Is Wix or WordPress Better for Beginners?

When first building an online presence, beginners often face a choice between Wix, a popular website builder, and WordPress, a renowned content management system. Wix operates on a drag-and-drop interface with a vast selection of pre-designed templates, which streamline the website-building process. Beginners may find this platform appealing due to its simplicity in design and straightforward approach to website construction.

On the other hand, WordPress, while presenting a steeper learning curve, offers a high degree of customisation that can benefit users in the long term. It’s a versatile platform that allows beginners to expand their sites’ capabilities as they grow more comfortable and skilled. WordPress has proven to be particularly advantageous for those aiming to have more control over their site’s design, functionality, and future scalability.

Understanding Each Website Builder

Selecting the right platform is vital when creating a website, as it can influence both the development process and the final outcome. Beginners will find that options vary greatly in ease of use, flexibility, and control over the website’s design and functionality.

Wix: A User-Friendly Starter Platform

Wix is recognised for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, appealing to those without web development experience. Users can choose from a wide variety of pre-designed templates, which streamlines the web design process. The simplicity of the platform’s plans may be particularly beneficial for beginners, as they are straightforward compared to the offerings of other website builders.

WordPress: A Versatile Content Management System

WordPress, on the other hand, provides a robust content management system that is highly customisable. It might possess a steeper learning curve, but for newcomers eager to expand their website’s capacity, WordPress offers a wide spectrum of plugins and themes. A WordPress site begins with selecting hosting and a domain name, and while this means a little more work upfront, the control and options for scalability are significant advantages.

Choosing between Wix and WordPress hinges on the new user’s willingness to engage with the initial complexity for greater long-term benefits. WordPress emerges as the more scalable platform, granting expansive creative freedom and potential for growth.

Ease of Use for Beginners

Choosing between Wix and WordPress largely depends on the user’s comfort with technology and their long-term goals for their website. Wix is known for its user-friendly interface, whereas WordPress is praised for its flexibility and a broader range of customisation options.

Getting to Know A Wix Site

Wix’s editor utilises a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) approach, which can be particularly appealing for beginners. It uses:

• Drag-and-drop functionality: Users can place elements anywhere on their site freely.
• Intuitive interface: The editor is straightforward, with little time needed to learn the basics and no custom code.

Wix themes also provide numerous pre-designed templates that make initial site design simple for users who have minimal web development experience.

Exploring WordPress Website Themes and Customisation

WordPress sites offer a diverse array of themes, which serve as the foundation for site design. Here are key points about WordPress:

• Greater variety of themes: WordPress has thousands of free and premium themes.
• Customisation capacity: Users have the option to use widgets and plugins to enhance functionality.

While WordPress might have a steeper learning curve than Wix, the WordPress customiser and theme options offer a high degree of control that can be advantageous in the long run. Users who start with WordPress might find it easier to scale and add complex features to their site as their competence grows.

What is the best website builder for a beginner?

When it comes to building a website, beginners are often looking for a platform that combines ease of use with the flexibility to grow and expand as their skills and needs develop. While Wix is praised for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, WordPress stands out as the superior choice for beginners who want a website that can evolve with them.

WordPress is renowned for its open-source nature, providing users with unparalleled freedom to customise and enhance their websites. The platform may have a steeper learning curve compared to Wix, but the WordPress community offers extensive resources to help beginners get started. The WordPress repository is filled with thousands of free themes and plugins, allowing users to add new features and change the design of their site with minimal effort.

A significant advantage of WordPress is its scalability. Beginners can start with a simple blog or business website, and as their proficiency grows, they can enhance their site with advanced features like eCommerce, forums, and membership areas. The platform’s versatility makes it a long-term solution for users who plan to expand their online presence.

In terms of costs, WordPress itself is a free software, which means you only need to cover hosting and domain expenses. This can be a more affordable option in the long run, especially when compared to Wix’s premium plans. With a WordPress website, you have the freedom to choose from a wide range of hosting providers, finding a plan that fits your budget and performance needs.

For beginners who are concerned about SEO, WordPress is often considered to be more Search Engine Optimisation friendly. With its built-in features and a vast selection of SEO plugins, optimising a WordPress site for search engines is straightforward, which can lead to better visibility and traffic for your website.

While Wix is user-friendly, WordPress websites offer the best builder for beginners who are serious about creating a professional and flexible website that can grow with them over time. With its extensive customisation options, strong community support, and excellent scalability, WordPress is the platform that can best accommodate a beginner’s journey from novice to web expert.

Design and Customisation Options

When starting with website design and customisation, beginners will appreciate platforms that offer a wide range of options that are accessible and easy to manage.

Wix Templates and Apps

Wix provides a variety of over 800 pre-designed templates that cater to numerous industries and personal styles. The templates are fully customisable with a drag-and-drop editor, allowing beginners to easily adjust layouts and add elements. In the Wix App Market, users have access to various apps and services that can extend the functionality of their sites, such as contact forms, social media integrations, and online booking systems. While Wix’s templates and the app market simplify the web design process for beginners with minimal technical skills, they may encounter limitations when scaling their website as their skills or business grows.

