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If you're not sold on Wix's web builder, we would recommend using Squarespace, especially if you're in the creative industry. Its design features are polished, its software is easy to navigate and users can get started for as little as $14 per month.
If you're looking to build a profitable site, however, Shopify will be your best bet. With unrivaled ecommerce features and an expansive array of useful third-party extensions, the web builder is an excellent option for businesses looking to sell online.
According to our research, Wix is still undefeated when it comes to website features, usability, and customer satisfaction — and its 200 million strong userbase would probably agree. In addition to covering its top competitors, we'll also cover Wix's strengths so you can be confident with your decision moving forwards.
Overall Score All Tech.co research categories, condensed into one score | Paid plan Monthly | Free Plan | Best for | Pros | Cons | Customer Score Customer and user testing testimonials. | Try it Today | ||
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BEST OVERALL ALTERNATIVE | BEST FOR ONLINE SELLING | ||||||||
Wix | Squarespace | Go Daddy | Shopify | Hostinger | |||||
4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.6 | |||||
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Best overall website builder | Best for design functionality | Best for setting up quickly | Best for larger ecommerce businesses | Best for uptime reliability | |||||
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4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 3.1 | |||||
Claim Deal | Save 10% | Try GoDaddy | Try Shopify | Save up to 10% |
We research every product we list vigorously, ensuring we're only showing you the best of the best. Scroll down to learn more about these top providers and our decision process.
Best Alternatives to Wix
Wix is the top website builder we've researched, but there are many other worthy contenders out there. Some alternatives excel in areas that Wix just isn't as strong in, making them a better fit for businesses with specific needs. Scroll down to learn more about these industry rivals, or jump to specific sections using our handy links below:
- Squarespace – Better design features than Wix
- GoDaddy – Easier to set up than Wix
- Shopify – Better ecommerce features than Wix
- Hostinger – Best for beginners
Pros
- Email and social marketing tools
- Best knowledge center available
- Robust analytics features
- Native SEO keyword support
- DEAL: Get Shopify for $1 per month for 3 months
Cons
- Slower site speed
- No advanced customization options
Most importantly, Squarespace is in a league of its own when it comes to design. The platform has worked with world-class designers to produce 91 customizable templates that can be used to create unique, polished sites. With a penchant for clean design and bold typefaces, this website builder is also a dependable option for businesses looking for a professional and modern site.
Aside from design capabilities, Squarespace also scores a perfect 5/5 for help and support, making it a great option for those who are less experienced with website building. Moreover, users can build a polished site with the builder for a low $15 per month, meaning that you can get started with Squarespace for slightly less than Wix too.
Learn more about how Squarespace compares to our frontrunner in our Squarespace vs Wix review.
Squarespace Pricing vs Wix Pricing
While both website builders offer affordable plans, Wix's pricing structure is more flexible and businesses can use the software for free as well. With a value score of 4.2/5 compared with Squarespace's 4.1/5, both options offer a pretty similar return on investment. But how do both of their plans compare?
Well, Squarespace's first pain plan, Personal, costs $14 per month. In contrast, Wix's first paid plan, Combo, costs users $16 per month. The difference in starting price is pretty minor though, and both plans provide a solid starting point for users to build a high-quality website.
Aside from Combo, Wix offers three paid plans, Unlimited ($22 per month), Pro ($27 per month), and VIP ($45 per month). In contrast, Squarespace only offers one more website builder package, Business, which retails for $23 per month. With only two plans on the table, the average price of Squarespace's web builder is lower than Wix's. However, Wix's scalable pricing system makes it easy for businesses to pick a solution that's within their budget, making the software suitable for a wider selection of businesses.
Finally, unlike Squarespace, Wix offers a free plan, allowing businesses to build at no cost at all. With 1GB of bandwidth and 500MB of storage, this free tier is more than enough for sole entrepreneurs just starting their journey online.
Since our last update...
Is Squarespace better than Wix?
