WordPress and WordPress Alternatives: Reviews and Comparison

WordPress is undoubtedly one of the largest open source content management systems (CMS) on the market. In fact, WordCamp Central states that it currently powers more than 75 million live websites.

Despite the raging popularity, however, it might not be for everyone. Fortunately, there are dozens of WordPress alternatives you can look into if you are looking for a more suitable CMS.

Whether you want to gain more control over your live website or are looking for an even more user-friendly open-source CMS to build your site with, keep reading. We'll discuss the different CMS alternatives on the market and see how they stack up compared to WordPress.

The Popularity of WordPress 

Contrary to popular belief, the success of the superstar, easy-to-use, open-source platform was not built overnight. It looked nothing like it does today when it first launched in 2003.

The web pages were buggy, functions were difficult to operate, and you can forget about themes and plugins. Over time, however, it slowly evolved into the hosted website builder millions of people all across the globe know and love.

Why People Love Using WordPress

There are many reasons why WordPress ranks among the top website builders on the market, but the main one is its shallow learning curve. WordPress offers a simple platform that allows the average individual to create their own website.

There are hundreds of pre-designed themes for you to choose from, so all you have to do is drag and drop the necessary items. You don't have to be a master coder to build live websites.

Plus, they have competitive rates. Startups with limited capital can take advantage of the free plan and package they offer. You can opt to upgrade to a fully hosted site once the need for advanced functionality arises.

The Features of WordPress’ Platform 

Built-In Image Editor

Optimize your images to better suit the overall structure and form of your blog or eCommerce store. You can edit, resize, and scale images using their built-in image editor.

Pro Tip: Utilize the alt tags by loading them with SEO keywords. SEO-optimized images help build site credibility allowing you to rank better on Google.

Easy Link Embedding

The WordPress publishing platform allows you to insert all kinds of links. All it takes is a few clicks to insert and encode anything from YouTube videos to referral links.

Pro Tip: Affiliate linking is a great way to earn passive income while also growing your blog!

Pre-Designed Templates

Choose between the different themes available. Whether you're building blogs or online stores, there's bound to be a pre-made design that perfectly suits your brand.

Pro Tip: If you're looking for a unique design, you might have to work with a third-party developer and graphic designer—unless you are skilled in these areas, of course.

Drag-and-Drop Dashboard Widgets

We often associate the idea of building websites with a long list of codes posted on black and green screens. With WordPress, their site builder dashboard is extremely easy to navigate. Even a complete web dev beginner won't have issues mastering the builder's different features.

Pro Tip: You can find widgets that keep all your social media handles prominently displayed on your site, which can help brand recall.

Still on the fence about whether WordPress is the ideal builder to use for your brand? Head on to PageKits for a comprehensive, unbiased, review of the top CMS options on the market today.

The Best WordPress Alternatives 

Take a look at some of the best WordPress alternatives you can use to build a website:

1. For Simple, Flexible Designing: Wix

WordPress showcases a wide range of templates to choose from. Unfortunately, this means that while customizing them is fairly easy, the task itself can be quite time-consuming.

If you're looking for something simpler, try Wix. The template designing process is streamlined and made even simpler. Wix is ideal for the user who doesn't want to heavily customize their web layout but also wants an aesthetically pleasing website.

2. The Cheap, Practical Alternative: Weebly

Weebly is a very simple and straightforward website builder that allows one to create a live domain in literally just a few minutes. Plus, site plans are really cheap.

Weebly is ideal for students or startups who just want to build a basic blog or online store. If you want a custom domain or heavily modified website, you may want to check out other options.

3. For the Creatives: Squarespace

Squarespace is ideal for those who want to create a stylish, user-friendly, and modern-looking blogging platform. Wix and Joomla offer more themes, but SquareSpace features better-looking designs.

The only downside here is that the posts don't have customizable meta descriptions and blog titles. Only go with Squarespace if you prioritize aesthetics over SEO optimization.

4. Easy, Manageable Editor: Medium

Setting up a site on Medium is as simple and straightforward as making a social media post. Their editor is extremely easy and beginner-friendly. In fact, Medium blew up for a while.

Sadly, they now require clients to register under a sub-domain. This becomes an issue since having your own live domain is a big must for SEO optimization and building online credibility.

5. Perfect for Ecommerce: Shopify

If the reason you're looking for a website builder is you want to build an online store, go with Shopify. This is the ultimate platform for eCommerce entrepreneurs. Shopify offers a fully customizable builder where you can showcase thousands of products, dropshipping is available, templates are customizable, and they even do payment processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is WordPress so popular? 

One of the most common reasons why WordPress is so popular is it's very simple. The website builder widgets and functions are easy to master, there are dozens of pre-made design templates to choose from, and the fees are very competitive—they even have a free version. Basically, anyone who knows how to drag and drop items can make a site using their editor.

Are there other alternatives to using WordPress? 

There's no doubt that WordPress is an amazing content platform. However, a simple, straightforward approach to website creation isn't always the best approach. Reassess your needs to see what your brand would benefit from the most.

For example, if you're looking for a complex WordPress alternative that grants full control and customization powers, try Joomla. Meanwhile, those looking for more creative design options can try builders like Wix.

Additional Resources

How many websites are currently powered by WordPress

To say that WordPress is a powerhouse when it comes to site builders is no exaggeration. In fact, more than 75 million sites are currently powered by this superstar CMS.

The history of WordPress

Here's a quick rundown of WordPress's history, how it came to be, what its most notable developments were, and when it became so popular and widely used.

Overall, there is no one-size-fits-all web development and web hosting solution. You need a content tracking system whose functionality addresses your specific needs and demands.

We help SMBs and self-starting blog owners alike get started on their website building plans by providing invaluable information regarding the different blogging platforms and builders available. If you're struggling to put up your business website, reach out to us at PageKits today!

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