13 Most Popular WordPress Alternatives 2024
Are you looking for a WordPress alternative? Here are the best CMSs you can use instead of WordPress.
WordPress has many advantages as a content management system. It is versatile, customizable, and compatible with thousands of themes and plugins. It has a searchable database and a vast community that supports it. WordPress is constantly updated and is the most popular Content Management System, with 44% of all websites using It. It shows no signs of slowing down.
However, WordPress may be excessive for certain websites. A basic blog may require limited functions, making WordPress unnecessary. Despite being user-friendly and having a quick installation process, WordPress may eventually require technical knowledge for further customization. Other CMS options are also emerging in the market, some of which have been around for a few years.
An online website builder is an alternative to traditional CMSs and can work well for smaller projects. Being accessible online, it allows for simultaneous team collaboration from anywhere. One advantage of an online website builder is that there is no need to purchase or install software locally. The provider hosts the CMS and can be accessed through any web browser. Additionally, many comprehensive and free packages are available.
In contrast, offline builders are required to download and install software on a computer. This allows for greater independence from the provider and ensures that you are not disconnected from your website.
Website builders can cleanly separate website design from content, enabling easy design modification without affecting the content. This separation also improves search engine discoverability.
While WordPress has numerous alternatives, it is important to remember that it may not suit every situation. Each alternative has its own pros and cons, with some better suited for specific types of websites. While not as versatile or customizable as WordPress, some alternatives offer a user-friendly drag and drop approach that requires no professional assistance. Additionally, they provide excellent customer support.
Who should look for WordPress alternatives?
If you…
- Do not want to be bogged down with technicalities such as creating a database,
- Want free hosting (many providers throw in at least a custom subdomain free hosting),
- Looking for a web presence rather than a comprehensive blogging platform,
Then look at alternatives to WordPress. If you want to be hands-on, but at the same time do not want to use code, read further to find out which should be your choice of CMS.
Developers willing to wade through code or utilize the particular features offered by certain CMS can also pick their choice of CMS.
Best WordPress Alternatives
- 1. Wix
- 2. Drupal (Open Source)
- 3. Joomla (Open Source)
- 4. Squarespace
- 5. TYPO3
- 6. Weebly
- 7. Ghost (Blog CMS)
- 8. Jekyll
- 9. Jimdo
- 10. Blogger (Blogging platform)
- 11. Expression Engine
- 12. Shopify (eCommerce)
- 13. Statamic
- Comparing WordPress Alternatives Side by Side
- WordPress Alternatives FAQ
- Which is the best alternative to WordPress CMS?
1. Wix
Wix offers free CMS combined with a hosting platform. It is not open source. With Wix you can select from a template from among the 500 available and customize your website. Your website is built visually as you drag and drop elements with Wix. Over 10 million websites use Wix.
Wix gets frequent and regular updates to keep up with the latest trends. There are over 200 apps that will let you add to your functions. Wix is shop friendly and you can have a custom domain name with the premium packages. Packages start at $16 per month and go up to $159 per month.
While Wix is good for starting a website, you will not have control over it, as Wix also does hosting. And if you want to customize as you scale up, you may find that customization options are limited and third-party plugins cannot be added. Wix is continuously adding to its extensions, and as they come from the same developer, you will find that they are entirely compatible. Updates are done automatically with Wix, so there will be no maintenance work to be carried out.
Why choose Wix over WordPress:
- User-Friendly Interface: Wix has a highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users with little to no technical expertise to create and customize their websites. This contrasts with WordPress, which can have a steeper learning curve, especially for those who want to customize their site beyond the basics.
- All-in-One Solution: Wix provides a fully hosted platform, meaning users don’t need to purchase separate hosting, install software, or manage updates and backups. On the other hand, WordPress is a self-hosted platform where users need to manage these aspects themselves unless they opt for a managed WordPress hosting service.
- Design Flexibility: Wix offers various customizable templates through its visual editor. Users can adjust the design of their site in real-time, seeing exactly how it will appear to visitors. WordPress also offers many themes, but customization often requires knowledge of CSS or theme-specific options.
- Built-In Features and Apps: Wix has a range of built-in features and an app market that allows users to easily add functionality to their sites. While WordPress has similar capabilities, choosing and maintaining plugins can be more complex and require more regular attention to updates and compatibility issues.
- Customer Support: Wix provides dedicated customer support via phone, email, and help articles. WordPress is an open-source platform with community-based support, which can be extensive but might not be as direct or immediate as a dedicated support team.
- Predictable Pricing: Wix operates on a subscription model that includes hosting, customer support, and access to all features within the chosen plan. WordPress costs can vary widely depending on hosting, themes, plugins, and development costs.
