Are you planning to build your own ecommerce website? If yes, you may be searching for a suitable website builder for an online store. In this regard, the two most popular options available in the market are WordPress and Wix.
WordPress shines out with a 63.1 percent market share in the year 2023. It comes with sophisticated customisation options. Whereas, Wix is more suitable for beginners who are searching for a platform that is effortless to use without any technical expertise. In this guide, we will discuss Wix or WordPress which is better. So, let’s get started:
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a recognised and widely used content management system that lets users build and manage websites and blogs. It is known to be one of the most versatile and prominent platforms. About 810 million sites are crafted employing WordPress. Also, the target audience of WordPress is diverse due to its versatility and flexibility.
This platform effectively caters to a wide range of users, from individuals with no coding experience to organisations of different sizes who want to have a professional website. Again, the customisation options you are expected to find in WordPress are more when compared to Wix. So, whenever you leverage this platform, you get total control over every aspect of your site, as it is supported by various plugins and themes. For best results, it is a good idea to hire WordPress developers or opt for custom WordPress development services.
What is Wix?
Wix refers to a cloud-based website-building platform you can use for building websites and web apps with almost no coding experience. It possesses a diverse range of features and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. There are more than 500 built-in templates in Wix that facilitate the effortless building of your site. You can even come up with a website without hiring a web developer or having specialist skills.
Due to this reason, it is considered to be a best-suited platform for novices lacking technical know-how. Now let’s find out Wix or WordPress which is better by having a look at the key differences between them in the following section:
WordPress vs Wix: A Detailed Comparison
If you are confused between these two platforms and finding the answer to whether Wix or WordPress is better, then understanding the key difference between Wix and WordPress will surely help you. In this section, we will explore these distinctions in detail. So, let’s find out:
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Ease of Use
WordPress
WordPress is a versatile platform but is known to have a steep learning curve. It has a complex dashboard, which is not beginner-friendly. Also, the setup process is a bit complicated. However, WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility, which makes it one of the most sought-after options. But, if you are considering factors like ease of use, then it does not stand out as an excellent choice.
To get started with WordPress, you will require a domain name and web hosting. So, in this case, the initial setup is more technical when compared to Wix. You can ease out this process by choosing to hire a WordPress developer. Once you install WordPress, you will find the WordPress block editor that helps design and structure your content. The strength of WordPress lies in its capability to craft complex and highly tailored sites, which may take more effort to learn the platform.
Wix
Wix, on the other hand, comes with a beginner-friendly interface. So, even people without any technical know-how can effortlessly use this platform and leverage benefits from it. With this, one can easily build a professional website. It also includes a free domain for one year and hosting. The onboarding procedure is also simple in this case. As soon as you sign up, Wix guides you through a setup wizard which allows you to select your desired design style and the type of site you wish to create.
The best part about Wix is its drag-and-drop builder, which is known as the Wix Editor. It allows you to visually assemble the elements of your website. Through its intuitive interface, users can effortlessly add images, text, videos and other elements by dragging them onto your page, making their website design journey easier.
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Page Builders
WordPress
WordPress is known for offering a wide diversity of page builders. One of the most popular options includes the Gutenberg block editor. This editor typically uses a block-based system where you can add and organise content elements easily through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. This approach helps in effectively streamlining the process, catering to beginners while offering a lot of flexibility to experienced users.
With its aid, you can even insert videos, images, text, widgets and more as individual blocks. This modular structure lets you independently fine-tune each element, improving customisation. Its functionality is further extended with the extensive library of Gutenberg-compatible plugins, which allows for smooth integration of ecommerce features, SEO optimisation, and much more. Make sure to hire WordPress developer to receive expert assistance related to this.
Wix
While Wix is well-known for its user-friendly and smooth website builder for small businesses, it also provides an all-in-one solution. It means that you can build and design your overall website within the Wix platform. As already mentioned in the above section, the Wix page builder features a genuine drag-and-drop interface that allows users to easily add, arrange and style elements on web pages. The strength of Wix lies in its WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, which offers users real-time previews of changes as they edit their website.
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Ecommerce
WordPress
WordPress boasts robust ecommerce abilities through plugins such as WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads. Although to leverage these capabilities it may require more setup and configuration. However, WordPress offers a diverse range of customisation options. Another great thing about WordPress plugins such as WooCommerce is that they are highly customisable.
