I've had the .... pleasure? of working on clients websites in both the Wix and Weebly site builders. I've also worked in GoDaddy and WordPress as well as many code based site builders like Sitecore, Umbraco, and Sitefinity to name a few.
I'd like to focus on the site builders that can be easy for the layman to pick up without needing any coding skills. I haven't worked on anything in GoDaddy for awhile so I don't have an updated opinion. It used to be extremely difficult to navigate so I'm hoping they've made it easier. Another new site builder I haven't gotten a chance to use is SquareSpace. I have heard good things so feel free to check out that builder as well!
As for WordPress - I HATE working with the .php language so I'm not a fan at all. And we'll leave it at that 😳
Our focus will be looking at the pros and cons of Wix and Weebly in this post.
Pros and Cons
Wix and Weebly are two popular website builders that allow users to create a website without needing to know how to code. Here are some pros and cons of each:
Wix Pros:
Large variety of templates to choose from, allowing users to easily create a professional-looking website.
The editor is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for beginners to use.
Offers a drag-and-drop interface that allows users to easily customize their website without needing to know how to code.
Offer a large selection of apps and integrations, allowing users to easily add functionality to their website.
Excellent customer support, including phone, email, and chat support.
There is a built in function for developers or tech savvy folks to do more stuff with a website, including installing custom code.
There is a huge library of "how to" articles that Wix publishes to teach users how to build their website. The articles come in handy when you want to do "a thing" and aren't sure how.
Wix Cons:
The free plan includes ads on the website, which may be annoying to users.
Once you choose a template, you cannot switch to another one without losing your content.
Limited e-commerce functionality on its free plan, and transaction fees are charged on paid plans.
Does not allow users to export their website, which may be a problem for some users. You can copy the content manually and move it, but it is a large undertaking.
Weebly Pros:
Offers a drag-and-drop interface that is easy to use and requires no coding knowledge.
Good selection of templates that are customizable to fit the user's needs.
Offers a free plan that is ad-free and includes basic features for a small business or personal website.
Offers a powerful e-commerce platform, even on its free plan, with no transaction fees charged.
Allows users to export their website, which may be useful for those who want to move to another platform.
Weebly Cons:
Design capabilities are not as extensive as Wix's, and some users may find it limiting.
The user interface is clunky and hard to navigate when first starting out.
Customer support is limited to email and chat, and phone support is only available on higher-tier plans.
Limited integrations with third-party apps and services, which may be a problem for some users.
There isn't a great resource selection on how to navigate and use Weebly. Most of the "how to" articles are written by users, not Weebly.
The free plan is limited in terms of features, and users may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access all the functionality they need. This goes for the plug-ins as well.
There isn't a clean way to transfer a Weebly site to any other builder. You can export your site to file system, but It is a manual process to write a new site if you want to move platforms.
Overall, both Wix and Weebly are great website builders, and the choice between them may come down to personal preference and specific website needs. Wix may be a better choice for users who want extensive design capabilities and a wide range of apps and integrations, while Weebly may be a better choice for users who prioritize e-commerce functionality.
This website you're reading is built on Wix so I am partial to Wix myself, but I can see how Weebly would be a good choice for some. I will continue to update this post if Wix or Weebly make changes that need added to the list.
Happy site building!!