WordPress or WIX – Which system is suitable for building a website?

There isn’t just one way to build a website for your business. Whether you design your website yourself or use a modular system like WIX or an open content management system like WordPress is up to you. In the following article we will show you the advantages and disadvantages of both systems.

An overview of the different systems

It doesn’t matter whether you want to build a website or a shop, only a few are able to program it yourself without resorting to a content management system. Content management system, or CMS for short, is software that enables the structure and management of website content. You can set this up according to your ideas.

WordPress: The most used CMS

One of the most popular CMS is WordPress. When surfing the Internet, about 40% of websites are built with WordPress. Matthew started Mullenweg in 2003 and has been growing ever since. If WordPress is installed on your own server, you can start designing the website right away. Creating content, adapting the design or building the shop, all this is now possible. WordPress is an open system that gives you full control over your website. In return, you also have full responsibility for them.

WIX: The construction kit for your website

The open systems such as WordPress are opposed to the closed construction kits. Although closed construction kits are the more convenient solution, they also have some disadvantages. Squarespace, Jimdo and WIX are the most well-known construction kits. WIX was founded in Tel Aviv in 2006 and has been listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York since 2013. With WIX you can design your website in a clearly defined system. Creative features and special functions are not intended for the modular system.

freedom or convenience

WordPress: self-determination and freedom meets responsibility

Open content management systems stand for self-determination and freedom. You can work with plug-ins and different designs according to your ideas until the website suits you and your company.

But with freedom and self-determination comes responsibility. WordPress can be compared to a home. When you move into your condominium or house, you have to think about the key at all times and you also have to take care of the insurance yourself.

It’s the same with WordPress. You are responsible for keeping your website secure. Don’t overdo it with plug-ins or you’ll degrade performance. You have to make adjustments and extensions yourself. Likewise, you must find solutions to emerging problems yourself.

Don’t let that scare you, because once you’ve taken the first steps, the learning curve is very pleasant.

WIX: Limited room for manoeuvre

The open content management systems such as WordPress are opposed to the modular system. A modular system like WIX can be compared to a rented apartment. The tenant can design the walls according to his wishes and set up the apartment according to his needs. However, the tenant may not tear down any walls.

WIX gives the user room to maneuver up to the point where it is advisable from WIX’s point of view that WIX takes over. This means that WIX makes updates and backups for the user and configures the server. This is done for a monthly fee, as with a rented apartment.

Both systems make sense. If you want to express yourself creatively and technically, an open CMS like WordPress is the right choice. On the other hand, if you don’t want to deal with the website so extensively and want to have a website that runs reliably and is secure, the WIX is in good hands.

design options

Optics, design and individuality are often subjective factors. But some points can also be viewed objectively. These points include the design templates. WIX currently offers the user around 977 design templates to choose from. At the same time, there are about 8,200 themes in the WordPress theme directory, not counting the themes that can be purchased from the developers for a fee.

WordPress offers a huge selection, which a closed system like WIX cannot offer either. Because an open system like WordPress is accessible to everyone and also the largest CMS in the world. Designers therefore prefer to use an open platform instead of a closed system like WIX.

WIX is easier to use for beginners with the choice and customization of the design templates. Once selected, elements can be easily moved, changed color and size, or deleted entirely using drag-and-drop. However, if you want to customize more, you will quickly reach the limits of the system. If the limits of WIX are reached, WordPress is suitable.

Use of plug-ins

Plugins are essential for a website. Plug-ins make it possible to extend the website, blog or shop with functionalities that are not standard, e.g. B. the contact form or the newsletter system. As with the design templates, the advantage of WordPress is also evident here. WordPress users can access over 58,000 plugins, while WIX users only have a few hundred available.

Thus, the probability of finding the right plugin for a function in WordPress is much higher. In addition, the code can be created more easily than with WIX. WordPress clearly wins the plug-in point.

Building a shop

Building a shop is possible with both WordPress and WIX. Depending on which premium subscription was taken out with WIX, this brings an e-commerce system with it. The “Business & E-Commerce Premium Plans” required for this start at 20 € per month, to get more functions, this can be expanded. The monthly price is then between €30 and €40. WordPress has a plugin system. In order to be able to use WooCommerce, training is required. After that, it can be expanded as desired with plug-ins and add-ons. Good plug-ins and add-ons are usually not free, but the purchase is worthwhile after just a few months.

However, since the field of e-commerce is very complex, the simplicity of the modular system is a great advantage. WIX offers the possibility to set up a shop in a simple way. But even if WIX does some work for you, you should still deal with the essential legal regulations of the countries. Because not all regulations are always complied with and this must be checked.

Take or give up responsibility?

As already described at the beginning of the article, the systems can be compared with a home and a rented apartment. With WordPress, the user is responsible for updates, backups, security and the technology used. It is possible to set automatisms that carry out regular backups and updates. But these must first be set up and monitored.

WIX, on the other hand, provides support when working with the website. Each time the website is changed, a revision of the website is automatically created and you can return to it at any time. The server and its configuration are also taken over by WIX. This means that the responsibility for security and functionality is taken over by WIX and there is no say in these areas. WIX also offers a 24-hour customer service that answers questions at any time. With WordPress, forums or programming must be asked for advice. This costs time and/or money.

The cost factor

WIX offers the user a free version. However, this is more suitable for the private sector. Because in addition to the display of advertising for WIX, WIX can also be found in the domain name. This does not speak professionally and should not be used for a corporate website.

There are also clear differences in the premium versions of WIX. On the one hand, a distinction is made between normal websites / blogs and e-commerce websites / shops and whether advertising for WIX may be placed or not. On the other hand, the storage space is different. The smallest package includes 3 GB of storage space. This should be enough for a normal website. If you want statistics and analysis, you have to choose the next larger package. The most expensive package also includes a professional logo and social media channels. The monthly costs are between €5 and €30 depending on the package.

E-commerce websites cost around €20 a month. The price increases when subscriptions, more products or different currencies are added to the shop.

Unlike WIX, WordPress is open source and actually free. With WordPress, there are costs for the domain, hosting and possible premium plugins and themes. However, these are purchased once and no subscription is required. If your company is in a crisis, it is easier to spend less money with WordPress because there are no monthly fixed costs.

Conclusion

Both the open content management system and the modular system have a right to exist. With the open CMS, only WordPress can be used to build a website. No competitor can keep up with the large community of developers and the unbeatable selection of themes.

WIX, on the other hand, has to fight for its place among the modular systems. In addition to WordPress, WIX can convince with simplicity and convenience, but there are other competitors on the market. Shopify, Joomla, Squarespace are just a few who have their strengths in different areas. WIX is priced on par with its competitors. The free package is uninteresting for many due to the placement of advertising. Changing to another system is not possible with WIX, so the system can be compared to a prison.

Another point that needs to be viewed critically is the company’s stock market listing. It is therefore under the scrutiny of analysts and must meet the expectations of investors.

When deciding between WordPress and WIX, the following points should be considered. WordPress offers freedom and countless design options. However, it takes some time for the website to run reliably. Once you have mastered the initial difficulties, you will be able to design a website according to your own ideas.

WIX can’t keep up with WordPress when it comes to design options, but it can convince with its simplicity and convenience. Annoying tasks such as backups and updates are taken over by the system. However, there are other kit providers besides WIX. Before you decide on a modular system, you should thoroughly inform yourself about the respective advantages and disadvantages.