Choosing the right website builder for your small business can be a challenge with so many options on the market. This article will walk through a comparison of Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, and WordPress to help you make the best decision.
Launching a new business means creating a website that reflects your brand, attracts customers, and delivers the functionality you need. When it comes to choosing the right website builder or platforms, there are many great options out there. Whether you’re looking for ease of use, design freedom, or the ability to grow and scale, each platform has its strengths and limitations. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the five most popular website builders: Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, and WordPress.
While we are WordPress designers and believe strongly in its long-term value for businesses, we understand that not every business is ready to dive into WordPress right away. For new businesses with a tight budget, platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify offer excellent DIY solutions. However, WordPress provides unmatched scalability, making it a powerful option for businesses looking to grow without needing to start from scratch later.
Let’s break down the pros and cons of each platform and explore which one is best for your business needs.
Shopify – The E-Commerce Powerhouse
Shopify is a robust e-commerce platform specifically designed for businesses that want to sell products online. It’s known for its ease of use, reliable hosting, and seamless integration with payment processors and shipping platforms. If your business is focused on retail and you want a site that handles the technical details of online selling, Shopify may be a perfect fit.
Key Features:
- Built-in e-commerce functionality: Shopify’s main strength is its out-of-the-box e-commerce tools, which include payment gateways, inventory management, and shipping integrations.
- App ecosystem: Shopify has a vast app store where you can find additional tools to enhance your site, including SEO apps, marketing tools, and analytics platforms.
- Ease of use: It’s built with business owners in mind, meaning you don’t need to be a web developer to launch and maintain a site.
- 24/7 customer support: Shopify offers excellent support to help troubleshoot issues as you build and grow your store.
Pros:
- Focused on selling: No other platform on this list makes setting up an e-commerce site as simple and efficient as Shopify.
- Scalable: From small boutiques to large enterprises, Shopify can handle large volumes of sales and visitors with ease.
- Security and hosting included: Shopify takes care of hosting, security updates, and PCI compliance, meaning less technical maintenance for you.
Cons:
- Limited design flexibility: While Shopify’s templates are professionally designed, they don’t offer the same level of customization as platforms like Webflow or WordPress.
- Cost: Shopify’s pricing starts around $29/month, but as you add more apps and features, the cost can rise significantly.
- Transaction fees: If you don’t use Shopify Payments, you’ll have to pay additional transaction fees on top of credit card processing fees.
Best for: Businesses focused on e-commerce that want a user-friendly platform for selling online. If you need a reliable, hassle-free way to launch an online store, Shopify excels. However, if your site will have non-commerce features (like blogs or portfolios), you might feel restricted by Shopify’s design limitations.
Squarespace: The Design-Driven Platform
Squarespace is known for its sleek, modern templates and ease of use. It’s a popular choice for creatives—photographers, designers, and artists—because it allows them to create visually appealing websites without needing to write code. It offers some e-commerce functionality but is best suited for showcasing portfolios and personal brands.
Key Features:
- Beautiful templates: Squarespace offers some of the most visually stunning website templates on the market, all of which are mobile-responsive and highly polished.
- Drag-and-drop editor: The platform’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for beginners to customize their site without touching code.
- Basic e-commerce tools: You can sell products through Squarespace’s e-commerce system, but it’s not as robust as Shopify’s tools.
- All-in-one platform: Hosting, security, and updates are all included in the monthly fee, making it a convenient option for those who want an easy-to-manage website.
Pros:
- Elegant design: If aesthetics are your primary concern, Squarespace’s templates are hard to beat.
- Ease of use: It’s beginner-friendly, making it accessible for users who are less tech-savvy.
- Built-in marketing tools: Squarespace offers basic SEO tools, email marketing integrations, and analytics.
Cons:
- Limited customization: Squarespace templates are stunning, but they’re also somewhat rigid. Customizing beyond the default settings often requires code, which contradicts its user-friendly appeal.
- Not ideal for complex e-commerce: While you can sell products through Squarespace, it’s not designed for larger or more complex e-commerce operations.
- Cost: Prices start at $16/month for personal websites, but for advanced e-commerce features, expect to pay upwards of $46/month.
Best for: Creative professionals and businesses that prioritize beautiful design over deep customization. Squarespace is a great choice if you need a portfolio, blog, or basic site and want to manage everything easily in one place. If you are happy with the templates available and you have the time to DIY, then Squarespace might be right for you.
