Wondering if Showit is the right website builder for you? Choosing a platform is a big commitment, and each one comes with its own strengths and challenges. Showit stands out for its flexibility and creative freedom, but it might not fit every need. Let’s break down what ShowIt offers to help you decide if it’s the perfect match.
What Is Showit?
Showit is a website builder platform that throws out the rulebook on rigid templates and gives you total creative freedom. Move elements wherever you want, resize things on the fly, and design your site exactly the way you imagined it. No coding. No hours wasted tweaking settings that still don’t look right. Just complete control over your vision.
But there’s a trade-off. With all this freedom, you’ll need to pay closer attention to details like alignment and spacing—there’s no automatic grid to keep you on track. Still, for creatives who value flexibility over cookie-cutter design, ShowIt is worth every second of extra effort.
Originally crafted for photographers, Showit has expanded to serve anyone looking for a visually stunning site. Whether you’re a creative professional, a coach, or a small business owner, ShowIt is all about giving you the tools to create a website that stands out—without needing a developer in your corner.
A Brief History of Showit
Showit wasn’t born in a corporate boardroom or designed for mass-market appeal. It began in 2006 with a single goal: to give photographers a way to showcase their work online without needing to code. The founders recognized early on that creative professionals were being underserved by website builders that prioritized functionality over design. They wanted something different—something that put the creative process front and center.
Over the years, Showit evolved. While it started as a Flash-based tool (yes, back in the days when Flash ruled the web), it eventually shifted to an HTML5 platform. This transformation opened the door for its current level of flexibility and customization. Showit also embraced WordPress for blogging, combining its visually driven design tools with the blogging powerhouse’s capabilities.
Today, ShowIt is a favorite among photographers, designers, and service-based businesses. It’s not just a platform—it’s a community, with its annual ShowIt United conference bringing users together to learn, connect, and celebrate their creativity. It’s this blend of personal touch and professional-grade tools that has kept ShowIt growing strong.
(Source: Learn Showit).
Top 5 Reasons I Love Showit
If you’re looking for a website builder that feels like it was made for you, ShowIt might just be it. Here are the top five reasons I keep coming back to it—and why it stands out in a sea of cookie-cutter platforms.
1. Complete Flexibility
With Showit, the design possibilities are endless. Want to move your headline a smidge to the left or resize an image to fit perfectly? You can. There’s no grid forcing everything into tidy boxes, no “sorry, you can’t do that” error messages. ShowIt hands you the reins—you’re the designer. Of course, that level of freedom means you need to pay attention to things like alignment and spacing, but for creatives who love the details, it’s a dream come true.
2. Responsive Mobile Design
Here’s a secret: mobile design isn’t just “shrinking” your desktop site. ShowIt gets this, which is why it lets you create a completely separate mobile layout. You’re not stuck with awkward, auto-generated mobile pages that look half-baked. You have the power to tailor every detail for the mobile experience, which is crucial since most of your visitors are likely checking out your site on their phones.
3. Built-In Hosting
No need to juggle a hosting provider and a website builder—ShowIt handles it all in one place. I’ve used platforms like WordPress, where you’re on your own for hosting, and trust me, it’s a headache. Slow load times? Downtime? Good luck troubleshooting. With ShowIt, hosting is included and reliable. And if something goes wrong (which is rare), their support team is ready to help.
4. Template Marketplace
Not everyone wants to start from scratch, and that’s okay. ShowIt’s template marketplace is filled with gorgeous, professionally designed options. Whether you need a quick launch or just some inspiration, there’s something for everyone. And the best part? Every template is fully customizable, so you can make it entirely your own without needing to stick to someone else’s vision.
5. Support That Feels Human
Let’s be real—customer support can make or break a platform. With ShowIt, you’re not dealing with cold, unhelpful bots or massive call centers. Their team is personable, friendly, and actually cares about helping you succeed. Sure, their hours cater to U.S. time zones, which can be a challenge for international users, but when you do get through, the experience is top-notch. Plus, the active ShowIt community is there to lend a hand if you need advice or tips.
These five reasons are why I recommend ShowIt time and again. It’s not perfect (what is?), but for anyone who values creativity, control, and genuine support, it’s hard to beat.
Showit vs. Other Website Builders: What Are They Best Known For?
Every website builder has its niche, excelling in certain areas while falling short in others. Here’s a quick rundown of what the big players are best known for—and how they compare to Showit.
