WordPress vs Wix
Updated: Oct 14, 2020
WordPress is like Android, Wix is like Apple
If you want a quick answer to the comparison between WordPress and Wix, here it is :). But it is more complicated than this.
Personally, I don't have any preference for any of these two. Each has distinct pros and cons. Therefore, deciding which one to choose boils down to what is your main purpose of building a website.
In my opinion, WordPress is more like an Android phone. It gives you more customization in terms of functionality. There is a much larger library of plugins and tools that are compatible with WordPress. On the flip side, Wix is more like an Apple device. It is minimal and visually appealing. It is easy to use and simple to manage.
1. WordPress
WordPress is an open-source and community-based website creation platform. Because of this natural, it has a tremendous amount of customization option, starting from choosing the host and theme, to adding custom code and plugins.
Before jumping into the comparison, let me show you how does WordPress look like.
This is the WordPress administration screen you will see when you start a new website.
The editor page may appear differently depends on the editor you choose.
Just like me, I guess a lot of beginners are so afraid of starting with WordPress. Perhaps, you go on to Google or YouTube and search up "build WordPress website". Suddenly you are bombarded with loads of tedious tutorials that give you an almost "Github" feeling. It may give you a huge psychological barrier in the first place because it already appears to be technical and tedious to deal with. However, it is still the most popular website builder worldwide and there must be a reason.
When Should you use WordPress?
If you want to build blogs or e-commerce that may potentially have a lot of traffic in the future. If you want to monetize your website based on the traffic it generates (e.g. through Google AdSense, affiliate programme etc).
Pros:
WordPress is more functional;
More sustainable if want to scale the website to more pages and features later on;
Optimal for blogs and if you want to monetize the website through your visitor traffic;
Endless customization in terms of functionality;
As far as I know, better SEO
Cons:
Steeper learning curve;
Take more time and effort to build;
Endless choice of themes, plugins, addons also means require more research (can be overwhelming for indecisive people like me)
Price:
hosting: if using Bluehost, USD 11/ month (Plus Plan) would be enough (however, you have to commit 1-year minimum)
check out their plans: https://www.bluehost.com/wordpress/wordpress-hosting
domain: free domain for 1 year + USD 15 for the Domain Privacy (this is crucial if you don't want random people calling you to advertise their hosting)
there are free themes and plugins available but you may have to pay extra money for premium themes and features
WordPress Website Examples:
More than one-third of all websites in the world are built using WordPress! Here are some examples:
https://wordpress.org/showcase/
https://www.creativebloq.com/web-design/examples-wordpress-11121165
2. Wix
Wix is an easy drag and drop website builder that can easily become more creative without any code. less entry barrier who wants customized websites. Just like how it advertised, "create stunning websites" is how it differentiates itself from WordPress.
Again, let's start by looking at how Wix editor looks like.
As you can see, Wix appears to be a lot more intuitive to use. Simply drag the elements to the canva and apply the preset or customized design style. It is a definitely easier tool to use if you have no programming or coding experience and want to create aesthetic websites. However, it does have a downside. Because everything is handled by Wix, your design and development creativity will be limited to what the Wix platform can offer.
When Should you use Wix?
Wix is more suitable for attractive websites with fewer pages. For example, web design portfolio and landing page. Additionally, if you need to build websites in a short time budget, Wix may be a better choice.
Pros:
Wix is more visually appealing;
Take less time and effort to build a fully functional website;
Flexibility in terms of design;
Requires less commitment to the platform (can move to the free plan anytime without losing your website)
Cons:
It is less scalable and harder to get your website monetized;
Require more expensive premium plans to support more visitor traffic and online payment etc;
Less versatile in terms of functionality;
Still need some improvement on SEO.
Price:
plan: USD 12.5 / month, at the initial stage, Unlimited plan would be enough (this plan can't accept online payment)
check out their plan pricing breakdown: websitetooltester.com/en/reviews/wix-review/prices/
domain: free domain for 1 year + USD 25 for the Domain Privacy
Wix Website Examples:
FYI, this website is built using Wix. Here are more examples:
Take-Home Message
WordPress or Wix? They both have their own specialisations. WordPress is more functional whereas has a steeper learning curve. On the other hand, Wix is more visually appealing but supports less customizable functionalities. I will let you decide which website builder to use for your next project.