Look, I’m going to level with you. There’s a lot of tribal nonsense online about which website platform is “best.” Wix lovers will swear by Wix. WordPress devotees will tell you everything else is rubbish. Squarespace fans have their gorgeous templates on lock. And don’t even get me started on the Showit vs everyone else debates.
But here’s the thing—platform loyalty is marketing, not strategy.
The real question isn’t “which platform is best?” It’s “which platform is best for where your business is heading?”
Your Website is a Tiny House
Think of your website platform as the foundation of a tiny house. When you’re building small and intentional, every choice matters more. You can’t just bolt on an extra room later if you didn’t plan for it from the start. The electrical system you choose now affects what you can plug in later. The plumbing you install determines where water can flow.
Some tiny houses are built on permanent foundations—you own the land, and you can renovate whenever you want. Others are built on rented plots or trailer bases—easier to start with, but you’re subject to someone else’s rules about what you can and can’t do.
Your website platform is that foundation. And just like choosing where to build your tiny house, you need to think about more than just today’s needs.
Why Platform Choice Actually Matters
Your website platform isn’t just about what works today. It’s about what you’re building toward. Are you testing an idea? Scaling a service business? Planning to add ecommerce? Building a portfolio that needs to look absolutely stunning?
Different platforms excel at different things. And more importantly, they have different limitations that might not matter now but could absolutely matter in two years when you’ve outgrown them.
In the tiny house world, you wouldn’t build on a trailer base if you knew you’d eventually want a full basement and second storey. Same with websites—if you’re planning to scale significantly, starting on a platform with strict limitations means you’ll be moving house later. And just like in real life, moving is expensive and exhausting.
The Features That Actually Matter
When you’re choosing a platform, forget about the marketing fluff. Here’s what you actually need to think about:
Content Ownership and Portability
Can you export your content if you need to leave? I’m not just talking about blog posts—can you take your entire site structure, your design, your custom work with you?
Think of this as the difference between renting and owning. When you rent a tiny house, you might be able to take your furniture when you leave, but the built-in shelving, the custom kitchen, the solar panels you installed? Those stay with the landlord.
This is what we call the walled garden problem—when platforms keep you locked in with limited export options, you’re essentially building your business on rented land.
Wix, Squarespace, Weebly: Your blog content can be exported (the furniture), but your design and site structure (the built-ins)? You’re rebuilding from scratch if you leave.
Showit: Stunning for visual creatives, but you’re locked into their hosting. The whole house stays on their land—no moving without starting over.
WordPress.com (managed): Better portability than the above, but still restricted compared to self-hosted options. You can take more with you, but not everything.
Self-hosted WordPress: You own the land, the house, the solar panels, everything. Pack it all up and move it wherever you want. Full stop.
Customisation and Control
How much do you need to be able to tinker? If you want custom functionality down the track, can you add it? Or will the platform’s architecture block you?
In tiny house terms: some builds let you knock down a wall, rewire the electrics, or add a skylight whenever you want. Others have structural limitations—the walls are load-bearing, the electrical is sealed behind panels you’re not allowed to access, and modifications void your warranty.
This is where the pretty drag-and-drop builders can hit walls. They’re brilliant for getting up and running quickly, but if you need something the platform didn’t anticipate, you’re often out of luck. The architecture simply won’t allow it.
This is also where brand strategy and web design integration becomes crucial—you need a platform that can grow with your brand vision, not constrain it.
Scalability
What happens when your traffic grows? When you want to add complex features? When you need developer help?
It’s like the difference between a tiny house with a fixed footprint versus one designed with expansion in mind. Can you add a loft? Build out a deck? Install a rainwater collection system? Or are you maxed out at the original 200 square feet with no room to grow?
With closed platforms, you’re limited to what their ecosystem supports. With open platforms like self-hosted WordPress, the entire worldwide developer community can help you build whatever you need. Your tiny house can grow into a small house, then a regular house, all on the same foundation.
Running Costs
Look beyond the initial setup. What are you paying monthly? What happens to those costs as you scale? What features are locked behind higher pricing tiers?
And here’s a sneaky one—what’s it going to cost you to leave if you outgrow it? Migration isn’t free, and rebuilding certainly isn’t.
The Platforms, Honestly Assessed
Wix / Squarespace / Weebly
Best for: Quick setup, low maintenance, testing ideas
Watch out for: Limited exports, hosting you can’t transfer, SEO controls that plateau, locked-in pricing
Real talk: Fantastic if you need something up fast and aren’t planning major growth. Less ideal if you’re building your business’s long-term home.
Showit
Best for: Photographers, visual creatives who need pixel-perfect design control
Watch out for: Limited ecommerce, blog functionality requires WordPress integration, can’t move hosting
Real talk: If aesthetics are your primary business driver and you’re not planning complex functionality, it’s gorgeous. But it’s a commitment.
WordPress.com (Managed)
Best for: Bloggers who want WordPress ease without the technical overhead
Watch out for: Plugin restrictions, can’t access theme files, monetisation rules you don’t control
Real talk: It’s WordPress-lite. Good middle ground, but you’ll bump into walls faster than you think.
Self-Hosted WordPress
Best for: Businesses planning to scale, anyone wanting full control and flexibility
Watch out for: Steeper learning curve, you manage hosting/updates/security, or you hire someone who can
Real talk: This is where we build because it grows with you. You own everything, control everything, and aren’t at the mercy of platform changes or pricing hikes. And if you need ecommerce functionality, WordPress and WooCommerce offer unmatched flexibility.
So… Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s my completely honest, not-trying-to-sell-you-anything answer:
Start where it makes sense for you right now. But be honest about where you’re heading.
If you’re testing a business idea and need something up in a week? Wix might be perfect. Truly.
If you’re a photographer whose entire business is visual impact? Showit could be your jam.
But if you’re building something you plan to grow—if you’re creating a business asset, not just a placeholder—then you need to think about ownership, portability, and what happens when you outgrow your current needs. (And if you’re specifically weighing up WordPress and WooCommerce vs Shopify, we’ve got thoughts on that too.)
This is why we build on WordPress. Not because other platforms are inherently bad, but because specific features matter for long-term growth:
- You own your content completely (no export limitations)
- You control your hosting (and can move it whenever you want)
- The developer ecosystem is worldwide (you’re never stuck)
- Custom functionality isn’t blocked by platform rules
- You’re not subject to sudden pricing changes or feature removals
That said, we’ve also built on other platforms when it made sense for a specific client’s needs. Because here’s the secret: good designers and developers can work across platforms.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let anyone make you feel stupid for your platform choice. But do make that choice with eyes wide open about what you’re gaining and what you’re giving up.
Your website is your business’s tiny house in the digital landscape. Every square inch matters. Every system you install now affects what you can do later. And unlike a real tiny house, your digital one needs to serve customers, generate leads, and work hard for your business 24/7.
Platform lock-in is real. It’s expensive to undo. And it’s completely avoidable if you plan ahead.
