Having a professional website is essential for businesses and individuals alike. While DoodleKit has served many users since its 2006 launch, the platform’s aging interface and limited feature set have led many to seek more modern alternatives. This comprehensive guide explores the best DoodleKit alternatives that offer superior design options, functionality, and value for your website building needs.
What Makes DoodleKit Outdated in Today’s Market
DoodleKit, once a pioneer in the website building space, now struggles to compete with newer, more feature-rich platforms. With its $10 monthly entry point for premium features, DoodleKit offers a template library, SEO tools, and basic e-commerce capabilities. However, its outdated interface lacks the intuitive drag-and-drop functionality that modern users expect. The platform’s template designs appear notably dated compared to contemporary alternatives, and its form-based editor feels clunky against the streamlined experience offered by competitors.
While DoodleKit provides essential features like blogging capabilities, photo galleries, and custom email forwarding, users frequently report frustration with its limited customization options and lack of recent updates. The platform’s e-commerce solution is particularly restrictive, requiring customers to complete transactions through external payment processors like PayPal. For businesses seeking a robust online presence, these limitations present significant obstacles to creating a professional, high-performing website that can effectively compete in today’s digital marketplace.
Current pricing for DoodleKit ranges from a free plan to their Advanced plan at $40-49 monthly, yet the feature set remains remarkably basic compared to modern alternatives. The platform lacks mobile-first design principles that are now considered standard in the industry. Additionally, the absence of advanced analytics, limited SEO capabilities, and outdated security protocols make DoodleKit unsuitable for businesses serious about their online presence.
Wix as Your Complete Website Solution
Wix consistently ranks among the top website builders globally, offering unparalleled versatility and creative freedom. Unlike DoodleKit’s outdated templates, Wix provides over 800 professionally designed, fully responsive templates across numerous industries. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor allows precise placement of elements anywhere on your page—a stark contrast to DoodleKit’s restrictive form-based editing system. The platform’s artificial intelligence capabilities through Wix ADI can create personalized websites automatically, significantly reducing setup time.
Wix’s App Market extends functionality far beyond what DoodleKit offers, with hundreds of applications for everything from advanced booking systems to social media integration. Its SEO tools are comprehensive, providing detailed guidance for optimizing every aspect of your site. For e-commerce, Wix delivers a complete solution with inventory management, multiple payment gateways, and abandoned cart recovery—features entirely absent from DoodleKit’s limited shopping cart. The platform’s mobile optimization ensures websites perform flawlessly across all devices, addressing a critical weakness in DoodleKit’s offerings.
Advanced Features for Growing Businesses
Wix provides several advanced capabilities that position it well ahead of DoodleKit:
- Professional design flexibility with pixel-perfect control over layout elements
- Comprehensive analytics dashboard tracking visitor behavior and conversion metrics
- Advanced SEO suite including structured data markup and site speed optimization
- Marketing automation tools for email campaigns and social media management
- Multi-language support enabling global business expansion
Pricing starts with a free plan for testing, while premium plans range from $16 to $45 monthly, offering exceptional value compared to DoodleKit’s similarly priced but feature-limited options. With automatic mobile optimization and robust security features, Wix represents a significant upgrade for users seeking a modern, powerful website building experience that can scale with their needs.
Why Perspective Delivers Mobile-First Excellence
Smart marketers know that mobile traffic now dominates web usage, making mobile-first design essential for conversion success. Perspective stands out as a revolutionary funnel builder that addresses this critical need by delivering lightning-fast, interactive experiences specifically designed for mobile users. Unlike traditional website builders that adapt desktop designs for mobile, Perspective is built mobile-first from the ground up, ensuring optimal performance on the devices where most of your audience actually engages. This approach delivers significantly faster loading speeds, more intuitive navigation, and higher conversion rates compared to platforms like DoodleKit, Wix, or even Squarespace.
The platform combines modern design templates with interactive tools and built-in CRM functionality, creating a comprehensive solution for creators, agencies, and businesses targeting mobile audiences. Perspective’s personalization capabilities allow dynamic content adaptation based on user behavior, while its integrated analytics provide actionable insights for optimization. For businesses seeking to bridge the gap between the simplicity of DoodleKit and the complexity of WordPress, Perspective offers the perfect balance—delivering professional-grade features without the technical overhead that often overwhelms small business owners. Its mobile-first architecture consistently outperforms desktop-adapted competitors in conversion testing, making it particularly valuable for lead generation and sales funnels.