Wix: The User-Friendly Option with Maximum Flexibility
Wix is a website builder known for its ease of use and flexible design capabilities. It offers drag-and-drop design, making it a great option for beginners. It also boasts a massive library of apps and features, giving users a lot of creative freedom without needing technical skills.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop builder: Wix’s drag-and-drop interface allows you to place elements wherever you want on the page, giving you more creative freedom compared to Squarespace.
- App marketplace: With Wix, you have access to hundreds of apps to extend your site’s functionality, from e-commerce to social media integrations.
- Wix ADI: This feature uses AI to build a website for you after answering a few questions about your business.
- E-commerce features: While Wix does offer e-commerce functionality, it’s best suited for small online stores and is not as powerful as Shopify.
Pros:
- Extremely flexible design: Wix allows you to customize your site with very few restrictions, making it ideal for users who want to play around with layout and design.
- Free plan available: Wix offers a free version with Wix branding, making it an attractive option for those who want to get started with zero upfront cost.
- Beginner-friendly: Even with all the design options, Wix remains very accessible for beginners who want to create a site without learning how to code.
Cons:
- Not as scalable: As your business grows, you may find Wix’s functionality and performance lacking compared to more robust platforms like WordPress or Shopify.
- Inconsistent mobile design: Changes you make to the desktop version don’t always translate well to the mobile version, requiring extra attention to make sure both versions are optimized.
- Limited SEO capabilities: While Wix has improved its SEO tools, it still doesn’t offer the same level of control as WordPress.
Best for: Small businesses, freelancers, and creative entrepreneurs who want an easy, flexible platform to create their site quickly. Wix is ideal for those who prioritize ease of use and design flexibility but don’t need a site that can scale significantly as their business grows.
You will still need to invest quite a bit of time and research to work with and build your site on this platform on your own, it can be done. There are even website design agencies in West Michigan who specialize in Wix websites. We do not support or work on Wix websites here at VanDenBerg Web + Creative.
Webflow: The Designer’s Playground
Webflow is a powerful platform aimed at designers who want complete creative freedom and are comfortable working with advanced design and development features. It combines the ease of a website builder with the flexibility of front-end code, making it a popular choice for professional designers and developers.
Key Features:
- Full design control: Webflow’s visual interface allows for pixel-perfect design, giving you the same control as hand-coded sites without needing to write code.
- CMS (Content Management System): Webflow’s CMS is powerful, allowing for dynamic content and complex layouts. It’s ideal for blogs, portfolios, and other content-heavy sites.
- E-commerce capabilities: While not as robust as Shopify, Webflow does offer e-commerce features that allow you to sell products and manage inventory.
- Clean code: Webflow generates clean, exportable HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making it an excellent choice for those who might want to eventually move their site to a custom solution.
Pros:
- Unmatched design freedom: No other platform offers the same level of control over layout, animations, and interactions.
- Powerful CMS: If you have a content-heavy site, Webflow’s CMS makes managing dynamic content a breeze.
- Exportable code: For businesses that may want to move to a custom-built site in the future, Webflow’s exportable code is a valuable feature.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve: Webflow’s design flexibility comes at a cost—it’s not as easy to use as platforms like Wix or Squarespace, and beginners may find it overwhelming.
- Higher cost: Webflow’s pricing starts at $12/month for basic sites, but advanced features like CMS and e-commerce come with higher costs.
- Limited plugins: Unlike WordPress, Webflow doesn’t have a massive plugin ecosystem, so adding functionality beyond what’s built-in may require custom code or workarounds.
Best for: Professional designers, developers, and businesses that need high levels of customization and control over design. Webflow is ideal for those who prioritize advanced design elements, animations, and interactions, and who are comfortable with a more technical platform. If you want complete creative freedom and the ability to export clean code for future development, Webflow is a powerful choice. However, it may not be the best fit for beginners or businesses needing a simple, easy-to-manage site.
WordPress: The Long-Term Solution for Growth
WordPress is the most widely used content management system (CMS) in the world, powering over 40% of all websites. One of the key advantages of WordPress is its flexibility and scalability. Unlike platforms like Wix or Squarespace, WordPress is an open-source platform, meaning you have full control over every aspect of your site. With thousands of themes, plugins, and customization options, WordPress can handle everything from small blogs to large-scale e-commerce sites.
WordPress comes in two versions: WordPress.com (a managed platform with hosting included) and WordPress.org (self-hosted, where you handle your own hosting and site management). For full flexibility, we’ll focus on WordPress.org, which allows you to customize and scale your site as your business grows.
Key Features:
- Endless customization: WordPress offers thousands of themes and plugins, allowing you to create any type of website, whether it’s a blog, e-commerce store, portfolio, or membership site.
