WordPress alternatives for small business and personal websites
People look for a WordPress alternative when plugin updates, security patches and maintenance start to cost more time than the website saves. Here are the options worth comparing, what each is best at, and what to watch for. Prices come from each company's own page, checked 22 October 2026.
| Option | Best for | Price | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHP Site Manager | Small and local businesses, freelancers and personal sites that want a site live fast and easy to keep current. | Single Page $9 a month paid yearly (link in bio page included); Business $19 | Hosted plans are in early access; not built for large online stores. |
| WordPress.com | Blogs and publishers who want WordPress without running a server. | Personal $4 a month paid yearly | Business features such as booking or quote forms usually mean adding plugins. |
| Squarespace | Design-led brands and built-in selling. | Basic $19 a month paid yearly | Basic charges a 2% fee on store sales. Its export covers only some content (layout pages, one blog, text and image blocks). |
| Wix | Owners who want drag-and-drop freedom and an app market. | Light $17.77 a month paid yearly (prices vary by location) | A Wix site has to stay on Wix's servers; it cannot be moved to another host. |
| Webflow | Designers who want precise control and a visual CMS. | Free Starter plan on a webflow.io address; Basic $15 a month paid yearly | The free plan has no custom domain and two static pages. |
Where a company does not publish a price on a page we could read, we say "see their site" rather than guess.
How to choose
- Who will update it? If it is you, between jobs, pick the simplest editor.
- One page or many? A link page or one-page site is fine until you need a page per service or town.
- Total cost. Add plan price, add-ons, fees on sales and the renewal price, not just the first month.
- Can you leave? Check what you can export before you build.
Moving from WordPress
Export from WordPress (Tools, Export) and import the file: pages, posts and images come across as drafts, and your old page addresses are redirected so you keep your rankings.
Questions
What is the best WordPress alternative?
It depends on what you need. For a small or local business, or a personal site you want to keep current yourself, PHP Site Manager is built for that, from $9 a month paid yearly. Designers who want pixel control often prefer Webflow or Framer, and publishers often stay with WordPress.
Is there a cheaper alternative to WordPress?
Yes. Compare the price you would pay over three years, including renewals and any fees on sales. Our cost calculator does this for the main builders.
Can I move my site from WordPress?
Export from WordPress (Tools, Export) and import the file: pages, posts and images come across as drafts, and your old page addresses are redirected so you keep your rankings.
Ready to switch?
Tell us your current address and we will show you what we can bring across.