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WordPress vs. Wix – Which is Right for You?
With time, website builders and Content Management Systems (CMSs) have managed to change the perception of web design. They do that by giving users the opportunity to build a website without any coding knowledge. In this article, we will be covering WordPress vs Wix and let you decide which one suits your needs better.
There are lots of website building tools currently on the market, but only a few of them soar above the rest. Those are the most appealing to individuals and businesses that wish to get their spot in the ferocious online competition for high search engine rankings. In this post, we will be sharing knowledge and comparing two of the giants when it comes to website platforms – Wix and WordPress. It’s known that we are quite fond of WordPress, but we will not let that fact cloud our objective final evaluation.
Note that
we will be comparing Wix with the self-hosted version of WordPress
(WordPress.org – the one that needs web hosting).
Table of Contents:
- · What is WordPress?
o Hosted WordPress
o Self-hosted WordPress
- · What is Wix?
- · WordPress vs. Wix
o Usage
o Pricing
§ Wix Pricing
§ WordPress Pricing
o
Ease
of Use
o
Flexibility
o
Ecommerce
o
Customization
o
Extensions
and Plugins
o
Maintenance
o
Site
and Content Ownership
- · WordPress vs. Wix – Pros and Cons
o The Pros
o The Cons
- · WordPress vs. Wix — Who Wins?
What is WordPress?
For
starters, there are two different versions of WordPress:
Hosted WordPress
(WordPress.com);
Self-hosted
WordPress (WordPress.org);
Hosted
WordPress, which is available at WordPress.com is a
software as a service (SaaS) tool for building and maintaining websites.
Starting
out as a blogging service, with time it has become a fully-fledged website
builder. In order to use it, one has to pay a monthly fee. Users of the hosted
version of WordPress have access to lots of features to help them build their
website. That makes this version of the platform similar to Wix. Your site is
hosted on the WordPress servers and you don’t need to think about web hosting.
However,
hosted WordPress is not as an “all-in-one” solution as Wix. Despite its SaaS
nature, users have to rely on third-party themes and plugins if they want to
get the best out of the platform when it comes to visual appeal.
Self-hosted
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that can be downloaded from
WordPress.org. In order for it to be installed, users need to have purchased a
web hosting plan. WordPress is open-source, which means that its code is freely
available for everyone to help modify it. The fact that people all over the
world can participate in its development makes WordPress extremely powerful and
flexible.
Practically,
that makes the sites built with the self-hosted WordPress be more open to
customization. WordPress is exceptionally flexible. With the right management
from a developer and the addition to some suitable and helpful plugins, you can
use WordPress to build almost any type of website.
However,
keep note that even without the help of a skilled developer, you can still use
WordPress and build websites without any coding knowledge. For example, you can
avoid HTML or CSS entirely by making use of a third party visual editor such as
Divi.
Additionally,
the Block Editor (aka Gutenberg plugin) is a drag-and-drop tool that helps
laying out content for pages and posts. It makes content management much
easier, especially for novice website owners.
The truth
is that, compared to hosted WordPress and Wix, you will need to spend some more
time if you want to get the best of the self-hosted WordPress. This goes
especially if you want to learn how to do things yourself, without the
assistance of a developer. Luckily, nowadays you can find all the help you need
on the Internet.
What is Wix?
In its
core, Wix is a cloud-based service. It allows users to design and build
personalized websites without any coding knowledge. Wix offers most of what you
need (a domain name, hosting, templates, CMS, etc.) to build and maintain a
website out of the box.
While it’s
entirely possible to avoid apps and custom coding when using Wix, you still
have the option to enhance your Wix site with both of those.
The two
main ways to get started with Wix are:
Using the
Wix Editor. It allows users to pick their template, create a structure for
their website, and continue with populating the site with content.
Using the
Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (Wix ADI) mode. It automatically builds a
customizable website with images, video, and text. That’s done after the user
is asked about what they are aiming to achieve. If there is publicly available
information about the user’s business or their personality on the web, Wix
takes it and includes it in the automatically built website.
Both
methods are designed for users that have no web development knowledge. There is
a third mode, which is called Wix Corvid. It offers access to the Wix APIs and
gives users permission to create dynamic pages, as well as database
collections. To use Corvid, you would need to have some development skills, but
it definitely leads to more creative website designs.
