10 Best Free and Cheap Wix Alternatives [TESTED in 2024]

There’s a lot to like about Wix, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal for everyone. Maybe you’re looking for a more streamlined option, or you just don’t vibe with Wix’s editor. Perhaps, you find Wix’s free plan too limited and its Starter plan too expensive.

Whatever your reason, there are plenty of affordable (and even free) alternatives available, but it can be hard to tell which ones are worthwhile. While you can easily find builders that offer more storage than Wix, their site-building tools may be significantly worse. That’s why I decided to test the most popular web builders on the market. I built a website with each service’s free or cheapest plan and took a close look at their offerings to bring you the definitive lists of Wix alternatives that won’t leave you bankrupt.

My top choice is SITE123, since it offers a more user-friendly editor than Wix and lets you build a professional website at very low rates. However, each builder on this list is bound to be ideal for a different kind of user.

You can sign up to SITE123 for free right now, or keep reading to find the best Wix alternative for you.

What We Look For in the Best Wix Alternatives

If I’m going to recommend an alternative to Wix, it actually has to offer something Wix doesn’t or surpass Wix in one aspect. In particular, I looked out for the following:

• Value for money. With Wix, you have to pay extra to use some of the most important features. I looked for website builders that are more cost-effective than Wix.
• Built-in features. While Wix offers apps for extended functionality, some website builders come with more built-in features (such as Squarespace’s Analytics tool). With native features, you don’t have to waste time looking for apps and installing them.
• Mobile-responsive templates. Having to edit a separate mobile version of your website is a pain, so I looked for platforms that give you responsive templates that will automatically look great on smartphones and tablets.
• Design flexibility. Wix offers plenty of flexibility for your design, so if I’m going to recommend a good alternative, it has to offer at least the same creative freedom for you to build whatever site you want to build.
• Free plan/trial. Some of these Wix alternatives allow you to build a fully functional website without having to pay a dime. Others offer a free trial period, so you can test them risk-free.

Quick Look at Our Top Wix Alternatives

1. SITE123: Best Simple Website Builder for Busy Professionals1

When it comes to editing your site, not many builders make it as simple as Wix. However, I actually found SITE123 to be easier – and faster – to use. 

SITE123 has a no-frills editor that makes it almost impossible to get lost in the process of creating a website. You customize your pages and settings by selecting from simple dropdown menus, and each button is clearly labeled – no confusing icons, like with Wix or WordPress.

The downside is that SITE123 offers less storage and bandwidth compared to Wix, so it’s not ideal if you want to upload lots of images or other media files. Still, you’ll get more than enough for a simple site. And if you need more, SITE123’s premium plan is more generous than similarly-priced plans by Wix.

Ultimately, SITE123’s free plan1 is your best bet if you want to launch a small website as quickly as possible, and you know you won’t need a ton of resources to do it.

Features

• Mobile-responsive templates. There are over 180 templates across multiple categories (restaurants, community, portfolio, etc.), and they’re all designed to look good on multiple devices.
• Lots of page layouts. You can choose from a variety of preconfigured layouts for each section of your page, so it’s easy to create a good-looking, well-aligned site. For example, there are 14 layouts for About sections, each with various text, image, and alignment options.
• Excellent support. If you run into a problem, real-time support is just a second away. You can chat with a SITE123 assistant from within the editor by clicking the Need Help? button.
• Speedy editor. The SITE123 editor loads very quickly, so you don’t have to wait for ages whenever you want to make an adjustment to your site. I almost never saw the ominous loading icon during my tests.

Want to learn more? Head over to our full SITE123 review.

2. Webador: A Fast and Budget-Friendly Website Builder1

Webador’s plans are some of the cheapest around, and you can save even more by paying for your plan annually. The Business plan – which is Webador’s most expensive plan – is cheaper than Wix’s Pro plan. It’s not like you don’t get good value for your money either – Webador’s Business Plan gets you unlimited storage, AI-powered features for your site, complete e-commerce features, and more.

Despite its low price, Webador doesn’t skimp on features. You get unique file-sharing widgets, plenty of tools for visitor interaction, and a ton of support for multilingual websites1. You’ll have to manually translate your content yourself, but you can easily set up duplicate pages and use regional domain extensions (like .nl, .de, or .en).

Also worth mentioning: Webador is extremely easy to use. Thanks to its drag-and-drop builder, you can set up a professional website in just a couple of minutes.

You should know that Webador’s templates are, for the most part, examples of what you can build on the platform. You’ll get the same style and hero header shown on the template, but the rest is up to you. I’m just warning you now so you don’t spend a few minutes wondering when the rest of the template will load.

Features

• Free plan. Webador’s free plan offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, plus a massive stock image library. You’ll be limited to a .webador domain with ads, and you won’t get features like analytics or customizable forms. However, what you get will be more than enough for a simple website.
• 50+ templates. It’s not the largest template library in the world, but you’ve still got plenty of choice with Webador. Each template is fully responsive, but you can choose to edit the mobile version of your store to make sure it all looks and works perfectly.
• Business mailboxes. You’ll get a personal mailbox on the Pro plan and above, which allows you to set up an email address with your custom domain. You can then access your emails via Webador or set up your custom email address with another client like Gmail.
• Free domain names. You’ll get a free domain name on any paid plan. Plus, when you pay to set up another language on your website, Webador will give you an additional free domain.

