Design Thinking, Honest Stories, Creative Sparks.
Which Website Platform Is Right for You?
Jun 18, 2025 | Written by: patty | Mood : Chill đ | Listening to : The Unapologetic Designer Podcast - latest episode 6/13/25

Which Website Platform Is Right for You?
If you're preparing to build a new website or rebrandâwhether you're working with a designer now or planning to hire one soonâone of the biggest early decisions you'll face is which platform your site will live on.
This post is here to help you understand your optionsâespecially if youâre a therapist, fitness coach, wellness brand, or service-based entrepreneur handing your site over to a professional.
Sure, maybe youâve dabbled in DIY before (đ weâve all been there), but this time you want your site done rightâand built to last. Knowing what each platform offers can help you choose one that fits your business now and gives you room to grow later.
Even most web designers use platforms like Showit, Squarespace, Webflow, or WordPress â not because they canât code from scratch, but because these tools offer flexibility, creative freedom, and speed while keeping your site in a reasonable budget range.
Fully custom-coded websites are incredible⌠but thatâs a different level of investment (and a different post entirely).
This post will walk you through the most popular platforms I work with as a designerâpros, cons, ideal use cases, and what to keep in mind before choosing one.
WordPress
Who itâs for: Growing teams, businesses with big content plans, and anyone wanting maximum flexibility
Price: Free to startâbut expect hosting ($10â$40/mo), themes, plugins, and ongoing maintenance.
Why itâs great: Nearly 40% of the web runs on WordPress. Need to scale? Add custom functionality? SEO optimization? It can do all that.
The catch: Itâs powerfulâbut powerful things need care. Monthly logins, plugin updates, and security maintenance are non-negotiable.
Real talk: I love her. Iâll go into why in a future post. But for now? Just know sheâs not always the best fit for everyone. And thatâs okay.
Showit
Who itâs for: Creatives, coaches, photographers, and service pros who want brand-first websites
Price: $19â$39/month
Why itâs great: Full visual design controlâdrag-and-drop your dream site with zero code. Bonus: it pairs with WordPress for blog power.
The catch: SEO isnât plug-and-play; integrations can be limited. But itâs all still totally doable.
Real talk: If you're after style that looks custom without the dramaâthis oneâs a vibe.
Squarespace
Who itâs for: Small business owners, therapists, fitness studios, artists, and anyone wanting sleek simplicity
Price: $16â$49/month
Why itâs great: Clean templates, everything built-in (hosting, SSL, e-comm, blog). Set it and forget it.
The catch: less layout flexibility. Want a custom tweak? It might cost a developer.
Real talk: Perfect if you want something that just works â no stress, no drama.
Wix Studio
Who itâs for: Freelancers, small agencies, personal brands leaning into design control
Price: From ~$16/month
Why itâs great: Better responsive controls than classic Wix, with pro design options and client-friendly tools.
The catch: Still can feel bloatedâand SEO features are catching up.
Real talk: If you want more design power but donât need Webflow energyâthis is your sweet spot.
Webflow
Who itâs for: Designers, startups, tech-savvy entrepreneurs, or passionate DIYers
Price: $14â$39/month
Why itâs great: Total controlâlayouts, animations, structure, CMS. All without plugins.
The catch: Real learning curve. Best with a designer (đ) or someone who enjoys being up late watching Webflow tutorials.
Real talk: Want cutting-edge, interactive design without building the backend? Webflowâs the one.
Framer
Who itâs for: Portfolio creators, style-forward agencies, bulletproof design lovers
Price: Free to $30/month
Why itâs great: Feels like Figma + instant publishing. Sleek and fast.
The catch: Not built for large CMS or plug-heavy needs⌠yet.
Real talk: If you want a sharp, modern site that loads fast and looks next level, give it a spin.
Selling Products
If you're selling just a few items or services, most platforms will work great. Squarespace, Wix Studio, Webflow, and even Showit (when paired with tools like Thrivecart, Shopify Lite, or PayPal buttons) can support simple e-commerce needs.
Selling courses, subscriptions, or coaching?
Platforms like Kajabi are built specifically for thatâthink landing pages, email marketing, gated content, and digital productsâbut they come with a higher monthly investment (starting at $149/month).
Need a full online store?
If you're planning to run a full-blown shopâwith inventory, collections, multiple products, customer accounts, and shippingâShopify is one of the best all-in-one platforms out there. It's built specifically for e-commerce and handles everything from payments to shipping integrations.
Or want more flexibility and control?
WordPress with WooCommerce gives you deep customization, especially if your store needs to do more than just list and sell products. But keep in mind: with great power comes great responsibilityâyou'll need to stay on top of updates, backups, and plugins.
Donât Skip This: What Youâre Still Responsible For (Even With a Designer)
Okay, letâs say youâve picked your platform, youâre vibing with your designer, and the mood board is giving â¨all the right energy.â¨
Butâreal talkâoutside of your designerâs fees, there are still some things you as the website owner, are responsible for.
That includes:
- Your platform subscription (Squarespace, Showit, Webflow, etc.)
- Domain purchase + renewal (usually yearly)
- Hosting (if youâre using WordPress)
- Paid plugins or tools (SEO, schedulers, forms, e-comm integrations)
Pro Tip:
Create a dedicated business email addressâsomething like âŁ
âand `connect everything (accounts, logins, billing) to it. Youâll thank yourself later if you ever change designers or add someone new to your team.
Also, read your contract. Depending on your designer or agency, things like intellectual property, payment plans, or platform-specific access might come with clauses. Know whatâs yours, whatâs licensed, and what happens if you pause or switch platforms later on.
The more organized and informed you are, the smoother the projectâand your ongoing website life â will be.
Final Words
Your website should work with your businessânot against it.
Know what your site needs to do before you pick a platform. Think about:
- How often you'll make edits
- How much maintenance you can handle (or pay for)
- Your growth plans (blog, shop, booking, content, courses)
Got questions?
You donât have to figure it all out on your own.
Click here to fill out my inquiry form and tell me a bit about your business â Iâll guide you through the rest.
Because choosing your platform doesnât have to be a stress spiral â it can be empowering, even fun.