Wordpress Versus Wix - which is best?

[Deleted member 339964]

Based on this review

https://www.webcreate.io/wix-vs-wordpress-com-hi/

• WIX - BEST FOR All-around performance & design - rated Simple - rated 5 stars
• WORDPRESS - BEST FOR Blogging - rated complex - rated 4 stars

NUMBER OF SITES BUILT

• WIX 160m+
• WordPress 64m+

EDITED Note: These stats since debunked via resources provided in comments
----------------------------------------------------

Based on this review

https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/website-builders/comparisons/wix-vs-wordpress/

Reviewer https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/reviewer/natasha-willett/ (possible bias here)

A summary of their findings:


Ease of Use

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder, so it is very easy to use even if you have no prior experience.
  • WordPress is more complex to use, as you need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS.
• Verdict: Wix is easier to use than WordPress.

Design and Customization

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has a wider range of templates and customization options than WordPress.
  • WordPress is more flexible, as you can use any theme or plugin you want.
• Verdict: Wix has better design and customization options than WordPress.

Apps and Plugins

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has a wider range of apps and plugins than WordPress.
  • WordPress has a larger community of developers, so there are more plugins available.
• Verdict: Wix has more apps and plugins than WordPress.

Ecommerce

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has built-in ecommerce features, so you can start selling online right away.
  • WordPress requires you to install a third-party plugin like WooCommerce to add ecommerce functionality.
• Verdict: Wix is better for ecommerce than WordPress.

Blogging

• Tie
  • Both Wix and WordPress have good blogging features.
  • Wix has a built-in media library, while WordPress requires you to upload your media files separately.
• Verdict: Wix and WordPress are both good for blogging.

SEO

• Tie
  • Both Wix and WordPress have basic SEO features.
  • You can get more advanced SEO features by using third-party plugins.
• Verdict: Wix and WordPress are both good for SEO.

Ongoing Maintenance

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix takes care of all the updates and maintenance for you.
  • WordPress requires you to update your theme, plugins, and software yourself.
• Verdict: Wix requires less ongoing maintenance than WordPress.

Help and Support

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has a knowledge base, live chat, and phone support.
  • WordPress has a large community forum, but support can be slow.
• Verdict: Wix has better help and support than WordPress.

Conclusion :

• Wix is a better choice for beginners who want an easy-to-use website builder with a wide range of features.
• WordPress is a better choice for experienced users who want more flexibility and control over their website.

Thoughts?

 

[Shopclicks]

NUMBER OF SITES BUILT

• WIX 160m+

• WordPress 64m+

Wrong straight out of the box. 64M is the number of Wordpress.com (the paid version) sites. There are over 800M sites using the free version (Wordpress.org).

 

[Shopclicks]

WordPress is more complex to use, as you need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Wrong again.

 

[Shopclicks]

Wix has a wider range of templates and customization options than WordPress.

Absolute rubbish.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Wrong again.

Elaborate ... and bear in mind this isn't my review

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Absolute rubbish.

elaborate and bear in mind this isn't my review

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Wrong again.

elaborate and bear in mind this isn't my review

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Wrong straight out of the box. 64M is the number of Wordpress.com (the paid version) sites. There are over 800M sites using the free version (Wordpress.org).

This is just what the review site stated, are you able to demonstrate where you got your stats from? Meanwhile can't use free version for commercial?

Can wordpress.com be used for commercial reasons

Forums / Can wordpress.com be used for commercial reasons Can wordpress.com be used for commercial reasons sdkogan · Member · Apr 10, 2016 at 3:14 pm Copy link Add topic to favorites I am…

wordpress.com

"
1. WordPress.com allows bloggers to insert text affiliate links within post and page content to most third-party affiliate programs, provided they are not the primary content of the site in question.

2. Image affiliate links in posts and pages and any banners, affiliate links in sidebar or footer widget areas, are still considered to be advertising and are not allowed on WordPress.com blogs."

 

[Shopclicks]

Meanwhile can't use free version for commercial?