See more great features in our in-depth Webador review.

3. Squarespace: Best for Beautiful, Responsive Templates1

On its own, Squarespace has a well-earned reputation as one of the best platforms for creating aesthetically pleasing, well-structured websites. Each template in its library is expertly designed and visually pleasing, and the editor itself gives you the structure you need to create a beautiful-looking site in minutes.

Squarespace has fantastic marketing features1 too, like email campaign integrations, and social media campaign tools. It also offers impressive SEO features like a powerful analytics tracker, and AI-generated SEO-friendly text (as well as optimization suggestions). Alongside that, there are plenty of backend solutions like automatic sitemaps, clean URLs, and SEO tools for e-commerce like automatic product indexing.

Squarespace’s prices are similar to Wix’s, but you get more resources when you compare each Squarespace plan to its closest-priced Wix counterpart: like video storage, analytic tools, and e-commerce features.

Squarespace is an exceptionally good tool if you’re looking to create an online store, since its “Commerce” plan is significantly cheaper than Wix’s “Business” plan and offers roughly the same e-commerce tools. Thanks to its merchandising features, you can ensure that your Squarespace store will outperform your expectations.

Features

• Responsive Templates. Quite simply, Squarespace’s 160+ templates are mesmerizing. They’re professionally designed to make your website look modern and attractive, and they are all mobile-responsive. You can even design your own personalized template thanks to the addition of Squarespace Blueprint.
• E-Commerce. Squarespace gives you better tools to build a small-medium sized online store for a fairly low cost. These include inventory management, product display, marketing tools and more.
• Analytics tools. Understanding your website traffic – where it’s coming from, how well your marketing is performing, etc. – is important for planning your marketing strategy. While Wix gives you Google Analytics integration, Squarespace has a native Analytics feature that also offers a mobile app so you can monitor your website’s performance on the go.
• Security. Squarespace is one of the most secure website builders, with high levels of server-side security and built-in SSL to keep your website data protected from hackers. While Wix’s security isn’t terrible, this is just one of the things that Squarespace does better than Wix.

Want to learn more? Head over to our expert Squarespace review.

4. IONOS: Best Simple Builder for Business Websites1

IONOS’ website builder is specifically aimed at creating effective, scrollable business websites. That means that while it might be a little thin on all-purpose features like blogging or extremely customizable sections, it makes up for it with great features for businesses like AI-powered SEO integrations or its website checker.

It offers an incredibly gentle learning curve, so you won’t have to worry if you need to create a functional site for your business without much experience.

Sure, IONOS is a lot more basic than Wix. You’ll only get 18 templates to choose from, but they’re all modern, mobile-friendly, and offer plenty of variety. And, even though you don’t get complete freedom with your website’s layout, you’ll get enough options to get you started. It’s great for beginners or if, like me, you’re prone to analysis paralysis when you’re presented with a luxurious buffet of design options.

On top of that, you’ll get a free domain for one year on any of IONOS’s plans. That definitely beats having to use a Wix subdomain.

Features

• Cheap e-commerce support. You can add e-commerce features onto any IONOS plan. While this bumps up the price, it still works out cheaper than paying for Wix, making it great for businesses on a budget.
• Professional email. You’ll be able to make an unlimited number of professional email addresses with your IONOS domain for no extra cost.
• RankingCoach integration. RankingCoach is a free SEO app that teaches you how to set up your site’s SEO and improve your rankings. This integration makes it easy to automate your website’s SEO, even if you’re on a budget.
• Logo generator. Get a free simple logo for your business with the built-in logo generator – ideal for new businesses that don’t have the money to hire a designer.

See more great features in our in-depth IONOS review.

5. Shopify: Best for Building E-Commerce Websites1

Shopify is the website builder for e-commerce websites, but it’s not the cheapest Wix alternative out there. Its first two pricing plans are roughly equivalent to Wix’s pricing, and the third plan’s hefty cost means it’s only suitable for larger businesses.

Still, Shopify remains a viable alternative thanks to its advanced e-commerce features. Shopify includes discounts on shipping, lower transaction percentage fees, and built-in marketing tools. While Shopify might represent a larger startup fee at the beginning, if you’re serious about e-commerce, it can save you a lot of money down the line.

Opting for even the most budget-friendly plan grants you access to limitless storage—an offering unavailable with Wix unless subscribed to their Enterprise plan. Moreover, included in this package is Shopify POS Lite, enabling you to accept in-person payments conveniently from any location.

