Whether you have your own business or you want a place to share ideas online, you need your own website. Luckily, that’s easier than ever in this day and age. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need any advanced tech skills to create your website from scratch. There are so many easy-to-use page builders and developer tools that it’s become a simplified process.
There are a lot of benefits to building your website. Not only does it give you control over your image or your brand image, but it helps you build your reach. Ultimately, it’s become the norm to have some kind of web presence today. Are you ready to get started with your corner of the web?
Here are the best website platforms to use when creating your site.
1. WordPress
WordPress powers over 28% of the web and with good reason. WordPress is a free, open-source website builder that allows you full control over your website without needing any tech skills.
However, it’s important to note there are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
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WordPress.com: Allows you to set up a free, limited website. This isn’t the best option if you want to be seen as a professional and have more control. Instead, use WordPress.org which is free to download and use with your self-hosted website.
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WordPress.org: Get access to free and paid themes to control the appearance of your website. Because it’s open-source, there’s also a wide variety of plugins to boost the usability of your website. There are even drag-and-drop builders for WordPress like Divi which allows you to create your designs without any prior development skills. Ultimately, WordPress is a great choice for beginners and pros alike.
2. Wix
If you’ve been online recently, odds are you’ve seen an advertisement for Wix. It’s seemingly everywhere, but is it worth the hype?
Wix is a popular cloud-based website builder that has both free and paid hosting. Its unique selling point is its drag-and-drop site builder which is simple for beginners.
While Wix is incredibly simple, it does have a lot of limitations. Without a paid plan, you’ll have the Wix ads on your website. In addition, if you decide to switch to another builder, later on, it’s incredibly complicated to migrate. Though simple, Wix has the most limitations of any website platform.
3. Squarespace
Squarespace is seen as the most common alternative to WordPress. It’s becoming more popular thanks to its great designs and how easy it is to use.
What makes Squarespace unique is that it comes with enterprise-grade infrastructure for hosting your website. This means you won’t need to purchase an outside hosting plan or domain name as you do with other website builders.
You can easily edit the Squarespace templates to make a site that’s uniquely yours. It’s also complete with an eCommerce option for adding a store to your website in just a few clicks. If you’re just trying to build a quick, attractive website, Squarespace is a great option
However, Squarespace is pricier than other hosting plans, and it does have limitations. The biggest limitation is their third-party integrations which are few and far between. Like Wix, it’s also difficult to migrate a Squarespace website once you’ve built it.
Choosing the Best Platform
So which platform is the best? While all of the above have great features that are worth researching further, the industry standard is still WordPress. WordPress is simple for beginners, fully customizable, and always improving. Yet, don’t be discouraged if you’re interested in Wix or Squarespace. Both of these are quality alternatives that are gaining in popularity.
Make sure you choose your website platform wisely. Switching after you’ve built your website is a pain, and you’ll want to consider more than just aesthetics. Luckily, there aren’t any wrong choices. Today, these web builders are all perfect for anyone from complete newbies to internet pros.
