WordPress vs Wix: Which Platform is Best and Why?

Choosing the right website builder is crucial for establishing an online presence. WordPress and Wix stand out as two of the most prominent website builders in the industry.

The “WordPress vs Wix” debate is common among website developers. Both platforms have their unique features, benefits, and drawbacks. This blog post dives into the core aspects of WordPress and Wix, guiding you toward the platform that best suits your website-building needs.

The main points discussed in this article:

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. It was introduced in 2003 as a blogging platform and has since transformed into a robust CMS that supports various websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. WordPress is free, versatile, abundantly resourced, consistently updated with the latest security features, and boasts the largest community among all CMS platforms. You can learn more about WordPress here→.

• Flexibility and Customization: WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility with thousands of themes and plugins. You can customize almost every aspect of your site.
• SEO-Friendly: WordPress is built with SEO in mind, providing numerous tools and plugins to help improve your site’s search engine rankings.
• Large Community: With millions of users worldwide, WordPress boasts a vast community that contributes to its continuous development and offers extensive support resources.
• E-commerce Integration: WordPress integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce plugin, making it an ideal choice for online stores.

Wix is a cloud-based website builder founded in 2006. It provides an all-in-one solution (including hosting, security, and updates) for creating websites without any coding knowledge. With its drag-and-drop interface, Wix makes website building accessible to everyone, from beginners to small business owners.

• Ease of Use: Wix’s drag-and-drop builder makes it incredibly user-friendly, even for beginners.
• Templates: Wix offers a wide range of professionally designed templates that can be customized to fit your needs.
• App Market: Wix’s App Market provides various add-ons and extensions to enhance the functionality of your site.
• Integrated Hosting: Wix includes hosting as part of its service, simplifying the process of getting your site online.

WordPress offers a user-friendly interface for creating content like posts and pages. Plus, its flexibility and scalability make it a powerful platform for long-term projects. However, the initial setup requires choosing a web hosting provider and installing WordPress software. This can have a steeper learning curve compared to Wix’s one-stop-shop approach. Here’s a basic outline to get started:

Unlike Wix, WordPress requires you to choose a hosting provider. Popular options include Bluehost and Hostinger. These providers often offer one-click WordPress installations.

We’ll start with Hostinger. After signing up, select Websites in hpanel and click Add website. Choose WordPress from the given options.

You will be presented with straightforward steps such as choosing the site’s language, assigning the site’s password, choosing the website type, and connecting the domain. WordPress will be installed automatically as this provider uses Auto installer for WordPress. After installation, you can log in to your WordPress dashboard by going to “yourdomain/wp-admin”. Use the admin credentials you created during the installation process.

The WordPress dashboard is easier to navigate and offers a more flexible experience compared to Wix. It may seem daunting initially, but its power and customization options make it a favorite among developers and advanced users.

In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Themes to find and apply free themes. You can customize the theme by selecting Appearance > Customize.

WordPress uses Gutenberg editor for posts/pages by default. Gutenberg is an easy-to-use, beginner-friendly, and fast editor for editing posts or pages. You can edit a page by selecting Pages > All Pages and select Edit on the page you wish to edit.

WordPress isn’t as straightforward as Wix, but it’s still pretty easy for someone without coding knowledge to make a good-looking, functional website. The setup process for WordPress might take longer compared to Wix, however, it is a simple process. As the saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.”

Wix is known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. You can easily add elements, rearrange them, and see real-time changes. It’s perfect for beginners who want to create a website without touching any code. Here’s how to get started with Wix:

After signing up on Wix, you will have an option to create a new site.

Tell Wix about your site type. We will use the “Motivational Blog” category for this blog.

After selecting the website type, you will be redirected to the Wix dashboard. They will ask you to give the website a name, goals for the site, and apps to install on the website. You will see steps to complete site creation. We will skip them and start designing by clicking on Design Site.