1. Squarespace: Best for All-in-One Simplicity
Squarespace is like the “plug-and-play” option of website builders. It’s great for beginners who want to set up a professional-looking site quickly without worrying about hosting, plugins, or design flexibility. Its templates are clean and modern, but customization is limited—you’re working within a preset structure. While ShowIt gives you the freedom to move anything, anywhere, Squarespace keeps you within its carefully designed (and sometimes restrictive) lines.
2. Wix: Best for DIY Beginners
Wix is a crowd favorite for its ease of use and drag-and-drop interface. It’s ideal for small, simple websites and has a decent mix of templates and apps for added functionality. However, its flexibility can sometimes feel overwhelming, and the design options lack the polish that ShowIt offers. ShowIt’s editor feels more refined and tailored to creatives who care about aesthetics.
3. WordPress: Best for Blogging and Scalability
WordPress is the king of blogging and long-term scalability. It powers nearly half the internet, making it unbeatable for its customizability and functionality—if you know how to code or don’t mind navigating a steep learning curve. ShowIt integrates WordPress for blogging but handles the design part with much less technical hassle, making it a fantastic hybrid for those who want the best of both worlds.
4. Shopify: Best for E-Commerce
If selling products online is your main goal, Shopify is the go-to platform. It’s built for e-commerce, offering robust tools like inventory management, payment integration, and customizable storefronts. While you can add small e-commerce features to ShowIt, it’s not designed for large online stores. Shopify wins for e-commerce; ShowIt shines for creative and service-based businesses.
5. Weebly: Best for Small Business Websites on a Budget
Weebly offers a basic, no-frills experience perfect for small businesses with tight budgets. It’s affordable and straightforward but lacks the design freedom or modern feel of platforms like ShowIt or Squarespace. If you’re aiming for a standout, visually driven website, Weebly might feel too limiting.
How to use Showit?
One of the best things about ShowIt is its flexibility—whether you’re a DIY pro, love working with templates, or prefer hiring someone to take the reins, there’s an option for everyone. Here’s a breakdown of your choices for getting started with your ShowIt website.
1. DIY Your Website
Showit is so intuitive that you can absolutely build your website from scratch. With its drag-and-drop editor and user-friendly interface, even beginners can create a polished, professional site. Plus, ShowIt offers a range of free templates to get you started.
Looking for a freebie with a bit more flair? Here at Meteor Street we’ve created a free Showit template you can use—perfect for launching a stunning website without spending a dime. Check out out Free Showit Template Here.
2. Buy a Template
While free templates are great, they’re often limited. If you want something truly unique, investing in a paid template is the way to go. The ShowIt marketplace and independent designers offer heaps of gorgeous options, perfect for creatives and service-based businesses.
Some popular places to buy templates include:
- Tonic Site Shop: Known for its chic, high-end designs. Use my special discount code METEORSTREET to save 15% off your new Tonic website template.
- Northfolk & Co.: Modern, stylish templates for creatives.
Once you’ve chosen your template, you can tweak it to fit your branding, like fonts, colors, and imagery. Don’t have your branding nailed down yet? Consider hiring a brand designer (We can help with this too!).
3. Customize a Template with a Pro
Sometimes, you don’t have the time (or energy) to customize your template, and that’s okay! You can hire a designer to do it for you. Template customization is a popular service that takes your purchased template and transforms it into a fully personalized website tailored to your brand.
Hannah at Meteor Street offers template customization services, making the process seamless.
If you’d like to explore other options, check out the Showit Creative Designer Directory, where you can find talented Showit designers ready to help you create the perfect website.
4. Pay Someone to Build Your Website
For those who prefer to leave the heavy lifting to the pros, you can hire a designer to build your Showit website from scratch. This option is ideal if you’re starting fresh and want a completely bespoke website that fits your vision.
Test Showit for Free For a Month
Still not sure if ShowIt is the right fit? Good news—you can try it free for a month and see for yourself! Build, design, and experiment with all the tools and features to create your dream website—no commitment required.
Ready to get started? Use this link to access your free trial and see what’s possible with ShowIt.
Conclusion
Building a website doesn’t have to be complicated, and ShowIt proves it. Whether you’re tackling it yourself, using a template, or hiring a pro, the platform gives you the freedom to create something truly unique. It’s perfect for creatives who want their site to reflect their personality without the usual website-building headaches. Ready to see what’s possible? ShowIt makes it easy to bring your vision to life.
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