- Maintenance-Free: Wix handles all the maintenance of its platform, including security and updates. WordPress site owners are responsible for updates, security, and performance, which can require more time and technical knowledge.
- Security: Wix takes care of security at the server level and keeps the platform secure without user intervention. WordPress users must actively maintain and secure their websites, including regular updates and sometimes additional security plugins.
TL;DR: Wix’s simplicity, all-inclusive nature, and ease of use make it an appealing WordPress alternative for users who prefer a more guided and less technical approach to building and managing a website.
Here are some excellent websites built using Wix.
2. Drupal (Open Source)
With almost 100,000 users, Drupal is the second most popular CMS after WordPress. Larger organizations with access to professional technical resources primarily use Drupal.
Drupal is fast, open source, and highly scalable. It is reliable, secure, and allows for easy content management. The presentation can be customized with themes, and additional functionality can be added through add-ons.
Drupal is free, but you must find your own web host. With a single installation, you can manage multiple sites, and it supports multiple languages.
While Drupal is a powerful CMS, it is more technically complex than WordPress, and beginners should avoid attempting to build a site with Drupal. It is ideal for creating visually appealing websites with advanced features, but it requires technical proficiency for installation and operation.
Why Choose Drupal over WordPress?
- Advanced Customization and Flexibility: Drupal is known for its high level of customizability and flexibility, especially for complex content structures and data manipulation. It’s well-suited for building custom content types and views, making it ideal for websites with intricate data requirements.
- Robust Access Control and Permissions: Drupal provides a sophisticated user role and permissions system out of the box, allowing for fine-grained access control. This is particularly useful for websites that require complex user hierarchies and content access restrictions.
- Scalability: Drupal is highly scalable and can handle large amounts of traffic and content, so it’s often chosen for enterprise-level and governmental websites.
- Strong Community and Module Ecosystem: While WordPress has a larger selection of themes and plugins, Drupal’s module ecosystem is geared towards extendability and customization. Drupal modules are more developer-focused, offering tools for creating highly tailored functionality.
- Multilingual Capabilities: Drupal has extensive built-in multilingual features that make creating multilingual sites easier than with WordPress, which typically requires third-party plugins for full multilingual functionality.
- Security: Drupal has a strong reputation for security and is known for its robust core, which has proven secure in enterprise environments. While WordPress is also secure, its vast plugins can sometimes introduce vulnerabilities if not carefully managed.
- Content Workflow: Drupal includes tools for content workflow management, making it easier to handle content creation, review, and publication processes, especially for teams needing editorial workflows.
- Taxonomy System: Drupal’s taxonomy system is more powerful and flexible than WordPress’s categories and tags, allowing for multiple vocabularies and levels of terms that can be used to classify and organize content more effectively.
- Community and Enterprise Support: Drupal has a strong community of developers and professional services specializing in enterprise-level support, providing expertise for complex projects requiring high technical knowledge.
- Compliance and Standards: Drupal often leads in compliance with web standards, accessibility, and best practices, which is crucial for organizations that must meet specific regulatory requirements.
TL;DR: While Drupal has a steeper learning curve and typically requires more technical expertise than WordPress, it’s a powerful content management system that is well-suited for complex, high-traffic websites where scalability, security, and custom content structures are priorities. Organizations with the resources to invest in technical development and require a highly customized site might choose Drupal over WordPress.
3. Joomla (Open Source)
In comparison with WordPress and Drupal, Joomla is neither here nor there. It offers many of Drupal’s advantages without being too technical.
Joomla is multilingual, extensible and allows front-end editing. It boasts over 50 million downloads. It is perfect for content-heavy sites and sites that need efficient content management.
Joomla is free and open source. It can run any website — a small store or a large government website. Advanced categorization of content and advanced search is possible. User management, user groups and contact management are features that can best even WordPress. Some features are built with Joomla, while you must add a plugin with WordPress to get the same functionality. But you must pay for most of Joomla’s themes and plugins.
Why Choose Joomla over WordPress?
- Advanced User Management: Joomla offers a more flexible system for user access controls and user management out of the box compared to WordPress, making it suitable for websites with complex user hierarchies.
- Built-in Multilingual Support: Joomla has a strong multilingual support system natively, allowing you to create multi-language sites without additional plugins.
- Balance Between Power and Usability: Joomla strikes a balance between the user-friendliness of WordPress and the advanced capabilities of Drupal, catering to users who need more than WordPress offers but less complexity than Drupal.
- eCommerce Readiness: Joomla has built-in eCommerce features and extensions that make managing and setting up online stores easier, which can be more complex to implement in WordPress without relying on third-party plugins like WooCommerce.
