Best Wix Alternatives of May 2024

Contributor,  Editor

Updated: May 7, 2024, 1:02am

Courtney Reilly-Larke
editor

Reviewed By

Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

Wix is an easy-to-use platform thanks to its drag-and-drop interface. However, it’s not the only one on the market. Wix alternatives should focus on ease of use and have unique features that appeal to small businesses of all sizes. These alternatives should be affordable, offer themes or templates and include a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate.

We analyzed the top Wix competitors on the market across dozens of data points to come up with the best solutions for your situation.

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The Best Wix Alternatives of 2024


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The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

We reviewed 12 website builders using a complex methodology to help you find the 9 best alternatives to Wix. Our ratings looked at factors such as the cost of each provider’s pricing and plans, quality of features, real users’ opinions of each web builder and a final review by our panel of experts. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.


BEST FOR CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS

SquareSpace

SquareSpace

Starting price

$21 CAD per month (paid annually)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

Inventory management

Yes

SquareSpace
Learn More

On Squarespace's Website

Starting price

$21 CAD per month (paid annually)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

Inventory management

Yes

Why We Picked It

Squarespace is a popular Wix alternative for creative professionals. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, beautiful templates and an easy-to-use platform. Users can create professional-looking websites without any prior coding experience with customizable templates, giving them the ability to create a unique website that reflects their personal brand or business.

In addition to website building and hosting, Squarespace also provides users with e-commerce tools, integrations and 24/7 customer support. Whether you’re looking to build a simple portfolio site or a complex online store, Squarespace makes it easy to get online and start achieving your business goals.

Who should use it:

Creative professionals, business owners and anyone who wants a Wix alternative that is easy to use and provides beautiful templates.

Pros & Cons
  • Save up to 30% by paying annually
  • Easy to use
  • Beautiful templates
  • Limited video storage
  • Must pay for the Business tier or higher for e-commerce features

BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Weebly

Weebly

Price range

Free; $7 CAD per month (paid annually)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Weebly

Price range

Free; $7 CAD per month (paid annually)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Why We Picked It

Weebly uses a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to create a website without knowing how to code. It offers a free plan, provided you’re okay with Square ads because it’s owned by Square. Every plan comes with e-commerce features, such as a shopping cart, unlimited items, inventory management and coupons. To remove ads, you need a Professional plan or higher.

To sell digital goods and have pop-up notifications, you must have a paid plan. No matter which tier you choose, you’ll have a user-friendly platform that’s perfect for small businesses.

Who should use it:

Small businesses, online stores and anyone who wants a Wix alternative that is easy to use and provides e-commerce features.

Pros & Cons
  • Offers a free plan
  • Even the free plan comes with a SSL certificate
  • All tiers come with e-commerce features
  • Square ads are displayed on the $7 CAD Personal plan
  • Cannot connect a custom domain with the free plan

BEST FOR ONLINE STORES

Shopify

Shopify

Price range

$1 CAD per month (for three months, then $38 CAD per month)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Shopify
Learn More

On Shopify's Website

Price range

$1 CAD per month (for three months, then $38 CAD per month)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Why We Picked It

Shopify is one of the best Wix alternatives for businesses that want to create an online store. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, beautiful templates, an easy-to-use platform and an SSL certificate. In addition to online stores, Shopify also allows businesses to create a blog, sell products on Facebook, have multiple staff accounts, unlimited products and multiple inventory locations.

There’s no setup fee, it’s PCI compliant and you don’t pay any transaction fees when using Shopify Payments. It also has a comprehensive mobile app, so you can make adjustments and view orders on the go, no matter where you’re at.

Who should use it:

Business owners who want to create an online store, as well as businesses that want to sell products on social media.

Pros & Cons
  • Wide array of advanced e-commerce features
  • Numerous drop shipping integrations
  • No transaction fees if using Shopify Payments
  • You can set up pay-in-four services such as Klarna and Afterpay
  • Free trial is only three days
  • Must pay your monthly subscription fee whether you make sales that month or not
  • If you pay annually or biennially, you’re locked in
  • Not all themes are free like with Wix

BEST FOR CUSTOMIZATION

WordPress

WordPress

Starting Price

Free (requires third-party web hosting)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Depends on web hosting provider

WordPress

Starting Price

Free (requires third-party web hosting)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Depends on web hosting provider

Why We Picked It

With WordPress, you can create a blog or website with themes and templates, or build one entirely from scratch. WordPress is free and open-source software, so anybody may use it and contribute to its evolution. It powers millions of websites around the world but has a larger learning curve compared to any other Wix alternatives on this list. While free, you must pay for a web hosting service, such as DreamHost or Bluehost, for your site to be live on the web.

