Having a website is no longer optional, it’s essential. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or creative professional, an online presence helps you reach more customers, showcase your brand, and even sell products or services.
But with so many website builders available, how do you choose the right one?
Google Sites, WordPress, Wix, and Shopify are four popular platforms, each offering unique features, pricing, and levels of customisation. Some are ideal for simple websites, while others provide powerful tools for businesses and online stores.
In this guide, we’ll compare these website builders, breaking down their features, ease of use, pricing, and best use cases. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which platform suits your needs best.
1. Why Website Builders Matter for Entrepreneurs
As an entrepreneur, your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. It serves as your digital storefront, a marketing tool, and a platform to showcase your brand. However, not every entrepreneur has the time, budget, or technical skills to build a website from scratch—this is where website builders come in.
Ease of Use
Not everyone is a web developer, and hiring one can be expensive. Website builders like Google Sites, WordPress, Wix, and Shopify simplify the process, allowing business owners to create professional-looking websites without coding knowledge. With drag-and-drop editors, pre-designed templates, and intuitive dashboards, even beginners can get a website up and running quickly.
Cost-Effective Solutions
Starting a business comes with expenses, and a custom-built website can be costly. Website builders offer a more affordable alternative, with free or budget-friendly plans. Whether you need a simple informational site, a blog, or a full-fledged online store, there’s a platform that fits your budget.
Customisation for Your Brand
A strong brand identity is crucial for standing out in a crowded market. Website builders provide customisation options—themes, colours, fonts, and layouts—to ensure your site reflects your unique brand. Some platforms, like WordPress, offer extensive flexibility, while others, like Google Sites, focus on simplicity.
Scalability for Business Growth
Your business might start small, but as it grows, so will your website needs. Choosing the right platform ensures you have room to expand.
Google Sites works for basic informational pages but lacks advanced features for scaling.
WordPress allows endless customisation and plugin integrations for growth.
Wix makes it easy to add features like e-commerce and appointment booking.
Shopify is built for online businesses and scales seamlessly as sales increase.
Mobile and SEO Optimisation
With most people browsing on their phones, a mobile-friendly website is a must. Website builders ensure that your site looks great on any device. Additionally, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) features help your business rank higher on Google, driving more traffic and potential customers to your site.
Final Thoughts
A website is one of the most powerful tools in an entrepreneur’s toolkit. By choosing the right website builder, you can create a professional, functional, and cost-effective online presence without the headaches of complex coding or high development costs.
In the next sections, we’ll break down the strengths and weaknesses of Google Sites, WordPress, Wix, and Shopify to help you decide which is the best fit for your business.
2. Overview of Each Platform
With so many website builders available, it’s essential to understand the strengths and limitations of each. Whether you need a simple website, a blog, or a full-fledged online store, Google Sites, WordPress, Wix, and Shopify each offer different features tailored to specific needs. Below, we break down what each platform is best suited for and what makes them stand out.
Google Sites: Simplicity at Its Core
Best for: Basic websites, internal company pages, or personal use.
Google Sites is a free and easy-to-use website builder designed for simplicity. It’s ideal for businesses that need an informational page, internal documentation, or a personal project but don’t require advanced features like e-commerce or blog integration.
Pros: Completely free with a Google account.
No need for hosting or domain setup.
Easy drag-and-drop editing.
Cons: Limited customisation and design flexibility.
No e-commerce or blogging capabilities.
Basic SEO features, which may limit online visibility.
WordPress: The Ultimate Customisation Powerhouse
Best for: Blogs, business websites, and scalable projects.
WordPress is the most popular website builder, powering over 40% of all websites. It offers unmatched flexibility and scalability, making it a great choice for entrepreneurs who want full control over their site’s design and functionality.
Pros: Open-source, allowing for full customisation.
Thousands of themes and plugins for added functionality.
Strong SEO tools for better search engine rankings.
Cons: Requires web hosting and a domain name.
Slight learning curve for beginners.
Regular updates and maintenance needed.
Note: There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com (hosted with limited customisation) and WordPress.org (self-hosted with full control). Entrepreneurs often prefer WordPress.org for its flexibility.
Wix: The Drag-and-Drop Solution for Small Businesses
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want a user-friendly and visually appealing website.
Wix is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making website creation effortless. It’s perfect for small business owners who want a modern website without dealing with complex settings or coding.
Pros: Beginner-friendly with stunning templates.
Includes built-in SEO and marketing tools.
No need for external hosting—everything is managed by Wix.
Cons: Limited customisation compared to WordPress.
Free plan includes Wix branding.
Pricing can add up with premium features.
