Last updated: 23 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 3 minutes to read
Why do businesses look for a Wix alternative?
In conversations with businesses we mostly hear four reasons. The bill, with domain, mailbox and apps, is higher than expected. The site loads slowly on mobile. There is no time for upkeep. And according to the Wix help pages, the site cannot be exported, so you are tied to the provider.
None of these reasons makes Wix bad. They simply show what Wix is built for: people who enjoy designing for themselves and pay a subscription for it.
What alternatives are there?
| Option | Costs according to the provider | Your own work | Site is yours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jimdo | from €12 per month over 12 months, incl. VAT | high | no |
| Squarespace | from €13.09 per month, paid yearly | high | no, export only partly |
| IONOS website builder | Plus €1 per month in the first year, then €18 | high | no |
| STRATO website builder | Plus €1 per month in the first year, then €12 | high | no |
| Self-hosted WordPress | Software free, hosting and care extra | medium to high | yes |
| Built website from a provider | depends on provider | low | depends on contract |
The prices come from the providers' pricing pages, retrieved on 22 and 23 October 2026. They change often. You will find more details on the pages for Jimdo, Squarespace, IONOS, STRATO and WordPress.
Is another website builder the answer?
If the price is what bothers you most about Wix, another builder may be cheaper. With IONOS and STRATO, look at the price after the first year, as the entry prices apply for a limited time only. On the other points, switching builders changes little: you still build it yourself, and the site stays with the provider. Moving from Wix to another builder is also always a rebuild.
When is WordPress the better choice?
WordPress is free and the site belongs to you. You can run it with any host. In return you need hosting, a theme, usually several plugins and someone who installs updates regularly. The WordPress documentation calls current updates the most important step for security. If you do not do it yourself, you pay a provider. The comparison WordPress or website builder goes through it in detail.
When is a built website worth it?
When you have no time for upkeep, want the site to load fast and read well for Google, and want to be able to take it with you one day. With traditional agencies this costs a project budget. In the contract, look at three things: who owns the source code, how long the contract runs and whether the price may rise.
Which alternative suits which business?
- You like designing yourself and want to pay little: another website builder, but check the price after the first year.
- You need a big shop with many payment methods: a specialised shop provider.
- You want full control and have technical knowledge: self-hosted WordPress.
- You want a good site that belongs to you, with no work on your side: a built website with care.
A route with no build cost: freeehouse rebuilds your website by hand, takes over all your content from Wix and charges nothing for the build. You only pay for hosting with care, cheaper than today, and the source code is yours. How freeehouse works
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest alternative to Wix?
In the first year the promotional plans from IONOS and STRATO at €1 per month are the cheapest. From the second year they cost €18 and €12 per month respectively, according to their pricing pages. So always calculate with the price after the promotion.
Is there a European alternative to Wix?
Yes, for example Jimdo from Hamburg and the builders from IONOS and STRATO in Germany. You can also run your own website with European hosts.
Can I take my Wix site with me to an alternative?
According to the Wix help pages, no. You can reuse texts and images, but the site itself is rebuilt with the new provider.
Is WordPress better than Wix?
Not automatically. WordPress gives you more freedom and ownership, but it needs upkeep and updates. If you have no time for that, a managed solution suits you better.
Sources
- Wix Help Center: Exporting or embedding your Wix site elsewhere, accessed 23 October 2026
- Jimdo: Preise und Pakete, 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
- WordPress Developer: Hardening WordPress, 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.
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