If you are preparing to build a website of your own, you have probably gotten to the point where you have to choose between WordPress or Wix.
Maybe you have already read or heard a lot about Wix apps, WordPress widgets, Wix Widgets, WordPress plugins, and much more. We understand how all this information can cause an alphabet soup in your head, so that is why we are here to set the record straight.
Which one is better?
Let’s take a deeper dive and find out!
An Overview
Wix is a well-known website builder that has gotten much attention in the past couple of years due to its high-end marketing campaigns. What makes Wix stand out amongst other site builders is its easy-to-use drag and drop functionality. Today, Wix hosts around 160 million websites in 190 different countries.
On the other hand, WordPress has developed from a blogging platform into a Content Management System (CMS). This software allows you to create professional websites with little technical experience. This platform currently powers 27% of all websites.
Anyone who is looking to start their own website can find themselves unable to choose between the two.
That is why we are going to compare the two based on a few crucial parameters and help you make the right choice.
Pricing
Wix & WordPress Pricing
Wix pride themselves on their completely free plan. However, it is worth mentioning that if you choose a free plan, you cannot remove ads from your site as well as use a custom domain name. This tends to be unappealing to some, but it comes down to what you prefer, especially when you are starting off.
The platform offers eight paid plans. Four of them are high-quality eCommerce plans, and the other four are regular builder plans. If you choose to purchase an annual premium plan for around $12, Wix will grant you a free domain name for one year. There are additional costs for Wix plugins, however, there are some that come with any purchased premium plan. Additionally, there are numerous Wix widgets and functionalities that you can get for free from the Wix App Market. If you choose to sign up for an annual plan instead of a month-to-month payment, you can save up to 24% per year.
WordPress, on the other hand, is completely free to download and use. Although, to use it properly there are a few things that you will have to manage on your own. This includes finding your own host provider, which will cost you as low as $3 per month. Additionally, having a custom domain name is another thing you have to purchase and it costs $10 a year. Lastly, you will want to have the best possible front-end for your website, so you might want to consider a premade theme that will cost you anywhere between $20 – $300 as a one-time payment.
Of course, what is a website without its WordPress plugins and WordPress widgets? This can be an additional cost anywhere from $0-$100 per functionality.
The bottom line is, Wix has better prices and can be considered more affordable. However, WordPress is more flexible with its payments and has more one-time payment options.
So far, it’s somewhat a tie between the two, isn’t it? Well, they both compete in the same market and their features aren’t secrets, so parity should be expected.
Design
Wix & WordPress Design
Creativity plays a huge role when it comes to building a website. The need to have a unique and attention-grabbing design layout for your website has never been greater.
So, what do these two platforms offer?
We will be putting aside Wix plugins and focusing solely on the visual options you have when using this website builder. If you choose Wix, you have a diverse palette of around 800 templates that come with a purchased Wix Plan. Although, it is worth mentioning that most of the templates are catered for beginner users.
WordPress on the other hand almost has no limit of how much you can play and customize your website. This platform is a bit more complex, and you also will require some basic coding skills for additional customization.
The good thing is that you can choose from around 200 pre-made templates, as well as hundreds of third-party templates that have been approved by WordPress. If your creative juices are flowing, getting a developer and creating a design from scratch is also a great choice.
Both platforms offer beautifully crafted designs, and we are certain there are multiple great choices for everyone’s needs.
SEO Capability
Wix & WordPress SEO
SEO is crucial for your website’s visibility, and if you want to be at the top, you have to put a lot of focus on this.
Wix has many attributes that can play well for your SEO game. You will be able to change the page title, headings, and alt attributes on your Wix website. It is worth mentioning that there are additional Wix plugins that can improve the Wix SEO of any website.
