Trying to decide between Wix and WordPress for your website? You’re not alone—choosing the right platform can make or break your online success. With so many features and options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the differences.
This article breaks down what sets Wix and WordPress apart, helping you find the perfect fit for your goals, budget, and skills. You’ll get clear insights, practical tips, and straightforward comparisons to make your decision simple and stress-free.
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Wix vs WordPress: Which Should You Use to Build Your Website?
When you’re ready to build a website, choosing between Wix and WordPress is often the first big decision. These platforms both power millions of websites worldwide, but they take very different approaches. Your choice will affect how easily you can build your site, your creative freedom, your site’s growth potential, and how much it will cost.
Below, we’ll explore how Wix and WordPress stack up in every major area. We’ll look at their strengths, weaknesses, best use cases, and practical tips so you can confidently pick the right builder for your project.
Wix vs WordPress at a Glance
What is Wix?
- Hosted, all-in-one website builder.
- Drag-and-drop editing with visually guided design.
- Hosting, security, and maintenance are included.
- Aimed at beginners and those wanting to design quickly without coding.
What is WordPress?
- Open-source content management system (CMS).
- Self-hosted: You set up your hosting and install WordPress.
- Extreme design flexibility and customization.
- Powers over 40% of websites on the Internet.
- More suitable if you want full control and scalability.
1. Ease of Use
Wix: Effortless and Beginner-Friendly
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Start with customizable templates; add or move items visually.
- No coding skills needed at any point.
- Guided onboarding explains your steps.
- Instant updates and changes visible in real-time.
WordPress: Powerful, But a Steeper Learning Curve
- Interface is easy for writing blog posts, but customizing design involves more steps.
- Themes and plugins provide features, but configuring them may require some knowledge.
- Coding or using page builder plugins (like Elementor) is common for full design control.
- Hosting, updates, and security require attention.
In Summary
- Choose Wix if you want to launch your site fast and don’t want to worry about the tech side.
- Choose WordPress if you value customization and are comfortable learning as you go.
2. Design Freedom and Templates
Wix: Pre-Made Style, Limited Future Flexibility
- 800+ designer-made templates to pick and instantly use.
- Templates are grouped by industries and needs: blogs, portfolios, stores, and more.
- Drag, drop, and resize elements where you like.
- Built-in animations and effects with no code.
- However, once your site is live, you can’t switch templates without starting over.
WordPress: Ultimate Customization
- Thousands of free and paid themes—one-click installs.
- Countless page builder plugins for drag-and-drop design (e.g., Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder).
- You can deeply customize your theme or create a unique one with code.
- You can swap themes any time, retaining your content.
- Unlimited potential, but more responsibility.
Key Point
- Wix is simple and guided but less flexible in the long run.
- WordPress lets you build anything, given time and skill.
3. Features & Functionality
Wix’s Built-In Power
- Essentials (blog, galleries, contact forms) included out-of-the-box.
- App Market with 300+ apps to add features: bookings, chatbots, marketing tools, etc.
- Ecommerce support for selling products, appointments, or digital items.
- Regular new feature rollouts—no need to install updates yourself.
WordPress’s Ecosystem
- 58,000+ plugins for almost any functionality (SEO, security, social sharing, complex e-commerce).
- WooCommerce—turns your WordPress into a powerful online store, as customizable as you need.
- Advanced features: forums, memberships, multilingual sites.
- Regular platform and plugin updates managed by you.
Bottom Line
- If you need advanced or unusual features, WordPress wins.
- Wix covers most basics and small business needs out of the box.
4. SEO Capabilities
Wix: Great for Beginners
- SEO-friendly out of the box: meta titles, descriptions, alt text, mobile optimization.
- SEO Wizard walks you through setup.
- Managing 301 redirects and structured data is possible.
WordPress: Full SEO Control (If You Want It)
- Extensive SEO plugins (Yoast, RankMath) for in-depth optimization.
- Adjust URLs, add schema markup, build custom sitemaps, and more.
- Fine-tuning requires extra know-how but yields strong results if used well.
Advice
- For a basic business or personal site, either platform now offers good SEO.
- WordPress offers an edge for advanced SEO or if you plan to grow significantly.
5. Blogging Experience
Wix: Simple and Visual
- Good for occasional bloggers or those who want an easy blog.
- Basic formatting, categorization, and media options.
- Lacks deep customization and advanced features (multiple authors, editorial workflow).
WordPress: The Industry Standard
- Born as a blogging platform, remains unmatched for blogging.
- Complete editorial tools: tags, categories, scheduling, user roles, plugins for customization.
- Scales easily for individuals, teams, and companies.
- Ideal if your site will be content-rich.
6. E-Commerce: Selling Online
Wix: Ready-Made Storefronts
- Add a store to any site plan (except the free plan).
- Manage products, payments, inventory, and bookings in one place.
- Built-in payment processing.
- Simple digital goods delivery.
- Best for small online shops, service booking, or local stores.
WordPress: Robust and Scalable
- Use WooCommerce—unmatched flexibility for selling anything, anywhere.
- Advanced shipping, tax, and multi-currency options.