WordPress Themes and Plugins

WordPress offers a more extensive range of customisation options compared to Wix. Users can choose from thousands of free and premium themes that set the foundational design and layout of their website. Premium themes often include additional features and customisation options, providing more flexibility in design. The extensive plugin repository allows for the addition of functionality ranging from SEO tools to e-commerce solutions. WordPress plugins enable beginners to add complex features without needing to know how to code, though there may be a learning curve when it comes to managing and updating these plugins.

With WordPress, the number of customisation options available is really only limited by your imagination; users can start with an accessible platform and then expand the site’s capabilities as they develop their skills, making WordPress an excellent choice for beginners who plan for growth.

Comparing Costs and Value

When choosing between Wix and WordPress, beginners need to consider both the short-term and long-term financial implications of setting up and maintaining a website.

Wix Pricing: Free and Premium Tiers

Wix provides a free plan for users, but it comes with limitations such as displaying Wix ads and using a Wix-branded domain. For a more professional look and advanced features, Wix offers premium plans. The costs for these plans range from $17 AUD/month to $159 AUD/month for business and eCommerce plans. The higher tiers include benefits like increased storage, removal of Wix ads, and the ability to connect a custom domain.

WordPress Hosting and Themes

WordPress itself is a free, open-source platform, but running a site comes with costs for web hosting and potentially premium plugins and themes. Beginners can find web hosting plans tailored to WordPress starting at around $5 AUD/month and can opt for more extensive hosting solutions as their site grows. While there are thousands of free themes available, premium themes may cost between $30 AUD to $100 AUD as a one-time fee. It’s worth noting that WordPress’s flexibility can provide better long-term value, as users are not locked into a specific service and can migrate to different hosts if needed, often making it a strong candidate for beginners who prioritise growth and adaptability.

SEO Features for Website Growth

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a fundamental element for expanding the online visibility of any website. Wix and WordPress both provide SEO capabilities, but they cater to different levels of user expertise and needs.

Wix SEO Capabilities

Wix provides a range of built-in SEO tools that are advantageous for beginners. The platform offers a straightforward setup where users can adjust basic SEO elements such as meta titles and descriptions directly in the site editor. Wix’s simplicity is beneficial for those who have little to no background in SEO.

• User-Friendly: Drag-and-drop site building with intuitive access to SEO settings.
• Wix SEO Wiz: A personalised plan that guides users through the optimisation process.
• Google Integration: Direct indexing of Wix sites with Google.

Despite the ease of use, Wix is sometimes regarded as less flexible than WordPress for more advanced SEO strategies. It does, however, provide a solid foundation for beginners to start optimising their sites for search engines.

WordPress SEO Tools and Plugins

WordPress is highly regarded for its extensive SEO advantages, especially with the availability of powerful plugins. For beginners, the learning curve might be steeper, but the platform’s capabilities are extensive.

• Plugins: Access to a wide array of SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, which provides comprehensive tools for optimising content and meta tags.
• Customisability: Allows for more detailed SEO strategies, including advanced schema markup and sitemap configuration.
• Content Management: Superior content creation and management options that dovetail well with SEO best practices.

While WordPress may require more initial learning, it offers beginners the tools to grow their skills and, in turn, their website’s search engine results position. The ability to expand upon basic SEO with more sophisticated techniques makes WordPress an excellent option for long-term growth.

Given the SEO resources at hand, WordPress stands out as a suitable platform for beginners who are keen on developing their website with growth in mind. The integration of SEO plugins like Yoast SEO provides a clear pathway for enhancing site visibility and is a testament to WordPress’s strength in offering comprehensive SEO tools.

Building an Online Store

Building an online store requires a platform with strong e-commerce capabilities. Both Wix and WordPress offer ecommerce functionality solutions to establish an e-commerce presence, but they cater to different needs and skill levels.

Wix E-commerce Solutions

Wix provides an intuitive builder for e-commerce stores, aimed at users without coding skills. Their solutions are integrated into the platform, simplifying the process of store setup. Users have access to:

• Pre-designed templates for online stores
• Drag-and-drop functionality for easy customisation
• Basic e-commerce functionalities like inventory management and payment processing

While Wix’s editor makes it straightforward to create a visually appealing online store, it may limit advanced customisation and scalability for a growing business.

WordPress and WooCommerce

WordPress, in conjunction with the WooCommerce plugin, offers a versatile solution for creating an e-commerce store. This powerful combination caters to beginners and provides the scope for expansion as the business scales. Key features include:

• A wide range of ecommerce plugins and themes
• Extensive documentation and community support for troubleshooting
• Advanced e-commerce functionality to create a tailored shopping experience

For beginners willing to invest a little time in learning, WordPress with WooCommerce provides a flexible platform capable of adapting to complex e-commerce needs when selling online.