WordPress has all kinds of options that allow you to play around with SEO practices. From alt image attributes to headings and titles, WordPress is the definite game-changer. Similar to the Wix plugins, WordPress has many options that you can add to help you out with your WordPress SEO. SEMRush, Yoast SEO, SEO Press are just a few WordPress plugins that you should get as soon as your website is set and ready to go. These plugins can be literal life-savers when you require an efficient SEO tool.
Battle Of The Features
Wix & WordPress Features
It goes without saying that other than the main functionalities, Wix plugins and WordPress widgets can be decisive when choosing between the two.
An extra flair on your website can mean a lot to your business or your goals. Apps, plugins, and widgets are third-party extensions that can help you reach this goal.
Wix plugins have redefined website development with easy drag-and-drop options. Wix Stores, Wix Chat, and 123 Form Builder & Payments are all Wix plugins that have changed the game completely for anyone looking to start an e-commerce business. The platform has many other options for online shops and other businesses. Apps and Wix widgets are widely popular as well, recent numbers show that there are 16 million installations on the platform per year. Wix Code is a popular Wix plugin that allows you to add JavaScript or APIs to your site. We are mentioning this because the plugin can immensely help you with optimizing the experience of your users.
Wix can be used for blogging as well. A large number of layouts, attributes, and Wix plugins that allow you to share your content across other platforms are the main reason why people choose to go start their blog on Wix.
Aside from this, many Wix widgets can elevate the quality of your site. Embed Google Review is one of the most popular widgets you can place on your Wix website if you want to take it to the next level.
However, WordPress remains the king of blogging websites. The number one reason for this is the fact that WordPress can easily support all kinds of media. Videos, embedded links, large images, and large texts can go up on your blog effortlessly. This platform is also popular amongst e-commerce businesses. With some WordPress plugins, like WooCommerce, you can easily turn your blog into an online store.
When building your website, setting up WordPress widgets is an important step that you should never skip. Adding widgets on WordPress is a piece of cake, and all thanks to the drop-and-drag options the platform offers with some functionalities.
The bottom line is both Wix plugins and WordPress plugins have many pros and can help your website with its functionalities and visuals. What you can do when deciding between the two platforms, is to first set out your priorities and needs.
Ease Of Use
Wix & WordPress Ease Of Use
Both Wix and WordPress offer an easy, code-free process of building your website.
As we already mentioned, Wix has the advantage of having a full drag-and-drop option, making the process effortless for anyone looking to start a website, no matter their level of experience. All of the Wix plugins and widgets are easy to add, install and implement on the front end of your website.
With the help of some WordPress plugins, you can edit your pages with a drag-and-drop option and a live preview. Additionally, this allows you to create your own layouts by just adding blocks. There are blocks for many different elements, such as text, headings, images, galleries, buttons, video media, and more.
There’s no doubt that both platforms are perfect for beginners or people who don’t have much knowledge of coding. When it comes to choosing between the two, Wix might be the better choice if you are looking for the easiest way to build a website.
Which One Should You Choose?
After comparing the two it is evident that the right question to be asked is, which one is better for your needs?
Both platforms are high-functioning and ultimately can be a perfect choice, but it all depends on what you need and what you are looking for. Furthermore, when making the choice you need to take into consideration multiple aspects, some of which are your budget, the cause of your website, and additional features that you want to implement.
Both platforms are affordable, with WordPress having more one-time payments, while Wix has lower prices, but in some cases, you will be required to purchase some assets multiple times.
There’s a great amount of Wix plugins and WordPress widgets that can make your website stunning and a wholesome experience for your users, so make sure to do your research based on your needs as well. If we decide to put a line between the two, there are more Wix plugins that will contribute to your e-commerce business, while WordPress widgets can make up for a great blog.
The two platforms are SEO-friendly in all the right ways, however, WordPress plugins will make the job much easier.
When it comes to design and ease of use, both platforms are dominant, and you should go with the one that works best for you.
The bottom line is, before moving forward with starting your website – try out both platforms. Both Wix and WordPress offer a free version, and this can be the perfect chance to see which one you would prefer.
