25 Best SEO-Friendly Alternatives To WordPress Websites via @sejournal, @lorenbaker

Take a look at 25 SEO-friendly WordPress alternatives separated by primary functionality, so you can make the best choice for your needs. The post 25 Best SEO-Friendly Alternatives To WordPress Websites appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Aug 3, 2022 - 21:04

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25 Best SEO-Friendly Alternatives To WordPress Websites via @sejournal, @lorenbaker

There’s a reason why WordPress is so popular: it’s relatively easy to use, offers a lot of functionality, and gives you many customization options. And it can be great for SEO, too.

If you know what you’re doing, you can use it for structuring, managing, and publishing content in a way that generates traffic.

It’s a sort of a one-stop shop for blogging, content management, ecommerce, and website building. And maybe best of all – it’s free.

But, running your own WordPress site isn’t without its drawbacks.

For one thing, you’re responsible for your own updates, security, and backups. Click the wrong box in the settings section, and you could be vulnerable to hackers.

And you will be dealing with frequent updates because it relies so heavily on plugins to provide the functionality you want.

It can also be problematic for web developers. If you have a high degree of skill in creating websites, you may find WordPress’ templated approach restricting.

On the other end of the spectrum, you may struggle without drag and drop functionality if you don’t know how to code.

Finally, WordPress is a jack-of-all-trades type of platform. It does many things well but is not exceptional in any area. This means you may want more functionality in an area that’s important to you.

In this piece, we’ll look at 25 SEO-friendly WordPress alternatives separated by primary functionality and give you a quick rundown of each, so you can make the best choice for your needs.

Ready to get started?

Web Design Platforms

1. Wix

If you’re looking for an easy, all-in-one, fully customizable platform that doesn’t require third-party sites and plugins, look no further than Wix.

This option houses everything you need within the Wix platform, from hosting to handling structured data. Their step-by-step guide helps beginners create a beautiful website without any prior experience.

Key Features:

Full hosting solution. No software to self-install. Drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

All-in-one website builder and platform. Free version available. Premade designs and templates. Free subdomain available for all plans. Free custom domain available with paid plans. Customer support.

Cons:

No option to retain full control of your site as you can with WordPress. No access to source code.

2. Squarespace

This all-in-one option allows you to easily create a website on Squarespace’s fully hosted platform. You do not need prior experience to use this intuitive site builder.

Squarespace hosts all its features in-house, meaning you can’t install third-party extensions or use custom coding.

It’s a great solution for hobbyists and small businesses to build a professional site themselves, although it can be an expensive solution if all you’re doing is running a basic website.

Key Features:

Full hosting solution (including video). No software to self-install. Drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

All-in-one website builder and platform. Free version available. Premade designs and templates. Free subdomain available for all plans. Free custom domain available with an annual subscription. Customer support.

Cons:

No option to retain full control of your site as you can with WordPress. No custom coding. No access to source code. No third-party extensions.

3. Weebly

If you’re looking for simple and affordable, Weebly might be up your alley.

This site builder takes an all-in-one approach to make website creation accessible for everyone, not just programmers and web developers.

Weebly is revered for being user and SEO-friendly, but if you’re on the free plan, your website will be limited to only five pages.

Key Features:

Full hosting solution. No software to self-install. Drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

All-in-one website builder and platform. Free version available. Premade designs and templates. Free subdomain available. Inexpensive premium plans are as low as $6.00 per month. Free custom domain available with premium plans. Customer support.

Cons:

No option to retain full control of your site as you can with WordPress. No access to source code. The free version restricts you to a maximum of five pages.

4. Google Sites

Google’s webpage and wiki creation tool, Google Sites is a free and easy way to build a website.

Because it was developed by the search engine giant, it integrates smoothly with all other Google products, including Gmail, YouTube, and Fitbit.

It is free to build, host, and maintain with a Google account, with no web hosting fees.

However, if you want to link your site with Google Apps, it costs $50 per user per year.

