1- Wix
Wix is a great WordPress alternative that is suitable for individuals, small businesses and entrepreneurs where they can create a professional looking website. It is a hosted platform that is easy to use and allows users to create a website for free.
Pros:
● It is an all in one website builder and platform.
● There is a free version of Wix available and it also has custom domains available with paid plans.
Cons:
● Users cannot have full control over their website.
● There is no access to source code on Wix.
2- Squarespace
Squarespace has a complete hosting solution and is an all in one platform that includes hosting, domain registration, and tools for handling websites. All of its features and integrations are best for most of the users.
Pros:
● Premade designs and templates are also available on the free version of Wix.
● It also has free sub domains available for all plans.
Cons:
● Users cannot have full control over their website.
● There is no custom coding, no access to source code and no third-party extensions.
3- Weebly
If you want to create a simple but functional website, Weebly is best for you. It has a drag and drop interface but has some limited features.
Pros:
● There is a free version available of Weebly with inexpensive paid versions.
● Free custom domains are available with premium plans on Weebly.
Cons:
● You can create only five pages maximum of your website on the free version of Weebly.
● There is no access to source code and users cannot have full control over their website.
4- Google Sites
Google Sites is a simple and easy to use platform for beginners, educators and entrepreneurs. It also has integration with other Google tools like Google Docs, Sheets and Drive. It also has many collaborative features that make it easy for multiple individuals to work on a website at the same time.
Pros:
● It is easy and free to use.
● It is integrated with other Google platforms.
Cons:
● It has limited customization tools and there are no SEO tools available.
● Google Sites sometimes doesn’t work with non-Google apps.
5- Jekyll
Jekyll is well suited for developers, bloggers and tech-savvy individuals who want to make a simple yet creative website. Jekyll is popular among the GitHub community as it can be integrated into GitHub pages for free hosting.
Pros:
● It has no server maintenance and is very fast.
● It has free hosting and has a free SSL certificate.
Cons:
● There is no dynamic for content options on Jekyll.
● There is no post scheduling option and images cannot be edited.
6- Hugo
Best option for developers, bloggers and content realtors, Hugo offers speed, flexibility and simplicity. Users can make many websites in seconds on Hugo. It has customizable URLs and allows the users to host their site anywhere.
Pros:
● You can easily integrate it with Google Calendar and other platforms.
● Hugo’s multilingual capabilities make it versatile.
Cons:
● There are no plugins available on Hugo.
● It has limited text formatting features.
7- Webflow
If you are a freelancer or small agency, Webflow is best for you. It has more than 100 templates where you can choose the website design you want. It also has multiple payment options for ecommerce sites and also does tax calculation automatically.
Pros:
● Webflow has affordable plans, with a free starter plan.
● It has many learning resources and overall has good security.
Cons:
● The integration of Webflow with social media can be quite confusing.
● It has a steep learning curve.
8- Joomla
Joomla has over 6000 extensions available and is well suited for networking, community and membership sites. It also has a blog module as well as an ecommerce store. There are also social media tools available on Joomla where users can take help from.
Pros:
● Joomla is a free open source software with access to source code.
● It has pre-made designs and templates available.
Cons:
● There are no free sub domains or custom domains available on Joomla.
● It has no customer support.
9- Drupal
Drupal is based on CMS and has 47000 modules available. It is best for large corporations like government agencies and universities where large data has to be handled. Drupal also has an ecommerce store and has various social media tools.
Pros:
● It is also an open-source free software with free designs and templates.
● Drupal has strong security and has access to source code.
Cons:
● There are no free sub domains available on Drupal.
● It needs a PHP enabled server to function.
10- DataLife Engine
DataLife Engine is best for media companies, news websites and blogs which need SEO and high security. It is SEO focused and tracks statistics. DataLife Engine also allows plugins.
Pros:
● DataLife Engine stores data using MySQL.
● It has a great user experience and is best for publishing news and blogs.
Cons:
● DataLife Engine doesn’t have any free version.
● It only has limited numbers of plugins and themes available.
11- Progress Sitefinity
Users can manage multiple sites from one location using Sitefinity. It syncs assets across pages and sites and makes personalization simpler. Sitefinity also has well integrated analytics and optimization.
Pros:
● It has a low cost license as compared to other CMS platforms.
● Sitefinity also has options for marketing automation.
Cons:
● Sitefinity has a free trial but no free version.
● It has no mobile interface and its setup can be a bit troublesome.
12- CMS Hub - HubSpot
Previously known as HubSpot CMS, CMS Hub is a cloud-based tool and is best for businesses who already use HubSpot marketing. It has a fully integrated SRM and built-in security. CMS Hub also included SEO recommendations.