- Scalability: WordPress can grow with your business. You can start with a simple site and add features, such as e-commerce, forums, or online courses, without needing to rebuild from scratch.
- SEO capabilities: WordPress is well-known for being SEO-friendly, with a range of SEO plugins that give you control over metadata, schema markup, and more.
- E-commerce with WooCommerce: If you want to add e-commerce functionality, WooCommerce (a plugin) integrates seamlessly with WordPress to provide a full-featured online store.
- Community support: With a massive global community, WordPress offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums for troubleshooting any issues.
Pros:
- Complete control: WordPress gives you full control over your site’s design, functionality, and hosting. It’s ideal for businesses that want to grow and evolve their websites over time.
- Huge plugin library: From SEO to security to e-commerce, WordPress offers plugins for virtually every functionality you can imagine.
- Open-source: As an open-source platform, WordPress is free to use (though you’ll need to pay for hosting). You own your website entirely, unlike some closed platforms that can limit your options.
- Long-term solution: WordPress is built to scale with your business. As your needs grow, you can add more features and functionalities without needing a complete rebuild.
Cons:
- Learning curve: While WordPress offers limitless flexibility, it can be overwhelming for beginners who are unfamiliar with website management and technical aspects.
- Maintenance: Because WordPress is self-hosted, you’ll need to manage your own hosting, security updates, and backups. While plugins can help automate these tasks, it does require more involvement than platforms like Shopify or Squarespace.
- Cost: While WordPress itself is free, you’ll need to pay for hosting, premium themes, and plugins, which can add up. However, the cost is often balanced out by the platform’s flexibility and scalability.
Best for: Businesses looking for a long-term, scalable solution. WordPress is ideal for companies that anticipate growth and need a platform that can evolve with them. It’s also a great option for businesses that want full control over their website, from design to functionality. Whether you’re starting with a simple blog or building a complex e-commerce store, WordPress provides a solid foundation that can be expanded without starting from scratch.
Comparing the Platforms: Which One is Right for You?
When deciding between Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, and WordPress, it’s essential to consider both your current needs and long-term goals. Here’s a quick summary to help you choose the right platform:
Shopify: Best for businesses focused on e-commerce and selling products online. If your primary goal is to run an online store and you want everything taken care of (hosting, security, payments), Shopify is a solid, hassle-free option. It’s not as customizable as other platforms for non-commerce features, but it’s unmatched in its e-commerce functionality.
Squarespace: Ideal for creative professionals or small businesses that prioritize design. Squarespace’s beautiful templates and easy-to-use interface make it a great choice for portfolios, blogs, and small e-commerce sites. However, if you need more advanced customization or scalability, you may find Squarespace limiting.
Wix: Great for beginners or small businesses that need flexibility in design without technical complexity. Wix offers plenty of creative freedom and is easy to use, making it perfect for freelancers, small businesses, and startups. However, it may not be the best option for businesses looking to scale, as it lacks the advanced features and performance of WordPress.
Webflow: The best choice for designers and developers who want full creative control. Webflow offers unmatched design flexibility and allows you to build sites that look completely custom. However, the platform has a steep learning curve and may be overkill for smaller businesses with simpler needs.
WordPress: The ultimate platform for businesses that want a long-term solution. WordPress’s scalability, flexibility, and control make it a powerful choice for any type of website. While it has a steeper learning curve and requires more maintenance, it’s the best option for businesses that expect to grow and want a platform that can grow with them.
Why We Recommend WordPress for Growing Businesses
At the end of the day, each platform has its strengths, and the best choice depends on your unique needs and goals. For new businesses on a budget, platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify provide great DIY options that allow you to get started quickly without technical expertise.
However, as your business grows, you may find that these platforms can’t scale to meet your evolving needs. That’s where WordPress comes in.
Our Favorite Feature of WordPress is its ability to grow with your business. Unlike other platforms, WordPress doesn’t limit you. You can start with a simple website and add more features—whether it’s e-commerce, a membership site, or a blog—without needing to rebuild the entire site from scratch. This makes WordPress the ideal choice for businesses looking for a long-term solution that can evolve with them.
As WordPress website designers, we specialize in helping businesses make the most of this powerful platform. Whether you’re starting with a basic site or planning for future growth, we can help you design, build, and maintain a WordPress website that meets your needs now and into the future.
If you’re ready to explore the possibilities with WordPress or want to discuss how we can help you transition when you outgrow your current platform, feel free to get in touch with us. We’d love to help you build a site that grows with your business!