Key Features:

Creator has full control over page access and permissions. Tools can be accessed anywhere. It can be used as a basic project management program. Plenty of web development and deployment options. Real-time editing. Uses website speed optimization tools to minimize loading times.

Pros:

Fast to get started and easy to use. Free to use. Integrated with other Google products.

Cons:

Limited functionality compared to other website builders. It may not work with non-Google apps. Limited customization options. No SEO tools and you can’t edit metadata. It cannot integrate Facebook pixels.

5. Jekyll

Jekyll was designed to be a lightweight alternative to other website creation platforms, including only necessary components so you can run your website without database access or other additional software.

It’s an open-source platform that allows you to quickly create and launch a website.

Key Features:

No programming involved. SEO is built-in. GitHub manages redirects. Easy setup of custom domains.

Pros:

No server maintenance. Very fast. Secure. Free hosting. Free SSL certificate. Works with GitHub as CMS.

Cons:

It can’t create contact forms. No dynamic content options. Posts cannot be scheduled. Does not include image manipulation functionality.

6. Hugo

Billing itself as “the world’s fastest framework for building websites,” Hugo is an open-source platform for creating static sites.

It can generate most webpages in under one millisecond, with new pages built every time you create or update content.

Its goal is to provide an optimal viewing experience for users and authors.

Key Features:

Can build most websites in seconds. Cross-platform with easy installation. Allows you to host your site anywhere. Customizable URLs. “Minutes to Read” and “WordCount” functionality. Integrated Google Analytics and Disqus comment support.

Pros:

It easily integrates with Google Calendar and other apps. Easy to use with responsive customer service. Multilingual capabilities built-in. Extendable as needed.

Cons:

It can’t create one-off tasks. It can be confusing upon initial use, particularly in templating syntax. No plugins are available. Limited text formatting features.

7. Webflow

Webflow is a responsive tool for web design that lets you create websites without the required coding knowledge.

It includes a visual designer, which lets you see the changes you’re making in real-time and includes significant versatility.

You can create nearly any website you need, including ecommerce, blogs, and business sites.

Key Features:

More than 100 templates to choose from. Design is prioritized, with animation, interaction, and parallax scrolling options. Offers automatically generated sitemaps and customizable 301 redirects. Multiple payment options for ecommerce sites and automatic tax calculation.

Pros:

Affordable, with plans ranging from free to $235 for top-tier ecommerce plans. Free starter plan. Numerous learning and help resources. Good range of templates. Good security.

Cons:

Steep learning curve. Integration with social media can be frustrating. Advanced capabilities aren’t built-in and require integration.

Content Management Systems (CMS)

8. Joomla

Like WordPress, Joomla is an open-source content management system (CMS).

Joomla is free, but you have to pay for your web hosting.

Joomla’s appeal is its broad range of functionality that allows you to run any type of website – blogs, ecommerce, portfolios, informational websites, and more.

The downside to Joomla is that it isn’t ideal for beginners, so it’s best if you have some experience.

Key Features:

Almost 6,000 extensions are available. Traditional content editing (no drag-and-drop visual editor). Optimized for mobile (depending on the template). Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

Free, open-source software. Premade designs and templates. Access to source code.

Cons:

No free subdomains or custom domains are available. No customer support. Requires a PHP-enable server to run. Fewer templates and extensions than WordPress.

9. Drupal

Like WordPress and Joomla, Drupal is a CMS platform. The software is free, although you’ll have web hosting fees.

Drupal is one of the most technical and powerful CMS options on the market, but it requires more skills to tap into Drupal’s full potential.

This site-building option is best suited for advanced users.

Key Features:

Content Management System (CMS). Over 47,000 modules are available. Traditional content editing (no drag-and-drop visual editor). Optimized for mobile (depending on the theme you choose). Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

Free, open-source software. Premade designs and templates. Access to source code. Strong security and data encryption.

Cons:

No free subdomains. No customer support. Requires a PHP-enabled server to run.