Where are you getting this from? It's simply not true.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Wrong again.

elaborate and bear in mind this isn;t my review

 

[Shopclicks]

150+ WordPress Statistics - How Many Websites use WP? - Colorlib

WordPress powers 42.6% of all websites. Explore 150+ WordPress statistics for 2026 including market share, plugins, themes, security, and performance.

colorlib.com

WordPress Market Share + Statistics [2026]: How Many Websites Use WordPress? - Zippia

Research Summary. In today’s digital landscape, having a reliable, functional, and visually appealing website can significantly influence the success of an online business. A website serves not only as a representation of a brand but also as a powerful tool for driving sales. As we enter 2026...

www.zippia.com

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Reviewer credentials: https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/reviewer/natasha-willett/

"
Natasha brings her expert credentials – a BSc, Ma, and MMRS – to Website Builder Expert. Natasha has qualifications in Advanced Statistical Analysis, MRS certificate in Market Research, Brand, Finding the Story in the Data, and Big Data: Measuring and Predicting Human Behaviour. These have allowed her to carefully analyze over 64 providers across website builders, ecommerce web builders, and hosting.

Natasha began building websites when studying sports science, originally using Weebly to create websites to help students learn in a more interactive way. During her first week at Website Builder Expert, she realized that website builders would become important in giving business owners full control over their websites. She began creating a rigorous methodology of research that centered around testing providers and products against a large set of mixed criteria turned into quantitative findings, comparing value for money, design, ease of use, and more. All to provide the most honest and objective insights rather than just looking at their claimed features.

In five years at Website Builder Expert, Natasha has attended multiple expos in her field, including ESOMAR, MRS, eCommerce Expo, Ad World, Digital Customer Engagement Summit, and IMRG, just to name a few. Natasha has also worked alongside website builders directly to share her research with them, so that they might improve their products for users.

She’s clocked an impressive 9,600 hours of product research and testing, pulling data from multiple sources and providing the Website Builder Expert team with the scores and product details they need to give you the best recommendations to succeed online."

Is she talking rubbish?

 

[Deleted member 339964]

150+ WordPress Statistics - How Many Websites use WP? - Colorlib

WordPress powers 42.6% of all websites. Explore 150+ WordPress statistics for 2026 including market share, plugins, themes, security, and performance.

colorlib.com

WordPress Market Share + Statistics [2026]: How Many Websites Use WordPress? - Zippia

Research Summary. In today’s digital landscape, having a reliable, functional, and visually appealing website can significantly influence the success of an online business. A website serves not only as a representation of a brand but also as a powerful tool for driving sales. As we enter 2026...

www.zippia.com

These stats indeed are wildly different to those by first review site, thank you for sharing

Another good resource https://www.mobiloud.com/blog/cms-market-share

 

[Shopclicks]

Is she talking rubbish?

Yes .... yes she is.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Where are you getting this from? It's simply not true.

Wordpress terms and conditions - I quoted from forum as that's the first result that came up, but it's something I recall from when I used wordpress. Meanwhile I did apply the '?' as I haven't read their terms in years.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Yes .... yes she is.

If they have a comments section you should contribute re 'disputing her findings', as this review is one of the first showing in Google results. It is, as such, influential. And if wrong then it needs to be challenged.

 

[Shopclicks]

If they have a comments section you should contribute re 'disputing her findings', as this review is one of the first showing in Google results.

Can you see the irony in the fact that it's a Wordpress site?

 

[Deleted member 339964]

The second reviewer's overall conclusion is that Wix is better for beginners (ie doing it yourself) and WordPress better for those who are more tech savvy.

Agree?

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Can you see the irony in the fact that it's a Wordpress site?

They do say Wordpress is better if you are more tech savvy.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Based on this review

https://www.webcreate.io/wix-vs-wordpress-com-hi/

• WIX - BEST FOR All-around performance & design - rated Simple - rated 5 stars
• WORDPRESS - BEST FOR Blogging - rated complex - rated 4 stars

NUMBER OF SITES BUILT

• WIX 160m+
• WordPress 64m+

EDITED Note: These stats since debunked via resources provided in comments
----------------------------------------------------

Based on this review

https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/website-builders/comparisons/wix-vs-wordpress/

Reviewer https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/reviewer/natasha-willett/ (possible bias here)

A summary of their findings:


Ease of Use

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder, so it is very easy to use even if you have no prior experience.
  • WordPress is more complex to use, as you need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS.
• Verdict: Wix is easier to use than WordPress.

Design and Customization

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has a wider range of templates and customization options than WordPress.
  • WordPress is more flexible, as you can use any theme or plugin you want.
• Verdict: Wix has better design and customization options than WordPress.

Apps and Plugins

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has a wider range of apps and plugins than WordPress.
  • WordPress has a larger community of developers, so there are more plugins available.
• Verdict: Wix has more apps and plugins than WordPress.

Ecommerce

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has built-in ecommerce features, so you can start selling online right away.
  • WordPress requires you to install a third-party plugin like WooCommerce to add ecommerce functionality.
• Verdict: Wix is better for ecommerce than WordPress.

