Wix vs. Showit vs. Squarespace: Which Website Builder is Best for You?

If you’re a creative business looking to build a website, you might feel overwhelmed by all the options out there. Wix, Showit, and Squarespace are three of the most popular website builders, but which one is right for you? Here’s a breakdown of what each builder has to offer:

Ease of Use

Wix: Wix is known for being user-friendly, especially for beginners, but it can feel a bit clunky at times. While it’s a drag-and-drop builder, meaning you can move elements around easily, finding specific options can sometimes be a hassle. You may find yourself clicking through multiple menus to locate the tools you need, which can slow down the design process. Although it’s easy to start with, the process can become cumbersome, especially if you want to make specific adjustments.

Showit: Showit offers a lot of creative freedom with its drag-and-drop interface, which is especially appreciated by photographers and creatives. The builder itself is intuitive once you get the hang of it, though the vast customisation options might feel a bit overwhelming initially. However, the flexibility it offers in designing unique, personalised websites is unmatched. Showit allows you to design without much restriction, making it ideal if you want a truly custom look.

Squarespace: Squarespace is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly, with a more structured approach compared to Wix or Showit. The builder has limited drag-and-drop flexibility, as elements snap to a grid, restricting your ability to place them exactly where you want. This also means it’s easier to maintain a clean, professional look without much effort. The templates guide you through the design process, helping you create a polished site without the need for extensive customisation. This makes Squarespace a solid choice if you’re looking for something professional without the need for deep design skills.

Mobile Optimization: Why It’s So Important

In today’s world, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial. Around 60% of website visitors are browsing on their phones, so it’s essential that your site looks good and works well on mobile devices. Let’s look at how Wix, Showit, and Squarespace handle mobile optimization:

Wix: Wix automatically creates a mobile version of your site, but it often requires additional tweaking to ensure everything looks and functions well on smaller screens. While Wix does provide tools to edit your mobile site separately, it can be a bit tedious, especially if you’re trying to perfect the look and feel across different devices.

Showit: Showit is fantastic when it comes to mobile design. One of its standout features is the side-by-side design view, which lets you work on both the desktop and mobile versions of your site simultaneously. This makes it easier to ensure that your website looks great on all devices right from the start. Showit’s focus on mobile optimization is a huge advantage, especially since it allows you to create a consistent and high-quality user experience across both desktop and mobile platforms.

Squarespace: Squarespace templates are designed with mobile users in mind. The platform automatically generates a mobile version of your site that usually requires little to no tweaking. This is because Squarespace’s templates are built to be responsive, meaning they adjust seamlessly to different screen sizes. This is a big plus if you want a professional-looking mobile site without putting in extra work.

SEO

Wix: Wix has made big improvements in SEO over the years. It offers tools to help you get found on Google, like adding keywords, meta tags, and more. It’s good for beginners who want to handle their own SEO without getting too technical.

Showit: Showit shines in the SEO department because it integrates with WordPress for blogging. WordPress is known for being great with SEO, which can help your site rank higher on Google. If blogging is a big part of your strategy, Showit might be the best choice for SEO.

Squarespace: Squarespace also has solid SEO features, including automatic sitemaps, clean URLs, and easy-to-add meta tags. It’s straightforward and user-friendly, making it a good option if you want to improve your site’s visibility without a lot of hassle.

Pricing and What’s Included

Wix: Wix offers a free plan, but it comes with ads on your site and a Wix domain (like yourname.wixsite.com). Paid plans start at around £11 per month. With Wix, you get hosting (where your website lives online), a domain (like yourname.com), and access to a bunch of apps and templates to customize your site.

Showit: Showit doesn’t have a free plan, and the paid plans start at around £19 per month. This includes hosting, but you’ll need to buy your domain separately. Showit is more expensive, but it offers more creative freedom and includes the ability to create blog posts using WordPress, which is great for SEO.

Squarespace: Squarespace doesn’t have a free plan either, but their paid plans start at about £13 per month, similar to Wix. This includes hosting, a domain (for the first year), and access to their beautiful templates. Squarespace also includes some e-commerce tools, which is handy if you want to sell products or services directly from your site.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

• Wix is perfect if you’re just starting out and want something easy and affordable. It’s great for creating a simple, good-looking site without needing to know anything about web design.
• Showit is the best choice if you’re a creative who wants complete control over your website’s design, great mobile optimisation and doesn’t mind paying a bit more for that freedom. It’s also great for those who want to focus on blogging and SEO.
• Squarespace is ideal if you want a professional-looking site with built-in e-commerce tools and don’t need a ton of design flexibility. It’s a solid choice for small business owners who want an all-in-one solution.

In the end, the best platform depends on your needs, budget, and how much time you’re willing to spend learning how to use it. No matter which one you choose, investing in a good website will help you stand out and attract more clients!