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The Best WordPress Alternatives for Freelancers and Business Owners

  • Writer: marieutsch
    marieutsch
  • 2 days ago
  • 8 min read

If you’re currently on the hunt for the best website builder for your new site - or you're about to lose your mind over WordPress and looking for a solid alternative - you’re in exactly the right place.


As you might have seen on my website, I mostly work with WIX when it comes to web design. Why? Because both my clients and I have had more than a few mild panic attacks after a seemingly harmless plugin update broke the contact form (again) - or when the homepage randomly looks totally different in Safari than in Chrome.


So in this post, I’m sharing the best WordPress alternatives for freelancers and business owners - including real-life examples from my work as a web designer, plus when I recommend WIX over WordPress (and vice versa).


This post was created in collaboration with WIX. I use the tool regularly in many client projects and am sharing my honest opinion and real-world experience as a web designer.


Why even look for a WordPress alternative?


If WordPress were the ultimate solution on the market, we wouldn’t need alternatives. Simple as that.


But let me be honest with you. Whenever I work with WordPress, it usually takes about 15 minutes until I turn into this raging panda:



Why?


WordPress is super complex, especially for beginners. You need WordPress itself, then a theme, and then a page builder. So if you're a total newbie who just wants a website - suddenly you’re faced with three decisions you have no clue about:


→ WordPress yes or no?

→ Which theme?

→ Which builder?


Also, WordPress doesn’t update automatically. You usually have to manually trigger updates – for WordPress and for every single plugin you’ve installed.And honestly, most of my clients log into their website once every few blue moons. So a tool that constantly needs maintenance? Not ideal.


For most of my clients, who just want a clean, functional website to present themselves and their offers, WordPress is simply overkill.Yes, it’s super powerful, but if what you need is essentially a well-designed digital business card, WordPress just isn’t necessary.


What should a good WordPress alternative be able to do?


As a web designer, there are a few things I absolutely need from a website builder:


  • It has to be easy and intuitive to use

  • I need quick access to all SEO settings

  • I want the option to invite team members

  • And the monthly subscription shouldn’t break the bank


When I hand over a new website to a client, I don’t want to become their tech support hotline.


I want to do a 30-minute handover call with a total beginner and walk them through the builder so they can update images, change text, and write blog posts on their own afterward.


I’m not a babysitter 🙅‍♀️ And my clients update their offers way too often to hire someone every time something needs changing on the site (honestly, who has the time or the $$$ for that?).


WIX vs. WordPress - What is best for you?

wix vs wordpress alternativen

To help you figure out whether WIX or WordPress is the better fit for you and your business, I’ve put together a comparison table for you below:


Criteria

WIX

WordPress

Ease of use

✅ Intuitive Drag-&-Drop-Editor; no tech-know-how needed

❌ More technical; you need a theme, builder & plug-ins.

Flexibility

✘ More limited when it comes to custom features and third-party integrations

✅ Highly customizable - with plugins, almost anything is possible

Design freedom

✅ A lot of modern templates and features within the editor to make the website truly yours

✅ Very high, but more time-consuming to achieve the design you are aiming for

SEO

✅ Does what it’s supposed to and everything is easy to manage

✅ Very powerful with the right plugins & know-how

Technical maintenance & updates

✅ Handled automatically in the background for you

❌ You are responsible for updates and technical maintenance; some updates might destroy the design of your website if you're not careful

Data privacy / GDPR

⚠️ Server in the US; Cookie-Banner from UserCentrics is GDPR compliant

✅ Server in Europe is possible; easy installation of GDPR-compliant plugins

Blog

✅ Easy to use, with an SEO assistant to help you write blog posts

✅ Very powerful, especially with SEO-Plugins like RankMath or Yoast

Costs

starting from 13€ per month(All-in-One solution)

starts at 8€ per month + Theme + Plugins

Team accounts

✅ Included in all subscriptions

✅ Possible

Best suited for?

👉 Ideal for professionals who want to get online quickly and easily

👉 Ideal for advanced users & businesses with more complex requirements


WIX is perfect if you want a beautiful, low-maintenance website that you can manage on your own.


WordPress is great if you’re planning to build something more complex in the long run – like automations, a shop, or custom features and you’re either ready to dive in yourself or get some support along the way.


Other WordPress Alternatives Compared


Besides WIX and WordPress, I occasionally work with other platforms too, including Webflow and Squarespace.


1. Webflow - The Comparison


To me, Webflow is the cool kid on the block when it comes to website builders. You can create a really impressive, high-end looking site fairly easily, but still, I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners.


Webflow gives you tons of design freedom and lets you add CSS/HTML/scripts, which for most beginners is eithera) totally overwhelming, orb) simply not necessary.


I enjoyed learning the editor and creating a beautiful layout, but for day-to-day use, especially for solo entrepreneurs, I don’t see Webflow as a serious alternative to WIX.


