Shopify

Shopify is the go-to for ecommerce—and for good reason. It’s powerful, secure, and great for selling physical products, especially if you want to:

• Manage inventory

• Handle shipping

• Run discounts and sales

• Integrate with point-of-sale (POS) systems
   

But here’s the catch: if you’re not running a store with a lot of products, Shopify can be overkill. You’ll pay monthly for features you might never use. Plus, their app ecosystem can get expensive fast.
Shopify is also a solid pick for subscription box businesses, thanks to its robust backend and automation tools. But even then, there are alternatives…

Subbly
Enter Subbly—a lesser-known but powerful option for subscription-based businesses. Subbly was built for subscription models and is:

• Easier to set up than Shopify

• More affordable for smaller businesses

• Equipped with built-in tools for recurring payments, shipping, and emails

The trade-off? It’s not as scalable or customizable as Shopify. If you're planning to build the next FabFitFun or BarkBox, Shopify might still be the better bet. But for lean, community-driven boxes? Subbly’s a dream.

Squarespace
Squarespace gets a lot of buzz for its clean designs and drag-and-drop ease. It’s a good fit if you’re:

• A creative with a portfolio (think photographers, artists, writers)

• A small service-based business with simple needs

• A blogger or personal brand with limited ecommerce

But Squarespace has limitations when it comes to:

• Integrations

• Custom functionality

• Complex site structures

Also, many third-party tools don’t play nicely with Squarespace—so if you have niche requirements, it might not be your best choice.

WIX
WIX is one of our go-to platforms at CMM. It’s flexible, user-friendly, and constantly evolving. We love it for:

• Local businesses

• Restaurants

• Personal brands

• Service providers with basic booking needs

WIX offers great design flexibility and solid SEO tools right out of the box. But it’s not a silver bullet.
If you're a real estate agent, for example, embedding live listings from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) can be a pain on WIX—or outright impossible—depending on your provider. That kind of integration usually needs a WordPress-based solution or something custom.

WordPress
WordPress is the chameleon of website platforms. It can be anything you want it to be—if you have the time, tech skills, or a developer.

Pros:

• Incredibly flexible

• Vast plugin library

• Great for SEO

• Scalable for any size
   

Cons:

• Not beginner-friendly

• You’re responsible for hosting, security, and maintenance

• Can get expensive if you’re hiring help for every little thing

We typically recommend WordPress for clients with very specific needs—like real estate integrations, custom booking systems, or advanced functionality that no other platform can match.

 

Hostinger
Hostinger is a lesser-known but affordable option that we’ve come to love for certain clients. With its built-in site builder, it gives you:

• A cleaner backend than WordPress

• Lower monthly costs

• Simple drag-and-drop editing

It’s a great fit for:

• Budget-conscious startups

• Brochure-style websites

• Those who don’t need a lot of bells and whistles

 

However, if you outgrow it, migrating can be a challenge—so we always plan with the future in mind.