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Is WordPress better than Wix? Not necessarily!
To answer this question simply, there is no ‘better’ option when it comes to deciding between WordPress and Wix.
Both platforms are popular website builder options for new businesses looking to boost their online presence.
They each have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, and the best choice for you all boils down to your individual needs and preferences.
The good news is, whether you’re seeking simplicity or limitless customization possibilities, we’ll help you uncover the perfect fit for your website!
Read more: Top 10 Website Builders For Small Business.
What Is WordPress?
If you’ve ever considered building a website to enhance your online presence, you’ve likely heard of WordPress.
WordPress is a powerful CMS platform and website builder that currently powers over 40% of websites on the Internet today.
Now, it’s essential to recognize that you can create two types of websites with WordPress on two different platforms: WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
But for the scope of this article, we’ll focus on WordPress.org, an open-source software that’s entirely free to use.
WordPress is known as a versatile platform that allows you to control the design and functionality of your website. And boy, does it deliver!
What Is Wix?
Wix is a popular website builder choice that many small businesses leverage to kickstart their online presence and brand.
With almost 20 years of experience, Wix has helped millions of people in 190+ countries create stunning, professional websites unique to their brand.
The platform is fully hosted, affordable, easy to use, and caters to all types of businesses.
With Wix’s user-friendly interface by your side, you can build your website hassle-free and trust that your website is up and running and secure at all times.
Read more about Wix in my Wix For Small Business review here.
Why Is WordPress Better Than Wix?
WordPress is often considered better than Wix due to several factors. Let’s find out what these are now!
Flexibility and Scalability
Thanks to WordPress’s open-sourced nature, you’re not just a user, you’re a creator.
The level of control, flexibility, and scalability you get with WordPress is unparalleled, giving you the power to shape your online presence as you see fit!
Basically, you own and control your WordPress content, design, and data.
This means you’re not at risk if WordPress suddenly changes its policies, and moving or transferring your site to a different host is easier.
Plus, this allows you the freedom to create authentic narratives, strengthen your brand’s voice, and freely express yourself online.
Read more: 10 Advantages Of WordPress.
Plugins and Themes
Did you know there are over 30,000 WordPress themes and 7000 plugins to enhance the functionality and design of your WordPress website?
Page builders and themes such as Divi or Elementor use visual drag-and-drop builders to help you create the website of your dreams from the ground up.
Simply drag a block (text, image, etc) and drop it where you want it to go on your website, then personalize each block as you wish!
Wix also offers a similar drag-and-drop editor, but you’re more limited regarding formatting options.
And while Wix’s app marketplace is impressive, with over 500 apps to enhance your site’s functionality, it doesn’t even come close to WordPress!
Read more: Divi vs Elementor.
SEO Features
Thanks to the built-in WordPress SEO optimization feature and dynamic SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and RankMath, WordPress is super SEO-friendly.
These plugins are easy to use, comprehensive, and fully customizable.
Some SEO plugin features include optimizing title tags, URL slugs, meta descriptions, content insights, internal linking suggestions, and more.
On the other hand, Wix automates your meta descriptions and title tags, optimizes your images to increase page loading times, and provides you with a built-in SEO checklist.
Wix’s SEO tools are pretty handy and will help with SEO, but WordPress’s capabilities offer more control over various SEO aspects.
Read more: How Much Is SEO For Small Business?
Blogging
WordPress was originally designed as a dedicated blogging platform, so it’s no surprise that it’s better than Wix in this department!
As a CMS, WordPress makes managing and publishing different content (such as blog posts, videos, and podcasts) seamless.
You can completely customize your blog pages, tags, and categories, schedule posts in advance, and even integrate your blog posts with social media platforms.
It is possible to start a blog on Wix with its built-in blog editor to assist with creating and publishing posts, but Wix’s blogging features are pretty basic compared to WordPress.
Read more: 10 Disadvantages of WordPress.
eCommerce
Although Wix offers decent eCommerce features like product management, order processing, and payment tracking, WordPress’s capabilities are simply more robust!
This is because WordPress offers dedicated eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce, one of the most popular eCommerce platforms on the market today.
WooCommerce allows you to completely create and manage your online store and integrate it with various payment gateways.
