Shopify is a specialized e-commerce platform with superior inventory and multi-channel selling tools, while Wix is an all-in-one website builder that's easier for beginners but less powerful for complex online stores. Shopify costs more but scales better for growing businesses.
Shopify vs Wix — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud-based e-commerce platform for building and managing online stores with advanced selling tools.
Flexible website builder with extensive app marketplace and affordable pricing tiers
Primary Focus. Starting Monthly Cost. Built-in Apps/Extensions. Transaction Fees. Maximum Product Listings. API Access. Ease of Use (Learning Curve)
Choose Shopify if you're serious about e-commerce growth, need advanced inventory management, multi-channel selling (Amazon, Facebook), or plan to scale significantly—the 8,000+ app ecosystem and powerful APIs justify the higher cost. Choose Wix if you're a small business or solo entrepreneur wanting a simple, affordable all-in-one solution where you can build a professional site with basic store functionality without technical complexity.
Shopify: 27% | Wix: 2.5-3% of all websites
Shopify: 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Limited export; difficult migration | Wix: Difficult to export, vendor lock-in
Shopify: 200+ templates | Wix: 900+ templates
Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
Shopify: $5,000+ (lower barrier) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 0% (on Shopify Payments) | Wix: 0% (on Wix Payments)
Shopify: Advanced (Liquid code access) | Wix: Beginner (Visual drag-drop)
Shopify: ~300 (optimized for sales) | Wix: 800+
Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
Shopify: Included in subscription | Wix: N/A
Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
Shopify: Zero (must generate own traffic) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 30-90 days (with marketing) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 100% direct access to customer emails and data | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Good GraphQL API; limited headless options | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $0-20M GMV (optimal fit) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Low; point-and-click setup | Wix: N/A
Shopify: ~30% of all online stores | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $5 (Starter plan minimum) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Unlimited with advanced sync | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $5 (Starter Plan) | Wix: $120-216 (all-in-one)
Shopify: $5-39 (all-inclusive) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Hours to 1 day | Wix: 0.5-1 hour
Shopify: Hosting, SSL, domain, support included | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Separate subscriptions required | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Ongoing regular updates | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 30-60 minutes | Wix: 0.5-2 hours
Shopify: None (paid plans only) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Mobile-optimized by default | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 6 (Liquid templating limits) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Shopify manages all compliance | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Unlimited (pricing tier independent) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $468 + transaction fees ($2,900) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: $39/month (Basic plan) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 100+ official integrations | Wix: 50+ gateways
Shopify: Level 1 (fully managed) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: Limited (basic automation) | Wix: N/A
Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | Wix: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
Shopify: Full REST & GraphQL APIs | Wix: Limited REST API only
Shopify: 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.) | Wix: Limited to Facebook & Instagram
Shopify: Included in all plans | Wix: Included in all plans
Shopify: N/A | Wix: $29/month (Core plan)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Available with limitations
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Built-in social media and SEO tools
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Functional, highly customizable
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Wix Studio with AI tools
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Fully managed (included)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Unlimited on most plans
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Advanced (Aria, greater variety)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: $27/month (Business Basic)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Basic; supports 100s of pages effectively
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Limited custom code in specific areas only
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Basic AI copywriting and simple design suggestions
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Integrated with reliable uptime; basic SEO controls
Shopify: N/A | Wix: $39/month (advanced e-commerce)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: High freedom with drag-and-drop
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Basic (Advanced at $39+)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Very intuitive, drag-and-drop
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Micro to small business
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Advanced with automated tax, shipping, inventory
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Moderate; requires learning curve
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Advanced SEO, analytics, and integrations
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Advanced: SKU tracking, stock alerts, variants
Shopify: N/A | Wix: AI Writer, design suggestions, image optimization
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Included with e-commerce plans
Shopify: N/A | Wix: $16/month (annual billing)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: 2-4 hours (email/chat)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Yes (Stripe, PayPal, Square integrated)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Full-featured mobile editor
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Yes (included in all plans)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: $324 (plans) + $2,900 (fees)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: 250+ app market integrations
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Limited (plans $27+/month)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Beginner (no coding needed)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Limited/difficult to export
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Basic (limited control)
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Unlimited on Premium+ plans
Shopify: N/A | Wix: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Variable quality, requires curation
Shopify: N/A | Wix: ~1,500 apps in App Market
Shopify: N/A | Wix: Extra cost ($8.80/month for SEO Wiz)
Shopify vs Wix — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Shopify vs Wix. Contains 197 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Shopify vs Wix — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Shopify vs Wix.
Which is cheaper overall: Shopify or Wix?
Wix has lower upfront costs at $27/month vs Shopify's $39/month, but the gap narrows when you factor in app costs. Shopify's 8,000 apps (many free) often reduce the need for external paid services, while Wix's limited 400 apps may require more paid add-ons. For stores processing $10,000/month in sales, transaction fee differences save Wix customers approximately $24/month, but Shopify's superior tools often reduce operational costs through automation.
Can I sell on multiple channels with both platforms?
Shopify excels here with native integration to 100+ channels including Amazon, eBay, Facebook, TikTok, and Google Shopping, syncing inventory automatically. Wix is limited to Facebook and Instagram storefronts, making it unsuitable for sellers needing Amazon or marketplace presence. For multi-channel merchants, Shopify is significantly more capable.
Which platform scales better as my business grows?
Shopify is purpose-built for scaling with unlimited products, bandwidth, and a robust API for custom development. It supports stores with millions in annual revenue. Wix handles small-to-medium stores well (up to ~500 SKUs) but lacks the advanced automation, inventory management, and customization options needed for enterprise-level operations.
Yes, Wix has a significantly gentler learning curve with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and 900+ pre-built templates requiring no coding. Shopify requires more initial setup but offers better documentation and support for growth. Non-technical users typically get a functional store on Wix in hours; Shopify may take days to weeks for customization.
What if I need custom features or integrations?
Shopify's full REST and GraphQL APIs enable unlimited custom development and integrations with 8,000+ pre-built apps, making it ideal for complex needs. Wix's restricted API access limits custom functionality significantly. If you need beyond-platform features (custom CRM sync, ERP integration, custom workflows), Shopify is the only viable choice.
Primary Focus: Shopify has E-commerce and online selling, while Wix has Website building with e-commerce add-on.
Starting Monthly Cost: Shopify has $39/month (Basic plan), while Wix has $27/month (Business Basic plan).
Built-in Apps/Extensions: Shopify has 8,000+ apps in App Store, while Wix has 400+ apps in App Market.
Transaction Fees: Shopify has 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, while Wix has 2.7% + 30¢ per transaction (with Wix Payments).
Maximum Product Listings: Shopify has Unlimited products, while Wix has Unlimited products.
API Access: Shopify has Full REST and GraphQL APIs available, while Wix has Limited API access, no GraphQL.
Ease of Use (Learning Curve): Shopify has Moderate - requires some setup, while Wix has Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop.