Wix vs WordPress: Which Is the Better Platform to Build a Website?
An Introduction to WordPress vs Wix
In this digital era, there are a ton of platforms available where you can build a website. Nevertheless, we can widely segregate them into two sections via Content Management Systems (CMS) and website builders. Amongst the various platforms available, WordPress is an exemplary Content Management System, while Wix is an outstanding website builder.
If you are a fresher in the field of building a website, choosing an appropriate platform can become a hectic task. But don’t worry! This blog will aid you in choosing the best platform for building your website.
The following article will help you compare the advantages and the disadvantages of Wix and WordPress. Through these well-informed details, you can easily choose a website-building platform! So without wasting a second, let’s discuss Wix vs WordPress.
What is Wix?
Wix is a digital platform where you can curate your website and present it to the whole world! You can start your Wix journey either with Wix Editor or Wix ADI. Wix Editor and Wix ADI are the two primary ways, to begin with, Wix.
Wix Editor enables you to choose a template, curate a skeleton for your site, and then fill it with the apt content. In contrast, you can also opt for the Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) method. According to your preference of videos, images, and texts, this mode builds a customizable website automatically.
As Wix is a cloud-based service, signing up on Wix is a cakewalk. You just have to visit the official Wix website and sign up! Then sit back and relax, as Wix will guide you through all the phases of curating a stunning and utilitarian website.
Wix has over 190 million users! It can manage every type of standard website, like portfolios, e-commerce stores, blogs, business websites, and many more!
What is WordPress?
Before we start, you need to know that there are two varieties of WordPress: Commercial WordPress and Self-hosted WordPress. Today, we will consider self-hosted WordPress while comparing it with Wix, as it is what most of the crowd refers to when WordPress is mentioned!
WordPress is web software that serves as the functioning system for your website. Self-hosted WordPress is accessible at wordpress.com. It is a software as a service tool for developing and managing websites similar to that of Wix.
The primary software of WordPress is free, you can download and install it freely on a web hosting server. Once installed, you are all set to have fun with numerous strong content handling abilities and built-in default features. With WordPress, you can effortlessly create a brand new website and customize it freely.
In short, WordPress is open-source website software with thousands of free and customizable designs and plugins. The type of website that can be created on WordPress has endless possibilities. Be it a simple blog website or an enormous business/ eCommerce website, WordPress can handle it effortlessly. However, WordPress lacks customer support.
Which is the better platform to build a website Wix or WordPress?
1. Wix vs WordPress: Ease of Use
Even if you are a beginner in the field of website building, Wix proves to be an outstanding platform when it comes to ease of use. The Wix ADI mode takes this to the next level as it builds a customizable website according to your preferences on its own.
Wix consists of simple drag and drop tools for editing, computing the content on the site, putting your webpages in the proper format, etc for customizing. Along with that you also get 24/7 support from customer support agents in case you are stuck while creating the Wix com website.
Getting started on WordPress can be a little bit of a challenging and confusing task. Firstly, there is no official WordPress website so you have to go for a web host of your own choice for installing it.
Once you get your WordPress installed on your server and log in with your user panel, you are alone on the journey of website building. Unlike Wix, you need to figure out everything on WordPress. However, once you go through the process of site-building you can carry on with the site effortlessly. Finding CMS options, curating subpages, and posting blogs become much easier and faster once you set up the website on WordPress.
Nonetheless, if you want to utilize WordPress to its comprehensive potential it will consume a lot of time. And unfortunately, there is no customer support for WordPress, unlike Wix. So if you think of Ease of Use only, then Wix wins!
2. Wix vs WordPress: Security
When it comes to hosted platforms like Wix, there are two main factors for why Wix proves to be a secure website building platform. Firstly, it blocks users from editing the core functionality of the software. Secondly, Wix updates automatically so there are fewer chances of breaches.
Being said that it doesn’t make Wix a breach-proof platform. It has been targeted by some major security breaches in the past. Nonetheless, this is uncommon when it comes to the security provided by Wix. It has a good reputation in this field.
In the case of WordPress, things get a little bit complicated. As this platform is used by a large population on the web, it becomes an easy target for hackers. As even a single small vulnerability can lead to major breaches, favoring the attackers.
Nevertheless, WordPress is a very secure platform itself. If you regularly update themes, the software, plugins, etc then you can easily secure your website from attackers. WordPress also releases patches every once in a while to secure your site from the newest threats. Additionally, you can also enjoy advanced security plugins and settings to protect your site.
So one can say that both platforms are proficient in terms of security.
3. Wix vs WordPress: Customizability
Be it a free or paid plan the templates provided by Wix are gorgeous and appealing for the visitors to your website. Being said that, if you want to build a complex and customized website you need better themes and plugins. An advanced or mid-level website curator may find Wix limiting as its designs are mainly beginner-friendly.
Also, themes, plugins, bandwidth, storage, etc are limited in Wix even if it’s a paid plan. Considering all these points we can say that Wix constrains the customizability to a certain level.
WordPress has better layouts and customization choices than Wix. With the best WordPress plugins, you can easily edit and customize your website at your convenience. Besides that, there are thousands of both premium and free themes to choose from. This also makes WordPress the most customizable and adaptable blogging platform.