The platform is also open-sourced, meaning you have the same level of control and freedom as you do with WordPress.
Generally speaking, WordPress’ eCommerce capabilities offer greater power and flexibility than Wix’s.
Read more: What Are The Advantages of Shopify Over WordPress?
Why Is Wix Better Than WordPress?
Okay, so on the flip side, why do some consider Wix better than WordPress? It’s time to jump in and find out.
Ease of Use
When it comes to user-friendliness, Wix is miles ahead of WordPress.
This is due to its intuitive drag-and-drop tools, crisp page editor, and 800+ ready-to-use templates!
Plus, if you don’t want to build your site manually, simply use Wix’s built-in ADI feature.
Wix enables users to create a professional website effortlessly. And the best part is, you don’t have to learn how to code!
On the other hand, although you don’t technically need any coding skills to build a WordPress website, certain technical skills are required for optimal use.
You’ll also have to download one of WordPress’s drag-and-drop editors as a plugin, which is a bit of a pain (with so many options, which do you pick??)
Wix’s editor is built-in, making it easier for beginners with no technical skills to create a website.
Read more: Top 10 Advantages Of Wix.
Affordability
While WordPress is free to use, you’ll have to pay for web hosting, plugins, themes, and ongoing maintenance, which can add up quite quickly!
Wix’s all-inclusive approach is much cheaper than WordPress.
Although basic, the free forever plan allows small teams to build a website entirely for free. And when you’re ready to upgrade, paid plans range from $17-$159 per month.
These plans include hosting, security features, templates, and ongoing maintenance.
Although this initially sounds significantly more expensive than WordPress, you’ll save money in the long run!
Read more: How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
Built-in Features
In addition to website building, everything you need to manage your online presence is available within Wix!
From built-in email marketing, site analytics, SEO tools, and eCommerce capabilities, the good news is you don’t have to leave the platform to use any of these tools!
WordPress also offers these features, but you’ll need to select and install these features using third-party plug-ins.
This can be timely, costly, and overwhelming, especially for beginners.
Read more: Is It Better To Use Wix Or Shopify?
Security and Maintenance
Don’t get me wrong, both Wix and WordPress are super secure. However, Wix takes the cake here for a few reasons.
Wix plans include secure site hosting, ongoing maintenance, and automatic software updates.
Specific security features include SSL encryption, daily malware scans, and firewall protection against your data and website.
Because you own your data with WordPress, you must take care of the security, plugin updates, and general maintenance of your site yourself.
And guess what? Because WordPress is an open-sourced software, it’s naturally easier to hack, so you have to be extra diligent!!
Luckily, there are plenty of third-party security plugins are available on WordPress.
The downside is that you’ll need to regularly update your website, themes, and plugins to ensure constant protection against hackers, whereas Wix takes care of this for you.
Read more: Webflow vs Wix.
WordPress vs Wix: Which Is Best For You?
As you can see, both are excellent website-building options, and there are plenty of reasons why WordPress is better than Wix (and vice versa).
To put it simply, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform to build a professional, simple website, Wix might be the better choice for you.
Additionally, if you’re on a budget, Wix is the cheaper option.
But for those seeking advanced flexibility, scalability, and customization options, I recommend WordPress!
Who Benefits Most From Wix?
Wix caters particularly well to small businesses, entrepreneurs, or individuals simply looking to establish their personal or professional online presence.
I recommend Wix as a top website builder choice for information-based teams, restaurants, hotels, construction teams, consultants, or basic online stores.
Who Benefits Most from WordPress?
WordPress is a better fit for those after a powerful and flexible platform with limitless possibilities for website creation and customization!
If you’re a blogger, designer, or developer, you’ll love the diverse range of themes, plugins, and custom solutions WordPress offers to elevate your site’s functionality.
Stews Final Thoughts
So, is WordPress better than Wix? The answer is….it depends.
When deciding between WordPress and Wix, it ultimately comes down to your specific needs and preferences.
WordPress shines for its versatility, and advanced customization options, and is perfect for those seeking complete control over their website.
Wix stands out for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and all-in-one package, which is suitable for people with no technical knowledge.
Both are awesome tools, and I can guarantee that whichever path you choose, each offer valuable solutions to help you create an impactful online presence!
Thanks for reading.