- Frontend Editing: Joomla allows easy content editing directly from the frontend, providing a convenient way for users to manage content without accessing the backend admin panel.
- Template Overrides: Joomla’s template override feature is robust and allows for more fine-grained control over the layout and design without altering the core code, making updates and maintenance smoother.
There are many other open source website builders and we have compared and reviewed all of them.
4. Squarespace
With Squarespace a user will get a website builder, a blogging platform and a hosting service. You would need to pick a template and you can customize this to a certain extent. The templates are modern and you can use multiple templates in a website. Squarespace is not open source, but that hasn’t stopped them from reaching 3 million active users.
The design templates from Squarespace are gorgeous and fit beautifully on mobile devices. Load times are fast as SquareSpace uses Content Delivery Network across geographies to host content. The developers fully integrated SquareSpace with eCommerce, and you can quickly set up an online store with Squarespace. You get free custom subdomain with some packages and a custom domain with higher-priced packages.
Squarespace is a paid service that starts at $5 per month. You can also opt for a 14-day free trial.
Squarespace is good for portfolios, restaurants, and wedding sites, which need impressive visuals. While Squarespace does offer a limited amount of customization, you may find it frustrating if the feature you’re looking for is not included. Unlike in WordPress, you can’t change its basic features, where you can change pretty much anything.
Squarespace is for you if you want to set up a good-looking website on your own, without spending too many hours developing or troubleshooting its technology. All updates are fully tested and added to your site automatically, so you do not have a thing to do with maintenance. We recently created a detailed list of great websites using Squarespace.
Why Choose Squarespace over WordPress?
- All-in-One Platform: Squarespace provides an all-in-one solution with hosting, domain registration, website builder, and eCommerce functionalities included, simplifying the process for users who prefer a single package.
- Design and Templates: Squarespace offers a range of professionally designed, modern templates that are automatically responsive and visually appealing, catering to users who prioritize design aesthetics.
- Ease of Use: With its drag-and-drop interface, Squarespace is very user-friendly, making it easier for those without technical expertise to create and manage a website.
- Customer Support: Squarespace provides 24/7 customer support with access to a dedicated team, which can be a significant advantage for users who need ongoing assistance.
- Built-In Features: Unlike WordPress, which often requires plugins for additional functionality, Squarespace comes with a suite of built-in features, including eCommerce, SEO tools, and analytics, ensuring a cohesive user experience.
- Maintenance-Free: Squarespace handles all the maintenance, including security updates and platform upgrades, freeing users from the technical upkeep required when managing a WordPress site.
TL;DR: Choose Squarespace over WordPress for an all-in-one solution with sleek designs, ease of use, dedicated support, built-in features, and no maintenance hassles.
5. TYPO3
TYPO3 is another CMS popular with large organizations and corporations. It is free and open source, and you can run any website with TYPO without using any code. The 6000 freely available extensions allow you to extend it with many functions without using code.
Editors will love this CMS as it has front-end editing capability using integrated image processing, copy-paste functions, thumbnail generation, and various text and media elements. It is highly scalable, multilingual, and assists workflow management.
You can manage and distribute content across multiple websites from the backend of a single installation. So TYPO suits distribution websites, multiple microsites, and product sites.
Why Choose TYPO3 over WordPress?
- Enterprise-Grade Scalability: TYPO3 excels in scalability and better accommodates large-scale enterprise websites than WordPress, which may require more customization for similar scalability.
- Native Multisite Capabilities: TYPO3 natively supports multisite management, allowing you to run and manage multiple websites from one backend more seamlessly than WordPress.
- Complex Content Architecture: TYPO3 enables more intricate content structures and management than WordPress, making it ideal for websites with complex data and content requirements.
- Superior Localization Support: TYPO3 offers extensive built-in localization and multilingual features, providing more out-of-the-box language support than WordPress without relying on additional plugins.
- Enhanced Security Features: TYPO3 strongly focuses on security with enterprise-level features and rigorous update protocols, generally offering more robust security measures than WordPress.
- Long-Term Support (LTS) Releases: TYPO3 provides LTS versions with up to 6 years of support, which is beneficial for long-term stability and can be more reassuring than WordPress versions’ release cycle and support period.
TL;DR: Choose TYPO3 over WordPress for better scalability, native multisite support, complex content management, built-in multilingual capabilities, stronger security features, and long-term support releases
6. Weebly
If you want to start blogging in a small way, Weebly should be your pick. It is a good choice if you’ve set your site for only one purpose, a portfolio. But if customization or adding to your subscription list is a big deal, skip this one.
