Website Builders Without Lock-In?
Ranked by how easily you can walk away: full code export, partial escape, and the platforms where leaving means starting over..
Lock-in is the website industry's business model, so let's rank the exits honestly. Full exits: WordPress (open by architecture) and PISCES Pro (entire site as a Next.js zip). Partial: Webflow (static export, CMS stays), Squarespace (blog XML), Shopify and BigCommerce (your DATA leaves, the store does not). No exit at all: Wix, Framer, GoDaddy, Duda, Durable, Mixo, and most of the AI-builder wave. The pattern: the bigger the marketing budget, the more welded the door.
How to pressure-test any builder before committing
Ask support one question: "If I cancel, exactly what files can I download, and will they run somewhere else?" Screenshot the answer. If it involves the words "content export" (translation: a text dump, not a site) or "unfortunately", you have your answer. The graveyard is full of platforms whose users assumed they'd never need the door.
What it costs
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 AI build + publish a one-pager on a free address (with badge) |
| Launch | $29/mo | 3 pages, your own domain, 25 AI edits a month, no badge |
| Pro | $99/mo | 25 pages, blog, Stripe store, booking, full Next.js code export |
Full details on the pricing page.
See your site rebuilt by AI, free
Paste your current website's URL and PISCES rebuilds it, 10x better, in about 90 seconds. Keep it only if you love it.
Get my free rebuild →Frequently asked questions
Why do website builders lock you in?
Retention economics: churn is the enemy of subscription businesses, and rebuild-from-scratch is the strongest possible switching cost. Export-friendly platforms bet on being good instead; there are very few of them for a reason.
Is PISCES really no lock-in?
Pro plans export the full site as a working Next.js project, and your domain and Stripe account were always yours. We keep customers with a product that builds and edits sites in seconds, not with a locked door.
What is PISCES?
PISCES is the AI website builder from Marketing By Magnet: paste your current site's URL (or answer a few questions) and the AI builds your entire site in about 90 seconds. Free to build and publish a one-pager; $29/mo for your own domain; $99/mo for blog, store, booking and full code export.