Editions Winter ‘24 update, the platform has made managing your large inventory easier than ever. Now, you’re able to show different product variations from the same page, as well as increase bundle sizes from 10 items to 30 items.

Thanks to these varied listing options, you can give your customers a much broader range of products to choose from. This is a strong reason to consider Shopify over Wix if you’re scaling up your score, since Wix can only support smaller inventories.

If you do choose to switch from Wix to Shopify, then you’ll need to consider how you’re going to migrate your online store’s data across. Although this can be a tricky process, Shopify does provide you with a few options. You can move your data manually via CSV, use a migration app from the Shopify App Store, or hire a migration expert from the Experts Marketplace.

How Much Does Shopify Cost?

In comparison to other website builders like Wix, Shopify’s pricing is generally more expensive. Shopify’s three price plans will set you back $29 to $299 per month (billed annually).

However, these plans provide all of the key features you need to scale up your business, like multiple inventory locations and localized selling points around the world. If you have a large inventory of goods to sell, locally or globally, then you’ll be able to make the most out of these features and get your money’s worth.

Thankfully, once your 3-day trial is up, you are able to get your first month for only $1. This is a prime opportunity to test out the platform, giving you ample time to make sure that it’s the right fit for your online store.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating: 4.4/5

If the larger website builders, like Wix or Shopify, seem overwhelming to you, then it’s worth looking into GoDaddy as your next alternative. The platform prides itself on providing users with a straightforward experience backed by strong customer service. It’s the best website builder for complete beginners and anyone who needs to set up a professional website fast.

With that said, below are a few of GoDaddy’s pros and cons to help you make a decision:

GoDaddy’s Key Differences

If time is a key limitation for your business, then GoDaddy is one of the easiest website builders to pick up. The platform scores higher than Wix in our ease of use testing, scoring 5 out of 5 overall, and has a few key features that’ll let you create a website in no time at all.

One of the features helping you set up fast is GoDaddy’s AI website builder. After logging into our account and giving this tool a spin, we were able to generate a professional website in under 30 seconds. All we needed to do was answer a few questions about our desired website first.

The only downside to this speed is the outcome. Many of GoDaddy’s website themes can look generic in comparison to the bespoke themes offered by other providers. Because of this, you may want to opt for a website builder like Squarespace if you’re more interested in elevated designs.

If you’re keen to transfer your domain from Wix to GoDaddy, then you’ll be glad to hear that the process can be completed in only a few steps. One of the easiest builders to transfer to, you’ll need to log into your Wix account to unlock your domain and receive an authorization code, before heading over to GoDaddy to change your DNS settings.

How Much Does GoDaddy Cost?

In comparison to leading website builders like Wix, GoDaddy is great value for money. Its paid plans range from as little as $10.99/mo to $29.99/mo (billed annually). You can also access its website builder for free and test out GoDaddy’s features beforehand, although we do recommend upgrading to a paid plan if you wish to remove ads from your website.

Small businesses will benefit the most from GoDaddy’s plans, since they’ll receive the key features needed to set up a website for a reasonable price. Each plan comes with essentials, such as an SSL certificate, a marketing analytics dashboard, and access to GoDaddy Studio which allows you create branded content for social media.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating: 4.2/5

Interested in AI? If you’d love to use artificial intelligence to create a website with little effort or time needed, then you’ll find Hostinger’s AI tools appealing. Offering more AI tools than Wix to experiment with, you’ll find everything from an AI Heatmap that tracks user behaviors to a handy AI logo maker.

Though platforms like Wix make use of AI during the website building process, they don’t rely on it as much as Hostinger does. The platform is a playground for anyone looking to experiment with this exciting technology and, with the AI market expecting to grow by 37.3% between 2023 and 2030, there’s no better time for small businesses to test it out.

