Last updated: 23 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 3 minutes to read
Why do businesses switch from Jimdo?
In conversations with businesses that thought about switching in October 2026, four reasons kept coming up. Prices have risen over the years. The site looks dated because there is no time to rework it. The limit of 10 subpages in the Start plan no longer fits. And there is a feeling of not showing up on Google or in chat search.
What alternatives are there?
| Alternative | Price according to provider | Your own work | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | from €14 per month, annual, plus tax | high | lots of design freedom, no export |
| Squarespace | from €13.09 per month, yearly | high | strong templates, billing across several subscriptions |
| IONOS website builder | Plus: €1 per month in the first year, then €18 | high | mailbox included in the plan |
| STRATO website builder | Plus: €1 per month in the first year, then €12 | high | 12-month minimum term on the promotional plan |
| Self-hosted WordPress | Free software, hosting extra | medium to high | full control, updates needed |
| Website built for you | depends on provider | low | care by the provider |
All prices taken from the providers' own pages on 22 and 23 October 2026.
Another website builder: is it worth it?
If only the price or one particular feature bothers you about Jimdo, another builder can fit. With IONOS and STRATO, calculate with the price after the first year, not the promotional price. And remember: you rebuild the site with the new provider, and there too it does not belong to you. In two years you may face the same question.
WordPress: more freedom, more upkeep
WordPress is free and the site belongs to you. In return you take care of hosting, theme, plugins and updates, or you pay someone to do it. For businesses that like to tinker, it is a good choice. For everyone else, upkeep quickly becomes a burden. More under WordPress or website builder.
A built website: less work
A provider builds the site from your content and looks after the technology. You change texts and images in a simple admin area or have them changed. When you get a quote, check: who owns the source code, how long the contract runs, whether the price rises, and what happens if you leave.
What makes sense for which business?
- A small business card site that you like to maintain yourself: keep Jimdo or choose a cheaper builder.
- More than 10 subpages, custom features, little time: a built website.
- Technical knowledge and a taste for control: WordPress.
- Lots of online sales: a specialised shop provider.
A route with no build cost and no tinkering: freeehouse rebuilds your Jimdo site by hand, with no limit on subpages, and charges nothing for the build. You only pay for hosting with care, cheaper than today. How freeehouse works
When is the right time to switch?
Ideally so that the new site is ready before your Jimdo contract renews. According to the Jimdo help pages, cancellation generally has to arrive one month before renewal. Count back from that date: for a rebuild with sign-offs, plan a few weeks, and it goes faster with providers that take over your content.
If you have just renewed for 24 months, that is no reason to wait, but it is a reason to plan the costs. Ask the new provider when billing starts.
What do I take with me from Jimdo?
- all texts, ideally reworked right away
- original images from your own folders
- the list of all page addresses for the redirects
- form entries and shop data, if any
- the DNS records, especially for email
Frequently asked questions
What is cheaper than Jimdo?
In the first year the promotional plans from IONOS and STRATO are cheaper. After that they cost €18 and €12 per month respectively, according to their pricing pages. Calculated over three years, the difference is often smaller than you think.
Is there a free alternative to Jimdo?
Several website builders have free plans, always without your own domain and usually with ads. For a business they are not a lasting solution.
Can I take my Jimdo content to an alternative?
Texts and images yes, the site itself no. According to the Jimdo help pages, the content does not move along with a domain transfer, and the site is rebuilt.
Which alternative is best for Google?
The one that loads fast, explains your services on pages of their own and has its content directly in the HTML. That depends more on the structure than on the provider.
Sources
- Jimdo: Preise und Pakete, accessed 23 October 2026
- Wix: Premiumpakete und Preise, accessed 23 October 2026
- Squarespace: Preise, accessed 23 October 2026
- IONOS: Homepage-Baukasten, Tarife, accessed 23 October 2026
- STRATO: Homepage-Baukasten, Tarife, accessed 23 October 2026
- Jimdo Help: How do I transfer my domain to another host, accessed 23 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
Read more
Ready for a new website?
We're currently testing freeehouse with a first round of businesses. Claim your spot on the waiting list.