WordPress vs. Wix showdown: what's best for you?

We're firm believers in WordPress' power. The engine runs over 40% of the web and is the foundation of our high-performance Managed WordPress Hosting platform.

But we also recognize that tools like Wix, Squarespace, and others have done a valuable service: They've democratized website creation, allowing everyone to get online quickly.

When starting a new project, deciding between a WordPress website and a Wix site can be challenging. It's the first step of doing something extraordinarily. However, it’s not about which is inherently better but about which is the right long-term tool for your specific goals.

What are the core differences between Wix and WordPress?

Comparing WordPress and Wix isn't about which is the best website builder. It's less like comparing rivals and more like choosing between a custom-built home and a turnkey apartment. Both serve the same purpose but offer different levels of control and long-term flexibility.

• WordPress: A powerful, open-source Content Management System (CMS). You own the code, the web hosting, and the long-term potential. It’s your infrastructure.

• Wix: A closed, cloud-based website builder. It's an all-in-one service where the builder, hosting, and features are permanently bundled.

Here's a breakdown of the core differences between Wix and WordPress:

Wix vs WordPress - deep dive: Simplicity vs. Flexibility

When you choose between WordPress and Wix, you’re making a trade-off. Your decision should come down to how much you prioritize ease-of-use versus long-term control.

User-friendliness & learning curve

Wix is built for instant gratification. Its drag-and-drop editor is intuitive; you can often launch a basic site without reading a guide. The streamlined setup process makes it ideal for those who need a simple online presence quickly.

WordPress has a slightly steeper learning curve, but that complexity is manageable. While an unmanaged setup requires manual installation, our managed WordPress hosting platform simplifies the entire process. Once you grasp the basics of the Block Editor (Gutenberg), creating pages and adding content is as simple as clicking and typing.

Design options

Wix offers hundreds of beautiful, well-integrated templates. Your Wix website can quickly look polished and dialled without coding. The downside? Once your site is live, you can’t switch templates without rebuilding the site from scratch. You're locked into your initial decision.

WordPress, though? It is the undisputed champion of design flexibility.

• The official directory offers over 11,000 free themes and countless premium options from third-party developers.

• Can't find the right design? Design your own! You have complete control

• You can change your theme anytime without losing your content.

• The platform supports Full Site Editing (FSE), allowing you to use the block editor to customize every part of your website, headers, footers, and everything in between.

Customization and scalability

This is where the difference between a closed platform and an open-source CMS becomes most apparent.

For any website destined to grow in features or traffic, WordPress is the definitive choice for long-term scalability.

eCommerce capabilities

Both platforms can handle online sales, but their approaches are very different.

• Wix eCommerce: This is a simple, built-in solution. You must upgrade to a dedicated business plan to start selling, and you'll rely on Wix's native tools. It’s perfect for setting up a quick, basic online store.

• WordPress eCommerce: The platform transforms into a robust store via plugins like WooCommerce. This gives you complete control over product structure, inventory, payment gateways, and international compliance. It can handle complex product catalogs, subscriptions, and massive sales volumes, making it the superior choice for serious or growing online businesses.

To put this into context, NASA, Vogue and Sony Music power their main websites on WordPress. Adidas uses Wix for promotional microsites.

Maintenance and security

The most significant difference between Wix and WordPress is who is responsible for keeping your site secure, updated, and running smoothly.

Wix: built-in, all-in-one security

Wix's approach to security is simple: they handle everything. Since it's a closed, proprietary platform, you cannot access the underlying code or server.

• Pros: This is true "set it and forget it" security. They manage all the core updates, SSL certificate renewals, DDoS mitigation, and firewall rules in the background, so you don't need a maintenance strategy.

• Cons: You have zero control over security features or server hardening. If an issue arises, you must wait for Wix's team to resolve it, and you cannot implement custom security measures.

WordPress: The freedom of control (with expert help)

WordPress, in its standard self-hosted form, puts the responsibility of website security entirely on you. You must manage core updates, plugin patches, theme security, backups, and firewall configuration. This is why many view it as complex or "vulnerable."

However, this is where managed WordPress hosting changes the equation.

We combine WordPress's flexibility with a website builder's hands-off security. We manage all the mission-critical security tasks for you:

• Automated core and plugin updates: We handle updates to the core CMS and automatically apply patches to minimize vulnerabilities.

• Enterprise-grade firewall: Our network is protected by advanced firewalls and DDoS mitigation, securing your site before malicious traffic reaches your server.

• Malware scanning and removal: We continuously scan your files and remove malware if it's detected, acting as your 24/7 security guard.

The bottom line: With Wix, you trade control for convenience. With WordPress, you have full control, but you must stay on top of updates to ensure security. Or, by choosing managed WordPress hosting, you get full control of your site's functionality plus convenience via a professional security team.

Wix vs WordPress SEO

Speaking of SEO, let's discuss the tools you get with each platform that help search engines find your site. Regardless of your platform choice, SEO success heavily depends on quality content and strategy. However, the platform you choose can make implementation easier or harder.

