Wix vs WordPress isn’t an easy task for you, If you’re new in building websites. Because of its aggressive marketing campaign, Wix is all over the place now. Everyone has heard of it.
And then there is WordPress, of course – the name that has been associated with Website development since forever (not literally, it was launched in 2003).
If you’re thinking of getting your website built, you might get baffled when it comes to choosing your website builder.
This detailed analysis of Wix vs WordPress will make it easy for you to make an informed decision.
So, In this detailed article, You’ll know which platform is right for you.
Let’s get started…
The Main Difference Between Wix And WordPress
Before we move on to analyze Wix and WordPress, we need to understand the major difference between them.
Wix is a SaaS website building platform that includes everything you need to build your website including hosting, domain, etc.
On the other hand, WordPress is open-source CMS (Content Management System) that you have to install on a server before you can use it to create a website.
Sounds scary?
As opposed to Wix, WordPress is not an all-in-1 package that you sign up for and start building your site. You need to buy hosting, domain registration and get WordPress installed on your server before you can start using it.
So, which one should you use? Be ready for the answer we all dread to hear: IT DEPENDS.
Keep reading to figure out which platform will be best for you.
How Easy is Wix vs WordPress?
When it comes to getting started with Wix, all you’ve to do is hit the Sign Up button and get started.
The Wix wizard will walk you through the process of getting a domain, choosing a plan, selecting a theme, and then designing your site using its intuitive drag and drop website builder.
WordPress, on the other hand, is a bumpy terrain when it comes to getting started. The first thing you need to do is find a hosting service and register your domain.
Once you’ve got the server set up, you then need to install WordPress on it.
Luckily, most hosting services out there offer 1-click installation services so you don’t have to do the technical work yourself.
And even if you do have to go through the installation route, there are tons of tutorials online that can walk you through the process.
If you’re comfortable following instructions, it won’t be all that difficult for you.
Once you have WordPress installed, the next step is to get a WordPress theme.
And unlike Wix, WordPress themes aren’t all available through the WordPress interface. You’ll probably have to look at third-party sites to find a theme that matches your requirements.
And of course, you’ll need to install that theme to your WordPress site – manually!
So, you get the idea of what the process looks like on Wix vs WordPress. On WordPress, it’s not breezy at all but it’s not too complicated either.
Once you get the hang of it, chances are you’ll be more comfortable with the simple WordPress interface than other website builders that come packaged with too many bells and whistles.
Design Options in Wix vs WordPress
Wix has around 50 templates, all fully customizable. On Wix, you have almost an unlimited number of design options with an overwhelming number of design blocks that you can use in the Wix editor to design your site.
On Wix, you start off with a basic template, which basically acts like a canvas where you do your further designing. And then you design your site on a drag and drop website builder where you have so many different design blocks you can drag onto your web pages and further customize them.
Wix is truly a winner when it comes to design options!
The same is true for WordPress as well. WordPress has tens of thousands of themes to choose from. You’re really spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a theme.
The number of customization options you have depends on the theme you’ve chosen. Some themes offer an overwhelming number of customization options while others are pretty limited.
Make sure you choose your theme carefully.
When it comes to the design process itself. It’s not as intuitive as the Wix website building editor. But WordPress has website builder plugins that you can install to get almost the same kind of editing experience as on Wix.
On WordPress, it’s possible to get the design of your dream but in a non-novice-friendly way.
On the other hand, you’ll get lots of other features like SEO, Security, and a mobile-friendly website.
It’s because if you really want to design your site beyond the customization options offered by your theme, you need CSS, HTML, and some PHP skills to be able to edit your theme files and play around with the design.
So, the truth is, both Wix and WordPress have unlimited options when it comes to design.
However, on Wix, anyone – even a novice with no technical experience – can design a site of their dreams while on WordPress, you need at least some coding skills to edit your theme files and customize your files.
Website Maintenance in Wix vs WordPress
When it comes to website maintenance, we’re talking about the speed and security of the site. Both of these require regular maintenance.
On Wix, maintaining speed and security isn’t your headache at all. Your site is managed by Wix and they take all the necessary measures to make sure your site performs well and stays secure.
While security isn’t an issue, a lot of people complain about the sluggishness of Wix sites. And there isn’t much you can do about it other than sending an email to their support team and whining about it.
On WordPress, on the other hand, you’re the one responsible for maintaining your site. While that’s surely a pain to bear, it turns out fruitful in the end as you can take all the necessary measures to make sure your site is blazing fast and stays super secure.
And seriously, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your WordPress site security and regular WordPress maintenance.
Conclusion
Do you see a clear picture now in Wix vs WordPress?
The key takeaway is: if ease of use is super important for you; if the sight of code makes you go ‘WTH’; and if you don’t have enough dough to spend on WordPress development services, go for Wix.
If flexibility, scalability, and power are most important for you; if you’re not scared of code or if you’re ready to shell out money on WordPress development services, go for WordPress.