10. DataLife Engine

DataLife Engine, often referred to as DLE, is a multifunctional CMS. Primarily designed for mass media websites and blogs, it allows you to manage news, articles, and users.

Flexible and customizable, it can be used to create websites that can handle high levels of visitors with minimal load on your servers.

DLE emphasizes SEO and security, which has led to its adoption by more than 100,000 organizations.

Key Features:

Content Management System (CMS). Designed for multiple users. SEO-focused. Tracks statistics. Automatically filters words in comments. It supports an unlimited number of categories. Low server load. Allows plugins.

Pros:

Stores data using MySQL. Excellent user experience Websites load quickly, even on low-end servers. Excellent for publishing news and blog posts.

Cons:

No free version licenses vary from $79 for basic to $199 for unlimited. English users are a secondary focus. A limited number of plugins and themes. The lowest license doesn’t include customer support.

11. Sitefinity

Progress’ Sitefinity is a CMS and digital experience platform that allows you to create multi-channel marketing experiences.

Sitefinity allows you to create, store, manage, and publish content on your website. It lets you operate across departments, units, locations, and brands from one platform.

Key Features:

Manage multiple sites from one location. Sync assets across pages and sites. It makes personalization simpler. Integrated analytics and optimization. Four versions include basic, marketing-focused, PaaS, and ecommerce. Multilingual capabilities.

Pros:

Low-cost license compared to other CMS. No setup fee. Minimal coding is required for integration. Flexible deployment time shortens time to market. Options for marketing automation.

Cons:

Free trial, but no free version. Setup and administration can be challenging. No mobile interface.

12. Hubspot CMS

Hubspot is one of the biggest names in marketing software, so it should be no surprise that they also have a CMS tool.

Combining website creation with a customer relationship management (CRM) tool lets you cover the entire buying journey from one place.

And because it was built for cross-departmental use, it doesn’t require extensive development knowledge.

Key Features:

Cloud-based. Includes SEO recommendations. Includes numerous themes and responsive templates. Fully integrated CRM. Drag-and-drop webpage editor. Built-in security.

Pros:

Adaptive A/B testing helps you identify the best page layout. All-in-one publishing tools. Built-in SEO tools. Supports smart content with personalized rules. Mobile pages supported with Google AMP.

Cons:

Steep learning curve. Does not support ecommerce. No automatic backup and recovery.

13. Contentful

Contentful is a backend-only CMS. Intended to allow users to create content at scale, it integrates various tools, giving you the freedom to publish across channels.

A cloud-native platform, it has a clean interface and was designed to be API-first, which provides serious flexibility.

Features:

RESTful API gives you full control over assets, translations, and versions. Customizable interface and framework that works across third-party component providers. It provides regional autonomy, so pieces in multiple languages and time zones can be published globally. Content modeling allows you to structure content by channel. Single sign-on and secure access.

Pros:

Focus on integration simplifies the technology stack. User-friendly with a clean interface. Free version for up to five users. Good scalability.

Cons:

Expensive for an upgraded version ($489/month). Poor internal search tools. Modeling content can be tricky.

14. Adobe Experience Manager

Combining the functionality of a CMS with a digital asset management (DAM) platform, Adobe Experience Manager is intended to be an all-in-one platform for building websites, managing marketing content, and overseeing media libraries.

It offers cloud integration and plays well with other programs, including its own flagship creative suite.

Key Features:

Comprehensive marketing platform. End-to-end digital document solution. Enterprise-level security. Analytics included. Intelligent search. Scalable to your needs.

Pros:

Streamlines workflows by keeping everything on one platform. Authoring and publishing can be handled by individual marketers. Easy authorization of workflow. Can handle massive content loads. Can manage multiple sites at once.

Cons:

Steep learning curve. Requires different sign-ins to access different areas. Doesn’t integrate well with external DAMs. Not ideal for communities and forums.

Ecommerce Platforms

15. BigCommerce

If you’re looking for scalability in an SEO-friendly WordPress alternative, BigCommerce might be the right option for you.

