Deciding which platform to build your website on is the first step. There are so many options out there and pro’s & cons of each one. See below for a high level break down on what we believe the good, bad, & ugly is of the top website platforms:
WORDPRESS:
| PROS | CONS |
| Quick and easy setup for non-techies | Lack of security – open source nature |
| Simple to use & create content | Customization requires coding |
| Massive library of themes | Regular updates are required |
| Search Engine Friendly | Plugins slow down site |
| Built-in Blog Feature | Best templates can be costly |
| Support forums for troubleshooting | Slow page loading times |
| Free to build & run site | Code base is poorly developed |
SHOPIFY:
| PROS | CONS |
| Ease of use for beginners | Domain/Email Hosting not included |
| Quality & quantity of design | Initial setup is challenging |
| Responsive-nature | Costly monthly plans |
| Flexibility with add-ons | Additional transaction fees |
| Easy-to-scale for all online stores | Liquid coding language required |
| 24/7 customer support | Template Issues |
| Built-in speed & security for hosting | Limited free offerings |
SQUARESPACE:
| PROS | CONS |
| Built-in SEO | Steep Learning Curve |
| Beautiful designer-quality templates | Expensive Cost |
| Responsive design | Limited customization |
| 24/7 Support Team | Lack of detail in store stats |
| Hosted solution | No bulk post editing |
| Easy-to-use site builder | Slow page loading times |
| Easy import functions | One payment processor available |
WIX:
| PROS | CONS |
| Ability to add animations | Difficult to switch templates |
| App Market | Visible ads on basic plans |
| Drag & Drop website builder | Cannot handle complex e-commerce needs |
| Free and low cost plans for the short-term sites | Long-term pricing options |
| Professional templates | SEO Issues |
| Mobile Editor Available | No data export options |
| Strong support infrastructure | No website ownership – belongs to Wix |
BigCartel:
| PROS | CONS |
| Shop Promotion Features | No 3rd party shipping integration |
| Inexpensive | Doesn’t support multiple languages |
| Easy store customizations | No support for recurring products |
| Inventory Tracking & Stats | No phone or chat support |
| Custom URL | Limit on number of product images |
| Seamless checkout | Lack of community forums |
| Uncluttered interface | Lack of themes and templates |