If you’re curious to know more about the Hostinger, here are its main pros and cons to review:

Hostinger’s Key Differences

Unlike other website builders, AI is the backbone of Hostinger since it powers most of its key features. Many of these tools make content generation easy for beginners, so you’ll have no problem creating suitable text or imagery for your website.

We found that this was exactly the case when setting up. After answering three key questions on our website brief, Hostinger’s AI website builder rustled up a fresh template for us within seconds.

There was, however, one glaring downside to this AI tool: the design it generated. The finished layout seemed fairly simple, while we would have preferred more color options to choose from. So, if you’re looking for an elevated design, we’d recommend a platform like Squarespace for its more powerful editors and design options.

Hostinger’s AI tools won’t only help you generate a website, but they’ll also help you with content creation for your pages. Highlighted below are Hostinger’s most impressive AI tools you’ll want to keep in mind:

• AI Logo Maker that allows you to create an eye-catching icon that suits your brand. Hostinger is currently rolling out improvements to this tool, so keep your eyes peeled.
• In-Text AI Content Generation to create grammatically correct text for different areas of your website. You could use it to create an about section or product descriptions.
• AI Heatmap tracking that reviews user behavior on your website. Through its color coding system, you can see which areas of your site you could improve to increase conversions and upgrade the user experience.

Despite its impressive use of AI, Hostinger does lack the additional features other website builders have. You won’t find an app store or email marketing tools like you would with Wix, so keep that in mind when making your final decision.

One important thing to note is that if you choose to switch from Wix to Hostinger, you can’t migrate content from your pre-existing website. This means you’d need to build your website from scratch.

How Much Does Hostinger Cost?

Hostinger’s pricing plans are great value for money, making it one of the cheapest website builders on the market, which is evident as soon as you hop onto its pricing page. You’ll find offers starting from $2.99 per month, featuring its AI website builder, marketing tools, and a free domain to get started with. On top of that, you can also get 10% off your Hostinger plan when you use the code “WBE” at checkout. 

Although these deals are great value for money, we recommended you read the small print first. Hostinger’s website builder is also available with its hosting plans which include specialized web hosting services too. If you opt for a hosting plan, you’ll need to take some time to assess each option and see if the features available are the right fit for your business.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating: 3.4/5

The last alternative to Wix, IONOS, is your best bet if you’re a small business in need of dedicated enterprise support. Also a stickler for the technical details, IONOS is great at providing users with the hard facts. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting with each plan – be it a professional email with a 12GB inbox or detailed analytics for your webpage.

This year, the website builder made considerable improvements, increasing its overall score from 3.0 out of 5 to 3.4 out of 5. Before we delve into the nitty gritty details, these are the main pros and cons of the platform:

IONOS’ Key Differences

Though platforms like Wix offer strong, all-around customer support, IONOS’ website builder is more concerned with providing detailed enterprise support. Whether you want to know about more technical aspects of the service, or receive prompt support that won’t eat into your busy schedule, IONOS will have a solution.

For instance, one of IONOS’ key features – that we think is most beneficial for small businesses – is its personal consultant offering tailored advice. Easily contactable by live chat, phone, or email, the consultant is free of charge for all IONOS customers. No matter the issue, you’ll find solace through a human voice who can offer the best solutions for your business.

If you’re a small business who wants to promote your products or services overseas, then it’s worth making sure you have a multi language website too. Luckily, IONOS offers multilingual support that can translate your website into 62 different languages.

Also, if you’re getting more website traffic from around the world, you can rely on IONOS to keep your website in top form. Not only does IONOS have a 99% uptime that ensures your website is always available, but the builder scores 5 out of 5 for its overall page speeds. This makes IONOS a reliable solution for small businesses who want to create a professional website with minimal technical hitches.

How Much Does IONOS Cost?

With IONOS, you’ll find a range of inexpensive pricing plans to sift through; most notably, its website builder special offer starting from $1 per month. At the time of writing this, this special offer is a part of IONOS’ Plus plan which includes a domain for one year, a professional email address, 50GB webspace, and website analytics. 