It's a close one, but our research suggests that Squarespace isn't quite as strong as Wix.
Wix has near-perfect website building features, scoring an impressive 4.9/5 in this category, beating Squarespace's score of 4.4/5. Combine this with Wix's stronger usability, higher customer satisfaction rates, and better value for money, we still think Wix deserves its position as our #1 rated website builder of all time.
If design is your top priority, you'll probably be best off using Squarespace. From flexible layouts and custom color pallets to professionally designed templates, Squarespace triumphs in this arena, earning a solid design score of a solid 4.7/5, compared to Wix's less impressive 3.3/5
In addition to design, Squarespace is also extremely easy to get started on, provides users with feature-rich packages at a reasonable price point, and performs well in pretty much every core area in our research. This makes Squarespace a great Wix replacement, especially for businesses with a creative focus.
Plan | Price paid annually The price per month you'll pay if you choose to be billed annually | Price paid monthly The price per month you'll pay if you choose to be billed monthly | Domain included | Hosting included | Bandwidth | Storage | Abandoned cart recovery | Gift cards | Transaction fees | |
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Personal | Business | |||||||||
With 1-year contract | With 1-year contract | |||||||||
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Unlimited | Unlimited | |||||||||
Unlimited | Unlimited | |||||||||
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N/A | 3% |
GoDaddy
If you’re looking to set up a website quickly and with minimal fuss, GoDaddy might be your best option. This option offers a range of easy-to-use templates and an array of standard website features, from SEO to mobile optimization. The platform is super affordable and easy to get started on too, making it especially useful for business owners who are just beginning their online journey.
Pros
- Quick, efficient website building
- "SEO Wizard" tool is super useful for beginners
- Plenty of must-have features built-in
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Website design is quite restrictive
- Basic SEO features
While its design score doesn't top Squarespace's, GoDaddy has a stronger commitment to design than Wix, and its templates are improving every year. Its customer reviews are consistently positive as well, proving that it's a popular choice among its users. All things considered, GoDaddy's overall offering is fairly basic when put head-to-head with Wix. For instance, GoDaddy only scores 3.1/5 for website features, compared with Wix's impressive score of 4.9/5. This suggests the website builder may be less suited to businesses creating large or complex sites.
GoDaddy Pricing vs Wix Pricing
GoDaddy and Wix are two of the affordable website builders we've tested, but with a value score of 4.4/5, we think GoDaddy pricing plans are slightly better value.
Compared to Wix's lowest cost paid plan Combo, which retails at $16 per month, GoDaddy's plans start at a rock bottom $9.99 per month. What's more, GoDaddy users only need to pay $14.99 per month for GoDaddy's Premium plan, which offers advanced features, including SEO and social media integrations
Businesses using GoDaddy can unlock ecommerce features for as little as $16.99 a month too. In comparison, Wix charges $27 per month for similar options. However, Wix does offer a generous free plan, and with an impressive value score of 4.1/5, both website builders are great options for users looking to save money.
Since our last update...
Is GoDaddy better than Wix?
GoDaddy may have better design features than Wix, and its plans are slightly better value, but no, it's not a better option than Wix. Wix is easier to use, has a sophisticated website toolkit, and offers stronger support features. This makes Wix a safer bet for most businesses, except for those looking for a stripped-back solution with a low learning curve.
Shopify
Shopify is a quality website builder that helps you build a profitable site, fast. From multiple selling streams to dropshipping and POS integrations Shopify's bread and butter is ecommerce. In fact, according to our in-house research, Shopify is the best ecommerce website builder on the market. Even if you're not looking to build an online store, users can trust this provider to create a professional site too, because Shopify has earnt a credible score of 4.1/5 for website-building features.
Pros
- Helpful and predictive website building experience
- Massive app selection for unlimited customizability
- Diverse multi-channel integration options
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Basic web-builder tools
- Apps cost extra
- High transaction fee without Shopify Payments
Shopify's software isn't as intuitive or easy to use as Wix's though, and the builder's confusingly priced packages might exceed the budgets of smaller businesses and solo entrepreneurs. This makes Shopify slightly less accessible than rivals like Wix and Squarespace.