WordPress vs. Wix
When it
comes to comparing WordPress and Wix, we can’t just answer with one word. There
are a lot of characteristics that need to be compared in order to come to the
final conclusion and choose a winner. Also, different platforms sometimes
answer different needs better than others.
We will go
on with comparing some of the crucial factors of both WordPress and Wix and
help you clearly see and evaluate which one is better suited for the type of
website you are creating.
Usage
When
picking the best platform for you, one of the most important things to look at
is the platform’s history and user numbers. The reason for that is because the
larger a platform is, the lower the risk of it failing at some point in time
and your website going down with that failure. The large user base is also a
factor for rich resources made for the platform. So, let’s compare the usage
stats of WordPress and Wix.
As of May
27, 2020, according to W3Techs, the comparison between WordPress and Wix user
numbers is the following:
Usage and
market share – WordPress is used by 36.7% of all the websites, which is a
content management system market share of 63.4%. Wix, on the other hand is used
by merely 1.4% of all the websites, with a market share of 2.4%.
WordPress vs. Wix Usage and Market Share
Usage by ranking – Overall, WordPress is used by 63.4% of all the websites whose content management system we know, while Wix is used only by 2.4%.
WordPress vs. Wix Usage by Ranking
Additionally,
here’s an up-to-date screenshot from Google Trends that compares the
interest-over-time (worldwide) of both platforms:
Google Trends WordPress vs. Wix
interest-over-time Comparison
The percentage
is not to say Wix is less than a big platform that a lot of people use. Wix is
just lacking when compared to the most used CMS, which is WordPress.
WordPress
was founded in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little; fast-forward to 2020 and
the self-hosted version is now hugely popular, powering around 37.5 million
websites.
Wix was
founded in 2006, currently being one of the larger website building companies.
It employs more than 1800 people and there are currently roughly 3.8 million
existing Wix websites.
When it
comes to user numbers, the obvious winner is WordPress, which makes it the
safer bet, especially if you are starting a business with long term plans.
However, Wix also has great numbers, and it does not seem to be going anywhere
in the near future.
Choosing
the right platform for you should be a compilation of factors, which include
not only the number of users but also pricing, ease of use, flexibility,
customization, available tools, etc.
Pricing
Wix Pricing
One of the
concerns when choosing a website builder for your first website is, of course,
pricing. People are often on a budget when they initially start with something.
That’s why pricing is one of the factors we are taking into consideration. Both
WordPress and Wix can be viewed as free platforms (to an extent). With that
said, you should be aware that if you want to stand even a little bit above the
rest, you will need to spend some money.
If you
choose Wix, you can create a free website, but if you want to get more features
that will help you with boosting your traffic or conversions, it’s recommended
to choose one of the premium plans:
Wix Website Premium Plans
If you go
with the free Wix plan, there will be Wix ads all over your website. Choosing
premium enables you to remove those, which makes you look much more
professional in the eyes of your visitors or customers. Additionally, the premium Wix plan lets you
choose your custom domain, and we all know how important that is for branding.
The
investment for a custom domain (about $10 per year) is definitely worth it,
especially since you won’t have to include your Wix username in the domain.
WordPress Pricing
WordPress
pricing is different. You don’t have to pay in order to use the platform, but
since it’s self-hosted, you will need a hosting environment for it, therefore
you have to choose a hosting provider and one of the plans they are offering.
FastComet shared plans
have one of the best
pricing on the market. There is no reason for you to skip on checking them out
and seeing what each of them offers.
Since
domain fees are associated with Registrars, they are the same for WordPress as
they are for Wix. Additionally, when we talk about WordPress and its
flexibility, that can be said about its pricing as well. You can run a
WordPress site for less than a hundred bucks, but if you decide to go for a
more personalized look (premium themes and plugins) and money is not an issue,
you can jump well over $1000 yearly.
When it
comes to Wix, you have already seen on the screenshot that the cheapest premium
plan is $156 per year, which is considered a high entry-level cost.
Ease of Use
When it
comes to web development skills, both WordPress and Wix are not demanding from
you to have them. Both platforms are intuitive and let you create a website
within minutes. However, if you are a total newbie when it comes to web design
and development, Wix would be the better option and will take it much easier on
you.
Still,
with the Block Editor in WordPress, you can manage almost the entire website.
You can insert, drag-and-drop content elements, add buttons and lists, etc.
