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TOWeb compared with WordPress, Wix and Shopify

WordPress, Wix and Shopify each have their strengths. These pages answer the questions people really ask before choosing: how much time will the technical side take, what will it cost after three years, who owns the website, and what happens the day you stop paying. One thing sets TOWeb apart from all three: they are edited online, in a browser; TOWeb is software on your computer that works even offline, on a train or on a plane.

Updated 23 October 2026.

TOWeb or WordPress

A website with no plugins to keep an eye on and no risky updates: maintenance, year after year.

TOWeb or Wix

A website of your own, paid for once and published wherever you like, or a website rented by the month.

TOWeb or Shopify

An online shop with no subscription or commission, or a hosted store and its apps.

Working offline, on the train or in the countryside: build a website offline with TOWeb.

WordPress, Wix, Shopify and TOWeb at a glance

	WordPress	Wix	Shopify	TOWeb
Where you work	Online, in the site’s admin area	Online, in the Wix editor	Online, in the Shopify admin	On your computer, in an app
Working offline	No, except for a post written in the mobile app	No	No	Yes; only publishing needs a connection
Pricing model	Free software; premium themes and plugins often on annual licences	Subscription	Subscription	Free Standard edition; paid editions bought once
Hosting	With a host that supports PHP and MySQL	At Wix only	At Shopify only	With the host of your choice
Updates	Minor ones automatic; theme and plugins to keep an eye on	Handled by Wix	Handled by Shopify	Handled by TOWeb: you republish
Team editing	Yes, with accounts and roles	Yes, with collaborators	Yes, with staff accounts	One person at a time
What you need to work	A browser, on any device	A browser or the app	A browser or the app	A Windows or Mac computer
Hosting paid separately	Yes	No, included in the subscription	No, included in the subscription	Yes, with the host of your choice

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between website builder software and an online website builder?

An online builder like Wix or Shopify runs in the browser: the tool and the site live on the service’s servers, and you pay a subscription to keep them. Website builder software like TOWeb is installed on your computer: you build your site there, even offline, then publish it to the host of your choice.

What is a static website?

A website made of pages that are already built, sent to the visitor as they are, with no database or online admin to query. It loads fast and offers little attack surface. TOWeb sites are static; only forms, the online shop and bookings use small PHP scripts on the server.

Can you build a website without a subscription?

Yes, with software you buy once, like TOWeb: only hosting remains to be paid, with whoever you like. WordPress is also free software, but its premium themes and plugins are often sold as annual licences.