You can pick your theme from the theme gallery and build your website by dragging and dropping images and text. You also get access to the design codes in case you want to tweak your website here and there. You can start an eCommerce store that can manage shipping and tax, discounts, and coupons. You can create and edit your website from any mobile device, so you can always stay in touch with your customers. Hosting is free, and Weebly has over 30 million users.
Moreover, Weebly offers a free option that will suit students or hobbyists. But for every other kind of use you will have to subscribe to their packages- Basic at $8 per month, Pro at $12 per month and Business at $25 per month. All packages come with one-year free domain. With the free option, you get a custom subdomain.
Here are some fantastic websites using Weebly as their CMS.
Why Choose Weebly over WordPress?
- Simplicity and Ease of Use: Weebly offers a drag-and-drop interface that is intuitive for beginners, making it easier to use than WordPress, which has a steeper learning curve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy.
- Integrated Hosting: Weebly provides hosting as part of its package, eliminating the need to find and manage separate hosting services, which is required when using the self-hosted version of WordPress.
- No Maintenance Required: With Weebly, users don’t need to worry about updating software, plugins, or themes, unlike with WordPress, which requires regular maintenance to keep the site secure and functioning.
- Built-In Security: Weebly takes care of security at the platform level, providing SSL across all plans and handling security patches. WordPress users are responsible for their site’s security and SSL certificates.
- eCommerce Capabilities: Weebly has built-in eCommerce features that are easy to set up and use, making it a good choice for small online stores. At the same time, WordPress requires additional eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce.
- Customer Support: Weebly provides direct customer support, including live chat and email, which can be more accessible for users needing immediate help than the community-based support often associated with WordPress.
TL;DR: Weebly offers a simpler, more user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, integrated hosting, no maintenance requirements, built-in security, straightforward eCommerce capabilities, and direct customer support, making it a more convenient and low-effort option than WordPress.
7. Ghost (Blog CMS)
Ghost is starting to do what WordPress intended- simply being a blogging platform. It is not a complete CMS and aims to be an excellent option for blogging. You can suit it best for full-scale newspapers and individual blogs. About 52,845 live websites use Ghost.
Ghost is much faster than WordPress as it uses Node.js. But this can also be a drawback as Node.js is unavailable with many web hosts, narrowing your hosting options. The UI allows distraction-free writing, with no menus or settings bothering you. The developers split the editor, with text editing on the left and visual on the right. This enables you to view and format your work even as you write. The text editor uses Markdown syntax, meaning you do not have to deal with HTML. It enables multi-user usage and you can also manage your workflow.
Ghost was created as a WordPress alternative that could take over the entire market. But the enthusiasm quickly dried up and it is now a good blog platform with a small market share compared to WordPress.
Here are the best Ghost website examples that regular users like you have created.
Why Choose Ghost over WordPress?
- Focused on Writing and Publishing: Ghost is designed specifically for writers and publishers, with a clean, clutter-free interface that prioritizes content creation, whereas WordPress is a more all-purpose CMS that can sometimes be overwhelming for pure blogging or publishing.
- Performance: Ghost is built on Node.js, which can offer better performance and speed than WordPress’s PHP architecture, especially for content-heavy sites with high traffic.
- SEO Out-of-the-Box: Ghost includes built-in SEO settings and social sharing features without additional plugins, providing a more streamlined experience than WordPress, which often requires extra plugins for similar functionality.
- Simplified Content Management: Ghost has a markdown editor and a more straightforward content management system, which can be more intuitive for writers than the WordPress editor and its extensive array of options and settings.
- Membership and Subscription Features: Ghost offers native support for membership and subscription services, allowing creators to monetize content directly within the platform, unlike WordPress, where third-party plugins are necessary for such functionality.
- Modern Technology Stack: Ghost’s use of modern technologies like Node.js and a JSON API provides developers with a more contemporary and developer-friendly platform compared to WordPress’s older PHP codebase and traditional architecture.
TL;DR: Ghost is more focused on writing and publishing, offers better performance due to its Node.js foundation, includes built-in SEO and social sharing features, provides a simplified content management experience, supports native membership and subscription services for easy monetization, and utilizes a modern technology stack that can be more appealing to developers compared to WordPress.
Ghost pricing
Ghost offers a free version that you can download and install. You have access to source code and community support. Paid packages with added features, range from $9 to $199 per month. You can also try the premium packages free for 14 days. Alternatively, you can self-host your blog. Find the best Ghost hosting options here.
8. Jekyll
Jekyll may be the perfect solution for a truly fast loading publishing platform with free hosting. What’s the catch here? Code – enough of code to bracket this as a preferred option for developers. Those who prefer to work with code rather than fiddle about in the UI should try Jekyll.