With Wix,
you will be using an HTML 5 editor. That editor lets you do all the basic stuff
needed when you are creating a website. In other words, you are compiling your
site like a puzzle, from the perspective of a front end user, without having to
type any code. There is also the alternative, where you can use the Wix ADI and
answer some questions that will help the platform build up a site for you.
If you
have spare time, you can also research and find plenty of helpful documentation
about both platforms. Nowadays, everything can be found on the Internet and
everyone can learn what they are interested in. Take advantage of that privilege
and use it to make the most appealing site possible, no matter which platform
you end up choosing.
It’s clear
that when it comes to ease of use, Wix scores a bit higher, but that does not
mean WordPress is difficult to manage. The upside of that steeper learning
curve is that once you get the hang of WordPress, you will have access to many
more options when designing your website. That brings us to our next point in
the comparison.
Flexibility
Wix is a
good option if you want a quick and simple way to create a website, but if you
want it to be unique and creative, your eyes should be set on WordPress. The
platform requires a bit more technical knowledge, but since you can find
everything you need on the web, everything is actually just a matter of time
and commitment. Compared to Wix, WordPress provides a much wider selection of
customization options, which we will cover a bit later in the post.
The true
flexibility of WordPress comes from the fact that it uses open-source code. You
or your developer can alter all the files that build up your website. Add some
HTML and CSS experience to that formula, and then you get that unique website
look everyone is aiming for.
With Wix,
you don’t have access to the source code, and therefore you are restricted just
to the features that are provided out of the box, which limits the ground for
creativity.
The fact
that WordPress can be used for a broad range of websites means that there are
endless opportunities when using the CMS. You can adapt the platform to create
almost any type of website with it.
Even if
you may not need to use all of the features that WordPress is offering, you
should always think about the long run. With time, you will probably want to
improve your site more and more, and WordPress is the platform that can give
you that flexibility. Yes, you can migrate from Wix to WordPress, but that’s a
step you can skip if you consider your strategies beforehand.
Ecommerce
Having the
option to create an online store is also important, especially nowadays. Most
beginners look for that feature, and that’s why we are going to compare the
eCommerce options that both WordPress and Wix offer.
You can
get eCommerce with Wix for free, but you will be limited when it comes to
features. That’s why you should aim for their eCommerce paid plans paid plans.
Wix
Business and eCommerce Premium Plans
You will
be able to implement a variety of payment methods for your online store,
including the most popular ones – PayPal and Credit Card.
There are
some third-party apps that can be used for selling your products or services
online, but those apps are even pricier than the premium Wix plans (high
monthly fees). On top of that, those apps don’t have the range of payment
options that Wix offers.
WordPress
makes it exceptionally easy to create an online store with the use of
WooCommerce, which powers more than 42% of all eCommerce websites.
There are
other very good eCommerce plugins available for WordPress, such as Easy Digital
Downloads (EDD) and WP eCommerce. You
can use them to sell physical and/or digital goods, services, events,
subscriptions, and more.
Most of the WordPress
eCommerce plugins, including WooCommerce, have their own dedicated themes and
add-on plugins.
WooCommerce
and Wix Store take the 1st and 2nd place when it comes to eCommerce market
share. They are both good options if you need to build an online store.
However, if you want to be ready for growth, your choice should be WordPress +
WooCommerce, because it offers much more flexibility, freedom, and choices when
compared to Wix.
Customization
All
websites need some personalization and customization. Depending on your plans,
you may want to go further than just the usual stuff (titles, logos, brand
colors, etc.) One of the reasons for WordPress to be adored by many is exactly
its customization. With the CMS, there are endless possibilities – you don’t
have to limit yourself to a template with genuine design options.
However,
if you want to customize your site, you can do that with both Wix and
WordPress, and you don’t need to have development experience. Still, you can
edit the WordPress code, but it’s not completely necessary.
The design
options of Wix are very similar to when you install and activate a theme in
WordPress, and then start personalizing it via the Customizer. With WordPress,
once you install and activate a theme, you can personalize it via the
Customizer.
However,
consider the fact that there are over 3 000 themes (without including
third-party themes) in the WordPress Theme Directory, while with Wix you have
approximately 500 official templates. Of course, that’s also not a small
number, but you see the difference.
