Squarespace vs WordPress vs Showit vs Wix: How to pick the right website platform for your business
Choosing the right website platform for your business can seem overwhelming.
If you’re a coach, consultant, freelancer or any other service provider, you’re likely wondering which website platform is the right fit for you and your business.
For entrepreneurs, it really comes down to the main 4 website platforms: Squarespace, WordPress, Showit and Wix. There are pros and cons to each one, so in this blog post, I’ll outline the differences between each platform and help you figure out which one is the best fit for your needs.
How to figure out the best website platform for your business
Website Platform Choice: Squarespace
If you're looking for a platform that is easy to use, beautiful out of the box, and has a wide range of templates to choose from, Squarespace* may be the best option for you.
Squarespace is designed to be a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder with lots of design possibilities, which means that it’s simple enough for non-techy non-designers to get a polished website created and flexible enough to allow techy, designers to have fun! I’ll be upfront here: Squarespace is my favorite platform to work with for my clients because I can create stunning, unique designs with a little clever designing and code and then hand it over to my non-techy clients to confidently use and update themselves.
Squarespace is a hosted platform which means you don't need to purchase hosting separately - this cost is included in your monthly subscription. There’s also no need for additional plugins to get the basic functionality you’ll need to run your business website, so there’s no need for regular updates and backups, which saves you a ton of time (and potentially money) in the long run.
There’s also room to grow with Squarespace as they have integrated with Acuity to provide you with built-in scheduling, making it a very attractive pro feature for coaches and consultants booking calls regularly, and there’s a fairly robust e-commerce option if you decide to start selling products on your website. Squarespace is also great for blogging if you’re planning on using organic content for your marketing strategy.
Website Platform Choice: WordPress
WordPress is probably the most popular website platform as it is very low-cost and offers a lot of control over your website design and functionality. There are actually two WordPress options: WordPress.org, a paid open-source platform with tons of functionality and options to add visual builders like Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder and others while WordPress.com is a simple, free website platform with much more limited functionality.
WordPress is an excellent choice if you have the time and resources to manage it since it is a self-hosted option which means you will also need to purchase hosting separately from a provider like SiteGround or BlueHost.
WordPress can be a little more difficult to set up than some other options and you may need to pay for a visual builder and additional plugins to bring your vision to life. The good thing is that WordPress is such a popular platform there are but there are plenty of tutorials and support available online.
With WordPress, you can also incorporate e-commerce sales into your website using the WooCommerce plugin.
Website Platform Choice: Showit
If you want a platform that has robust drag-and-drop design capabilities, Showit may be the best option for you.
Showit is a hosted platform which means you don't need to purchase hosting separately - this is included in your monthly subscription. It was originally created for photographers and the interface is similar to the Adobe design products, so if you’re familiar with Photoshop or Illustrator you’ll be right at home with the Showit platform. However, if you’re less comfortable with design software there may be a larger learning curve than some of the other options out there.
Showit doesn’t have blog or e-commerce functionality built-in, but you can easily integrate with WordPress.
While Showit is great for design, first-time or non-techy users can find the overall interface difficult to navigate.
Website Platform Choice: Wix
Wix is a fairly popular platform for beginner businesses and non-techy users since the drag-and-drop builder interface is very simple and relatively intuitive.
Wix is a hosted platform, which saves you needing to purchase and manage hosting yourself. Where Wix shines is in its simplicity, so if you’re looking for a very quick and simple website to create and operate, Wix might be the right choice for you. However, if you’re looking for flexibility with the look, feel and functionality of your website you’ll quickly hit up against the limitations of this platform.
Wix does have blogging and e-commerce functionality, both of which are great for starting out but won’t be as robust as other options.
Website Platform Choice: WebFlow
WebFlow is an exciting website platform that allows you to design out-of-the-box websites without learning how to code. And while it is a fun design tool for non-developers, WebFlow is quite a bit more complex to use than some of the other platforms listed here.
WebFlow is a hosted platform and has blogging and e-commerce capabilities, but where it really shines is in the design flexibility, which once mastered, is truly limitless. A good understanding of HTML and CSS code goes a long way when designing on WebFlow so it isn’t a platform for the faint of heart as I share in more detail in this article comparing Squarespace and WebFlow which covers when each of these platforms is the better choice.
So, which is the best website platform?
This is entirely a personal question and will depend on your budget, skill, technical abilities and preferences. Some people prefer Squarespace*, while others swear by WordPress. The best website platform is the one you’ll find the easiest to use and that supports your business needs. It's also important to look at the cost involved and any features you might need before deciding which platform to settle on.
As a small business owner, I personally choose to work with Squarespace because I’ve found it to be the best compromise between design flexibility, robust functionality and super user-friendly!
Regardless of which website platform you decide to pick, you’re going to need a strategy to figure out what you want to put on your website to actually find and book clients. See how well your website is working for your business with my fun free website quiz!
