Online website design and the wix vs wordpress debate
Are you debating whether to use Wix or WordPress to create your online website design? Despite being the most widely used website builder globally which includes our South Wales web design team, WordPress is not the only choice.
The pros and cons of Wix and WordPress will be outlined in this post. With the help of this review and comparison, we hope you can select the platform that best suits your requirements and answer your questions about which web design software is best.
This comparison for online website design has been divided into 5 categories below
See how WordPress and Wix compare in each of these categories…
1. Design options
The look and feel of your website are crucial to its success. Every website owner needs a web design that not only looks excellent but also is easy to use and distinguishes their brand.
Wix
There are more than 900+ pre-made templates available with Wix. Every Wix design is HTML5-based and responsive. You can further modify your site’s appearance, alter the layout, and rearrange the elements using the built-in tools.
Each type of site can have a different design. The areas into which templates are broken down include business, eCommerce, hobbies, arts & crafts, personal, etc.
The inability to change a template after selection is a major drawback. It can be altered and customised to your heart’s content using only the tools already there, but you are unable to switch to another template.
WordPress
For WordPress, thousands of premium and free themes are available. Free themes have restricted support but are subject to a rigorous evaluation procedure. Themes that cost money typically have more functionality and access to premium support.
WordPress themes are available for everything from simple personal websites to robust online stores. The majority of themes include the ability to customise them on their own. You can also further style or modify your WordPress themes using one of the many styling plugins.
The WordPess.org database offers free theme downloads for users. There are many WordPress themes and theme shops, like Astra, StudioPress, Themify, CSSIgniter, and others, that offer commercial themes.
Additionally, you can learn how to build a unique theme for your business or work with a website design company in Swansea.
Depending on the theme you are using, there are also plugins like SeedProd, a landing page builder plugin, that let you quickly install a website, a sales page, a product page, or even a coming soon page.
More importantly, you can switch to a new WordPress theme whenever you choose. This enables your website design to develop and expand alongside your company.
Verdict
Compared to Wix, WordPress offers a considerably wider selection of themes and layout options. Users of WordPress can quickly swap between themes and give them as much personalisation as they desire.
2. Plugins and apps
Like third-party extensions, plugins and applications let you extend the functionality of your platform.
They are referred to as plugins in the WordPress environment and as apps in Wix.
Let’s contrast the available apps and plugins on each platform, as well as what you can accomplish with them.
Wix
You can add more than 200 applications to your Wix website. A variety of features, such as adding contact forms, galleries, comments, social media buttons, email marketing, and more, are available with these apps.
Numerous applications are free or have lite versions. Other apps have different costs and need monthly fees. Despite the small number of apps available, they cover the most popular functions that website owners ask for.
WordPress
The WordPress.org plugin directory alone has more than 59,000+ free plugins. Not to mention the expensive plugins that are offered on other markets.
It is said that if you can think of a feature, a WordPress plugin surely already exists that can make it happen.
There is a plugin for everything, including building membership websites, selling online courses, installing Google Analytics, and creating contact forms.
With WordPress, you can pretty much do whatever you want for your online website design. You can utilise a variety of plugins, both free and premium, to create the website of your dreams.
Verdict
Additionally, WordPress easily defeats Wix in this regard. Even if Wix’s app library is expanding, it still pales in compared to the vast selection WordPress users have at their disposal.
3. Costs and pricing
When selecting your site builder platform, the price of website development is a crucial consideration. Your needs will determine exactly how much it will cost to build and maintain your website. We intend to enable you to fulfil your needs while staying within your means.
To determine which one offers you the best value for your money, let’s compare the prices of Wix and WordPress.
Wix
A free, basic website builder is available from Wix. However, it has two significant drawbacks.
On top and bottom of your website, Wix-branded advertising is added first. Second, since you are not permitted to use a custom domain name for your website, it will have the following URL: username.wix.com/sitename.
In addition, the basic account doesn’t include features like Google Analytics, Favicons, eCommerce, etc. You must upgrade to one of their premium plans to get rid of adverts and access more features in their app store.
There are varying storage and bandwidth restrictions for each Wix premium subscription. You have two payment options: monthly or yearly.
The Unlimited package ($12.50/£10.12 per month) on Wix offers the best value.
You must choose a Business & eCommerce package if you require eCommerce and business capabilities.
Plans for eCommerce and small business websites start at $17/£13.77 per month.
Any apps you subsequently decide to purchase from the Wix app market to utilise on your website are not included in this cost, regardless of which plan you select.