Extensions and Plugins
Both
WordPress and Wix come with the basic features you need when you are creating a
simple website. However, you most likely already have a lot of ideas about how
you want your website to look. With WordPress, you can take advantage of its
countless extensions and plugins. Those will definitely be of much help on your
way to perfection. There are over 55 000 free plugins to choose from, and you
can do it right from the Plugin Directory.
Additionally,
like with themes, there are many third-parties that create and sell WordPress
plugins. If you are willing to spend, you can find lots of quality premium
plugins. There are plugins for everything – from malware scanning, through SEO,
to opt-in forms, you name it. Use them to enhance both your website design and
its performance.
The Wix
add-on directory is called the App Market. If you are going for a simple web
page, using Wix with its roughly 200 apps will probably be more than enough for
you. Wix apps are all tested for compatibility and you will rarely experience
any issues with them. Additionally, since all apps are developed privately,
they are a safe choice when it comes to security.
Maintenance
From a
maintenance point of view, WordPress is constantly updating its core, improving
security and fixing bugs with each new patch. This happens a few times a year,
meaning you will have to be up-to-date and follow up on those updates,
especially if you want your website to be at its top condition. You can check
out our blog post post Why
You Should Always Use the Latest Version of WordPress.
Additionally,
when using WordPress, you will probably have some third-party plugins
installed. You should monitor those as well and keep them updated. If you find
that that the WordPress developer of either themes and plugins does not keep up
with WordPress new releases, better find add-ons that are constantly and
properly maintained. Tools that are not up-to-date can be a potential threat to
the security and performance of your website.
When it
comes to Wix, you don’t have to worry about updating your platform or the
features that come with it. All updates are carried by the Wix technical team,
after which your site gets them automatically. Most of the times you won’t even
notice those updates, especially the small ones.
Wix also
creates new templates all the time, which can be added to your existing
website. Keep in mind, though, that if you want to switch to a different
template, you will have to redesign your whole website all over again.
Site and Content Ownership
When it
comes to site and content ownership, it’s clear that with WordPress, because
you are using web hosting, every bit of data on your website is your own.
Wix users
waive all claims against Wix regarding their site being used in marketing or
promotional material.
Here is a
screenshot from the Wix Copyright Terms page:
WordPress
and its self-hosted nature offer freedom, while with Wix there are certain
conditions.
WordPress vs. Wix – Pros and Cons
Let’s
revise, as well as add some factors to the table.
The Pros
WordPress
Pros:
·
WordPress
(the software) is free and open-source;
·
The
CMS gets frequent updates and has a large supporting community.
·
Great
content management capabilities;
·
There
are thousands of WordPress themes and plugins available;
·
Finding
the perfect design is a matter of time;
·
WordPress
is the most popular CMS on the web;
·
WordPress
is great for blogging;
·
It’s
exceptionally customizable.
Wix Pros:
·
Everything
happens within Wix.com;
·
A
good range of features from the get-go;
·
No
need to worry about technical stuff;
·
Has
integrated eCommerce (you need WooCommerce with WordPress);
·
Drag-and-drop
site building;
·
You
can get started in a couple of minutes (quicker than with WordPress);
·
You
get direct support if needed;
The Cons
WordPress
Cons:
·
WordPress
requires additional costs in the form of domain and hosting.
·
Some
themes are too different from others;
·
Plugins
are diverse and working with some of them requires research;
·
There’s
no direct support (but there are support forums).
Wix Cons:
·
Wix
does not provide full control over your website;
·
You
cannot change your site design after you choose one;
·
Not
all designs are SEO-friendly;
·
Not
all designs are appealing;
·
The
customization possibilities are limited (everything has to be pre-approved by
Wix);
·
The
blogging module is not as intuitive as with WordPress.
WordPress vs. Wix — Who Wins?
There is
no clear winner for each case, but if we consider the flexibility, which is one
of the long term factors, WordPress should be the winner. Yes, Wix is much
easier to use from the get-go, but there are a lot of limitations coming with
that fact. People are made to strive for more, and you should take that into
consideration when choosing between the two platforms.
Creating a
unique design is important for your brand, and with the limited options Wix
gives, there are a lot of similar websites built with the platform. On the flip
side, WordPress has tons of customization options and you can always make
improvements.
So, choose
wisely, it’s all up to you. Our recommendation, for clear reasons, is
WordPress, especially if you can get Managed WordPress Hosting, such as FastComet.
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