We compare Wix and WordPress to help you choose the best CMS for your business. We also include their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

While WordPress remains the most commonly used content management system, some users are shifting to CMS platforms with a lighter learning curve. This is not to say that WP is hard to master because it is way easier to learn compared to JOOMLA and Drupal. However, some people simply prefer a drag-and-drop interface that makes website development a breeze. 

When it comes to ease of use, Wix’s drag-and-drop interface and visually appealing templates are notable. But are they enough to justify its use even though WordPress has long been known for its functionality and scalability?

In an attempt to create a more objective comparison, we consider the factors below: 

1. Search engine optimization

2. Ease of use

3. eCommerce platform

4. Design and customization

5. Plugins and apps

6. Data portability

7. Pricing and value for money 

8. Customer support

Search Engine Optimization

WordPress and Wix both offer built-in SEO tools and powerful plugins for more advanced SEO features. Nevertheless, there is one major issue with Wix: It relies on Javascript to display URLs that search engine robots can’t “read.” As a result, it is more difficult to rank Wix websites compared to WP sites. 

The bloated codes of Javascript also increase Wix sites’ loading time, which further affects their search engine rankings. Take note that Google has recently updated its Core Web Vitals, which is a set of ranking factors like page speed and user interaction measurement.

Wix Pros

• It offers built-in SEO tools.

• There are powerful plugins for advanced SEO features.

• Site Booster, which is WP Yoast’s counterpart, is included in the cost of [most] Wix plans at no additional charge. 

• The platform has easy and cheap integrations.

Wix Cons

• It relies on Javascript, which affects load speed and “searchability.”

• The platform lacks certain functionality for technical SEO.

WordPress Pros

• It offers built-in SEO tools. 

• It comes with powerful plugins for advanced SEO, e.g., Yoast.

• It promotes faster-loading sites, which Google “likes.” 

• The platform relies on PHP, a programming language that makes search engine friendly websites.

WordPress Cons

• Yoast and other powerful SEO plugins are not free.

• Sometimes, updates cause other site elements to break.

Ease of Use

While both content management systems allow users to create websites and eCommerce sites without codes, Wix is notable for its beginner-friendly editor interface. In addition, it has an artificial design intelligence system that can make a website blueprint for you on top of its 500+ templates. 

By contrast, WordPress’s interface editor may appear bloated for a newbie unless he purchases drag-and-drop editor plugins like Elementor. 

Although WP requires a little bit of a learning curve (compared to the “super” easy Wix), it is worth the extra effort because of the capabilities of its interface. 

Whether a creator chooses Wix or WordPress, their ease of use makes it possible to create a stunning website without hiring a professional website designer. 

Wix Pros

• The simple drag-and-drop editor interface makes website creation a breeze.

• Users can see in real-time how each edit looks on their live site.

• It does not require coding knowledge.

• It offers tools that are great for beginner and mid-level website creators.

Wix Cons

• Users can’t create a template from scratch.

• It lacks advanced capabilities.

WordPress Pros

• The platform comes with plugins that allow for easy and quick website creation. 

• It comes with WordPress block editor that allows users to edit pages with a live preview.

• It offers advanced capabilities.

WordPress Cons

• The editor displays the content elements differently from how they will look live.

• Its editor interface is a bit more complex.

• Some features require a little bit of HTML, although there are plugins that allow easy drag-and-drop website creation.

eCommerce Platform

WordPress requires the use of eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce to run an online store, whereas Wix offers it to anyone with a paid plan. 

Most developers agree that both website builders are great for small stores that sell physical goods, but WordPress remains the best platform to sell digital products like online courses, membership plans, and pay-per-view content thanks to its powerful plugin called MemberPress. 

WordPress is also the ideal choice for businesses expecting growth because of its flexibility, functionality, and multiple payment options.

Wix Pros

• It is easy to use, thanks to its dedicated eCommerce plans and built-in features.

• It has built-in eCommerce features.

• Its cheapest eCommerce plan ($23 per month) is enough for solo entrepreneurs who want to sell online.

Wix Cons

• Due to its limited eCommerce functionality, it’s not recommended for a full-blown online store.

• It can only accept payments through Authorize.net and PayPal.

WordPress Pros

• It offers advanced eCommerce plugins, with WooCommerce being the most popular and arguably the most powerful too.

• WooCommerce’s advanced features(e.g., multi-currency selling) makes it ideal for a full-blown online store.

• WooCommerce’s scalability and functionality are perfect for companies expecting sales growth.

WordPress Cons

• Since WP is an open-source platform, users must pay for their own domain name, hosting, and theme. 

• Most advanced and shopping features cost $30-$150 annually.

Design and Customization

Wix has around 800 free templates that make it easy to customize websites for real estate companies, photography, online stores, consultancy, organizations, local businesses, etc. However, its themes are just a fraction of what WordPress offers, with more than 8,000 free templates and thousands more from a third-party marketplace. 

With the sheer number of WordPress themes–30,000 and still growing–it easily beats Wix in terms of flexibility, customization, and design. 

Despite the design limitations, Wix remains a good website builder for beginners who can take advantage of the tool called Wix ADI. This IA system can create a website based on your input, asking you a few questions about your design preferences, goals, target audience, etc.

