Create Website Builder Review: Why I Left, Tried WordPress and Shopify — and Came Back to Create

I've been using Create for years — right back to when it was called Do Your Own Site.

I've built four successful businesses with it.

But I haven't always stayed with it.

I've tried WordPress.
I've tried Shopify.
I've tried the alternatives.

And eventually, I came back to Create.

That probably tells you quite a lot.

For me, it comes down to one word:

Simplicity.

I'm running businesses, I'm a solo parent, and I don't want my website to become another job.

I want to log in, make a change, add a page, write a blog post or update a photo — and move on.

WordPress is incredibly powerful, but I found myself dealing with more of the technical side: plugins, updates, hosting and everything else that comes with that flexibility.

Shopify is excellent if your business is primarily about selling online.

But that's not what I needed.

I wanted a professional website that I could manage myself.

And that's where Create works for me.

This is something I really value.

When something goes wrong, I don't want to spend hours searching forums or trying to work out what I've done wrong.

With Create, I've been able to contact a real person in the UK and, in my experience, get help quickly.

When you're running a business, that can make a huge difference.

Especially when you're juggling business, family and everything else that comes with real life.

And this is probably the best test of all.

When I started Next Chapter Society, I could have chosen any platform.

I'd already used WordPress.

I'd already used Shopify.

I knew what else was available.

And I chose Create again.

This website is built with Create.

The blog is built with Create.

And I manage it myself.

For me, that's a pretty strong recommendation.

Probably not.

If you're a developer wanting complete technical freedom, there are other options.

If you're running a huge ecommerce operation, Shopify may be a better fit.

But if you're starting a business, building a blog or creating a professional website and you don't want the technology to become the biggest part of your job, I'd definitely take a look at Create.

I've used it.

I've left it.

I've tried the alternatives.

And I've come back.

That says quite a lot.