WordPress has been acclaimed as the king of website building platforms for various purposes. It has been widely used by bloggers and business owners alike. People use the WordPress platform to build and customize their websites using a plethora of plug-ins and tutorials.
But many of us feel that WordPress is probably not the most user-friendly web designing platform, especially for beginners. It is definitely not an all-in-one solution because users have to rely on various plug-ins for different customizations and functionalities.
Many people also feel that WordPress is probably not the best solution for their specific purposes for a website. That is why many businesses turn to expert companies like Live Web Media that can align their web designing and SEO goals. So if you have been looking for alternative platforms to build your website, you can take a look at these options.
Joomla
Joomla is also an open source Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. The use of the platform is free, and you only have to pay for web hosting. It offers a broad range of functionalities that you can use to run various types of websites, such as personal or business blogs, eCommerce websites, informational sites, business portfolios, and many more.
Many people feel that Joomla is not a beginner-friendly platform, so you can watch tutorials and browse through forums to gather some experience. The platform follows the traditional ways of content editing, which means you will not find a drag-and-drop visual editor.
There are more than 6000 extensions available on Joomla, though it’s a bit less than WordPress. You can choose from a range of premade designs and templates for your website and optimize most of them for mobile use.
The platform also offers a blog module, eCommerce store, and social media tools. Since Joomla is free to use open-source software, you can access the source code. Unfortunately, you cannot obtain a free domain, and there is no customer support available. You will also need a PHP-enabled server to run Joomla.
Wix
Wix is the perfect solution for you if you are looking for a comprehensive platform that is completely customizable and easy to use. You do not need any third-party plug-ins or applications to create your website on Wix.
It offers you almost everything you might need to build your websites, such as web hosting, customizable domain name, and web designing platform. The platform offers a visual drag-and-drop editor that is so easy to use that you do not need any prior experience.
Wix is a complete hosting solution that does not require any additional software. There are several extensions available for functionalities, and they are also optimized to create a mobile-friendly website. Wix offers a blog module, eCommerce store, and social media tools you can use, depending on your requirements.
There is a free version available that includes a free subdomain for users. The paid plans also offer a free custom domain. There are also several choices of premade designs and templates that you can use. Wix also offers excellent customer support. However, you cannot gain complete control over your website or access the source code like you can with WordPress.
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular platforms to create eCommerce websites that can also help you sell your products. You can create a website on Shopify to take advantage of its SEO optimization features. However, Shopify is not an ideal platform to build anything apart from eCommerce websites.
It offers complete hosting solutions and you do not need any software installation. You can use a drag-and-drop visual builder to create your website. There are several extensions available that are designed specifically for eCommerce websites. You can also optimize the site for mobile users.
The platform offers a blog module that you can use to post SEO-optimized content. You can also use the social media tools provided by the platform. These features make Shopify an all-in-one website-building platform. It offers premade designs and templates and a free subdomain that you can use.
Shopify also has an efficient customer support service. Unfortunately, there is no free version of the platform, and you cannot access the source code. Shopify also charges commission fees on the sale of your products.
Magneto
Magneto is another platform made for eCommerce websites that packs more bells and whistles. It offers a wide range of features that are designed specifically for large-scale enterprises. You can pay for complete Magento Commerce hosting services to manage your eCommerce website, or you can download the free, open-source software that you can install on your web server.
However, Magneto is not an easy platform to use, even though it offers a drag-and-drop visual builder. You can avail several extensions for your requirements and optimize your eCommerce store for mobile users. You can also use the premade designs and templates for your website.
The platform offers a free subdomain that you can use to set up and test your site. Customer service is only available for the paid version. You can access the source code with the downloadable open source version.
The platform does not have a dedicated blog module, but there are extensions for that. Also, bear in mind that there is a steep learning curve for beginners, while the all-in-one paid version might be too expensive for small businesses.
Every website building platform has its own pros and cons. If you are not into WordPress, you can consider one of these options that suits you the best. Your choice will depend on several factors, such as your requirements, skill levels, time at hand, learning curve, and budget. Make sure that you weigh them carefully before you make a decision.
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