Blogging is a fantastic way to share your knowledge with the world and reach the people most likely to benefit from your expertise.

Better yet, if you’re able to build an audience, it could become a lucrative pursuit with the potential to earn you an income online!

Moreover, starting your blog is easier than ever, thanks to the many free blogging platforms available.

With so many options to choose from, we’ve gone ahead and made a list of the best ones, including WordPress, the best blogging platform ever.

The 8 Best Blogging Platforms in 2022

Are you ready to start your blogging journey?

The following blogging platforms are the best ones you can publish content with in 2022.

So let’s learn what makes them such great choices for people looking to start commercial or personal blogs.

1. WordPress.org – Best Overall

WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com, another entrant on our list) tops our list as the best blogging platform overall.

Powering an astounding 43% of websites on the internet (probably including the one you’re on right now), it’s the world’s most popular blogging platform.

Surf the web, and you’ll likely land on at least one WordPress site.

There are many reasons why WordPress.org is so popular: first, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly free blogging platforms available.

Thanks to an easy-to-navigate user interface, you can kickstart a blog within minutes of downloading and installing this open-source software.

Second, WordPress.org is highly customizable. Not only are there thousands of free and paid themes available, but there are thousands of plugins too.

You can extend your WordPress blog with tools that help optimize your site for search engines, including tools that monitor site loading speed, produce opt-in pop-ups, and more.

Third, WordPress.org is the best free blogging platform because it integrates with other SEO software like Google Analytics (to monitor blog performance and traffic) and Google Adsense.

In addition to using the platform to publish articles, you can use other software with it to rank your articles on Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

Fourth, many hosting providers offer automatic WordPress installation with their subscription offers, going as far as to throw in a free domain name to sweeten the deal.

WordPress.org is just that ubiquitous.

Unfortunately, WordPress.org gets more complicated once you get past the initial functionality, so be forewarned: there’s a learning curve.

Also, it doesn’t offer a built-in feature for backing up your files, which is unfortunate, given how much content you can create with this platform.

Pros:

• Incredibly user-friendly for beginners and advanced users
• Tons of free software plugins
• Huge selection of free themes
• Amazing for SEO
• Lets you easily monitor blog traffic through integration with Google’s Analytics tool
• The best self-hosted solution

Cons:

• High learning curve once you move past its basic functionality
• No option for automatic backup or security

2. Joomla – Runner-Up

Joomla earns the runner-up position on our list for being the best alternative to WordPress.org.

This open-source Content Management System (CMS) is excellent for building blogs that foster community and is packed with features that make the process smooth.

The Joomla blogging platform has many useful functions that’ll make writing content much easier.

For example, you can create custom blog post types and publish your content in multiple languages.

Additionally, Joomla lets you manage potentially hundreds of users.

Moreover, this CMS has a huge collection of extensions to make blogging easier.

One of the most popular ones is the EasyBlog by StackIdeas, which introduces a drag-and-drop editor that’s cleaner than the one Joomla provides out-of-the-box.

Additionally, the EasyBlog extension lets you make automatic posts to your social media platforms.

And if you know how to code, you’ll feel right at home using Joomla.

Because this blogging platform is great for building complex websites, you can customize it using your coding know-how.

So if you believe your blog has the potential to become much bigger in the future, then Joomla is an excellent way to customize it as you scale.

Unfortunately, Joomla’s functionality means its learning curve is much steeper than WordPress.org.

As such, it may take more time to get up and running.

Moreover, even though Joomla has many extensions, the number still pales in comparison to what you can download when using its competitor WordPress.

Pros:

• Supports helpful blogging extensions like EasyBlog
• Excellent for building community-centric blogs
• Manage hundreds of users
• Lets you publish content in different languages
• Can create custom blog posts

Cons:

• Higher learning curve than competitor CMSs
• Not as many extensions as WordPress

3. Drupal – Best for Large Companies

If you run a large company that needs advanced features from your self-hosted blogging CMS, then Drupal might interest you.

This blogging platform goes above and beyond the basic blogging tools commonly included in other blogging platforms, making it a must-have for enterprise organizations in the blogging space.

Drupal provides hundreds of features out-the-box, and once you get past the initial stage of familiarizing yourself with the platform’s quirks, you’ll unlock its true blogging power.

Specifically, you’re not limited to creating blog posts on Drupal, as the CMS can create a variety of content types.

For example, you can create page templates, views, blocks, and so on.

Another of Drupal’s amazing features is its user permissions, which are more advanced than other CMS options.

You can give specific access to your blog admins, editors, and other personnel, so they can focus on their tasks without getting in the way of their teammates.

And with many other modules and features, Drupal can help you manage a blog that grows in complexity.

Additionally, it’s quite versatile in the ways you can use it.

It offers security tools for protecting your blog, accessibility tools for reaching disabled audiences, automation tools for marketing, and more.

Of course, Drupal’s complexity is its main drawback.

This blogging platform isn’t for beginner bloggers and will require that you put in the time and effort to become comfortable with its capabilities.

Moreover, small businesses and hobbyist bloggers won’t see the need for all its features.

Pros:

• Has features that accommodate the needs of enterprise-level organizations
• One of the most comprehensive blogging platforms
• Capable of creating many different content types
• Provides advanced user permissions for blog team members
• Manages complex blogs with ease

Cons:

• Too complicated for beginner bloggers
• Small businesses might not need all the features it provides

4. HubSpot CMS Hub – Most Versatile

Whether you run a small, medium, or enterprise website, the HubSpot CMS Hub can accommodate your needs.

It makes it to our list for being the most versatile blogging platform in 2022, thanks to being an all-in-one blogging tool.

HubSpot provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and marketing tools, with their CMS being the final component in that suite.

Online businesses that want to engage in content marketing through a blog can use the HubSpot CMS with the CRM and marketing tools.

In other words, you get all the tools you need in one place, including a free SSL certificate.

Usually, blogging platforms rely on integrations, plugins, and third-party software when managing the marketing aspect of the blog.

For example, you’d need to subscribe to third-party tools like SendInBlue to cultivate an email list.

However, with HubSpot, you have everything you need to build and maintain your list, distribute your blog’s newsletter, etc.

In fact, you can curate content based on your visitor’s past browsing behavior.

And the CMS Hub’s website builder lets you customize your site, making it easy to create a branding experience that resonates with your audience.

It’s too bad HubSpot doesn’t offer a free version of its CMS.

And unfortunately, HubSpot users who want to migrate their site to another CMS will find the process difficult at best.

Pros:

• CMS and marketing tools in one place
• Useful to small, medium, and enterprise websites
• The content curation feature makes it easy to personalize visitor experiences
• Includes a website builder for customizable blog
• Includes SSL certificate for blog protection

Cons:

• No free version of Hubspot’s content management system
• Complicated migration system from Hubspot to another CMS.

5. Medium.com – Best Hybrid Platform

Want to get your writing in front of a huge audience without setting up a website or buying a domain name?

If so, you might want to look into Medium.com.

Subscribing for a Medium account gives you the best of both worlds, i.e., a combined blogging and social media platform.

With Medium, you can get your content out into the world without worrying about web hosts, site building, pre-designed templates, or other incidentals associated with a traditional blog.

Instead, you get a completely free Medium.com subdomain associated with your account, letting you focus on what matters: writing great content.

Additionally, you might appreciate the social network aspect of this platform if you’re job hunting.

Medium.com has a huge readership, some of whom recruit for companies, making it an excellent place to create blogs demonstrating your skills and expertise.

For example, aspiring web developers use Medium.com to showcase their coding knowledge.

Unlike other free blogging platforms, Medium provides two ways to earn from your blog: through Member reading time and referred memberships.

With Member reading time, you earn money the more time Medium members spend reading the content you produce.

Meanwhile, referred memberships earn you money when you refer new members to Medium.

While Medium.com does away with the need to find ways to drive traffic to a self-hosted blog, there are downsides to the arrangement.

Mainly, it isn’t very customizable.

Also, it’s one to avoid if you plan to make money through blogging, as you can’t put your own ads on it, etc.

And you can get suspended for unwitting violations of Medium’s terms of service.

Pros:

• You can blog without worrying about setting up a website
• Excellent platform for job seekers looking to showcase their knowledge
• Built-in traffic source, thanks to a high readership
• Keeps your focus on the content creation aspect of blogging
• Completely free to join

Cons:

• Few options to make money (if at all)
• Website layout isn’t very customizable
• Your blog can be suspended because of Medium.com’s whims

Bottom Line

Medium.com is a fantastic hybrid blogging platform for showcasing your know-how to prospective employers.

Consider using it to get your thoughts out there if you’re looking for a job.

6. WordPress.com – Best for Beginners

Often confused with the self-hosted version (which ends with .org), WordPress.com makes our list for being the best blogging platform for beginner bloggers.