Shopify Pricing vs Wix Pricing
Wix's website builder packages are better value than Shopify's without a question. While Shopify lets businesses sell goods through social media for as little as $5 per month, its ecommerce builder plans start at $29 per month. This is really steep when compared with Wix's entry price of $16 per month.
With Shopify's most expensive tier exceeding $2000 per month, the average price of its packages far exceeds Wix's too. Shopify's plans are more tailored toward large businesses, which explains its heftier price tag.
Refer to the table below for more information on the web-builders plans, or read our Shopify pricing guide here.
Since our last update...
Is Shopify better than Wix?
In short, no, Shopify isn't better than Wix. After researching both ecommerce builders extensively, Wix comes out top when it comes to web building features, help and support options, and ease of use. Wix is also better value for money than Shopify, with free options available and paid plans starting from $16 per month.
This doesn't mean that Wix will always be the better choice though. Thanks to Shopify's extensive ecommerce options, if want to build a site that sells you're better off going for Shopify.
Plan | Price paid annually The price per month you'll pay if you choose to be billed annually | Price paid monthly The price per month you'll pay if you choose to be billed monthly | Transaction fee if not using Shopify Payments | |
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Starter | Basic | Shopify | Advanced | Plus |
$5/month |
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| $299/month | $2,000/month |
$5/month | $39/month | $105/month |
| N/A |
2% | 2% | 1% | 0.5% | Bespoke |
Hostinger
Much like Wix, Hostinger is a great solution to go for if you're new to website-building software. The product is stripped back and only contains basic website features like a drag-and-drop editor, domain registration, and SEO capabilities, making it best suited to businesses or solo entrepreneurs just starting out their online journey.
Pros
- Very affordable platform
- Easy to use with simple grid layout
- Advanced features like heatmap and logo maker
- DEAL: $10.80/month with the code TECH
Cons
- No app store
- Limited marketing features
- Little onboarding help at setup
With a solid ease of use score of 4/5, the platform isn't as easy to navigate as Wix, but its user experience is stronger than Shopify. Hostinger has also achieved a pretty impressive customer score of 4.1/5, suggesting that its user experience is well above satisfactory.
However, while Hostinger will help you build a simple website with ease, its website features are pretty poor, with the builder scoring a dismal 2/5 in this category, compared with Wix's 4.9/5. Hostinger falters when it comes to design and it doesn't have its own app store, meaning that users can't integrate the software with other useful integrations. Unfortunately, this limits Hostinger's potential, making it a much less versatile web builder.
Discover more about how the solutions compare head-to-head in our Hostinger vs Wix overview.
Hostinger Pricing vs Wix Pricing
Hostinger offers one plan, at $11.99 per month when you pay monthly. Prices go down as low as $2.99 when you choose a subscription between 12 and 48 months in length. The price of Hostinger isn't bad at all and fall within the budgets of most businesses.
Plus, you can get up to 78% off with the code “TECH“, bringing the price down to $2.69 per month.
However, with a value score of 3.7/5 compared to Wix's 4.2/5, we think Wix provides users with a much better return on their investment. Not only do Wix's plans come with more dynamic web building features, but the providers also offer a quality free version too, making the software accessible to a larger number of users.
Is Hostinger better than Wix?
Simply put, no, Hostinger isn't better than Wix. Our research ranks Wix higher in every core category, including design tools, web building features, and usability, so this one is a bit of a no-brainer. This isn't to say Hostinger is a bad website builder though. It's easy to use and the software isn't bogged down with unnecessary features, making it a safe option for those who are less tech-savvy.
Plan | Price paid monthly The price per month you'll pay if you choose to be billed monthly | Abandoned cart recovery | International pricing Customize your product prices for different countries/regions with a percentage increase or decrease. | Ecommerce | |
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Hostinger Website Builder | |||||
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Should You Choose Wix Anyway?