No doubt, Wix provides an exceptional degree of adaptability, but the customizability offered by WordPress is just on a whole new level.
4. Wix vs WordPress: eCommerce
Be it a free or paid plan the templates provided by Wix are gorgeous and appealing for the visitors to your website. Being said that, if you want to build a complex and customized website you need better themes and plugins. An advanced or mid-level website curator may find Wix limiting as its designs are mainly beginner-friendly.
Also, themes, plugins, bandwidth, storage, etc are limited in Wix even if it’s a paid plan. Considering all these points we can say that Wix constrains the customizability to a certain level.
WordPress has better layouts and customization choices than Wix. With the best WordPress plugins, you can easily edit and customize your website at your convenience. Besides that, there are thousands of both premium and free themes to choose from. This also makes WordPress the most customizable and adaptable blogging platform.
No doubt, Wix provides an exceptional degree of adaptability, but the customizability offered by WordPress is just on a whole new level.
5. Wix vs WordPress: Price
The paid plans for Wix are available in three types, a monthly plan, yearly plan, or bi-yearly plan. These plans start from $4.50 for each month. However, these plans offer limited features and storage. Hence, if you need more storage and features you will need to opt for a costlier plan.
The most popular plans of Wix are Combo, Unlimited, and Business Basic. The combo plan is available for $125 per month, the Unlimited plan for $185 per month, and the Business Basic form for $23 per month. Generally, the Wix Combo Plan is more than enough for non-ecommerce businesses. This plan is free from advertisements and you can add your domain name to it.
WordPress is free software. Nevertheless, you are required to pay for WordPress web hosting. There are plans available from $4/month if you want a small and basic website. For a managed website you can expect the price of the plan around $14+. Your initial investment can go up to $200 if all the expenses are taken into account.
So if you want to choose between Wix or WordPress for small businesses, you must opt for Wix. On the other hand, WordPress is best for a complex business that wants to scale over the long run.
6. Wix vs WordPress: Support
Wix provides support and has great forums. You can find Wix blogs and tutorials that are peculiarly suitable for newcomers. Alternatively, WordPress does not have any dedicated support team. You can obtain what you require on the community panels, but assume that the answers over there can be either hit or miss. However, you get 24/7 support on Wix. Hence in terms of Support, Wix wins!
7. Wix vs WordPress: SEO
SEO is a debatable topic with many. As some will debate that Wix SEO is more suitable, on the other hand, others will say WordPress is. Yet, if we disintegrate both of them, both are similar when it comes to on-page SEO.
When it comes to off-page SEO, a social signal or backlink does not consider what sort of platform you are using. The one section where WordPress excels is the ability to have more control. This also involves features like controlling the pace of your website and the availability of advanced functions. These features can spontaneously influence SEO and rankings.
According to a study on Wix vs WordPress SEO, 6.4 million domains were analyzed. In which WordPress site accounted for 46.1% of organic traffic, while Wix acquired only 1.4% of organic traffic. However, SEO also depends on the content published hence any platform can manipulate the SEO in no time.
8. Wix vs WordPress: Design
Wix has approx 900 and more pre-made templates to choose from. Every Wix design is written in HTML5 and is completely responsive. A major disadvantage of Wix is that once you have chosen a particular design, you can’t switch it. You can customize and modify it but you can’t change it to another template.
Whereas, there are endless free and paid themes available in WordPress. WordPress themes and designs cover a wider spectrum and have more layouts and templates. You can also switch to another template or modify it without any limitations. However, you will have to do it alone as there is no such thing as a “WordPress tutorial”. However, you can find the solutions on the community panels.
9. Wix vs WordPress: Plugins and Apps
Wix comes with approximately 200 plus apps that you can attach to your site. These apps provide a wide array of functions like computing contact forms, comments, social media buttons, etc.
However, there are almost 58,000+ free WordPress plugins obtainable in the WordPress.org plugin record individually. Other than that, there are premium plugins available as well. There are lots of plugins both premium and free, that you can use to curate the website of your desire.
10. Wix vs WordPress: Data Portability Options
The options available in Wix to migrate your content to another website building platform are very limited. You can migrate your blogs, but only in XML format. All of your content is hosted on servers of Wix hence it cannot be migrated to other platforms. But you still can migrate the data to another Wix Site.
WordPress is a genuine content management system. This makes it remarkably simple to shift the content. It has a one-click exporter that enables you to download the content in XML format itself.
Since WordPress is self-hosted, you can procure complete WordPress backups, download your files, and even migrate your WordPress data. You can also shift your WordPress website to a new host if you want to.
11. Wix vs. WordPress: Blogging
Wix provides several primary blogging features. For instance, it supports blogs, comprises sections, and has hundreds of free media like GIFs, images, and videos. All in all, Wix is a suitable blogging platform. However, the commenting features are unavailable on Wix. so receiving feedback from the viewers becomes difficult on Wix.
Features like domestic commenting emphasized images and private posts make WordPress the extra robust blogging choice. Hence, between Wix and WordPress, WordPress is a more suited option for blogging.