If you’re considering testing the blogging waters, this platform is the place to get your feet wet (possibly before moving on to the self-hosted WordPress).

But before we continue, let’s settle the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org once and for all: in summary, the former platform is a blog-hosting service, whereas the latter is a self-hosting one.

In other words, you won’t need to get a hosting provider when you sign up for a free WordPress.com account.

Additionally, WordPress.com is easier to use than WordPress.org.

You don’t have to worry about a complicated backend, plugins, themes, and other website building tools and add-ons.

Once you’ve set up your account, you can start creating the content that’ll go on your WordPress.com subdomain.

With WordPress hosting your blog, you’d think perks like having your own domain name would be out of reach (as it is with other platforms like Medium.com).

However, you can upgrade your subscription for a small fee to get premium features like a custom domain name and extra file storage space.

But it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns with WordPress.com.

This platform suffers from the same issue all free platforms face, which is a tradeoff between a free account and web address autonomy.

In other words, you’ll find WordPress.com limiting in the ways you can grow your blog and find yourself looking to its older sister, the more robust WordPress.org.

Pros:

• The best blogging platform for beginners
• Easier to use than WordPress.org
• Blog-hosting service eliminates the need for a web host
• Custom domain name available with the paid subscription plan
• No setup or plugins required

Cons:

• Limited features compared to WordPress.org
• You don’t own your blog

7. Wix – Best for e-Commerce

Wix.com earns the distinction of 2022’s best blogging platform for e-commerce, thanks to its website builder and drag-and-drop functionality.

With a free Wix account, you can launch your blog in no time, making it ideal for beginners and small business owners who prioritize ease of use over functionality.

The Wix.com platform gives blog owners many options for building an e-commerce site.

For example, the Wix Editor comes with more than 700 pre-designed free blog templates, so you can select and modify a theme.

Alternatively, you can try Wix’s Artificial Design Intelligence feature, which builds a site for you with the information filled in a questionnaire.

Additionally, you can build your blog from scratch if you’ve got technical skills (i.e., HTML and CSS knowledge).

And when you’re happy with your design, you can set up subdomains that distinguish your online store from the store’s blog.

Wix.com excels at multimedia posts.

You can embed photos and videos into each blog post, showcasing your store’s products to potential customers.

Moreover, posts can be grouped into topics, making your content marketing efforts more organized.

And it’s easy to use the email tool to push content to blog subscribers.

The only drawback to using Wixcom is it isn’t as comprehensive as other blogging platforms.

For example, it lacks features you’d find in a CMS like WordPress.

Pros:

• Easily build a complex site/professional blog using the Wix website builder
• Wix’s Artificial Design Intelligence lets you build a blog using the power of AI
• Wix Editor offers a fantastic selection of themes and templates
• Nice theme customization options
• Wix Email tool lets you push notifications to existing customers

Cons:

• The free plan is extremely limited compared to the paid plans
• You’re stuck with the template you chose when you first created your blog
• Lacks functionality commonly found with most content management systems

8. Blogger – Best for Hobbyist Bloggers

Rounding out our list of best blogging platforms in 2022 is Blogger, Google’s free blogging service.

No best blogging platforms list would be complete without a nod to Blogger, as it’s one of the oldest blogging platforms, pre-dating WordPress.org by a couple of years.

However, it makes our list for being the best for hobbyist bloggers.

Before Blogger became Google-owned, it was launched by a company called Pyra Labs at the tail end of the ’90s.

Since Google’s acquisition, a Google account is all you need to start a blog with Blogger.

That’s right—if you have a Google account already, you’re all set to start blogging using Blogger!

Blogger is one of the most low-stakes blogging platforms available.

Not only is it free to use, but you can also start a blog around your hobby within minutes of signing up.

Moreover, it handles multimedia files well, meaning you can embed images and videos into your Blogger web pages.

Unfortunately, Blogger isn’t a platform you’d turn to if you were creating a serious business site as a free-to-use tool.

So you won’t get a lot of customizability or extensions, and neither can you make money with it the way other platforms make it so easy.

Pros:

• Excellent for hobbyist bloggers
• Free to use
• You can sign up to Blogger using your Google account
• Setup a blog within minutes
• Old blogging platform owned by Google

Cons:

• Not suitable for creating a business-oriented website

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Blogging Platform

When choosing a blogging platform, it’s important to consider the following factors to get your blog off to a good start:

1. Abundance of Themes

Your blog’s theme is what your visitors will see when they land on your site, i.e., how all the information on your blog will be laid out.

If you’re particular about making a good first impression or creating a specific feeling among your readership, you’ll need to consider a blogging platform that provides abundant themes.

Look at it this way: themes aren’t one size fits all, meaning a theme designed for blogs about boxing may not be the best fit for blogs centered around gardening.

Therefore, prioritize blogging platforms that offer a generous selection of free and premium themes.

2. Plugins and Integrations

Even though most blogging platforms are packed to the teeth with features to help you start blogging quickly, there may still be a specific blog feature you need that isn’t included.

Luckily, a lot of web developers offer software plugins as digital products whose purpose is to extend the platform.

Additionally, if you plan on making money with your blog, you’ll need to choose a platform that integrates with software like Google Analytics to help you understand who your blog’s visitors are and where they’re coming from.

3. Editor

You’ll be interacting with your chosen blogging platform’s content editor a lot, so it’s important that it agree with you from the onset.

A good blogging platform should have an easily navigable content editor that allows you to structure your content in a hierarchy that search engines can follow.

Also, you should be able to preview your content before publishing and remove page components like widgets that your pages have no use for.

4. Search Engine Optimization Tools

SEO features are essential for any business-minded blogger.

If you want to use your blog for online entrepreneurship, you should consider blogging platforms that either has them built-in or can integrate with them.

SEO tools like lead capture pop-ups, site loading speed calculators, and more will make your blog SEO-friendly, resulting in more traffic and visibility.

Note that you won’t have to consider this factor if you’re not self-hosting your own site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

With free and self-hosted options to choose from, you can begin your blogging journey with any of the blogging platforms mentioned in our list.

WordPress.org is our number one recommendation because it ticks all the boxes a good blogging platform should, including SEO functionality, ease of use, and more.

It’s the world’s most popular blogging platform for a reason and provides a more streamlined path to blog profitability if you plan on making money with your blog.

A content management system (CMS) is software that helps you create and manage your website’s content.

It makes it easy to publish articles, update pages, and add images.

Without a CMS, you would have to manually edit your website’s HTML code every time you want to make a change.

This process would become time-consuming and difficult for non-techies.

In this article, we discuss the most effective content management systems.

We’ll cover both regular websites and eCommerce sites, so you can find the best CMS for your needs.

We’ll also show you why WordPress.org comes in as our top selection.

An Overview of Content Management Systems

Let’s quickly review the overall concepts behind content management systems.

What Is a CMS?

Content management systems are software programs that help you create, manage, and publish content.

There are many different types of content management systems available, ranging from simple to complex.

Some common features include the ability to do the following:

• Create and manage users
• Create and manage content
• Format and publish content on the web
• Store and organize content
• Search for content
• And much more

What Role Does a CMS Play in Marketing?

A CMS can be an essential tool for marketing teams.

It can help you easily get content on your website, track user engagement, and measure your results.

Additionally, a CMS can help you manage your website’s SEO and social media presence.

Our Favorite Options: Summarized

Although we’ll give you full details below, here is a quick summary of our favorite CMS options.

Who Is the Best CMS in the World?

WordPress.org has secured its place as the most popular CMS worldwide, and it’s not hard to see why.

We rank it as our favorite CMS because of its ease of use, flexibility, and vast ecosystem.

The platform is a quality choice for small businesses, bloggers, and anyone who wants to build a website without learning code.

Which CMS Framework Is Best?

We rank Drupal as the best CMS framework.

Developers who want to create custom websites and applications typically use it.

Drupal is highly extensible, meaning you can add new features and functionality as needed.

Additionally, it boasts a strong security track record over time.

What Is the Most Common CMS?

Once again, WordPress.org ranks well.

It powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet.

That number may climb as additional website owners look for a simple solution to their CMS needs.

What Is the Best CMS for Developers?

Joomla is our top pick for developers.

It’s an open-source CMS with a large developer community.

Joomla works well for developers who want to create complex websites and applications.

Best CMS Options For 2022

Let’s begin with our top 10 CMS picks for regular websites.

1. WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a blogging site that’s utilized by millions of people around the world, including some of the largest websites on the internet.

It’s owned by Automattic, which also owns WordPress.org.

The platform is easy to use, and you can create a website in minutes.

Our Rating

Five

Best For

Ease of use and pricing

Notable Features

• Integrated blogging tools: With WordPress.com, the ability to moderate comments, establish categories and tags, and publish content is all part of the package. You can integrate with social media platforms, too.
• Custom domain: For an annual fee, you have the option to buy a custom domain through WordPress.com. It’s a crucial feature because it allows you to build a brand and establish yourself as a credible website.
• Plugins and themes: WordPress.com boasts various free themes and plugins. Use these items to enhance the functionality and design of your website.

