WordPress has lengthy been hailed king when it comes to web site platforms, particularly for bloggers.
But is WordPress the best option to fit your wants for Search engine marketing?
Yes, it earned its popularity as a stable platform providing the flexibility to customise and model your web site with an expansive variety of plugins, tutorials, and boards
But WordPress isn’t essentially essentially the most user-friendly web site builder in the marketplace.
It’s not an all-in-one resolution, which suggests you will need to depend on plugins so as to obtain your required customization and performance.
WordPress can be constructed on prime of PHP, an open-source scripting language for net improvement that isn’t at all times the perfect resolution for particular duties and functions you may want on your web site.
Top 10 WordPress Alternatives to Build Your Website
If you’ve been questioning which web design platform is right for you and your Search engine marketing targets, check out this concise breakdown of the perfect options to WordPress.
1. Joomla
Like WordPress, Joomla is an open-source content management system (CMS). Joomla itself is free, however you do have to pay on your personal website hosting.
Part of Joomla’s attraction is its broad vary of performance that permits you to run any kind of web site – blogs, ecommerce, portfolios, informational web sites, and extra.
The draw back to Joomla is that it isn’t best for novices, so it’s greatest when you’ve got some expertise.
Key Features:
- Content Management System (CMS).
- Almost 6,000 extensions obtainable.
- Traditional content material modifying (no drag-and-drop visible editor).
- Optimized for cell (relying on the template).
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- Free open-source software program.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Access to supply code.
Cons:
- No free subdomains or customized domains obtainable.
- No buyer help.
- Requires a PHP-enabled server to run.
- Fewer templates and extensions than WordPress.
2. Wix
(*10*)
If you’re on the lookout for a straightforward, all-in-one platform that’s totally customizable and doesn’t require third-party websites and plugins, look no additional than Wix.
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This choice homes the whole lot you want – internet hosting, area, web site software program – throughout the Wix platform, and the step-by-step information helps novices create an exquisite web site with none prior expertise.
Key Features:
- Full internet hosting resolution.
- No software program to self-install.
- Drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- All-in-one web site builder and platform.
- Free model obtainable.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Free subdomain obtainable for all plans.
- Free customized area obtainable with paid plans.
- Customer help.
Cons:
- No choice to retain full management of your website as you’ll be able to with WordPress.
- No entry to supply code.
3. Squarespace
This all-in-one choice permits you to simply create a web site on Squarespace’s personal totally hosted platform. You don’t want prior expertise to use this intuitive website builder.
Squarespace hosts all of its options in-house, which means you’ll be able to’t set up third-party extensions or use customized coding.
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It’s a terrific resolution for hobbyists and small companies to construct knowledgeable website themselves, though it may be an costly resolution if all you’re doing is working a primary web site.
Key Features:
- Full internet hosting resolution.
- No software program to self-install.
- Drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- All-in-one web site builder and platform.
- Free model obtainable.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Free subdomain obtainable for all plans.
- Free customized area obtainable with an annual subscription.
- Customer help.
Cons:
- No choice to retain full management of your website as you’ll be able to with WordPress.
- No customized coding.
- No third-party extensions.
- No entry to supply code.
4. LargeCommerce
If you’re on the lookout for scalability in an Search engine marketing-friendly WordPress different, BigCommerce could be the fitting choice for you.
It options sturdy Search engine marketing help and clean multi-channel integration — and there are not any platform charges or commissions.
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However, buyer critiques weren’t overly favorable when it got here to arrange, and this ecommerce-targeted platform isn’t the perfect for small companies or shops with tight margins.
Key Features:
- Full internet hosting resolution.
- No software program to self-install.
- Drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- High degree of customization choices.
- Over 100 themes to select from (12 are free).
- No platform fee charges.
- Free subdomain obtainable.
- Customer help.
Cons:
- No free model obtainable.
- No entry to supply code.
- Pricing is predicated on income, which isn’t nice when you’ve got tight margins.
5. Shopify
One of the preferred ecommerce platforms in the marketplace, Shopify is designed to provide help to promote merchandise.
That offers this feature a significant edge within the post-COVID digital buying period, particularly in case your Shopify website is optimized for SEO.
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Although Shopify can deal with running a blog and different niches, it isn’t the perfect resolution for something exterior of ecommerce wants.
Key Features:
- Full internet hosting resolution.
- No software program to self-install.
- Drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- All-in-one web site builder and platform.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Free subdomain obtainable.
- Customer help.
Cons:
- No free model obtainable.
- No entry to supply code.
- Platform fee charges.
6. Medium
Rather than becoming a member of the others on this checklist as a website builder or net software program, Medium stands alone as a publishing platform with its personal group and person base.