- Add-ons for subscriptions, custom products, membership access.
- Strong ecosystem for marketing, accounting, and fulfillment tools.
- Requires more setup and maintenance but supports large-scale businesses.
Cost Tips for Selling Online
- Wix eCommerce plans include hosting and are a fixed monthly fee.
- WordPress + WooCommerce is free, but premium plugins, payment gateways, and hosting may add costs as you grow.
- With WordPress, you can shop around for the best hosting and payment deals.
7. Security and Maintenance
Wix: Hands-Off
- Security (SSL, DDoS protection, backups) all managed for you.
- No need to worry about updates or server maintenance.
- Customer support for technical issues included in all paid plans.
WordPress: You’re in Charge
- You must arrange and pay for your own hosting.
- Responsibility to keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated.
- Security plugins recommended; consider managed hosting for automatic backups.
- Regular site backups are vital.
8. Ownership, Portability, and Scale
Wix: Simple but Confined
- Site and data are hosted by Wix—no direct code or server access.
- Can export blog posts, but not the full site.
- Good for static, straightforward websites not planning to switch providers.
WordPress: Full Control and Freedom
- Own all your files and data.
- Move (migrate) your site to another host at any time.
- Build sites of any size, for any audience.
- Perfect for projects that may outgrow their original plans.
9. Pricing and Value for Money
Wix Pricing
- Free plan with ads and Wix branding (not for business sites).
- Paid plans: Flat monthly fee. Includes hosting, templates, basic apps, SSL, tech support.
- E-commerce plans cost more, but include selling features.
- No surprise maintenance fees—good for budgeting.
WordPress Pricing
Expenses are flexible:
- Hosting: $3–$30 per month depending on provider and needs.
- Domain: $10–$20 per year.
- Themes: Free to $100+ for premium designs.
- Plugins: Free or paid for advanced features (can add up).
- Developer fees: If you hire for customization.
Practical Cost Tips
- Wix’s set pricing keeps costs predictable, especially for small business owners.
- WordPress can be cheaper (with basic needs), or much pricier for custom, advanced projects.
- Budget for routine maintenance with WordPress, such as security and backups, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
10. Support and Community
Wix Support
- 24/7 customer support via phone, email, or tickets (varies by plan).
- Extensive help center and video tutorials.
- Fast turnaround for troubleshooting.
WordPress Help
- No official support, but vast online community.
- Millions of tutorials, forums, and how-to guides.
- Hosting providers often offer their own support.
- Expert help available, but may require investment.
Which Platform is Right for You?
Choose Wix If You:
- Are a beginner or want zero technical hassle.
- Need a sleek website live quickly.
- Value an all-in-one, managed solution with clear pricing.
- Have a small business, portfolio, or simple online store.
Choose WordPress If You:
- Want full design and feature control—now and in the future.
- Plan to customize heavily or scale up your site.
- Need the best blogging or advanced functionalities.
- Are comfortable managing security, updates, and hosting (or hiring someone who is).
Practical Tips and Best Practices
- List your must-have features. Which builder checks more boxes natively?
- Think about future growth—will your site needs change in two years?
- Test both platforms with free trials or demos.
- For WordPress, choose reputable managed hosting if you want less technical responsibility.
- Regularly back up your site, regardless of platform.
- For e-commerce, carefully compare transaction fees, payment options, and scalability.
- Protect your budget: Plan for periodic reviews of site costs.
Summary
Wix and WordPress are both fantastic tools, but they’re best at different things. If you want a beautiful site launched fast, with support and no tech headaches, Wix is hard to beat. If you want to control every detail and plan for significant growth or customization, WordPress leads the way.
The right website builder is the one that suits your unique needs, budget, and technical confidence. With these insights, you can start building with clarity and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost to build a website with Wix or WordPress?
Wix offers fixed monthly pricing, including hosting, starting around the price of a few coffees per month for simple sites and higher for business or e-commerce. WordPress starts cheap, but add-ons like hosting, premium designs, and plugins can raise costs if you want advanced features or hire developers.
Can I switch from Wix to WordPress later if I change my mind?
While you can export some content (like blog posts) from Wix, you can’t move the entire site structure, design, or apps easily. Migrating from Wix to WordPress involves rebuilding your site on WordPress and manually importing your data and images.
Do I need to know how to code to use WordPress or Wix?
Wix is designed for people with zero coding experience. WordPress can also be used without coding, especially if you use themes and plugins, but to fully unlock its customization potential, basic HTML, CSS, or plugin-building skills are helpful.
Is WordPress better for SEO than Wix?
Both platforms are competitive for most SEO needs. WordPress offers more advanced options via plugins and manual customization, which matters if you’re running a content-heavy, growing, or competitive site. For basic SEO, Wix’s built-in tools are sufficient.
Which platform is more secure?
Wix provides security as part of its service—there’s nothing you have to do. With WordPress, your security depends on your hosting provider and the plugins you use. Staying safe means keeping everything updated and choosing reliable plugins and hosts.
Choosing between Wix and WordPress sets the foundation for your site’s success. Focus on what matters most for your vision, and you’ll pick the perfect platform for your online journey.