Note: If you’re on a free plan, your site will have a Wix-branded subdomain. You can get a 1-year free domain by subscribing to any of Wix’s premium plans or connect a custom domain that you own.

After selecting Design Site, Wix will ask you to generate a design by Ai or pick a template. Click on Pick template and you will be presented with many beautiful templates. Browse through the template library and choose one that suits your needs.

After selecting the template, Wix will take you to its editor. Wix editor is user-friendly and easy to use for even beginners. Forget wrestling with code! Wix’s website editor is like child’s play. Just drag and drop text, images, and all sorts of cool stuff to build your dream site. They’ve got a ton of pre-designed elements to get you started, so you don’t need to be a design pro. Plus, you can customize everything to match your style, from the fonts to the colors. Wix makes creating a website about as fun as well playing with building blocks!

However, Wix’s customization options are somewhat limited. The structured nature of its templates means that users may find it challenging to make extensive modifications beyond what is provided.

After editing the complete site, click on publish. Your website is live now. It was so easy to go live with Wix.

Winner: Wix for its beginner-friendly interface.

When analyzing the cost and pricing structures of WordPress and Wix, it becomes evident that each platform offers a distinct approach. While WordPress provides more flexibility in terms of cost allocation and customization, Wix offers a more straightforward and inclusive approach to pricing.

WordPress itself is free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you choose to use. If you want to launch a free WordPress website, consider reading this→. While this can make WordPress more expensive than Wix in some cases, it also offers more flexibility in selecting the services that best fit your needs. WordPress additional costs to consider:

• Domain Name: Typically $10-15 per year (registers your website’s unique address).
• Web Hosting: $3-10 per month (stores your website’s files and makes it accessible online).
• Themes: Free or premium themes (range from $0 to $100+) – control the design and layout of your website.
• Plugins: Free or premium plugins (add functionalities like contact forms, SEO tools, etc.) – extend your website’s capabilities.

Wix provides users with a range of straightforward pricing plans that include hosting, domain, and support in a single package. This all-inclusive model is particularly appealing to those seeking a simple, hassle-free setup. Wix’s pricing tiers range from free with limited features to premium plans that can cost up to $159 per month, depending on the features and functionalities required by the user.

Tip: If you buy a plan after signing into Wix, you may get a special discount.

Wix pricing plans:

• Light: It starts at $17/month. In this, 2 people can work as a team on site. You will also get a 1-year free domain from Wix with 2 GB of storage space for the site.
• Core: Starts at $29/month. 5 people can work as a team. Free domain for 1 year is included with 50 GB storage. You will get basic site analytics and a basic e-commerce functionality that can accept online payments.
• Business: Starting at $36/month. 10 people can work on site. Free domain for the first year and 100 GB storage for the site. Standard site analytics and standard e-commerce functionality are included in this plan.
• Business Elite: Starting at $159 per month. 15 people can have access to your site. You can upload as much content as you want as this plan provides unlimited storage space for the site. Advanced site analytics and advanced e-commerce functionality are provided.

Winner: WordPress, as it offers better value with lower costs than Wix’s basic plan when using the right web host.

In website building, WordPress and Wix both offer tools to enhance your site. Wix has user-friendly apps for easy integration but with a limited range. WordPress offers a vast library of plugins for near-endless customization but requires more technical know-how.

One of the most compelling advantages of WordPress is its vast library of plugins, boasting over 59,000 options at your fingertips. This incredible selection empowers you to craft a website that perfectly aligns with your vision, regardless of its purpose. The possibilities are virtually limitless, encompassing functionalities like contact forms, social media integration, security enhancements, analytics tools, SEO tools, eCommerce functionalities and so much more.

This open-source nature fosters a thriving developer community constantly creating innovative solutions to address every conceivable website need. What’s even better? A significant portion of these plugins are completely free to use, making WordPress an incredibly cost-effective platform.

