The biggest difference between WordPress and Wix is in their technical approach and where the sites are hosted. Wix is an all-in-one website builder service where you can build and manage your website within Wix.com. On the other hand, WordPress is a standalone self-hosted open-source content management system that you must install on a server before you can use it to build, run, and manage your website. Wix is a powerful website building solution, as is WordPress. But they are very different platforms. The best way to decide which option is best for your needs is to understand the differences between the two. Also, be sure to check out our comparisons of Squarespace vs WordPress and Wix vs Squarespace.
Ease Of Use & Learning Curve
Both WordPress and Wix are designed to help non-technical people build professional websites. However, the platforms from a designing, customizing and editing perspective are very different. Wix is the winner hands down when it comes to getting a great looking website up and running quickly and easily.
Designing a Website With Wix
First, sign up for a Wix account and select the type of website you want to build.
Next, choose from one of their many built-in templates and customize it for your needs.
After choosing your template, you will find yourself inside the simple WYSIWYG editor. Easily change images, text, and other elements by dragging and dropping them anywhere on your web page.
Wix also uses artificial intelligence (AI) to build a website based on your responses to questions and other desired criteria. Tell Wix the type of website you want, your niche, and the apps you would like to include. It will return several ready-made project options that include relevant content and the apps you want to use.
To make your website go live, click Publish. The process of creating a website with Wix is easy for beginners who want to use pre-built templates and don’t need too many customizations.
What About WordPress?
WordPress requires more preliminary steps before you can start building a site. To start, you must buy your domain name and sign up for a web hosting service. Once installed, you can choose a WordPress theme to control the look and feel of your website. WordPress doesn’t have a drag-and-drop editor. You can customize everything by adding blocks and elements, but you must start from scratch using one of their themes. There are both free and premium WordPress themes to choose from and customize for your niche and brand. If you are a beginner, Wix is one of the most uncomplicated website builders to use. There is no need to get your own hosting or install any software. The learning curve for WordPress is steeper by far. Many choose WordPress for its flexibility, but it comes with more complexity. You do need some advanced technical skills to modify elements on your site. If you want to use WordPress, there is always the option of hiring a web developer (which can be costly). There is no question that Wix is the best choice when it comes to ease of use and the length of the learning curve. It is designed with user-friendliness in mind.
Plugins & Apps
Apps and plugins are third-party extensions to add more features and functionality to a website. These extensions are called apps in Wix and plugins in WordPress. Wix has over 200 apps with a wide range of features such as site search, event calendars, social media stream, contact forms, email marketing, and galleries. Many Wix apps are free, have a lite version, or require monthly payments. WordPress has over 55,000 free plugins available at WordPress.org and lots of premium versions offered on various marketplaces. Free WordPress plugins can be accessed, installed, and activated directly from your dashboard. No matter what type of functionality or features you want to add to your WordPress website, you will find a plugin for it. There is no shortage of WordPress plugins (free and paid) that will help you build your dream website. WP beats Wix when it comes to the number and choices of plugins versus apps for increased functionality, customizations, and features.
Which Is Better For eCommerce, Wix Or WordPress?
Online selling is another important consideration when deciding between Wix and WordPress. Wix doesn’t allow users to run an eCommerce store without upgrading to a premium plan. Wix stores only accept payments from Authorize.net or PayPal. There are some third-party apps that you can use with your Wix website. However, they will end up costing you a lot of money in addition to the monthly Wix fee. The payment gateways are also limited. It is much easier to create an online store in WordPress using WooCommerce as well as other eCommerce plugins. To build an online store that will grow with your business, WordPress offers much more freedom, choices, and flexibility than Wix.
Wix vs WordPress – Which Is a Better Blogging Platform?
Both platforms can create a blog. But, which one does it better? Wix offers basic blogging features such as adding images, galleries, categories, tagging, GIFs, and a free media library. The layout is clean. The interface is easy to use. However, the posting features are limited, and the editor layout does not have drag and drop functionality as the website builder does.If you want to do anything with your blog beyond the basic features offered, it requires you to use HTML. WordPress began as a blogging platform. This is why it has all the features you need for a blog, such as RSS feeds, native commenting, backdating a post, and other advanced features Wix does not offer. WordPress however does not provide a free media library. If you are looking for a robust and flexible blogging platform, WordPress is your better option. However, if your blogging needs are very basic, Wix is easier to use. The final verdict? It depends upon your needs and level of technical expertise.
SEO and Content Ownership
It’s essential to read the Terms of Service for any platform you use. Third-party platforms, such as Wix, have the right to shut down your blog at any time if you violate any of their terms. Since WordPress is a self-hosted service, you have complete control over your content and you own it. SEO plays a vital role in optimizing your site for search engines. Both Wix and WordPress offer the same fundamentals of on-page and off-page SEO. However, there are other factors that affect your search engine rankings. Since WordPress gives you more control over your site, you are able to improve your SEO by increasing your site speed and other advanced options for indexing, blocking, and crawling. Therefore, WordPress is a better platform than Wix when it comes to SEO and content ownership.
Wix or WordPress – The Final Verdict
If you are not tech-savvy and are looking for simplicity, Wix is the best platform for your needs and level of expertise. WordPress is a better option with more flexibility, customizations, better eCommerce solutions, and control if you are looking to build a larger and more scalable website.