WordPress is also extendable, meaning that there are thousands of plugins and themes available that can be used to customize a WordPress site. WordPress is a versatile platform that can be used for anything from personal blogs to corporate websites. Thanks to its flexibility and ease of use, WordPress has become the most popular content management system [CMS] in the world.

Who should use it:

Business owners and bloggers who want more flexibility and customization than Wix offers.

Pros & Cons
  • Endless customization options
  • Extend the functionality with widgets and plugins
  • Works for any industry
  • Requires web hosting
  • Steep learning curve

BEST FOR WEB DESIGN SUPPORT

Web.com

Web.com

Starting price

$4.95 USD ($6.71 CAD) per month (for the first year, then $15.99 USD ($21.67 CAD) per month)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

No

Web.com

Starting price

$4.95 USD ($6.71 CAD) per month (for the first year, then $15.99 USD ($21.67 CAD) per month)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

No

Why We Picked It

Web.com isn’t just a website builder—it’s a host, too. Get one hour of free website design support, a drag-and-drop interface, more than 150 beautiful templates, content blocks and analytics. It’s not as user-friendly as Wix, but it’s still relatively easy to use thanks to its drag-and-drop interface. Whether you choose from any of its stunning templates or you want something a little more custom, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Plus, get tech support, business email, a custom domain name and website hosting all in one. Plans start at $4.95 USD ($6.71 CAD) for your first year and jump to regular pricing of $15.99 USD ($21.67 CAD) per month thereafter, which is still a great deal.

Who should use it:

Small businesses, entrepreneurs and anyone who wants a Wix alternative with design support.

Pros & Cons
  • Get a free custom domain for the first year
  • Much more affordable than Wix
  • 99.9% uptime
  • Includes thousands of stock images
  • Price jumps after the first month
  • SSL certificate costs extra
  • Wix offers more well-designed themes

BEST FOR BRANDING

Zyro

Zyro

Starting price

$2.99 USD ($4.05 CAD) per month ($7.99 USD ($10.83 CAD) on renewal)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Zyro

Starting price

$2.99 USD ($4.05 CAD) per month ($7.99 USD ($10.83 CAD) on renewal)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Why We Picked It

Zyro is a good alternative to Wix for those looking for a platform that offers AI branding capabilities. With features such as unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage and a free domain for one year as well as a range of design templates and SEO tools, Zyro makes it easy for users to create a professional-looking website for their business.

Additionally, the platform offers 24/7 customer support, live chat options and integration with analytics tools, such as Google Analytics and Meta Pixel, making it easy for users to track their website’s performance and connect with their audience.

Who should use it:

Zyro is well-suited for businesses that are looking to leverage the power of AI in their branding and website creation process.

Pros & Cons
  • Competitively priced plans
  • Free domain name
  • User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
  • AI logo maker
  • Free email for three months
  • 24/7 support
  • Product limit on e-commerce plans
  • Cannot change templates

BEST FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

GoDaddy

GoDaddy

Starting Price

$11.99 CAD per month (billed annually)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

On some plans

GoDaddy
Learn More

On GoDaddy's Website

Starting Price

$11.99 CAD per month (billed annually)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

On some plans

Why We Picked It

GoDaddy is a reliable web hosting provider that offers a user-friendly website builder that rivals Wix–especially for businesses in the service industry. This is because it offers a helpful appointment booking system that enables businesses to accept online appointments and reservations via their website. This gives businesses an opportunity to land more bookings, while also streamlining the booking process.

GoDaddy also ensures a high level of uptime with its 99.9% service guarantee and provides around-the-clock security monitoring to protect against DDoS attacks and other malicious activity. The platform also offers daily backups and a variety of free apps to help users easily create CMS sites, forums and blogs.

Who should use it:

GoDaddy is a great choice for service-based businesses given its easy-to-use built-in appointment booking features.

Pros & Cons
  • Easy-to-use website builder suitable for beginners
  • Built-in appointment booking feature
  • Daily backups
  • Some plans come with free email and a free domain
  • Pricing increases after first year
  • Low storage limits

BEST FOR START-UPS

IONOS

IONOS

Starting price

$1 USD ($1.36 CAD) per month (for first 6 months)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

IONOS
Learn More

On IONOS' Website

Starting price

$1 USD ($1.36 CAD) per month (for first 6 months)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Why We Picked It

IONOS is a web hosting provider that is well-suited for start-ups, thanks to its competitive introductory pricing and range of features that can help keep a website running smoothly. The platform offers a guaranteed uptime of 99.9% and uses geo-redundant infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted hosting, even during maintenance and outages. It also includes server-side security measures to prevent DDoS attacks.

IONOS also offers scalable performance management, allowing users to adjust the performance of their project as needed. In terms of functionality, IONOS works with a range of popular apps and offers a variety of plugins to enhance a website, including a WordPress plugin and the option for IONOS Managed WordPress Hosting.