WordPress
Anyone can use the open-source WordPress software, which is free to use.
We are frequently questioned about why WordPress is free for online website design and what the catch is.
The largest drawback is that to install it, you must have your own domain name and web hosting.
You have a choice of various WordPress hosting companies. See our instructions on how to pick the top WordPress hosting provider.
You can start with a basic plan from a WordPress hosting company like HostGator for $2.75/£2.23 per month, which includes a free custom domain name, depending on your financial situation.
You can choose a managed WordPress hosting company like WP Engine, which costs $29/£23.48 per month if your budget allows it.
If you choose to use premium WordPress themes or plugins, the cost of your WordPress site will go up (similar to apps in WordPress).
To cut costs, you can choose one of the many thousands of accessible free WordPress themes and plugins. Without increasing your hosting package, you can use a plugin to add any functionality to your WordPress website.
WordPress offers complete eCommerce capabilities right out of the box. The WooCommerce plugin can be installed to enable an online store on your website. WooCommerce itself is free and open source, just like WordPress.
Verdict
WordPress outperforms Wix thanks to the customisable plans that are offered by numerous site hosts. You are free to use your WordPress website in any way you choose, and the pricing is dependent on how many resources you utilise.
4. Usability
If you don’t want to employ a website designer in Swansea then join the majority of beginners and select Wix or WordPress. You can build websites using Wix and WordPress without knowing how to code.
Let’s examine which of them is simpler for beginners without coding experience to use.
Wix
Wix offers robust and user-friendly tools for creating your own websites. It provides a straightforward drag-and-drop interface that allows you to choose any element on your website and begin altering it in a WYSIWYG interface.
In a user-friendly setting, you may write material, upload media, rearrange elements on your pages, and drag and drop objects wherever on your website. Since it spares them from having to deal with code, many beginners would consider this feature to be a blessing.
WordPress
You can change your pages while seeing a live preview thanks to the highly sophisticated WordPress block editor that comes with the platform.
By incorporating blocks, you may do this to create visually attractive layouts. Every common element, including text, headings, buttons, background pictures, galleries, and more, has a corresponding block.
Additionally, WordPress provides you with access to tens of thousands of themes (website layouts) for your website. The live theme customiser allows for complete customisation of each of them as well.
Do you require more code-free visual editing options for your website? Some of the most user-friendly drag-and-drop page builder plugins are available for WordPress. You may use these drag-and-drop editors to create websites with a professional appearance without having to write any code.
For instance, you may create fully unique websites without writing any code by using a page builder like Elementor.
These all provide a lot more tools and alternatives for when you need to edit your online website design.
Verdict
When it comes to usability, Wix and WordPress are tied. Both provide simple, code-free methods for creating pages, writing content, and managing commercial and e-commerce websites.
Although Wix performs a fantastic job with its editor interface, it lacks sophisticated features. With a small learning curve, WordPress’s ease of use may be expanded, which is fantastic in the long term.
5. E-Commerce options
Another essential element that most novices look for is the ability to sell items online. Let’s examine the eCommerce capabilities of WordPress and Wix.
Wix
E-Commerce is a feature of Wix’s premium plans. Users of the free plan are therefore unable to operate their online business on Wix without switching to a paying plan.
With Wix Stores, you may collect payments using their in-house payment system or by connecting PayPal, Authorize.net, and other payment gateways using third-party apps.
If you decide to use Wix Payments, there will be fees for the transaction amount and as you increase your product sales, the processing fee rises in value.
You may advertise your store and make sales online by using a few third-party apps. The e-Commerce platform’s general functions are very limited.
WordPress
Utilising WooCommerce, the most widely used e-Commerce platform in the world is simple with WordPress.
Additionally, there are many other e-Commerce plugins for WordPress that you can use to market and sell tangible or intangible products, services, events, subscriptions, and more.
WordPress is the finest website for using MemberPress to sell digital subscriptions. It enables you to market membership packages for your online community as well as pay-per-view material and online courses.
As an alternative, you may sell digital downloads like eBooks, music, software licences, and more with the WordPress plugin Easy Digital Downloads.
Even the majority of WordPress e-Commerce plugins offer specialised themes and add-on plugins.
Verdict
WordPress + WooCommerce provides far more flexibility, freedom, and options as compared to Wix if you want to create a legitimate online store and be prepared for expansion.
Conclusion for which is better for online website design between Wix and WordPress
For any type of website, WordPress is a much better online publishing tool than Wix. While Wix provides a user-friendly website builder, WordPress will ultimately allow you to accomplish much more.
