One of the first concerns you’ll have about creating a website is which platform to use. This is a bigger consideration than you realize, as every decision from there on out is influenced by your choice. WordPress vs Wix is a common comparison, because both platforms are prominent and feature-heavy.

For example, Wix includes almost everything you need within the box to start creating your website. In contrast, WordPress needs more technical information. However, Wix does have some major drawbacks that aren’t visible at first glance.

For this post, we’re going to look at WordPress vs Wix and discuss which one might suit you better. First, let’s talk about what Wix is, and why it’s with us.

Introducing Wix

For the unaware, Wix is a website builder platform rather than a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. The difference is that Wix looks to include everything you need to create and manage your site, without the need for third-party solutions.

Compared to other website platforms, Wix is one of the more popular. While no solution can compete with WordPress on sheer user numbers, it does have a healthy market share that dukes it out with Joomla! and Squarespace.

The major appeal of Wix is the all-in-one feature set, and the ease of use of the platform. In fact, let’s dig into this a little further in the next section.

Why You Might Want to Use Wix to Publish Your Site

While it’s easy to dismiss Wix as a WordPress also-ran, it has plenty to offer site owners. For example, there’s a focus on the User Experience (UX) that is commendable. You’ll choose a template for your site before you sign up, which is a great way to get someone ‘on the hook’. It’s a quick process, and you can begin to create your site straight away.

What’s more, there are lots of helpful tooltips across the Wix dashboard that will help you understand what every feature does. We also like the editing experience with Wix. There are administration menus full of specific options, and the visual editor is a joy to use too:

We also like how users don’t have to worry about site security, as Wix handles this. It’s a scary facet of running a site, and Wix’s responsibility for your site’s security is going to appeal to less technical and fearful users.

Although Wix doesn’t need to extend its functionality per se, the App Market is one of the best available, and fills the gaps missing in the core software:

On the whole, Wix is going to appeal to users who don’t want to deal with the technical aspects of running a site. This is a valid consideration, and for this, Wix has a lot to offer.

Where WordPress Does Better Than Wix

Of course, WordPress has a lot of positives too. It’s open-source, which means that you have a whole community working on the platform, rather than a development team disconnected from its users.

Wix also doesn’t let you take your site elsewhere if you want to use a competitor. This isn’t an ideal stance to take, and most other website builder platforms do let you export and migrate content. As such, the expectation from Wix is that you use the platform forever, which isn’t feasible.

WordPress also has more options for theming your site, and extending the functionality. While Wix offers around 800 templates, WordPress has thousands of themes – both free and premium depending on your budget:

The WordPress Plugin Directory is also well-stocked, and you should be able to find what you need within its library. It gives you flexibility to create a site your way, rather than working within the set parameters that Wix offers.

WordPress vs Wix: Pricing

It’s fair to note that WordPress vs Wix isn’t the direct comparison you think. Both platforms look to achieve different goals, and this reflects in the pricing.

For example, the WordPress core software is free, but will need you to spend money to obtain hosting, a domain, plugins, and themes. Depending on your choices, you could spend around $350–400 per year on a complete WordPress website.

In contrast, Wix restricts the features and functionality you get through subscription tiers. There are seven different tiers to choose from with Wix, depending on whether you want to set up e-commerce functionality. There’s a free tier too, but this is a limited representation of Wix, rather than a legitimate way to publish a site.

In all, you’ll likely pay around $30 per month at most for the entire Wix experience – around $360 per year. When you compare this to WordPress’ need for hosting, a domain, and other factors, it’s a steal. However, WordPress represents a better longer-term investment. This is because you own your content, and you also get to make the decisions about how your site presents.

In short, WordPress represents better value for money, despite the need for a larger initial outlay.

WordPress vs Wix: Which Platform You Should Use

While it may not seem so, WordPress vs Wix is a tougher comparison that you’d think. This is because Wix offers good functionality and a solid UX. Because everything you need is accessible from the start, the learning curve is shallow. WordPress can have a steeper curve, especially when it comes to the technical aspects of running a site.

In our opinion, despite Wix’s robust feature set and excellent App Market, WordPress wins the battle. It’s unrestricted in what you can achieve, modular in its approach, and cost-effective over the long term. WordPress is built to scale with your site’s success, whereas you could hit a ceiling with Wix and lose value.

In Summary

Choosing a website platform is a crucial decision, so you’ll want to do your research before spending your money. One key skirmish for WordPress vs Wix is that both are free at core. This makes your decision that much tougher.

However, WordPress offers flexibility, scalability, and modularity. What’s more, there’s a fantastic community that all strives to make the platform the best it can be. Because of this, WordPress is a go-to solution regardless of the needs of your site.

Do you think there’s something extra to add in the discussion between WordPress vs Wix? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!