My Favorite Website Builder | Wordpress vs. Wix vs. Squarespace vs. Weebly vs. Webflow vs. Elementor

Hey there fellow designers and aspiring website creators! Welcome back to our live learning community over at livelearning.editorx.io. Today we have an interesting topic to discuss - what is the best website builder for your specific needs? Let me tell you, with so many options out there, it's easy to get lost in the world of website builders. Trust me, I've been there.

In this post, we will talk about different website builders such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Webflow, and Elementor. We will also discuss which tool works best for different purposes, like creating a website for fun, running a small business, being a content creator, building a blog, or even working as a web designer with clients.

But first, let's address the elephant in the room - why is choosing the right website builder so important? Well, let me tell you from experience, changing platforms once you’ve started building your website is a tedious process. So it's crucial to pick the right tool from the beginning.

So, which website builder should you choose?

Let's break it down based on the purpose of your website:

1. For Fun

Suppose you want to create a website for fun, perhaps as a hobby or a creative outlet. In this case, you can go for a platform that offers easy-to-use templates and drag-and-drop features. Wix and Weebly are great options here. They both have free versions and user-friendly interfaces that will help you set up a basic but beautiful website in no time.

2. Running a Small Business

When it comes to running a small business, your website should give your customers a professional image and allow for easy navigation. You should also ensure that your website is SEO-friendly to attract more traffic. For small businesses, Squarespace and Elementor (paired with WordPress) are excellent choices. Both offer beautiful templates, are SEO-friendly, and provide various e-commerce features.

3. Content Creator / Blogger

As a content creator or blogger, the focus of your website should be creating, organizing, and presenting content in a visually appealing and readable way. WordPress is the undeniable king in this regard. With its vast plugin repository and vibrant community, the options for customizing your website and optimizing for user experience are almost endless.

4. Web Designer with Clients

Working as a web designer with multiple clients requires a website builder that provides the best possible customization options and allows exporting and importing designs. Webflow is the standout choice for this, as it offers pixel-perfect design control and seamless export/import features. Additionally, Webflow's advanced CMS capabilities and built-in hosting options make it a one-stop-shop for designers working with clients.

Insider Tips: Things You Need to Know about these Website Builders

Now that we've covered each tool's primary use case, let's talk about some insider tips I've collected throughout my years working with these platforms.

WordPress

Considering that about 30% of the web is built with WordPress, there must be something about it that attracts users, right? WordPress is known for its incredible flexibility, as it allows you to customize your website using a plethora of plugins available. But be cautious - too many plugins can slow down your website and make it prone to security vulnerabilities.

Squarespace

Squarespace, often seen and promoted by our favorite YouTubers, is indeed a fantastic option for creating visually stunning websites. Squarespace's templates have a clean, modern look and offer seamless integrations with many popular tools. However, it doesn't provide a lot of room for major customization, and its e-commerce capabilities, while present, could be more powerful.

Wix

Wix is an excellent option for those relatively new to website building, offering a convenient drag-and-drop editor and a wide range of templates. However, Wix's SEO features leave much to be desired. If you're looking to grow your site's organic traffic, this may not be the best option for you.

Weebly

Weebly is another beginner-friendly platform with its easy drag-and-drop editor and a decent range of templates. While it's a good option for small-scale websites or hobbyists, it may not be the best choice if you're looking for more advanced functionality or if you want to scale your website in the future.

Webflow

Webflow is a designer's dream, enabling pixel-perfect control and design customization, as well as powerful CMS features. That being said, Webflow has a slightly steeper learning curve compared to other website builders. So it might not be the best option for beginners or for those not familiar with the world of design.

Elementor

Elementor is a fantastic website-building plugin for WordPress that provides an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface and an extensive library of pre-built templates. It's an excellent option for small businesses and bloggers who want the power and flexibility of WordPress without diving too deep into technical details. Nevertheless, it's important to remember that it requires a WordPress installation and thereby shares the same shortcomings and benefits as the platform itself.

Wrapping up

At the end of the day, your choice of website builder should primarily depend on your specific needs and objectives. No tool is one-size-fits-all, so it's essential to evaluate the pros and cons of each website builder based on your website's purpose.

And remember, our livelearning.editorx.io community is always here to help you grow and succeed in your design journey. We offer monthly NoCode Design Challenges with prizes and a platform to connect with like-minded individuals, along with mentoring on how to build design businesses and further your career.

Now go forth and create something amazing!