Pros

• All-in-one solution: WordPress.com combines a domain name, hosting, and email services in one location.
• Community: The platform boasts a vast community and provides free support to its users.
• Easily back up data: WordPress.com ensures your site data is constantly backed up. A backup process helps you avoid data loss in the event of an unforeseen incident.
• Security and hosting: Automattic provides all of this for you, so you don’t have to worry about it. WordPress.com manages and protects your site.
• Ease of use: If you’re unfamiliar with self-hosting websites, this platform is a simple option to get started on and use.

Cons

• You don’t own your content: Unlike WordPress.org, you don’t technically own your content on WordPress.com, which means running into transfer headaches if you ever want to move your site.
• Limited options for customization: WordPress.com doesn’t allow you to install custom plugins or themes. As you advance your website-building skills, this may become frustrating.
• Less control: You have less control over your website than you would with self-hosted options. Remember, you’re using someone else’s platform.

Is WordPress.com Hard To Use?

WordPress.com isn’t challenging to use since it’s designed for individuals who come in new to the website creation process.

Pricing & Plans

WordPress.com offers a free and premium plan.

You may try the service for free and then upgrade to one of two paid plans.

• WordPress Starter: $5 per month
• WordPress Pro: $15 per month

Our Take

WordPress.com is a simple platform to learn and use.

WordPress.com’s free edition is an excellent choice for individuals who want to set up a basic blog or website.

For additional functionality, you may upgrade to one of two premium pricing plans.

2. WordPress.org

WordPress is a CMS that runs on the WordPress.org platform, which is free and open-source.

It’s probably the most popular free blogging software in the world, with millions of users from all around the globe using it.

Our Rating

Five

Best For

Self-hosted websites

Notable Features

• Flexibility: You can use a WordPress.org account for a wide range of sites, from a personal blog to an organization’s website.
• Options for customization: If necessary, you may further customize your theme’s code or hire a developer to assist you.
• Plugins and themes: With this platform, you may use various free and paid themes and plugins, as well as build custom themes and plugins.

Pros

• Memberships and stores: You can use the platform to design a membership website or an online store. Use these options to generate revenue for your site.
• No ads: Removing advertisements from your site (compared to using WordPress.com) represents one of the most advantageous aspects of WordPress.org.
• Web development options: WordPress.org works just as well for website development as it does for eCommerce stores.
• 100% control: With WordPress.org, you have total control of your website. This control includes the ability for more experienced users to modify their site’s code.
• Cross-platform: You may visit your WordPress website from any device with an internet connection, making it one of the most flexible CMS platforms available.

Cons

• Frequent updates: It’s critical to keep your WordPress.org site up to date, which might be difficult for some people to continue doing.
• More difficult to use: WordPress.org may appear challenging for beginners since it requires you to establish and take care of your domain name, hosting, and website.
• Requires self-hosting: You’ll need to acquire and pay for your web hosting, which means it will be more expensive than a CMS like WordPress.com.

Is WordPress.org Hard To Use?

WordPress.org isn’t as simple to use as some other CMS options.

However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s not difficult to learn.

With a little practice, you can produce an attractive website with ease.

Pricing & Plans

There are no official pricing plans offered by WordPress.org.

It’s a free CMS.

However, you will have to pay certain expenses as follows:

• Web hosting: You’ll typically pay $25-$100 per year
• Domain name: Typically runs about $15 per year
• Premium themes and plugins: Might range from $50-$200

Our Take

Overall, we believe WordPress.org is the best CMS for most business owners and marketers.

If you’re willing to put in the effort to master it, you can build a beautiful and optimized website.

Consider the required costs for hosting and premium themes, and use a top-notch CMS solution to create your website.

3. Ghost

Ghost is a free and open-source CMS that is easy to use, quick, and attractive.

It’s an ideal platform for those who want something simple and lightweight.

You can also access more features by upgrading to a paid plan.

Our Rating

Four

Best For

Lightweight blogging

Notable Features

• Publication: On Ghost, you can design a publication that collects articles from various authors.
• Themes: There are numerous free and premium themes accessible through the platform’s store.
• Code injection: Adding code snippets to your Ghost blog is an easy way to change its appearance. Use the feature to add custom CSS, JavaScript, or HTML.

Pros

• SEO: Ghost gives you built-in SEO tools to help you get the most ranking traction.
• Membership management: You can enable the premium version to manage memberships and grant members access to your publication.
• Minimalistic: Some users decide to use Ghost because of its simplicity. Experience with CMS isn’t required.
• Markdown support: It’s easy to format your posts using Markdown in Ghost, which is another reason it’s a quality choice.
• Website speed: Ghost offers one of the fastest CMS platforms available. Your users will navigate quickly from page to page.

Cons

• Lack of features: Some users might see the lack of features on Ghost as a major negative.
• Free use doesn’t come with support: Since the platform is open-source, you won’t benefit from customer service. It could become a struggle for newbies to proceed without support.
• Limited options for customization: There aren’t as many choices for customization on Ghost as you’ll discover with other CMS options.

Is Ghost Hard To Use?

No, Ghost isn’t complicated to use.

It’s quite the opposite.

The platform provides a minimalistic approach that makes it easy to navigate.

Pricing & Plans

Select from these four pricing plans:

• Starter Plan: $9 per month
• Creator Plan: $25 per month
• Team Plan: $50 per month
• Business Plan: $199 per month

Our Take

For those who want a lightweight CMS experience, Ghost works well.

The free edition is ideal for personal use.

However, if you need more features or assistance, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid account.

4. HubSpot CMS Hub

The CMS Hub from HubSpot is a powerful tool that’s perfect for businesses of all sizes.

From small businesses to enterprises, this platform has all the features you need to succeed.

Our Rating

Five

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses

Notable Features

• Pages: HubSpot CMS provides everything you need to create and design responsive pages that look great on all devices.
• Blogging: The platform makes it easy to blog and provides tools to help you optimize your posts for SEO.
• Lead capture: HubSpot CMS comes with lead capture forms and pop-ups to help you convert website visitors into leads.

Pros

• Easy to use: HubSpot CMS is one of the easiest CRMs to use. You don’t need coding skills or experience with CRMs to get started.
• Adaptive testing: HubSpot makes it simple to continually optimize your website. Test alternative versions of a page against one another to see which performs best. HubSpot will evaluate performance and display the optimum selection based on the results.
• Drag-and-drop editor: Create, update and delete pages without the assistance of a developer or custom code. It’s never been easier to make changes on the go.
• Website themes: With HubSpot, easily create a uniform website by choosing from one of the many themes. Or, opt for custom development to produce a unique site. Regardless of your choice, you won’t have to worry about inconsistencies between navigations, logos, or designs.
• Contact attribution reporting: Examine the influence of your website and fine-tune your plan by looking at which content campaigns, sources, and types produce the most prospects.

Cons

• Limited hosting: You must host your website with HubSpot. You can’t host elsewhere.
• Paid features: You may need to upgrade to a more expensive plan to access all the features you need.
• Limits with languages: You may become frustrated with the lack of multi-language functionality.

Is HubSpot CMS Hub Hard To Use?

No, HubSpot CMS Hub isn’t complicated to use.

Users of all skill levels should find it simple.

It provides everything you need to create a responsive website.

Pricing & Plans

You can select from three HubSpot CMS Hub pricing plans:

• Starter Plan: $23 per month
• Professional Plan: $360 per month
• Enterprise Plan: $1,200 per month

Our Take

HubSpot CMS Hub provides everything you need to create a quality website.

You can also use the HubSpot CMS Hub to test alternative versions of a page against one another to see which performs best.

However, you can’t host your website with HubSpot CMS Hub elsewhere.

Despite this limitation, the platform offers one of the best options on the market.

5. Joomla

Joomla is a CMS that allows you to create web pages.

Its developers based the platform on a specific type of web application architecture that you can use with and without the CMS.

Joomla appeals to more experienced developers because of its free add-ons, extensions, and templates.

Our Rating

Four and a half

Best For

Developers

Notable Features

• Database abstraction: A database abstraction layer allows you to utilize many types of databases.
• Control website access: Keep your website safe from intruders with various security features. Use this feature to control who can see or make changes to your website.
• Templates: Joomla allows you to download free add-ons and templates.

Pros

• RSS feeds: Manage your material with Joomla. An RSS feed is automatically generated for every article you create.
• Blog features: Joomla works perfectly when creating a blog.
• Extensions: The extensions allow you to personalize your blog however you wish.
• Tutorials: The site provides developer help via various training courses.
• Easy to use: If you know how to code, Joomla is easy to work with.