Who should use it:

IONOS is ideal for start-ups looking to launch a website on a budget.

Pros & Cons
  • Only $1 USD ($1.36 CAD) per month for the first six months
  • Geo-redundant infrastructure
  • Multilanguage tools built-in
  • Daily backup and recovery
  • 24/7 support
  • Price increases significantly after a year to $10 USD ($13.56 CAD) per month
  • Not as user-friendly as Wix
  • Its cheapest plan has a maximum of 10 web pages

BEST FOR CPANEL ACCESS

HostGator

HostGator

Starting price

$3.75 USD ($5.08 CAD) per month (for the first year; $12.95 USD [$17.56 CAD] per year afterward)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

HostGator
Learn More

On HostGator's Website

Starting price

$3.75 USD ($5.08 CAD) per month (for the first year; $12.95 USD [$17.56 CAD] per year afterward)

Drag-and-drop interface

Yes

SSL certificate included

Yes

Why We Picked It

HostGator is a good alternative for those in need of web hosting for a single website. With 10 GB of disk space and unmetered bandwidth, this platform can accommodate websites of various sizes. It also offers convenient features such as one-click WordPress installs and email service, making it easy to set up and manage a website.

Additionally, HostGator provides chat support for users who need assistance with any issues or questions they may have. The platform also offers a free domain for the first year, which can be a cost-effective option for those looking to establish an online presence.

Who should use it:

HostGator is a great option for anyone who needs an efficient, reliable web hosting provider with cPanel access.

Pros & Cons
  • Low-cost month-to-month plans starting at $3.75 USD ($5.08 CAD) per month
  • Beginner-friendly
  • cPanel access
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Unlimited email addresses
  • No phone chat with its base plan
  • Limited functionality

Compare Wix Alternatives


Company Starting price Drag-and-drop interface SSL certificate included LEARN MORE
Squarespace $21 CAD per month (paid annually) Yes Yes Learn More On Squarespace’s Website
Weebly Free; $7 CAD per month (paid annually) Yes Yes View more
Shopify $1 CAD per month (for three months, then $38 CAD per month) Yes Yes Learn More On Shopify’s Website
WordPress Free (requires third-party web hosting) Yes Depends on web hosting provider View more
Web.com $4.95 per month (for the first month, then $15.99 per month) Yes No View more
Zyro $2.99 USD ($4.05 CAD) per month ($7.99 USD ($10.83 CAD) on renewal) Yes Yes View more
GoDaddy $11.99 CAD per month (billed annually) Yes On some plans Learn More On GoDaddy’s Website
IONOS $1 USD ($1.36 CAD) per month (for the first 6 months) Yes Yes Learn more On Ionos’ Website
HostGator $3.75 USD ($5.08 CAD) per month (for the first year; $12.95 USD [$17.56 CAD] per year afterward) Yes Yes Learn More On HostGator’s Website

Is Wix the Best Website Builder?

Wix is a popular website builder that offers a range of features and tools to help users create a professional-looking website. Whether you are a small business owner, artist, or blogger, Wix has a range of templates and design options to suit your needs. However, it is important to carefully consider your specific needs and budget when choosing a website builder, as there may be other options that better meet your specific requirements.

Wix Pros and Cons

Here are some pros and cons of using Wix as a website builder:

Pros

  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
  • Wide range of templates and design options
  • Built-in SEO tools
  • App market to add additional functionality to your website
  • Affordable pricing plans

Cons

  • Limited flexibility with templates—once you choose a template, you cannot change it without starting from scratch
  • Some features only available with higher-priced plans
  • May have slower loading times compared to other website builders
  • Limited control over website code
  • Cannot switch to a different platform once your site is live

Wix Cost


Wix Plan Name Monthly Cost
Free Free
Light $15 CAD
Core $25 CAD
Business $36 CAD
Business Elite $149 CAD

Wix offers a variety of features for its pricing plans, including a custom domain, a free domain for one year and the option to remove Wix ads. The platform also includes a SSL certificate and a range of storage options, from 2 GB to unlimited. The number of video hours included also varies depending on the pricing plan. If these features align with your needs and the pricing fits within your budget, then Wix could be a good value for what’s included.

However, it is important to carefully consider your specific requirements and compare them to the features offered by other website builders to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.

Learn more: Wix Pricing Plans

Wix Ease of Use

Wix is a website builder that is designed to be easy for anyone to use, regardless of their coding or design experience. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to customize templates and design elements to create a professional-looking website. The platform also offers an array of built-in features and tools, such as SEO tools and an app market, that can help users enhance their website’s functionality.

Wix for Blogging

Wix is a good choice for bloggers because it offers a variety of features specifically tailored for this purpose. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to customize the design and layout of your blog, and it provides a selection of templates and design options to choose from. Additionally, Wix includes built-in features for managing your blog and has a collection of tools and features in its app market that are specifically designed for bloggers.

