WordPress vs Wix, which is better? Both are long-standing and popular platforms for creating websites. If you are thinking about creating a new website either could be a solid place to start.
However, which one you implement will make a big difference down the line.
They have some key differences that may make one more suitable than the other for your needs. So, before you create your site, you might want to compare the two …
Wix vs WordPress – Table of Contents
What About WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that is available for free. You can host it on your server – many website hosts will install it for you. Also, there are free and paid hosting options available directly from wordpress.org.
You can customise WordPress easily and use it to create a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. You’ll find it easy to install and adding plugins is quite simple. But beyond the basics, having additional technical knowledge will really help make your website work as you need.
With WordPress you have full control over the design and functionality of your website and, in most cases, you can adapt it to your exact needs.
There are a huge number of inexpensive, high-quality templates (themes) to buy online. Your website could and should look great.
A word of warning …
… not all themes are equal. Even some of the better-looking ones may only work under very specific circumstances. There may be a huge number of inexpensive, high-quality themes to buy online but there’s a lot of dross out there.
First the Good News …
At the time of writing, something like one third of all the websites in the world are WordPress websites. That means there’s a vast community of developers who constantly update and improve the platform.
WordPress releases new features and improvements regularly.
… and Now Some Bad
With so many sites out there (each in a different state of maintenance) and a code base which anyone can download and analyse, WordPress sites are a frequent target for hackers and other Black-Hat operators.
To make matters worse – with anyone able to write and distribute plugins, that vital functionality you added might provide a back-door into your database.
You need to research each plugin you install well and keep it up to date.
So, if you’re doing anything with WordPress beyond hosting a simple brochure site, you will need to implement and maintain a strategy for keeping your data and code secure.
… and There’s More …
WordPress’s original creators didn’t set out to design a Content Management System. The underlying data structure that made it a fast, efficient platform for hosting a personal Blog can end up grunting and heaving under the additional code required to make the site secure and all those plugins work. A WordPress site can end up running very slowly.
But fortunately there are a number of plugins which you can install to make your side run much, much faster. If you have a clued up host, WordPress can take advantage of modern server-side caches to really zip things up.
What About Ecommerce?
You can extend WordPress with WooCommerce – the native WordPress ecommerce extension. More than just a plugin, WooCommerce is an entire environment with it’s own suite of plugins and extensions which allow you to sell almost anything and deliver it anywhere.
It’s your job to ensure you’re complying with relevant legislation regarding privacy and data security (GDPR) but fortunately there are plugins to help you deal with that too.
So Why Use it At All?
WordPress has managed to create an incredibly flexible platform. Almost any functionality you can think of delivered over a robust platform. In theory it’s free but if you want to use it for your business it is unlikely to be so.
Experimentation is cheap, if you don’t like the way your competition plugin works you could try another quickly and cheaply. The entire platform is incredibly adaptable.
If you want your website to do anything unusual at all and your budget is in any way limited, WordPress is an excellent choice.
And What About Wix?
Wix has been around a while. WordPress came out in 2003 and Wix did not appear until 2006.
So What’s Good About Wix?
Well, it’s simple.
Wix is a website builder that is user-friendly and easy to use, even for those with no technical experience. In recent years, the sign-up process (at wix.com) has become very customer-focussed. As you go through the onboarding process, Wix suggests the functions you might want and the appearance you might like. There’s a strong chance you’ll get a website you like straight out of the box (and you’ll be reaching for your payment card).
Once installed, Wix offers a wide range of templates and drag-and-drop tools to help users create a website quickly and easily.
It’s is a hosted platform, so you don’t have to worry about hosting and maintaining the website yourself.
For better or for worse you have no real control over the security of your site and its data. Expect it to be very good – Wx have a dedicated security team dedicated to keeping your data safe and legally compliant.
And What’s Not So Good?
A Wix site tends to be fast but you have no control over that. If your site starts running slowly, beyond raising a technical support ticket, there’s very little you can do but wait.
Also with that simplicity comes some limitations, such as less control over the design and functionality of your website. The level of customisation is almost non-existent when compared with WordPress and the website can be less scalable if you plan to grow the business.
That said, you can do a lot with the appearance of Wix, even with a strong templating engine we have seen Wix sites made truly hideous.
Wix is not free. If you’re paying the cheapest rate you’ll also have to host other people’s adverts on your website. It can be more expensive in the long run, as some features and integrations are only available with the more expensive paid plans.
What About Ecommerce?
Wix supports a robust ecommerce platform. Wix has more that seventy payment gateways available to use with little configuration.
If you know what you want to sell, and Wix can handle it (and it’s not going to change), Wix ecommerce may work well for you.
Wix vs WordPress – Who Wins?
As always, it depends on what you need:
- WordPress is a more powerful and flexible platform that is better suited for complex websites and those with technical expertise.
- Wix is a simpler and more user-friendly option for those who want to create a website quickly and easily without the need for technical skills.
It is unlikely that WordPress ever couldn’t meet your needs (and there will be a developer out there who can make almost anything happen). But if you know what you want, what you will always want, and don’t want to deal with much technical support, then Wix could be a great choice.
Wix and WordPress? In the end, it depends on the specific needs and goals of your website and your level of technical expertise. WordPress is a good choice if you need a more customisable, scalable and robust website. Whereas Wix is a good option if you’re looking for an easy-to-use, budget-friendly platform that doesn’t require technical skills.