Jekyll takes your content, makes up Markdown and Liquid Templates, and converts it into plain HTML static documents. This content is now ready to serve and presented by the server. It is a static site generator that converts your text files into HTML pages. Free hosting is available on GitHub pages. Jekyll can handle a huge traffic volume even from a minimal server.
Why Choose Jekyll over WordPress?
- Performance: Jekyll generates static websites, which means the content is served as simple HTML pages. This can result in faster loading times and better performance than WordPress, which dynamically generates pages using PHP and database queries.
- Security: Jekyll has a smaller attack surface as a static site generator since there’s no database or dynamic content to exploit. WordPress sites can be more vulnerable due to their complexity, plugins, and themes, which may have security weaknesses.
- Version Control and Workflow: Jekyll sites can be easily managed using version control systems like Git. This allows for sophisticated workflows with branching, merging, and rollbacks, which is particularly beneficial for teams and collaborative environments. WordPress does not natively integrate with version control systems in the same way.
- Simplicity and Lower Overhead: Jekyll is simpler to maintain since it doesn’t require a server-side language or a database. This can reduce the complexity and cost of hosting. WordPress, however, requires a server with PHP and MySQL, which can increase the cost and complexity of hosting.
More static CMS options are reviewed here.
TL;DR: Jekyll offers faster performance with static pages, enhanced security due to the absence of a database, seamless integration with version control systems like Git, and a simpler, lower-cost hosting setup compared to the more complex and potentially costly hosting requirements of WordPress.
9. Jimdo
More than 15 million websites around the world use Jimdo. Jimdo offers a free basic version with which you will also get a custom subdomain. The Starter version, $15 per month, gets you a custom domain and a basic online store. Jimdo VIP at $39 per month, will fetch you priority support, unlimited storage and a complete online store. You can try the paid versions for free for 30 days.
To set up Jimdo, you can pick a template and customize it. You can also change it a lot without losing content. Without doing anything much, you can also use it on mobiles. Setting up an online store with Jimdo is easy, and its personalized support has earned it a loyal fan base.
Why Choose Jimdo over WordPress?
- Ease of Use: Jimdo is known for its user-friendly interface, which allows users to create and manage a website without any coding knowledge. Unlike WordPress, which has a steeper learning curve, it’s particularly suitable for beginners who want a simple, straightforward website-building experience.
- Integrated Solutions: Jimdo provides hosting, domain registration, and design templates in one package, streamlining the process of setting up a website. WordPress often requires separate arrangements for hosting and domain registration, and while it offers many themes, sorting through them can be daunting for new users.
- Maintenance and Security: With Jimdo, the platform handles maintenance and security, reducing the need for users to perform updates or manage security measures. WordPress sites require regular updates for the core software, themes, and plugins, and users must be proactive about security.
- Customer Support: Jimdo offers direct customer support to all its users, assisting with any issues that arise during the website-building process. WordPress is an open-source platform with community-based support, which can vary in responsiveness and expertise.
TL;DR: Jimdo is more user-friendly for beginners, offers all-in-one solutions including hosting and domain services, handles maintenance and security for you, and provides direct customer support, making it a simpler and more managed alternative to WordPress.
10. Blogger (Blogging platform)
Blogger is a blogging platform from Google, with all the organization’s advantages backing it. It is multilingual and can be accessed from mobile devices as well.
Many beautiful templates are available to choose from and use, with or without customization. You can modify them using CSS and HTML to make them appear distinctive. There are many great ready-made Blogger templates available. If you are using it for your business, you can create a custom domain.
The developers integrated Google AdSense to your Blogging account so you can develop your blog into an income-generating venture.
Blogger was the #1 WordPress alternative before it was acquired by Alphabet (Google). However, development has stalled, and the results show.
There are countless Blogger themes available and most of them are free for private and commercial use.
Why Choose Jimdo over WordPress?
- Ease of Use: Blogger offers a user-friendly interface ideal for those new to blogging or website design. Its simplicity allows users to quickly create and publish posts without worrying about the technical details. In contrast, WordPress has a steeper learning curve, especially for users who want to customize their site beyond the basics.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Blogger is a free platform with free hosting and a Blogspot domain, with the option to purchase a custom domain if desired. In contrast, WordPress.org requires users to secure their own hosting and domain, which can involve ongoing costs.
- Google Integration: As a Google product, Blogger integrates seamlessly with other Google services like Google Analytics, AdSense, and Google Drive. This can be particularly convenient for users who rely on the Google ecosystem. WordPress requires plugins or additional configuration for similar integrations.
