When it comes to building a website in 2025, two names dominate the conversation: WordPress and Wix. Whether you're a small business owner, blogger, freelancer, or someone launching an eCommerce store, choosing the right website platform is critical. The decision you make today can affect how easily you update content, how your site performs, and how much control you have over design and functionality.So, what is the difference between WordPress and Wix in 2025? While both platforms aim to help users build websites without advanced coding knowledge, they offer very different experiences. Let’s dive into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which platform suits your needs.
WordPress powers over 43% of the internet and continues to be the go-to choice for serious developers, bloggers, and businesses. It's an open-source platform, meaning it offers endless customization possibilities. With thousands of themes and plugins, WordPress is as flexible as it gets. However, it comes with a steeper learning curve.In 2025, WordPress continues to evolve. With the integration of Gutenberg block editing, FSE (Full Site Editing), and improved performance enhancements, it’s now more user-friendly than ever before — though it still shines best when paired with some technical know-how.
Wix, on the other hand, has carved out its space as a beginner-friendly, drag-and-drop website builder. Known for its ease of use and sleek templates, Wix is ideal for users who want to build a website quickly without dealing with hosting, coding, or third-party plugins.In 2025, Wix boasts a more advanced AI website creation tool, faster hosting performance, and more third-party app integrations than ever. It’s a one-stop-shop for building and managing your website — especially for beginners and small business owners.
Wix wins here in terms of ease of use. Its visual editor is intuitive, and you can literally drag and drop elements anywhere on the page. It’s beginner-friendly to the core. The platform holds your hand throughout the process, from choosing a template to launching your site.WordPress, while more flexible, does require more effort upfront. You’ll need to arrange your own hosting, install WordPress, and navigate themes and plugins. However, once you’re familiar with the dashboard, the possibilities are practically limitless.So, what is the difference between WordPress and Wix when it comes to usability? Wix offers simplicity, while WordPress rewards those willing to climb a slightly steeper learning curve.
Design is a big deal in 2025, especially when every brand wants to stand out. Wix has over 900 templates — all professionally designed and mobile-friendly. However, once you pick a template, you’re pretty much locked into it. Customization is possible but limited.WordPress, however, offers unmatched design flexibility. You can choose from free or premium themes and customize them using page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, or even the built-in Gutenberg editor. Developers can tweak every inch of the design via CSS or theme files.Bottom line: If you need pixel-perfect, brand-consistent design with full control, WordPress is the way to go. But if you're okay with choosing a beautiful template and tweaking a few colors and fonts, Wix is more than sufficient.
In 2025, both WordPress and Wix have solid eCommerce features — but they cater to different kinds of sellers.Wix offers a built-in eCommerce solution with features like product pages, inventory tracking, payment gateways, and shipping rules. It’s ideal for small to medium-sized stores looking for a quick setup.WordPress uses WooCommerce, the most popular eCommerce plugin globally. It turns your WordPress site into a powerful, scalable online store. With WooCommerce, you can sell physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, memberships — the works.So, what is the difference between WordPress and Wix in the world of online stores? Wix gives you simplicity and speed. WordPress offers power and scale. Choose based on how complex your store needs to be.
SEO is one of the most critical factors for long-term success online. Fortunately, both platforms have kept up with the latest in search engine optimization in 2025.Wix has made huge strides in SEO. You can edit page titles, meta descriptions, alt text, and URL slugs. Plus, the platform now includes built-in performance optimization tools and AI-driven SEO suggestions.However, WordPress remains the king of SEO. With plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and All in One SEO, you have full control over every technical and on-page aspect of your site’s optimization. It also integrates better with Google’s core web vitals and advanced schema markup.In short, what is the difference between WordPress and Wix when it comes to SEO? Wix is great for basic to intermediate SEO needs. WordPress is better suited for those aiming to dominate competitive search results.
With Wix, you don’t have to worry about maintenance. The platform takes care of hosting, updates, security, and backups. If anything goes wrong, you can reach out to their customer support 24/7.WordPress, being self-hosted, puts the onus on you (or your developer) to handle updates, security patches, and backups. Fortunately, many managed WordPress hosting providers now offer auto-updates and monitoring services.If you prefer a “set it and forget it” model, Wix is less hassle. But if you're okay with getting your hands a little dirty — or hiring someone who can — WordPress provides much greater flexibility.
Wix has straightforward pricing plans, ranging from basic websites to full-featured eCommerce stores. Plans include hosting, templates, SSL, and support. However, as your needs grow, so does your bill — especially if you need premium apps.WordPress itself is free, but the costs can add up. You’ll pay for hosting, a premium theme, plugins, and potentially a developer. That said, WordPress gives you more control over where and how you spend your money.For startups on a tight budget, Wix may seem more affordable. But over time, WordPress can be more cost-effective, especially for larger or more complex sites.
WordPress has a massive community — from forums and Facebook groups to YouTube tutorials and professional developers. Need help? There’s a tutorial or a freelancer for that.Wix has a growing community, especially as more entrepreneurs and small businesses turn to the platform. However, it’s more centralized. You rely heavily on Wix’s internal resources and marketplace.If community and open development matter to you, WordPress offers more flexibility and independence.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your goals, technical comfort, and long-term plans.Choose Wix if:
Choose WordPress if:
By understanding your needs, you can choose the platform that serves you best. There is no one-size-fits-all answer — only what works best for your vision in 2025.
So, what is the difference between WordPress and Wix in 2025? It’s more than just a matter of design preference. It’s about how much control you want, how much effort you’re willing to put in, and how far you plan to take your website.WordPress remains the champion of flexibility and scalability, perfect for users who want to grow and customize every part of their online presence. Wix, meanwhile, excels at delivering polished, easy-to-manage websites with minimal fuss.Both platforms are winners in their own right. The real difference lies in you — your goals, your skills, and your plans for the future.