Blogging

• Tie
  • Both Wix and WordPress have good blogging features.
  • Wix has a built-in media library, while WordPress requires you to upload your media files separately.
• Verdict: Wix and WordPress are both good for blogging.

SEO

• Tie
  • Both Wix and WordPress have basic SEO features.
  • You can get more advanced SEO features by using third-party plugins.
• Verdict: Wix and WordPress are both good for SEO.

Ongoing Maintenance

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix takes care of all the updates and maintenance for you.
  • WordPress requires you to update your theme, plugins, and software yourself.
• Verdict: Wix requires less ongoing maintenance than WordPress.

Help and Support

• Winner:Wix
  • Wix has a knowledge base, live chat, and phone support.
  • WordPress has a large community forum, but support can be slow.
• Verdict: Wix has better help and support than WordPress.

Conclusion :

• Wix is a better choice for beginners who want an easy-to-use website builder with a wide range of features.
• WordPress is a better choice for experienced users who want more flexibility and control over their website.

Thoughts?

note: summary generated by AI to save people reading through it all.

 

[Shopclicks]

The second reviewer's overall conclusion is that Wix is better for beginners (ie doing it yourself) and WordPress better for those who are more tech savvy.

Agree?

No. They use the word better. It's not better because Wix sites don't rank for keywords with any volume. If you don't want any sort of ranking and use other means to drive traffic, sure use Wix. But the fact remains, you don't need to be tech savvy to use Wordpress. You can use a drag & drop editor on a Wordpress site with a lot more features than Wix provides.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Absolute rubbish.

I was surprised by this

 

[Deleted member 339964]

No. They use the word better. It's not better because Wix sites don't rank for keywords with any volume. If you don't want any sort of ranking and use other means to drive traffic, sure use Wix. But the fact remains, you don't need to be tech savvy to use Wordpress. You can use a drag & drop editor on a Wordpress site with a lot more features than Wix provides.

I actually found free blogger sites the best for traffic having tried a few different ones. I don't see great results traffic wise with Wix. But it's been years since I had Wordpress and wasn't a fan.. I forget why now. I think it was more hosting issues as the sites kept going down with 'traffic surges'. Needed increasingly expensive plans.

 

[Shopclicks]

I actually found free blogger sites the best for traffic having tried a few different ones. I don't see great results traffic wise with Wix.

Thinking about going back to Wordpress?

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Thinking about going back to Wordpress?

Based on your comments yes BUT no. I can't face having to transfer all the content and faff about with design and work out how to use it after all these years. I can't have a developer as I add pages, content almost daily and am constantly changing things so I need to be able to do things myself. It's just a massive headache.

I could manage nicely with a decent free blogger template for my other sites.

 

[Shopclicks]

Based on your comments yes BUT no. I can't face having to transfer all the content and faff about with design and work out how to use it after all these years. I can't have a developer as I add pages, content almost daily and am constantly changing things so I need to be able to do things myself. It's just a massive headache. I hated Wordpress back in the day but that was years ago and I think 'host-related, as the site kept going down with traffic surges.

I wouldn't try to talk you into Wordpress. As with any site, you don't get ranking without SEO knowledge. But Wordpress has the ability to rank for competitive search terms and Wix doesn't.
There's nothing wrong with using your SM channels as your marketing strategy but you're leaving money on the table.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Thinking about going back to Wordpress?

I wouldn't try to talk you into Wordpress. As with any site, you don't get ranking without SEO knowledge. But Wordpress has the ability to rank for competitive search terms and Wix doesn't.
There's nothing wrong with using your SM channels as your marketing strategy but you're leaving money on the table.

My situation is complex because I don't know which of the many 'methods' I use to drive affiliate referrals (one source of income) is the most productive. it could be Pinterest in which case I don't need a website at all (for that particular income stream).

For one site I am an affiliate for, I refer between 600-2000 customers a day. But where do they come from? I don't know. I could add tracking codes but that's yet another 'time' thing I don't have 'time' for. And rather annoying the site won't let us know where the links are coming from (sites/social media etc). I might just have been brainwashed to thinking I still need a website.

 

[Mark T Jones]

'Best' is always a relative term and meaningless without more context.

There is strong sense here that you have selected data/opinion that validates Wix - aka confirmation bias.

I know little about Web design, but have built a business-generating WordPress site in an evening. It did look like it had been built by an amateur (possibly part of its appeal). Wix would probably have looked better but I strongly suspect wouldn't have generated business.