Wix Pros

• Wix paid plans come with more than 800 free templates that cover a wide range of industries. 

• The free templates come with “example content” that will serve as a blueprint during the design process. 

• The templates are stunning and intuitive. 

• Wix ADI is a helpful tool for users who have very little knowledge of website design. 

• The templates are easy to install and the drag-and-drop editor makes website creation a breeze.

Wix Cons

• Mid- to advanced-level users will find Wix’s themes and design limiting.

WordPress Pros

• Installing and customizing themes is easy compared to other content management systems like Joomla and Drupal. 

• Its built-in customizer makes it easy to add custom CSS and change colors, widgets, menus, etc. 

• Endless customization, i.e., more than 30,000 downloadable and purchasable themes, makes this CMS ideal for more advanced website creators. 

Note: To avoid “amateurish” themes, stick to those approved by the platform.

WordPress Cons

• WordPress premium themes are a bit expensive, usually ranging from $30 to $300, although the upside is that you’re protected against bugs. 

• The impressive degree of flexibility entails a steeper learning curve.

Plugins and Apps

Plugins (WordPress’s preferred term) and apps (Wix’s term) are third-party extensions that add more features and functionality to your website. 

As an open-source platform, any developer can create plugins for other WordPress users to download for free or purchase. As a result, it has more than 50,000 plugins to meet the most specific needs of website creators. 

By contrast, Wix only has more than 250 free and paid apps. 

Despite the limited number of Wix apps, they come with an advantage: All of them underwent rigorous testing to make sure that they meet the in-house guidelines. Simply put, all of them integrate well with the platform and are not created by just some sketchy developers. 

On the other hand, WordPress plugins didn’t undergo quality control and check, so you have to sift through a few sketchy ones. However, you can always “ask” Google or visit forums to learn about the crowd’s favorites.

Wix Pros

• It is easy to find the right apps because the platform categorizes them based on their purpose, e.g., marketing, eCommerce, social media, etc. 

• Because Wix conducts quality checks, all the apps integrate well with the platform and are high quality. 

• The platform focuses on quality over quantity. (The apps cover the most commonly requested tools by website creators and owners.)

• Installation is notably easy.

Wix Cons

• While the number of its apps is growing, it still can’t match WordPress in this area.

WordPress Pros

• With more than 50,000 paid and free plugins, you will most likely find tools with a very niche purpose. 

• Premium plugins available on the third-party marketplace can provide you additional functionality and flexibility. 

• There are plugins that are excellent for businesses selling digital products like online courses and tutorials.

WordPress Cons

• With the sheer number of WordPress plugins, you have to shift through some junk. 

• Some plugins seem like the creation of sketchy or amateur developers. 

• As an open-source platform, it focuses more on quantity rather than quality.

Data Portability

A CMS platform that offers excellent data portability has tools that make it easy for users to export their data and move them elsewhere. This is where WordPress beats Wix big time. 

One of the downsides of using Wix is that downloading and exporting data to another platform is a time-consuming, tricky process. First, you have to copy and paste your web pages manually (and this includes the images, videos, and graphics), and second, you can only download your blog posts, but not their photos. 

By contrast, WordPress gives users more freedom to move their content to another platform. With a one-click exporter, you can download your content in XML format. 

In terms of data portability, Wix is a huge disappointment. (So there’s no point in making a list of pros and cons to compare it to WordPress).

Pricing & Value for Money

The cost of developing and maintaining websites varies significantly from business to business (or person to person). As a result, the “best pricing and value for money” is highly subjective. 

Some website creators feel that Wix pricing options make it easier to budget and cost less than WordPress when extra fees like domain name, plugins, and hosting are factored into the price. However, WP fans believe that their platform provides more value for money because of the great functionality and flexibility they enjoy.

Customer Support

As a proprietary website builder, Wix offers 24/7 customer support. If you have questions or issues with your charges, subscriptions, billing, troubleshooting, settings, etc., you can call them, send them an email, or request a callback. 

Aside from customer care support, Wix also has extensive documentation and support articles from its Help Center site. And due to its popularity, it is also not difficult to find video tutorials, blog posts, and online courses. 

Meanwhile, WordPress does not have a dedicated support team. But being an open-source CMS with millions of members–many of whom are willing to dedicate their time improving this platform–it is easy to find online sources that can help you with troubleshooting and other issues.

Wix Pros

• 24/7 customer support is available. 

• Their customer support is available in different languages, including English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. 

• Wix Help Center contains extensive documentation and support articles. 

• Wix members have created thousands of blog posts, video tutorials, etc., to help other users.

Wix Cons

• Currently, it does not offer support via chat.

WordPress Pros

• WordPress support forum has more than 2 million topics that cover everything about this platform.

WordPress Cons

• Despite the thousands of blog posts, video tutorials, ebooks, and other learning materials, the lack of a dedicated customer support team means people who are not self-taught learners may have difficulty with WP. 

• With so many resources available, it is sometimes difficult to find an answer to your specific problem.

Conclusion:

Wix is an excellent CMS for beginners who can benefit from its drag-and-drop editor and high-quality apps that have undergone quality check, which means that all of them integrate well with the platform. 

However, WordPress remains the best platform for more advanced website creators, businesses that need a full-blown eCommerce site, and companies serious about their SEO and sales/customer base growth.