When it comes to website creation, WordPress and Wix are two of the most popular platforms available. Each platform offers its own set of advantages and features, making it important for users to choose the one that best suits their technical skills and the goals of the site they intend to create.
WordPress is a powerful, open-source CMS (Content Management System) with over 40% market share. It boasts high scalability and customizable options, making it a favorite among beginners as well as seasoned professionals and developers. On the other hand, Wix offers an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, making it simple and quick for anyone to create a homepage.
However, while Wix is user-friendly, it does have limitations in functionality and ongoing upgrade costs that should be considered.
Comparison of WordPress and Wix: Pros and Cons
Below is a concise comparison table highlighting the differences between WordPress and Wix.
Notes | WordPress | Wix |
---|---|---|
Difficulty Level | - May require some learning - Advanced customization may need technical knowledge (Functionality can be expanded using plugins, but complex implementations might require development work - similar cases exist with other CMSs like Gnuboard) - Suitable for users ranging from beginners to advanced | - Easy for beginners - Drag-and-drop interface - Offers Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) |
Customization (User-defined) | - High level of customization available - Freedom to modify code - Direct editing of CSS | - Limited customization options - Modifications allowed only within the builder - Potential extra costs |
E-commerce (Online Store) | - WooCommerce plugin - Complex but powerful functions - Various payment/selling options - Functionality can be expanded with numerous plugins | - Built-in e-commerce features - Easy to add products - Suitable for individuals or small businesses |
SEO Optimization | - Various free and premium plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math - High level of SEO settings possible - Full control over metadata | - Basic SEO tools provided - Automatic XML sitemap - Automatic creation of structured data |
Cost | - Costs for hosting and domain - Expenses increase with visitor count. Can start at an affordable 1,000 won per month. | - Free plan (uses Wix domain, limited features) - Paid plans range from $11 to $149 per month - Paid plans offer options to remove ads |
Security | - Security managed at server and plugin levels - Regular updates required - Regular backups recommended - Most overseas hosts offer free SSL certificates | - Automatic HTTPS - Free SSL certificate - Automatic security updates - Users don’t need to worry about security |
Blogging | - Capable of operating all types of sites from simple blogs to corporate websites and online stores - Advanced blogging features - Access to various blog-related plugins/blog-specific themes | - Basic blogging functionality - Limited blogging tools - Suitable for simple blog posts |
Page Loading Speed | - Speed is good in South Korea when using hosting with servers located in South Korea (e.g., hosts like Cloudways, Chemicloud and other hosts) - Can optimize using caching and optimization plugins - Users have control over performance - May experience slow speeds on sluggish hosting (e.g. Bluehost) or with many plugins/heavy themes | - Recent performance improvements - Smart caching technology - Has been noted to be slow in South Korea |
Plugins/Apps | - Over 50,000 plugins available - A variety of free and paid plugins for SEO, security, analytics, etc. | - Wix App Market - Limited app selection |
Monetization | - Self-hosted WordPress allows freedom to monetize via AdSense, affiliate marketing, etc. - WordPress.com offers monetization only on Business plans and above | - Can link domain (with paid plan) and use the Wix Monetize with AdSense app to display AdSense ads |
A significant advantage of Wix is its ease of use; even beginners can create a site effortlessly with its drag-and-drop capabilities.

With WordPress, the editing environment can vary significantly depending on the theme or page builder being used. For those seeking a user-friendly experience, the Elementor page builder is an excellent option. Currently, Elementor has been installed on over ten million sites, allowing for easy site creation using a drag-and-drop interface.

In terms of templates, Wix provides limited options as it controls every aspect of their design.

In contrast, WordPress offers diverse templates and demos with each theme, making it easier to select a theme that matches the type of template you wish to create. For example, the popular Avada theme and the similarly best-selling Divi theme each offer over 2,500 layout designs for page creation.

WordPress features both a hosted version via WordPress.com and a self-hosted version where users install WordPress on their hosting service. The hosted version operates similarly to Wix, while the term WordPress typically refers to the self-hosted version.
The hosted version offers limited features based on subscription plans provided by WordPress.com. In contrast, the self-hosted version allows users to access all features of WordPress without any restrictions.
With Wix, users are required to create a site directly through Wix's hosting platform. While there is no need to worry about web hosting or security, access to FTP and database functions is unavailable, and functionality expansion is limited.
On the other hand, self-hosted WordPress requires users to sign up directly with a hosting service to install and configure themes and plugins, as well as manage security, backups, and other aspects, which may seem daunting compared to Wix. Hosting costs will vary based on visitor traffic and site size, with more expensive plans necessary as visitor numbers increase. However, beginners can start with budget-friendly hosting options, costing around 1,000 won or $4-$5 monthly.
Wix offers both free and premium plans. The free plan displays ads and uses a Wix domain, while connecting a personal domain requires an upgrade to a paid plan.

Wix can be a suitable choice for rapidly building and managing portfolio sites or simple business websites, as well as for creating landing pages. However, if you are looking to create a more extensive site or a revenue-generating blog, WordPress may be a better option.
For more in-depth information about Wix, please visit the Wix website.
If you're planning to run a monetized blog or create a site with complex features, consider using WordPress. While it offers an array of functionalities and high customization freedom, beginners may find it challenging initially due to the need to manage various elements like web hosting, plugins, and themes.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we explored two widely used platforms, WordPress and Wix, for website creation. WordPress is an incredibly popular CMS, boasting over 43% of the global market share. Wix, on the other hand, maintained a market share of around 2% in 2023, which saw a slight increase to 3.2% as of December 5, 2024.

Both WordPress and Wix have their unique pros and cons; therefore, it is crucial to select the platform that best meets your specific needs.