Nowadays having a strong online presence is very important for almost any kind of business. Having that said, building a website is a crucial point in establishing that presence, yet not everyone has the time or knowledge required to build a custom website. Here’s where freemium website builders come in handy as they try to offer a balance between affordability and functionality. In this article we will talk about the pros, cons and our own experiences using these platforms that are taking the internet by storm.
What is freemium?
Firstly, before diving into specifics, let’s define the meaning of freemium in the world of website builders. Freemium is a pricing model where basic features of a product or service are free, and more advanced ones require you to pay for a subscription. Therefore, this gives a chance for users to get started with basic features and as their needs of more advanced functionality grows upgrade to a more complete version.
Wix
Wix is a website building platform that enables users to create a website without any coding or design knowledge or skills. Wix also offers a variety of tools so you can enhance website functionality, containing e-commerce capabilities, blog creation, SEO optimization, social media integration, and more.
With Wix, users have the option to start with a free plan that includes basic features and Wix branding. However, to unlock more advanced features and remove Wix ads, users can upgrade to one of the premium paid plans offered by Wix.
Pros
- Drag-and-Drop editor
- Wide range of templates
- Trustworthy Hosting
- Access to a broad app market
Cons
- Ads in free version
- No custom domain option in free version
- Advanced features and e-commerce functionality only available with paid plans
- App Dependency
- Performance and Loading Speed
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that provides individuals and businesses to set up and run their online stores. Besides this it has a comprehensive suite of tools and features to facilitate the process of building, managing, and scaling an e-commerce business.
With this website builder, users can create a customizable online store without knowing how to code or design.
Pros
- User Friendly interface
- Smooth setup process for outline stores
- Vast range of professionally designed templates
- Inventory management and marketing tools available
Cons
- Free version is very limited in website customization and features
- Learning curve
- Cost: Shopify paid plans are relatively expensive
- Theme Limitations
- SEO Limitations
- Platform Lock-in
Squarespace is a popular freemium website builder known for its modern templates, making it a good choice for creatives and artists. It provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, which makes it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Squarespace mostly prioritizes user experience and aesthetics.
Pros
- Dazzling templates optimized for mobile devices
- Built-in features like blogging and e-commerce capabilities
- Reliable hosting
- Great customer support
Cons
- Customization Limitations
- E-commerce Limitations
- Pricing
- Template Switching
- Limited Membership Site Functionality
Weebly is a user-friendly website building platform that gives the chance for individuals and small businesses to create professional websites without the need for coding skills. With Weebly users can even customize pre-designed templates and add some elements to their websites.
Pros
- Drag-and drop editor
- Mobile responsive templates
- Reliable hosting
- Built-in blogging platform
Cons
- Branding on the website
- Limited features
- Advanced design and marketing tools only available with paid plans
- Design Limitations
- Customer Support
- Limited e-commerce features
- Pricing Structure
Google Sites is a website building platform that’s provided by Google. It allows people to make simple and basic websites without much effort. This website building platform focuses mainly on creating internal team sites, project sites and knowledge bases for collaboration within organizations. Here users can create and design web pages using pre-built templates.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Connection to Google Drive
- Collaboration features
Cons
- Limited customization
- Lack of advanced features
- SEO optimization
- Limited support
- Export and migration
Our veredict
Our extensive testing has confirmed that while all website builders share a common premise, they also possess unique strengths and weaknesses. Through our analysis, we have discovered that despite their similar principles, there are significant differences that can guide users towards a more optimal solution.
For individuals seeking to showcase their portfolio, whether it is through photo or video content, Squarespace stands out with its aesthetically pleasing templates specifically designed to highlight one’s work in the best possible manner. On the other hand, for those requiring a coding-free online store, Shopify remains the top choice for e-commerce purposes. Although Shopify takes a small percentage of sales, its ease of use more than compensates for this minor drawback.
Wix and Weebly both cater to the average user who desires a straightforward website without excessive frills. Although Weebly’s pricing structure appears less perplexing and financially alluring, Wix’s larger user base and support from the community make it the superior option. Lastly, Google Sites offers a cost-free platform to create websites, but users should be aware that this comes at the cost of essential features and convenience found in other platforms such as Wix or Shopify.
Whether you´re a business owner or a freelancer, having a well designed website is crucial for a strong online presence. And, although these website builders are great, they still lack an immensity of tools and features that should be considered when creating a website.
We invite you to entrust us with the task at hand, allowing our team of experts to handle it on your behalf. By doing so you will not only gain valuable time to dedicate to other important matters, but you will also benefit from the assurance that you are in exceptionally capable hands.So what do you think? Contact us now for a free quote!
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