Wix, Squarespace, Shopify or WordPress? Choosing the Right Website Builder for You

Welcome to Tech Brewed! In today’s episode, host Greg Doig takes us on a guided tour through the world of website builders in 2025. Whether you’re a small business owner, creative professional, or just looking to launch your own corner of the internet, Greg breaks down the latest trends, innovations, and top-rated platforms in website creation—all without needing to code. You’ll hear insights from ZDNet’s comprehensive testing of major site builders like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and WordPress, complete with their pros, cons, and standout features. Greg also shares tips for choosing the right website builder for your needs and navigating the sometimes overwhelming number of options out there. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and get ready for a fresh, digestible serving of tech wisdom—all about crafting your digital presence in today’s digital world.

Flywheel Hosting
Managed WordPress Hosting Services

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Subscribe to the weekly tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.com

Transcript

0:00

Welcome to techbrood. With your host Greg Doig, we dive deep into the latest tech trends, innovations and conversations that matter. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, industry professional, or just curious about how technology is shaping our world, you found the right place. So grab your favorite drink, settle in and let's explore the fascinating world of technology together. Welcome back to the podcast where we distill the latest tech trends into digestible insights. Greetings. I'm your host Greg Doig and today we're diving into the world of website builders in 2025. Whether you're a small business owner, creative professional, or just someone looking to establish an online presence, stick around as we explore the tools that can help you build a stunning website without writing a single line of code in our increasingly digital world in our increasingly digital world, having a website has become essential, but not everyone has the time, resources or technical know how to build one from scratch. That's where website builders come in. ZDNet recently conducted comprehensive testing of 2025's top subscription based website builders and we'll break down their findings for you today. These platforms offer features like AI site building, round the clock, customer support, and SSL certificates to keep your site secure. Lets dive into the standouts from their research, starting with the overall favorite, wix. WIX emerged as the top choice for most users, and it's not hard to see why. Its key strength lies in flexibility. You can customize almost any aspect of your design, integrate a wide range of apps, and utilize robust marketing tools to grow your online presence. But let's talk pros and cons of wix. On the plus side, wix offers intuitive drag and drop functionality that makes design a breeze. Their AI tools can even generate a basic site layout based on your preferences. The platform includes hundreds of professionally designed templates across various industries, and their app marketplace lets you add functionality like booking systems, forums, or advanced analytics. However, Wix is imperfect. Some users report that the editor can feel overwhelming with too many options. And while their basic plans are affordable, costs can add up quickly as you add premium apps and features, so be careful there. Next up is Squarespace, which ZDNet highlighted as the Go to option for design enthusiasts. If aesthetics are your priority, Squarespace deserves your attention. The pros of Squarespace include truly stunning templates that look professional right out of the box. Their designs emphasize visual content, making them perfect for photographers, artists and designers. The platform offers built in features for selling products, accepting donations or managing memberships, and their mobile optimization is top notch. On the downside, Squarespace has a steeper learning curve than some competitors. The design flexibility, while impressive, isn't as extensive as wix, and if you're running a complex e commerce operation, you might find their tools somewhat limiting compared to dedicated e commerce platforms. Speaking of e commerce, let's talk about Shopify, which ZDNet recommends for managing large online stores. Shopify's strengths lie in its comprehensive e commerce capabilities. The platform handles everything from inventory management to shipping calculations and tax compliance. Their payment processing is seamless, and they offer powerful analytics to track your store's performance. For growing businesses, Shopify scales exceptionally well, supporting stores with thousands of products. And the cons? Well, Shopify is primarily focused on selling, so if your site needs other functionality, you might find it lacking. The platform is also one of the pricier options, especially when you factor in transaction fees and paid apps that many stores need. And customizing your store beyond the template options often requires knowledge of their proprietary liquid code. And now we can't discuss website builders without mentioning WordPress, which comes in two flavors WordPress.com with paid plans and the self hosted WordPress.org WordPress.com offers paid plans that bridge the gap between a simple website builder and and the full WordPress experience. Their pros include a familiar WordPress interface with simplified management, good blogging tools, and the ability to use many WordPress themes and plugins on high tier plans. The platform handles hosting, security and updates for you. The Downsides WordPress.com restricts plugin installations on lower tier plans, limiting functionality. Their visual editor isn't as intuitive as drag and drop builders like Wix & E Commerce features require more expensive plans. For those seeking maximum control, there's the DIY option and you go to WordPress.org to find that this self hosted version gives you complete freedom to customize your site. With over 59,000 plugins and thousands of themes, you own all your content and data and there are no restrictions on monetization or functionality. However, this freedom comes with responsibility. You'll need to arrange your own hosting, handle security measures and manage updates. The learning curve is steeper, and while the software itself is free, costs for hosting, premium themes and plugins can add up quickly. The beauty of today's website building landscape is that there's truly something for everyone. Whether you prioritize ease of use, design flexibility, e commerce capabilities or complete control, there's a platform that fits your needs and skill level. And before we wrap up, here's a quick tip. Most of these platforms offer free trials or money back guarantees, so take advantage of these to test drive before committing to a subscription. And there are plenty of other choices out there today, and at times it can become overwhelming to try to decide which website builder to use. That's all for today's episode. If you enjoyed this breakdown, don't forget to subscribe for more tech insights delivered in digestible formats. Till next time, I'm Greg Doig encouraging you to start building your digital presence today. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of techbrood. If you enjoyed today's discussion, don't forget to subscribe. Wherever you get your podcasts, have questions or suggestions for future topics, reach out on our website or social media channels. Until next time. Greg asked me to remind you that the future of tech is is brewing right now, and we're all part of that journey. Stay curious, stay connected, and we will catch you on our next episode.