I've always used free versions of WordPress for commercial stuff without problem

 

[fisicx]

As @Mark T Jones suggested, there is no best. There is just the one most suitable for your business.

They all have their advantages and disadvantages. You just need to test which one works best for you.

That being said, Wordpress gives you total control. With wix and any other site builder you will always have restrictions with the chance you could lose the lot or incur a penalty.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

'Best' is always a relative term and meaningless without more context.

There is strong sense here that you have selected data/opinion that validates Wix - aka confirmation bias.

I know little about Web design, but have built a business-generating WordPress site in an evening. It did look like it had been built by an amateur (possibly part of its appeal). Wix would probably have looked better but I strongly suspect wouldn't have generated business.

I've always used free versions of WordPress for commercial stuff without problem

No... I simply looked at the review sites that came up top. I don't have time to scour multiple sites to settle on a viewpoint of bias. What purpose would that serve? Do the search yourself.

 

[fisicx]

No... I simply looked at the review sites that came up top.

You mean the ones that came out top for all reviews they paid for, all their affiliates wrote and all the reviews written in exchange for deals and discounts.

Never trust review sites.

 

[Mark T Jones]

No... I simply looked at the review sites that came up top. I don't have time to scour multiple sites to settle on a viewpoint of bias. What purpose would that serve? Do the search yourself.

The first article I came across was this one https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/business/software/wix-vs-wordpress/ which did stress the significant 'it depends' element.

Not surprisingly the overall view leans towards Wix for simple and basic, WordPress for more complex needs.

Though, like all these things, I suspect a different mind will view even the conclusion differently

 

[Deleted member 339964]

The first article I came across was this one https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/business/software/wix-vs-wordpress/ which did stress the significant 'it depends' element.

Not surprisingly the overall view leans towards Wix for simple and basic, WordPress for more complex needs.

Though, like all these things, I suspect a different mind will view even the conclusion differently

So it reached the exact same conclusion as the reviews I read ?

 

[Deleted member 339964]

You mean the ones that came out top for all reviews they paid for, all their affiliates wrote and all the reviews written in exchange for deals and discounts.

Never trust review sites.

Trust randoms on the internet instead! yay ?

But I did NOTE in my opening post 'possible bias identified'.

And let's not forget randoms on the web possess the same biases ... ie leaning towards what they do. One has to ask the questions and weigh up the answers, which I have done. I would consider WP (as noted above - re the traffic) BUT I also have seen better traffic via free blogger sites (over the years having tried all 3). And I 'think' my referred traffic comes from Pinterest ..meaning no website required. Lot's to consider.

 

[fisicx]

Which is why you always start with a marketing plan and then decide on what sort of website (if you even need one).

When I look at my stats only about 20% of my traffic comes from Google. Most traffic is referrals - which means much better conversions.

 

[johndon68]

WordPress is more complex to use, as you need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Thoughts?

As has been pointed out, this is wrong.

I have two websites running on WordPress and, although I'm perfectly capable of writing both HTML and CSS, I've never had to write a single line of either on the two sites.

John

 

[fisicx]

@LeahG - I’ve just read your opening posts and pretty much all those stats are wrong.

Wordpress a has far more installs than wix, more themes and more plugins. It’s not more complex and whilst not fully drag and drop it’s pretty close. And unlike wix, if you switch themes all your content isn’t lost.

Whoever that reviewer was clearly made things up as they went along.

 

[fisicx]

They do say Wordpress is better if you are more tech savvy.

You don’t need any technical skills to set up, configure or use Wordpress.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

@LeahG - I’ve just read your opening posts and pretty much all those stats are wrong.

Wordpress a has far more installs than wix, more themes and more plugins. It’s not more complex and whilst not fully drag and drop it’s pretty close. And unlike wix, if you switch themes all your content isn’t lost.

Whoever that reviewer was clearly made things up as they went along.

The reviewers bio is

Which is why you always start with a marketing plan and then decide on what sort of website (if you even need one).

When I look at my stats only about 20% of my traffic comes from Google. Most traffic is referrals - which means much better conversions.

Social media wasn't what it is now when I started out. One has to adapt and change with technology and changes in how consumers use content.

You should get more traffic than you do if your claims re your seo skills have been applied to your own site. That's a no brainer.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

As has been pointed out, this is wrong.

I have two websites running on WordPress and, although I'm perfectly capable of writing both HTML and CSS, I've never had to write a single line of either on the two sites.

John

I've tweaked the html on sites where I can tweak it, particularly in relation to the theme.