Tip: If you want a simple yet stylish business website without technical hassles, Wix is a great choice.
Shopify: The E-Commerce Champion
Best for: Entrepreneurs and businesses looking to sell products online.
If you need a powerful, all-in-one solution for an online store, Shopify is the go-to platform. It offers everything from secure payment gateways to inventory management, making it the best choice for e-commerce businesses.
Pros: Easy to set up an online store without coding.
Secure payment options and integrated shopping cart.
Scales easily as your business grows.
Cons: Monthly subscription fees can be high.
Limited design flexibility compared to WordPress.
Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments.
Note: If your main goal is to sell products online, Shopify offers a smooth, hassle-free experience with all the tools you need.
Final Thoughts
Each website builder serves a different purpose:
- Google Sites is ideal for simple, internal, or personal projects.
- WordPress is best for entrepreneurs who want full control and scalability.
- Wix is perfect for small businesses that need an easy, stylish website.
- Shopify is the ultimate solution for e-commerce businesses.
3. Key Features Compared
Choosing the right website builder depends on what features matter most to your business. Whether you prioritise ease of use, design flexibility, e-commerce capabilities, or SEO tools, each platform—Google Sites, WordPress, Wix, and Shopify—has its own strengths. Below, we compare them based on essential features.
Ease of Use
Platform | Ease of Setup | Learning Curve | Best For |
Google Sites | Extremely easy | No coding needed | Simple websites & internal pages |
WordPress | Moderate | Requires learning | Blogs, business sites, scalable projects |
Wix | Very easy | Drag-and-drop | Small businesses, portfolios |
Shopify | Easy | Designed for e-commerce | Online stores |
- Google Sites is the easiest to use but lacks advanced features.
- Wix and Shopify provide simple, beginner-friendly setups.
- WordPress requires a slight learning curve but offers maximum control.
Design & Customisation
Platform | Templates | Customisation Level | Drag & Drop? |
Google Sites | Basic templates | Very limited | Yes |
WordPress | Thousands of themes | Extremely high | No (without plugins) |
Wix | 800+ modern templates | Good customisation | Yes |
Shopify | 100+ e-commerce themes | Moderate | Yes |
- WordPress offers the highest level of design freedom with thousands of themes and plugins.
- Wix has stunning templates but is less flexible than WordPress.
- Shopify focuses on e-commerce design but has fewer themes.
- Google Sites is very limited in design customisation.
E-Commerce & Online Selling
Platform | Built-in E-Commerce? | Payment Options | Best For Selling? |
Google Sites | ❌ No | ❌ Not supported | Not recommended |
WordPress | ✅ Yes (via WooCommerce) | Multiple (PayPal, Stripe, etc.) | Highly customisable stores |
Wix | ✅ Yes | Wix Payments, PayPal, others | Small online shops |
Shopify | ✅ Yes (Fully integrated) | 100+ payment options | Best for large online stores |
- Shopify is the most powerful e-commerce platform.
- WordPress (with WooCommerce) allows for highly customisable online stores.
- Wix is good for smaller online stores.
- Google Sites does not support e-commerce.
SEO & Marketing Tools
Platform | SEO Tools | Blogging | Marketing Features |
Google Sites | Very basic | ❌ No | No built-in marketing tools |
WordPress | Advanced SEO (Yoast, Rank Math) | ✅ Yes | Email, social media, plugins |
Wix | Good built-in SEO | ✅ Yes | Social media, email marketing |
Shopify | Good SEO for e-commerce | ✅ Yes | Email campaigns, discounts, social selling |
- WordPress offers the best SEO tools and blogging capabilities.
- Wix and Shopify have solid SEO features but fewer customisation options.
- Google Sites has minimal SEO capabilities, making it less ideal for ranking on Google.
Website Hosting & Security
Platform | Hosting Included? | Security Features | Best for Stability? |
Google Sites | ✅ Yes (Google hosting) | Basic Google security | Good for simple sites |
WordPress | ❌ No (self-hosted) | Depends on the hosting provider | Highly scalable |
Wix | ✅ Yes | SSL certificate, security updates | Reliable for small sites |
Shopify | ✅ Yes | SSL, fraud protection | Best for online stores |
- Google Sites, Wix, and Shopify include hosting, making setup easier.
- WordPress requires separate hosting but offers the most flexibility.
- Shopify is highly secure for online transactions.
Final Thoughts
Each website builder has its strengths, depending on your needs:
- Google Sites → Best for simple, internal, or personal websites.
- WordPress → Best for full customisation, blogs, and scalable business websites.
- Wix → Best for small businesses and creative portfolios.
- Shopify → Best for e-commerce and online stores.