Shopify for Serious E-Commerce Operations
For businesses primarily focused on selling products online, Shopify offers a specialized alternative that dramatically outperforms DoodleKit’s basic e-commerce capabilities. While DoodleKit’s shopping cart redirects customers to external payment processors, Shopify provides a seamless checkout experience with over 100 integrated payment gateways, including its proprietary Shopify Payments with reduced transaction fees. The platform’s conversion-optimized checkout process significantly increases sales completion rates compared to DoodleKit’s external redirect system. Shopify’s mobile responsiveness ensures optimal shopping experiences across all devices, addressing the growing mobile commerce trend.
Shopify’s inventory management system enables businesses to track products across multiple locations, set low-stock alerts, and automatically manage inventory—features entirely absent from DoodleKit. The platform’s abandoned cart recovery, professional reporting tools, and integrated shipping with real-time carrier rates help businesses optimize their operations and increase sales conversion rates. Advanced features include multi-currency support, international tax calculation, and comprehensive fraud protection. The Shopify App Store offers over 6,000 extensions, enabling customization far beyond DoodleKit’s limited capabilities.
Integration Capabilities and Scalability
Shopify excels in areas where DoodleKit falls short:
- Multi-channel selling across social platforms, marketplaces, and physical locations
- Advanced inventory management with real-time synchronization across channels
- Professional reporting suite providing detailed sales analytics and customer insights
- Scalable infrastructure supporting growth from startup to enterprise level
- Developer-friendly APIs enabling custom integrations and functionality
With plans starting at $29 monthly, Shopify represents a higher initial investment than DoodleKit’s $24 Business plan. However, the comprehensive e-commerce functionality, extensive app ecosystem, and purpose-built marketing tools deliver substantially greater value for serious online retailers. For businesses generating significant revenue through online sales, Shopify’s specialized features and scalability make it the clear choice over DoodleKit’s limited shopping capabilities.
WordPress for Ultimate Customization
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites globally, making it the most widely used content management system. Unlike DoodleKit’s limited template selection, WordPress offers thousands of free and premium themes with modern designs and responsive layouts. Through WordPress.org (self-hosted), users gain complete control over their website’s code, design, and functionality—a level of customization impossible with DoodleKit. This flexibility enables the creation of unique digital experiences tailored to specific business requirements.
The platform’s ecosystem includes over 59,000 plugins that extend functionality in virtually unlimited ways. Whether businesses need advanced SEO tools, membership capabilities, or complex e-commerce features, WordPress plugins can deliver solutions tailored to specific requirements. For content-heavy websites, WordPress provides superior blogging capabilities with comprehensive content management tools and robust media handling. The platform supports multiple user roles, content scheduling, and advanced SEO optimization through plugins like Yoast or RankMath.
While WordPress.org requires separate hosting (typically $3-25 monthly) and more technical knowledge, WordPress.com offers a managed alternative with plans starting at $7 monthly. Both options provide superior blogging capabilities compared to DoodleKit, with comprehensive content management tools and robust media handling. For users willing to invest time in learning the platform or hiring developers, WordPress delivers unmatched customization potential and scalability for growing businesses. The platform’s SEO advantages, security options, and performance optimization capabilities significantly outperform DoodleKit’s basic offerings.
Squarespace for Design-Conscious Professionals
Squarespace has established itself as the premier platform for visually stunning websites with minimal effort. While DoodleKit templates appear outdated, Squarespace offers a curated selection of modern, professionally designed templates with striking aesthetics and responsive behavior across all devices. The platform’s visual editor, though less freeform than Wix, provides a more streamlined and intuitive experience than DoodleKit’s form-based approach. Each template is crafted by professional designers and optimized for various industries, ensuring a polished appearance regardless of technical skill level.