- Maintenance and Security: Blogger is a fully hosted platform, meaning that Google takes care of all the server maintenance, including security updates and backups. WordPress users are responsible for performing updates, securing their site, and creating backups, which can be time-consuming and technical.
- Reliability: Blogger benefits from Google’s robust infrastructure, which ensures high uptime and reliable performance. WordPress site reliability can vary significantly depending on the quality of the hosting service chosen by the user.
TL;DR: Blogger is more user-friendly and cost-effective, offers seamless Google service integration, requires no maintenance from the user, and benefits from Google’s reliable infrastructure, making it a hassle-free and economical choice compared to WordPress.
11. Expression Engine
Expression Engine is not for newbies or anyone who does not want to handle code. It is a complex, powerful CMS intended for web developers. It is a PHP and MySQL-based secure platform. Several third-party add-ons are available, and creating add-ons at all levels is easy and helps a great deal in customization. After rendering it in HTML, you can use themes for other platforms for Expression Engine.
Expression Engine also offers a free version, Expression Engine Core, a limited feature option. Individuals can only use it for non-commercial purposes. You must also display the credit to the CMS on the website. The paid service comes at $299 and you can use it to license a single live site. Support is also available, but only on a monthly subscription.
Why Choose Expression Engine over WordPress?
- Built-in Security: ExpressionEngine is known for its strong emphasis on security, with built-in features that help safeguard against common web threats. This can be particularly appealing for businesses that handle sensitive information. WordPress, while secure, is more frequently targeted by hackers due to its popularity. Maintaining a secure environment often requires additional security plugins and constant vigilance with updates.
- Custom Content Types and Channels: ExpressionEngine allows for more granular control over custom content types and channels without additional plugins. This flexibility can be advantageous for complex websites that require custom fields and content structures. WordPress offers custom post types but often requires additional plugins or custom coding to achieve similar functionality.
- Fine-grained User Permissions: ExpressionEngine provides detailed control over user permissions, allowing site administrators to define specific access rights for different user roles at a very detailed level. WordPress also has user roles and capabilities, but extensive customization of these permissions typically requires additional plugins or custom development.
- No Core Updates: ExpressionEngine doesn’t force updates to its core software, meaning site administrators have more control over when and how they update their sites. With WordPress, core updates are released regularly, and keeping up with these updates is crucial for security and functionality.
- Less Common, Less Targeted: ExpressionEngine’s smaller market share than WordPress means it’s less of a target for mass attacks. This obscurity can provide an additional layer of security through obscurity; however, it’s important to note that no platform is immune to attacks and good security practices are always essential.
TL;DR: ExpressionEngine offers superior built-in security, more control over custom content types, detailed user permission settings, no forced core updates, and a smaller user base less targeted by hackers. These features can make it a better choice for complex, security-sensitive websites compared to WordPress.
12. Shopify (eCommerce)
If you want to create an online store, Shopify is a great alternative to WordPress. It has all the tools you need to set up a shop quickly, including ready-made templates and apps. You can also modify the design of your templates a lot using HTML and CSS.
Shopify is not a free platform, although there are many packages you can buy and use according to the size of your store. A Lite version comes at $9 per month, and allows you to sell via your Facebook page. Big businesses may find Enterprise Shopify Plus more apt for their needs.
Why Choose Shopify over WordPress?
- eCommerce Focus: Shopify is specifically designed to create online stores. It offers a comprehensive suite of eCommerce tools. It features out-of-the-box features, such as inventory management, payment processing, and shipping options, which are essential for running an online business efficiently. WordPress, while flexible, requires additional eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce to create a similar online store experience.
- Ease of Setup: Shopify provides a streamlined setup process with user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for non-technical users to build and launch an online store without coding knowledge. WordPress can be more complex to set up, especially when integrating eCommerce functionality, which might require a steeper learning curve and technical expertise.
- Security and Compliance: Shopify handles security compliance, including PCI compliance for handling credit card information, SSL certificates for secure connections, and regular security updates. With WordPress, users are responsible for ensuring their site’s security, including configuring SSL, maintaining PCI compliance, and keeping the site updated to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Hosting and Support: Shopify is a hosted solution with reliable hosting with its plans and 24/7 customer support. WordPress requires you to find a hosting provider and manage your hosting services separately. While community support is available, direct support depends on your hosting provider or any paid services you might use.
- App Ecosystem: Shopify has a curated app store with a wide range of vetted plugins to enhance eCommerce capabilities. While WordPress has a vast repository of plugins, the quality and security can be inconsistent, and finding the right eCommerce plugins can be more challenging.
