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Google Sites—Free Basic Template
G-sites is a basic template that offers you the chance to get online for free. This isn’t like other paid sites, but it’s a great starting point if you’re not sure what you want out of your website. Google Sites allows you to design a website with basic skills and without the expense. If you just want a basic site with a homepage, an about page and somewhere people can contact you, G-sites can provide you with just that. All you have to do is link your domain name, and you can have a site for your ministry in 24 hours.
Pros & Cons—GoogleSites.com
Limited design features (Tip: if you have some basic design skills, you can customise the site using what's available to you in the G-sites platform)
User-friendly (you don’t need to be an expert to use G-sites).
Simple and customisable templates (G-sites offers theme-based templates you can edit to meet your ministry style. Tip: Depending on your niche, you can choose from one of their sites or build it from scratch—check out my site for reference.)
Links to your Google account
Free to use (until you have the funds and need to upgrade to a paid platform).
No SEO (Tip: to ensure your site is Google-friendly, incorporate SEO friendly keywords on every page, which can give you a chance of being ranked)
No built-in analytics (have to use Google Analytics or Console)
No blog feature (Tip: the only way around this is to create info pages vs blog posts)
Wix—Beginner Friendly
Wix is an affordable option if you want to upgrade your site from free to paid. It offers the right amount of features to build out a site using the elements they provide. You can either build it from scratch or use their AI feature. Depending on your design preference, Wix's style options can give you a professional site without breaking the bank. But I would, from a design perspective, try to make your site stand out and not just use the basic setting when it comes to the theme you use to launch your ministry.
Pros & Cons—Wix.com
Unlimited library of customisable templates
Its function is limited (templates can be inflexible, switching between sites can be challenging, and the site can be slow)
Affordable for your first paid site
Hidden fees
Lack of SEO features
AI Features
Great for beginners.
Shopify—E-commerce w/ a Blog
Shopify is a great go-to platform if you're focused on selling physical or digital/printable products and want a decent, all-in-one website solution that includes a blog. It really shines with its robust support, serious scalability for businesses ready to grow, and the crucial ability to sell everywhere—think social media, marketplaces, and even in-person pop-ups.
Pros & Cons—Shopify.com
Built-in SEO
Marketing automation
A large app marketplace for adding functionality.
Etsy Integration. If you have an Etsy shop, you can connect it to Shopify.
Quick & User-Friendly Setup. Launching a store is fast and easy—no need for intense coding knowledge.
Customisable storefront, but it may be difficult to create a custom Shopify experience.
Reliable customer support
Weak spot. The blog feature feels outdated, and there's limited built-in email outreach functionality.
Shopify has its own payment processing system and other integration options.
The platform lock-in feature is designed to prevent subscribers from taking their stores elsewhere. For example, if you have outgrown the platform seamlessly.
PayHip—E-commerce w/ a Blog
Payhip is a popular e-commerce platform designed primarily for digital creators to sell products like digital downloads, online courses, and memberships. Payhip is a great way to create your own all-in-one digital storefront with no technical skills required.
Pros & Cons—Payhip.com
It has an online marketplace feature (similar to Etsy) that can get you digital products in front of a wide audience.
Good Customer Support. Users frequently report that the customer support team is responsive, helpful, and provides assistance through email and live chat.
Valuable Marketing Features. Extra Cost for Video HostingBuilt-in marketing tools include affiliate programs, discount codes, social media discounts, cross-selling, and upselling features.
Transaction Fees on Lower Tiers. The Free plan has a 5% transaction fee (plus processor fees). The $29/month Plus plan has a 2% fee. You must upgrade to the $99/month Pro plan for 0% transaction fees.
Versatile Product Support. Easily sell multiple product types: digital downloads, online courses, coaching/services, physical products (simple inventory), and subscriptions/memberships.
Basic Analytics. The analytics dashboard provides essential data but is basic, lacking in-depth features like behavioural tracking and customer segmentation.
Limited SEO Capabilities. It lacks advanced Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tools, such as the ability to create custom URLs or add custom meta descriptions for all pages and products.
No Feature-Gating. Unlike many competitors, you get access to all core features—including a course builder, memberships, and an affiliate system—on every plan, even the free one.
Basic Site & Store Customisation. The storefront builder is functional but basic. It offers limited design flexibility, lacks a drag-and-drop editor, and the checkout page itself cannot be customised.
The Free Forever plan includes all features (online courses, memberships, affiliate system, etc.) and allows for unlimited products and revenue.
Limited Payment Options. Payhip currently only integrates with PayPal and Stripe for payment processing.
Squarespace—Professional looking
Squarespace is an upgrade from platforms like Wix or Google Sites. It has more features and looks more professional—if you like that look. Using a platform like Squarespace can give you a better-looking site at a cost. While it’s not cheap, you can start with the lowest plan as a blogger and upgrade as and when you need to. For example, if you’re just building a blog, start with their personal plan, and when you’re ready to add a membership area or sell products or services, you can upgrade to their business plan.
Pros & Cons—Squarespace.com
Access to AI tools and features
Expensive compared to other sites
Tools and features you need in one place (excluding things you may need to coding or external parties for)
Limited customisability
Easy to set up and navigate
Professional aesthetic
Don’t need coding experience (but it's good to have)
WordPress—Scalable and SEO friendly
WordPress is more advanced, as it requires you to have some coding experience or the budget to hire someone or the funds to outsource things like a website theme or additional add-ons to run your site. Upfront platforms like Wix or Squarespace have this built in with the option of add-ons depending on how you need your site to function.
Pros & Cons—WordPress.org
Cost-effective compared to Squarespace, but it can get expensive with all the plug-ins
Need technical and coding knowledge/experience (learn it yourself, buy a template or hire out help)
More complex to use and set up (in the beginning—if you have no experience in building a site from scratch)
SEO friendly
Performance is dependent on plug-ins and the website theme
Scalable—this is great as your ministry grows
Frequent maintenance and updating are required
Multiple steps to set up and run a site (not for beginners)
Purchase an external WEBSITE THEME—depending on your budget, find one that fits your style—like BluChic. This will help you build out your site without having to do it from scratch.
Learn how to use hosting platforms like wordpress.org and BlueHost.
Finding Your Ministry Website Platform
As you choose your website, take the time to ensure that it truly works for you and the unique mission of your ministry. Make sure it meets not only your specific needs but also your wants and aspirations, providing a platform for your message to thrive. Most importantly, as you embark on this important decision, remember to count the costs carefully—both in terms of finances and time—so you can make a choice that aligns with the wisdom found in Luke 14:28.
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