In the next section, we’ll discuss how pricing works for each platform so you can choose the most cost-effective option for your business.
4. How Pricing Works
Understanding the pricing structure of website builders is essential when choosing the right platform for your needs. Each platform—Google Sites, WordPress, Wix, and Shopify—has different pricing models based on features, hosting, and scalability. Let’s break them down.
4.1 Google Sites Pricing
Cost: Free
- Google Sites is entirely free to use.
- No premium plans or hidden costs.
- Requires a Google account to create and publish a website.
- However, you must purchase a custom domain separately if you don’t want a “sites.google.com” URL.
Best for: Individuals, internal business pages, simple websites.
4.2 WordPress Pricing
Cost: Varies based on hosting and additional services
Expense | Price Range |
Hosting (e.g. Xneelo, SADomains) | R99 – R1000 /month |
Domain name | R100 – R500 /year |
Themes (Free & Premium) | R0 – R2000+ (one-time) |
Plugins (SEO, e-commerce, etc.) | R0 – R4000+ (one-time or recurring) |
Developer Costs (optional) | Varies |
- WordPress itself is free, but you need to pay for hosting, themes, and plugins.
- The cost depends on whether you use free themes and plugins or invest in premium ones.
- E-commerce features via WooCommerce are free, but premium add-ons can increase costs.
Best for: Bloggers, businesses, and those needing full customisation.
4.3 Wix Pricing
Cost: Subscription-based (monthly or yearly)
Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features |
Free | R0 | Wix-branded domain, limited storage |
Combo | R300 | Custom domain, no Wix ads, basic storage |
Unlimited | R400 | More storage, advanced website features |
Business & eCommerce | R500+ | Online store, payments, marketing tools |
- Wix offers a free plan, but it includes Wix-branded ads.
- Premium plans include custom domains, better storage, and e-commerce features.
- E-commerce stores require a Business or Enterprise plan.
Best for: Small businesses, portfolios, personal websites.
4.4 Shopify Pricing
Cost: Subscription-based (monthly)
Plan | Price (Monthly) | Transaction Fees | Best For |
Basic | R350 | 2.9% + per transaction | Small stores |
Shopify | R900 | 2.6% + per transaction | Growing businesses |
Advanced | R5500 | 2.4% + per transaction | Large stores |
Shopify Plus | R42,500 | Lower fees | Enterprises |
- Shopify does not have a free plan, but it offers a 3-day free trial.
- Includes hosting, security, and e-commerce tools in all plans.
- Additional costs: Premium themes, third-party apps, and transaction fees.
Best for: Online stores, and e-commerce businesses of all sizes.
Which Platform is the Best Value?
Platform | Free Plan? | Cheapest Paid Plan | Best for |
Google Sites | ✅ Yes | R0 (only domain cost) | Internal/simple websites |
WordPress | ✅ Yes (self-hosted) | R99 /month (basic hosting) | Blogs, business sites, customisation |
Wix | ✅ Yes | R300 /month | Small businesses, creatives |
Shopify | ❌ No | R350 /month | E-commerce stores |
Final Takeaways:
- Google Sites is 100% free, but limited.
- WordPress is the most flexible but requires separate hosting.
- Wix has affordable plans for small businesses.
- Shopify is more expensive but perfect for e-commerce.
What’s Next?
Now that we’ve covered pricing, the next section will guide you in choosing the right website builder based on your specific needs.
5. Choosing the Right Website Builder for Your Needs
With so many options available, how do you decide which website builder is right for you? The best choice depends on your goals, budget, technical skills, and the type of website you want to create.
Best for Personal or Basic Business Websites → Google Sites
Why Choose Google Sites?
- Completely free to use.
- Easy, no-code setup.
- Great for internal pages, portfolios, or personal use.
Limited customisation and not ideal for advanced websites.
Best for:
- Internal business pages
- Personal portfolios
- Simple informational websites
Best for Blogs & Custom Websites → WordPress
Why Choose WordPress?
- Highly customisable with thousands of themes & plugins.
- Great for blogs, business websites, and even e-commerce (via WooCommerce).
- Self-hosted flexibility gives full control over design and features.
Requires separate hosting and has a learning curve.
Best for:
- Bloggers
- Small to large business websites
- Developers who want full control over customisation
Best for Small Businesses & Creative Portfolios → Wix
Why Choose Wix?
- User-friendly drag-and-drop builder.
- Beautiful pre-designed templates.
- Built-in SEO & marketing tools.
Best for:
- Small businesses
- Freelancers & creatives (photographers, designers, etc.)
- Personal portfolios
Best for Online Stores & E-commerce → Shopify
Why Choose Shopify?