TL;DR: Shopify is tailored for eCommerce with ready-to-use tools, is easier to set up for beginners, ensures high-level security and compliance for online sales, includes hosting and dedicated support, and offers a curated selection of eCommerce-focused apps, making it a more streamlined choice for online stores compared to WordPress.
Here are beautiful eCommerce websites made with Shopify to see what is possible with this platform.
13. Statamic
Statamic CMS is built with PHP. This CMS can also reduce your website building tasks to simply putting a few tags in your HTML. Additionally, it is a flat-file CMS, with the files carrying content in a simple directory structure. This CMS does away with a database. There is no database search in the serving and calling of files. This is also the same with WordPress meaning it will not cause your site to slow down.
Moreover, you can incorporate the themes and extend their functions. Since PHP is the prerequisite, it can run on any server. You must buy a license that costs $29 for use on a single personal website. For a Professional license, the cost is $99.
Why Choose Statamic over WordPress?
- Flat-File Architecture: Statamic uses a flat-file system to store content, meaning no database exists. This can lead to faster performance, easier version control, and simplified backups. WordPress, by contrast, relies on a database, which can be a point of complexity and vulnerability.
- Built-in Version Control: With Statamic, changes to your content are easily tracked and managed through Git. This seamless integration allows for better team collaboration and rollbacks if necessary. WordPress does not have built-in version control and typically requires plugins or external tools for similar functionality.
- More Streamlined Backend: Statamic offers a clean, intuitive control panel that can be more user-friendly for content managers and editors. It’s designed to be simple yet powerful, without the sometimes overwhelming number of options and settings present in WordPress.
- Flexibility and Customization: Statamic allows developers to define custom fields and content types without plugins, providing a high level of control over the structure and presentation of content. While WordPress is also flexible, achieving certain customizations often requires additional plugins or custom coding.
- Licensing and Cost: Statamic has a one-time fee per project, and you get full access to all features. There are no additional costs for premium features or updates. WordPress is free, but costs can add up with premium themes, plugins, and maintenance services required to manage a professional site.
TL;DR: Choosing Statamic over WordPress might be preferable for projects that require a high level of customization, robust version control, and a preference for flat-file content management over a database-driven system. However, WordPress’s extensive ecosystem and community support make it a go-to choice for many users worldwide.
Comparing WordPress Alternatives Side by Side
Below is a comparison table that outlines some key aspects of WordPress compared to Wix, Squarespace, Drupal, Joomla, Shopify, and Weebly:
Feature/Aspect | WordPress | Wix | Squarespace | Drupal | Joomla | Shopify | Weebly |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Open-source CMS | Proprietary Website Builder | Proprietary Website Builder | Open-source CMS | Open-source CMS | Proprietary E-commerce Platform | Proprietary Website Builder |
Ease of Use | Moderate (requires some technical knowledge) | Very Easy (drag-and-drop) | Easy (user-friendly) | Advanced (steep learning curve) | Moderate (some learning required) | Easy (user-friendly) | Easy (drag-and-drop) |
Customizability | High (themes/plugins) | Moderate (limited by the platform) | Moderate (limited by the platform) | High (modules/themes) | High (extensions/templates) | Moderate (themes/apps) | Moderate (limited by the platform) |
E-commerce Support | Yes (via plugins like WooCommerce) | Yes (with Wix eCommerce plans) | Yes (with Squarespace Commerce) | Yes (via modules) | Yes (extensions) | Yes (built-in) | Yes (with Weebly eCommerce plans) |
Hosting | Self-hosted or managed options available | Hosted (Wix servers only) | Hosted (Squarespace servers only) | Self-hosted or managed options available | Self-hosted or managed options available | Hosted (Shopify servers only) | Hosted (Weebly servers only) |
Security | User-managed or host-managed (varies) | Managed by Wix | Managed by Squarespace | User-managed or host-managed (varies) | User-managed or host-managed (varies) | Managed by Shopify | Managed by Weebly |
SEO Capabilities | Good (with SEO plugins) | Good (built-in tools) | Good (built-in tools) | Good (with SEO modules) | Good (with extensions) | Good (built-in tools) | Good (built-in tools) |
Community & Support | Extensive community, free and paid support options | Wix support, community forums | Squarespace customer support, community forums | Large community, professional support available | Large community, professional support available | Shopify support, community forums | Weebly support, community forums |
Pricing | Free (costs for hosting, themes, plugins) | Free plan & Premium plans | Premium plans only | Free (costs for hosting, themes, modules) | Free (costs for hosting, extensions, templates) | Monthly subscription plans | Free plan & Premium plans |
WordPress Alternatives FAQ
Some well-known alternatives to WordPress include Wix, Squarespace, Joomla, Drupal, and Shopify. These platforms offer diverse capabilities, from simple website builders to fully-fledged content management systems.