Cons

• Template limitations: Joomla doesn’t give you as many free templates as other platforms do.
• Slowdowns: You may experience slow periods while using Joomla.
• Not as user-friendly as other options: In comparison to WordPress, Joomla is not user-friendly and may require some coding skills to properly make use of the platform.

Is Joomla Hard To Use?

Joomla is one of the more difficult CMS systems to master.

It’s best if you come in with HTML and CSS knowledge.

If you’re not a coder, you might want to consider one of the drag-and-drop CMS options.

Pricing & Plans

Joomla is free to download.

Our Take

Joomla may be a little intimidating to those new to website creation or design.

The learning curve is higher than that of some of the other CMS platforms on our list.

It’s ideal for advanced coders.

Give Joomla a shot if you’re an experienced developer.

6. Drupal

Drupal is a powerful CMS that works best for developers with intermediate coding skills.

The platform is free to use and open-source.

You can create blogs, eCommerce stores, and more with Drupal.

Our Rating

Three

Best For

Developers with some coding skills.

Notable Features

• Security: Drupal comes with a good reputation when it comes to security. Security features include two-factor authentication and password policies.
• Performance: Speed and performance features make this CMS a quality selection. For example, it can handle high traffic loads without crashing.
• Flexibility: You can use Drupal to create a wide range of websites, from blogs to eCommerce stores.

Pros

• Free: Drupal is free to use and open-source.
• Performance: Drupal is one of the best-performing CMS systems. For instance, it can handle high traffic loads without crashing.
• Prioritizes accessibility: Every user, regardless of their device or abilities, should be able to have a great experience when they access sites. Drupal ensures that its features meet the requirements of the World Wide Web Consortium.
• Theming: Drupal offers an advanced theming engine. You can create almost any type of website with the CMS.
• Robust platform: Drupal websites are powerful. It’s a platform where you can build a stable and streamlined website to deliver content users can easily access.

Cons

• The learning curve: Drupal has a steep learning curve. It’s not the best platform for beginners.
• Security issues: Although secure to the public, any developer with basic knowledge of the platform’s code can discover security flaws and launch cyberattacks. If your site handles sensitive or personal data, you want to avoid this.
• Support challenges: Open-source software comes free and isn’t owned by any company. There’s no customer service to help you if you have questions or need assistance.

Is Drupal Hard To Use?

Drupal is one of the more difficult CMS systems to use.

It’s best if you come in with HTML and CSS skills.

Pricing & Plans

Drupal is free to use.

Our Take

Drupal is best for developers with some coding skills.

The learning curve is higher than that of some of the other CMS platforms on our list.

Give Drupal a shot if you’re an experienced developer.

7. Wix

If you’re looking for a CMS builder that doesn’t skimp on features, Wix is an option.

With Wix, you can create a professional portfolio, an eCommerce website, or a blog.

Plus, building a blog with Wix is easy and comes with plenty of competitive features.

Our Rating

Four

Best For

Unique website creation

Notable Features

• SEO tools: Wix gives you free access to SEO tools that can improve your blog’s search engine ranking results.
• Free hosting: If you host your blog on Wix, you’ll get free website hosting and automatic updates from the company.
• Blog templates: Wix provides you with an assortment of 200+ templates so you can find the perfect design for your blog.

Pros

• Quick page load times: Wix provides a content delivery network (CDN) as part of its hosting plan, which may help with faster website loading times.
• App market: Wix offers you 250+ applications inside its app market. It allows you to add features, such as social media feeds, email marketing, and live chat, to your website.
• Domain name: Wix offers the option of buying a custom domain name directly from them (on one of the premium plans).
• Integrated eCommerce: Wix lets you post products on your blog and sell them directly to customers.
• Host paid events: Wix allows you to run sponsored events on your blog and accept payments. For example, you can run workshops, webinars, and other paid events.

Cons

• Wix branding: Wix plans also come with Wix branding in the footer of your website.
• Storage limits: The free plan Wix offers only gives you 500MB of storage. If you want to host a lot of multimedia content inside your CMS, this won’t be enough for you.
• Ads: Unless you upgrade to a premium plan, you and your visitors will see Wix advertising on your site.

Is Wix Hard To Use?

Even if you’re new to website building, Wix is easy to use.

Wix’s interface will guide you through each step of creating a website.

Pricing & Plans

The company offers four pricing plans:

• Combo Plan: $16 per month
• Unlimited Plan: $22 per month
• Pro Plan: $27 per month
• VIP Plan: $45 per month

Our Take

Wix is a CMS with a distinct look and feel.

The site offers several features, including the app market, sophisticated SEO tools, website hosting, and templates.

WordPress.com is a fantastic alternative if you’re searching for a platform without many restrictions.

8. Squarespace

Squarespace is a well-known CMS with a clean, modern design.

Even people with no prior experience can easily navigate the tool.

Squarespace has a free and paid version.

If you want to use the site regularly, you’ll need to upgrade to a premium plan.

Our Rating

Five

Best For

Visual design

Notable Features

• eCommerce options: Use Squarespace to set up an online store inside your CMS for easy product selling.
• Design tools: With Squarespace, you can create a distinctive appearance for your website using the CMS drag-and-drop tools.
• Layouts: Squarespace offers plenty of customizable layouts, ranging from single-column blogs to alternating sides and side-by-side grid columns.

Pros

• SEO help: Squarespace gives you various SEO tools to help you upgrade your content and stand out on search engines. Use these features to add metatags, create sitemaps, and more.
• Gain exposure: Squarespace’s integrations urge readers to share your material on social platforms using social media buttons. Getting shared on social media can help you gain more website traffic.
• Feature posts: On Squarespace, you can highlight blog posts to make them more visible. A feature post will appear at the top of your blog page and you can change it whenever you want.
• Track analytics: Squarespace makes it easy for you to see how your audience engages with your content. Use this data to adjust your strategy accordingly.
• Manage daily workflows: Squarespace can assist you with remaining organized when managing a team or working with clients.

Cons

• No app or plugin support: You can’t ask for customer support when installing third-party tools or applications. It could frustrate you if you’re new to working with CMS options.
• No free plan: Although Squarespace provides a free trial, you must enter your credit card information to begin. If you don’t upgrade to a paid plan, you’re automatically unable to use the platform beyond the trial period.
• Customization limitations: Squarespace provides a large number of templates. However, you can’t customize them. If you want extensive customization capabilities, you should look somewhere else.

Is Squarespace Hard To Use?

No, Squarespace isn’t difficult to use.

The platform works easily, no matter your level of expertise.

Even if you’ve never published with a CMS before, Squarespace’s simple dashboard can help you generate a professional-looking site.

Pricing & Plans

There are four distinct pricing options for Squarespace:

• Personal Plan: $16 per month
• Business Plan: $23 per month
• Basic Commerce Plan: $27 per month
• Advanced Commerce Plan: $49 per month

Our Take

If you’re a creative type who wants to write and share your stories, Squarespace is the perfect CMS.

With its simple and elegant interface, it’s much easier to use than some of the other options out there.

However, it doesn’t offer as many features as some of the others do.

9. Blogger

Blogger is one of the most popular CMS options on the internet, and it’s a Google property.

You can use a custom domain name with Blogger or sign up for a free blogspot.com account.

There are three methods to establish a Blogger site: creating a Google account, establishing an official Blogger account, or using your Gmail account.

Our Rating

Three and a half

Best For

Blogging without hosting fees

Notable Features

• Build a blog from a phone: The Blogger app allows you to edit your website right from the app. You may even send text messages and pictures to your blog using a smartphone.
• Google product integrations: It integrates well with other Google platforms like Adsense. For instance, you can connect to AdSense using the “Earnings” tab.
• Template design: You may modify the appearance and feel of your blog using the Template designer without needing to know HTML.

Pros

• Add videos easily: When you create a new blog article, Blogger’s CMS automatically adds a “Video” button at the top of the screen. Use it to search YouTube for videos and embed them in your posts automatically. Alternatively, copy and paste a video from your computer into your post.
• Free templates: Blogger gives you multiple options for customizable templates.
• Dynamic views: This feature gives readers the ability to select how they want to view your blog posts.
• Customizable design: You may make color, font, and background modifications to your blog without having to know HTML using the Template designer. Use drag-and-drop functionality to create any required adjustment.
• User-friendly interface: Blogger is straightforward to use, and anyone can create a blog in minutes.

Cons

There are a few limitations to using Blogger.

• Encryption: There’s no way to encrypt password entries.
• It can be slow: Blogger brings with it a reputation for being sluggish. Many users have complained that it runs slowly, particularly when they first begin using it.
• Support issues: As with most Google products, it’s difficult to access a person for customer service.

Is Blogger Hard To Use?

Blogger is one of the simplest free blog platforms to use since you don’t need to understand code.

In less than five minutes, you can create a blog and add functionality with Blogger’s widgets.

