Wix and WordPress are two popular platforms for setting up a dropshipping business. You can create a website with either one, plus you can design everything as you wish and even use many plugins and apps to make these setups more functional for any purpose.
But it’s also essential to see how these two platforms differ. This Wix vs. WordPress guide will help you know how both platforms work and which one is best to start a dropshipping business.
Main Features of Wix
Wix is a cloud-based website development platform that has been helping customers produce websites since 2006. As a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) system, users pay fees per month, which can be relatively expensive.
Especially since you are limited to what Wix offers with regards to functionalities and plugins, unlike open-source platforms like WordPress.org, which have a lot more third-party plugins and functionalities on offer. However, Wix hosts a unique very user-friendly interface where you can publish an HTML5-based page. Wix offers a range of plans that cater to different needs but also has limitations compared to open-source platforms.
Wix supports hundreds of templates for different industries, and you can also use the Wix website builder to create something from the ground up if you prefer. The layout also provides SEO integration support, but Wix is known for its code not being SEO-proof. This limitation can make it less flexible for users who require specific SEO features or customizations.
Wix provides a more controlled environment where users can choose from the available templates, tools, and features offered within the platform. Customization on Wix can be more challenging compared to open-source platforms like WordPress.org.
To add custom functionality or design elements, users may need to create custom sections using HTML code, as Wix does not support third-party plugins, they only offer their own plugins and plugins that have been developed by them with a limited number of partners.
With regards to e-commerce and dropshipping, it’s worth noting that Wix has limitations in terms of the number of products it can support, with a maximum of 50,000 products. This makes it a system that is relatively expensive, and more suitable for starting a small webshop as a hobby, but not made for scaling a business.
For example for larger dropshipping suppliers like VidaXL, this is a problem if you want to carry their entire catalogue, because this has over 100,000 products. While Wix does offer an e-commerce platform, the SaaS setup and limitations should be taken into consideration.
Main Features of WordPress
WordPress.org is an open-source, PHP-based website creation platform that powers more than 40% of websites worldwide, making it the most used CMS. WordPress emphasizes customization, offering users flexibility and control over their website’s design and functionality. You can use blocks to place various plugins, widgets, and other site elements, as well as select a theme or pattern when preparing a site.
WordPress prides itself on offering a vast array of plugins, with more than 50,000 plugins available for users, including many for dropshipping purposes. As an open-source platform, WordPress provides a free option to start a website, that only requires you to get your own hosting, while allowing users to have full control over their websites, including the ability to add custom code and plugins for extended functionality and to add unlimited amounts of products to your webshop. This flexibility can be good for those who need specific features not available in Wix or other closed platforms.
Read also: How to Start Dropshipping With WordPress? The Most Streamlined Way
One of the main benefits of WordPress is that the code is much cleaner and better for SEO, which is crucial if your store is really a business and you want to make money. WordPress originally started as a blog platform and therefore is very SEO focussed. With its clean code, combined with a strong SEO plugin like Yoast, WordPress is a perfect base to optimize your texts and products to be found in Google. It is one of the best platforms for entrepreneurs who want to grow into a serious business and attract customers through search engines.
It’s worth noting that WordPress does require more technical expertise. It does offer a level of flexibility that is unmatched by closed platforms like Wix though. This makes it a great option for users who want complete control over their website’s design and functionality. Additionally, with the abundance of plugins available, users can customize their website’s functionality to their specific needs.
Important to note when it comes to dropshipping is that with the WooCommerce WordPress plugin, it is easy to set up an online store and there are no limitations to the number of products you can upload.
Wix vs. WordPress: A Comparison
Ease of Use
The first thing to see in this Wix versus WordPress review involves how easy it is to use these platforms. Wix is a bit more user-friendly in the first instance, as it provides multiple pre-set configurations that are easier to manage for newcomers in online business.
WordPress, on the other hand, requires more customization and technical knowledge to get started. However, there is a wide array of themes available and WordPress has convenient blocks to help you sort different site elements. It offers significantly more functionalities due to its open-source nature.
This means that anyone can develop plugins to add features to webshops, providing virtually limitless possibilities for customization and functionality of your webshop. You can add a widget, a plugin, or text space to each block within your website, whether it’s custom-built or built with a standard theme. The learning curve for WordPress is greater than what Wix requires, but once you get the hang of how it runs, you’ll find WordPress to be more functional and versatile.
Themes and Design Points
When looking for themes and designs, you’ll find plenty of choices on Wix. Wix has a vast assortment of templates to use, including ones divided by industry. You can also create templates through a blank canvas.
WordPress has a more diverse array of templates, as you’ll find thousands for various site purposes. You can use templates for portfolio-based pages, storefronts, and other business-related functions. For eCommerce-specific options, WordPress has powerful plugins like WooCommerce, which make it easy to set up your online store. With WooCommerce for WordPress you get great eCommerce capabilities, allowing for more advanced online stores and shopping experiences with large numbers of products.
Both of these platforms offer free and premium templates. The cost to download and use a template will vary based on what you choose on either setup.
As for designing your site, WordPress offers more flexibility when creating a more dynamic and interesting site. You’ll have more options for preparing a website or webshop with different features, thanks to its open-source nature and the availability of plugins like WooCommerce. On the other hand, Wix’s setup for designing a page is easy to use when you are building your first eCommerce website, it provides a straightforward approach to building an online store.
