Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Sites VS ExpressionEngine

Compare Google Sites VS ExpressionEngine and see what are their differences

Google Sites logo Google Sites

Access Google Sites with a free Google account (for personal use) or G Suite account (for business use).

ExpressionEngine logo ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a flexible, feature-rich content management system that empowers thousands of...
  • Google Sites Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-02-13
  • ExpressionEngine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-05

Google Sites features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Google Sites offers a simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users with no technical skills to create and manage websites.
  • Integration with Google Services
    It seamlessly integrates with other Google services like Google Drive, Google Analytics, and Google Calendar, enhancing productivity and collaboration.
  • Free to Use
    Google Sites is available for free with a Google account, making it an affordable option for individuals and small businesses.
  • Responsive Design
    Websites created with Google Sites are automatically responsive, ensuring they look good on any device, including tablets and smartphones.
  • Collaboration Features
    Multiple users can collaborate in real-time on the same site, which is particularly beneficial for teams working on shared projects.
  • Secure Hosting
    Google Sites is hosted on Google's secure servers, providing strong security and reliability without the need for additional hosting services.

Possible disadvantages of Google Sites

  • Limited Customization
    Google Sites offers fewer customization options compared to other website builders, which can be restrictive for advanced users seeking unique designs.
  • Basic Features
    While it covers essential functions, Google Sites lacks some advanced features found in other website-building platforms, such as extensive e-commerce tools or plugins.
  • Inconsistent Browser Support
    Certain features may not work consistently across all browsers, which can affect the user experience and functionality of the site.
  • Limited Template Options
    The number of available templates is limited, which might not be sufficient for users looking for specific styles or thematic flexibility.
  • SEO Limitations
    Google Sites has basic SEO capabilities, making it challenging to fully optimize sites for search engine performance compared to other platforms.
  • No Custom Domain for Free Plan
    Users on the free plan cannot use a custom domain, which can make the site appear less professional.

ExpressionEngine features and specs

  • Flexibility
    ExpressionEngine is highly flexible and can be used to create a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex web applications. It doesn't impose rigid structures, allowing developers to design content and data structures according to the project's needs.
  • Template Engine
    Its powerful template engine allows for both simple and complex designs. Designers and developers can create custom layouts and templates without having to delve deeply into backend code.
  • Security
    Known for its robust security features, ExpressionEngine prioritizes the safety of its users. It includes in-built security measures such as data encryption, secure form handling, and regular security updates.
  • Addon Ecosystem
    ExpressionEngine has a diverse addon ecosystem, enabling users to extend core functionalities easily. Many high-quality third-party plugins are available for various needs like SEO, eCommerce, and more.
  • User Management
    The platform offers advanced user management capabilities. It allows for intricate access controls and user permissions, making it ideal for membership sites and other applications requiring multiple user roles.
  • Documentation
    ExpressionEngine provides thorough and well-maintained documentation, helping developers and content managers navigate and make the most out of the platform.

Possible disadvantages of ExpressionEngine

  • Cost
    ExpressionEngine is a paid CMS. While it does offer significant advantages, the cost might be prohibitive for small businesses or individuals who are just getting started.
  • Learning Curve
    While its flexibility is a major advantage, it also means that there can be a steep learning curve for beginners. Those who are new to CMSs or coming from simpler systems may find the initial setup and customization challenging.
  • Performance
    ExpressionEngine can be resource-intensive, particularly for large, high-traffic websites. Without proper optimization and hosting, this could lead to slower load times and potential performance issues.
  • Complexity for Simple Sites
    For simpler websites, the extensive feature set of ExpressionEngine might be overkill. Users looking for a straightforward blogging platform or a basic company website may find it unnecessarily complex.
  • Limited Themes and Plugins
    Compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress, ExpressionEngine has a smaller library of pre-built themes and plugins. This may require more custom development work to achieve desired functionalities and aesthetics.
  • Community Support
    While there is a dedicated group of users, the community around ExpressionEngine is smaller compared to more widely-used CMS platforms. This could make finding community support, tutorials, and third-party resources more difficult.

Analysis of Google Sites

Overall verdict

  • Google Sites is a solid option for those in need of a straightforward and cost-effective solution for building simple websites. However, it may not be suitable for complex or highly customized projects due to its limited customization options compared to other website builders.

Why this product is good

  • Google Sites is a good choice for individuals or small businesses looking for a simple and free platform to create basic websites. It is part of the Google Workspace suite, which integrates smoothly with other Google services like Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, making it easy to incorporate these elements into your site. The platform is user-friendly, allowing users with no coding skills to create websites through its drag-and-drop interface. It also offers responsive design, automatically adjusting your site to look good on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

Recommended for

  • Individuals and small businesses who need a basic web presence
  • Educators and students for creating class projects or sharing resources
  • Teams needing internal sites for sharing information within organizations
  • Users already familiar with and using other Google Workspace applications

Google Sites videos

Google Sites Pros and Cons of this Excellent FREE Website Builder

More videos:

  • Review - Future of Google Sites (Cloud Next '19)
  • Tutorial - How to Use the New Google Sites

ExpressionEngine videos

ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #1 - Installation

More videos:

  • Tutorial - ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #18 - Embedded Templates
  • Review - ExpressionEngine 3 Interface Changes

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Sites and ExpressionEngine)
Website Builder
100 100%
0% 0
CMS
69 69%
31% 31
Blogging Platform
0 0%
100% 100
Website Design
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Sites and ExpressionEngine

Google Sites Reviews

19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
Google Sites is a free website builder that allows anyone with a Google account to create and publish a website. It offers a user-friendly interface, pre-built templates, and basic tools for creating webpages.
Source: www.pixpa.com

ExpressionEngine Reviews

11 Popular Free And Open Source WordPress CMS alternatives in 2021
It features: run multiple sites, live preview, one-click updates, with ExpressionEngine, your site content is stored in channelsโ€”flexible data containers with fields for any type of information, and more.
Source: medevel.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ExpressionEngine seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Sites mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Sites yet. Tracking of Google Sites recommendations started around Mar 2021.

ExpressionEngine mentions (2)

  • Expression Engine & HubSpot
    Does Expression Engine support integration with HubSpot? Source: almost 3 years ago
  • What technologies for these requirements?
    PHP Headless Or you go with a Headless PHP CMS. Some options for that are Bolt CMS, Suru, Twill and ExpressionEngine. A Headless CMS doesn't have any frontend. It can provide you with a REST API or you create it in their template engine and integrate your JS stuff there. There are so many, I can't count them all. You can also search for Cockpit and Strapi. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Sites and ExpressionEngine, you can also consider the following products

WiX - Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix' website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today

Drupal - Drupal - the leading open-source CMS for ambitious digital experiences that reach your audience across multiple channels. Because we all have different needs, Drupal allows you to create a unique space in a world of cookie-cutter solutions.

SquareSpace - Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs, e-commerce, domains, hosting, analytics, 24/7 support - all included.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

WordPress.com - Create a free website or build a blog with ease on WordPress.com. Dozens of free, customizable, mobile-ready designs and themes. Free hosting and support.

TYPO3 - TYPO3.com - Infos, SLAs, Extended Support Versions and more