Pricing & Plans

Google offers all of Blogger’s capabilities for free.

You’ll need to go to Blogger’s home page and use your Google login credentials.

Our Take

Blogger is a simple blogging platform that’s ideal for individuals who don’t want to spend money on hosting.

Blogger offers an easy-to-use interface with lots of free templates and tools.

10. Magento

Magento is now called Adobe Commerce.

It provides quality out-of-the-box features that aid the B2B and B2C shopping experience.

With this tool, you’ll gain access to an international network of third-party integrations, a marketplace of extensions, and implementation partners for excellent eCommerce customization.

Our Rating

Four

Best for

Omnichannel fulfillment

Notable Features

• Mobile devices: Select a mobile commerce solution that works with your consumers no matter where they live. Using its progressive web application (PWA), you can create seamless website experiences that appear well on all devices.
• Multi-branding: From a single platform, you may handle all of your brands and serve all of your consumers through various digital channels.
• Channel Manager: The feature streamlines the process for integrating Magento Open Source stores with the Walmart Marketplace.

Pros

• Free software version: It’s available for open-source download. However, the free edition provides fewer features and doesn’t include security or hosting.
• Omnichannel: After you download the app, it provides links to connect your online store as well as any physical shops or other marketplaces where you sell.
• Customization: Although it requires a time and resource investment, you can fully customize your online shop.
• Scalability: As your business expands, this open-source solution can grow with your business.
• SEO tools: You get access to a comprehensive suite of built-in SEO tools.

Cons

• Hard to navigate: It’s particularly difficult to use, and you’ll need help from experts to set up and update your online store regularly.
• You provide the server: It’s hard to do this when you’re unsure how much traffic your website will generate in the beginning.
• Cost: This CMS option will cost you money for the server, domain, and various tools, as well as the expenses of security measures, software updates, and developers.

Is Magento Hard To Use?

Yes, Magento is quite difficult to use, especially for those without coding skills.

We recommend working with a developer or agency if you plan to use this platform.

Pricing & Plans

You must contact Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) to obtain pricing details.

Our Take

Adobe Commerce is a good choice for businesses looking for an omnichannel platform with scalability.

However, the platform can be difficult to use and may require the help of a developer.

Adobe Commerce’s prices are also not readily available.

Overall, we recommend this platform for larger businesses.

Best CMS Options for eCommerce

Let’s review the four top CMS options for running an eCommerce business.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that turns your WordPress site into an online store.

It’s one of the most popular eCommerce platforms on the web because it’s easy to use and provides a lot of features.

Our Rating

Four and a half

Best for

Small businesses that use WordPress

Notable Features

• Product management: You can manage an unlimited number of products with ease.
• Payment options: You can accept payments through various methods, including PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay.
• Shipping: WooCommerce offers a variety of shipping options, including flat rate shipping, free shipping, and local pickup.

Pros

• Easy to use: WooCommerce is one of the easiest platforms to use. You can set it up and start selling in no time.
• Flexibility: It’s a flexible option. You can add a variety of plugins to add more features to your online store.
• Affordable: WooCommerce is a free platform. You only have to pay for hosting, domain, and any plugins or themes you add.
• A large community of contributors: WooCommerce has a large community of developers and contributors who add new features and updates regularly.
• Regularly updated for security: The plugin receives regular updates, so you can rest assured your store will remain secure.

Cons

• Limited features: WooCommerce doesn’t have as many features as some of the other platforms on this list.
• No customer support: WooCommerce doesn’t offer any customer support with the free plugin. You’ll have to rely on the WooCommerce community or hire a developer for help.
• Paid extensions: Some of the best features are only available through paid extensions.

Is WooCommerce Hard To Use?

No, WooCommerce isn’t hard to use.

It’s one of the easiest platforms to set up and use.

Pricing & Plans

WooCommerce is a free platform.

You only have to pay for hosting, domain, and any extensions you add to your site.

Our Take

WooCommerce is a quality platform for small businesses that use WordPress.

It’s easy to use and provides a lot of features.

However, it doesn’t have as many features as some of the other platforms on this list.

Although you’ll need to pay for some extensions, it’s a solid choice.

2. Shopify

Shopify is a market leader in the world of eCommerce.

It’s simple to use and has a lot of features.

It works with all of your other business tools, such as social media platforms, email service providers, and accounting software.

Our Rating

Five

Best For

Online stores

Notable Features

• Marketing tools: To help you market and expand your business, Shopify gives free and paid marketing tools.
• The blog features: The team at Shopify knows that eCommerce firms should look at using blogging to attract consumers to their items. Add blog posts to your online store with ease using the platform.
• Beautiful modern themes: Shopify provides a plethora of design choices for your website and store, with free and premium themes available.

Pros

• Shopping cart: You can sell your items online using the platform’s built-in shopping cart, which is highly configurable.
• One simple dashboard: All the resources you’ll need to run your company are available in one location. The dashboard is relatively simple to use after you become used to it.
• Quality free trial: Try Shopify free of charge for two weeks with no credit card required.
• Top-notch tutorials: The eCommerce team offers guides and instructions to assist you in getting the most out of your store and blog.
• Customer service: All Shopify users can expect fantastic customer support.

Cons

• Paid add-ons: Although Shopify provides a monthly subscription plan, there are several additional fees that you’ll have to consider before signing up. You’ll need to budget for add-ons like the plugin that allows your visitors to get discounts.
• No forever-free plan: It’s beneficial to open a Shopify account without a credit card. However, there isn’t a “free for life” option from this CMS.
• Pricing: Shopify’s pricing is higher than some of its competitors. However, its various features and top-notch customer support make it worth the extra cost.

Is Shopify Hard To Use?

If you’re new to Shopify, some features and terminology may give you trouble.

Additionally, the dashboard isn’t as user-friendly as other options available.

However, don’t worry.

There are plenty of resources to help get you started, like tutorials and a customer support team that responds rapidly.

Pricing & Plans

You can upgrade to one of Shopify’s three paid plans after your free trial.

These plans are as follows:

• Basic Plan: $29 per month
• Shopify Plan: $79 per month
• Advanced Plan: $299 per month

Our Take

Although Shopify isn’t a conventional CMS, it does include several elements beneficial to an eCommerce firm.

You may get the best of both worlds by using Shopify.

The platform allows you to list and sell items.

It also enables you to add blog responsibilities for better search engine optimization benefits.

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an eCommerce-based platform that gives users everything they need to create an online store.

It’s best for businesses working to expand their operations.

Our Rating

Five

Best For

Large stores

Notable Features

• Abandoned cart recovery: The platform will send automatic emails to customers who start the checkout process but don’t complete their purchases. Use this feature to boost sales and customer retention.
• Third-party integrations: You can connect your BigCommerce store to other business software you’re using, such as accounting and marketing platforms. Integrations help to streamline your workflows.
• Multi-channel selling: Sell your products on your website, social media, marketplaces, and in-person using BigCommerce. The company decided to build the concept of omnichannel selling into the platform.

Pros

• Scalability: The platform can help businesses scale through features that accommodate an increase in traffic and sales. Features like this show why BigCommerce works best for larger stores.
• Fantastic customer support: You can contact the BigCommerce team 24/7 through live chat, email, or phone. Use this option when you need help with anything from technical issues to design advice.
• Real-time shipping quotes: Customers will see shipping fees before they finalize their purchase. Remaining upfront with shipping costs is an excellent way to avoid abandoned carts.
• Product reviews: You can add customer reviews to your product pages, which helps with conversion rates.
• A/B testing: Test different aspects of your website to see what converts best into sales. For example, try out different product descriptions or images.

Cons

• Locked into the platform: Once you start using BigCommerce, it may be difficult to switch to another eCommerce platform. However, you can grow with a BigCommerce account, which mitigates this negative aspect.
• Pricing: The pricing plans are more expensive than other platforms on our list.
• No free trial: Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce doesn’t offer a free trial. You’ll have to provide your credit card information when signing up.

Is BigCommerce Hard To Use?

BigCommerce is a complex platform with a lot of features.

It may be difficult to use if you’re new to eCommerce or website building.

However, the customer support team is excellent and can help you with any issues.

Pricing & Plans

You’ll need to contact BigCommerce for a pricing quote.

Our Take

BigCommerce is best for businesses that are planning to grow their eCommerce store.

The platform has features that accommodate an increase in traffic and sales.

Additionally, the customer support team is available 24/7 to help you with any issues you may have.

4. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is an eCommerce platform that provides free software for businesses to create an online store.

The software is open-source, meaning anyone can contribute to its development.

