WordPress vs Wix: Which Is Best for Your Small Business Website?

Why Your Website Platform Matters

Before we look at WordPress vs Wix, it’s worth taking a moment to understand why this choice is so important. Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. A platform that limits you can make growth harder, while one that’s too complex could overwhelm you at the start.

The right decision depends on your business goals, technical comfort, and long-term plans. With that in mind, let’s compare WordPress and Wix head-to-head.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), powering over 40% of all websites globally. (“WordPress Market Share, Statistics, and More”, 2025) There are two versions:

• WordPress.org – free, open-source software that you host yourself. This is the version we’re comparing here.
• WordPress.com – a hosted platform with fewer customisation options.

With WordPress.org, you install the software on your own web hosting and have full control over your website. It’s flexible, powerful, and ideal for businesses that want to scale.

WordPress →

What Is Wix?

Wix is a cloud-based website builder designed to make creating a website as simple as possible. It offers drag-and-drop design, built-in hosting, and a range of templates. Wix is particularly appealing to beginners because you don’t need technical knowledge to get started.

Unlike WordPress, which relies on themes and plugins, Wix is an all-in-one solution. You log in, build your site, and publish—all from the same platform.

Wix →

WordPress vs Wix: Ease of Use

When comparing WordPress vs Wix, ease of use is one of the first things business owners think about.

• Wix:
  Designed with simplicity in mind. You can choose a template and start dragging and dropping elements straight away. No coding knowledge is required, making it ideal for beginners.
• WordPress:
  Slightly steeper learning curve. You’ll need to set up hosting, install a theme, and add plugins. However, once it’s configured, the WordPress editor is straightforward to use.

Winner: Wix for beginners. But if you’re willing to invest a little time in learning, WordPress quickly catches up.

WordPress vs Wix: Design and Flexibility

Your website design should reflect your brand. This is where WordPress vs Wix starts to show real differences.

• Wix:
  Offers over 800 pre-made templates. These look modern and can be customised using the drag-and-drop builder. However, once you’ve chosen a template, you can’t switch to another without rebuilding your site.
• WordPress:
  Thousands of themes (free and paid) are available. You can switch themes whenever you like, and with tools like Elementor or Gutenberg, you get drag-and-drop editing too. Additionally, most WordPress themes are designed to be fully responsive, meaning they automatically adjust to different screen sizes like mobile phones and tablets, ensuring a consistent user experience. This is achieved through customizable breakpoints and mobile-specific optimizations within the themes, allowing business owners to maintain a professional appearance across all devices.

In terms of flexibility, WordPress is unlimited—you can build anything from a simple brochure site to a complex e-commerce platform. Wix is more restrictive once you want custom features.

Winner: WordPress for flexibility and scalability.

WordPress vs Wix: Features and Plugins

No website platform can offer every feature out of the box. That’s where plugins and add-ons come in.

• Wix:
  Has an App Market with around 300 apps covering things like booking forms, live chat, and social media feeds. These are simple to add but limited compared to WordPress.
• WordPress:
  Offers over 60,000 free plugins and thousands of premium ones. Whether you want advanced SEO, membership systems, or e-commerce tools, there’s a plugin for it.

Winner: WordPress for the sheer range of options.

WordPress vs Wix: SEO Capabilities

If you want your website to be found on Google, SEO (search engine optimisation) is key.

• Wix:
  Includes basic SEO features such as meta titles, descriptions, and alt text for images. It also integrates with Google Search Console. However, customisation is limited, and advanced SEO strategies can be harder to implement.
• WordPress:
  Known for being SEO-friendly. With plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can optimise every aspect of your site. You can also take advantage of fast hosting, caching plugins, and advanced site structures for better performance.

Winner: WordPress for businesses that want to grow their online presence.

WordPress vs Wix: E-Commerce

If selling online is part of your plan, you’ll want to consider how each platform handles e-commerce.

• Wix:
  Offers built-in e-commerce features on higher-priced plans. It’s fine for smaller shops with simple products, but it’s limited in payment gateways and customisation.
• WordPress:
  With WooCommerce (a free plugin), you can create a fully customisable online shop. It supports everything from physical products to subscriptions and digital downloads. You can also integrate with almost any payment provider.

Winner: WordPress for serious e-commerce businesses. Wix is better for hobby stores or small catalogues.

WordPress vs Wix: Pricing

Cost is always an important factor for small businesses.

• Wix:
  Plans start at around £10/month, including hosting. Business and e-commerce plans are more expensive, typically £15–£25/month. The advantage is predictable pricing.
• WordPress:
  The software itself is free, but you’ll need hosting (usually £5–£20/month), a domain name, and potentially paid themes or plugins. Costs can vary depending on what you need.

At first glance, Wix looks cheaper and simpler. But in the long term, WordPress often provides better value because you’re not tied to a single provider.

Winner: Tie—Wix for simplicity, WordPress for long-term scalability.

WordPress vs Wix: Ownership and Control

This is an area many small businesses overlook.

• Wix:
  Your website is hosted on Wix’s servers. If you want to move your site elsewhere, you can’t—migration is extremely limited. Essentially, you don’t own the platform.
• WordPress:
  You own your website files and database. You can move your site to any hosting provider at any time. This gives you full control over your digital assets.

Winner: WordPress, hands down.

WordPress vs Wix: Security

Security is vital for every business website.

• Wix:
  Handles security for you, including SSL certificates and updates. This is convenient if you don’t want to think about maintenance.
• WordPress:
  You’re responsible for updates, backups, and security measures. However, with the right hosting and plugins, you can achieve enterprise-level security.

Winner: Wix for beginners who want simplicity. WordPress requires more responsibility, but it can be more secure with proper setup.

WordPress vs Wix: Support

If you get stuck, support can make all the difference.

• Wix:
  Provides 24/7 customer support via chat and phone.
• WordPress:
  Support comes from your hosting provider and the wider community. Premium themes and plugins often include their own support channels.

Winner: Wix for direct customer service. WordPress relies more on forums, tutorials, and third-party providers.

WordPress vs Wix: Scalability

As your business grows, your website needs to keep up.

• Wix:
  Great for small websites, but it can feel limiting as you expand. Advanced features and large-scale customisation are difficult to achieve.
• WordPress:
  Scales easily, from small business websites to global brands. You can add features, redesign, and upgrade hosting as you grow.

Winner: WordPress for businesses with long-term ambitions.

Pros and Cons of WordPress vs Wix

To make things clearer, here’s a quick summary:

Wix

WordPress