As an experienced web designer who has worked with different web builders over the years, I've found that it's also not particularly flexible or feature-rich either. If you're looking for more design flexibility, there are several other beginner-friendly website builders to consider beyond Google Sites.
In this article, I review my top five Google Sites alternatives and explain the pros and cons of each to help you pick the right platform.
» Follow these expert tips to create a visually stunning website.
Our 5 Best Google Sites Alternatives in 2024:
- Wix - Best Google Sites alternative overall
- GoDaddy - Best for its uncluttered and user-friendly website editor
- Web.com - Best for beginners looking for a simple solution
- Squarespace - Best for the outstanding design of its templates
- Shopify - Best for small business owners with growing enterprises
A Closer Look at the Best Google Sites Alternatives in 2024
1. Wix
A powerful website builder with a wide selection of integrations
Best for - A comprehensive, all-in-one solution
Starting price - From $16/month
Storage size - 500MB and up
Free trial - 14 days
Wix is excellent if you need an all-in-one solution that will scale with you as your business grows. Wix's large selection of templates (800+) combined with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor allows you to create a unique website, even if you have no prior experience.
Additionally, it offers a variety of built-in tools and features, empowering you to seamlessly integrate Wix eCommerce plugins, manage appointments, and enhance your site's functionality. With reliable hosting services and security measures, Wix provides a worry-free environment for your online presence.
What Makes Wix a Good Alternative to Google Sites?
Wix brings a vibrant and customizable website-building experience to the table. While Google Sites impressed me with its simplicity, I preferred Wix's design flexibility and feature-rich tools.
Pros
- Lots of beautiful templates
- 500+ third-party plugins available through its app market
- Excellent support and documentation
Cons
- You can't easily change templates
- Storage is limited on all plans
2. GoDaddy
Simple and intuitive website builder with solid marketing features
Best for - Its beginner-friendly editor
Starting price - From $16.99/month
Storage size - 25GB to 100GB
Free trial - 30 days
GoDaddy is another top choice if you need a professional-looking website for your business but have no experience creating websites. Its editor is straightforward to use, although customization options are limited if you need to get online fast.
In addition to its user-friendly editor, GoDaddy provides a range of templates tailored to various industries, ensuring your website's polished and professional appearance. The platform also offers integrated eCommerce functionalities, making it suitable for businesses selling products or services online.
What Makes GoDaddy a Good Alternative to Google Sites?
For those wanting more control over their domain and hosting, GoDaddy offers more advanced features than Google Sites' simpler free hosting, which has been offloading its domains to Squarespace since being acquired by the company. GoDaddy also provides more flexible hosting options, including virtual private servers and dedicated hosting plans, allowing greater customization.
Pros
- Good marketing features, such as SEO and email marketing
- Online appointments and bookings
- Integrated hosting
Cons
- Limited design flexibility
- Can't add custom codes
3. Web.com
A simple solution for effortless website creation
Best for - Those looking to launch a website quickly
Starting price - From $4.95 the first month, then $15.99/month
Storage size - 10GB to 40GB
Free trial - No
Web.com is ideal for busy business owners looking to get their website off the ground as soon as possible. If you need help, all Web.com plans give you access to a one-hour consultation with one of the platform's design experts.
The website builder is intuitive, though, with drag-and-drop tools that make it easy to create a professional-looking site quickly. Templates are mobile-optimized, and free images, fonts, and videos are available in the builder. Web.com also provides SEO tools to help your website get found online.
What Makes Web.com a Good Alternative to Google Sites?
As someone who has used both Google Sites and Web.com, I found the one-on-one design consultation provided by Web.com to be invaluable, especially when I was starting out.
Aside from its personalized experience, I find that bonuses like domain registration and hosting make Web.com the ultimate choice for a comprehensive and tailored website-building experience.
Pros
- Simple and accessible solution for beginners
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth
- A good choice of templates
Cons
- No trial
- Customization options are limited
4. Squarespace
Stunning templates for a professional look
Best for - Those looking for a unique design
Starting price - From $16/month
Storage size - Unlimited
Free trial - 14 days
Squarespace is one of my personal favorites: the sleek design of its themes is ideal if you want to stand out. All templates are mobile-responsive, too, which in 2024 is a must, as 55% of global internet traffic comes from mobile devices.
