For years, WordPress was the dominating force in DIY website creation. The main alternative was hiring a developer and coming out of pocket with a few thousand dollars. Since that time, several web-building contenders have come to the market. One of the main challengers is Wix.
While WordPress is still the undisputed champion when it comes to content management systems, it’s time to take a look at both platforms so that you can make an informed decision about your options. The version of WordPress we’re comparing is the self-hosted platform that you’ll find at wordpress.org. We’re contrasting it with Wix website builder based on the five criteria that matter most when you’re looking for a web page builder: ease of use, features, customization options, SEO, and support.
Although Wix has pushed hard on their marketing over the years. WordPress still dominates the market, with most hosting companies providing WordPress optimised hosting. Take a look at this list by Hosting Australia comparing WordPress web hosts speeds and uptimes compared.
WordPress versus Wix: Which is Easier Out of the Box?
In order to set up a WordPress website, you’ll have to choose a hosting platform, register a domain name, and then install WordPress. With Wix, you open an account at the Wix website, choose an editor, and get to work.
WordPress has introduced a new default editor with Gutenburg that’s backwards compatible with all currently supported themes and plugins. It’s meant to be more inline with other page builders by veering away from the former Word-like editing interface, and it ensures that you’re in compliance with Google’s new mobile-first indexing priority. You can now see exactly what your page will look like live as you build it.
Wix offers drag-and-drop editing that allows you to place and move any page elements where you want them. You can also choose to employ their built-in editing wizard, Wix Artificial Digital Intelligence (ADI). This will put everything into place for you after you answer a few basic questions about your website. The other option is the Wix Editor. It gives you ready-made templates to work with, but little ability to customize.
Features and Functionality
As an open source platform, WordPress provides access to a world of apps and extras, and you can access the code to customize all of them. Right now, there are more than 55,000+ WordPress plugins, with more being introduced every day.
However, this can be a double-edged sword if you don’t know what you’re doing or you get your plugins through a third-party library. Many of these come from inexperienced developers, don’t offer support or documentation, and have security problems.
That being said, many of the free themes and plugins available from the WordPress website are safe. Just stay within that catalogue or go with an established premium developer who has a good reputation and provides support.
The Wix menu of apps and features are built and available in-house. That means you’re limited to whatever they have, and you can’t really customize very much. However they are thoroughly tested before they’re made available, which means fewer bugs or security concerns. With this platform, you’re sacrificing some flexibility, but you’re getting more granular quality controls, tech support, and security in return.
Design and Customization Options
This is where WordPress really shines over most content management systems and page builders, and it works well for any level of technical ability. You can choose from among hundreds of custom themes and layouts ranging from free to premium, and there are even more plugins available. Since it’s open source, all components can be customized, altered, or removed at-will. Just make sure to completely uninstall any old, unsupported, or unused themes or plugins for security purposes.
Wix comes with about 500 templates and 200 apps that you can use to create your layout and add functions. Templates can be chosen by category, but you may not have access to the code if you want to customize them. The templates can’t be altered at all once they’re added to your website, and you aren’t able to edit the CSS.
SEO and eCommerce
If you’re building an eCommerce website, WordPress is the current king. It’s used by about 40 percent of active websites, including many Fortune 500 companies, and there are plugins especially created for managing eCommerce platforms. The best-known is WooCommerce. You can also tinker with any plugins for complete control over functionality.
Wix offers several industry-specific templates, and you’ll get some apps that allow you to add build-in secure payment interfaces or incorporate coupons and discounts at checkout. Their main eCommerce platform is Wix Stores, or you can manage multiple businesses with their eCommerce or VIP packages. However, your options are limited to whatever is available with your plan.
WordPress incorporates SEO best-practices by default by giving you a custom domain and complete control over how you manage your website name, header and alt tags, content sharing, URLs, and metadata. You’ll also get SEO apps with Wix, and the platform provides an SEO wizard that makes it a little easier for novices to optimize. This one is a tie.
Customer Support
There is no built-in support for WordPress website owners, but the open source community is a good place to get advice and encouragement. You can also find an extensive knowledge base on the internet and within the WordPress website itself. As far as design elements and plugins, you’ll have to look to the individual developers to find tech support and assistance. This is one more reason to stick to reputable developers who offer ongoing support and security patches.
Wix means you’re dealing with one company and a single in-house development team. However, you can’t access support directly. Instead, you’ll have to email the company with tech issues, schedule help desk support by phone, or search their knowledge base and research the issue yourself. The base is substantial, but it will take time to find solutions, and you don’t have a wider community or forums to draw from like you do with WordPress.
What About Cost?
The biggest difference here is that Wix has set monthly fees for their services, while WordPress comes with more variables involved. You can put up a basic free website that doesn’t have much visual appeal with Wix, but your domain name will have Wix in it, and you’ll have ads on your web pages that benefit their company rather than yours. For under $10 per month, you can get the ads removed. Your customization options are limited to whatever the Wix development team and your plan offer. The platform does give you a free 30-day trial. There are seven packages to choose from, ranging in price from $11 – $35 per month; each service level unlocks more features
With WordPress, you’ll have to register a domain name and find a suitable hosting platform. However, there are some solid plans out there that cost as little as $2.99 per month for hosting and you’ll own your own domain; eCommerce or Enterprise domains cost about $30 per month with a contract, and substantially more if you pay as you go. There are some really good free plugins and themes, but you have to be careful when choosing and using them.
Premium themes and plugins are generally safer and come with support. Plugins can run anywhere from $15 – $70 each, and a good themes will cost between $25 and $300. Once you purchase a plugin or theme, you own the license, which eliminates monthly fees on that front; annual renewals vary by developer. Your full functionality and aesthetics are unleashed from the moment you’re done setting up your website, and at a very low cost, if you choose wisely.
Bottom Line
Both Wix and WordPress are good for eCommerce, and they have a number of desirable features. When you want a lower initial cost and set fees, Wix is a better option. If you’re looking for more autonomy and have the technical skills and time to setup and manage your own website, WP is your page builder. It’s also superior in terms of flexibility, scalability, and greater overall function and appearance.