- Built specifically for online selling.
- Secure and scalable, with integrated payment options.
- 24/7 support and e-commerce tools (inventory, shipping, marketing).
Best for:
- E-commerce businesses
- Dropshipping stores
- Brands selling physical or digital products
Quick Comparison: Which Website Builder Should You Choose?
Feature | Google Sites | WordPress | Wix | Shopify |
Best For | Internal pages, personal use | Blogs, business websites | Small businesses, portfolios | E-commerce stores |
Ease of Use | Very easy | Moderate | Easy | Easy |
Customisation | Limited | Very high | Good | Moderate |
Pricing | Free | Varies (hosting required) | Paid plans ($16+) | Paid plans ($39+) |
SEO & Marketing Tools | Basic | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
E-commerce Features | No | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes |
Final Recommendation: Which One Should You Pick?
- If you want a free and simple website → Google Sites
- If you want full control and a powerful site → WordPress
- If you want an easy, stylish website with no hassle → Wix
- If you want to build an online store → Shopify
6. SEO and Marketing Features
A great website is only effective if people can find it. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and marketing tools help improve your site’s visibility on search engines like Google.
Here’s how each website builder compares in terms of SEO and marketing features:
Google Sites: Limited SEO Capabilities
Google Sites is not ideal for SEO because it has very few optimisation features.
Pros:
- Fast loading times (Google prioritises speed in rankings).
- Basic page titles and meta descriptions can be edited.
Cons:
- No advanced SEO settings (like custom URLs or schema markup).
- No plugin support for SEO improvements.
- No built-in blogging feature (which helps with ranking).
Best For: Internal or simple websites where SEO is not a priority.
WordPress: Strong SEO Features with Plugins like Yoast SEO
WordPress is one of the best platforms for SEO because it offers full control and flexibility.
Pros:
- Yoast SEO & Rank Math plugins help optimise content.
- Full control over meta titles, descriptions, and image alt text.
- SEO-friendly URLs & structured data support.
- Fast-loading themes and caching options.
- Blogging capabilities for content marketing.
Cons:
- Requires manual optimisation for best results.
- SEO performance depends on hosting speed.
Best For: Businesses, bloggers, and anyone serious about ranking on Google.
Wix: Built-in SEO Tools but Limited Flexibility
Wix offers basic SEO tools, but it lacks the flexibility of WordPress.
Pros:
- Built-in SEO Wiz tool for beginners.
- Customisable URLs, meta tags, and alt text.
- Mobile-friendly templates with responsive design.
Cons:
- Limited control over URL structure (not as clean as WordPress).
- Slower site speed compared to WordPress (which can affect SEO).
- No advanced SEO features like schema markup or full server-side control.
Best For: Small businesses or users who want simple SEO tools without much effort.
Shopify: Good for SEO, with Apps and Integrations
Shopify is great for e-commerce SEO and has features designed to help online stores rank.
Pros:
- Customisable meta tags and URLs for products & pages.
- Fast, mobile-friendly themes (important for Google rankings).
- Built-in blogging feature for content marketing.
- SEO apps like Plug In SEO and Smart SEO improve rankings.
Cons:
- Limited control over site structure compared to WordPress.
- Some advanced SEO features require paid apps.
Best For: E-commerce businesses that need an SEO-friendly online store.
Which Platform Wins for SEO?
- Best for SEO & full control → WordPress
- Best for easy SEO with some flexibility → Shopify
- Best for beginners with built-in SEO tools → Wix
- Not recommended for SEO → Google Sites
If SEO is a top priority, WordPress or Shopify are the best choices. Wix works for small businesses, while Google Sites is best for non-public sites where SEO doesn’t matter
Conclusion
Choosing the right website builder depends on your goals, budget, and how much control you need over your site. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, making some better suited for specific purposes than others.
Final Recommendations:
Google Sites – Best for personal or simple websites that don’t require advanced features.
WordPress – Ideal for those who want flexibility and scalability, especially for blogs and business websites.
Wix – Great for beginners looking for a quick and easy way to build a business website.
Shopify – The best choice for e-commerce businesses that need a reliable online store.
Which Platform is Right for You?
Choosing the right website builder can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone.
At Proactive Digital Concepts, we specialise in helping businesses like yours find the perfect platform to match their needs, budget, and long-term goals.
✔️ Not sure if you need a blog, online store, or landing page? We’ll guide you through the best options.
✔️ Worried about cost? We’ll help you balance affordability with the features you need.
✔️ Planning for growth? We’ll ensure your website can scale with your business.
No matter your industry or goals, we’ll help you choose and set up the best website solution for your success.