WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. In fact, many people are surprised to learn it powers over 40% of sites on the internet! However, WordPress is not the only option when it comes to building a website. Whether you’re looking for a simpler solution, something more customizable, or a platform better suited to specific needs like e-commerce or portfolio sites, plenty of excellent WordPress alternatives are available.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the best WordPress alternatives for 2024, each with various features and benefits to suit different users and projects.
Wix
Wix is a popular website builder designed for those who want to create a professional-looking website without writing code. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes building websites from scratch or with pre-designed templates easy. Wix has a robust app market to add extra features, from galleries to appointment scheduling tools, making it a solid choice for portfolios, small businesses, and personal blogs.
- Best for: Beginners looking for an easy drag-and-drop builder
- Pricing: Free (with Wix branding); premium plans starting at $16/month
- Key Features:
- Over 800 design templates
- Built-in SEO tools
- App market with extensive plugins and integrations
- Free SSL certificate and hosting included
Why Choose Wix?
Wix is perfect for beginners who want a user-friendly, all-in-one platform. It handles everything from hosting to design, allowing users to focus on content without worrying about technicalities.
Squarespace
- Best for: Creatives and designers who want stunning visuals
- Pricing: Starts at $16/month
- Key Features:
- Beautiful, responsive templates
- Integrated e-commerce and marketing tools
- Excellent customer support
- Built-in SEO, analytics, and blogging tools
Squarespace is known for its library of beautifully designed templates, making it a go-to option for creatives, artists, and small businesses focused on aesthetics. While it doesn’t offer the flexibility of WordPress in terms of third-party plugins, its sleek design tools and built-in features make up for that. Squarespace is particularly popular among photographers, designers, and entrepreneurs who want to showcase their work in style.
Why Choose Squarespace?
Squarespace shines when it comes to design and usability, making it an excellent alternative for users who need visually stunning websites but don’t want to compromise on functionality. Its templates are polished and professional, ideal for showcasing portfolios or building a sleek business website.
Weebly
Weebly, now part of the Square brand, is a beginner-friendly website builder with a strong focus on e-commerce. It provides an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and includes hosting, SSL security, and a variety of free themes. Weebly’s tight integration with Square makes it an excellent choice for those who want to set up an online store quickly and easily.
- Best for: Small businesses and e-commerce beginners
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $10/month
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- Fully integrated e-commerce tools
- Free SSL, analytics, and mobile apps
- Customizable themes
Why Choose Weebly?
Weebly is ideal for small businesses that need a website up and running without hassle, especially if e-commerce is involved. Its seamless connection with Square’s payment processing makes it a perfect option for entrepreneurs who want to combine an online and offline store experience.
Webflow
Webflow is a hybrid platform that combines a visual website builder with the freedom of custom code. It’s more complex than platforms like Wix or Squarespace, but it offers much greater design flexibility. Webflow’s CMS and design capabilities make it popular among developers, agencies, and advanced users who need more control over their website’s appearance and functionality.
- Best for: Designers and developers who want full control
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $14/month
- Key Features:
- Extensive design flexibility
- Built-in CMS for dynamic content
- Complete control over HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Hosting with SSL and global CDN included
Why Choose Webflow?
Webflow is best suited to designers and developers who need more advanced tools and full creative control. If you have coding skills or work with a developer, Webflow offers a robust platform for creating custom, dynamic websites.
Joomla
Joomla is another open-source CMS that offers more flexibility and power than WordPress but may come with a steeper learning curve. It’s highly customizable and ideal for complex websites like magazines, corporate sites, or membership-based portals. While Joomla requires more technical knowledge, it’s a solid alternative for users who want more control over their site than WordPress offers out of the box.
- Best for: Developers and users who want a customizable open-source CMS
- Pricing: Free (with optional paid extensions)
- Key Features:
- Multilingual support out of the boxHighly customizable and extendable
- Advanced user and content management features
- Extensive library of plugins and templates
Why Choose Joomla?
Joomla is perfect for users who need a more versatile CMS than WordPress but still offers a solid open-source foundation. It’s especially useful for more complex websites requiring multiple user roles or content management needs.
Drupal
Drupal is a powerful, open-source CMS designed for developers who need to build highly customized websites. It offers much more flexibility than WordPress but requires technical knowledge. Drupal is perfect for large-scale, enterprise-level websites, government portals, and any site that demands a high level of security and customization.
- Best for: Developers or tech-savvy users building large, complex websites
- Pricing: Free (with optional paid themes and plugins)
- Key Features:
- Highly secure and scalable
- Extremely customizable with a modular system
- Built-in support for multilingual sites
- Advanced user management and access controls
Why Choose Drupal?
Drupal is ideal for developers or organizations that need a powerful, secure CMS to build complex, large-scale websites. It’s overkill for small blogs or personal sites, but it’s a top choice for large projects requiring advanced functionality.
Ghost
Ghost is a CMS built specifically for bloggers and writers, offering a fast, minimalist platform that focuses on simplicity and performance. Unlike WordPress, Ghost is a “headless CMS,” meaning it can power content published across multiple platforms. It’s lightweight and optimized for speed, making it a solid choice for creators who want to focus purely on writing and content delivery.
- Best for: Bloggers and writers focused on performance
Pricing: Starts at $9/month for basic plans - Key Features:
- Blazing-fast performance
- Built-in SEO tools
- Simple, distraction-free interface
- Supports membership and paid content models
Why Choose Ghost?
Ghost is an excellent alternative to WordPress if you’re a writer or blogger who wants a sleek, fast, and content-focused platform. It’s also a good choice if you want to set up a paid subscription model or membership site.
Which WordPress Alternative is Right for You?
Choosing the best WordPress alternative depends on your specific needs:
- If you want a simple, easy-to-use platform, Wix or Squarespace might be the best fit.
- For more complex websites or projects requiring advanced customization, Webflow, Joomla, or Drupal offer greater flexibility.
- Bloggers focused on content and performance may prefer Ghost for its simplicity and speed.
- If e-commerce is your focus, Weebly or Shopify (if you want an advanced platform) could be the perfect fit.
Each of these platforms has its strengths, so choose the one that aligns with your goals and the level of control or ease of use you need. Regardless of which alternative you pick, the right platform can help you build a stunning website that meets your needs.