For creative professionals, Squarespace delivers specialized features absent from DoodleKit, including portfolio presentation tools, video backgrounds, and advanced image manipulation capabilities. Its integrated blogging platform supports multiple contributors, categories, and scheduling—ideal for content marketing strategies. Squarespace’s native e-commerce functionality includes inventory management, tax calculation, and abandoned cart recovery without requiring third-party extensions. The platform’s built-in analytics provide detailed insights into visitor behavior and site performance.
Advanced Features for Creative Businesses
Squarespace provides sophisticated tools specifically designed for creative industries:
- Portfolio presentation with fullscreen galleries and customizable layouts
- Built-in appointment scheduling for service-based businesses and consultations
- Advanced typography controls with premium font collections and custom CSS
- Video integration supporting background videos and embedded media players
- Social media integration with automatic content syndication across platforms
With plans ranging from $16 to $49 monthly, Squarespace positions itself as a premium alternative to DoodleKit. However, the platform’s superior design capabilities, comprehensive marketing tools, and professional-grade analytics justify the investment for businesses where visual presentation is paramount. For restaurants, photographers, designers, and other image-focused businesses, Squarespace represents a substantial upgrade from DoodleKit’s limited design options.
Webflow for Professional Design Control
Webflow occupies a unique position between traditional website builders and custom development, offering unprecedented design control without requiring coding knowledge. Unlike DoodleKit’s restrictive templates, Webflow provides a visual canvas where users can create completely custom designs with pixel-perfect precision. The platform’s “Designer” interface resembles professional tools like Adobe Photoshop while generating clean, efficient code behind the scenes. This approach enables the creation of websites that rival custom-developed solutions at a fraction of the cost.
For designers and agencies, Webflow offers capabilities entirely unavailable in DoodleKit, including complex animations, interactions, and custom CSS transformations. Its CMS capabilities surpass DoodleKit’s basic blogging features, allowing the creation of dynamic content types, advanced filtering, and custom relationships between content elements. These features enable the development of sophisticated content ecosystems impossible to achieve with traditional website builders. Webflow’s hosting infrastructure provides enterprise-grade performance and security.
Webflow’s pricing structure includes both site plans (starting at $14 monthly) and account plans for professionals working on multiple projects. While the learning curve is steeper than DoodleKit’s, Webflow University provides comprehensive free training resources. For businesses seeking a website that stands out with unique design and functionality without custom coding, Webflow represents an investment in professional-grade capabilities that DoodleKit simply cannot match. The platform’s export functionality allows developers to take their code elsewhere if needed, avoiding vendor lock-in.
GoDaddy Website Builder for Quick Deployment
GoDaddy Website Builder prioritizes simplicity and rapid deployment, making it ideal for small businesses needing a professional online presence without complexity. Unlike DoodleKit’s aging interface, GoDaddy offers a modern, streamlined editor with industry-specific templates and content suggestions based on your business type. Users can launch a complete website in significantly less time than with DoodleKit’s more cumbersome system. The platform’s guided setup process walks users through essential configuration steps.
The platform’s ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) functionality automatically creates website designs based on your business information and preferences—a feature entirely absent from DoodleKit. For local businesses, GoDaddy’s integrated marketing tools include Google My Business management, social media posting, and email marketing capabilities in higher-tier plans. The platform also provides built-in appointment booking and basic e-commerce functionality. GoDaddy’s domain and hosting integration simplifies the technical aspects of website management.
Starting at $9.99 monthly, GoDaddy Website Builder offers competitive pricing compared to DoodleKit while providing superior ease of use and modern design options. While it offers less design flexibility than platforms like Wix or Squarespace, its focus on essential business features and intuitive interface makes it an excellent choice for time-constrained entrepreneurs seeking a professional website without a steep learning curve. The platform’s AI-powered features and industry-specific templates provide a significant advantage over DoodleKit’s generic approach.
BigCommerce for Enterprise E-Commerce
BigCommerce represents a significant upgrade for businesses outgrowing DoodleKit’s limited e-commerce capabilities. The platform supports both B2C and B2B selling with features designed for complex retail operations, including multi-currency support, tax calculation, and international shipping options. Unlike DoodleKit’s basic shopping cart, BigCommerce provides enterprise-grade features without transaction fees beyond payment processing. The platform’s scalable architecture supports businesses from startup to enterprise level without requiring platform migration.