Our Rating

Four

Best For

Small businesses

Notable Features

• Quick set-up: With PrestaShop, you can create a store in less than an hour. This ability is thanks to the platform’s easy-to-use interface and pre-designed themes.
• SEO features: The platform comes with built-in SEO features, such as customizable URLs and automatic sitemaps. These features help your store rank higher on search engine results pages.
• Abandoned cart recovery: Use PrestaShop’s automatic emails to revive customers who don’t finish a purchase visit. You’re more likely to bring these customers back if you contact them immediately through this automation feature.

Pros

• Free to use: PrestaShop is free to download and use. You’ll only need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and any third-party add-ons you use.
• Easy to add products: With PrestaShop, you can add an unlimited number of products to your store. It’s helpful if you have a large inventory or plan to expand your product offerings in the future.
• Plenty of themes: Choose from thousands of themes and modules to find the perfect look for your store.
• Product navigation features: Customers can filter products by price, brand, or type. It makes it easier for them to find what they’re looking for on your website.
• Payment methods: You can accept payments through PayPal, Stripe, or more than a dozen other payment methods.

Cons

• Limited scalability: PrestaShop can’t handle a large influx of traffic or sales. If you’re expecting rapid growth, you may need to look for a different platform.
• Lack of customer support: Because PrestaShop is free to use, there’s no customer support team to contact if you have questions or need help.
• Unprofessional design: Some free themes and modules have an unprofessional look. If you want a more polished store, you’ll potentially need to use a different CMS.

Is PrestaShop Hard To Use?

PrestaShop is easy to use, even if you’re new to website building.

The platform gives you a user-friendly interface.

If you have any questions, there are plenty of online resources, such as support pages, that can help you.

Pricing & Plans

You can download PrestaShop free of charge.

Click the “Get Started” button on the home page to begin your account.

Our Take

PrestaShop is best for small businesses on a tight budget.

Additionally, PrestaShop is easy to use, even if you’re new to building eCommerce businesses.

However, the platform lacks scalability and customer support.

If you’re expecting rapid growth or need help with using the platform, you may need to look for a different CMS.

How To Choose a CMS for Your Website

Before selecting your CMS, consider the following factors.

1. Ease of Use

You should be able to use your chosen platform with ease, regardless of your technical background and coding skills.

The best CMS platforms will have a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls.

It’s an important consideration because you don’t want to spend your time learning how to use the system.

On our list, HubSpot CMS Hub, WooCommerce, Wix, and WordPress.com score high marks in this area.

2. Price

Quality CMS options will offer various pricing options to suit your budget.

Some providers may offer a free version of their software with limited features, and others may require a subscription fee for full access to the platform.

3. Scalability

Your website will grow over time, and you’ll need a platform that can accommodate this expansion.

Your CMS should offer scalability options, so you can upgrade your plan as your website grows.

WordPress.org and Magento do well in this area.

4. Ability to Design

Your website should reflect your brand, and you’ll need a platform that allows you to customize the look and feel of your site.

Look for a CMS platform that offers a wide range of design features and templates.

For example, you can’t go wrong in this area by selecting WordPress.org or Wix.

5. Help and Support

Even the best CMS platforms can have technical issues from time to time.

When this happens, you’ll need access to help and support.

Look for CMS providers that offer 24/7 customer support, so you can get the assistance you need when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have more questions about the best CMS options?

Here are the answers to two of the most frequently asked questions about these platforms.

Wrapping Up

Which CMS comes out as the clear winner on our list?

We list WordPress.org as our winner.

It rates highly in all areas that you should look for when choosing a CMS.

For example, it’s user-friendly, scalable, and offers plenty of design options.

Plus, it comes with a large community of users who can offer support.

Our runner-up option is Shopify because it’s an excellent platform for eCommerce businesses.

It offers all the features you need to list and sell items online.

That said, there’s no wrong choice when you select a CMS from our list of the best CMS options.

These are all quality platforms that can help you build a website.

The best platform for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Now that you know more about content management systems, it’s time to choose the best platform for your website.

Let us know which option you choose!

Both versions – WordPress.com and WordPress.org – are among the best platforms globally for creating a website, with plenty of features to simplify the process.

However, this website builder platform cannot satisfy every user’s needs.

This situation results in people searching for WordPress alternatives.

Our Top Picks

An overview of favorite WordPress alternatives from our comprehensive list below.

Our Pick

Squarespace

• Tons of functionality, including layouts for blogs, portfolios, online stores, restaurants, and more
• This is a robust platform that is a one-stop-shop. Buy the domain, images, and everything else you need to start a website from Squarespace

Visit Squarespace

Runner Up

Wix

• Features a drag-and-drop website builder that is easy to use and simple to understand
• An Additional AI-based design tool can help build a website for you, saving time and money

Visit Wix

Also Great

Weebly

• Great site speeds for a website builder. Fast load times and solid performance scores
• Large amount of design functionality and flexibility with pre-built themes and templates

Visit Weebly

What Is the Meaning of WordPress Alternative?

A WordPress alternative refers to other platforms and services that enable website building.

These can include other types of content management systems, or be dedicated website builders that allow you to build a site.

Some examples include Squarespace, Shopify, and Hubspot CMS.

Why Do People Look for WordPress Alternatives?

Users seek alternatives when the WordPress site does not meet their specific needs.

They search for other options because they want hosting and website-building tools in one place.

People may also look for WordPress alternatives to lessen responsibility in their website management.

Which Is the Best WordPress Alternative?

The market features multiple WordPress alternatives to suit your needs.

Below are ten of the best options in the market.

Understanding their differences and similarities lets you know the features needed to make an appropriate decision.

1. Squarespace

Squarespace is a quality platform offering everything you require to start a website.

It includes hosting, domain registration, eCommerce, themes and templates, and support.

Our Pick

Squarespace has various features to make your utility and navigation convenient.

These include a built-in website analytics tool, flexible layouts, custom color palettes, and built-in photo editing functions.

Visit SquarespaceRead Squarespace Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Squarespace?

Squarespace has various features to make your utility and navigation convenient.

These include a built-in website analytics tool, flexible layouts, custom color palettes, and built-in photo editing functions.

Who Should Use Squarespace?

Squarespace is ideal for a user primarily handling image-rich sites or portfolios.

Its limited functionality makes it suitable for sites providing a small selection of products or services.

The multiple mobile-optimized templates let you use the platform for blogging.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Squarespace?

Squarespace offers four pricing plans categorized into Personal, Business, Basic Commerce, and Advanced Commerce.

The Personal plan costs around $14 per month, and the Business option comes at $23.

Squarespace charges $27 monthly for the Basic Commerce and $49 per month for the Advanced Commerce plan.  

What Is the Comparison Between Squarespace and WordPress?

Squarespace and WordPress have pricing plans, cover SEO basics, and function as blogging platforms.

However, this WordPress alternative has 24/7 customer support via emails and live chats.

In contrast, WordPress does not have customer support.

Instead, you may get assistance from the creator through some paid plugin options and themes.  

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Squarespace is more intuitive and user-friendly than WordPress.

You do not require touching code when using this alternative for your website creation.

It also has a better drag-and-drop page editor.

Squarespace provides customization options via its template, making design easy and convenient.  

2. Wix

It is a cloud-based website builder featuring web design and hosting services to let you create beautiful and professional websites.

Runner Up

This WordPress alternative incorporates several features such as advanced SEO tools, stunning templates, unlimited fonts, and advanced design functions.

Wix supports blog creators and eCommerce operators.

It may suit you if you intend to run a regular website, such as a personal blog, business site, or portfolio.

Visit WixRead Wix Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Wix?

This WordPress alternative incorporates several features such as advanced SEO tools, stunning templates, unlimited fonts, and advanced design functions.

Who Should Use Wix?

Wix supports blog creators and eCommerce operators.

It may suit you if you intend to run a regular website, such as a personal blog, business site, or portfolio.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Wix?

Wix provides eight pricing plans, ranging from $14 to more than $500 monthly with annual billing.

The paid plans are Combo, Unlimited, Pro, VIP, Business Basic, Business Unlimited, Business VIP, and Enterprise.

It also has a free option that you can utilize for as long as possible.

What Is the Comparison Between Wix and WordPress?

The two platforms support essential SEO tools, apps, and plugin services.

The WordPress website has a broader range of design layouts and themes, but Wix has more beautiful templates.

It is also better than Wix concerning blogging and eCommerce functionality.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Wix delivers an excellent job with its editor interface.

It has stunning templates that make Wix better for designing than WordPress.

3. Weebly

Weebly is a web hosting and web creation service.

Also Great

Weebly’s key features include pre-made templates, app integrations, and a drop and drag design.

It also has a function to upgrade your site into an eCommerce CMS.

Visit WeeblyRead Weebly Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Weebly?

Weebly’s key features include pre-made templates, app integrations, and a drop and drag design.

It also has a function to upgrade your site into an eCommerce CMS.

Who Should Use Weebly?

You should use Weebly if you intend to display a portfolio, create an informational site, or desire a blogging platform.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Weebly?

