Alternative - Addition to Xara Web Designer

**Boy** · 07 June 2018, 08:50 AM

Take a look here, specially made for Xara software: http://www.xt-cms.com.

I'm not sure how much development is still done on it.

**onlye** · 07 June 2018, 04:35 PM

Thanks, Boy,

I have briefly looked at xt-cms. Actually seems like a very cool extension to Xara website (when the need arises). But what I am looking for is a new web development program that will work with ecwid (already a partner and customers using)

Last night about 2:30 I finished a very rough test using WYSIWYG Web Builder 14. The site is fully responsive, and the ecwid store displays and resizes at all browser widths. And it is very affordable at $60. Reviews are very high. AND at 1am I sent a support questions - got an answer back from the developer by 2:30. Not looking forward to the learning curve of a new tool, but necessity prevails.

**behzad** · 07 June 2018, 04:54 PM

If your going to learn web builder 14 why not just learn wordpress?

**onlye** · 07 June 2018, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by behzad

If your going to learn web builder 14 why not just learn wordpress?

Well that should be an option to consider. I think I have seen some of your post regarding wordpress. Don't you use wordpress plus another tool?

**behzad** · 07 June 2018, 07:55 PM

You can use wordpress and DIVI, or Beaver builder. Ton to learn, compared to xara's simplicity.

**behzad** · 07 June 2018, 07:57 PM

Something to chew on.

https://xara.ecwid.com/

http://www.xara.com/uk/widgets/v10/e-commerce/

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/vi...a-web-designer

**onlye** · 08 June 2018, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by behzad

Something to chew on.

https://xara.ecwid.com/

http://www.xara.com/uk/widgets/v10/e-commerce/

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/vi...a-web-designer

Right. It all worked great in the day of one size Xara sites. Variants changed/broke them working together. And all my customers want their store on mobile and desktop.

**behzad** · 08 June 2018, 02:40 PM

I make one desktop/laptop/tablet size and another for mobile. It works great. Not sure what you talking about. Click on https://xara.ecwid.com/

and resize your screen to a small one, it works fine. I know you do not like chrome, but go to that link and right click and then inspect, at the top select mobile resolution. Works for me.

**Big Frank** · 13 June 2018, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by onlye

all my customers want their store on mobile and desktop.

all your customers NEED their store on mobile and desktop
what used to be a 'nice to have' option is now a requirement
google is driving the web now
like https is going to become a requirement shortly

**onlye** · 07 June 2018, 05:25 PM

An update on the search (for those that are interested). Any additional feedback or comments are still greatly appreciated.

Mobrise - can't test without spending the $60 for the <html> add-on. Development seems stupid easy. Very mixed reviews. Read several comments about your published site being loaded with links and ads for the products. It is FREE but loaded with opportunities to BUY add-ons. Hard to identify the actual cost of using it going forward.

Webflow - nice reviews. Have to use Chrome for the development - I don't want to use Chrome. Prefer not to use a hosted / subscription service. If I didn't have my current bias to Chrome and hosted/subscription, this might be a good alternative. Cost for Unlimited unhosted projects is $42/mo.

Website X5 Professional - built a working site with the demo and the ecwid shop page works fine. Not so good reviews for the product or support. It does what I need. It is no WYSIWYG. You add objects as you walk through a 5 step build process but can't see them until you preview or publish. Cost for the perpetual license is $229, and the lower end version might work for me at $79.

CoffeeCup Site Designer v3 - I really want to like this one. I have played with earlier versions and watched few videos. Doesn't look like a quick development tool. I think this could be an excellent tool but with a pretty steep learning curve. I might explore this one a bit more. Cost for the perpetual license is $189 - $349 depending on the package of tools purchased.

WYSIWYG Web Builder 14 - This might be my choice. I built a working site with the demo and the ecwid shop page works fine. The entire site is nicely responsive at all browser widths. Created the site this a blank page and then using several "blocks" instead of a full template. The program appears to be robust with substantial capabilities. The UI looks very dated, not appealing at all. There are just TOO MANY tools on the sidebar so you have to scroll to find them all. SUPPORT - I had a question at 1 am and sent an email using the contact form. I got a reply from the developer at 2:30. (did you hear that Xara and Magix? a support reply in less than 2 hours!) I had already made some setting changes that got what I wanted to work. Cost for the perpetual license is $59 and includes updates for a year. No subscription for content, some are included, and there is a market to purchased additional content from the developer and others.