The platform’s standout advantage is its scalability—businesses can start small and grow to handle thousands of products and millions in revenue without migrating platforms. Its multi-channel selling capabilities allow integration with marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social platforms including Instagram and Facebook. For businesses selling through multiple channels, this centralized inventory and order management represents a substantial operational advantage. BigCommerce’s API-first architecture enables custom integrations and third-party app connections.
Pricing and Advanced Features
BigCommerce offers comprehensive e-commerce solutions with advanced capabilities:
- Multi-channel selling across online marketplaces and social media platforms
- Advanced reporting with real-time analytics and customizable dashboards
- B2B functionality including customer groups, quote management, and bulk pricing
- International capabilities supporting multiple currencies and tax jurisdictions
- Headless commerce options for advanced developers and custom implementations
With plans starting at $29.95 monthly, BigCommerce requires a larger investment than DoodleKit’s Business plan. However, for serious e-commerce operations, the platform’s conversion-optimized checkout, abandoned cart saver, and professional reporting tools deliver significantly higher return on investment. BigCommerce’s enterprise-grade security, 99.99% uptime guarantee, and 24/7 live support further justify the premium for businesses where online sales are mission-critical.
Bookmark’s AI-Powered Website Creation
Bookmark represents the future of website building with its AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Design Assistant) technology, which creates personalized websites based on your business information and preferences. Unlike DoodleKit’s manual template selection and configuration, Bookmark can generate a complete website design in minutes, learning from your feedback to refine the result. This AI-driven approach dramatically reduces the time required to launch a professional website. The platform’s machine learning algorithms analyze successful websites to create optimized layouts and content structures.
The platform’s e-commerce capabilities surpass DoodleKit’s basic shopping cart, offering inventory management, shipping calculation, and multiple payment gateways within a user-friendly interface. Bookmark’s responsive designs automatically optimize for all screen sizes, eliminating the mobile compatibility concerns that can affect DoodleKit sites. For businesses targeting mobile users, this automatic optimization represents a significant advantage. The AI system continuously learns from user interactions to improve design recommendations.
Pricing starts with a free plan for basic websites, while premium plans range from $11.99 to $39.99 monthly—comparable to DoodleKit but offering more modern technology and features. For small business owners with limited time or technical skills, Bookmark’s AI-powered creation process provides a faster path to a professional online presence. The platform’s simplified editing interface and guided setup make it particularly suitable for first-time website creators seeking modern designs without a steep learning curve. Bookmark’s AI recommendations help optimize content for better search engine visibility and user engagement.
Which Platform Fits Your Business Goals
As we’ve explored, numerous platforms offer significant advantages over DoodleKit’s aging system. Your ideal alternative depends on your specific requirements, technical capabilities, and growth objectives. For maximum creative control and versatility, Wix provides an unmatched combination of ease-of-use and powerful features. Businesses focused primarily on selling products should consider Shopify or BigCommerce, depending on their scale and complexity. Design-conscious professionals will find Squarespace’s premium templates and visual focus align with their brand positioning.
WordPress remains the gold standard for content-heavy websites and those requiring extensive customization. Webflow offers professional-grade design capabilities for those seeking a truly unique website. For simplicity and rapid deployment, GoDaddy Website Builder provides a streamlined experience with essential business features. Bookmark’s AI-powered approach represents an innovative solution for time-constrained entrepreneurs. Each platform addresses different business needs while significantly outperforming DoodleKit’s limited capabilities.
By carefully assessing your specific needs, technical capabilities, and growth plans, you can select a DoodleKit alternative that not only meets your current requirements but provides the scalability and modern features necessary for long-term digital success. The investment in a more capable platform will ultimately deliver greater value through improved user experience, better search engine performance, and enhanced business functionality. Modern website builders offer mobile-first design, advanced analytics, and comprehensive marketing tools that position your business for success in today’s competitive digital landscape.
For mobile-driven marketers who prioritize speed, personalization, and performance, Perspective emerges as a particularly smart choice, combining the simplicity of traditional builders with cutting-edge mobile-first technology that drives real results. Its focus on conversion optimization and user experience makes it especially valuable for businesses serious about maximizing their online impact.
