Wix vs WordPress: Which Platform is Right for Your Business Website?
When launching a business website, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is which platform to use. Wix and WordPress are two popular choices, each offering distinct benefits, and drawbacks.
If you’ve narrowed it down to these two, read on. This guide will help you weigh up the pros and cons, with a particular focus on where Wix may fall short, especially compared to WordPress.
Quick Overview
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Wix: A beginner-friendly, all-in-one website builder with hosting, templates, and tools included.
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WordPress.org: A self-hosted, open-source platform offering far greater flexibility and scalability.
Ease of Use
Wix is well-known for its simple drag-and-drop editor. You can build a site without any coding knowledge, and everything from hosting to security is taken care of. It’s great for beginners or business owners who want to “set it and forget it.”
However, this simplicity comes at a cost.
Wix Limitations to Consider
🔒 Platform Lock-In
Once you build your website on Wix, you’re locked into their ecosystem. If you want to move your site elsewhere in future (for example, to a cheaper or more flexible platform), it’s extremely difficult. There’s no easy export function for your content or design.
🎨 Limited Design Flexibility
While Wix offers a variety of templates, they’re relatively rigid. You can customise them within bounds, but you won’t get the same level of freedom as WordPress. Changing your site design later on often means starting again from scratch.
🔌 App Limitations
Wix does have an App Market, but it’s not as extensive or powerful as WordPress’s plugin library. Many apps come with usage restrictions or added costs, and advanced features (like custom booking systems or membership areas) can be hard to implement.
📈 Weaker for SEO
Wix has made strides in SEO, but it still lags behind WordPress. Features like custom schema markup, advanced URL structures, and full control over technical SEO elements are either missing or hard to implement. For businesses looking to rank well on Google, this could be a long-term disadvantage.
⚙️ Performance & Scalability
Wix can slow down as your site grows. If you’re adding lots of pages, blog posts, or products, performance can suffer, and there’s little you can do about it. WordPress, on the other hand, can scale almost infinitely with the right hosting.
🧩 Lack of True Customisation
Wix doesn’t allow full code access unless you’re on the Business Elite plan or using their limited “Velo” developer platform. This restricts your ability to create truly bespoke functionality.
WordPress: More Powerful, but More Complex
WordPress requires a little more setup, including choosing your own hosting and possibly working with a developer. But the trade-off is complete control.
You get:
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Thousands of free and premium themes and plugins
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Advanced SEO options
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Integration with any third-party tool
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Ability to create anything from a blog to a full eCommerce store, learning platform, or community site
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Full data ownership and portability
It’s also more future-proof. As your business grows, your WordPress site can grow with it, without requiring a complete rebuild.
Cost Comparison
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Wix: Monthly cost is higher (starting at ~£10/month) but includes everything. Premium apps may cost extra.
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WordPress: You’ll pay for hosting, domain, and possibly themes/plugins, but long-term costs can be lower, and you’re not stuck with one provider.
Final Verdict
Choose Wix if:
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You need a simple website fast
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You don’t plan to scale or change platforms later
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You’re not comfortable with anything technical
Choose WordPress if:
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You want more flexibility and control
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SEO and long-term growth matter
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You may need custom features, integrations, or scalability in the future
Thinking Long-Term? WordPress Wins.
Wix is appealing in the short term, but many businesses outgrow it. WordPress, while slightly more complex at first, gives you the control, ownership, and scalability serious brands need.
Need help choosing or setting up the right platform?
Get in touch today for a free website audit and honest advice based on your business goals.