Wix offers an App Market with over 800 apps. While these apps can enhance a website’s functionality, the range is limited compared to WordPress. This limited range can restrict your ability to achieve the specific functionalities you desire for your website. However, installing and using these apps is designed to be straightforward, requiring minimal technical knowledge. Additionally, while some Wix apps are free, many come at a premium price, unlike the abundance of free and freemium options available in the WordPress plugin world.

Wix prioritizes a controlled environment. All apps available on the market are first reviewed and approved by Wix for security, functionality, and guaranteed compatibility with the platform. This ensures a smooth user experience but may hinder your ability to achieve specific functionalities for your website, especially niche ones. Overall, the Wix App Market prioritizes ease of use and a smooth experience, but with a sacrifice in terms of choice and potentially higher costs.

Winner: WordPress because its extensive plugin library offers unparalleled customization, allowing you to achieve any desired functionality.

In today’s digital world, ranking high in search engine results is crucial for attracting organic traffic. So, when choosing a website builder, SEO capabilities become a major consideration. Let’s compare WordPress and Wix to see how they stack up against each other:

WordPress remains the leader in SEO capabilities due to its extensive range of plugins and tools. WordPress offers a robust ecosystem of SEO plugins, with Yoast SEO and Rank Math being some of the most popular options. Discover which plugin suits your needs best – Yoast SEO or Rank Math. These plugins provide advanced functionalities such as keyword optimization, XML sitemaps, and content analysis, which can significantly enhance a site’s search engine ranking.

These plugins empower users to fine-tune their websites for better visibility on search engines by providing comprehensive features such as keyword optimization, readability analysis, and XML sitemap creation. Moreover, WordPress allows for extensive customization of meta tags, URL structures, and alt attributes for images, which are critical components of effective SEO.

Wix has significantly improved its SEO features in the last few years but still lags behind WordPress. While you can perform basic SEO tasks on Wix, it doesn’t offer the same level of control and customization that WordPress does. Wix users benefit from built-in SEO tools that guide them through basic optimization steps, such as setting page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for images.

Some features, like setting focus keywords for posts/pages or connecting Google Analytics to the site, can be free in WordPress, while you have to pay for these features in Wix. Also, WordPress websites don’t show forced ads, in contrast to Wix, which displays ads on free sites. These ads can harm user experience and SEO.

Winner: WordPress for its superior SEO tools, free features, and flexibility.

Deciding to launch an online store is an exciting step for any entrepreneur. But with so many eCommerce platforms available, the choice between WordPress and Wix can feel overwhelming. Both offer a robust set of features to empower your online business, but they cater to different user profiles and project scopes.

WordPress stands out as a robust and highly customizable solution, particularly when integrated with plugins like WooCommerce. WooCommerce is one of the most powerful e-commerce platforms available today, offering a wide array of features that cater to various business needs. From extensive payment gateway options to comprehensive inventory management, WooCommerce provides merchants with the tools necessary to create and manage a fully functional online store. Learn how to start an online store with WooCommerce here.

Whether you’re selling physical items like clothing or electronics, digital downloads like ebooks or music, or even memberships to access exclusive content, WooCommerce has you covered. You can manage inventory, pricing, and shipping options for each product type, ensuring a smooth customer experience. With many themes available, you can create a unique online store that reflects your brand identity. Also, you can extend Woocommerce functionality by installing additional plugins or by adding some lines of code.

Wix’s e-commerce features are designed for simplicity, offering an all-in-one solution with built-in tools for easy setup. The drag-and-drop interface allows for quick store creation, making it ideal for small businesses and e-commerce newcomers. While Wix offers a freemium plan, essential e-commerce features require paid subscriptions, which can become expensive for growing stores.

Winner: WordPress outperforms Wix with greater scalability, unmatched customization, and significant cost savings, making it ideal for e-commerce.

Website security shields your site from attacks. Hackers might steal data, inject malware, or disrupt your site. Unsecured websites become easy targets, leaving your visitors’ data and your business reputation vulnerable to cyberattacks.

