20 years ago, building a website was only possible only if one had coding skills in languages like PHP, HTML, CSS, etc. However, a couple of years back, website design and development softwares have come into existence and have been evolving over time. With these website builders, it is now possible for one to build a website without any coding or web development skills.
There are quite a number of website builders that are available today. Most of these are built for different use cases. Today we are going to discuss some of the top website builders and the situations where each of them will give you the best results. Let’s dig in!
WordPress
This is one of the most used website building platforms that was created back in 2003. Over 75 million websites use WordPress for both website design and content management. This platform is mainly appropriate for blogs, news websites, Travel websites, etc. With WordPress, you can design websites and also create and publish content.
WordPress has drag and drop tools that one can use to create sections and pages of a website. So, you need no web development or coding skills to use WordPress. However, you may need some basic website design skills to make the website UI look good. WordPress has both the free and the premium version. However, I would advise to start with the free version and then advance to the premium only if its necessary.
Wix
This is another commonly used website builder that has been around since 2003. Wix is meant for those who want to quickly build their websites thanks to the easy to use drag and drop tools in this platform. Wix is simplified and already has templates for different websites and all you need is changing a few things and adding content.
It is generally less complex than WordPress and does not involve a lot of customization. This can be an advantage for those who want to have their sites built fast. On the other hand, it gives you less flexibility to customize your site compared to WordPress.
Shopify
Shopify is mainly meant for building eCommerce websites. It gives you the platform to build your own eCommerce store that you can use for either selling your own products or drop shipping. With Shopify, you can create a fully fledged eCommerce website that allows you to integrate everything that a basic eCommerce store need.
Within Shopify, you will have access to a wide range of themes that you can install and customize to make your eCommerce store look unique. Shopify gives a free trial version access that lasts 14 days and there after you’ll have to subscribe for the premium version that starts at $29/month.
Weebly
Weebly is the best Wix alternative and is also most appropriate for creating websites that do not need a lot of customization. The platform is now being used by over 12 million websites as of today. Weebly has website templates for different website categories that you can use to build your digital marketing company in the shortest time possible. Where Wix best Weebly is in the number of website templates. Wix has over 540 templates and Weebly has only 50.
However, Weebly has more apps which means you can make more customizations than with Wix. Weebly has a free and paid plan that offers extra features. Their paid plan starts at $5 a month.
BigCommerce
Some consider this platform as the best website builder for website design eCommerce. This platform has templates for different eCommerce Sites just like Shopify. One of the biggest strengths of BigCommerce is its integration with WordPress that allows users to take advantage of the flexibility that WordPress offers to manage their websites
Just like Shopify, BigCommerce also has both the free and paid versions. It’s always a better option to start with the free one so that by the time you purchase the paid version, you’re well familiar with the tools and functionalities of the platform. The standard plan which is the cheapest start at $29.95 per month.
Conclusion
All the above platforms are good builders of websites. Choosing the one to use should largely depend on the type of website you intend to build. Those who need website design eCommerce websites will obviously have to use Shopify or BigCommerce. For other basic sites, you can use Wix, WordPress and Weebly.
Among all the above WordPress is the one with the most customization feature and Plugins to make your website unique. But Wix and Weebly as easier to use than use than WordPress. Can’t pick a theme or need help in coming up a design for your brand? Check for the top digital marketing companies Australia.