What are some alternatives to WordPress for developing mobile-friendly, responsive websites?

Gym Chat responsive, mobile friendly wbesite — Gym Chat, built on UltimateWB website builder.

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Question: I have a WordPress website right now, but it is too much working keeping it online and working – it keeps getting hacked or broken after core updates. What are some alternatives to WordPress for developing mobile-friendly and responsive websites? I need to make sure my website looks good on everyone’s smartphones and tablets.

Short Answer: If you’re looking for a WordPress alternative for building a mobile-friendly, responsive website, UltimateWB is a downloadable website builder with built-in responsive functionality, built-in website features, and the freedom to choose your own hosting. Unlike SaaS website builders, you can move your UltimateWB website to another server without having to recreate it from scratch.

While WordPress is widely used, it isn’t the right fit for everyone – especially if maintaining plugins, running core updates, fixing broken layouts and conflicts, and keeping your website secure has become a constant headache.

When considering a WordPress alternative, you want to make sure you don’t give up the features, flexibility, and control you have now.

A Downloadable Alternative to WordPress

A great thing about WordPress is that it is downloadable, so you can use it on a server of your choice. Fortunately, WordPress is not the only website builder that gives you that freedom.

You don’t even have to stick with the open-source route that would mean juggling plugins, fixing broken websites after core updates, or dealing with a hacked website because of plugin vulnerabilities – the same situation you’re in right now. UltimateWB gives you a streamlined alternative.

Hosting Choice and Control

Based on that, I would say you wouldn’t want to go with any of the SaaS options, like Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, or Shopify.

On those, as they are hosted website builders, you cannot simply take your website files and database and move your website to another server. If you stop paying the fee and want to switch web hosting, that means having to create your website all over, from scratch. Webflow has a small advantage over the others here in that you can export a static website if you’d like – but that means no contact form or any other dynamic features.

Unlike proprietary SaaS website builders, UltimateWB is downloadable software. You can access, download, and backup your website files and database.

You can choose to host with UltimateWB, or host your website on any hosting you choose that satisfies the server requirements. No being locked into the website builder’s hosting environment. You can switch servers anytime.

If your hosting provider is too slow, has too much downtime, doesn’t provide enough server resources, or raises its prices, you can move your UltimateWB website to another server.

Built-In Mobile Responsiveness

You are right to want a mobile-friendly, responsive website. People check websites on their phones all the time. UltimateWB has a built-in Responsive app to help you easily get the mobile-friendly, responsive website you want for your visitors.

The Responsive app lets you create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes. You can control how your website displays on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices without having to install a separate responsive plugin.

Because the responsive functionality is built into UltimateWB, you don’t need a separate responsive plugin to install, update, or troubleshoot.

Built-In Features Without a Collection of Plugins

Another advantage of UltimateWB is that many of the features you would otherwise need plugins for are built directly into the website builder, including e-commerce, user management, community tools, directories, classifieds, photo galleries, slideshows, forums, SEO tools, and more.

On the other hand, with WordPress, comparable functionality often means installing and maintaining multiple plugins. With UltimateWB, those features are integrated into the platform, so there are fewer separate components to manage and fewer plugin compatibility issues to deal with.

Keep WordPress for Your Blog if You Want

And guess what? If you enjoy using WordPress as your website’s blog section, you don’t have to give that up with UltimateWB.

UltimateWB comes with an integrated WordPress blog option, allowing you to use WordPress for your blog while keeping the rest of your website on UltimateWB.

It also includes built-in tools for SEO, image optimization, and automatic image conversions to WebP.

That means you can keep the WordPress blogging experience without having to add separate plugins for these functions. Most customers, like me or even our own UltimateWB website blog, don’t install any plugins on the UltimateWB integrated WordPress blog – it’s just not needed.

For website owners who like WordPress’s blogging experience but don’t like the ongoing plugin maintenance, this provides a useful middle ground: keep WordPress where you want it, without making your entire website dependent on the WordPress plugin ecosystem.

(Alternatively, if you want to get rid of WordPress altogether, you can use the UltimateWB built-in Articles app instead. That is actually what the UltimateWB website uses for the User Manual and Knowledgebase sections)

Security and Easier Maintenance

Keeping a WordPress website secure requires keeping the WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated. Third-party plugins also introduce additional code into the website, and vulnerabilities in plugins can become a security problem.

With UltimateWB, the website builder and its integrated functionality are maintained as one platform. You don’t have to constantly check whether a plugin update is compatible with your theme, another plugin, or the latest version of the WordPress core.

This makes website maintenance much more straightforward.

Real-World Example: Gym Chat

A real-world example is the sports network Gym Chat, built on UltimateWB. The mobile-friendly, responsive website uses many of the UltimateWB built-in social networking apps – photo sharing, video sharing, music sharing, forums, members, profiles, private messaging, listings directory, classifieds, articles, events calendar – and the everyday business apps like a mailing list and contact form.

This interactive website is user-friendly across desktop, tablet, and smartphone devices.

A mobile responsive website not only does not require WordPress – you can enjoy lower maintenance needs with UltimateWB and concentrate on your business and website content itself.

Ready to design and build your website without the plugin headaches? Learn more about UltimateWB! We also offer web design packages if you would like your website designed and built for you.

Got a techy/website question? Whether it’s about UltimateWB or another website builder, web hosting, or other aspects of websites, just send in your question in the “Ask David!” form. We will email you when the answer is posted on the UltimateWB “Ask David!” section.

Meet David from the UltimateWB Team

David is a full-stack web developer with over 20 years of experience in programming, design, and server administration (WHM/cPanel), specializing in building high-performance, secure web solutions that prioritize user autonomy. Have a technical hurdle? Ask David!