Wix vs. WordPress: A Direct Comparison [2024]

When opening an online store or simply starting a blog, it is of utmost importance to consider beforehand what platform will be the best for your plans. Usually, businesses have to choose between WordPress and another popular and commonly used platform, such as Wix or Squarespace, to name a few. But are they fit for your website, business, and online brand?

Quick Overview: Wix vs. WordPress

This is what you’ll discover in this article, specifically which platform of the two - Wix vs. WordPress - is a better choice for you , based on your needs and requirements!

Do you want to quickly decide which platform is a better fit for your needs? We’ve created a comprehensive table that details everything you should know in regards to WordPress vs. Wix - pricing, ease of use, design and customization options, blogging features, as well as eCommerce capabilities.

Feature	Wix	WordPress
Pricing	All-in-one plans starting at $17 to $159 a month	Free software (costs come in the form of hosting, domain, and premium themes and plugins that are, however, optional)
Ease of use	Highly intuitive drag-and-drop builder, beginner-friendly	Steeper learning curve, more complex user dashboard
Design & customization	Over 800 pre-design templates available, but limited flexibility overall	Over 11,000 free themes, each highly customizable via coding
Blogging features	Basic blogging tools, rather limited features overall	Highly advanced blogging options, wide array of plugins to boost customizability overall available
eCommerce capabilities	Selection of built-in features, ideal for small stores	Can become extremely powerful with the aid of WooCommerce, which also makes the platform scalable for large stores

 

Based on this quick overview of Wix vs. WordPress, we can already spot a winner in most categories, but mainly for large eCommerce businesses - the winner is clearly WordPress. However, users must take into account its steep learning curve. WordPress is ideal for complex websites and companies that benefit from services offered by professional web designers and SEO specialists. At the same time, Wix is a better fit for landing pages, creatives, and small online stores overall.

Wix Overview

Wix is a very popular website builder that provides comprehensive solutions for creating and managing websites. It is suited for personal websites, small businesses, and simple online stores.

Among its strengths, we mention:

• Ease of Use for Beginners - Wix is designed with accessibility in mind, thus being the ideal choice for beginners. The platform’s website builder is now AI-powered and can be used to create custom websites based on various user inputs. The template library features over 800 pre-designed templates for users in case the Wix ADI tool doesn’t suffice. There are also easy-to-grasp SEO settings that allow for a certain level of optimization.
• All-in-One Solution - with Wix, users can enjoy built-in eCommerce functionalities, integrated business management tools, email hosting for their very own professional email address, as well as 24/7 customer support.
• Additional Features - extensive app market that provides various integrations that can help extend website functionality. Users also have access to AI-powered tools to create content. Wix then offers reliable hosting for all its plans, including mobile-responsive designs and a dedicated Mobile Editor.
• Pricing and Affordability - Wix is regarded as budget-friendly, especially since it even offers a free plan for basic websites. Then, paid plans start at only $17 a month, making it very easy for small businesses to start building their online presence as quickly as possible.

WordPress Overview

WordPress is definitely known as the most powerful and versatile content management system available. It powers millions of websites throughout the world - and for good reason. Some of its core strengths are:

• Open-Source Nature - in this regard, WordPress is definitely a winner, as it is free to use and modify, implying no initial costs. It supports and promotes continuous development aided by a community of developers. Users have full ownership over content and data, not to mention the ability to customize the core functionalities of WordPress to fit various specific business needs.
• Flexibility and Customization - the WordPress database includes over 11,000 free themes and a whopping over 59,000 free plugins that can be used for incredible customization. On top of that, proficient users have the possibility to create custom themes and plugins when certain unique functionalities are needed. WordPress, as a CMS, also offers support for blogs, portfolios, and eCommerce websites.
• Scalability - in the WordPress vs. Wix battle of scalability, WordPress is the obvious winner. The CMS can handle websites of all sizes, including corporate ones, and it manages impeccable high traffic with the help of various optimization options and caching mechanisms. Another important aspect is the fact that users can add new features and functionalities over time without having to drastically change the core of their website.
• eCommerce Capabilities with WooCommerce - one of the most popular eCommerce plugins available for WordPress. It seamlessly integrates with the CMS, supports physical and digital product sales, allows for flexible payment and shipping options, and is highly customizable (including built-in features for inventory management, tax calculations, and reporting).
• Additional Core Strengths - we can’t end our discussion about WordPress without mentioning its SEO- and User-Friendliness, its large community forums, the fact that it receives regular updates, as well as its multi-user capabilities that allow users to have an entire team working within the same WordPress ecosystem.