It features strong SEO support and smooth multi-channel integration, and there are no platform fees or commissions.

However, customer reviews weren’t overly favorable regarding setup, and this ecommerce-targeted platform isn’t the best for small businesses or stores with tight margins.

Key Features:

Full hosting solution. No software to self-install. Drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

High level of customization options. Over 100 themes to choose from (including some free). No platform commission fees. Free subdomain available. Customer support.

Cons:

No free version is available. No access to source code. Pricing is based on revenue, which isn’t great if you have tight margins.

16. Shopify

One of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market, Shopify, is designed to help you sell products.

That gives this option a major edge in the post-COVID digital shopping era, especially if your Shopify site is optimized for SEO.

Although Shopify can handle blogging and other niches, it isn’t the best solution for anything outside of ecommerce needs.

Key Features:

Full hosting solution. No software to self-install. Drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

All-in-one website builder and platform. Premade designs and templates. Free subdomain available. Customer support.

Cons:

No free version is available. No access to source code. Platform commission fees.

17. Magento

Magento is an ecommerce-based platform with more bells and whistles than Shopify.

And while it offers a ton of business features especially suited to large-scale enterprises, it’s not the easiest platform to use.

Magento specializes in ecommerce and not much else. If you want a website that capitalizes on different features, your investment in Magento probably isn’t worth your time.

Key Features:

Option to pay for Magento Commerce for a full hosting platform or download the free, open-source software to install on your own web server. Drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available. Optimized for mobile. Ecommerce store. Social media tools.

Pros:

All-in-one ecommerce platform or open-source ecommerce software package. Free version available. Designed for large-scale ecommerce. Premade designs and templates. Free subdomain available (mainly for setup and testing purposes). Customer support (paid version only). Access to source code with the downloadable version.

Cons:

No blog module, although you can add it as an extension. Not optimized for web projects or website purposes outside of ecommerce. The steep learning curve for inexperienced users. A large investment for small-scale ecommerce.

18. Prestashop

Prestashop is a freemium open-source ecommerce platform that allows you to set up stores on your host or via the cloud.

Available in 65 languages, it offers a powerful interface that is responsive to mobile users.

Prestashop has a variety of add-on features and provides a reliable online shopping solution.

Key Features:

Customizable to your needs, including themes and features. Includes backend tools like payments, shipping and data. Community of translators for multilanguage digital stores. Secure payment modules. Scalable. Includes demographic assistance.

Pros:

Free version available. Open source, so you can customize your site to your needs. 5,000+ themes, modules, and services are available with the premium plan. Excellent user experience.

Cons:

Limited scalability. No support team. Initial setup requires some programming knowledge.

19. OpenCart

A PHP-based ecommerce solution, OpenCart is free to use. Flexible and customizable, it comes with access to a dedicated community to help you troubleshoot.

Because it’s open source, there are extensive add-ons and modules for just about anything.

Features:

The administrator dashboard gives you information at a glance. User management allows you to assign permissions and separate access. Allows you to run multiple stores from one dashboard. Customizable variables let you include options for sizes, colors, or anything else.

Pros:

The platform is completely free, as are many add-ons. Extensive metrics and reports provided. Works with your current payment gateway. Comes with dedicated technical support. Flexible.

Cons:

Often creates duplicate pages, which can cause SEO problems. Not all extensions, modules, plug-ins, and add-ons work well together. Checkout can be slow, particularly if you have numerous plug-ins. Can be difficult to import a list of inventory. Requires some degree of technical ability for optimal use.

Blogging Platforms

20. Medium

Rather than joining the others on this list as a site builder or web software, Medium stands alone as a publishing platform with its own community and user base.

This is a great solution if you’re a blogger looking for an inexpensive way to publish content.

But remember that you don’t have customization options, meaning you can’t brand your own website.

If you need a unique website with design control, Medium isn’t going to suit your requirements.

Key Features:

Full hosting solution. No software to self-install. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Limited social media tools.

Pros:

A community site for blogs. Free version available. Medium Partner Program to earn revenue. Customer support.