Squarespace's email marketing features also make it a stand-out option. Check out our list of the best Squarespace email marketing integrations to learn more.
What Makes Squarespace a Good Alternative to Google Sites?
With Squarespace, I can truly tailor the look and feel of a website to match my client’s brand identity. The gallery displays, animations, and other interactive elements allow me to showcase content in an engaging way. While Google Sites is certainly more straightforward to use, it does have a limited number of templates and customization options.
Pros
- A wide array of stunning templates
- Powerful eCommerce features
- Responsive design
Cons
- More expensive than other options
- No customer support for mobile users
5. Shopify
Easy online store management
Best for - Small business owners with growing enterprises
Starting price - From $25/month
Storage size - Unlimited
Free trial - 3 days
Shopify is an all-in-one solution featuring an accessible website/store editor, built-in hosting, and a suite of eCommerce management tools. The platform offers a wealth of guides and tutorials for a smooth store-building experience, and you can personalize your store with extra features through third-party Shopify apps or custom themes.
However, be mindful of subscription fees, especially if you're on a tight budget. Plugins can quickly increase the cost of building a website, so ensure you only add the ones you need.
What Makes Shopify a Good Alternative to Google Sites?
Google Sites is effective as a general website builder, but Shopify takes the lead when it comes to online store creation. Both platforms serve distinct purposes, with Shopify shining as a top pick for those venturing into online retail.
I found this out firsthand when starting my own online store. I started with Google Sites but quickly realized that I needed Shopify's diverse eCommerce features to really bring my products to life online.
Pros
- Excellent selection of tools
- Great customer service
- Caters well to beginners
Cons
- It's not the most affordable option
- Primarily for eCommerce websites
» Explore the best eCommerce website builders.
What to Look For in a Website Builder
Below are five of the most important considerations to make when picking a website builder:
- Ease of use: The website builder should have an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that is easy to navigate. Complex, overly technical platforms can be frustrating.
- Templates: Having professionally designed templates can save you a lot of time when building a site from scratch.
- Customization: To what extent can you customize colors, fonts, and layouts? What about adding your own branding? More customization allows for a unique site.
- Features: Assess what built-in tools, integrations, and applications are available, like eCommerce, booking, blogging, SEO, etc. The features should suit your needs.
- Cost: Builder costs vary widely from free to over $100/month. Factor in any domain registration or hosting fees, too. Consider the value versus price.
- Scalability: As your business grows, will the builder allow you to easily expand site pages, storage, bandwidth, and functionality? Future needs should be accommodated.
How We Determined the Top Google Sites Alternatives
Authored by an experienced website builder, this review is based on hands-on testing by actually building sites using each platform and critically assessing the process. In addition to testing, we integrate insights from current academic studies, reviews on trusted sites, expert opinions, and user feedback across the web.
Our rigorous evaluation process distills the pros, cons, and key differences between website builders, empowering you to choose the best platform for your needs confidently.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Ease of use: We tested each website builder's interface by performing key tasks like adding content, customizing design, and publishing pages.
- Customization options: We looked at the level of design customization offered.
- Template quality: We analyzed the templates to determine how professional, modern, and visually appealing they are.
- Scalability: Customer reviews were closely examined to assess the platforms' ability to expand easily with your business over time.
- SEO optimization: We checked to see if the website builders incorporate effective SEO features.
- Security provisions: To evaluate each platform's security, we analyzed how safely they manage website data and transactions.
- Customer support: Customer service is critical for user satisfaction, so we tested the technical support of each website builder by contacting them with questions and gauging how fast, informed, and effective their responses were.
Build a Beautiful Website With the Right Platform
Undoubtedly, Google Sites has its benefits, but advanced builders like Wix and Squarespace are my top choices for fully functional, customizable sites or online stores. They enable deeper interactivity and customization for high-quality website launches and functionality. If you want beginner-friendly website builders for general-purpose sites, go for GoDaddy or Web.com.
» Explore additional options with these website builders for small businesses.