12. Wix vs. WordPress: Ongoing Maintenance
The principal benefit of Wix is that it practically eliminates the requirement for you to manage security and maintenance. Here comes the drawback of WordPress, you need to DIY it or opt for a managed WordPress web hosting provider.
The emphasis on security can be observed from Wix and WordPress. However, a WordPress website requires higher knowledge of plugins to secure the website. Also, Wix updates automatically however you need to keep track of WordPress updates and schedule them.
In WordPress, you are in charge of backing up the data, security, software updates, etc. Nonetheless, knowledge of plugins and managed web hosting providers can help you out.
13. Wix vs. WordPress: Templates
Wix templates are effortless to install and customize. You can easily add a background image, drop and drag elements on the web page, personalize the navigation menu, select an image gallery, and so on with the help of these templates.
In contrast, a WordPress theme is a compilation of templates that transforms the way a site is published without transforming the core of the WordPress software. There are approximately 8,000 free themes obtainable from the WordPress theme gallery. There are thousands of additional premium and free templates obtainable from third-party marketplaces.
Conclusion
In the end, we can suggest that you should choose a website builder which supports and fulfills your needs. Like if you require a robust solution that will boost your sales over the years, you should go for WordPress without a doubt. Besides that, if you require complex peculiarities WordPress happens to be your only solution. As it is proficient in developing robust blogs, catalogs, multi or polylingual websites, complicated databases, etc.
On the other hand, Wix is a suitable choice for smaller and informational websites. Like websites that give out information about your business can be created instantly on Wix. Small digital stores can also flourish successfully with Wix. Wix is also one of the best website builders for beginners, as it offers dedicated support, drag and drop tools along with minute detailing which makes your work a little bit easier.
So, that was all about Wix vs WordPress! All we can say is that, prioritize your needs and goals while choosing the apt website builder. Creating a website can be a tedious job but with an apt website builder, it becomes a piece of cake! Hence, consider all the comparisons and then choose which website builder works for you the best.
Frequently Asked Question
Q1. Which one is cheaper: Wix vs WordPress?
Wix offers free plans which include its personal branded domain name and advertisement. The paid plans by Wix permit you to eliminate its advertisements, branding and use your domain name. These plans start from $4.50 for each month. However, these plans offer limited features and storage. Hence, if you need more storage and features you will need to opt for a costlier plan.
In contrast, WordPress requires only hosting and domain name. For example, you can build your website with a free domain name along with an SSL certificate just by paying $2.75 monthly. Also, this package contains numerous features and grants more flexibility to curate your website. This concludes that WordPress is a cheaper option in the long run.
Q2. Can I transfer my domain away from Wix?
Of course, you can shift your domain elsewhere from Wix. However, transferring your website files and content away from Wix is a difficult job. You may require help from the experts to do so.
Q3. What are the Pros and Cons of using Wix?
Here’s a quick list of the pros and cons of Wix vs WordPress!
Pros of using Wix:
- You do not need to bother regarding the security and backups as Wix is a hosted solution.
- It provides an uncomplicated and user-friendly interface in the case of editing websites.
- You don’t need to worry about installing or updating software on Wix.
Cons of using Wix:
- The designs and third-party integrations are limited in Wix.
- In contrast to WordPress, Wix has limitations when it comes to functionality.
- Compared to WordPress, Wix is expensive for a long-term plan.
Q4. Which platform offers more storage and bandwidth?
The storage and bandwidth offered by Wix are constrained to the plans you opt for. Alternatively, maximum WordPress hosting corporations provide limitless bandwidth and storage. Hence, undoubtedly WordPress offers you more storage and bandwidth.
Q5. Which is better: Wix or WordPress?
If you are confident in technical components and you are about to build a complex website, WordPress is the best option for you. However, Wix is a better platform if you ain’t that confident in the technical components of a website. Wix will help you to create a professional website even if you are a complete beginner.
Q6. Is Wix or WordPress easier to use?
The skeleton of Wix is made up of drop and drag tools. However, WordPress is complicated and requires a higher level of technical proficiency. So, Wix wins this area!
Q7. Is Wix really free?
Wix has free plans as well as paid plans. However, the free plans consist of advertisements. You can easily eliminate advertisements by opting for a paid plan.
Q8. What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.com is a digital blogging platform that’s hosted for you. On the other hand, WordPress.org is a self-hosted blogging platform. It uses code to curate and manage the websites.
Q9. How much does it cost to build a website with Wix?
There are free as well as paid plans available on Wix. So you can build a website at zero cost. However, free plans have many constraints. For instance, limitations on features and functions, advertisement and branding by Wix, not being able to connect your domain name, etc. The paid plans range from $49 to $134 if paid annually. If you choose to pay for every month the cost may go higher.
Q10. How much does it cost to build a website with WordPress?
Hosting of a website on WordPress ranges from around $5 to $10 per month. The domain name will cost you around $10 per year. The expense will range from $30 to $80 if you wish to invest in the paid themes. Extra plugins are available for $15 to $50. So the first investment you make in building a website at WordPress will cost you $200.