As you may have guessed, Wix is the best website builder we've reviewed. So in our opinion, if you're looking to create a professional website for your brand, it might be best to stick to Wix. We know you clicked on this page to find a Wix alternative though, and while Wix is a very competent website builder, it doesn't excel in all areas.
For instance, if site aesthetics is your business's top priority, we think Squarespace might be a better choice. With a design score of 4.7/5, compared to Wix's ample 3.3/5, you can guarantee Squarespace to produce a good-looking, professional website. And with a sophisticated feature catalog and marketing tools, Squarespace's website tools certainly give Wix a run for its money too.
Alternatively, if you're looking to sell products through your website, we would recommend going for Shopify over Wix. Not only does it offer just about every ecommerce tool available — from wholesale marketplace features to QR code generators — it also gives users access to its 8000+ strong app store.
Finally, with a value score of 4.2/5, there's no denying Wix is an affordable website builder. However, GoDaddy provides businesses with slightly better deals, with paid plans starting from $9.99 per month and $6 per month respectively. Wix's free and paid offerings are both industry-leading though, so we would seriously think twice before switching it for an alternative.
There are lots of other notable mentions aside from Wix though, so if you're keen to get your site up and running, use our free comparison page or read our guide to the best website builders for small businesses.
Plan | Price paid annually The price per month you'll pay if you choose to be billed annually | Staff accounts | Ecommerce | |
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BEST FOR SMALL SITES | ||||
Free | Light | Core | Business | Business Elite |
1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
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Free Alternatives to Wix
When it comes to free plans, it's hard to beat Wix. The popular website builder is one of the few that offers a free forever plan, although most options on this list do provide some kind of free trial that can get you started.
Wix's Free plan, aptly named ‘Wix Free' shouldn't be disregarded, though. It's a pretty generous package, giving users access to an assigned URL, up to 500MB of storage and bandwidth, and decent customer support options. However, Wix free does feature pesky ads which disrupt the user experience; and Google Analytics tools and online payment options are not included in the tier.
We take our impartial research and analysis seriously, so you can have complete confidence that we're giving you the clearest, most useful product recommendations.
After conducting an initial exploration to identify the most relevant, popular, and established tools in the market, we put them through their paces with hands-on testing to see their real strengths and weaknesses. In this case, we put ten website builder products to the test across 251 areas of investigation.
Based on years of market and user needs research, we've established a website builder testing methodology that scores each product in six main categories of investigation and 33 subcategories; this covers everything from customer feedback to design, ease of use, and more.
Our main testing categories for website builders are:
- Website Features: the capabilities and functionalities offered by a website builder, e.g. blog functionality, SEO capability, and marketing capacity.
- Design: the aesthetic appeal and visual layout of a website created using a website builder. It encompasses aspects such as page templates and customizable themes.
- Customer Score: external customer opinion. This is the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular website builder – the market position and reputation a website builder holds.
- Ease of Use: how user-friendly and intuitive a website builder is for people with varying levels of technical expertise.
- Value for Money: the balance between the cost of a website builder and the benefits it provides. It considers factors such as pricing plans, subscription models, and available features.
- Help and Support: the assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using a website builder.
When it comes to calculating a product's final score, not all testing areas are weighted evenly, as we know some aspects matter more to our readers than others, which are simply "nice to have." After hundreds of hours, our process is complete, and the results should ensure you can find the best solution for your needs.
At Tech.co, we have a number of full-time in-house researchers, who re-run this testing process regularly, to ensure our results remain reflective of the present day.
Verdict: Can You Do Better Than Wix?
If you're looking for a website like Wix, we would recommend using Squarespace. The website builder offers the best design capabilities out of any software we've tested, and its value for money and user experience gives Wix a run for its money too. Shopify is another great option for users looking to sell products online, and it also comes with a 14-day free trial so you can test out the builder before you buy.
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