• Wix SEO includes all the essentials: customizable meta tags, sitemap generation, and integrations with Google Search Console and Google Analytics. It provides all the basic tools necessary to rank.

• WordPress SEO: With its open nature, WordPress allows for deeper customization. Plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math offer a massive advantage, providing detailed optimization recommendations, internal linking suggestions, and granular control over every technical aspect of your site. Plus, all of the basic integrations mentioned above.

While we've tried to be as impartial as possible here, for any business focused on a sophisticated or aggressive SEO strategy, WordPress offers the necessary tools for full control.

Performance and site speed: The hidden SEO factor

Site speed is a critical ranking factor for Google (measured by Core Web Vitals) and essential for reducing visitor bounce rates. In the past, self-hosted WordPress sites were often slower than website builders, but that trade-off is long gone.

Wix: Out-of-the-box predictability

Wix sites offer a predictable level of performance right out of the box. They handle image compression, caching, and CDN optimization automatically. Because Wix controls the entire stack, it can ensure a decent baseline speed.

The Trade-Off: The platform's proprietary code and shared architecture limit the performance ceiling. If your site gets massive traffic or loads it up with heavy content, you can't access the server tools needed for deep optimization.

WordPress: Unlimited speed potential

A WordPress site can be just as sluggish if you don't know how to optimize it (bad themes, cheap hosting, no caching or image compression, etc.).

However, with the endless customisation options in WordPress, you can make a website lightning fast. We can help too. A managed WordPress site has unparalleled speed potential. Since you have root access (or your host does), you can implement best-in-class performance features:

• Optimized server architecture: We use high-speed infrastructure tuned explicitly for WordPress's database demands.

• Edge caching and CDN: We use robust Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to cache and deliver your site's content from the server closest to your visitors, resulting in lightning-fast global load times.

• Performance tuning control: Developers or advanced users have access to fine-tune caching, minify CSS/JS, and optimize databases, the keys to achieving elite-tier PageSpeed scores.

It's worth noting that a managed WordPress site is only as good as the SEO practices conducted on the site. Good SEO practices (like compressing images and embedding video links instead of the video itself, etc.) will ensure that your managed WordPress site performs its best.

The Bottom Line: Wix gives you a decent average speed. WordPress can give you the fastest possible speed because you have all the tools you need at your disposal and unlimited access to the server environment.

Plugin and app market

The most significant difference between the two platforms is that a site's ability to grow and add features depends entirely on its extension ecosystem.

Wix app market: Curated and seamless

The Wix App Market offers a few hundred hand-picked apps and integrations.

• The pros: Every app is officially vetted by Wix, meaning it is guaranteed to be compatible and generally won't "break" your site when you install it. This creates a very stable and consistent user experience.

• The cons: If you need a niche feature, like a complex inventory system, a specific type of social feed, or an advanced booking calendar, and Wix doesn't offer it, you are entirely out of luck. You cannot build or integrate custom solutions outside of their ecosystem.

WordPress plugin ecosystem: Unmatched power

WordPress' open-source nature has created the single largest extension ecosystem on the web, giving users virtually limitless functionality.

• Quantity: Over 60,000 free plugins are in the official directory, plus tens of thousands more available on premium marketplaces. This means you can add any feature imaginable, from sophisticated SEO tools (Yoast, Rank Math) to powerful eCommerce (WooCommerce) to custom membership portals.

• Quality & risk: The trade-off for this flexibility is that you must be mindful of what you install. A poorly coded or outdated plugin can introduce security risks or conflict with other parts of your site.

The Bottom Line: If your site's needs are basic, Wix is fine. If your site needs to scale beyond basic functionality, the unmatched power and diversity of the WordPress plugin ecosystem are essential for growth.

Price: The total cost of ownership

Wix and WordPress have free plans that don't include a custom domain name; on Wix in particular, you have minimal design options. But they get you started.

When it comes to priced packages, there are plenty of options:

Wix’s all-inclusive pricing covers the builder, hosting, and features. You pay a set monthly fee ($17–$159.50/month), which increases if you need eCommerce or advanced features.

WordPress itself is free, but it doesn't come with a hosting provider

• Our standard WordPress hosting plans run $2.99–$6.99/month.

• Managed WordPress hosting costs more (although with our huge sale, you can get started for $1), but it’s an investment that covers security, speed optimization, backups, and 24/7 expert support. This shields you from the hidden costs of maintenance and downtime you might face with a cheaper, unmanaged solution.

Making the Final Choice - Wix vs WordPress?

The choice between WordPress and Wix boils down to a single question: What is your long-term priority?

• Choose Wix if you need to be online today and are happy to trade control for simplicity.

• Choose WordPress if you value ownership, scalability, and the ability to grow your site without restrictions.

If you choose WordPress for its flexibility and power, we highly recommend an expert-managed environment and would love for you to become a hosting.com customer.

If you have any questions about our discussion, please contact our team on social media or chat with us. We want you to make the right choice for your website and business goals, and we're happy to help in any way we can.