Features

• Multiple sales channels. Sync your Shopify store with Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and more, making it easy to get eyes on your products and manage your inventory from one place.
• Third-party template support. Don’t be discouraged by the limited selection of free themes – with Shopify, you have the option to import third-party templates. Whether you decide to hire someone to create a custom theme or explore third-party libraries, you can design a one-of-a-kind store without breaking the bank.
• 100+ payment gateway options. Shopify supports all major payment gateways like PayPal, Google Pay, and Stripe, and it has its own competitively priced gateway built in.
• 14-day free trial. Shopify’s free trial is a great way to try out its features and see if it fits your business.

Read our in-depth Shopify review to see why it’s a great choice for e-commerce.

6. Wix Studio: Complete Control Over Your Website’s Design1

There are a lot of reasons you might be looking for an alternative to Wix, but if what you need is a more advanced editor, Wix Studio (formerly Editor X) is Wix’s advanced offering for professional designers. Despite its advanced features, it maintains affordable entry-level pricing.

Wix Studio gives you even more control over your website’s design by offering advanced tools, such as relative spacing options, custom CSS embedding, and a wide variety of animations, elements, and advanced responsive features powered by AI.

Features

• Advanced professional templates. Wix Studio offers its own set of 90 different templates, all of which integrate the advanced design features it offers
• AI Coding Assistant. Wix Studio offers an AI integration to help you create effective, clean code for your site.
• AI-powered mobile responsiveness. You can use Wix Studio’s advanced AI to help you auto-adjust any element on your page to the correct position on different screen sizes.
• Multi-site management suite. You get a robust dashboard for managing several different sites for the same project.

Other Notable Affordable Wix Alternatives

7. BigCommerce1

BigCommerce is one of the largest platforms for growing and larger businesses looking to scale their online presence. It excels with its built-in sales tools, including advanced SEO capabilities and multi-channel integration. You also get omnichannel selling, which allows you to sell your products across several platforms.

However, BigCommerce has its downsides. In particular, its advanced e-commerce features also mean that it comes with a somewhat steep learning curve. Still, if you’re looking for complete control over e-commerce functions, it’s a great choice.

8. Hostinger Website Builder1

Hostinger Website Builder has continuously grown and evolved, adding new features and revamping old ones along the way. It’s not free, but it’s a solid, affordable site builder that comes with unlimited resources and is super simple to use. Even if you’re a complete newbie, you’ll be able to build your site quickly.

One downside is that unlike Wix, Hostinger doesn’t give you complete creative control. But unless you’re a designer, that’s probably a good thing. The grid ensures your website stays properly aligned, and there are still plenty of possibilities to create custom designs. You can add image galleries, slideshows, customize contact forms, and more.

9. WordPress.com1

WordPress.com is a strong contender for those focused on blogging. Its free plan offers ample resources, making it ideal for starters. While you can’t use plugins or third-party templates on this plan, the platform’s ease of use and flexibility are significant. It’s an affordable choice if your primary goal is content creation, rather than complex site design.

10. Web.com1

Web.com goes a step further than Wix in terms of advanced editing features and a comprehensive branding dashboard. Its pricing is slightly higher than others on this list, but you get what you pay for. For me, the extra investment was worth it for the added functionality and customization options, especially for more complex sites.

When Wix Isn’t For You…

While Wix might be regarded as the paramount website builder by some, it’s not the only choice available to you. If you intend to construct a website, you have a range of options at your disposal based on your budget and the specific purpose of your website.

If you’re a busy professional with no time to waste, SITE123 is the easiest option1. Its no-nonsense website editor is easy to pick up and use, and the free plan means you can work on your website at your own pace.

If budget is a concern, take a look at Webador1. On top of a great free plan, its paid plans are some of the most affordable on the market.

Finally, if you’re looking for an alternative that offers stunning designs and advanced marketing features, consider Squarespace1. It’s easy to use, and you can create truly stunning designs with it.

Here are the key things you need to know about the best Wix alternatives.

FAQ

Which website builder is better than Wix?

SITE123 is a great website builder that’s better than Wix in a lot of ways. It’s just as easy – if not easier – to pick up and learn, making it a great choice for almost every type of user. I found that it took me far less time to set up a website on SITE123 thanks to its intuitive interface and great self-help resources.

Which website builder is cheaper than Wix?

For a cheaper Wix alternative, consider going with Webador. Not only does it have a much lower price tag than Wix, but it has a great free plan you can use for simple websites. You’ll even get unlimited storage and bandwidth – something that Wix doesn’t offer.

Which is better, Wix or Squarespace?

Better is subjective, and both these website builders could be great – depending on what you’re looking for. Wix has more apps, but Squarespace skips the need for apps with tons of built-in features like email marketing, integrated analytics, and advanced e-commerce tools. Squarespace’s customer support is also far better than what you’ll get with Wix.

Is Wix bad for SEO?

It’s not bad, but it’s not great. Wix offers a free tool called Wix SEO Wiz. With it, you’ll be able to add alt-text, SEO titles, customized URLs, and generate a sitemap. If you’re new to SEO, Wix will be just right for you. If you’re more advanced in your SEO knowledge, you’ll probably find yourself outgrowing Wix pretty quickly. If this sounds like you, take a look at our top website builders in 2024 to find a great alternative.