WordPress offers a high degree of control over your website’s security, but it comes with the responsibility of managing it. Many hosting providers include security features like firewalls, malware scanning, and SSL certificates.

To improve security, remember to update WordPress core, themes, and plugins regularly. Choose reputable security plugins like Wordfence, or All In One Security. These plugins offer features like limiting login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks, checking login IP addresses for suspicious activity, and Spam prevention.

Wix prioritizes a hands-off approach to security. They manage the security infrastructure, including automatic updates for their platform and providing SSL certificates by default. This eliminates the need for users to worry about patching vulnerabilities and ensures a secure user experience.

However, the trade-off is limited control. Unlike WordPress, you can’t install additional security plugins to further customize your website’s protection. This might be a concern for users who prefer a more granular approach.

Strong support and a thriving community are essential for any platform. Users often encounter challenges or questions while building their websites, and access to helpful resources and a supportive community can significantly enhance their experience. Let’s check how WordPress and Wix offers support to it’s users:

WordPress boasts a vast and vibrant community of developers, designers, and users. This active ecosystem fosters a wealth of resources and support options for users of all levels. From extensive online forums to dedicated support channels, assistance is readily available for troubleshooting issues, seeking guidance, and learning new skills. Even you can get support for most plugins and themes on the WordPress.org forum.

The open-source nature of WordPress encourages knowledge sharing, making it a platform where users can learn from each other and contribute to the platform’s growth.

Wix offers a robust support system designed to assist users efficiently. With 24/7 customer support accessible through phone, email, and live chat, users can connect with support representatives whenever needed. Additionally, Wix provides a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials to help users find answers independently.

Winner: WordPress because it boasts a larger, more active community and often includes dedicated hosting support, surpassing Wix’s support options.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the website creation process. By utilizing machine learning algorithms, these platforms can automate various aspects of website design, development, and management. From generating website layouts based on user preferences to optimizing content for search engines, AI is streamlining the process and allowing users to focus on creating compelling content.

WordPress has rapidly integrated AI to enhance website functionality. AI-powered SEO tools optimize content for search engines by suggesting keywords, meta descriptions, and structure improvements. Additionally, AI-driven content generation tools assist in creating various content formats, from blog posts to product descriptions.

Beyond content, AI is transforming other aspects of WordPress. Intelligent chatbots provide automated customer support, answering queries efficiently.

Wix has been a pioneer in utilizing AI to revolutionize website creation. Its flagship product, Wix ADI, employs AI to generate custom website designs based on user preferences. This free tool has democratized web design, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Beyond design, Wix offers a range of AI-driven features, including tools for image generating, content creation, and website optimization.

These AI-powered capabilities extend to eCommerce as well, with features like AI-generated product descriptions and product recommendations. While many of these tools are accessible to all Wix users, some advanced functionalities might require premium plans. Wix continues to invest in AI research and development, promising to deliver even more innovative solutions in the future. However, Wix doesn’t give you the accessibility to scale AI capabilities, while in WordPress you can add any AI plugin for desired functionality.

Winner: Wix because of its dedication to adding AI functionalities and making website development and content creation easier.

In the battle of WordPress vs Wix, WordPress emerges as the superior choice for several compelling reasons. While Wix offers a user-friendly interface and quick setup, it falls short in terms of customization, scalability, and advanced features.

WordPress, with its extensive range of themes and plugins, provides unmatched flexibility, allowing you to create a highly personalized website that can grow with your business. Its powerful SEO capabilities, advanced blogging tools, and robust community support make it the ideal platform for anyone serious about building a professional, scalable online presence.

Although WordPress has a steeper learning curve and requires more hands-on management, the effort is well worth it for the level of control and functionality it offers. For businesses and individuals looking to create a comprehensive and dynamic website, WordPress is the clear winner.

We hope that we’ve compared all major features for choosing between WordPress and Wix. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. If you liked our article, share it with others!