Detailed Comparison: Key Features of Both Platforms

In the following lines, we’ll provide a detailed comparison of the key features of both platforms - Wix vs. WordPress analyzed so you can choose the ideal platform for your needs and requirements.

User Experience & Ease of Use

• Wix - features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and a real-time what you see is what you get editor, Wix ADI - an AI-powered website builder, as well as a beginner-friendly interaction that has a minimal learning curve, ideal for beginners.
• WordPress - has a steeper learning curve, as the platform has a more complex dashboard and several menus. It provides greater flexibility and control once proficiency is achieved. Several site builder plugins are available to simplify the design process.’

Design & Customization Options

• Wix - comes equipped with over 800 pre-designed templates and features a drag-and-drop editor for further customization of pre-designed templates. There is a Wix Studio Editor available for more advanced users, but generally the platform has limited advanced modifications and coding flexibility;
• WordPress - tens of thousands of free and premium themes available, which the user has full control over via the built-in customizer and various site builders. The platform offers users complete access to theme files and developers. Naturally, we must mention the extensive plugin ecosystem that can be used to further enhance the functionality of a website.

Cost & Pricing Plans

• Wix - all-in-one plans available, starting at $17 and up to $159 per month. The plans include hosting, domain registration, as well as software updates. There is a free plan available, but its features are limited;
• WordPress - this CMS platform is characterized by free open-source software, and the only costs that are implied are the hosting, domain registration, premium themes (if needed), and premium plugins (if needed).

Support & Resources

• Wix - offers its users 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and even social media. Users also have the possibility to use a rather comprehensive Wix Help Center, not to mention the platform’s community forums that can provide valuable peer assistance;
• WordPress - the platform has extensive community-driven support forums, as well as official documentation called WordPress Codex . Being a top CMS platform, WordPress also has plenty of third-party tutorials and resources. Customer support, on the other hand, is kind of lacking, though there are paid options offered by developers or hosting providers.

eCommerce Capabilities: Wix vs. WordPress

Wix and WordPress offer robust eCommerce solutions. However, it’s worth highlighting the fact that they cater to different needs and requirements, as well as to different levels of complexity. When it comes strictly to eCommerce, WordPress vs. Wix perform as follows:

Built-in eCommerce Tools

• Wix - has integrated eCommerce functionalities through Wix Stores ; it also supports the sale of physical products, digital goods, as well as services (subscriptions and whatnot); Wix offers multi-channel inventory management and includes features like product variations. Last but not least, it provides an integrated members’ area that can help with customer account management;
• WordPress - joined by WooCommerce, WordPress becomes a highly customizable eCommerce platform that supports various product types (just like Wix). WordPress offers extensive inventory management capabilities, being fit for corporate needs as well, and it also provides advanced eCommerce features (dynamic pricing, product bundles, etc.).

Payment Gateways and Transaction Fees

• Wix - Wix Payments has competitive rates (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction), but the platform also supports major payment gateways such as Stripe and Paypal. There are no additional transaction fees except the payment processor charges;
• WordPress - once again, joined by WooCommerce, WordPress supports a wide range of payment gateways, including WooPayments (which charges the same fees as Wix Payments). There are no additional transaction fees when using this payment processor.

Scalability and Flexibility

• Wix is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, as it has limited customization options. However, it’s much easier to set up and manage a website on Wix, especially for beginners who want to be in full control of their store.
• WordPress is highly scalable and thus suitable for businesses of all sizes. WordPress offers extensive customization via a wide selection of plugins and themes. Naturally, the platform is more flexible, but the user needs more technical knowledge to be able to take full advantage of said flexibility.