Plugin Availability
In the WordPress versus Wix dispute, WordPress dominates in how many plugins are available. WordPress has more than 60,000 free plugins to use on your site, including ones for SEO optimization, contact form creation, and GDPR compliance. There are also some premium plugins available, such as plugins like Yoast for SEO or the Woosa WooCommerce plugins. The price differs per plugin provider since all developers able to create their own pricing.
Wix isn’t fully left behind in this WordPress vs. Wix point, as Wix also has an app store where you can find thousands of plugins. These plugins are developed by Wix; there are free and premium plugins for sales tax automation, affiliate software, inventory automation, and more. But, if you want to add custom elements you’ll often have to add this in HTML code since there’s less chance you will find very specific wishes in the more limited offer of Wix plugins.
Ecommerce Functions
When it comes to eCommerce functions, both Wix and WordPress offer various features. Wix provides an eCommerce platform that allows you to create a storefront, upload products, and add different payment options. While the work is convenient, it’s worth noting that Wix has limitations with regard to the number of products it can support, with a maximum of 50,000 products. Additionally, Wix is limited to the plugins or features that it offers, making it less flexible for users who require specific features or customizations. Furthermore, SEO optimization on Wix can be difficult due to the code behind Wix not being great for this.
In comparison, WordPress, in combination with a plugin like WooCommerce, allows you to start an eCommerce website with more advanced features. Plugins from Woosa make it simple to integrate your store with popular dropshipping platforms and marketplaces. It also allows you to streamline various aspects of your eCommerce business, including stock synchronization, order management, and shipment. For example, plugins like AliExpress, Bol.com, VidaXL, and BigBuy can help you connect your store to popular platforms. This makes it easier to scale your business and sell a larger number of products.
WordPress offers a more versatile payment and shopping cart platform selection, making it a helpful choice for users with more distinct needs. For example, some users may require features like subscriptions, memberships, or multi-vendor support, which are unavailable on closed platforms like Wix.
To provide an example, let’s say you want to do dropshipping with VidaXL, then you have to take into account the fact that the entire catalog of VidaXL is already over 100,000 products. In this case, it may be challenging to scale your business using Wix due to its 50.000 products upload limitations. While Wix may be suitable for small hobby webshops, it may not be the best option for users who want to grow their businesses.
Pricing
The pricing in the Wix versus WordPress dispute is worth spotting, as you’ll have to spend a good deal of money depending on what you’ll use. Wix offers website plans starting at $16 per month, with the most expensive plan being $45 per month. The pricing varies over how much storage space you’ll get, how many video hours you can upload, and the priority of customer care. Business plans that can accept online payments are also available from $27 per month upward.
WordPress is free to use via WordPress.org, but it costs money to get a domain and host. Especially for WooCommerce websites with a lot of products that need to be synched, it is very important to have fast hosting. We recommend the VPS2 package of Hoasted as a minimum.
Don’t forget about the cost of various themes or plugins for your site. The Wix and WordPress sites will let you know what it costs to get one of these features as necessary.
Our Verdict – Is Wix or WordPress Better?
The answer to whether WordPress is better than Wix or whether you should stick with Wix depends on your experience in preparing a site and your ambitions for your eCommerce store. If you start a website as a hobby and have no ambition to grow it into a larger profitable webshop, or if you want an easy first setup, then Wix may be suitable. Wix provides a more streamlined and focused approach to development that is easier for most people to utilize.
However, if you want to be found in Google, grow bigger, sell more products, and have scale and growth ambitions, then WordPress is a better option. WordPress is a better choice for people who have more technical experience and want to customize their sites further. With no maximum limit on the number of products and better connections to dropshipping platforms and marketplaces, WordPress provides more advanced and flexible features for eCommerce businesses.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a platform that provides a more controlled environment and ease of use, Wix may be a good choice for small hobby webshops. However, if you have ambitions to grow your eCommerce business, WordPress with WooCommerce and Woosa plugins provides a more robust and flexible platform that can meet your needs.
Conclusion
When asking if Wix or WordPress is better, you should look at your experience and what you need out of your e-commerce website. WordPress is best for people with more experience, while Wix is ideal for first-time developers. WordPress has more plugins and options for customization, but Wix has a less steep learning curve to start building a more basic store.
Take note of these two choices when getting your e-commerce store site ready. Be sure to also look at different plugins of value for all your sales needs, especially as you aim to make your webshop more visible and convenient to everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use WordPress instead of Wix?
WordPress is a more customizable option for starting an e-commerce store with support for more plugins that can handle e-commerce tasks. It’s also easier to adjust your WordPress site and product listings, as WordPress lets you change multiple parameters as necessary.
Is Wix or WordPress more expensive?
WordPress costs extra in most situations, as not all plugins for WordPress are free. But Wix may also cost more to use if you need to store more data at a time. Check your plugin and data storage needs to see what you’ll spend first.
Can I switch from Wix to WordPress?
You can migrate a Wix site to WordPress. WordPress has a guide on how you can move between these two setups. WordPress will support your blog posts, static pages, and other blocks, but you’ll still need to double-check your site after switching over to see that everything works well when running your site right.