Just be aware when you’re choosing that you’ll have to purchase one of these plans to test out IONOS’ website builder. It doesn’t offer a free trial or a free plan, so you will have to put down some money if you’re keen to try the platform out. If you’d rather use a platform that offers a free plan, like GoDaddy, then IONOS might not be the most suitable Wix alternative for you.

IONOS does, however, offer a 30-day money back guarantee. This is handy if you do pay for a premium plan and would like a safety net in case you’re left unsatisfied with the results.

With such varied website builders on the market, we understand that it can be difficult to make your final decision. With that in mind, it’s wise to think about what exactly you’re looking for in a website builder based on your needs. Below, we’ve put together a few pointers that may help you out.

Are you using Wix and want to switch to an alternative? Here’s a few things to consider:

• What don’t you like about Wix? Make sure the builder you’re switching to has all of the improvements you need. This could include specific features Wix is missing, an editor that’s easier to use, or a price plan that better fits your needs.
• What do you like about Wix? Before switching, make sure your new provider still offers the Wix features you currently enjoy. For instance, we wouldn’t switch to Hostinger if you already enjoy Wix’s creative control.
• How difficult is it to switch? If you want to finally switch from Wix, make sure the process is doable. You won’t want to lose important website content along the way, so double check out each website builder first to see if it offers easy-to-follow migration options.
• What features do I need to keep? Make sure your new website builder has the main features your website needs to thrive. For instance, if you have an online store with Wix, then you’ll need to switch to a platform that supports ecommerce, like Shopify.

Once you’ve considered those key points, here are a few specific website features you may want to look for in another builder:

Will the website builder help me get set up quickly?

• Straightforward editor that is easy to pick up
• 24/7 customer support if prompt answers to an issue are needed
• Pre-built templates keeping time spent on design to a minimum
• AI tools designed to generate websites within seconds

Is my main goal to sell products or services?

• Inventory management that can withstand a large quantity of products
• Varied payment methods
• Multiple shipping options
• Scheduling tools to set up meetings with potential clients

Do I have limited knowledge of website builders?

• Resource center
• Intuitive interface
• Strong customer support lines for further assistance

Is my budget limited?

• Free plans
• Free themes
• Free extensions
• Fairly priced plans that include the key features needed to set up
• Regular special offers
• Good transaction fees

Or, if you want help choosing, take our quick quiz for personalized recommendations!

You might be wondering how we came to these conclusions about each Wix alternative, so let us explain. Each platform included in this article was put to the test in our rigorous website builder research, ensuring that you receive the most accurate information possible.

While examining the website builders, we kept an eye out on key criteria that encompassed what users are looking for. What criteria you ask? Well, this included important factors like value for money, ease of use, and help and support, leaving us with valuable insights into how each website builder performs from a user’s perspective.

This is all carried out to make sure you pick the right platform to get online and grow with.

After looking at the best alternatives to Wix, it’s clear that Squarespace is the best option overall. The platform rivals Wix with its unparalleled templates, easy to use editor, and second place ranking in our hands-on research. Overall, it’s the best fit for small businesses and creatives who want their website’s design to shine.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Squarespace will be the right alternative for you. Below is a reminder of the other website builders we’ve looked at and their unique selling points:

• Shopify is most suitable for ecommerce. If you’re looking to scale up your business  and manage your inventory effectively, this is your best option.
• GoDaddy’s accessible customer support and straightforward editor makes it the most beginner friendly platform – perfect if you’re setting up a website for the first time.
• Hostinger’s broad range of AI features, like the AI heatmap and AI logo maker, means it’s the best website builder for businesses who want to embrace these highly technical tools.
• IONOS, with its personal consultancy and detailed resources, is the best platform for enterprise support. You’ll receive the best technical assistance as you build and scale your website.

Want to know more about these platforms? Be sure to read our official ranking of the best website builders available.