Additional eCommerce Features

• Wix has available built-in marketing tools that can help with email campaigns, as well as social media integration. Wix offers its users AI-powered tools that can help with content creation and SEO. Naturally, all stores are optimized for mobile view.
• WordPress has an incredibly extensive plugin ecosystem that can significantly boost the functionality of a website. It also offers advanced SEO capabilities (via various plugins). WordPress supports multilingual and multi-currency stores.

SEO and Marketing Tools

SEO is essential in today’s online environment. At the same time, the availability of various marketing tools must not be downsized either. Here’s how Wix vs. WordPress compare in terms of SEO and marketing tools:

Wix

• Meta tags, alt text, URL structure - there are built-in tools for customizing these variables. You can also easily customize titles and descriptions for individual pages. Image alt text can be added directly in the editor, while URL slugs can be partially customized.
• Built-in SEO features or plugins - Wix has a user-friendly tool that can help with optimization, as well as a checklist users can rely on. Wix provides default Schema markup for different page types and generates XML sitemaps automatically.
• Integration with marketing tools and analytics - Wix offers seamless integration with both GSC and GA, as well as built-in connections to Meta Pixel and Google Ads. Users also have access to HubSpot integrations (marketing automation and CRM). There is also Mailchimp integration available for email marketing.

WordPress

• Meta tags, alt text, URL structure - the platform mainly relies on various SEO plugins that can manage meta tags. It offers more flexibility when it comes to URL slug customization. WordPress also provides full control over image alt text, as well as advanced options for meta tag optimization.
• Built-in SEO features or plugins - comprehensive SEO features can be accessed via plugins, which also allow for more advanced customization options. Overall, WordPress, via its plugins, allows for more control over SEO settings;
• Integration with marketing tools and analytics - the platform allows integration with a plethora of analytics and marketing tools, mainly via plugins. As such, it provides much more flexibility when it comes to choosing and connecting to certain marketing platforms. One small downside would be the fact that each integration requires a separate setup, depending on the plugin.

Blogging and Content Marketing: Which is Better?

Generally, Wix features a basic text editor with limited formatting options but allows easy addition of photos and videos to blog posts. The interface where new posts are created is quite straightforward, but this also means it lacks advanced features - it offers only basic categorization and tagging of blog posts, a limited comment functionality, limited role management for authors, and no advanced taxonomy options.

WordPress, on the other hand, is equipped with a powerful block editor that can help users create visually stunning layouts, all packed in a user-friendly interface. The platform allows for easy content formatting, editing, and structuring, thanks to various advanced features - a flexible system for categories and tags, a native commenting system, robust moderation tools, easy authorship management, and custom taxonomies.

Overall, WordPress is considered the superior choice when it comes to blogging and content marketing, mainly thanks to its extensive customization options (plugins, themes), superior SEO capabilities, proper management solutions for large amounts of content, easy integration with marketing and analytics tools, as well as a large support community/ecosystem.

Final Thoughts: Choosing Between Wix and WordPress

Ultimately, which platform is the best? Who wins the WordPress vs. Wix battle? Well, naturally, it all depends on your needs and preferences.

As such, you can choose Wix if you’re a beginner and want to manage your website personally, especially if the website is for a small business and you need it set up quickly.

On the other hand, if you’re an advanced user or you plan to hire someone to manage your website, and you’ll need features and functionalities to accommodate large volumes of content or have scalability in mind, WordPress is the best solution available. It supports blogs, content-focused websites, as well as extensive e-commerce websites!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Wix easier to use than WordPress?

Yes, Wix offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it more beginner-friendly. WordPress has a steeper learning curve but it is much more flexible.

• Which is better for blogging: WordPress or Wix?

WordPress is better for blogging, as it provides more advanced content management features, like categories, tags, and various plugins.

• What is the cost difference between Wix and WordPress?

Wix has fixed pricing plans, while WordPress costs depend on hosting, themes, and plugins, which can vary. WordPress is a free open-source platform and has no direct initial cost.

• Can you create an e-commerce store with Wix or WordPress?

Yes, both platforms support e-commerce, but WordPress (with WooCommerce) is better for larger or more complex online stores. Wix is ideal for small businesses that don’t need extensive scalability features.

• Which platform is better for SEO: Wix or WordPress?

WordPress, with SEO plugins like Yoast, generally offers more advanced SEO capabilities compared to Wix’s built-in tools.