WordPress vs Wix: Which Is Better for Your Business?
Wix is easier to start. WordPress is easier to own and grow. Wix gives you a builder and hosting in one monthly plan, from $17.77 a month on a yearly plan. WordPress is free software that you host where you like, so you own your site and can move it any time. For a simple site you will run yourself, Wix is fine. For a business site you plan to grow, WordPress usually wins. If you want WordPress without the setup, see our website design.
You need a website, and two names keep coming up. Wix looks simple. WordPress runs a huge share of the web. Everyone has an opinion, and most of them are selling one or the other.
We build on WordPress, so we will be upfront about that. We will still give you the honest trade-offs. Here is a fair look at cost, ownership, ease and what happens if you ever want to leave.
What is the difference between WordPress and Wix?
Wix is a website builder you rent. WordPress is software you own and run on hosting you choose. That one difference drives almost everything else.
| Wix | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A builder and hosting in one plan | Free software you put on your own hosting |
| Monthly cost | $17.77 to $159.77 a month, paid yearly | Hosting, plus any paid plugins you choose |
| Getting started | Drag and drop, live in an afternoon | More setup, or hire someone to do it |
| Where it lives | Only on Wix’s servers | Any host you like |
| Updates and backups | Wix handles them | You or your web team handle them |
| Leaving later | Rebuild the site by hand | Move it to a new host |
Wix prices: wix.com/plans, checked November 2026.
Is Wix or WordPress cheaper?
Wix is cheaper to start if you build it yourself. WordPress is often cheaper over time, because you choose your own hosting and only pay for what you add.
Wix plans cost $17.77 a month for Light, $29.77 for Core, $39.77 for Business and $159.77 for Business Elite. Those prices are for yearly plans, paid up front. To take payments, you need Core or higher. Wix also has a free plan with Wix branding on your site, and new paid plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
WordPress itself costs nothing. You pay for hosting, a domain and any paid plugins. Many small business sites run on a basic hosting plan, and plenty of good plugins are free.
The bigger cost on either side is often time. If you build it yourself, count your hours. If you hire help, compare the full project price, not just the monthly plan.
Do you own your website on Wix?
You own your words and photos, but the site itself can only run on Wix. In Wix’s own words, “your site must run on Wix’s servers.”
That matters the day you want to leave. Wix has no tool to move your site to another host. Its help pages also say it is not possible to export blog posts to other platforms. So moving away means rebuilding the site and copying your posts by hand.
With WordPress, your whole site is a set of files and a database. You can back it up, download it and move it to a new host whenever you want.
Which is easier to use, Wix or WordPress?
Wix is easier on day one. WordPress gets easier once it is set up, and it does more as you grow.
Wix lets you drag things where you want them and see the result right away. WordPress takes more setup: hosting, a theme, a few plugins. After that, editing a page or adding a blog post is simple in both.
The real difference comes later. On Wix, Wix does updates and backups for you. On WordPress, someone has to update the site and keep backups. That is either you, or a team you pay to look after it.
Can you change your design later on Wix?
Not easily. Wix’s help pages say you cannot switch a site’s template once it is built, even if you have not added content yet. To get a new design, you build a new site and move your plan and domain to it.
On WordPress, you can change your theme or redesign your pages any time, and your posts and pages stay where they are.
Wix apps vs WordPress plugins: what is the difference?
Both let you add features like booking, forms and email signups. Wix has its own App Market, with apps that work inside Wix. WordPress has tens of thousands of plugins, many of them free, so there is a tool for almost any job.
The trade-off is upkeep. Wix tests and updates its own apps. On WordPress, plugins need updates, and too many plugins can slow a site down, so pick only the ones you need.
Who handles security and support?
On Wix, Wix handles security, updates and backups, and you contact Wix support when something breaks. On WordPress, your host and your web team handle them. That means more control, but someone has to own the job.
Is WordPress better than Wix for SEO and selling online?
Both can rank on Google. WordPress gives you more control over the details, and more ways to sell.
- SEO: both let you set page titles, descriptions and clean web addresses. WordPress adds SEO plugins like Rank Math, plus full control over speed and site structure.
- Blogging: both work well. Just remember that Wix blog posts cannot be exported to other platforms.
- Selling online: Wix sells through its Core plan and up. WordPress uses WooCommerce, which is free, and you add only the tools your store needs.
Want WordPress without the setup?
You did not start your business to learn hosting and plugins. We design WordPress websites from $1,999, with a fixed quote first. Once it is paid in full, the site is yours.
1. Talk to us about your business. 2. We design and build your site. 3. You review it, and it goes live.
Should you choose WordPress or Wix?
Pick the one that fits where your business is going, not just where it is today.
Wix is a good fit if:
- You want a simple site you will build and run yourself
- You do not want to think about updates or hosting
- You do not expect to need much more from the site later
WordPress is a good fit if:
- Your website is how customers find you, and you plan to grow it
- You want to own your site and be free to move it
- You want more control over SEO, speed and features
- You plan to sell online, take bookings or add tools later
Already on Wix and feeling stuck? When a business owner comes to us from Wix, we rebuild the site in WordPress and point each old page address to its new home, so visitors and Google can still find you. See our Wix to WordPress service, or our website redesign services if you want a new look too.
Not sure how your current site stacks up?
We will look at your site’s speed, forms, tracking and setup, then send you a free report with a recorded video walkthrough.
WordPress vs Wix FAQs
How much does Wix cost per month?
From $17.77 to $159.77 a month on a yearly plan, according to wix.com/plans (November 2026). There is also a free plan that shows Wix branding on your site.
Do I need hosting with WordPress?
Yes. WordPress is software, so it needs a host to run on. Hosting is a monthly fee paid to a hosting company, or bundled in with your web team’s care plan.
Is WordPress still worth it in 2026?
For a business site you plan to grow, yes. You own the site, you can move it any time, and you can add almost any feature with a plugin.
Can I move my Wix site to WordPress?
Yes, but not with one click. Wix has no export tool, so the pages are rebuilt in WordPress and the posts are copied over. Your domain can move with you.
Is WordPress free?
Yes. The WordPress software is free. You still pay for hosting, a domain and any paid plugins or themes you choose.
Is Wix good for small business?
It can be, for a simple site you run yourself. Businesses that rely on their site to bring in customers often outgrow it and want more control.
What is the downside of Wix?
Your site can only run on Wix, you cannot switch templates once the site is built, and Wix has no tool to move your site or blog posts somewhere else. Leaving means rebuilding.
Is WordPress better than Wix for SEO?
WordPress gives you more control, with SEO plugins and full access to speed and structure. Both can rank well when the content is good.
Do I need to know code to use WordPress?
No. Once your site is set up, you edit pages and posts in a visual editor. Code only matters for custom changes.
Which is better for an online store?
WordPress with WooCommerce gives you more ways to sell and no store fee from WordPress itself. Wix works for small stores on its Core plan and up.
Sources
- Wix, Plans and Pricing (checked November 2026)
- Wix Help, Exporting or Embedding Your Wix Site Elsewhere (checked November 2026)
- Wix Help, Exporting Blog Posts to Other Platforms (checked November 2026)
- Wix Help, Switching Your Site Template (checked November 2026)
- Wix Help, Requesting a Refund for a Premium or Studio Plan (checked November 2026)
What to do next
If you want a quick site you will run yourself, Wix is a fine place to start. If your website needs to be your hardest-working employee, bringing in customers while you run your business, build it on something you own.
Talk to a WordPress expert about your website.
Keep reading: Web design software vs website builders | How much does it cost to design a website? | Should you hire a web designer?