2. Squarespace - The Comparison


I know quite a few designers who swear by Squarespace (just like I swear by WIX). At the end of the day, it comes down to what you’re used to. Personally, I find the WIX editor easier to use than Squarespace, but otherwise, I see both platforms as fairly equal.


Squarespace starts at €11/month, which is similar to WIX.


Which WordPress Alternative Is Right for You?


To help you figure out whether WordPress or a WordPress alternative is the right fit for your business, I’ve put together a little checklist for you.


If you answer more than 3 questions with “yes” - I’d probably steer you away from WordPress 😅


  • Do you want to build your website yourself, without constantly having to google tutorials?

  • Does your offer, branding, or target audience change often?

  • Do you have little time (or motivation) to regularly deal with tech stuff?

  • Are you currently on a tight budget and can’t easily outsource updates or fixes?

  • Do you want a system that just works, without worrying about updates, plugins, or security issues?


If you found yourself nodding to most of these: a WordPress alternative is probably the better choice for you.


And that’s totally okay.Not every website needs to run on WordPress.


What really matters is that you choose a platform that fits your business and your everyday life. Period.


When Does WordPress Make Sense?


Despite all the valid criticism: WordPress isn’t bad - far from it. It’s a powerful tool. And that’s exactly why it’s not the best solution for every business, but the perfect one for some.


Here are a few typical scenarios where I actually recommend WordPress:


  • You want to get serious about blogging.

    WordPress is still the most powerful platform for content-heavy websites.If blog posts are the core of your site and you want to properly structure, categorize, and schedule your content, WordPress is a great choice.

    However, if your main goal is to showcase your services and attract clients through SEO, then WIX or Squarespace can do the job just as well.


  • You need custom features.

    Booking systems, membership areas, custom e-commerce setups, multilingual sites, automations...All of that can be built (quite flexibly!) with WordPress using plugins and a bit of know-how.With drag-and-drop builders like WIX or Squarespace, you’ll hit limitations pretty quickly.


  • You’re working with a web designer or agency.

    If you're already planning to have someone build (and maintain) your site, then WordPress can be a solid long-term solution - as long as that person really knows what they’re doing. Most agencies use WordPress.

    For freelancers like me, it really depends on individual preferences and skills.


Unsure what system works best for your use case? Book a complimentary 15min call with me here to plan your new website.


My Personal Take as a Web Designer


I regularly support self-employed professionals in building their websites - from the very first idea to the final result. And yes, I’ve worked with pretty much every system out there: WordPress, WIX, Squarespace, Webflow... you name it.


Here’s what I keep seeing over and over again: Many of my clients start out with WordPress.


Often because someone told them things like:


“That’s what you need if you want to be professional.” (Spoiler: that “someone” is usually very comfortable with WordPress themselves and ends up recommending it to a total beginner.)
“It’s the best platform.”
“Forget about SEO with anything else.”(This myth is surprisingly persistent – and in my opinion, it’s simply no longer true.Or are you going to call my #1 Google rankings with WIX websites fake? 😎)

So, they go ahead and build a beautiful site together with an agency or designer.


So far, so good.


A few months later, here's what often happens:


They’ve grown - maybe launched a new offer, shifted their target audience, or changed their focus - but can’t update any of it on their website by themselves.


Every tiny change means writing emails, chasing down freelancers, and spending more money.


They log into WordPress, see 17 update notifications, and immediately go into panic mode.

Eventually, the frustration kicks in, because they constantly rely on someone else to make small changes that should be quick and easy.


And that’s usually when the desire for an alternative shows up. A system they can actually manage on their own. Without the fear that everything will break the moment they hit “save.”

(And yes.. that has happened to me as a designer too. More than once.)


If you are ...

Then I recommend ...

Very design-focused and technical stuff doesn't scare you

WordPress with a good Setup; if you are able to stay on top of it or have help managing your site

Realistic, have little time for tech drama and just want something that works

WIX: get started without a headache, get quick results, no maintenance

Looking to do it all yourself without panicking about updates

WIX or Squarespace: easy, reliable, well documented


It’s not about choosing the “best” system. It’s about choosing the one you actually enjoy working with. Because only then will your website stay up to date, relevant, and become a real asset for your business.


Conclusion on Wordpress Alternatives


There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, only the one that fits your business, your daily routine, and your goals.


If you don’t want to deal with tech on a regular basis, prefer to make changes yourself, and need your website to be a simple, stress-free business tool, then a WordPress alternative like WIX is often the smoother choice.


On the other hand, if you need lots of advanced features, want to gradually expand your website’s functionality, or are working with an agency, then WordPress might be the better fit.


My tip: Don’t ask what others are using - ask yourself what you need to reach your goals.


Still unsure what suits you best? Feel free to book a free discovery call - we’ll figure it out together. And if WordPress turns out to be the right option, I’ll tell you that. Pinky promise. 💫

 
 
 

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