If you’re a blogger on the lookout for a reasonable manner to publish content material, it is a nice resolution.
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But remember that you don’t have customization choices, which means you’ll be able to’t model your personal web site. If you want a singular web site with design management, Medium isn’t going to fit your necessities.
Key Features:
- Full internet hosting resolution.
- No software program to self-install.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Limited social media instruments.
Pros:
- Community website for blogs.
- Free model obtainable.
- Medium Partner Program to earn income.
- Customer help.
Cons:
- No extensions.
- No ecommerce shops.
- No premade designs or themes.
- No free subdomains.
- No third-party extensions.
- No entry to supply code.
7. Drupal
Like WordPress and Joomla, Drupal is a CMS platform. The software program is free, though you’ll have website hosting charges.
Drupal is likely one of the most technical and highly effective CMS choices in the marketplace but it surely requires extra abilities to faucet into Drupal’s full potential. This website constructing choice is greatest fitted to superior customers.
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Key Features:
- Content Management System (CMS).
- Over 47,000 modules obtainable.
- Traditional content material modifying (no drag-and-drop visible editor).
- Optimized for cell (relying on the theme you select).
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- Free open-source software program.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Access to supply code.
- Strong safety and information encryption.
Cons:
- No free subdomains.
- No buyer help.
- Requires a PHP-enabled server to run.
8. Weebly
If you’re on the lookout for easy and reasonably priced, Weebly could be up your alley. This website builder takes an all-in-one method with the purpose of constructing web site creation accessible for everybody, not simply programmers and net builders.
Weebly is revered for being user-friendly and simple however in the event you’re on the free plan, your web site can be restricted to solely 5 pages.
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Key Features:
- Full internet hosting resolution.
- No software program to self-install.
- Drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- All-in-one web site builder and platform.
- Free model obtainable.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Free subdomain obtainable.
- Inexpensive premium plans as little as $6.00 per 30 days.
- Free customized area obtainable with premium plans.
- Customer help.
Cons:
- No choice to retain full management of your website as you’ll be able to with WordPress.
- No entry to supply code.
- Free model restricts you to a most of 5 pages.
9. Ghost
This platform is a WordPress contender when it comes to running a blog however Ghost’s capabilities are restricted for something extra.
If you’re in the fitting area of interest, Ghost is an easy and simple platform to fit your wants.
But if you understand your web site may develop, remember that Ghost isn’t designed to scale a weblog up right into a enterprise web site or advanced venture.
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Key Features:
- Option to subscribe by means of Ghost’s internet hosting platform or obtain the free open-source. software program to set up by yourself net server.
- Basic drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable by means of integrations with different instruments.
- Optimized for cell.
- Blog module.
- Ecommerce retailer (subscription solely).
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- All-in-one web site builder and platform.
- Free model obtainable.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Free subdomain obtainable with the paid model.
- Customer help.
- Access to supply code.
Cons:
- Not suitable with all third-party net hosts.
- Highly specialised with restricted capabilities past running a blog.
- Not constructed to scale up right into a enterprise website or advanced web site.
10. Magento
Magento is an ecommerce-based platform with extra bells and whistles than Shopify. And whereas it presents a ton of enterprise options particularly suited to large-scale enterprises, it’s not the simplest platform to use.
Magento makes a speciality of ecommerce and never a lot else. If you desire a web site that capitalizes on totally different options, the funding that goes into Magento most likely isn’t going to be value your time.
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Key Features:
- Option to pay for Magento Commerce for a full internet hosting platform or obtain the free open-source software program to set up by yourself net server.
- Drag-and-drop visible builder.
- Extensions obtainable.
- Optimized for cell.
- Ecommerce retailer.
- Social media instruments.
Pros:
- All-in-one ecommerce platform or open-source ecommerce software program package deal.
- Free model obtainable.
- Designed for large-scale ecommerce.
- Premade designs and templates.
- Free subdomain obtainable (primarily for setup and testing functions).
- Customer help (paid model solely).
- Access to supply code with the downloadable model.
Cons:
- No weblog module, though you’ll be able to add it as an extension.
- Not optimized for net initiatives or web site functions exterior of ecommerce.
- Steep studying curve for inexperienced customers.
- Large funding for small-scale ecommerce.
Which Website Builder Is the Best Alternative to WordPress?
Every choice on this checklist has its execs and cons. Which one is the perfect for you depends upon your talent degree, time dedication, studying curve, funds, and web site wants.
With the fitting instruments you, too, can construct one thing unimaginable!
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Image Credits
All screenshots taken by writer, May 2021