Cons:

No extensions. No ecommerce stores. No premade designs or themes. No free subdomains. No third-party extensions. No access to source code.

21. Ghost

This platform is a WordPress contender for blogging, but Ghost’s capabilities are limited for anything more.

Ghost is a simple and straightforward platform to suit your needs if you’re in the right niche.

But if you know your website might grow, remember that Ghost isn’t designed to scale a blog up into a business website or complex project.

Key Features:

Option to subscribe through Ghost’s hosting platform or download the free open source software to install on your own web server. Basic drag-and-drop visual builder. Extensions are available through integrations with other tools. Optimized for mobile. Blog module. Ecommerce store (subscription only). Social media tools.

Pros:

All-in-one website builder and platform. Free version available. Premade designs and templates. Free subdomain available with the paid version. Customer support. Access to source code.

Cons:

Not compatible with all third-party web hosts. Highly specialized with limited capabilities beyond blogging. Not built to scale up into a business site or complex website.

22. Tumblr

Tumblr is a unique blend of social media and microblogging.

Like a traditional social media platform, it allows you to post status updates and share images, as well as re-blog posts your audience may find relevant.

Customizable to your needs, it has a unique tagging system that helps you accurately target an audience and build a community.

Key Features:

Features strong social media functionality. Customizable. Google Analytics Integration. Unlimited storage. Ad-free blog themes. Free SSL certification.

Pros:

Free to use; no upgrades are required to access all features. Free web hosting. User-friendly and easy to set up. No storage limits. Can post audio, video, images, gifs, and more.

Cons:

Daily posting limit (250/day). Files must be under 10 MB. No plugins. Safety and security leave something to be desired. Unsuited to long-form content.

23. Bluehost

After Typepad stopped accepting new signups in 2020, EIG began directing people to Bluehost for their web hosting needs.

Bluehost supports over 80 open-source projects beyond WordPress, including Drupal, Joomla, and phpBB. It’s currently used by more than 2 million websites.

Key Features:

Domain names can be purchased through Bluehost. Versatile hosting options let you choose what works best for you. Dedicated servers and virtual private servers are available. A variety of plans are available based on your needs. Comes with customer service chat options.

Pros:

The first term is inexpensive. Lots of storage and unlimited bandwidth. Good uptime. Free SSL certificates.

Cons:

Extra features come with added costs, which can get pricey. High renewal rates. Speed could be better. All servers are U.S.-based.

24. Blogger

If you’re going to name your company “Blogger,” you better be good at blog hosting; it shouldn’t be surprising that Blogger delivers.

Acquired by Google in 2003, Blogger is more than just one of the oldest blogging platforms; it’s also a CMS.

Free to use, it lets you publish everything in your own personal space, whether it’s a business blog or a series of posts about your favorite Harry Potter characters.

Your site can be hosted at yourname.blogspot.com or your own domain.

Features:

Clear analytics. Included layout/themes. Monetization options, including Google Adsense integration. Uses Google security. Unlimited storage.

Pros:

Free to use. Extremely user-friendly. Free SSL security. Good uptime.

Cons:

You don’t own your website. Fewer options and control over design. Limited support. Hard to port to a different platform.

Community Management

25. vBulletin

If your site’s primary purpose is to create a community and host forums and message boards, vBulletin may be the right choice for you.

Easily installed on any web hosting service or run from vBulletin’s cloud, its primary focus is on community websites, though it does include tools for content discovery and site management.

It comes with various templates, graphics, and styles, so you can customize your forum to your brand.

Key Features:

Built-in SEO and security. Includes a chat app. Easy to get started. Built-in applications. Optimized for mobile users. Blogging functionality. Fully customizable.

Pros:

Frequent patches and bug fixes. Customer support. Easy to install and get started. Designed to host forums. Includes templates.

Cons:

No free option. Limited features compared to some other platforms. Requires some tech skills to take full advantage of the functionality. It can’t customize code for the cloud-based version.