In our last blog, we delved into the murky waters of the Shopify vs WordPress debate. This time out, we’re examining the differences between Shopify and Wix, weighing up the strengths and weaknesses as we discuss which option is best for your business.
The Story of Wix
Founded in 2006 by a trio of Israeli developers, Wix allows users to create fully-featured websites via their intuitive software and tools. Since 2012, all sites built using Wix have employed an HTML5 site builder. What does this mean, I hear you ask? Well, it means apps, graphics, image galleries and a host of customizable options can be easily dropped and dragged into place. According to current estimates, there are over 60 million registered users of the Wix platform.
Shopify or Wix?
With our two platforms of choice boasting robust feature sets and millions of happy customers, how do you decide which is best for business? Let’s break it down into some key categories:
Blogging
Wix’s backend and design is functional and easy to use. Users have over 500 templates to choose from but, like Squarespace, once you choose your template you cannot change it without starting from scratch. It offers an attractive option for bloggers as it’s free, but this comes with several caveats. A free Wix blog will show Wix approved ads that are outside of your control, and you’ll be forced into using a wix.com subdomain. These issues can both be overcome by choosing a subscription model. Your website will live on Wix’s servers, and you access the site via their admin panel. It’s an all-in-one solution for blogging, but it falls short in other areas.
When it comes to blogging, think of Shopify as like a Swiss Army Knife. Entering your content, whether it’s text, video or pictures, is a breeze. SEO considerations are handled automatically, while users can also schedule posts into the future. Though better known for its stellar ecommerce options, Shopify has made massive strides in becoming a strong blogging platform, especially if you’re also looking to sell products.
Ecommerce
Wix fulfills a slightly different ecommerce role than Shopify. Its feature set lends itself more to small to medium-sized stores and their ecommerce tool is not available to free users. Instead, Wix ecommerce costs $25 CAD per month and includes ten email marketing campaigns per month. This feature really shines if you already have a subscriber list and want to share your latest news with them. Wix offers three payment options for customers – credit card, PayPal and offline payments such as cash or money transfer.
Compared to Wix, Shopify is an ecommerce giant. It’s designed for power users, with the Province of BC recently partnering with Shopify to run their online cannabis stores. It’s quick and easy to set up, with a wide selection of ways to customize your store. There’s also no need to enlist the help of a developer in many cases, as the “off the shelf” designs offer a good fit in most cases. Shopify’s app store is built into the platform, offering users thousands of ways to customize their online shopfront.
Ease of Use
Perhaps Wix’s main draw is how easy it is to use. It’s a drag-and-drop builder. When creating a web page through Wix, you simply click on the feature you want to implement (be it a text box, image etc.) and drag it to where you want it to be. Think of it as putting a child’s toy together with simple to follow instructions.
Shopify also excels in this regard offering similar ease of use. Hundreds of templates are available, with drag and drop manipulation allowing customization no matter what level of proficiency a user has.
Find Out More
As a Shopify Partner, GD Commerce can help you launch beautiful ecommerce stores for every size and budget. Contact us, and we’ll be happy to discuss your individual needs.
Thank you to our GD Commerce Partners:
- Create Your Business Website Using Shopify
- Harness the Power of Drip CRM Software
- Set up Subscription Boxes, Recurring Orders and Payments Easily Using Bold Partners
- Boost Your Business Bookkeeping with Bench
- Learn How to Master Website SEO Using Mangools