When a client comes to us for a website, our first question isn’t “What framework should we use?” It’s “What does your business actually need?”
Sometimes the answer is a custom-built site with Astro, React, or Next.js. But often—especially for small businesses that need to get online quickly and maintain their site independently—a website builder makes more sense.
And after working with all the major platforms, we’ve found ourselves recommending Wix more often than the alternatives. Here’s why.
The Website Builder Landscape in 2026
There are dozens of website builders, but three dominate the conversation for businesses that want professional results without coding:
Framer
Originally a prototyping tool for designers, Framer has evolved into a powerful website builder. It produces beautiful, highly animated sites and appeals to design-forward brands.
Pros:
- Stunning animations and interactions
- Designer-friendly interface
- Great performance when done right
- Modern, cutting-edge aesthetic
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Expensive ($15-30/month for basic plans)
- Limited e-commerce capabilities
- Overkill for most small businesses
- Harder to maintain without design skills
Squarespace
The go-to for creative professionals and lifestyle brands. Known for gorgeous templates and an emphasis on visual presentation.
Pros:
- Beautiful, award-winning templates
- Strong blogging features
- Good for portfolios and creative businesses
- Integrated analytics
Cons:
- Expensive ($16-49/month)
- Limited customization within templates
- E-commerce features locked behind higher tiers
- Can feel restrictive for complex needs
- Customer support can be slow
Wix
Often dismissed as “the cheap option,” Wix has quietly become the most versatile and business-friendly website builder available.
Pros:
- Flexible drag-and-drop editor
- Extensive app marketplace
- Strong e-commerce at reasonable prices
- Built-in booking, forms, and CRM
- Excellent customer support
- Free tier available to start
- Better pricing across all tiers
Cons:
- Templates less visually striking than Squarespace
- Can create bloated sites if not careful
- ADI (automated design) results are hit-or-miss
- Some advanced features require premium apps
Why We Often Recommend Wix
For the small businesses we work with in Central New York, Wix consistently delivers the best value. Here’s our reasoning:
1. Price-to-Feature Ratio
Let’s compare what you get at similar price points:
| Feature | Wix Business Basic ($17/mo) | Squarespace Business ($27/mo) | Framer Pro ($20/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom domain | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| E-commerce | ✓ (Unlimited products) | ✓ (3% transaction fee) | Limited |
| Booking system | ✓ Built-in | Requires third-party | ✗ |
| Forms | ✓ Unlimited | ✓ Limited | ✓ Limited |
| Storage | 50GB | Unlimited | 10GB |
| Customer accounts | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
For a local business that needs a booking system, contact forms, and maybe some products to sell, Wix offers more functionality at a lower price point.
2. Business Tools Built In
Wix isn’t just a website builder—it’s increasingly a business platform. Out of the box, you get:
- Wix Bookings: Appointment scheduling that syncs with Google Calendar
- Wix Forms: Contact forms, quote requests, intake forms
- Wix CRM: Basic customer relationship management
- Wix Inbox: Unified messaging from site, social, and email
- Wix Analytics: Traffic and conversion tracking
- Wix Email Marketing: Newsletter and campaign tools
With Squarespace or Framer, you’d need to integrate (and pay for) third-party tools to get equivalent functionality.
3. Flexibility for Different Business Types
We’ve used Wix for:
- Service businesses that need online booking
- Restaurants that need menus and reservations
- Retail shops that want e-commerce
- Professional services that need contact forms and testimonials
- Travel agencies that need rich imagery and booking integration
The platform adapts to different needs without requiring a different tier or bolt-on services.
4. Client Independence
A website is only valuable if the business can actually use it. Wix’s editor is intuitive enough that our clients can:
- Update their own content
- Add new pages
- Respond to form submissions
- Manage bookings and appointments
- Run basic marketing campaigns
We can hand over a finished site and know the client won’t be stuck calling us for every small change.
5. Wix Studio for Agencies
For agency work, Wix Studio (formerly Editor X) gives us professional-grade tools:
- Responsive design controls
- Custom CSS capabilities
- Reusable design components
- Client management dashboard
- White-label options
This means we can create sites that look custom-built while leveraging Wix’s infrastructure and ease of use.
Real Results: CNY Businesses on Wix
We don’t just recommend Wix in theory—we’ve built real sites for real businesses on the platform.
J&P Auto Detail
J&P Auto Detail is a professional auto detailing business that needed:
- A clean, professional design that showcases their work
- Service packages with clear pricing
- Online booking for appointments
- Mobile-friendly experience (most customers search on phones)
- Photo gallery of completed work
- Easy contact options
Why Wix was the right choice:
The built-in booking system was perfect for their appointment-based business. Customers can see available time slots and book directly—no back-and-forth phone calls needed. The owner can manage everything from their phone, including accepting bookings, viewing the schedule, and responding to inquiries.
The visual gallery features let them showcase before-and-after photos that drive conversions. And because they can update content themselves, they add new photos and adjust services without waiting for developer availability.
Salty Starfish Travel
Salty Starfish Travel is a travel agency that needed:
- Stunning destination imagery
- Information about travel services
- Lead capture for trip planning
- Trust-building content (about page, testimonials)
- Blog for travel tips and destination guides
- Mobile-responsive design for browsing anywhere
Why Wix was the right choice:
Travel is a visual industry, and Wix’s media handling makes it easy to create image-rich pages that load quickly. The built-in forms capture leads effectively, routing inquiries directly to the agent. And the blogging features let them publish destination guides and travel tips that help with SEO and establish expertise.
The client updates the site regularly with new content, seasonal promotions, and destination spotlights—all without technical help.
When We Don’t Recommend Wix
Wix isn’t always the answer. We recommend custom development when:
You need maximum performance
For sites where every millisecond matters (large e-commerce, media sites, web applications), custom-built solutions with Astro or Next.js will outperform any website builder.
You have complex functionality
If you need custom integrations, complex workflows, or functionality that doesn’t exist in Wix’s app marketplace, custom development is the way to go.
You’re building a brand at scale
Enterprise companies and venture-backed startups often need the flexibility and scalability that comes with owning their entire tech stack.
SEO is your primary growth channel
While Wix SEO has improved dramatically, custom-built sites still offer more control for aggressive SEO strategies.
When Wix Makes Sense
Wix is typically the right choice when:
- Budget is a factor: You need a professional site without a custom development budget
- Speed matters: You need to launch quickly (weeks, not months)
- Self-management is important: You want to update content without developer help
- Business tools are needed: Booking, forms, CRM, and marketing tools are valuable
- The site is primarily informational: Service pages, about, contact, blog
Our Approach: Right Tool for the Job
We’re not a “Wix agency” or a “custom development agency”—we’re a web development partner that recommends the right solution for each client.
For J&P Auto Detail and Salty Starfish Travel, Wix was clearly the right choice. They got professional, functional websites at reasonable costs, and they can manage them independently.
For other clients with different needs, we build custom solutions with Astro, React, or other technologies.
The goal isn’t to sell a particular platform—it’s to get your business online effectively and efficiently.
Getting Started
If you’re trying to decide between website builders, or between a builder and custom development, here’s our advice:
- List your must-have features (booking, e-commerce, blog, etc.)
- Consider your maintenance capacity (Will you update it yourself?)
- Think about your growth trajectory (Will you outgrow the platform?)
- Factor in total cost (Platform fees + apps + your time)
And if you’re still not sure, we’re happy to talk through your options. Sometimes a 15-minute conversation saves weeks of research.
Need help deciding on the right platform? Contact Astrochimp for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your options and recommend the approach that makes sense for your business and budget.