Which Website Builder Should I Use for My Online Business?
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Choosing a website platform is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your online business. After working with clients on WordPress, Showit, Squarespace, and Wix, I can tell you there’s no one-size-fits-all solution—but there’s likely a perfect fit for your specific needs.
What to Consider Before Choosing a Website Builder
- How much time can you invest in learning your platform?
- What features do you need now (and might need later)?
- Are you comfortable handling technical maintenance?
- What’s your budget for website tools and resources?
Let’s take a closer look at each platform so you can make the best choice for your business.
Wix: Quick Setup for Beginners
Wix prioritizes getting you online quickly with its drag-and-drop builder and extensive template library. While it may not offer the same growth potential as WordPress or design freedom as Showit, it’s a practical starting point if you need a simple site fast.
For Wix templates, check out:
Squarespace: Clean Design with Some Limits
Squarespace is known for its polished, professional templates and all-in-one platform. I admit I sometimes feel restricted by its design limitations, but Squarespace is a solid choice if you want a sleek site without much technical hassle.
My go-to Squarespace resources:
- Squarestylist and Inside the Square for learning the platform
- Kate Scott and Ley Design Studio for templates
Showit: Creative Freedom Meets Easy Design
If you’re visually driven and want pixel-perfect control without dealing with code, Showit might be your perfect match. You can fully customize both desktop and mobile layouts using their intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
While WordPress is considered the gold standard for blogging (and you should probably have a blog), Showit actually leverages WordPress’s power for its blogging feature. You’ll design your blog layout in Showit, but all your content and metadata live within a connected WordPress account—giving you the best of both worlds (cue Hannah Montana theme song).
Plus, unlike a self-hosted WordPress site, you don’t have to handle security, updates, or backups yourself. Showit takes care of all that technical maintenance for you.
Resources I trust for Showit:
- Davey & Krista for templates and courses (i.e. their excellent Showit SEO Course)
- Brand Me Gorgeous for both templates, courses, and her Site Canvas Studio membership
- Penguin Designing for educational resources and templates
WordPress: Maximum Control and Flexibility
WordPress.org is my platform of choice, both for my own site and many of my clients. While it has the steepest learning curve of these options, it offers unmatched flexibility and control over your site.
There are numerous ways to build your WordPress site*, and I’ve gathered some favorite resources for each approach:
Getting Started with WordPress
- WP Wonder Lab’s free WordPress 101 – The Fundamentals course offers essential knowledge for beginners
- The WordPress DIY StartUp Kit (also from WP Wonder Lab) provides a more comprehensive foundation
Building with Kadence
In my 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge, I recommend using the free Kadence theme. To help you make the most of Kadence, check out:
- Restored316 Designs’ shop, with templates, add-on block sets, learning resources, and more
- Nicola Tweed’s excellent Kadence tutorials
Elementor Resources
Elementor is a very popular page builder that you can use to build your site for free. I recommend exploring the following:
- Web Squadron’s Elementor Course and YouTube channel
- Bluchic’s beautiful Elementor templates
*Note: When I talk about WordPress here, I’m specifically referring to WordPress.org—the self-hosted version that gives you complete control over your site. WordPress.com is a different service that hosts your site for you but limits your customization options. You can read more about the differences here.
Choosing Your Website Platform
Before we talk about costs, here’s a quick summary based on common needs:
- Need a simple portfolio? Squarespace’s polished templates work well
- Want creative design control? Showit gives you pixel-perfect customization
- Planning a robust blog or online shop? WordPress offers the most flexibility
- Just need a basic business site? Wix gets you online quickly
Platform Costs: What to Expect
Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing a website platform. Let’s break down what you’ll actually need to budget for…
Hosted Platforms (Showit, Squarespace, Wix)
These are all-in-one solutions where your monthly fee covers hosting, security, updates, and basic features. While this simplifies budgeting, you might need to upgrade your plan as your site grows if you discover you need additional features. Each platform offers different pricing tiers—check their current plans and pricing to find the best fit for your needs:
Self-Hosted WordPress
WordPress.org itself is free, but you’ll need to budget for:
- Hosting (ranges from basic shared hosting to managed WordPress hosting)
- Domain name
- Premium themes or page builders
- Essential plugins
- Security solutions
While WordPress can be more cost-effective long-term, especially as your site grows, it requires more upfront planning for your budget.
Ready to Start with WordPress.org?
If you’re interested in WordPress but feeling overwhelmed, I’ve created something special for you. My free 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge breaks down the process into manageable steps, delivered right to your inbox.
As a former computer science teacher, I know how to make technical concepts approachable. Over 30 days, you’ll receive 20 email lessons covering:
- Essential WordPress basics
- Setting up your site properly
- Creating engaging content
- Customizing your design
- Launching successfully
Introducing the 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge
Feeling a bit unsure about diving into WordPress?
I’ve got just the thing to ease you into it: My 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge.
It’s a straightforward, step-by-step guide sent straight to your inbox, designed to take the overwhelm out of the equation. Over 30 days, you’ll receive 20 lessons covering everything from the basics of branding to the specifics of setting up the tech.
As a former computer science teacher, I strive to break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand steps so that you can actually get your site launched by this time next month! You’ll get practical advice and tasks along with a curated list of resources for when you want to learn more about a topic.
And the best part? It’s free! Also, since the lessons arrive in your inbox, you can come back to each step at any time if you want to make some changes or just need a little extra time.