It provides a long-term free plan that you can use for as long as necessary.

Weebly has higher plans such as the Personal, Professional, and Performance options with advanced settings suitable for online store sites.

What Is the Comparison Between Weebly and WordPress?

Both platforms integrate basic SEO tools.

They also provide plugin or app integrations.

These features give you access to more advanced SEO recommendations, such as WordPress’s Yoast SEO.

Unlike WordPress, Weebly offers reliable support via live chats and phone calls for its paid accounts.

Free users receive email support.

Another difference is that WordPress is an open-source website while Weebly is not.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Weebly is among the easiest website builders in the market.

Its drag and drop design means it is more comfortable and stress-free to use than WordPress.

4. Jimdo

Jimdo is a web-building platform that uses an intuitive web design approach, encompassing convenience, simplicity, and affordability.

Jimdo is a web-building platform that uses an intuitive web design approach, encompassing convenience, simplicity, and affordability.

Jimdo has professional templates, photo galleries, social media support, an AI-based editor, storage, and bandwidth.

Visit JimdoRead Jimdo Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Jimdo?

Jimdo has professional templates, photo galleries, social media support, an AI-based editor, storage, and bandwidth.

Who Should Use Jimdo?

It is ideal for users seeking to begin various types of web projects, such as landing pages and web portfolios.

Jimdo also suits you if you want to operate a business website like an online store.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Jimdo?

Jimdo provides three paid plans for website creators.

The Unlimited plan at $39 monthly, the Grow option at $15, and the Start plan at $9 per month.

It also has programs tailored for online stores, such as the VIP at $39 per month.

Jimdo also has the Business plan at $19 and the Basic option at $19 for your professional store.  

What Is the Comparison Between Jimdo and WordPress?

The two platforms incorporate blogging functionality and eCommerce support.

WordPress has powerful and versatile plugin and extension options.

Jimdo does not have an integrated app store, although it lets you access various third-party widgets.  

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Jimdo is an easy-to-use and code-free website builder.

WordPress is an open-source CMS needing basic coding proficiency.

5. Webnode

Webnode is a website-building platform with features to help you swiftly get a website up and running.

Webnode has an intuitive editor, preformatted page templates, and an extensive image gallery.

It also presents secure and safe servers and a backup feature, letting you restore previous versions of your site.

Visit WebnodeRead Webnode Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Webnode?

Webnode has an intuitive editor, preformatted page templates, and an extensive image gallery.

It also presents secure and safe servers and a backup feature, letting you restore previous versions of your site.

Who Should Use Webnode?

People who desire an eCommerce platform to create sites with static pages should use Webnode.

It is ideal for an eCommerce store, a small business, and a personal website.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Webnode?

Webnode has multiple pricing plans to suit varying client needs.

The pricing comes at $22.90 monthly, the Standard at $12.90, and the Mini at $7.50.

It also offers a basic Limited plan at $3.90, allowing you to attach your custom domain.

What Is the Comparison Between Webnode and WordPress?

The two have publishing tools that let you add blogging content to your site.

They offer themes and template selections to help you personalize your website.

Unlike Webnode, WordPress supports full customization to suit your demands when creating a site as a web developer.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

It has a drag-and-drop interface that makes utility easier for first-time and long-term users.

A self-hosted WordPress requires you to be tech-savvy to incorporate more functionality.  

6. Medium.com

Medium.com is another great WordPress alternative.

It presents a free blogging platform, enabling you to grow your audience, create content, and establish authority in your industry.

Medium.com is another great WordPress alternative.

It presents a free blogging platform, enabling you to grow your audience, create content, and establish authority in your industry.

Visit Medium.comRead Medium.com Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Medium.com?

It has feedback loops and curation tags.

Medium.com also has a sharing feature and distinct note URLs that focus on context.

Who Should Use Medium.com?

Medium.com may be perfect when you intend to establish your site as a thought leader in a specific field.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Medium.com?

Medium.com presents a free publishing platform.

It does not require payment for domain name registration or hosting.

You only need to sign up for an account before you begin blogging using its intuitive editor.

Notably, it has a $5 monthly membership, giving you access to all its content.

What Is the Comparison Between Medium.com and WordPress?

The two platforms are suitable for blogging and have SEO tools.

WordPress offers more customization options and advanced features since it is a content management system.

The cost-free Medium.com does not enable the purchase of themes or a custom domain.

Hence, your blogs have the same layout.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Medium.com provides a free publishing platform with easy-to-use features, quickly enabling you to scale your writing profile.

7. Shopify

Shopify is a software that lets businesses build, host, run, and manage websites linked to the eCommerce industry.

It is also the most popular multi-channel content management system globally among medium and small businesses.

Shopify is a software that lets businesses build, host, run, and manage websites linked to the eCommerce industry.

It is also the most popular multi-channel content management system globally among medium and small businesses.

Visit ShopifyRead Shopify Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Shopify?

Shopify features include the Shopify analytics, Shopify Point of Sale (POS) app, and Shopify website analytics.

It also has abandoned cart reminders, Shopify Dropshipping, and out-of-box SEO tools.  

Who Should Use Shopify?

Shopify might be the best WordPress alternative if you want to create an online store.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Shopify?

It has three primary pricing plans: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced.

They go for $29, $79, and $299 per month.

What Is the Comparison Between Shopify and WordPress?

Shopify and WordPress have quality themes and template selections.

They also have convenient payment methods and transaction fees.

Shopify’s built-in features give it a quicker building time than WordPress.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Shopify does not need coding, making it easier to use than WordPress.

It does not require installing additional software.

The built-in eCommerce features enable swift online selling.

8. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a platform designed to help you create an eCommerce website.

Its main features are website customization, SEO and analytics optimization, application integrations, and payment and inventory management.

Visit BigCommerceRead BigCommerce Reviews

What Are the Key Features of BigCommerce?

Its main features are website customization, SEO and analytics optimization, application integrations, and payment and inventory management.

Who Should Use BigCommerce?

You should use BigCommerce when you want to create an online store website.

It is also ideal for well-established stores or businesses that sell through other platforms.

What Are the Pricing Plans for BigCommerce?

BigCommerce pricing plans are Standard at $29.95, Pro at $299.95, and the Enterprise with custom features and pricing.

What Is the Comparison Between BigCommerce and WordPress?

The two options have functions to facilitate eCommerce website creation.

BigCommerce is easy to use, and WordPress has a simple setup.

This WordPress alternative has more built-in features than WordPress.

On the contrary, WordPress offers eCommerce functionality via WooCommerce, an open-source WordPress plugin.  

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

BigCommerce has more built-in features than other competitors, including WooCommerce, which relies on extensions.

The alternative also provides better customer assistance that stands out against the limited support from WordPress.

9. Webflow

Webflow refers to an in-browser design tool that lets you build and launch a responsive website via visual editing software.

Webflow has several features to deliver well-designed websites, such as a content management system and web and motion design.

It has custom branding, SEO tools, and integrations like Google analytics.  

Visit WebflowRead Webflow Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Webflow?

Webflow has several features to deliver well-designed websites, such as a content management system and web and motion design.

It has custom branding, SEO tools, and integrations like Google analytics.  

Who Should Use Webflow?

Webflow might be for you if your interest lies in front-end development.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Webflow?

Webflow includes a Basic plan at $12 each month, CMS at $16, and Business at $36.

It also lets you select a site or workspace option when choosing your plan.

The Site plan is suitable for publishing and hosting.

Workspace is ideal for managing multiple sites.

What Is the Comparison Between Webflow and WordPress?

Webflow and WordPress have SEO optimization, pre-made themes, and performance optimization.

It is easy to begin using Webflow, while WordPress has a small learning curve, teaching you basic coding.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Webflow offers a production-oriented tool that combines the power of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and HyperText Markup Language (HTML) visually.

10. Hubspot CMS

Hubspot CMS is a WordPress competitor designed with an inbound methodology to aid in automating content marketing strategies.

This WordPress alternative has publishing tools, a multilingual content creator, and built-in SEO recommendations.

It also provides testing, analytics, and security features.

Visit Hubspot CMSRead Hubspot CMS Reviews

What Are the Key Features of Hubspot CMS?

This WordPress alternative has publishing tools, a multilingual content creator, and built-in SEO recommendations.

It also provides testing, analytics, and security features.

Who Should Use Hubspot CMS?

Hubspot CMS may be the perfect choice if you want your site to focus on inbound marketing.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Hubspot CMS?

Hubspot CMS has a Starter plan at $23 per month.

It also offers a Professional option at $360 and Enterprise at $1,200.

What Is the Comparison Between Hubspot CMS and WordPress?

Hubspot CMS has custom modules, and WordPress presents multiple themes to enhance your design.

Both systems also support SEO tools, although you require plugins when using WordPress.

WordPress gives little customer service, typically limited to specific paid themes.

Hubspot CMS provides an entire support team.

