Showit alternatives
Squarespace suits creatives who want a polished, single-layout site that’s easy to keep up, and self-hosted WordPress suits those whose blog is their biggest traffic source. A custom website suits creative businesses that want an editorial look without the speed cost, and Framer suits design-minded owners who like a freeform canvas.
Not sure which fits? Send me your site and I’ll tell you honestly.
If staying on Showit is the right call, I’ll say so. Free, from me.
Why people leave Showit
Two layouts for every page
Desktop and mobile are designed separately. Every change has to be made twice, and the two drift apart over time.
Heavy pages
Large images can weigh pages down, especially on phones, where many couples and clients first find you.
Main pages can’t leave
The WordPress blog is portable, but the page designs stay on Showit.
What to look for in a replacement
One responsive layout
Look for a platform or build where a single design adapts to every screen. It halves the upkeep.
Room for your portfolio without the weight
Galleries are the point of the site. Look for proper image optimization and responsive images.
A home for the blog
For many photographers, the blog brings in most of the search traffic. Make sure the replacement can host every post with redirects.
The alternatives, ranked
Ranked for a typical small business leaving this platform. Your best fit depends on what you’re leaving for.
- SquarespaceWebsite builder
Best for photographers and coaches who want beautiful templates and one layout to maintain. Less freeform, much less upkeep.
Showit vs Squarespace, compared - WordPressOpen-source CMS
Best when the blog is the business engine. Your Showit blog already runs on WordPress, so posts move across naturally.
Showit vs WordPress, compared - Custom websiteHand-built
Best for an established creative business that wants an editorial, distinctive look that loads quickly on a phone.
Showit vs Custom website, compared - FramerWebsite builder
Best for design-minded creatives who loved Showit’s freedom and want responsive layouts and motion. It isn’t built around a blog.
- WixWebsite builder
Best for a creative who wants freeform design plus built-in bookings or a small shop in one place.
Showit vs Wix, compared
How they stack up
Against Showit, on the factors people usually leave over. Ratings are my own assessment for a typical small business, as of October 2026. Platforms change their features and plans often, so check the vendor’s current documentation before you decide.
| Showit | Squarespace | WordPress | Custom website | Framer | Wix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Partial | Partial | Fully yours | Fully yours | Partial | Platform-only |
| SEO control | Adequate | Adequate | Strong | Extensive | Strong | Strong |
| AI search | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Strong | Mixed | Good |
| Speed | Varies | Varies | Varies | Strong | Good | Varies |
| Design | Unlimited | Flexible | Flexible | Unlimited | Unlimited | Flexible |
| Upkeep | Light | Minimal | Heavy | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal |
When to stay on Showit
If you love designing your own site, your clients mostly come from referrals and Instagram, and you keep your mobile layouts in step, Showit suits you. Compress your images before upload and you’ll recover a lot of speed without moving. Move when the double upkeep or slow pages are costing you inquiries.
Migration checklist
What to do, in order, when you leave Showit.
Export the WordPress blog
Use the WordPress export from your Showit blog to download posts, categories and media references. Download the media library too.
List page and post URLs
Record each Showit page and every blog post, usually under /blog/. Include category pages that rank.
Collect your best images at full quality
Pull originals from your own archive rather than the site, so the new galleries look their best and can be optimized properly.
Move inquiry forms and booking links
Point the new contact form to the same inbox or client management tool you use for inquiries. Test it before launch.
Map 301 redirects
Redirect every page and post that changes address. Old blog posts often carry Pinterest and backlink traffic, so cover them all.
Switch the domain and cancel
Update DNS to the new host, check every page on a phone, then end the Showit plan.
Leaving Showit, answered
Yes. Showit’s blog runs on WordPress, so you can export it and import it into a WordPress install elsewhere.
Not if every post keeps its URL or redirects to its new one. That matters especially for posts that bring in search or Pinterest visits.
Often it’s large images. Resizing images before upload helps a lot, whichever platform you use.
Keep reading
- nick@tavro.ca
- 587-439-9994
- Calgary, Alberta