Pros:
● The adaptive A/B testing of CMS Hub lets users identify the best layouts for the website.
● Its mobile pages are supported by Google AMP.
Cons:
● CMS Hub does not support ecommerce.
● It has no automatic backup and recovery option.
13- Contentful
Contentful is best for organizations and businesses that want to deliver their content across multiple platforms. Its RESTful API gives users control over assets, translations and versions. Its interface is also customizable.
Pros:
● Contentful is user friendly with an easier to use interface.
● Its free version can be used by up to five users at once.
Cons:
● The upgraded version of Contentful is expensive with $489 per month.
● It has poor internal search tools.
14- Adobe Experience Manager
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is one of the best complex management tools which also works with other Adobe products like Analytics, Target and Creative Cloud. It also has AI powered content delivery. Overall, it is a great comprehensive marketing platform.
Pros:
● Individual marketers can handle authoring and publishing on AEM.
● It can handle content loads and manage different sites at once.
Cons:
● It requires different sign-ins if users want to access its other areas.
● AEM is not good for communities and forums.
15- BigCommerce
BigCommerce is best for businesses who want to build a website to promote their business.It has a full hosting solution, with no self-installing software.
Pros:
● It has a lot of customization options available with thousands of themes.
● There is no commission fee and it also has a free domain available.
Cons:
● BigCommerce has no free version and its pricing is based on your revenue.
● It has no access to source code.
16- Shopify
Shopify has a full website hosting solution and has a number of built-in features to help small businesses. It is optimized for mobile and has an ecommerce store too.
Pros:
● It is an all in one website builder with premade designs and templates available.
● Free subdomain and customer support is available on Shopify.
Cons:
● Shopify has no free version and no access to source code.
● Shopify also takes platform commission fees.
17- Magento
Magneto is an ecommerce platform with drag and drop visual builder. It is also optimized for mobile and has various social media tools.
Pros:
● Magneto is designed for large-scale ecommerce with pre-made designs and templates.
● It is also available for free and has customer support on paid version.
Cons:
● There is no blog module available on Magneto but its extension can be added.
● It is a large investment if you are a small scale ecommerce business.
18- PrestaShop
Offering a wide range of themes and modules, PrestaShop is an ecommerce platform that is affordable and customizable. Even though it is easy to use, some of its features require a bit of coding knowledge.
Pros:
● It is available for free with many customization options.
● Users can get 5000+ themes, modules, and other services on a premium plan.
Cons:
● PretaShop has no support team.
● Users need to have some programming language for its initial set up.
19- OpenCart
OpenCart is an open source ecommerce platform that offers a range of features and functions for medium to large size businesses. Users can run multiple stores from one single dashboard.
Pros:
● OpenCart is completely free with a range of ad-ons.
● It is flexible and has dedicated customer support.
Cons:
● It often creates duplicate pages that can become a problem for SEO.
● It needs some technical skills to use it smoothly.
20- Medium
Medium is a well known blogging platform among many bloggers, writers and content creators. It has a simple interface with a full hosting solution.
Pros:
● Medium is a community site for blogs with a free version available.
● The Medium Partner Program enables users to earn revenue.
Cons:
● There are no extensions or ecommerce stores of Medium.
● There are also no designs and templates, third party extensions and access to source code.
21- Ghost
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform that is best for bloggers, writers and small publishers. It has a basic drag and drop visual builder and has a proper blog module. Users can subscribe to Ghost’s platform for free or download its software on their web server.
Pros:
● It has pre-made designs and templates available.
● Users can get a free sub-domain on its paid version.
Cons:
● It is not compatible with third-party web hosts.
● There is nothing to do other than blogging on Ghost.
22- Blogger
Blogger is a beginner friendly software that is best for casual bloggers and people who want to try blogging. It has clear analytics, theme customization, and good monetization options.
Pros:
● Blogger is free to use. So no need to worry about hosting plans.
● Backed-by Google security with kind of unlimited storage.
Cons:
● Users cannot claim 100% ownership on Blogger in true sense as Google and its AI systems can restrict/remove content anytime.
● It has fewer options for design control and offers limited support.
23- vBluettin
vBulletin is a community management software that is best for businesses, organizations and communities. It offers built-in SEO and security. It also has a chat app and built-in applications.
Pros:
● vBluettin has great customer support.
● It is easy to use and has customizable templates.
Cons:
● It is not available for free.
● It has limited features compared to other platforms.
Spanning a spectrum of functionalities and specialized features, these alternative platforms promise to cater to a myriad of website requirements, ensuring a tailored solution for every online endeavor.
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