Quick answer
Choose WordPress for full ownership, flexibility and content-heavy sites; Wix or Squarespace for a simple site you build and host yourself on a subscription; and Shopify when selling products is the main job. Published 2026 Chicago guides put DIY builder costs at about $0–$500 a year, before paid add-ons.
Platform comparison
| Platform | Ownership and hosting | Ease of use | Flexibility | Good fit | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | You choose hosting and own files and database | Moderate; easy with a simple editor | Very high | Service businesses, content, custom features | Updates and security need care |
| Wix | Hosted subscription | High | Moderate | Simple DIY sites | Harder to move off the platform |
| Squarespace | Hosted subscription | High | Moderate | Portfolios, simple service sites | Limited custom features |
| Shopify | Hosted subscription with commerce tools | High for stores | High for commerce, lower for content | Product stores | App fees add up; transaction costs |
Plan prices change often; check each platform’s current pricing page before you decide.
WordPress
WordPress runs a large share of the web. You can host it anywhere and move it when you want. With a lightweight custom theme it can be fast and secure; with a heavy multipurpose theme and page builder it can be slow. It needs regular updates, which is why many owners pair it with a maintenance plan.
It also handles content well: service pages, FAQs, blogs and multiple languages, which matters for search and AI visibility.
Wix, Squarespace and Shopify
Wix and Squarespace both bundle hosting, security and design tools in one subscription. They are a practical choice for a simple site you want to manage yourself. The trade-off is control: custom features are limited, and moving to another platform later usually means rebuilding pages and setting redirects.
Shopify is built for selling products: catalog, cart, checkout, inventory and payments. For a store, that head start is valuable. For a service business with lots of content, it is often more platform than you need. Many features come from paid apps, so total monthly cost can grow. Published guides put e-commerce builds at $10,000–$50,000+ (2Point Agency).
How to decide
- Decide whether selling products online is the main goal. If yes, compare Shopify and WordPress with WooCommerce.
- Decide who will update the site. If you want to do everything yourself, a hosted builder is simpler.
- Decide how much control and ownership you need over the long term.
- Count monthly costs, including apps, plugins and support.
Moving between platforms later
Switching platforms is common and manageable, but it is not free. Content must be exported or copied, pages rebuilt, images moved and every changed URL redirected. Hosted builders usually do not export designs, so the look is rebuilt on the new platform. Stores add products, customers and order history to the move.
If you expect to grow, choose a platform you can stay on, or plan the move early while the site is still small. See how to redesign without losing SEO.
What Media Express builds
Media Express builds lightweight custom WordPress themes without heavy page builders, with everyday content editable in Szef Editor. You own the site and can host it where you choose. We also move sites from builders and page builders to WordPress, with redirects planned. See WordPress website design.
Related
Questions and answers
Is WordPress better than Wix?
It depends on the goal. WordPress offers more ownership and flexibility; Wix is easier for a simple site you manage yourself.
Is Squarespace good for small business?
Yes, for simple sites and portfolios. It is less suited to custom features or businesses that want full control of their files.
Should I use Shopify or WordPress for e-commerce?
Shopify suits product-focused stores that want commerce tools ready to use. WordPress with WooCommerce suits businesses that mix content and selling and want more control.
Can I move my site from Wix to WordPress?
Yes. Content is moved and pages are rebuilt on WordPress. Plan 301 redirects so old URLs keep sending visitors and search signals to the new pages.
Which website platform is cheapest?
Hosted builders usually have the lowest starting cost, about $0–$500 a year per published guides. Add-ons, apps and your own time change the real total.
Go back to the Media Express Chicago homepage for services and pricing.
More guides
- Is $1,500 a good price for a website?
- Website cost per month
- Website redesign cost
- Cost to update a website
- How long a website takes
- Choosing a Chicago web design company
- 15 questions to ask a web designer
- Web design red flags
- Freelancer vs agency vs DIY
- Is AI replacing web design?
- Redesign without losing SEO
- What a small business website should include
- How to get cited by AI
- Website cost by industry (Chicago)
Popular pages
Our own audience
We don’t buy traffic. We create it.
Most agencies build a website and leave you to find visitors. Media Express owns the audience. Polish Network is the largest Polish-American network of owned media in the USA: 120+ of our own websites and portals, social media channels and news portals.
We also run the world’s largest aggregator of Polish radio stations, with 300+ stations from Poland, the United States and the diaspora in one place. We are building the American edition now, and next an edition for every country.
And we run your business on Szef.AI, our own AI operating system and CRM that works with everything, everywhere. New and better AI models appear every day, and Szef.AI is already connected to them. It is a solution nobody can match.
More than 8 million Americans report Polish ancestry (U.S. Census Bureau). Through our network, millions of people can become your customers. A typical web design agency cannot offer you this.
Ready to talk about your website?
31+ years of continuous web work, same-day website design that grows from a business card site to a portal for millions of views, a media network of our own, Szef.AI, our AI operating system connected to every new model, and direct access to the people who build your site. Tell us what you have in mind; you will get a clear recommendation, scope and price before any work begins.