Wix is a hosted website builder and requires less technical knowledge than WordPress. It’s great for beginners due to its easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. However, WordPress offers more customization and scalability, making it a preferred choice for complex sites. Both platforms have pros and cons, and the choice between them depends on your specific needs and technical ability.
Squarespace is known for its beautiful, designer-quality templates and user-friendly interface, making it an excellent option for beginners or those who prioritize aesthetics. However, WordPress provides more flexibility and functionality with its extensive plugin ecosystem. For a beginner who values ease of use and design, Squarespace could be a better option, while WordPress might be better for those looking for in-depth customization and control.
Absolutely! While WordPress, with WooCommerce, is a popular choice for eCommerce, other platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are specifically designed for online stores. They offer integrated payment solutions, inventory management, and other eCommerce specific features that may not be as readily available or as easy to implement with WordPress.
Joomla and WordPress require a learning curve, but Joomla is generally considered a bit more complex due to its extensive functionality and flexibility. WordPress is often considered easier to start with, especially with its vast array of plugins and themes. However, Joomla offers a high level of control over your site’s layout, which may benefit more complex sites.
Drupal and WordPress are open-source and free to use, but the total cost depends on your specific requirements. With WordPress, you may need to pay for premium themes, plugins, and hosting. On the other hand, Drupal requires more technical expertise, so you may need to budget for professional development and maintenance services unless you have these skills in-house.
Migrating from WordPress to another platform is possible but can be a bit tricky, depending on the complexity of your site. Squarespace and Wix offer import tools to assist with migration, but these may not capture everything, especially for more complex sites. Planning for some manual work or considering hiring a professional is important to ensure a smooth transition.
WordPress is renowned for its SEO-friendly features, especially with plugins like Yoast SEO. However, most modern website builders, including Squarespace and Wix, have improved their SEO capabilities significantly. They now offer features like mobile optimization, clean URL structures, and easy meta tag editing. However, the advanced SEO tools and flexibility offered by WordPress still tend to be superior.
Which is the best alternative to WordPress CMS?
Now, which CMS is right for you? While there are no hard and fast rules, beginners can pick Jimdo and Weebly. Squarespace is also ideal for users who need advanced features without changing them too much.
For ready-made online shopping platforms, Shopify and Magento are good for developers, as are Expression Engine, Jekyll, and maybe Drupal. Community platforms should also consider vBulletin.
Of course, keep in mind that WordPress is always there for everyone – free, versatile, flexible, customizable, updated, and good developer and community support. It may take a little time to familiarize yourself with it.
Not sure if anyone noticed the credentials of Author- Vishnu of this article.. He has not steady record or professional history other than “wannabe” this or that skills, trying to act expert on inherently subjective and deep subject!!!!
What a load of crap!!
– Sunny
WordPress was the best. It is now such a target for Malware and bots that I would never recommend it to anyone. If you use any popular hosting sites, you will be attacked, and then have your site shut down do to malware.
Burt,
Don’t host your website with a cheap shared hosting and your website will never get hacked. I have been using WordPress for 15 years now and I have never had my website hacked because I always go with managed WordPress hosting providers that has their own security layer that will keep your website safe. Also managed hosting is so much faster than cheap shared hosting.
Hey,
those are quite a few alternatives. So I saw that for some special cases, like beginners or eCommerce, some of the platforms could be better than WordPress. But what about the “general” case? Is there any of these which can compete with WordPress to work with all cases and offers a comparable set of functions?
Cheers,
Marc
Marc,
Not really. WordPress currently is by far the most flexible one and you can use it for any type of website. Others CMS platforms are for niche uses and doesn’t come close to WordPress.
Great list and nice to see some real alternatives in there and not just obvious shout outs to Joomla and Drupal.
Also it’s worth considering some real alternative, such as some more lightweight easy to install CMS systems, like Pulse CMS.
These are easy to setup and template and clients (end users) love the admin interface and speed.
Hi there,
I am using Pagekit (https://pagekit.com) for almost a year now and developed 20 extensions 😉 It’s a simple, elegant CMS based on Symfony components, Doctrine, UiKit, Composer and VueJS (I really love Vue 😉 ).
I started the Pagekit community at https://pagekit-forum.org – there’s also an official support channel at https://gitter.im/pagekit/pagekit. So maybe you guys will give Pagekit a try? It supports SQLite (no MySQL database required) and MySQL/MariaDB, too and comes with a built-in web server, so everybody can just start it on the local machine 🙂