Let’s talk about WordPress vs Wix. There are almost two billion live websites right now, and you’re getting ready to create your own. You’ve been using free sites for long enough, and you’re ready to get your own domain name so your blog or business site looks more professional. This is exciting!
You have several options to choose from, but two of the most popular are Wix and WordPress. They both offer fantastic features at reasonable prices, but how do you know which one to choose?
Read on for our 5 comparisons on WordPress vs Wix.
1. Beginner-Friendliness
So you’ve never even thought about making a website before, right? If this is the case, what’s the best option for you? Let’s talk about how beginner-friendly each of these options is.
Wix
Wix is, ultimately, the most beginner-friendly site. Setting it up only takes a few minutes. You don’t need to know how to code and there’s a simple drag-and-drop system.
This means you can get your site up and running in a matter of minutes without purchasing website templates or hiring a designer. That said, experienced coders may find it restrictive.
WordPress
WordPress isn’t nearly as beginner-friendly as Wix, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. While there’s definitely a learning curve, that also makes the websites more customizable (more on that later).
Complete newbies should work with a pro to get the most out of their WordPress site. That said, it’s also fun to start troubleshooting on your own.
2. Price and Value
If you’re on a tight budget (like many new business owners and bloggers are), price is one of the key factors you’re looking into. We get it.
Many people see the price of hosting and building a website and shy away from the whole ordeal. So is WordPress or Wix better for your wallet?
Wix
Some people believe that Wix is always the most affordable option, but this isn’t necessarily the case for people who want to take their websites seriously. You can’t remove outside ads, use a custom domain, or sell anything.
Wix does have a free option. This option, however, is incredibly limiting. After the free option, you have options ranging from $15 and up (at least at the time that this article was written).
You get a free domain name for one year if you buy an annual premium plan, however.
WordPress
When you use WordPress, you’re responsible for hosting the site and getting your own domain name. This can be fairly affordable, though, as hosts tend to start at around $3 and domains can be as low as $10.
WordPress itself is free. You will be spending money on plugins, a pre-made theme (or, as we recommend, a custom site built by a pro), and monthly ongoing costs that will vary depending on your needs.
WordPress is as expensive as you make it. Some people spend hundreds on their sites per year while others spend thousands.
3. Customization
So now that you’ve put money into your site, how are you going to make it pretty and functional? What do you plan on doing about it?
Creative customization is one of the biggest benefits of getting your own website instead of starting a blog on a pre-made blogging site. Here’s a breakdown.
Wix
Wix is heavily customizable if you’re a beginner. You can use one of the hundreds of pre-made templates without any added fees. These templates are clean and aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also limiting.
If you want to do anything creative that doesn’t work within the confines of the templates, you might be out of luck. Some websites end up looking “cookie-cutter” as a result.
WordPress
With WordPress, you need some level of skill (or the help of a pro) to make a beautiful site. That said, your options are limitless.
There are plenty of pre-made themes on WordPress if you’re not sure where to start, and there are thousands of third-party themes on the web (and that number is ever-growing). Of course, it’s always best to branch out and create a totally unique website, but themes make WordPress more beginner-friendly.
4. Apps and Plugins
Apps and plugins will bring your website to life, make it more functional, and give you more flexibility with what you can do with it. But are Wix or WordPress plugins better?
It’s complicated.
Wix
Wix doesn’t have that many plugins available. There are over 300, which to a newbie might sound like more than enough, but compared to WordPress, it’s limiting.
These apps and plugins are all well-tested and they’re all compatible with all Wix sites. Managing apps is also easy with Wix’s drag-and-drop platform.
When it comes to user-friendliness, Wix may be the best.
WordPress
WordPress has tens of thousands of third-party apps for you to choose from. No matter how niche your ideal plugin is, you can be certain that you can find it (or commission someone else to make it).
However, there’s no real screening process for those apps. Many of them will be nonfunctional or low-quality. Reading reviews will protect you from those apps, but it may take a while for you to find what you’re actually looking for.
WordPress vs. Wix: Overall Best
When it comes to Wix vs WordPress, they’re both solid options. Wix is great for beginners, but we believe that WordPress is the best overall.
With WordPress, you get more functionality. You have more room to grow and a greater ability to customize your site to your heart’s content. You’ll need help from a pro to get started, but that’s why we’re here!