Technical Aspects and Support

When comparing the site functionality of Wix and WordPress for beginners, the ease of use and the availability of support are critical considerations. Both platforms offer different levels of technical support and community resources to assist users.

Wix Customer Support and Resources

Wix provides users with a structured support system. The Wix team offers:

• 24/7 customer service: Ability to reach out for assistance at any time.
• Comprehensive resources: Access to a variety of user guides and video tutorials.

This support structure makes Wix an accessible option for those with limited technical knowledge. Beginners can rely on direct help from Wix customer service to solve their issues and learn how to manage their websites effectively.

WordPress Community and Documentation

WordPress, on the other hand, boasts a large open-source community and extensive documentation. Key aspects include:

• WordPress Codex: The online manual for WordPress, providing beginners with detailed guidance.
• Wide community support: A large network of WordPress users and professionals ready to offer help.

Beginners with WordPress must often rely on their own ability to research and learn from the available documentation and community forums. However, if they choose the right WordPress hosting, they can receive additional assistance tailored to their needs. Select web hosts offer WordPress support as part of their hosting packages, which adds value to beginners by providing a higher level of assistance with WordPress core and related technical issues.

Advertising and Monetisation Opportunities

Both Wix and WordPress offer pathways for beginners to monetise their websites, with each platform providing distinct tools and features for ad management and revenue generation.

Ad Management in Wix

Wix apps provide an intuitive interface for ad management, catering specifically to beginners. Users can implement Wix ads through site settings, enabling advertisements with ease. Wix’s platform includes marketing features that allow for email campaigns and social post creation, facilitating promotional efforts without requiring external tools. However, it is essential to note that Wix takes a more streamlined approach with its built-in solutions, which may not offer the granularity or control that some advanced users desire.

Monetising a WordPress Site

WordPress offers a diverse range of options to monetise websites. It supports various e-commerce solutions like WooCommerce, allowing users to create online stores and sell products directly. WordPress’s extensible nature means beginners can easily add ad management plugins like AdSanity or Advanced Ads, which give substantial control over ad placements and scheduling. Additionally, WordPress supports a lot of affiliate marketing and membership plugins, empowering beginners to develop multiple revenue streams with relative ease compared to other platforms. The openness of WordPress means that users can access a vast repository of educational resources to explore and implement effective monetisation strategies.

Comparing Performance and Security

When building an online presence, performance and security are two key factors that beginners should consider. WordPress and Wix offer different approaches to these crucial aspects.

Website Speed and Uptime

Wix:

• Uptime: Wix offers a reliable uptime, meaning websites are typically available without significant downtime.
• Speed: The platform provides optimised performance for users, with pre-designed templates that are engineered to load quickly.

WordPress:

• Uptime: WordPress site availability can depend on the hosting service chosen, but many offer uptime guarantees.
• Speed: WordPress sites may vary in speed based on themes, plugins, and hosting services. However, with the right combination of tools, they generally perform well and can be optimised for faster loading times.

Ensuring Site Security

Wix:

• SSL Certificate: Wix provides a free SSL certificate for all websites, ensuring encrypted connections and improving search engine rankings.
• Advanced Features: Security measures are built into the platform, with automatic updates and secure hosting infrastructure.

WordPress:

• SSL Certificate: Free SSL certificates are available through many WordPress hosting providers. Secure connections are vital for protecting user data.
• Advanced Features: WordPress offers extensive security plugins and frequent updates. Keeping themes and plugins up-to-date and using reliable tools can significantly enhance a site’s security.

By considering both performance and security, beginners are likely to find WordPress a superior choice due to its customisability in speed optimisation and robust security options.

Wix vs WordPress: Making the Right Choice

When comparing WordPress and Wix sites, beginners should weigh their options carefully. Wix is praised for its straightforward drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for those new to website creation. It provides a convenient starting point for individuals without prior web development experience looking for a simple blogging platform.

WordPress, however, stands out due to its versatility and range of features. It’s an open-source platform, meaning it offers an expansive variety of themes and plugins. This allows for a high degree of customisation, which can serve a website’s growing needs over time.

• Budget and Goals: Initial and long-term costs differ, with WordPress potentially requiring added investments in hosting and premium plugins.
• Customisation: WordPress offers greater flexibility in design and functionality, which can be beneficial as one’s skills advance.
• Support and Community: Both platforms have supportive communities, but WordPress’s large user base may provide more extensive resources and tutorials.

While WordPress may have a steeper initial learning curve, the investment in learning can pay off. For beginners with aspirations to expand their online presence, WordPress provides the tools necessary to evolve their skills and website alike. It suits those who prefer a platform that they can grow into rather than outgrow.

Selecting the right platform is a matter of personal need, technical comfort, and long-term vision for your website. Despite the ease of use that Wix offers, at Chillybin we believe WordPress is the better option for business owners who prioritise growth and customisability from day one.

If you would like to transfer your Wix website to WordPress our Website Migration service will be perfect for you. Or if you’re looking to build a new website, contact us today and we’ll get the ball rolling on your new project.