Wix for E-commerce

Wix is a website builder that offers a number of features specifically designed for e-commerce, though you’ll have to pay for its e-commerce-specific plans. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create an online store and customize its design and layout.

The platform also provides a selection of tools and features to manage your online store, such as the ability to accept payments and track inventory. In addition, Wix integrates with a number of popular e-commerce platforms and includes a selection of marketing and analysis tools to help you grow your online business.


When To Choose a Competitor Over Wix

There are a few situations where it might make sense to choose a competitor over Wix as a website builder. Some potential reasons to consider a different platform include:

  • More advanced design or coding needs: If you have specific design or coding requirements that go beyond what Wix offers, you may want to consider a different platform that provides more advanced capabilities.
  • More control over website code: If you need more control over the code behind your website, Wix may not be the best option as it does not allow you to edit the HTML or CSS directly.
  • Different pricing structure: If Wix’s pricing plans do not fit your budget or do not offer the features you need, you may want to consider a competitor that offers a different pricing structure or set of features.
  • Different user experience: If you find Wix’s interface or user experience to be confusing or difficult to use, you may prefer a different website builder that offers a more intuitive interface.

Methodology

We considered multiple Wix alternatives and compared ease of use, pricing, features and customer reviews to determine the best options. Forbes Advisor Canada researched the industry and analyzed several different companies and plans. We then scored these contenders across four categories of features with 16 different metrics that were weighted to favour features that small business owners find valuable in a web builder.

Pricing

For pricing, we looked at the initial cost of a web builder’s plan and then at all of the plans as a whole, looking at the value each plan provided to users based on their affordability. Plans that started at $10 CAD or less scored higher in our rankings, especially on a month-to-month basis. We also gave additional points to Wix alternatives that offered a clearly stated money-back guarantee. This accounted for 10% of our weighted scoring.

Features

While our article mentions many features attractive to small businesses, we maintained consistency in our ratings by looking for specific features that each Wix alternative should offer. These included offering email and social media marketing tools and drag-and-drop functionality, providing mobile device-responsive websites and giving users unlimited storage and bandwidth. We weighted features at 40% of our total score.

Third-party Reviews

Valuing the opinion of actual users of website builders, we looked at reviews left by customers on third-party review websites G2 and Trustpilot. We used these reviews from real users to gauge their opinion of each platform, based on the number of positive reviews left for each provider that were at least 3.5 out of 5 on each site. These reviews accounted for 20% of the total score.

Expert Analysis

Looking at key factors that included customer support, ease of use, stand-out features, popularity and value for the money, our panel of experts also used customer reviews to come up with a final rating. This expert analysis made up 30% of the total score.

Canadian specific editing and pricing research conducted by Anna Rey.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there a better alternative to Wix?

There are several alternatives to Wix, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Examples of alternatives include Squarespace, Shopify, Weebly, WordPress and IONOS. It’s important to carefully consider your specific needs and budget when choosing a website builder to ensure that you select the best platform for your purposes.

Is there a cheaper option than Wix?

WordPress.org is a popular option that might be cheaper than Wix, depending on which web host you choose. You can find web hosts for under $5 CAD per month. However, it’s important to know that Wix does offer a free plan, though it comes with limited features and you won’t be able to use a custom domain with it.

What is the best website builder for small businesses?

Weebly is our top pick for small businesses because it’s easy to use, has a wide range of features and is affordable. You can create a website in minutes, add shopping carts and accept payments, and track your business’s growth over time.

Is Wix worth paying for?

Whether Wix is worth paying for depends on your specific needs and budget. If you need something that’s quick and easy to set up without a lot of fuss, you might enjoy using it. However, if you’re looking for more flexibility and customization, choose an alternative, such as WordPress.

Is Wix or Squarespace better?

Wix is a website builder known for its easy-to-use interface and a wide variety of design options. Squarespace is known for its refined set of features and tools but its pricing plans tend to be slightly more expensive. Both platforms have their own unique strengths, so it is important to consider your specific needs and budget when deciding which one is the best fit for you.

Is Wix or WordPress better?

Wix is a user-friendly website builder that doesn’t require coding knowledge while WordPress is a more advanced content management system that offers greater flexibility but may be more difficult for those without coding experience to use.

Is Wix or Shopify better?

Wix and Shopify are both popular e-commerce platforms, but they are designed for different purposes. Wix is a website builder that includes e-commerce capabilities while Shopify is primarily an e-commerce platform.

How do I cancel a Wix subscription?

  • Go to the Subscriptions section of your account
  • Find your plan and click the “Show More” icon
  • Click “Cancel Plan”
  • Confirm the cancellation by clicking “Cancel Now” in the pop-up window

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