WordPress powers 43% of all websites and offers unlimited customization through plugins and themes. Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder requiring no coding knowledge. WordPress is more powerful; Wix is easier for non-technical users.
WordPress vs Wix — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Open-source content management system powering 43% of all websites with massive plugin ecosystem.
Flexible website builder with extensive app marketplace and lower entry-level pricing
Market Share. Ease of Use. Customization. SEO Control. Cost (basic)
WordPress for scalability, SEO, and advanced customization. Wix for beginners who want a quick, easy website without technical skills.
WordPress: $100-200 (hosting only) | Wix: $16/month (Combo plan)
WordPress: 6.9 (RC 7.0 March 2026) | Wix: Wix Studio with AI tools
WordPress: Self-hosted (user managed) | Wix: Fully managed (included)
WordPress: $4 (WordPress.com) + $20-100 hosting | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $260-2200+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 3.4 seconds | Wix: 2.8 seconds
WordPress: $4 (managed) / $0 (self-hosted) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Yes - requires plugins for advanced features | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Yes - Yjs CRDT engine in WP 7.0 | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 2.5-4.0s (varies with plugins) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Partial - WordPress 7.0 adds core AI (plugin-dependent before) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Via plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 43% of all websites (self-hosted instances) | Wix: 200+
WordPress: 100% (you keep all) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Easy via XML export (9/10) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 2-5 hours (updates, security, backups) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $2/month + plugins | Wix: $27/month
WordPress: 2-3% via Stripe/PayPal plugins | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 120-240 minutes | Wix: 30 minutes (average first store)
WordPress: 10 (full code access) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: You manage updates, SSL, backups | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $240 + hosting ($10-50/month) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Beginner (0-6 months experience) | Wix: N/A
Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)
WordPress: 156 plugin/theme CVEs | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Extensive—drag-drop, theme customizer, page builders | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $5-15 (hosting only) | Wix: $17
WordPress: Intermediate to Advanced | Wix: Beginner (no coding needed)
WordPress: Complete ownership; full export capability | Wix: Limited/difficult to export
WordPress: Full (robots.txt, schema, redirects) | Wix: Basic (limited control)
WordPress: 20-40 hours (with learning) | Wix: 0.5-1 hour
WordPress: $5-15 hosting | Wix: $16/month
WordPress: $180-360 (hosting only) | Wix: $576-3,564
WordPress: 10,000+ free & premium | Wix: 900+ Wix-designed
WordPress: Unlimited (WooCommerce) | Wix: Up to 50,000
WordPress: 1.5-2.5 seconds (optimized) | Wix: 2.5-3.5 seconds
WordPress: $0 (self-hosted, domain only) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $25-50/month (WP Engine, Kinsta managed hosting) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 2-4 hours (theme selection, plugin setup) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 38% (WooCommerce dominates) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 99% (varies by host) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 30-60 minutes | Wix: 0.5-2 hours
WordPress: 60,000+ available themes | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $100-200 (domain + basic hosting) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 9/10 (full control + advanced plugins) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 10/10 (complete ownership & backup) | Wix: Difficult to export, vendor lock-in
WordPress: 43% | Wix: 2.5-3% of all websites
WordPress: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 58,000+ plugins | Wix: 200+ Wix apps
WordPress: Depends on host (typically 99.9%) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Community forums only (free tier) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Complete control via robots.txt, .htaccess, code injection | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 43.2% of all websites | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Simple to Medium (Blogs, Business Sites) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $3-10/month + free software | Wix: $14
WordPress: 58,000+ plugins + 10,000+ themes | Wix: N/A
WordPress: No, separate purchase | Wix: Yes (included in all plans)
WordPress: Yes, completely free | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Requires plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $3-5 | Wix: $16/month (annual billing)
WordPress: 10,000+ free & premium themes | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 58,000+ plugins | Wix: 250+ apps
WordPress: $180-300 (5-year total with budget hosting) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: $50/month + $1000+ plugins/year | Wix: N/A
WordPress: No, separate hosting required | Wix: N/A
WordPress: 58,000+ official plugins | Wix: N/A
WordPress: No, requires WooCommerce plugin | Wix: N/A
WordPress: Unlimited free tier (self-hosted) | Wix: N/A
WordPress: N/A | Wix: $29/month (Core plan)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Available with limitations
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Built-in social media and SEO tools
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Functional, highly customizable
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Unlimited on most plans
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Advanced (Aria, greater variety)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 0% (on Wix Payments)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Beginner (Visual drag-drop)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: $27/month (Business Basic)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Basic; supports 100s of pages effectively
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Limited custom code in specific areas only
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Basic AI copywriting and simple design suggestions
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Integrated with reliable uptime; basic SEO controls
WordPress: N/A | Wix: $39/month (advanced e-commerce)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Basic (Advanced at $39+)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Very intuitive, drag-and-drop
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Micro to small business
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Advanced with automated tax, shipping, inventory