So, it lets you tailor the functionality, design and payment gateways of your ecommerce store as per your unique requirements. Due to this flexibility, WordPress is considered an outstanding choice for businesses with specific ecommerce requirements or those looking forward to expanding their online presence.
Wix
On the contrary, Wix adopts a simple approach to ecommerce. With Wix, it is easy to incorporate ecommerce features into your site. You can effortlessly carry out the initial setup process with just a few clicks. Not only that, but this platform also allows you to quickly set up product pages, incorporate images and define pricing with less effort.
Another standout feature of Wix is its built-in inventory management, which effectively streamlines the tracking of product availability along with sales. This platform is user-friendly and offers much-needed convenience, so small business owners and entrepreneurs who are seeking hassle-free ways to sell online can rely on it.
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Plugins and Apps
WordPress
There is a vast array of plugins available in WordPress, which makes it a powerhouse when it comes to functionality customisation. As of 2023, there are about 60,000 plugins available in the WordPress Plugin Repository.
These plugins are designed to cater to distinct requirements, from ecommerce integration and SEO optimisation to social media sharing and membership management. This diversity allows WordPress users to customise their websites as per their needs. Again, the open-source nature of WordPress allows developers to build and share plugins, which helps in extending the capabilities of the platform. For more information, you can hire WordPress developers or choose the best WordPress CMS development services.
Wix
Wix, on the other hand, is known for following a distinct approach. It offers users a wide selection of built-in tools and features that effectively cover many common requirements.
Along with the built-in features, Wix also offers an app marketplace. However, it is not as extensive as the plugin library of WordPress. But, the marketplace offers users a curated selection of applications and integrations. These apps are designed in a fashion so that they integrate with Wix websites seamlessly, offering many extra functionalities such as contact forms, social media feeds and booking systems.
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Customisation
WordPress
WordPress is highly customisable and flexible. It offers users with exceptional control over their site. This platform again offers a large number of themes that are easy to modify and allow you to craft unique designs. Additionally, WordPress integrates well with 3rd party page builders like Divi and Elementor, which offer even more advanced customisation alternatives.
Wix
Wix also offers a user-friendly platform for customisation. It comes with an easy-to-use website builder for online stores, which lets users effortlessly modify the content and layout of the website. This intuitive approach is considered to be beneficial for individuals without technical knowledge. Another good part about Wix is that it integrates an AI text creator, which can facilitate the generation of site content depending on the user’s input. As a result, it helps in effectively streamlining the content creation process.
Now, let’s find out Wix or WordPress which is better for your online business:
Wix or WordPress: Which Is Better for Your Ecommerce Business?
WordPress vs Wix
Whenever it comes to ecommerce, both platforms, i.e., WordPress and Wix, provide their unique benefits and drawbacks. With pre-built ecommerce features and an intuitive interface, Wix offers an accessible entry point for smaller ecommerce businesses. But, it is essential to note that this platform often necessitates a paid plan for leveraging its complete ecommerce functionality. There are even restrictions when it comes to managing larger ecommerce stores.
On the other hand, WordPress is known for providing a tailored and more robust ecommerce solution. It allows for advanced customisation and offers a wide diversity of plugin alternatives, which makes it an excellent choice for businesses seeking to expand their online presence. Again, when you choose WordPress, you have greater control over the hosting environment, which results in swifter page load times and a boost in the performance of your ecommerce website.
WordPress vs Wix: Which Platform Wins?
WordPress emerges as an ultimate winner as it offers a lot of opportunities in terms of customisation and functionality. Its vast library of themes and plugins offers users unmatched control over their sites. The level of flexibility and customisation offered by WordPress is difficult to match.
So, it can be a preferred choice for those looking forward to crafting feature-rich and unique websites. Due to its open-source nature, it ensures constant development and support, which makes it future-proof.
Final Thoughts
Thus, the choice between WordPress and Wix is dependent on your specific project requirements. So, you should make sure to consider your needs before making any decision. We are sure that after reading this WordPress vs Wix comparison, you will be able to make a practical choice between these two options that will cater to your business objective.
If you have decided to choose WordPress, then to achieve the best outcomes, it is suggested to hire a WordPress developer. As they possess related experience, they can assist you in the best possible manner.
