When it comes to building a professional website today, you essentially have 4 main options as a small business owner:
There are certainly other players in the space like Shopify for ecommerce or Web.com for basic websites, but those 4 dominate the market across all industries for several good reasons.
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, so it has to be on the list. It started life as a blogging platform but has evolved into a very robust and customizable CMS (content management system). The open source nature of WordPress and its wide adoption means there are thousands of plugins, themes, and developers out there ready to help you build exactly what you need.
Wix uses a drag and drop editor to let anyone create a website with no coding required. It has great SEO capabilities built-in and a very active user community. The Wix Editor is easy to use while still providing advanced functionality. But you are a bit more limited in control compared to WordPress.
Squarespace is another drag and drop builder like Wix, but geared more towards creative agencies and photographers. It has beautiful designer templates and feels very polished right out of the box. Not quite as flexible as WordPress, but setting up a stylish site is faster. And their ecommerce integrations are slick.
Webflow has a similar drag and drop interface to Wix and Squarespace, but generates clean semantic HTML/CSS code behind the scenes. So you get the speed of a visual builder with flexibility approaching WordPress. Webflow sites also load extremely fast. The learning curve is a bit steeper than Wix or Squarespace though.
When considering these platforms, there are 6 main factors I evaluate for every business:
Let's explore each of these in more detail...
How unique and tailored can you make the site? Will it fit your brand or do you need to fit the platform? This flexibility is especially key for more complex sites.
WordPress is fully open source so essentially limitless flexibility. You can modify PHP code or use thousands of plugins for various features.
Wix has hundreds of templates and decent customization controls through the editor. But you can only tweak within the Wix ecosystem.
Squarespace also has beautiful (but fewer) templates. Their styling options are very polished but limited without code changes.
Webflow gives you full HTML/CSS control for advanced customization while still being visual.
Having SEO (search engine optimization) already baked into the platform is crucial. You want clean code and URL structures to help Google understand your site.
WordPress is built from the ground up with SEO as a core pillar. Especially powerful when coupled with Yoast SEO plugin.
Wix sites rank very well in Google out of the box. Their SEO Wiz helps optimize on-page elements.
Squarespace uses semantic code and has good technical SEO foundations. Page titles and metadata are handled well.
Webflow creates clean HTML/CSS code and handles SEO on-page elements through their CMS.
How difficult is it to make site changes without a developer? What is the learning curve and how intuitive is the admin area?
WordPress has a moderately steep learning curve. The dashboard isn't always intuitive at first glance.
Wix is designed to be accessible for anyone. You can build a complete site without technical skills.
Squarespace is nearly as easy to use as Wix. The admin settings are straightforward with little IT knowledge needed.
Webflow has a steeper learning curve but very responsive support articles and tutorials.
Will page speed and uptime remain fast as you grow? Many small business sites fail when traffic spikes.
WordPress sites can slow down at scale without diligent optimization. But this can be mitigated by expert developers.
Wix handles large traffic spikes better with its distributed cloud infrastructure. Sites load quickly.
Squarespace infrastructure ensures reliable uptime under heavy loads. Pages render fast out of the box.
Webflow generates extremely optimized code leading to blazing fast speeds. Scales seamlessly.
What is required from a skill and cost perspective to maintain and update the site long-term?
WordPress typically needs a developer for ongoing changes and maintenance to prevent issues.
Wix empowers the business owner to manage everything themselves through the CMS.
Squarespace also enables owners to update content independently after launch.
Webflow offers a middle ground where most edits can be handled internally but complex design changes may require a Webflow developer.
What expenses are involved both upfront and ongoing for hosting, domains, features, and support?
WordPress has low startup costs but monthly expenses accrue for hosting, backups, security, and potentially support.
Wix has higher base fees but bundles hosting and many features. Their ad-free tiers are costly for advanced users though.
Squarespace similarly has pricey core plans but inclusive features. Paygates for extras like commerce can add up.
Webflow has large upfront design/development costs but reasonable hosting fees and flexibility.
So which of these leading web design platforms is the best fit for your business needs? While the answer depends heavily on your specific goals, priorities, and budget, here are some basic recommendations...
With its unparalleled flexibility and scalability, WordPress is my top choice for any small business planning major expansion or needing complex custom features down the road. But be prepared to invest in expert development and ongoing management.
The Wix platform empowers complete beginners to build gorgeous, modern websites entirely on their own. But the lack of design flexibility can become limiting for larger brands.
For businesses like photographers, artists, and restaurants who value aesthetic design, Squarespace delivers polished visual templates and styles right out of the gate. But migrating off the platform is difficult later.
If you need more customization than Wix or Squarespace but without the complexity of WordPress, Webflow strikes a great balance. You still get the speed of visual building with flexibility for growth.
As with most major business decisions, there are always tradeoffs to consider when choosing a web design platform - factors like performance vs control and startup cost vs long-term scalability. The best platform is the one that aligns to your specific goals, needs and budget.
At Zach Sean Web Design, we take a consultative approach to fully understand your business before making platform recommendations. Schedule a call with us and we'll guide you through the pros and cons for your unique situation.
The web moves fast. Let's build you a site positioned for success now and in the future.
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