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Moderate; requires learning curve
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Advanced SEO, analytics, and integrations
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Advanced: SKU tracking, stock alerts, variants
WordPress: N/A | Wix: AI Writer, design suggestions, image optimization
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Yes, chat and email
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Included with e-commerce plans
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Yes (Stripe, PayPal, Square integrated)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Full-featured mobile editor
WordPress: N/A | Wix: $27 (Business plan)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: $324 (plans) + $2,900 (fees)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Yes (with branding)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 250+ app market integrations
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Limited (plans $27+/month)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Limited REST API only
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Limited to Facebook & Instagram
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Included in all plans
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Unlimited on Premium+ plans
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Variable quality, requires curation
WordPress: N/A | Wix: ~1,500 apps in App Market
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 500+ in App Market
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Unlimited products
WordPress: N/A | Wix: AI-powered SEO assistant with recommendations
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Full-page element positioning (complete freedom)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 70+ payment providers
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Yes, limited features
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Template effects, limited custom animations
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 12+ (Stripe, PayPal, Square, etc.)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Velo (JavaScript-only, proprietary API)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: $27-42 (for ecommerce features)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 1.5% + $0.15 (Wix Payments) or 2.9% + $0.30 (third-party)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 20+ (Wix Payments, PayPal, Square, Apple Pay)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 80+ built-in templates
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 1 (None: fully visual interface)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Yes (no limit across all plans)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 30% (template constraints only)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 18 (inventory, shipping, abandoned cart)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 5/10 (auto-generated, limited control)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: No (complete vendor lock-in)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: 2.9% + $0.30 (Combo plan)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Limited, requires Velo (custom code)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: AI Assistant, automated recommendations, sitemap generation
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Basic (manual setup required)
WordPress: N/A | Wix: Average 6 hours (24/7 chat)
WordPress vs Wix — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for WordPress vs Wix. Contains 229 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
WordPress vs Wix — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for WordPress vs Wix.
WordPress itself is free, but you need to pay for hosting ($3–$25/month), a domain ($10–$20/year), and potentially premium themes or plugins. Wix plans range from $17–$159/month and include hosting and a domain. For budget-conscious beginners, Wix can feel simpler and more predictable in cost. However, WordPress offers better long-term value for growing sites, as costs scale more efficiently. Advanced WordPress sites can be significantly cheaper than equivalent Wix Business plans when managed carefully.
Is WordPress better than Wix for building a website?
WordPress is generally better for users who need flexibility, scalability, and full control over their website. It powers over 43% of the web and supports virtually unlimited customization through plugins and themes. Wix, however, is better for beginners who want a fast, drag-and-drop experience without touching code. If you're building a simple portfolio, small business site, or personal blog with minimal technical involvement, Wix wins on ease. For e-commerce, SEO-heavy sites, or complex functionality, WordPress is the stronger long-term choice.
Which platform is better for e-commerce: WordPress or Wix?
WordPress with WooCommerce is the preferred choice for serious e-commerce businesses. It offers complete control over product listings, payment gateways, inventory, and SEO optimization. WooCommerce supports thousands of extensions for advanced store functionality. Wix eCommerce is suitable for small stores with simpler needs, offering an intuitive setup and built-in tools for selling products, bookings, and digital downloads. However, Wix imposes limitations on scalability and third-party integrations, making WordPress the better option as your online store grows beyond a few hundred products.
What are the key differences between WordPress and Wix in 2026?
In 2026, both platforms have evolved significantly. WordPress 6.x introduced enhanced Full Site Editing and AI-assisted block patterns, making it more beginner-friendly than ever. Wix expanded its Wix Studio environment for agencies and added stronger SEO tooling and advanced analytics. WordPress still leads in plugin ecosystem size, SEO flexibility, and open-source freedom. Wix continues to close the gap in design quality and ease of use. The core distinction remains: WordPress offers power and ownership, while Wix prioritizes simplicity and an all-in-one managed experience.
Can I switch from Wix to WordPress later if my needs change?
Yes, you can migrate from Wix to WordPress, but the process is not seamless. Wix does not provide a direct export tool compatible with WordPress, so you'll need to manually transfer content or use third-party migration services and plugins like CMS2CMS. Blog posts, images, and pages can typically be migrated, but design elements and Wix-specific apps won't carry over. It's advisable to plan your platform choice carefully upfront, as migration requires time and may involve rebuilding parts of your site from scratch.
Market Share: WordPress has 43% of web, while Wix has ~3% of web.
Ease of Use: WordPress has Moderate, while Wix has Very Easy.
Customization: WordPress has Unlimited, while Wix has Limited.
SEO Control: WordPress has Full, while Wix has Limited.
Cost (basic): WordPress has ~$5-15/mo hosting, while Wix has $16-45/mo.