I’ve been designing websites for 10 years. I’ve learned to use almost every website design platform out there and I’ve got the dark circles to prove it. 

My opinions here are based on over 10,000 hours of in-the-trenches personal experience and practical knowledge. (If you’re an affiliate of any of these design platforms, don’t come after me!) 

Of all the website design platforms out there, the three I most recommend are, in no particular order:

1. Wix
2. Squarespace
3. Showit 

Which Website Design Platform Is Right for You?

How do you know which platform is right for you? The answer is: it depends! 

Each one has a unique flavor, and I want to give you a leg-up in deciding which platform will suit you now and as you grow so you can save yourself the hassle and heartbreak of having to migrate platforms later.

Let’s explore these three web design platforms one by one. 

Wix: The Wild Child

Wix was my first true love when it comes to website design. Ten years ago, when building a website on WordPress required a Master’s degree in coding and a PhD in patience, Wix gave me the power to build my very own website. (And yes, the site is still alive and kicking! Check it out here.)

Wix also gave me the pleasure of firing my expensive designer who just wasn’t “getting” my vision. It helped me take back control of my digital domain and design my website on my terms. To this day, Wix is THE most user-friendly platform for non-designers. 

Pros

• Super user-friendly: If you can work with a smartphone, you can use Wix. It’s drag-and-drop simplicity at its finest.
• All the hand-holding you need: When it comes time to GO LIVE, Wix will walk you through the process of setting up your domain, step-by-step. No guessing. No trying to figure out what a CNAME is or why you need an SSL certificate. 
• Total design freedom: Wix is what we call a WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get). In other words, you get a blank canvas and you are free to move elements around as you please. Complete creative freedom!
• Budget-friendly: Wix won’t break the bank. Just make sure you keep an eye on those “auto-renew” subscriptions. 😉
• Built-in widgets for everything: Need an e-commerce shop? Want to take bookings right on your website? Wix has all the widgets to make it happen.

Cons

• Overwhelming options: Having too many choices can be confusing. It’s easy to get lost in the Wix wilderness. Just because you can move everything around doesn’t mean you should. 
• Limited blogging features: If blogging and SEO are important to you, Wix is not going to be your best platform. For technical reasons that I won’t get into, Wix websites do not perform well when it comes to SEO and their blogging features are annoyingly limited.

The Final Word

If you want a creative playground without a steep learning curve, Wix is your jam. 

Squarespace: The Class Act

I had a love/hate relationship with Squarespace for many years. I LOVED the sleek and modern look of their templates and the super user-friendly blogging features. I HATED their clunky and super-limited visual editor which resulted in boxy-looking designs. 

Having used Wix for years, not being able to move things around as I pleased restricted my creativity. But not anymore! 

Squarespace recently launched their Fluid Engine which is a much more flexible drag-and-drop editor that gives you much more freedom to pixel-perfect your designs and get creative with your layouts.

Pros

• Elegant templates: Squarespace sites look clean, crisp, and sophisticated. 
• Mobile-optimized: Making your website look good on any device is easy.
• Built-in SEO Tools: Unlike Wix, Squarespace was made for bloggers which means it has best-in-class blogging capabilities.

Cons

• Limited design freedom: Even with their Fluid Engine, Squarespace can restrict your creativity.
• Pricier than some: The premium feel comes with a slightly higher price tag.

The Final Word 

If you crave elegance and effortless style, Squarespace is your go-to choice.

Showit: The Creative Maverick

Ah, Showit! Yes, it’s my latest digital crush. 😍 

Building a Showit site feels like walking into a super fancy creative studio where someone hands you a brush, walks you to a big white wall, and says: “Paint your little heart out, boo!” 

Showit websites are amongst some of the most beautiful creations on the internet. (Psst! Our website templates are built in Showit.) That should tell you everything you need to know about this platform—they are gorgeous! But I’m still going to break down the pros and cons.

Pros

• Unmatched creativity: Showit is a playground for creatives. You can design anything, anywhere, with pixel-perfect precision.
• WordPress integration: Want a high-performing blog? Showit pairs perfectly with WordPress for powerful content management.
• Personalized support: They’ve got your back. Showit offers excellent customer service and a vibrant community.

Cons

• Learning curve: It’s not as intuitive as the others. Prepare to spend a little extra time learning the ropes.
• Pricing: While it’s not the most expensive, it’s not the cheapest either.

The Final Word

If you want to create a website that’s truly one-of-a-kind and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, Showit is your creative canvas.

To Recap

• Use Wix when you want a creative playground without a steep learning curve.

• Use Squarespace when you crave elegance and effortless style.  

• Use Showit when you want a world-class site & don’t mind investing your brain power.

No matter which platform you choose, the most important thing is that you build yourself a beautiful digital home that will convert strangers into friends. A place that gives you confidence and control over the way you show up online.

It’s your brand, build it beautifully. And make the internet more beautiful in the process.