What Advantages Does It Have Over WordPress?

Hubspot CMS has a ready-to-use ecosystem to monitor a buyer’s journey, making it a specialist inbound marketing platform.

How Do You Choose a WordPress Alternative?

It is critical to consider a few elements when choosing a WordPress alternative.

These aspects enable you to know if the features available suit your business.

They include:

• Business Goal – Do you want a publishing or eCommerce platform?
• Engagement – Will you be active on the site frequently or prefer static pages?
• Pricing – Are you seeking a budget-friendly plan, or are costs not a limitation?
• Skills – Are you tech-savvy, open to learning to code, or desire ready-made solutions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

“Is this WordPress alternative the right pick for my business or personal needs?”

The answer to this query might be the most effective method of finding a suitable option in the market.

It is vital to examine the various features offered by each alternative.

This evaluation can help you identify the one that best matches your requirements out of the ten selections.

Website building has gone from requiring in-depth coding skills to something almost any computer user can handle — as long as you use the right tool.

Sites like WordPress, Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix have made it so anyone with a vision can build a website, often in just an hour or two.

Whether you’re looking for a simple blogging platform or a powerful drag-and-drop editor to create a professional website, there are affordable options available.

In this article, we will compare two of the best website builders out there: Wix and Squarespace.

We’ll look at ease of use, design options, e-commerce, and their pricing plans.

By the end of the article, you should have a good sense which is right for you.

What Are Squarespace and Wix?

Squarespace.com and Wix.com are drag-and-drop website builders which allow anyone to craft a beautiful online presence.

Gone are the days when you needed to have extensive HTML or CSS coding knowledge to create a great looking webpage.

With simple user interfaces, both of these sites allow you to quickly build high-quality websites that provide a great user experience for people visiting your site, whether they’re on a desktop or a mobile device.

Both Squarespace and Wix share many of the same features.

You can connect domain names you already own or get domains through them.

They also let you select from a list of attractive templates to give your site a polished look.

If you own a business, you can even build an e-commerce store using either of these platforms, which will allow customers to buy products and pay securely with a credit card or PayPal.

Comparing Which is Easier to Use

When looking at which of the two builders is easier to use, a lot depends on how much experience you have with computers.

Squarespace has great options and is very intuitive for most people who are just starting out in web design.

For complete beginners, though, Wix has the edge when it comes to ease of use.

This is mostly thanks to a Wix feature called Artificial Design Intelligence, or Wix ADI.

With Wix ADI, you pick a template or even some general themes you like and then give them some details for your site.

Tell them the name, the purpose of the website, elements you’d like on the page, etc.

Once they’ve got everything, Wix ADI will automatically create your website.

It’s as simple as answering a few questions to get started.

Want a bit more control over the process?

Both Wix and Squarespace offer you the ability to build your website using drag-and-drop technology, and both are easy to learn.

Move things around, enter text, change the color of your background, add photos — it’s all there, and Squarespace might even be a bit simpler and intuitive when it comes to designing the site.

So for absolute beginners who want to build a website quickly, Wix wins the “ease of use” category with their ADI technology.

For people who want more control and aren’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty, Squarespace might be the more intuitive website builder to use.

Design Options and Templates

We’ve talked about which site builder is easier to use.

Let’s break down Wix vs. Squarespace when it comes to design options and templates.

In terms of variety, Wix has a lot more templates than Squarespace — they currently offer over 300 to choose from.

They provide a wide range of options for different business types, personal blogs, photo galleries, and more.

Whatever you can dream up, or whatever business type you want to feature, odds are they have a template designed for that very thing.

They also let you customize the template with different colors, menu items, and more.

The downside to this wide range of templates is that they vary in terms of functionality.

Some Wix templates are fully responsive, meaning they will automatically display properly  whether they’re viewed on desktop, mobile, or tablet.

Others aren’t responsive.

They’ll work on mobile but might be a bit wonky or require some finagling from you.

The other big issue: If you build a Wix site with one template, it’s exceedingly difficult to switch templates later.

Not all your information will be brought over, if any.

If you decide to switch templates, you might have to rebuild the entire site.

Squarespace templates are beautiful and customizable as well, but there are only about 110.

That’s probably more than enough, and even though they might not always be designed with a specific site category in mind, odds are you can find a beautiful template that works for your business.

Plus, they’re all responsive, meaning they’ll automatically work on any device.

Also, Squarespace lets you switch templates and save all the information for your website.

Photos and text will be brought over, and fitted as best as possible into the new template.

It might require some work, but unlike Wix, you won’t have to start over.

Squarespace also offers a mobile editor for quick changes you need to make on the move, something Wix doesn’t offer.

Squarespace vs. Wix for Small Business

Wix has a lot of options to incorporate e-commerce directly into the website building process.

Most of these are found in the Wix App Market, which allows you to find widgets for what you need for your business and then incorporate those plugins seamlessly into your website.

If you pay for a business site (more on pricing in the next section), you can get access to a ton of great features, including Google Analytics, unlimited bandwidth, email marketing, and even no-commission payment processing.

Squarespace doesn’t have an app market.

That will make it easier to set up for e-commerce since it’s all done in the site builder, but it does limit your options a bit when doing so.

However, they have some great built-in options for people who run businesses with them, including email marketing services that come when you launch a business site.

You can also integrate your social media marketing efforts directly into feeds that live on your site.

Both Wix and Squarespace offer secure payment services, and both allow you to integrate a Shopify button, if you prefer your payments go through that platform.

Pricing

We’ve broken down the features of Wix and Squarespace.

Let’s get to how much it’s going to cost you to build a site with them.

Wix Pricing

Wix has a lot of pricing options.

You can build a free website on their platform, but that option doesn’t let you have a custom domain and they can advertise on your site.

If you want to power up, they have eight different pricing options:

• Combo plan: $17/month
• Unlimited plan: $22/month
• Pro plan: $27/month
• VIP plan: $47/month
• Business Basic plan: $28/month
• Business Unlimited plan: $33/month
• Business VIP plan: $56/month
• Enterprise plan: $750/month

Note: You can save on the monthly cost for all of these if you pay annually.

The first four options are for basic websites without e-commerce.

The Combo plan gives you a basic site, a customized free domain, and email support, but it limits the amount of files you can store on the site.

The Unlimited plan gives you all that, plus unlimited storage.

You also get their “site booster” for your Wix website, which helps you get found on search engines.

The Pro plan and VIP plan offer more perks.

The Pro plan comes with a free logo design and the ability to add subdomains, while the VIP plan offers rapid response phone support for any issues you may have.

For people building an e-commerce website on Wix, you have the four “business” options.

All of these are built to allow e-commerce, but each tier provides more in terms of storage, support, shipping help, security, and more.

All their e-commerce sites are commission free.

Squarespace Pricing

Unlike Wix, Squarespace doesn’t have any free plans.

If you want to build a site with them, you’ll need to pay a little bit of cash.

Their pricing model is much simpler as well:

They have two tiers of payment for sites that don’t require e-commerce, and two premium plans for e-commerce sites.

For sites that don’t require e-commerce, Squarespace offers:

• Personal plan ($12/month)
• Business plan ($18/month)

Like Wix, you can save on the monthly costs for all of these if you purchase an annual plan.

The Personal site will be perfect for anyone looking to highlight work and is a great option for photographers or bloggers.

The personal plan offers a free custom domain, SSL security, unlimited bandwidth and storage, and 24/7 support.

The Business plan offers all of that, along with advanced metrics, email from Google, $100 in Google Ads credit to get found on the search engine, and limited e-commerce.

You can set up an online store, but they charge a 3% transaction fee to the buyer and seller.

For their e-commerce sites, Squarespace offers:

•  Basic plan ($26/month)
• Advanced plan ($40/month)

The Basic plan lets you sell unlimited products with no transaction fees and helps with inventory, orders, and lets you issue coupons.

They offer label printing services, help you list products on Instagram, let customers set up accounts on your site, and give you the option to handle checkout right on your domain.

The Advanced plan has all of that plus some high-powered features, including the ability to get recurring payments through subscriptions, advanced shipping options, and abandoned cart auto-recovery.

(That means if someone puts an item in their cart and then closes the site down, their cart will fill back up with the item when they return to the website.)

For e-commerce sites looking for serious growth, the Advanced plan is recommended.

Final Verdict: Wix vs. Squarespace

For true beginners looking for flexible pricing plans, Wix lets you choose from a range of pricing options, answer a few questions, and create a website quickly.

For people who prioritize beautiful templates that are customizable and always mobile-friendly, you might lean toward its competitor.

Squarespace might seem more limited when compared to Wix’s range of templates and pricing plans, but for people who value simplification (and the ability to try out multiple templates), Squarespace could be the better choice.

The choice really depends on your needs — both are fantastic options for entrepreneurs or anyone looking to build a website.